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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera includes a display device rotatable relative to
a camera body of the digital camera, the display device including
a display panel; an orientation detecting device which detects a
rotation of the display device to determine an orientation of the
display panel of the display device; a plurality of manual operating
switches for controlling an image display indicated on the display
panel of the display device; and a controller for controlling functions
assigned to the manual operating switches. The controller changes
assignments of the functions to the manual operating switches in
accordance with the orientation of the display panel upon detecting
a change in the orientation of the display panel from a result of
detection of the orientation detecting device.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital camera comprising: a display device that is rotatably
supported on a camera body of said digital camera, said display
device indicating a plurality of selectable functions of the camera
on a display panel; an orientation detecting device which detects
an angular position of said display device with respect to said
camera body to determine an orientation of said display panel of
said display device; a plurality of manual operating switches, each
of said manual operating switches being adapted to select said selectable
functions indicated on said display panel; and a controller for
assigning functions to said manual operating switches, wherein said
controller changes assignments of said functions to said manual
operating switches in accordance with said angular position of said
display device detected by said orientation detecting device.
2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said manual
operating switches are positioned on a top surface of said camera
body.
3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said display
panel of said display device can be positioned to lie in a plane
substantially orthogonal to an optical axis of a photographing optical
system of said digital camera so that said display panel can be
viewed at least from one of a front side and a rear side of said
camera body by rotating said display device.
4. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein said display
device is rotatable on an axis which is orthogonal to said optical
axis.
5. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising
a function informing device for informing said functions assigned
to said manual operating switches.
6. The digital camera according to claim 5, wherein said function
informing device comprises at least one light emitter capable of
emitting different colors of light for lighting said manual operating
switches, and wherein said controller controls operation of said
light emitter so that said light emitter changes color of light
emitted therefrom to change a color of each said manual operating
switches in accordance with said result of detection of said orientation
detecting device.
7. The digital camera according to claim 5, wherein said function
informing device comprises a plurality of LEDs which are positioned
inside said manual operating switches, respectively.
8. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising:
a connector portion to which an external device having a display
monitor is connectable; and a connector detector for detecting whether
said external device is connected to said connector portion, wherein
said controller prohibits said assignments of said functions to
said manual operating switches from being changed in the case where
said connector detector detects that said external device is connected
to said connector portion.
9. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said display
device is pivoted to a rear end of said camera body.
10. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein said display
device is rotatable about a second axis which is orthogonal to said
axis.
11. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said manual
operating switches comprise a multi-direction control button which
can be operated in biaxial directions orthogonal to each other.
12. A digital camera comprising: a display device that is rotatably
supported on a camera body of said digital camera, said display
device indicating a plurality of selectable functions of the camera
on a display panel; a plurality of manual operating switches, each
of said manual operating switches being adapted to select said selectable
functions indicated on said display panel; and a controller which
changes assignments of functions to said manual operating switches
in accordance with variations in an angular position of said display
device relative to said camera body.
13. A portable device comprising: a display device configured so
that an orientation of a display panel of said display device relative
to an operating portion is changeable; an orientation detecting
device for detecting a change in said orientation of said display
panel; a manual operation member, provided on said operating portion,
for controlling an image display indicated on said display panel
of said display device; and a controller for controlling functions
of said manual operation member, wherein said controller changes
functions of said manual operation member in accordance with said
orientation of said display panel upon detecting a change in said
orientation of said display panel from a result of detection of
said orientation detecting device.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a digital camera having
a manual operation member and a display device, the position of
which can be changed, and further relates to any other type of portable
device having a manual operation member and such a display device.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Some conventional digital still/video cameras (hereinafter
referred to simply as digital cameras) are provided with a display
device (monitor) which indicates captured images and setting menus
for various functions of the camera and which can be oriented forwards
or rearwards with respect to the digital camera to correspond to
photographing conditions. This type of digital camera is disclosed
in Japanese laid-open patent publication H06-98210.
[0005] Although the user faces the display device to visually check
the image display indicated on a display panel of the display device
before operating the camera, different functions assigned to various
operating switches are invariable independently of the position
of the user relative to the camera, and accordingly, it is sometimes
the case that the user operates such operating switches mistakenly,
e.g., the up operating switch can be mistakenly operated instead
of the down operating switch and vice versa, or the left operating
switch can be mistakenly operated instead of the right operating
switch and vice versa. An increase in the number of operating switches
due to multifunctionality of recent digital cameras can be a potential
cause of such an operation mistake.
[0006] A similar problem has arisen in portable or mobile devices
other than digital cameras, e.g., recently manufactured mobile phones
having a rotatable LCD unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides a digital camera which makes
it possible for the user to operate the camera so as to perform
the same operation at any time regardless of the position of the
user relative to the digital camera when the user operates the digital
camera, thus obtaining an improvement in operability of the digital
camera.
[0008] The present invention provides a portable device such as
a digital camera which is improved in operability of the portable
device when the orientation of a display device of the portable
device relative to a manual operation member of the portable device
is changed.
[0009] According to an aspect of the present invention, a digital
camera is provided, including a display device that is rotatably
supported on a camera body of the digital camera, the display device_indicating
a plurality of selectable functions of the camera on a display panel;
an orientation detecting device which detects an angular position
of the display device with respect to the camera body to determine
an orientation of the display panel of the display device; a plurality
of manual operating switches, each of the manual operating switches
being adapted to select the selectable functions indicated on the
display panel; and a controller for assigning functions to the manual
operating switches. The controller changes assignments of the functions
to the manual operating switches in accordance with the angular
position of the display device detected by the orientation detecting
device.
[0010] It is desirable for the manual operating switches to be
positioned on a top surface of the camera body.
[0011] It is desirable for the display panel of the display device
to be positioned to lie in a plane substantially orthogonal to an
optical axis of a photographing optical system of the digital camera
so that the display panel can be viewed at least from one of a front
side and a rear side of the camera body by rotating the display
device.
[0012] It is desirable for the display device to be rotatable on
an axis which is orthogonal to the optical axis.
[0013] It is desirable for the digital camera to include a function
informing device for informing the functions assigned to the manual
operating switches.
[0014] It is desirable for the function informing device to include
at least one light emitter capable of emitting different colors
of light for lighting the manual operating switches. The controller
controls operation of the light emitter so that the light emitter
changes color of light emitted therefrom to change a color of each
the manual operating switches in accordance with the result of detection
of the orientation detecting device.
[0015] It is desirable for the function informing device to include
a plurality of LEDs which are positioned inside the manual operating
switches, respectively.
[0016] It is desirable for the digital camera to include a connector
portion to which an external device having a display monitor is
connectable; and a connector detector for detecting whether the
external device is connected to the connector portion. The controller
prohibits the assignments of the functions to the manual operating
switches from being changed in the case where the connector detector
detects that the external device is connected to the connector portion.
[0017] It is desirable for the display device to be pivoted to
a rear end of the camera body.
[0018] It is desirable for the display device to be rotatable about
a second axis which is orthogonal to the axis.
[0019] It is desirable for the manual operating switches to be
a multi-direction control button which can be operated in biaxial
directions orthogonal to each other.
[0020] In an embodiment, a digital camera is provided, including
a display device that is rotatably supported on a camera body of
the digital camera, the display device indicating a plurality of
selectable functions of the camera on a display panel; a plurality
of manual operating switches, each of the manual operating switches
being adapted to select the selectable functions indicated on the
display panel; and a controller which changes assignments of functions
to the manual operating switches in accordance with variations in
an angular position of the display device relative to the camera
body.
[0021] In an embodiment, a portable device is provided, including
a display device configured so that an orientation of a display
panel of the display device relative to an operating portion is
changeable; an orientation detecting device for detecting a change
in the orientation of the display panel; a manual operation member,
provided on the operating portion, for controlling an image display
indicated on the display panel of the display device; and a controller
for controlling functions of the manual operation member. The controller
changes functions of the manual operation member in accordance with
the orientation of the display panel upon detecting a change in
the orientation of the display panel from a result of detection
of the orientation detecting device.
[0022] The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained
in Japanese Patent Application No.2004-142898 (filed on May 12,
2004) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The present invention will be described below in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a
digital camera according to the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the digital camera
shown in FIG. 1, viewed from a different angle;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the digital camera
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the digital camera
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, viewed from the grip side;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the digital camera
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a state in which an LCD monitor
unit is in an upright position;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system of the digital
camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0030] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a process of setting functions
of a five-way control button provided on a camera body of the digital
camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0031] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing assignment patterns of functions
to the five-way control button;
[0032] FIG. 9 is a front view in perspective of the digital camera
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, showing that the LCD monitor unit is rotatable
not only about a first axis of rotation but also about a second
axis of rotation; and
[0033] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing another process of setting
functions of the five-way control button in the case where the LCD
monitor unit is rotatable both about the first axis of rotation
and about the second axis of rotation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0034] An embodiment of a digital camera 10 is provided with a
camera body (outer casing) 11 including a photographing optical
system (image-forming optical system). The camera body 11 is formed
as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped which is elongated
along an optical axis O of the photographing optical system. The
outer surface of the camera body 11 is composed of six surfaces
(flat portions): a front end surface 11a, a rear end surface 11b,
a top surface 11c, a bottom surface 11d, a right side surface 11e
and a left side surface 11f. The top surface 11c, the bottom surface
11d, the right side surface 11e and the left side surface 11f connect
the front end surface 11a with the rear end surface 11b, and surround
the optical axis O. In the present embodiment of the digital camera
10, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of FIG.
3 correspond to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction
of the digital camera 10, respectively. In addition, a direction
parallel to the optical axis O is defined as a forward/rearward
direction of the digital camera 10, the front end surface 11a is
defined as the front side of the digital camera 10, and the rear
end surface 11b is defined as the rear side of the digital camera
10.
[0035] The digital camera 10 is provided in the camera body 11
with a frontmost lens group LF of the photographing optical system
which is exposed to the outside of the camera body 10 from the front
end surface 11a. The frontmost lens group LF can be a lens group
consisting of a single lens element or a plurality of lens elements.
The photographing optical system of the digital camera 10, that
is provided inside the camera body 11, is a zoom lens optical system
having more than one lens group in addition to the frontmost lens
group LF. Specifically, the photographing optical system is an internal-focusing/zooming
optical system in which the focus or the focal length is altered
by moving elements internally within the lens barrel (i.e., the
external lens barrel is not extended or retracted). Accordingly,
the frontmost lens group LF does not move forward from the position
thereof shown in the drawings.
[0036] The digital camera 10 is provided, on the top surface 11c
of the camera body 11 in an area thereon close to the rear end surface
11b, with a mode select dial 14 and various manual operational buttons
such as a power button 13, a playback button 15, a menu button 16
and a five-way control button (manual operating switches/multi-direction
control button/manual operation member) 17. The power button 13
serves as a manual operational member for turning ON and OFF a main
switch of the digital camera 10. The mode select dial 14 serves
as a manual operational member for selecting a desired photographing
mode from among different photographing modes. The playback button
15 serves as a manual operational member for reproducing stored
images on a liquid crystal display (LCD) portion (display panel)
32. The five-way control button 17 is constructed from a momentary
switch which can be operated to move in different directions. The
five-way control button 17 can be operated in biaxial directions
orthogonal to each other (four directions: forward, rearward, right
and left), and also in a press-down direction at an intersection
of the aforementioned biaxial directions, i.e., at the center thereof.
More specifically, the five-way control button 17 is provided with
four-way operating portions: an up push-button portion (manual operating
switch) S1, a down push-button portion (manual operating switch)
S2, a left push-button portion (manual operating switch) S3, and
a right push-button portion (manual operating switch) S4. The five-way
control button 17 is also provided with a press-down-direction operating
portion S0 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Immediately after the menu button
16 is operated, control enters a setup mode in which various settings
on the digital camera 10 can be changed and selected by operating
the up push-button portion S1 and the down push-button portion S2
or the left push-button portion S3 and the right push-button portion
S4 of the five-way control button 17. The various settings in the
setup mode include image size, quality, white balance, sensitivity
(ISO) and others, but are not limited solely to these particular
settings. The five-way control button 17 is also used to change
playback images indicated on the LCD portion 32.
[0037] The digital camera 10 is provided, on top of the camera
body 11 in front of the aforementioned various manual operational
buttons including the power button 13, the playback button 15, the
menu button 16 and the five-way control button 17, with a pop-up
flash 18. The pop-up flash 18 can be switched between a pop-up position
in which a light emitting portion of the pop-up flash 18 projects
upwards from the top surface 11c of the camera body 11, and a retracted
position in which the light emitting portion of the pop-up flash
18 is retracted into the top surface 11c of the camera body 11.
In each of FIGS. 1 through 5, the pop-up flash 18 is in the retracted
position, and accordingly, the light emitting portion of the pop-up
flash 18 is not shown. The camera body 11 is provided in the vicinity
of the ridge (border) between the upper surface 11c and the right
side surface 11e with a card slot lid 19 for covering a card slot
(not shown) formed on the camera body 11. This card slot is accessible
from the outside of the camera body 11 by opening the card slot
lid 19. In a state in which the card slot lid 19 is open, a removable
memory card 61 (FIG. 1), in which image data can be stored, can
be inserted and removed into and from the memory card slot.
[0038] The digital camera 10 is provided, on the left side surface
11f of the camera body 11 at regular intervals in the optical axis
direction, with a flash mode select button 20, a drive mode select
button 21 and a focus mode select button 22. The flash mode select
button 20, the drive mode select button 21 and the focus mode select
button 22 are positioned in substantially the same range, in the
optical axis direction, as the aforementioned various manual operational
members (13 through 17) in the optical axis direction. The flash
mode select button 20 serves as a manual operational member for
controlling the operation of the light emitting portion of the pop-up
flash 18. By operating the flash mode select button 20, a desired
flash mode can be selected from among different flash modes such
as auto flash mode, compulsory flash mode, suppressed flash mode
and red-eye reduction mode. The drive mode select button 21 serves
as a manual operational button for selecting a drive mode at a shutter
release from among different drive modes such as normal drive mode
(single-frame mode), multi-frame consecutive photographing mode,
self-timer photographing mode and auto-bracketing photographing
mode. The focus mode select button 22 serves as a manual operational
member for selecting a focus mode from among different focus modes
such as normal auto focus mode, macro (close-up) photographing mode,
infinity photographing mode and manual focus mode. The digital camera
10 is provided, on the left side surface 11f of the camera body
11 slightly in front of the flash select button 20, with speaker
slits 23, and is further provided, on the camera body 11 below the
speaker slits 23, with an external connector cover 24. The external
connector cover 24 can be opened and closed (or detached and attached)
with respect to the left side surface 11f of the camera body 11.
The digital camera 10 is provided, in an internal space of the camera
body 11 immediately behind the external connector cover 24, with
a jack substrate (not shown) to which an AV (audiovisual) jack for
connection to an AV device such as an external display monitor and
an adapter jack for power adapter (e.g., AC adapter) are mounted.
The AV jack and the adapter jack are exposed on the left side surface
11f to be accessible from the outside of the camera body 11 if the
external connector cover 24 is opened.
[0039] The digital camera 10 is provided at the back of the camera
body 11 (on the rear end surface 11b) with an LCD monitor unit (display
device) 25 which is mounted to the camera body 11 via a hinge portion
26 formed along the ridge (border) between the rear end surface
11b and the top surface 11c. The hinge portion 26 includes a pair
of support arms 27, a middle support arm 28 and a pair of pivot
pins 29. The pair of support arms 27 project from the camera body
11 at positions thereon laterally apart from each other. The middle
support arm 28 to which the LCD monitor unit 25 is fixed to be supported
thereby is held between the pair of support arms 27. The pair of
pivot pins 29 project in opposite lateral directions away from each
other from opposite ends of the middle support arm 28 to be respectively
inserted into pin holes of the pair of support arms 27. Due to this
structure of the hinge portion 26, the pair of support arms 27 and
the middle support arm 28 can rotate relative to each other about
the pair of pivot pins 29. An axis X1 (axis of rotation of the LCD
monitor unit 25) of the pair of pivot pins 29 extends in a lateral
direction of the digital camera 10 that is orthogonal to the optical
axis O. The LCD monitor unit 25 can be manually rotated about the
axis X1 between a retracted position (seated position; the position
shown in FIG. 4) in which the LCD monitor unit 25 is positioned
on the rear end surface 11b to sit on the optical axis O, and an
upright position (the position shown in FIG. 5) in which an edge
of the LCD monitor unit 25, which is on the opposite side of the
LCD monitor unit 25 from the middle support arm 28, is positioned
above the hinge portion 26. When in the retracted position, the
LCD monitor unit 25 lies in a plane substantially orthogonal to
the optical axis O.
[0040] A rectangular frame portion 25a of the LCD monitor unit
25 is provided with four edge portions surrounding the rectangular
LCD portion (display panel) 32. The shape and size of the LCD monitor
unit 25 are determined so that three of the four edge portions of
the frame portion 25a, except for one of the four edge portions
which is adjacent to the middle support portion 28, are substantially
flush with the bottom surface 11d, the right side surface 11e and
the left side surface 11f, respectively, when the LCD monitor unit
25 is in the retracted position, in which the LCD monitor unit 25
is positioned on the rear end surface 11b of the camera body 11
as shown in FIG. 4 (see FIG. 3).
[0041] FIG. 4 shows a state in which the LCD monitor unit 25 is
in the retracted position with the LCD portion 32 (shown as the
diagonally shaded area in FIG. 4) facing toward the rear of the
digital camera 10 (leftward as viewed in FIG. 4). In this state
shown in FIG. 4, if the LCD monitor unit 25 is rotated about the
axis X1 to stand vertically as shown in FIG. 5, the LCD portion
32 faces toward the front of the digital camera 10 (rightward as
viewed in FIG. 5). This state shown in FIG. 5, in which the LCD
portion 32 faces forward, is suitable for the case where the user
photographs himself/herself (self portrait) while holding the digital
camera 10. Although FIG. 5 only shows a state of the LCD monitor
unit 25 which is rotated about the axis X1 by approximately 180
degrees from the retracted state thereof (of FIG. 4) to stand vertically,
the hinge portion 26 is provided with a frictional mechanism (or
a click mechanism) by which the LCD monitor unit 25 can be stopped
at other angular positions between the retracted position and the
upright position.
[0042] Although the right and left sides of the LCD portion 32
are inverted and the top and bottom sides of the LCD portion 32
are inverted between the retracted position shown in FIG. 4 and
the upright position shown in FIG. 5, the digital camera 10 is provided
with a detector 29a (see FIGS. 1 through 3) for detecting a change
in rotational position of the LCD monitor unit 25 about the axis
X1, and an image controller (which includes a CPU 50 shown in FIG.
6) for indicating a captured image on the LCD portion 32 in a correct
position as viewed from the user in accordance with the result of
detection of the detector 29a. The detector 29a is provided with
a radial pin which projects from one of the pair of pins 29 in a
radial direction thereof and a micro switch (not shown) positioned
so as to be associated with the radial projection and capable of
detecting whether the LCD monitor unit 25 is in either the retracted
position shown in FIG. 4 or the upright position shown in FIG. 5.
[0043] The digital camera 10 is provided on the right side surface
11e with a grip 40. The grip 40 is formed in a substantially rectangular
parallelepiped similar to the camera body 11. The grip 40 is pivoted
(rotatable) on the camera body 11 about a pivot shaft (not shown)
which projects from the camera body 11 in a direction substantially
parallel to the axis X1. The grip 40 is provided thereon with a
release button 45, a ring-shaped zoom switch 46 which surrounds
the release button 45, and a moving-image recording button 47. The
release button 45 serves as a manual operational member for photographing
still images. A photometering operation and a distance measuring
operation are carried out when the release button 45 is depressed
halfway down, and a shutter is released when the release button
45 is fully depressed. Prior to these operations, a photographing
mode and other settings are set with the above described various
manual-operational members as appropriate. On the other hand, the
moving-image recording button 47 serves as a manual operational
member for recording moving images. An operation of recording moving
images commences immediately after the moving-image recording button
47 is depressed once, and thereafter stops immediately after the
moving-image recording button 47 is depressed once again. The still
images and moving images are processed via an image processor to
be stored in the memory card 61 as electronic image data. In addition
to the memory card 61, the digital camera 10 can be provided therein
with a built-in memory (non-removable memory) in which the processed
still images and moving images can be stored.
[0044] A control system provided in the present embodiment of the
digital camera 10 will be hereinafter discussed with reference to
FIG. 6. Although only major elements of the control system of the
digital camera 10 are shown as block diagrams in FIG. 6, the digital
camera 10 is provided with other elements that are generally provided
in conventional digital cameras for image recording and playback
capabilities though such elements are not shown. The control system
of the digital camera 10 is provided with an imaging portion 51
which firstly converts an object image formed on an image pickup
device (e.g., a CCD or CMOS image sensor; not shown) through the
photographing optical system into an electrical signal, and subsequently
performs an image processing on the obtained electrical signal to
output this signal as image data. Thereafter, this image data obtained
through the imaging portion 51 is indicated as a visual image on
the LCD monitor unit 25 and/or stored in the memory card 61. The
image data stored in the memory card 61 is visually indicated on
the LCD monitor unit 25 or an external display monitor 59 by operating
the playback button 15 when playback mode is selected.
[0045] The control system of the digital camera 10 is provided
with a rotation detecting switch 53 which is composed of the detector
29a that includes the radial projection and the micro switch mentioned
above. The rotation detecting switch 53 outputs a detection signal
to the CPU 50. The CPU 50 and the rotation detecting switch 53 constitute
an orientation detecting device. The CPU 50 inverts the image indicated
on the LCD monitor unit 25 right-left and top-bottom as appropriate,
in accordance with the detection signal output from the rotation
detecting switch 53, and simultaneously, assigns different capabilities
to the four-way operating portions (switches) S1, S2, S3 and S4
of the five-way control button 17. The control system of the digital
camera 10 is provided with a plurality of LEDs (light emitter/function
informing device) 58 which illuminate the four-way operating portions
S1, S2, S3 and S4 from undersides thereof in predetermined different
colors or in different indicating manners in accordance with the
different functions assigned to the four-way operating portions
S1, S2, S3 and S4 of the five-way control button 17, respectively,
to inform the user which of the different functions is assigned
to which of the four-way operating portions S1, S2, S3 and S4. FIG.
8 shows an example of such a visual indicating manner using the
LED's 58 which illuminate the four-way operating portions S1, S2,
S3 and S4 in predetermined different colors: red, green, blue and
yellow. Specifically, the four-way operating portions S1, S2, S3
and S4 are illuminated red, blue, yellow and green if assigned as
an up button (UP), down button (DOWN), left button (LEFT), and right
button (RIGHT), respectively. To apply such an indicating manner
using different colors of illumination, each of the four-way operating
portions S1 through S4 of the five-way control button 17 is made
of a translucent material, and the LEDs 58 (RGB LEDs) are provided
in each of the four-way operating portions S1 through S4. The control
system of the digital camera 10 is provided with an EEPROM 54 in
which data on the assignments of functions to the four-way operating
portions S1, S2, S3 and S4 are stored in advance. The CPU 50 reads
out the data on the assignments of functions to the four-way operating
portions S1, S2, S3 and S4 as appropriate in accordance with the
detection signal output from the rotation detecting switch 53. As
shown in FIG. 8, when initializing the settings upon the power being
switched ON, function assignment A (the four-way operating portions
S1, S2, S3 and S4 are assigned as up button (UP), down button (DOWN),
left button (LEFT) and right button (RIGHT), respectively) is selected.
Function assignment B (the four-way operating portions S1, S2, S3
and S4 are assigned as down button (DOWN), up button (UP), right
button (RIGHT) and left button (LEFT), respectively) is selected
when the rotation detecting switch 53 detects that the LCD monitor
unit 25 is in the upright position as shown in FIG. 5. Although
the functions assigned to the four-way operating portions S1, S2,
S3 and S4 change according to the circumstances of the digital camera
10, in the most cases the up button is assigned as an increment
button or a select button, the down button is assigned as a decrement
button or a cancel button, the right button is assigned as an increment
button or a forward-scroll button, and the left button is assigned
as a decrement button or a reverse-scroll button.
[0046] The control system of the digital camera 10 is provided
with a connector portion 55 which is composed of the aforementioned
AV jack to which a connector 60 for connecting to the external display
monitor 59 is connected. The control system of the digital camera
10 is provided with a connector detector 56 for detecting whether
the connector 60 is connected to the AV jack. Upon detecting that
the connector 60 is connected to the AV jack via the connector detector
56, the CPU 50 reads out the image data from the memory card 61
and converts the image data into an image signal having a predetermined
format to output this signal. If the connector detector 56 detects
that the connector 60 is connected to the AV jack, the connector
detector 56 enables the CPU 50 to output the image signal, and prohibits
the assignments of the functions, to the four-way operating portions
S1, S2, S3 and S4 of the five-way control button 17 from being changed
to maintain the assignments of the functions at the time of connection
of the connector 60 to the AV jack.
[0047] FIG. 7 is a control flow chart showing a process of setting
functions on the five-way control button 17. This process commences
to be performed by the CPU 50 at predetermined intervals immediately
after the main power of the digital camera 10 is turned ON. The
controls by the CPU 50 are carried out in accordance with programs
written in an internal ROM of the CPU 50. In this process, firstly
it is determined at step S10 whether the connector 60 is currently
connected to the connector portion 55 (AV jack). If it is determined
that the connector 60 is currently connected to the connector portion
55 (if YES at step S10), control proceeds to step S20 at which it
is determined whether the five-way control button 17 is currently
operated. If it is determined that the connector 60 is not connected
to the connector portion 55 (if NO at step S10), control proceeds
to step S12 at which the CPU 50 detects the rotational position
(the upright position or the retracted position) of the LCD monitor
unit 25 via the rotation detecting switch 53 (the detector 29a).
With the result of this detection at step S12, it is determined
at step S14 whether the LCD monitor unit 25 faces toward the rear
of the digital camera 10 as shown in FIG. 4. If it is determined
at step S14 that the LCD monitor unit 25 is in the retracted position
as shown in FIG. 4 (if YES at step S14), control proceeds to step
S16 at which the CPU 50 reads out data on the function assignment
A from the EEPROM 54 to assign the function assignment A as a default
assignment for the five-way control button 17. If it is determined
at step S14 that the LCD monitor unit 25 is not in the retracted
position (if NO at step S14), it is considered that the LCD monitor
unit 25 is in the upright position as shown in FIG. 5, and accordingly,
control proceeds to step S18 at which the CPU. 50 reads out data
on the function assignment B from the EEPROM 54 to assign the function
assignment B to the five-way control button 17. After the completion
of the operation at step S16 or S18, at which the four-way operating
portions S1, S2, S3 and S4 are respectively assigned as up button
(UP), down button (DOWN), left button (LEFT), and right button (RIGHT),
or are respectively assigned as down button (DOWN), up button (UP),
right button (RIGHT), and left button (LEFT), operations corresponding
to the functions assigned to the four-way operating portions S1,
S2, S3 and S4 of the five-way control button 17 are performed at
step S22 if it is determined at step S20 that the four-way operating
portions S1, S2, S3 and S4 of the five-way control button 17 are
currently operated. Control skips the operation at step S22 if it
is determined at step S20 that the five-way control button 17 is
not currently operated, and control returns.
[0048] The functions assigned to the five-way control button 17
have been described above. More specifically, in a photographing
mode (image recording mode), the left push-button portion S3 and
the right push-button portion S4 serve as an EV (exposure value)
shift-up (+) button and an EV shift-down (-) button, respectively.
In a playback mode, the up push-button portion S1 and the down push-button
portion S2 serve as a scroll-up button and a scroll-down button
for scrolling up and down a portion of a zoom-in image which is
indicated on the LCD monitor unit 25, respectively, while the left
push-button portion S3 and the right push-button portion S4 serve
as a frame-forward button and a frame-reverse button, respectively.
During the time a menu appears on the LCD monitor unit 25, one or
more functions of the digital camera 10 such as an autofocusing
capability are selected from among various functions of the digital
camera 10 by operating the five-way control button 17.
[0049] In the present embodiment of the digital camera 10, during
playback of recorded still and/or moving images on the LCD portion
32, it is assumed that the user holds the digital camera 10 with
the fingers placed on the upper surface 11c of the camera body 11.
Accordingly, manual operational members used for playback images
such as the playback button 15 and the five-way control button 17
are positioned on the top surface 11c, so that the user can easily
operate these manual operational members without changing the above
described photographing posture. During playback of recorded still
and/or moving images, the user can hold the digital camera 10 with
both hands holding the camera body 11 with the grip 40 positioned
in the retracted position.
[0050] Although the rotational direction of the LCD monitor unit
25 has been directed only to the rotational direction thereof about
the axis X1 in the above description, the LCD monitor unit 25 can
also be rotated on another axis of rotation orthogonal to the optical
axis O when the LCD monitor unit 25 is in the upright position.
In the present embodiment of the digital camera 10, the LCD monitor
unit 25 is supported by the middle support arm 28 to be rotatable
on the axis X2 (axis of rotation) that is orthogonal to the axis
X1. More specifically, a rotational pin 30 projects from a rectangular
frame portion 25a of the LCD monitor unit 25 along the axis X2 thereon,
while a pin-insertion hole in which the rotational pin 30 is rotatably
fitted is formed on the middle support arm 28. Accordingly, the
LCD monitor unit 25 is rotatable both about the axis X1 and on the
axis X2. The LCD portion 32 can be orientated to the left side or
the right side of the digital camera 10 by rotating the LCD monitor
unit 25 in the upright position on the axis X2 as shown in FIG.
9. Additionally, from this upright position, the LCD monitor unit
25 can be rotated about the axis X1 toward the retracted position
after being flipped on the axis X2. Thereupon, the LCD portion 32
faces the rear end surface 11b as shown by dotted lines in FIG.
4 or faces rearwards as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 5. The retracted
position shown in FIG. 4 with the LCD portion 32 facing the rear
end surface 11b is desirable when the digital camera 10 is carried
because the LCD portion 32 faces the rear end surface 11b to be
prevented from being damaged.
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the digital camera 10 is
provided beside the rotational pin 30 with a detector 30a which
is similar in structure to the above described detector 29a. Variations
in rotational position of the LCD monitor unit 25 about the axis
X2 can be detected by the detector 30a. In addition to the above
described function assignments A and B for the four-way operating
portions S1, S2, S3 and S4 of the five-way control button 17, data
on function assignment C (the four-way operating portions S1, S2,
S3 and S4 are assigned as right button (RIGHT), left button (LEFT),
up button (UP) and down button (DOWN), respectively) and data on
function assignment D (the four-way operating portions S1, S2, S3
and S4 are assigned as left button (LEFT), right button (RIGHT),
down button (DOWN) and up button (UP), respectively) are stored
in the EEPROM 54 in advance. The function assignment C is selected
when the detector 30a detects that the LCD monitor unit 25 in the
upright position is rotated on the axis X2 so that the LCD portion
32 faces rightward, while the function assignment D is selected
when the detector 30a detects that the LCD monitor unit 25 in the
upright position is rotated on the axis X2 so that the LCD portion
32 faces leftward.
[0052] FIG. 10 is a control flow chart showing a process of setting
functions on the five-way control button 17 in the case where the
LCD monitor unit 25 is rotatable both about the axis X1 and on the
axis X2. The control flow chart shown in FIG. 10, which is hereinafter
discussed, includes several operations (operations at steps S24
through S30) which are added to the operations performed in the
control flow chart shown in FIG. 7. If it is determined at step
S14 that the LCD monitor unit 25 is not in the retracted position
(if NO at step S14), it is determined at step S24 whether the LCD
monitor unit 25 is in the upright position. If it is determined
at step S24 that the LCD monitor unit 25 is in the upright position
(if YES at step S24), control proceeds to step S18. If it is determined
at step S24 that the LCD monitor unit 25 is not in the upright position
(if NO at step S24), it is determined at step S26 whether the LCD
monitor unit 25 is rotated on the axis X2 (the axis of the rotational
pin 30) so that the LCD portion 32 faces rightward. If it is determined
at step S26 that the LCD portion 32 faces rightward (if YES at step
S26), control proceeds to step S28 at which the CPU 50 reads out
data on the function assignment C from the EEPROM 54 to assign the
function assignment C to the five-way control button 17. If it is
determined at step S26 that the LCD portion 32 does not face rightward
(if NO at step S26), it is considered that the LCD portion 32 faces
leftward, and accordingly, control proceeds to step S30 at which
the CPU 50 reads out data on the function assignment D from the
EEPROM 54 to assign the function assignment D to the five-way control
button 17. After completion of the operation at each of steps S28
and S30, control proceeds to step S20. If it is determined at step
S20 that the five-way control button 17 is currently operated at
step S20 (if YES at step S20), control proceeds to step S22 at which
operations corresponding the functions assigned to the four-way
operating portions S1, S2, S3 and S4 of the five-way control button
17 are performed. Control skips the operation at step S22 if it
is determined at step S20 that the five-way control button 17 is
not currently operated, and control returns.
[0053] Due to the above described structure and controls, an intended
operation can be selectively performed by operating a plurality
of manual operation members (operating portions/the five-way control
button 17) in the same manner at any time regardless of the orientation
of the LCD monitor unit 25. Consequently, the camera is easier to
use and has an improved operability.
[0054] Moreover, the user does not confused about which of the
different functions is assigned to which of the plurality of operating
portions (S1, S2, S3 and S4) even if the assignments of the functions
to the plurality of operating portions are changed because the user
is informed of the change in the assignments of the functions by
an informing device such as LEDs.
[0055] Although the present invention has been applied to the digital
camera 10 in the above discussion, the present invention can be
applied to other portable devices other than digital cameras, e.g.,
a mobile phone having a rotatable LCD panel.
[0056] Obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiments
of the present invention described herein, such modifications being
within the spirit and scope of the invention claimed. It is indicated
that all matter contained herein is illustrative and does not limit
the scope of the present invention. |