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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera and a image signal generating method capable of
generating both an image signal for displaying an object image and
additional information on a display component. and an image signal
to be supplied to a connected external display device, with a simple
configuration. Video additional information data is generated which
includes in the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking
period of the composite video signal digital data representing additional
information to be displayed with the object image on the LCD, and
in the period corresponding to the video period of the composite
video signal digital data representing the object image. The digital
data in the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking period
is masked and a horizontal synchronizing signal and color burst
are superimposed.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital camera comprising: an imaging component for acquiring
digital image data representing an object image by imaging; a display
component for displaying the object image thereon; a video output
terminal for externally outputting a composite video signal that
represents the object image and has a set of a horizontal blanking
period and a video period for each scanning line; a video additional
information data generating component for generating video additional
information data which includes in a period corresponding to the
horizontal blanking period of the composite video signal, digital
data representing additional information to be displayed with the
object image on the display component, and in a period corresponding
to the video period of the composite video signal, the digital data
representing the object image to be displayed; a composite video
signal generating component, for generating the composite video
signal by masking the digital data included in the video additional
information data in the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking
period and then superimposing a horizontal synchronizing signal
and a color burst signal in the horizontal blanking period, and
for supplying the composite video signal to the video output terminal;
and a display image signal generating component, for generating
a display image signal for displaying the object image and the additional
information on the display component based on the video additional
information data and supplying the display image signal to the display
component.
2. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein, when the aspect ratio
of a display region of an external display device connected to the
video output terminal is different from the aspect ratio of the
object image, the video additional information data generating component
sets a period that includes the digital data representing the additional
information as a period corresponding to the video period of the
video additional information data outside of a period including
the digital data representing the object image, rather than the
period corresponding to the horizontal blanking period of the video
additional information data.
3. The digital camera of claim 1 further comprising a frequency
switching component for switching the frequency of the video additional
information data according to the aspect ratio of the display region
of the external display device connected to the video output terminal.
4. The digital camera of claim 1 further comprising an additional
display state information acquiring component for acquiring additional
display state information representing whether or not the additional
information is to be displayed on an external display device connected
to the video output terminal, wherein the composite video signal
generating component generates a signal in the video period of the
composite video signal so as to display the additional information
when the additional display state information indicates the additional
information should be displayed.
5. An image signal generating method for a digital camera having
an imaging component for acquiring digital image data representing
an object image by imaging, a display component for displaying the
object image thereon, and a video output terminal for externally
outputting a composite video signal that represents the object image
and has a set of a horizontal blanking period and a video period
for each scanning line, the image signal generating method comprising:
generating video additional information data, which includes in
a period corresponding to the horizontal blanking period of the
composite video signal, digital data representing additional information
which is to be displayed on the display component with the image
object, and in a period corresponding to the video period of the
composite video signal, the digital data representing the object
image to be displayed; generating the composite video signal by
masking the digital data included in the video additional information
data in the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking period
and then superimposing a horizontal synchronizing signal and a color
burst signal in the horizontal blanking period; supplying the composite
video signal to the video output terminal; generating a display
image signal for displaying the object image and the additional
information on the display component based on the video additional
information data; and, supplying the display image signal to the
display component.
6. The image signal generating method of claim 5, wherein, when
the aspect ratio of a display region of an external display device
connected to the video output terminal is different from the aspect
ratio of the object image, the period that includes the digital
data representing the additional information is set as a period
corresponding to the video period of the video additional information
data outside of a period that includes the digital data representing
the additional information, rather than the period corresponding
to the horizontal blanking period of the video additional information
data.
7. The image signal generating method of claim 5, wherein the frequency
of the video additional information data is switched according to
the aspect ratio of the display region of an external display device
connected to the video output terminal.
8. The image signal generating method of claim 5 further comprising
acquiring additional display state information representing whether
or not the additional information is to be displayed on an external
display device connected to the video output terminal, wherein the
signal in the video period in the composite video signal is generated
so as to display the additional information when the additional
display state information indicates the additional information should
be displayed.
Digital Camera Patent Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APLLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese
Patent Application No. 2004-71531, the disclosure of which is incorporated
by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a digital camera and an
image signal generating method, in particular, a digital camera
with a video output terminal for externally outputting a composite
video signal having a set of a horizontal blanking period and a
video period for each scanning line, and an image signal generating
method of the digital camera.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In recent years, the digital camera has become remarkably
widespread and exceeds the film camera in annual shipments.
[0006] In the conventional digital camera, the aspect ratio of
an image taken by an imaging element such as CCD and CMOS image
sensor (object image) is generally set as 4:3. This corresponds
with the aspect ratio of a conventional television receiver or a
display region of a display device, such as liquid crystal display
mounted on the digital camera as a monitor for the object image
is 4:3.
[0007] On the other hand, television sets having the aspect ratio
of the display region of 16:9 (so-called wide size) (hereinafter
referred to as "wide TV") has gained in popularity recently
and it is forecasted that the display device mounted on digital
cameras with a display region of wide size will become widely used.
[0008] In this case, when the object image photographed by the
digital camera using the imaging device with the aspect ratio of
the photographed image of 4:3 is displayed on an external wide TV
or the display device of wide size mounted as the monitor for the
object image, blank region(s) are generated in part(s) of the display
region, since the aspect ratio remains 4:3.
[0009] Thus, the display of various additional information, such
as photographing conditions of the displayed object image, various
icons and thumbnail images can be considered.
[0010] When a large image having an aspect ratio of 4:3 and small
image(s) (corresponding to the above-mentioned additional information)
are displayed in the display region having the aspect ratio of 16:9,
the display position of each image in the horizontal direction is
fixed. This may cause obstacles to the appreciation of each image
depending on the installation position conditions of the image display
device and so on. To prevent such obstacle(s), there is an art where
the big image and the small image(s) can be optionally switched
between display on the right side and the left side of the display
region by the user's operation (refer to Japanese Patent No. 3097138,
for example).
[0011] To provide a television set capable of properly displaying
characters on a screen having a different aspect ratio when the
image signal is displayed on the screen, according another related
art, the display position of the characters (corresponding to the
above-mentioned additional information) is changed in response to
the display mode so that the characters are superimposed and displayed
within the scope of the displayed image (refer to Japanese Patent
No. 2998156, for example).
[0012] The conventional digital camera often has a video output
terminal for outputting a composite video signal so that a photographed
object image can be displayed on a television set.
[0013] To simultaneously display the object image and the additional
information on a display device as a monitor for the object image
mounted on a digital camera, since image signals and composite video
signals supplied to the display device are greatly different from
each other in specification, a digital camera of this kind requires
separate image signal generating circuits systems by signal, thereby
causing the problem of complicating configuration.
[0014] Since the technologies described in Japanese Patent No.
3097138 and Japanese Patent No. 2998156 fail to consider the provision
of a video output terminal, these arts cannot overcome this problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention has been made in view of the above
circumstances and provides a digital camera and image signal generating
method of simple configuration capable of: generating an image signal,
for displaying an object image and additional information on a display
component; and, supplying the image signal to the connected external
display device.
[0016] To achieve the objectives of the invention, the digital
camera according to a first aspect of the present invention has:
an imaging component, for acquiring digital image data representing
an object image by imaging; a display component, for displaying
the object image thereon; a video output terminal, for externally
outputting a composite video signal that represents the object image
and has a set of a horizontal blanking period and a video period
for each scanning line; a video additional information data generating
component, for generating video additional information data which
includes in the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking
period of the composite video signal digital data representing additional
information to be displayed with the object image on the display
component, and in the period corresponding to the video period of
the composite video signal the digital data representing the object
image; a composite video signal generating component for generating
the composite video signal by masking the digital data included
in the video additional information data in the period corresponding
to the horizontal blanking period, and imposing a horizontal synchronizing
signal and a color burst signal in the horizontal blanking period,
and supplying the signal to the video output terminal; and a display
image signal generating component, for generating a display image
signal for displaying the object image and the additional information
on the display component based on the video additional information
data, and supplying the signal to the display component.
[0017] With the digital camera according to the first aspect, digital
image data representing the object image is acquired by imaging
with the imaging component. The imaging component includes a solid
state imaging device(s) such as CCD and CMOS image sensor(s).
[0018] The digital camera of the present invention has: the display
component, for displaying the object image; and the video output
terminal, for outputting a composite video signal that represents
the object image, and has a set of horizontal blanking period and
video period for each scanning line to the outside. The display
component includes various display devices such as liquid crystal
displays, CRT displays, plasma displays and organic EL displays.
[0019] In the digital camera of the present invention, the video
additional information data generating component generates video
additional information data which includes: in a period corresponding
to the horizontal blanking period of the composite video signal
digital data representing additional information to be displayed
with the object image on the display component; and in a period
corresponding to the video period of the composite video signal
the digital data representing the object image to be displayed.
This additional information includes photographing conditions concerning
the object image, various icons and thumbnail images or the like.
[0020] According to the present invention, the composite video
signal generating component masks the digital data included in the
video additional information data in the period corresponding to
the horizontal blanking period, then superimposes a horizontal synchronizing
signal and a color burst signal in the horizontal blanking period,
thereby generating the composite video signal. The composite video
signal generating component supplies the composite video signal
to the video output terminal. Also the display image signal, for
displaying the object image and the additional information with
the display component based on the video additional information
data, is generated by a display image generating component and the
display image signal is supplied to the display component.
[0021] That is, according to the present invention, both the composite
video signal and the display image signal, for supply to the display
component, can be generated based on the common data of the video
additional information data (which includes the object information
and the additional information), by using the period corresponding
to the horizontal blanking period provided for each scanning line
in the composite signal. Therefore, the apparatus becomes simplified
in configuration in comparison with a case where the data for each
of the signals is generated in separate systems.
[0022] As described above, the digital camera according to the
first aspect has the imaging component for acquiring digital image
data representing the object image by imaging, the display component
for displaying the object image thereon, and the video output terminal
for externally outputting a composite video signal that represents
the object image and has a set of a horizontal blanking period and
a video period for each scanning line. Furthermore, the digital
camera generates video additional information data which: in the
period corresponding to the horizontal blanking period of the composite
video signal includes digital data representing additional information
to be displayed with the object image on the display component;
and in the period corresponding to the video period of the composite
video signal includes the digital data representing the object image.
In the camera the digital data included in the video additional
information data in the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking
period is masked, and then a horizontal synchronizing signal and
a color burst signal in the horizontal blanking period is superimposed,
thereby generating the composite video signal. This signal is supplied
to the video output terminal. The camera also generates a display
image signal, for displaying the object image and the additional
information on the display component, based on the video additional
information data and supplies the signal to the display component.
Therefore, the image signal for displaying the object image and
the additional information on the display component and the image
signal for supplying the connected external display device can be
generated with a simple configuration by the provided digital camera.
[0023] Preferably in the case where the aspect ratio of an display
region of the external display device connected to the video output
terminal is different from the aspect ratio of the object image
the video additional information data generating component of the
present invention sets the period to include the digital data representing
the additional information as the period corresponding to the video
period outside of the period including the digital data representing
the object image of the period, rather than the period corresponding
to the horizontal blanking period of the video additional information
data. Thereby, additional information can be displayed simply on
the external display device.
[0024] Preferably, the present invention further has a frequency
switch component for switching the frequency of the video additional
information data according to the aspect ratio of the display region
of the external display device connected to the video output terminal.
As a result, the composite video signal according to the external
display device can be generated simply.
[0025] Preferably, the present invention further has an additional
display state information acquiring component for acquiring additional
display state information, representing whether or not the additional
information is to be displayed on the external display device connected
to the video output terminal. Here. when the additional display
state information represents display of the additional information,
the composite video signal generating component generates a signal
in the video period in the composite video signal so as to display
the additional information. This enables selectively setting whether
or not the additional information is displayed on the external display
device.
[0026] On the other hand, to achieve the above objective, an image
signal generating method according to a second aspect of the present
invention comprises: generating video additional information data
which includes in the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking
period of the composite video signal digital data representing additional
information to be displayed with the object image on the display
component, and in the period corresponding to the video period of
the composite video signal includes the digital data representing
the object image; generating the composite video signal by masking
the digital data included in the video additional information data
in the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking period and
superimposing a horizontal synchronizing signal and a color burst
signal in the horizontal blanking period; supplying the composite
video signal to the video output terminal; generating a display
image signal for displaying the object image and the additional
information on the display component based on the video additional
information data; and, supplying the signal to the display component.
[0027] The image signal generating method of the second aspect
has the same effect as the digital camera of the first aspect, and
therefore similarly to with the first aspect, the image signal for
displaying the object image and the additional information on the
display component and the image signal for supplying to the connected
external display device can be generated with a simple configuration.
[0028] Preferably, in a case where the aspect ratio of a display
region of the external display device connected to the video output
terminal is different from the aspect ratio of the object image:
the period which includes the digital data representing the additional
information is set as a period corresponding to the video period
of the video additional information data outside of the period which
includes the digital data representing the object image, rather
than the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking period
of the video additional information data. Thereby, the additional
information can be simply displayed on the external display device.
[0029] Preferably, in the present invention, the frequency of the
video additional information data is switched according to the aspect
ratio of the display region of the external display device connected
to the video output terminal. Thereby, the frequency of the video
additional information is configured to be based on the aspect ratio
of the display region of the external display. As a result, the
composite video signal according to the external display device
can be generated with ease.
[0030] Preferably, in the present invention, additional display
state information, representing whether or not the additional information
is to be displayed on the external display device connected to the
video output terminal, is acquired Here the signal in the video
period in the composite video signal is generated so as to display
the additional information when the additional display state information
indicates the additional information should be displayed. Thereby,
whether or not the additional information is displayed on the external
display device can be selectively set.
[0031] According to the present invention, is provided: the imaging
component, for acquiring digital image data representing an object
image by imaging; the display component, for displaying the object
image thereon; and the video output terminal, for outputting a composite
video signal that represents the object image and has a set of a
horizontal blanking period and a video period for each scanning
line to the outside. Also generated is video additional information
data which includes in the period corresponding to the horizontal
blanking period of the composite video signal digital data representing
additional information to be displayed with the object image on
the display component, and in the period corresponding to the video
period of the composite video signal digital data representing the
object image. The composite video signal is generated by masking
the digital data included in the video additional information data
in the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking period, and
then, a horizontal synchronizing signal and a color burst signal
in the horizontal blanking period is superimposed. The composite
video signal is supplied to the video output terminal. A display
image signal, for displaying the object image and the additional
information on the display component, is generated based on the
video additional information data. This display image signal is
supplied to the display component. Because of the above the effect
of generating the image signal for displaying the object image and
the additional information on the display component and the image
signal to be supplied to the connected external display device can
be obtained with a simple constitution.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] FIG. 1 is an outline view showing outlines of a digital
camera according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main configuration
of an electrical system of the digital camera according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0034] FIGS. 3A to 3E are time charts and a waveform chart showing
states of various data and signals relating to a video/LCD encoder
36 according to embodiments of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a process flow of a connected
TV switch processing program according to a first embodiment of
the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of an image
represented by composite data D3 according to the first embodiment
of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 6A is a schematic view showing an example of a displayed
image on an LCD 38 of the digital camera 10 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 6B is a schematic view showing an example of a displayed
image on a wide TV connected to the digital camera 10 according
to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 6C is a schematic view showing an example of a displayed
image on a conventional TV connected to the digital camera 10 according
to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a process flow of a connected
TV switch processing program according to a second embodiment of
the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 8A is a schematic view showing an example of a displayed
image on an LCD 38 of the digital camera 10 according to the second
embodiment of the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 8B is a schematic view showing an example of a displayed
image on the wide TV connected to the digital camera 10 according
to the second embodiment of the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 8C is a schematic view showing another example of a
displayed image on the wide TV connected to the digital camera 10
according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 8D is a schematic view showing an example of a displayed
image on a conventional TV connected to the digital camera 10 according
to the second embodiment of the present invention; and
[0045] FIG. 8E is a schematic view showing another example of a
displayed image on the conventional TV connected to the digital
camera 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0046] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail below with reference to the appended figures.
First Embodiment
[0047] Firstly, the outline configuration of a digital camera 10
according to this embodiment is described referring to FIG. 1.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 1, a front face of the digital camera 10
comprises a lens 21 for forming an image of an object, an electric
flash 44 for emitting light to irradiate the object when photographing
as required and a finder 20 used for determining the composition
of the object to be photographed. A top face of the digital camera
10A comprises a release switch (so-called shutter) 56A which is
operated by pressing when photographing, a power switch 56B and
a mode changeover switch 56C.
[0049] The release switch 56A of the digital camera 10 according
to the present embodiment is configured so as to detect the pressing
operation in the following two levels: a state of being pressed
up to an intermediate position (hereinafter referred to as "half-pressed
state") and a state of being pressed up to a final pressing
position beyond the intermediate position (hereinafter referred
to as "full-pressed state").
[0050] In the digital camera 10, by bringing the release switch
56A into the half-pressed state, AE (Automatic Exposure) function
works to set exposure condition (shutter speed, diaphragm, etc.)
and then AF (Auto Focus) function works to control focus. Subsequently,
by bringing the release switch 56A into the full-pressed state,
exposure (photographing) is performed.
[0051] The mode changeover switch 56C is rotated when setting either
one of a photo mode, for taking a picture, or a playback mode, for
playing back the image of the object on a LCD 38 described later.
[0052] A back face of the digital camera 10 comprises an eyepiece
part of the finder 20, a liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred
to as "LCD") 38 for displaying the photographed image
of the object, a menu screen or the like, and a cross cursor switch
56D. The cross cursor switch 56D is configured to include four arrow
keys showing four moving directions of up, down, left and right
in a display region of the LCD 38. The digital camera 10 according
to the present embodiment employs a so-called wide-size display
having an aspect ratio of the display region of 16:9 as the LCD
38.
[0053] A back face of the digital camera 10 further comprises a
menu switch pressed for displaying the menu screen(s) on the LCD
38, a decision switch pressed for deciding previous operations,
a cancel switch pressed for canceling an immediately preceding operation,
a flash switch pressed for setting light emitting condition of the
electric flash 44 and a macro photo switch pressed for performing
macro photographing.
[0054] A side face of the digital camera 10 comprises a video output
terminal 66 (refer to FIG. 2) for externally outputting a composite
video signal.
[0055] Next, the main configuration of an electric system of the
digital camera 10 according to this embodiment will be described
referring to FIG. 2.
[0056] The digital camera 10 comprises an optical unit 22 including
the lens 21, a charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as
"CCD") 24 arranged at the rear on an optical axis of the
lens 21 and an analog signal processing part 26 for performing various
analog signal processing of an input analog signal.
[0057] The digital camera 10 is configured so as to have an analog/digital
converter (hereinafter referred to as "ADC") 28 for converting
the input analog signal into digital data, and a digital signal
processing part 30 for performing various digital signal processing
operations on the input digital data.
[0058] The digital signal processing part 30 has a built-in line
buffer of specified capacity and allows the input digital data to
be directly stored in a predetermined region of a memory 48A described
later.
[0059] An output terminal of the CCD 24 is connected to an input
terminal of the analog signal processing part 26, an output terminal
of the signal processing part 26 is connected to an input terminal
of the ADC 28 and an output terminal of the ADC 28 is connected
to an input terminal of the digital signal processing part 30. Accordingly,
an analog signal representing the object image output from the CCD
24 is subjected to a predetermined analog signal processing in the
analog signal processing part 26 and converted into digital image
data by the ADC 28 and then input to the digital signal processing
part 30.
[0060] The digital camera 10 has a video/LCD encoder 36 that: generates
an image signal, for displaying the image represented by the digital
image data, the menu screen and so on; supplies the image signal
to the LCD 38, on one hand. The video/LCD encoder 36 also: generates
a composite video signal S1 (NTSC signal in this embodiment), for
representing the image to be displayed on the LCD 38; and supplies
the composite video signal to the video output terminal 66.
[0061] The video/LCD encoder 36 comprises: a combining part 60,
for imaging data D1 and additional display data D2, which are described
later, to be input into, and for combining the two kinds of data
to be output as a composite data D3; a digital encoder 62, for receiving
the composite data D3 output from the combining part 60 and generating
digital data representing then, outputting the composite video signal
S1 (described later) based on the composite data; and a digital/analog
converter (hereinafter referred to as "DAC") 64 for converting
the digital data output from the digital encoder 62 into an analog
signal and supplying the analog signal as the composite video signal
S1 to the video output terminal 66.
[0062] The video/LCD encoder 36 further comprises an LCD controller
68, for receiving the composite data D3 output from combining part
60 and generating an image signal to be supplied to the LCD 38 based
on the composite data D3. The LCD controller 68 performs: pixel
array conversion processing, of converting a pixel array of the
object image represented by the imaging data D1 included in the
composite data D3 into a pixel array for the LCD 38; pixel number
conversion processing, of converting the number of pixels into that
of the LCD 38; and, various other types of processing, such as gamma
processing and sharpness processing according to characteristics
of the LCD 38 with respect to the object image. However, since the
above-mentioned operations of the LCD 38 are well known, further
description thereof is omitted.
[0063] The digital camera 10 is configured so as to have: a CPU
(Central Processing Unit) 40, for controlling the operation of the
entire digital camera 10; a memory 48A, for temporarily storing
the digital image data obtained by photographing therein; a memory
48B, for storing in advance specific information such as various
parameters; and a memory interface 46, for controlling access to
the memory 48A and the memory 48B.
[0064] Moreover, the digital camera 10 comprises an external memory
interface 50, for making a portable memory card 52 accessible to
the digital camera 10, and a compression/expansion processing circuit
54, for performing compression processing and expansion processing
of the digital image data.
[0065] The digital camera 10 of this embodiment employs SDRAM (Synchronous
DRAM) as the memory 48A, flash ROM as the memory 48B and Smart Media
as the memory card 52.
[0066] The digital signal processing part 30, the video/LCD encoder
36, CPU 40, the memory interface 46, the external memory interface
50 and the compression/expansion processing circuit 54 are connected
to each other via a system bus BUS. Therefore, the CPU 40 can control
the actuation of the digital signal processing part 30, the video/LCD
encoder 36 and the compression/expansion processing circuit 54,
and control access via the memory interface 46 and the external
memory interface 50 to the memory 48A and the memory 48B, and the
memory card 52.
[0067] The digital camera 10 is provided with a timing generator
32, that generates a timing signal mainly for driving the CCD 24,
and supplies the signal to the CCD 24, and the driving of the CCD
24 is controlled by the CPU 40 through the timing generator 32.
[0068] The digital camera 10 is further provided with a motor driving
part 34 for the driving of a focus adjusting motor, a zoom motor
and an aperture driving motor, all of which are disposed in the
optical unit 22, and controlled by the CPU 40 through the motor
driving part 34.
[0069] The lens 21 according to this embodiment has plural lenses,
and is configured as a zoom lens capable of varying focal distance
(variable power) and comprising a lens driving mechanism. The focus
adjusting motor, the zoom motor and the diaphragm driving motor
are included in the lens driving mechanism, and these respective
motors each are driven by a driving signal supplied from the motor
driving part 34 under control of the CPU 40.
[0070] The various switches (collectively referred to as "operating
part 56" in this figure) such as the release switch 56A, the
power switch 56B, the mode changeover switch 56C, the cross cursor
switch 56D and a menu switch are connected to the CPU 40 and the
CPU 40 can ascertain the operating state of the operating part 56
at all times.
[0071] The digital camera 10 is further provided with a charging
part 42 that lies between the electric flash 44 and the CPU 40 and
can be charged with power for light emission of the electric flash
44 according to control of the CPU 40. Further, the electric flash
44 is also connected to the CPU 40 and light emission of the electric
flash 44 is controlled by the CPU 40.
[0072] The digital camera 10 is further provided with a clock generator
72 that: generates a clock signal, mainly for driving the video/LCD
encoder 36; and supplies the signal to the video/LCD encoder 36.
The driving of the video/LCD encoder 36 is controlled in synchronization
with the clock signal. The clock generator 72 is connected to the
CPU 40 and a frequency of the clock signal generated by the clock
generator 72 can be set by the CPU 40.
[0073] The digital camera 10 according to this embodiment is configured
so that selectively either of a television set having an aspect
ratio of the display region of 4:3 (hereinafter referred to as "conventional
TV") or a wide TV can be connected to the video output terminal
66. The digital camera 10 is configured so as to be able to set
on a menu screen displayed on the LCD 38 a television set 74 (refer
to FIG. 2.--hereinafter referred to as "TV 74") connected
to the video output terminal 66 as either a conventional TV or a
wide TV by pressing the menu switch.
[0074] Now, various data and signals relating to the video/LCD
encoder 36 that play important roles in the present invention will
be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3E. FIGS.
3A to 3E show various data and signals for one scanning line.
[0075] The imaging data D1, input to the combining part 60 of the
video/LCD encoder 36, is data representing the image of the object
which is digital data generated in the digital signal processing
part 30. As shown in FIG. 3A, either of the following two kinds
of data can be generated selectively under control of the CPU 40:
data for which the frequency of the clock signal is set to 24 MHz,
so as to correspond to a case where the TV 74 connected to the video
output terminal 66 is a conventional TV; and, data of which the
frequency of the clock signal is set to 27 MHz, so as to correspond
to the case where the TV 74 connected to the video output terminal
66 is a wide TV.
[0076] As shown in the figures, for each line in the horizontal
direction of the object image represented by the imaging data D1,
the imaging data D1 is generated so that pixel data of the corresponding
line is packed up to the right edge side of a period corresponding
to the video period of one scanning line in the composite video
signal S1 (refer to FIG. 3E).
[0077] The additional display data D2 input to the combining part
60 is digital data representing additional information to be displayed
with the object image on the LCD 38, and is data generated by the
combining part 60 reading out data representing the additional information
stored in advance in the memory 48B. As shown in FIG. 3B, similarly
to the imaging data D1, either of the following two kinds of data
is generated selectively under control of the CPU 40: data for which
the frequency of the clock signal is set to 24 MHz, so as to correspond
to a case where the TV 74 connected to the video output terminal
66 is a conventional TV; and, data for which the frequency of the
clock signal is set to 27 MHz so as to correspond to a case where
the TV 74 connected to the video output terminal 66 is a wide TV.
[0078] As shown in FIG. 3B, for each line in the horizontal direction
of the additional information image represented by the additional
display data D2, the additional display data D2 is generated so
that when a conventional TV is connected to the video output terminal
66 the pixel data corresponding to the line of the above-mentioned
additional information image is in a period corresponding to the
horizontal blanking period (refer to FIG. 3E) in the composite video
signal S1. However when a wide TV is connected to the video output
terminal 66 the pixel data corresponding to the line of the above-mentioned
additional information image is included in the video period (refer
to FIG. 3E) in the composite video signal S1 outside of the period
in which the data representing the object image in the imaging data
D1 is included.
[0079] With the digital camera 10 according to this embodiment,
icon information playing a predetermined role is applied as the
above-mentioned additional information. However, the additional
information is not limited to icon information and information representing
photographing conditions set in the digital camera 10, information
representing thumbnail images or the like are also applicable.
[0080] In the combining part 60, the imaging data D1 and the additional
display data D2 thus generated are combined, and the composite data
D3 (corresponding to "video additional information data")
as shown in FIG. 3C is generated and output to the digital encoder
62 and the LCD controller 68.
[0081] As shown in the FIG. 3C, the composite data D3 thus generated
includes digital data representing the additional information in
either the horizontal blanking period in the composite video signal
S1, or a period corresponding to a blank period of the video period,
and digital data representing the object image in the period corresponding
to the video period in the composite video signal S1.
[0082] To the composite data D3 input from the combining part 60,
the digital encoder 62: when a conventional TV is connected to the
video output terminal 66 masks the digital data included in the
period corresponding to the horizontal blanking period of the composite
video signal S1 (that is, data representing the additional information);
when a wide TV is connected to the video output terminal 66, masks
the period including the data representing the additional information
in the period corresponding to the video period of the composite
video signal S1 in addition to the period corresponding to the horizontal
blanking period of the composite video signal S1; and then superimposes
digital data of a horizontal synchronizing signal and a color burst
signal of the composite video signal S1 in a period corresponding
to the horizontal blanking period; thereby generating digital data
representing the composite video signal S1 to output to the DAC
64.
[0083] FIG. 3D shows masked data D4 as the data masked in the digital
encoder 62. The digital encoder 62 according to this embodiment
performs the above-mentioned masking by making the digital data
in the masking period to be the same level as the black level of
the imaging data D1.
[0084] As a result, an example of the composite video signal S1
supplied from the DAC 64 to the video output terminal 66 is shown
in FIG. 3E and the object image can be normally displayed on the
TV 74 connected to the video output terminal 66.
[0085] Next, the general operation of the digital camera 10 according
to this embodiment when photographing will be described briefly.
[0086] Firstly, the CCD 24 picks up an image of the object through
the optical unit 22 and outputs an analog signal for each of R (red),
G (green) and B (blue) representing the object image to the analog
signal processing part 26 sequentially. The analog signal processing
part 26 applies analog signal processing, such as correlated double
sampling processing, to the analog signals input from the CCD 24
and outputs the processed signals to the ADC 28 sequentially.
[0087] The ADC 28 converts the analog signal for each R, G and
B input from the analog signal processing part 26 into respectively
R, G and B signals of 12 bits (digital image data), and outputs
the signals to the digital signal processing part 30 sequentially.
The digital signal processing part 30 accumulates the digital image
data sequentially input from the ADC 28 in a built-in line buffer
and stores the data in a predetermined region of the memory 48A
directly.
[0088] The digital image data stored in the predetermined region
of the memory 48A is read out by the signal processing part 30 according
to the control of the CPU 40, and a digital gain is applied depending
on a predetermined physical quantity for white balance adjustment,
and gamma processing and sharpness processing are preformed to generate
digital image data of 8 bits.
[0089] Subsequently, the signal processing part 30 applies YC signal
processing to the generated digital image data of 8 bits to generate
a luminance signal and chroma signals Cr and Cb (hereinafter referred
to as "YC signal"), stores the YC signal in a region other
than the predetermined region of the memory 48A and outputs the
signal to the combining part 60 as the imaging data D1.
[0090] The LCD 38 is configured so as to serve as a finder by displaying
a dynamic image (through image) obtained by sequential imaging with
the CCD 24. In the case where the LCD 38 is used as the finder,
the video/LCD encoder 36: acquires the additional display data D2,
by reading out the data representing the additional information
stored in the memory 48B into the combining part 60; combines the
additional display data D2 with the imaging data D1 input from the
signal processing part 30 sequentially; generates the composite
data D3 in real time; and, outputs the data D3 to the digital encoder
62 and the LCD controller 68.
[0091] Using the composite data D3 input from the combining part
60, the LCD controller 68 generates an image signal capable of supplying
to the LCD 38 by use of conventional known technology and outputs
the signal sequentially. This allows the LCD 38 to display the through
image thereon.
[0092] On the other hand, the digital encoder 62 generates digital
data representing the composite video signal S1, based of the composite
data D3 input from the combining part 60 as mentioned above, and
outputs the digital data to the DAC 64 sequentially. As a result,
the composite video signal S1 representing the through image is
supplied to the video output terminal 66 sequentially.
[0093] Here, as described above, the AE function operates to set
exposure conditions at the timing at which the release switch 56A
is brought into the half-pressed state by the user, and then the
AF function operates to control focus. Subsequently, at the timing
at which the release switch 56A is brought into the full-pressed
state, the YC signal stored in the memory 48A is compressed with
a predetermined compression format (JPEG format in this embodiment)
in the compression/expansion processing circuit 54, and then recorded
in the memory card 52 through the external memory interface 50.
[0094] The digital camera 10 according to this embodiment performs
connected TV switch processing when the user sets the TV 74 connected
to the video output terminal 66 to be a conventional TV or a wide
TV on the menu screen displayed on the LCD 38 by pressing the menu
switch.
[0095] Next, the operation of the digital camera 10 when performing
the connected TV switch processing will be described with reference
to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a process flow of a connected
TV switch processing program executed in the CPU 40 of the digital
camera 10 and the program is stored in advance in a predetermined
region of the memory 48B. The case where the through image is displayed
on the LCD 38 and the TV 74 will be described.
[0096] At a step 100 of the figure, by stopping the operation of
the digital encoder 62 and the LCD controller 68, display of the
through image on the TV 74 and the LCD 38 is stopped and at a next
step 102, operation of the clock generator 72 is stopped.
[0097] At a next step 104, it is determined whether or not the
kind of TV 74 set by the user is a wide TV, and when it is determined
that the TV 74 is a wide TV, the operation proceeds to a step 106.
[0098] At the step 106, with respect to the clock generator 72,
the frequency of the clock signal supplied to the video/LCD encoder
36 is set to be the frequency for wide a TV (27 MHz). At a next
step 108, with respect to the digital encoder 62, the above-mentioned
processing in the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking
period and the video period of the composite data D3 input from
the combining part 60 is set for a wide TV (the digital data in
the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking period and the
period outside of the period which includes the digital data representing
the object image in the video period is masked, and the digital
data corresponding to the horizontal synchronizing signal and the
color burst signal in the period corresponding to the horizontal
blanking period is superimposed onto the masked digital data) and
the operation proceeds to a step 114.
[0099] On the other hand, when it is determined that the TV 74
is not a wide TV, it is assumed that the kind of TV 74 set by the
user is a conventional TV and the operation proceeds to a step 110.
At the step 110, with respect to the clock generator 72, the frequency
of the clock signal supplied to the video/LCD encoder 36 is set
to be the frequency for a conventional TV (24 MHz). At a next step
112, with respect to the digital encoder 62, the processing in the
period corresponding to the horizontal blanking period of the composite
data D3 input from the combining part 60 is set for a conventional
TV (the digital data in the period corresponding to the horizontal
blanking period is masked and the digital data corresponding to
the horizontal synchronizing signal and the color burst signal in
the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking period is superimposed
onto the masked digital data), and the operation proceeds to a step
114.
[0100] At the step 114, the operation of the clock generator 72,
stopped at the step 102, is started again and at a next step 116,
the operation of the digital encoder 62 and the LCD controller 68,
stopped at the step 100, is started again and then the connected
TV switch processing program is finished.
[0101] According to the connected TV switch processing, for example,
when the composite data D3 is as shown in FIG. 5, an image similar
to the image shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the LCD 38 as shown
in FIG. 6A. Regarding the TV display, when the TV 74 is a wide TV,
as shown in FIG. 6B, an image in which the region for the additional
information image of the image displayed on the LCD 38 is in a blanking
state is displayed on the TV 74 connected to the video output terminal
66, and when the TV 74 is a conventional TV, as shown in FIG. 6C,
only the object image is displayed.
[0102] The case where the photo mode is set and the through image
is displayed on the LCD 38 and the TV 74 is described above. However,
the case where a playback mode is set, and the object image shown
by the digital image data recorded in the memory card 52 is displayed
on the LCD 38 and the TV 74, the video/LCD encoder 36 also operate
in a similar manner to the above-mentioned operations. In this case,
however, the digital signal processing part 30 reads out the digital
image data representing the object image from the memory card 52
and generates the imaging data D1 in the above-mentioned format
to output the imaging data D1 to the combining part 60.
[0103] As described in detail, according to this embodiment, the
digital camera 10 comprises: an imaging component (CCD 24), for
acquiring digital image data representing an object image by imaging;
a display component (LCD 38), for displaying the object image thereon;
and a video output terminal, for outputting a composite video signal
that represents the object image and has a set of a horizontal blanking
period and a video period for each scanning line to the outside.
Furthermore the digital camera 10: includes digital data representing
additional information, to be displayed with the object image on
the display component in the period corresponding to the horizontal
blanking period of the composite video signal; generates video additional
information data (composite data D3), including the digital data
representing the object image in the period corresponding to the
video period of the composite video signal; masks the digital data
included in the video additional information data, in the period
corresponding to the horizontal blanking period; superimposes a
horizontal synchronizing signal and a color burst signal in the
horizontal blanking period, thereby generating the composite video
signal to supply the signal to the video output terminal; generates
a display image signal, for displaying the object image and the
additional information on the display component based on the video
additional information data; and, supplies the signal to the display
component. Because of this configuration an image signal for displaying
the object image and the additional information on the display component
and an image signal for supplying to the connected external display
device (TV 74) can be generated with a simple configuration.
[0104] Further, according to this embodiment, since in the case
where the aspect ratio of an display region of the external display
device connected to the video output terminal is different from
the aspect ratio of the object image (the case where the TV 74 is
the wide TV) the period which includes the digital data representing
the additional information is defined as a period corresponding
to the video period of the video additional information data outside
of the period including the digital data representing the object
image, display of the additional information on the external display
device can be performed simply. Specifically, this can be achieved
by setting the digital encoder 60 so as to mask only the period
corresponding to the horizontal blanking period of the composite
data D3 input from the combining part 60 at the step 108 of the
connected TV switch processing program.
[0105] Further, according to this embodiment, since the frequency
of the video additional information data is switched according to
the aspect ratio of the display region of the external display device
connected to the video output terminal, the frequency of the video
additional information data can be made according to the aspect
ratio of the display region of the external display device and therefore,
the composite video signal according to the external display device
can be generated simply.
Second Embodiment
[0106] This second embodiment describes a case where it can be
selectively set as to whether or not the additional information
is displayed on the TV 74 connected to the video output terminal
66.
[0107] A digital camera according to the second embodiment is different
from the digital camera 10 according to the first embodiment (refer
to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) in that the digital encoder 62 also has a
function of combining the additional information so as to be displayed
at any position of the object image. Also it can be set as to whether
or not the additional information is displayed on the TV 74 connected
to the video output terminal 66 using the cross cursor switch 56
control on a menu screen displayed on the LCD 38 by the pressing
of the menu switch.
[0108] Next, the operation of the digital camera 10 according to
the second embodiment when performing the connected TV switch processing
will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flow chart
showing a process flow of a connected TV switch processing program
executed in the CPU 40 of the digital camera 10 and the program
is stored in advance in a predetermined region of the memory 48B.
The case where the through image is displayed on the LCD 38 and
the TV 74 will be described.
[0109] At a step 200 of the figure, by stopping operation of the
digital encoder 62 and the LCD controller 68, display of the through
image on the TV 74 and the LCD 38 is stopped and at a next step
202, operation of the clock generator 72 is stopped.
[0110] At a next step 204, it is determined whether or not the
kind of TV 74 set by the user is a wide TV and when it is determined
that the TV 74 is a wide TV, the operation proceeds to a step 206.
[0111] At the step 206, with respect to the clock generator 72,
the frequency of the clock signal supplied to the video/LCD encoder
36 is set to be the frequency for the wide TV (27 MHz). At a next
step 208, it is determined whether or not the user has set display
of the additional information. When it is determined that the user
sets this display, the operation proceeds to a step 210 and with
respect to the digital encoder 62, the composed position of the
additional information is set to be outside of the object image
area and the operation proceeds to a step 214.
[0112] On the other hand, when it is determined that the user does
not set display of the additional information at the step 208, it
is assumed that the user does not set display of the additional
information and the operation proceeds to a step 212. At the step
212, with respect to the digital encoder 62, the area outside of
the object image area is set to blanking and the operation proceeds
to a step 214.
[0113] At the step 214, with respect to the digital encoder 62,
the processing in the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking
period of the composite video signal D3 input from the combining
part 60 (processing of superimposing the horizontal synchronizing
signal and the color burst signal after masking) is set for a wide
TV and the operation proceeds to a step 226.
[0114] On the other hand, when it is determined in step 204 that
the TV 74 is not a wide TV, the kind of TV 74 set by the user is
assumed to be a conventional TV and the operation proceeds to a
step 216. At the step 216, with respect to the clock generator 72,
the frequency of the clock signal supplied to the video/LCD encoder
36 is set to be the frequency for a conventional TV (24 MHz). At
a next step 218, it is determined whether or not the user sets display
of the additional information and when it is determined that the
user sets it, the operation proceeds to a step 220 and with respect
to the digital encoder 62, the composed position of the additional
information is set to fall within the object image area and the
operation proceeds to a step 224.
[0115] On the other hand, when it is determined that the user does
not set display of the additional information at the step 218, it
is assumed that the user does not set display of the additional
information and the operation proceeds to a step 222. At the step
222, with respect to the digital encoder 62, it is set to dispose
the additional information in the period corresponding to the horizontal
blanking period of the composite video signal S1 and the operation
proceeds to a step 224.
[0116] At the step 224, with respect to the digital encoder 62,
the processing in the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking
period of the composite data D3 input from the combining part 60
is set for a conventional TV and the operation proceeds to the step
226.
[0117] At the step 226, the operation of the clock generator 72
stopped at the step 202 is started again and at a next step 228,
the operation of the digital encoder 62 and the LCD controller 68
stopped at the step 200 is started again and then the connected
TV switch processing program is finished.
[0118] According to the connected TV switch processing, for example,
when the image displayed on the LCD 38 is as shown in FIG. 8A in
the case where TV 74 is a wide TV and the user sets display of the
additional information, an image similar to the image displayed
on the LCD 38 is displayed on the TV 74 connected to the video output
terminal 66 as shown in FIG. 8B.
[0119] On the contrary, in the case where TV 74 is a wide TV and
the user does not set display of the additional information, an
image in which the region for the additional information image of
the image displayed on the LCD 38 is in a blanking state is displayed
on the TV 74 as shown in FIG. 8C.
[0120] On the other hand, in the case where TV 74 is the conventional
TV and the user sets display of the additional information, as an
example, an image in which the additional information is superimposed
at an arbitrary position of the object image displayed on the LCD
38 is displayed on the TV 74 as shown in FIG. 8D.
[0121] On the other hand, in the case where TV 74 is the conventional
TV and the user does not set display of the additional information,
as an example, only the object image displayed on the LCD 38 is
displayed on the TV 74 as shown in FIG. 8E.
[0122] The case where the photo mode is set and the through image
is displayed on the LCD 38 and the TV 74 is described above. However,
also in the case where the playback mode is set and the object image
shown by the digital image data recorded in the memory card 52 is
displayed on the LCD 38 and the TV 74, the video/LCD encoder 36
operate in a similar manner to the above-mentioned operations. In
this case, however, the digital signal processing part 30 reads
out the digital image data representing the object image to be read
out from the memory card 52 and generates the imaging data D1 in
the above-mentioned format to output to the combining part 60.
[0123] As described in detail, according to this embodiment, the
same effect as in the first embodiment can be achieved. Also it
is possible to selectively set whether or not the additional information
is displayed on the external display device since: the additional
display state information, representing whether or not the additional
information is displayed on the external display device connected
to the video output terminal, is acquired (that is the information
representing whether or not the additional information is to be
displayed on the TV 74 connected to the video output terminal 66,
which is set using the cross cursor switch 56D control on a menu
screen displayed on the LCD 38 by the pressing of the menu switch);
and, the signal in the video period in the composite video signal
is generated so as to display the additional information when the
additional display state information indicates display of the additional
information.
[0124] Each of the embodiments describe how the data representing
the additional information is combined in the period corresponding
to the video period in the composite data D3 when the TV 74 is a
wide TV. However, the present invention is not limited to this,
and for example, the additional information can also be combined
in the period corresponding to the horizontal blanking period when
the TV 74 is a wide TV as in the case of a conventional TV. In this
case, the same effect can be achieved as in these embodiments.
[0125] Further, the process flows of various processing programs
described in the embodiments (refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 7) are only
examples and therefore can be changed as appropriate in line with
the spirit of the present invention.
[0126] Furthermore, the configuration of the digital camera 10
described in the embodiments (refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) is only
an example and therefore can be changed as appropriate in line with
the spirit of the present invention. |