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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera allowing a user to easily check shooting conditions
with low power consumption is to be provided. The digital camera
includes a display unit having a display panel on which a plurality
of shooting conditions are displayed and an indicator needle, a
driving unit for driving the indicator needle in response to an
input given by a user and indicating one of the shooting conditions
by using the indicator needle, and an image pick-up unit for converting
an optical image formed by an optical system to a digital image
on the basis of the shooting condition indicated by the indicator
needle.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A digital camera, comprising: a display unit that includes a
display panel on which a plurality of shooting conditions are displayed
and an indicator needle; a driving unit that drives the indicator
needle in response to an input given by a user for indicating any
of the shooting conditions by the indicator needle; and an image
pick-up unit that converts an optical image formed by an optical
system to a digital image on the basis of the shooting condition
indicated by the indicator needle.
2. The digital camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display
panel displays white balance as the shooting condition.
3. The digital camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein the display
panel displays a compression ratio as the shooting condition.
4. The digital camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein the driving
unit drives the indicator needle so as to point out a predetermined
position when the power is turned off.
5. The digital camera as set forth in claim 1, wherein the indicator
needle indicates the shooting condition set right before the power
is turned off even during the power-off.
6. A digital camera, comprising: an image pick-up unit that converts
an optical image formed by an optical system to a digital image
with data amount which is based on a shooting condition set; a storage
unit that stores the digital image; a display unit that includes
a display panel on which graduations representing the number of
frames are marked and an indicator needle; and a driving unit that
indicates the remaining digital image frame number, to be stored
in the storage unit, by using the indicator needle.
7. The digital camera as set forth in claim 6, wherein the driving
unit drives the indicator needle on the basis of remaining capacity
of the storage unit and the shooting condition set.
8. The digital camera as set forth in claim 6, wherein the graduations
are marked so that the number of frames represented by a unit interval
between graduations increases from a starting point to an ending
point of the graduations.
9. The digital camera as set forth in claim 6, wherein the graduations
are marked with respect to each one frame division when the number
of frames falls within predetermined range.
10. The digital camera as set forth in claim 6, wherein the driving
unit drives the indicator needle so as to point out a predetermined
position when the power is turned off.
11. The digital camera as set forth in claim 6, wherein the number
of remaining frames right before the power is turned off is indicated
by the indicator needle even during the power-off.
12. The digital camera as set forth in claim 1, further comprising
an LCD for displaying the digital image.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a digital camera.
[0002] Generally, a digital camera in which a displaying mode of
a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is indicated by an indicator needle
has been known (for example, the patent reference 1). A wrist-worn
type electronic camera (digital camera) disclosed in the patent
reference 1 has a watch function. Thus, during a camera mode in
which the wrist-worn type electronic camera functions as a digital
camera, the displaying mode of an LCD is indicated by at least one
of an hour hand, a minute hand or a second hand provided to the
watch function. The wrist-worn type electronic camera disclosed
in the cited reference 1 has three modes, that is, a photographing
mode, a reproduction mode and a delete mode, as the displaying mode,
and any mode among those displaying modes is indicated in accordance
with a setting by a user.
[0003] Further, a typical digital camera displays various shooting
conditions, such as white balance and compression ratio, and the
number of remaining frames to be additionally stored in a storage
unit on an LCD. This allows a user to check the shooting conditions
and the number of remaining frames.
[0004] Since the indicator needle of the digital camera disclosed
in the cited reference 1 indicates only the displaying mode of an
LCD, a user can not check various shooting conditions.
[0005] Further, for a typical digital camera, since an LCD device
should be on state in order to check shooting conditions and the
number of remaining frames, a user has a burden to turn on the LCD
before checking the shooting conditions. Still further, power consumption
increases since the LCD consumes the power. Furthermore, in case
that the LCD is not in a mode to display shooting conditions shortly
after turning on the LCD, it takes a time to switch the mode to
display shooting conditions.
[0006] Patent reference 1: JP-A-2000-152060.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention has been designed in view of the problems,
and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera
allowing a user to easily check shooting conditions with low power
consumption.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a digital
camera allowing a user to easily check the number of remaining frames
with low power consumption.
[0009] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention
provides a digital camera including a display unit with an indicator
needle and a display panel on which various shooting conditions
are shown; a driving unit for driving the indicator needle in response
to an input given by a user and indicating any shooting conditions
by the indicator needle; and an image pick-up unit for converting
an optical image formed by an optical system to a digital image
on the basis of the shooting conditions indicated by the indicator
needle. According to this digital camera, a user can check the shooting
conditions by the indicator needle. In case of indicating the shooting
conditions by the indicator needle, since there is almost no power
consumption except for the time for driving the indicator needle,
power consumption can be reduced. Further, according to this digital
camera, it is easy to check the shooting conditions because it is
not required for a user to operate additionally when checking the
shooting conditions. Accordingly, in accordance with this digital
camera, it is possible to easily check shooting conditions with
low power consumption.
[0010] The display panel may show white balance as a shooting condition.
In case that the white balance is shown, the white balance is easily
checked.
[0011] The display panel may show a compression ratio as a shooting
condition. In case that a compression ratio is shown, the compression
ratio can be easily checked.
[0012] The driving unit may drive the indicator needle to point
to a predetermined position when the power is turned off. In accordance
with this digital camera, power on/off can easily be identified
by a user.
[0013] The indicator needle may indicate the shooting conditions
set right before the power is turned off even during the power-off
state. In accordance with this digital camera, since the indicator
needle indicates the shooting conditions as set right before the
power is turned off even during the power-off, the shooting conditions
are easily checked even though the power is off.
[0014] To achieve the above object of the present invention, there
is provided a digital camera including an image pick-up unit for
converting an optical image formed by an optical system to a digital
image with amount of data which is variable depending on the shooting
condition which is set; a storage unit for storing the digital image;
a display unit having an indicator needle and a display panel which
has graduations representing the number of frames thereon; and a
driving unit for indicating the remaining digital image frame number
to be stored in the storage unit by the indicator needle. According
to this digital camera, the number of remaining frames can be indicated
by the indicator needle. In case of indicating the shooting conditions
by the indicator needle, since there is almost no power consumption
except for the time for driving the indicator needle, power consumption
can be reduced. Further according to this digital camera, when checking
the remaining digital image frame number, to be stored in the storage
unit, (hereinafter, "the remaining digital image frame number,
to be additionally stored in a storage unit" is referred as
"the number of remaining frames"), there is no need for
a user to give any operations, so that it is easy for a user to
check the number of remaining frames. Thus, this digital camera
allows a user to easily check the number of remaining frames with
low power consumption.
[0015] The driving unit can drive the indicator needle on the basis
of the remaining capacity of the storage unit and shooting conditions.
In case that it allows a user to set shooting conditions related
to data size of image such as resolution and compression ratio,
such shooting conditions and the remaining capacity of a storage
unit affects the number of remaining frames. Accordingly, in the
case that the shooting conditions can be adjusted, by driving the
indicator needle on the basis of such shooting conditions and the
remaining capacity of the storage unit, the digital camera can show
the exact number of remaining frames.
[0016] As for the graduations, the number of frames represented
by a unit interval between graduations may increase from a starting
point to an ending point of the graduations. In accordance with
this digital camera, it is possible to properly inform a user of
the number of remaining frames although an area to be graduated
is limited.
[0017] The graduations may be marked in one frame division when
the number of remaining frames falls within a predetermined range,
i.e. when the number of remaining frames decreases below a predetermined
number. When the number of remaining frames becomes small, a user
has a great regard for the number of remaining frames while taking
pictures. It is possible to add ease of use to a digital camera
by precisely showing the number of remaining frames by one frame
when the number of remaining frames falls within a predetermined
small range.
[0018] Further, in the digital camera according to the present
invention, the driving unit can drive the indicator needle to point
to a predetermined position when the power is turned off. According
to this digital camera, a user can easily notice on/off state of
the power.
[0019] Still further, the digital camera according to the present
invention can indicate the number of remaining frames which are
available right before the power is turned off by the indicator
needle even while the power is off. In accordance with this digital
camera, even while the power is off, it is possible to indicate
the number of remaining frames which are available right before
the power is turned off, so that a user may easily check the number
of remaining frames even if the power is turned off.
[0020] Furthermore, the digital camera according to the present
invention may further include a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) for
displaying the digital images thereon. In accordance with this digital
camera, a user can view the digital images on the LCD.
[0021] Furthermore, each function of a plurality of units constituting
the present invention can be realized in a hardware resource with
functions which are specified by its construction, a hardware resource
with functions which are specified by programs or a combination
of both. In addition, each function of a plurality of the units
is not limited to be realized in the hardware resources which are
physically separated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The above objects and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary
embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0023] FIG. 1A is a top view of a digital camera according to an
embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged
view of a part A, which is marked by a dotted circle, of the digital
camera shown in FIG. 1A;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the digital camera according
to the embodiment of the present invention; and
[0025] FIG. 3 is a top view of a digital camera according to the
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Modes for charring out the invention is described below
with reference to a plurality of embodiments.
First Embodiment
[0027] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware constitution
of a digital still camera 1 as a digital camera according to a first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] A controlling part 27 includes a CPU 27a, a flash memory
27b and a work memory 27c. The CPU 27a controls the whole of the
digital still camera 1 by executing computer programs stored in
the flash memory 27b. Further, the CPU 27a also serves as a display
unit, a driving unit, and an image pick-up unit by executing computer
programs stored in the flash memory 27b. The flash memory 27b is
a memory for storing various computer programs or data. The flash
memory 27b can store various programs or data downloaded from a
certain server through a network, and store various programs or
data read from computer-readable storage media such as a removable
memory 31. The work memory 27c is a memory for temporarily storing
computer programs or data.
[0029] An optical system 20 includes a lens and a diaphragm. The
optical system 20 forms an optical image of an object to a light-receiving
surface of an image sensor 21. The image sensor 21 serving as the
image pick-up unit is an area image sensor having pixels discretely
arranged on a two-dimensional space and a charge transfer element
such as a charge coupled device (CCD). The image sensor 21 is driven
by a sensor controller 25. The image sensor 21 accumulates charges
for each pixel for a predetermined time, and outputs an electrical
signal corresponding to the amount of light received by a pixel.
The charges are acquired by converting an optical image that is
formed by the optical system 20 by a photo-electric conversion technique.
The image sensor 21 can form a color image by arranging a complementary
filter consisted of Cyan (C), Magenta (M), Yellow (Y) and Green
(G), or a primary-color filter consisted of Red (R), Green (G) and
Blue (B).
[0030] An A/D converter (ADC) 22 as the image pick-up unit converts
the electrical signal output from the image sensor 21 to a digital
signal by quantization. For example in more detail, the ADC 22 performs
a reduction process of noises contained in the electrical signal,
a level adjustment process of the electrical signal by adjusting
gain and a quantization process.
[0031] A digital image processing part 23 as the image pick-up
unit performs an image formation process, white balance compensation,
gamma compensation and color space conversion with respect to the
digital signal output from the ADC 22, and forms a digital image
representing gray scale values of R, G and B, or gray scale values
of Y, Cb and Cr with respect to each pixel. Here, the image formation
process means a process for outputting a digital image with three
gray scale values of RGB or YCbCr for each pixel by interpolating
brightness information of one color output from a pixel to brightness
information of another color of a neighboring pixel. The white balance
compensation is a process to compensate so that a white object looks
white without depending on the kind of light sources. Generally,
in a digital camera, a white object looks white when it is photographed
in the sun light, but looks red-tinged when it is taken under a
glow lamp indoor. Accordingly, a white object is compensated so
as to look white also on a digital image by the white balance compensation.
Since how to compensate white balance depends on light sources,
the digital still camera 1 allows a user to select one of the light
sources as the white balance and compensates the white balance to
match with the light source selected.
[0032] A compression/decompression part 24 as the image pick-up
unit compresses a made digital image and decompresses the compressed
digital image. The compression/decompression part 24, for example
in more detail, compresses in JPEG format which is an irreversible
compression method with loss of data or in a reversible compression
method with lossless of data. Further, the compression/decompression
part 24, also, may be constituted to convert a digital image to
a TIFF format, in which data compression is not performed. In the
case of TIFF format, there is "no compression." A digital
image of either of the reversible compression format or the TIFF
format has high image quality since it is an uncompressed image,
but the TIFF format of digital image has much larger amount of data
than the irreversible compression format of digital image. Since
JPEG format is variable in compression ratio, a large amount of
data is discarded to reduce the total amount of data when it is
compressed with a high compression ratio. Accordingly, when the
compression ratio is high, the quality of the digital image is degraded.
On the contrary, when the compression ratio is low, the amount of
data discarded is not much, so that the digital image made after
compression has relatively larger amount of data in comparison with
that when the compression ratio is high, but can reduce the degree
of degradation of image quality.
[0033] A storage part 30 as the storage unit may include a card
slot to contact the removable memory 31 and a memory controller.
The storage part 30 controlled by the controlling part 27, writes
the digital image compressed by the compression/decompression part
24 into the removable memory 31 and reads the digital image stored
in the removable memory 31.
[0034] A driver 35 as the driving unit includes a stepping motor
to drive an indicator needle 55 (shown in FIG. 1 B), a stepping
motor to drive an indicator needle 54 (shown in FIG. 1B), a stepping
motor to drive an indicator needle 53 (shown in FIG. 1B), a stepping
motor to drive an indicator needle 52 (Shown in FIG. 1B), and a
driving circuit. The driver 35 controlled by the controlling part
27, drives the indicator needles 53 and 54 in response to an input
given by a user, and shows any of the shooting conditions by the
indicator needles 53 and 54. Further, the driver 35 drives the indicator
needle 55 on the basis of the remaining capacity of the removable
memory 31 contacting the storage part 30 and the shooting conditions
which are set, and indicates the remaining digital image frame number,
which can be additionally stored in the removable memory 31 by the
indicator needle 55. Still further, the driver 35 drives the indicator
needle 52 on the basis of the remaining life of a battery (not shown)
and shows the remaining life of the battery by the indicator needle
52.
[0035] A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 34 is controlled by a display
controller 33 and displays digital images and a plurality of kinds
of setting menus thereon.
[0036] The display controller 33 includes a frame buffer for storing
data corresponding to one frame of the LCD 34 and a display circuit
for driving the LCD 34 on the basis of the data stored in the frame
buffer.
[0037] FIG. 1A is a top view of a digital still camera 1 and FIG.
1B is an enlarged view of a part A, marked by the dotted circle,
shown in FIG. 1A.
[0038] A display part 32 (shown in FIG. 2) as the display unit
includes a display panel 44 of a circular panel shape as shown in
FIGS. 1A and 1B, a display panel 49 with a ring frame shape, and
indicator needles 52, 53, 54 and 55.
[0039] White a plurality of balances and a plurality of compression
ratios are displayed on the display panel 44 as a plurality of shooting
conditions. Further, the display panel 44 may have graduations representing
the remaining life of a battery which is the power of the digital
still camera 1 besides the display of white balance and compression
ratio. As the method of representing white balance, the display
panel 44 displays a plurality of symbols representing light sources
or the automatic mode in which the right sources are automatically
selected by the digital still camera 1. Here, reference numeral
58 denotes "Auto mode," reference numeral 59 denotes "day
light (sun light)," reference numeral 60 denotes "cloudiness,"
and reference numeral 61 denotes "glow light". A user
operates an operating part 19 to be described below for driving
the indicator needle 54 to point to the intended symbol. For example,
when manipulating the operating part 19 so as for the indicator
needle 54 to point to the symbol 61, compensation is made to match
white balance to the light source of "glow light" with
respect to the digital image. Compression ratios are represented
by symbols "R," "T," "H," and "N"
in figures. Here, the alphabetical symbol "R" means RAW
format, and "T" means TIFF format. "N" (Normal)
and "H" (High) are JPEG format, "N" means a
high compression ratio, and "H" means a low compression
ratio. How to set compression ratios of "N" and "H"
is a matter freely selectable depending on the design. The graduations
with alphabetical symbols "E" (Empty) and "F"
(Full) marked on the display panel 44 represent the remaining life
of a battery.
[0040] Further, even though white balance and compression ratio
are disclosed as exemplary shooting conditions in the first embodiment
of the present invention, in case that an optical image is converted
to a digital image in response to shooting modes such as normal,
Portrait, Landscape, and Macro, the shooting modes may be served
as shooting conditions.
[0041] The display panel 49 has a ring shape and is arranged in
such a way that its center is fitted to the center of the display
panel 44. The internal diameter of the display panel 49 is approximately
the same as the diameter of the display panel 44. The display panel
44 disposed in an opening of the display panel 49 is covered with
a transparent material such as glass. On the display panel 49, frame-number
graduations representing the number of remaining frames are marked
in such a way that the number of frames represented by a unit interval
between graduations increases toward the ending point from the starting
point of the graduations. In an example shown in drawings, the frame-number
graduations are marked to represent the number of frames in the
range of 0 to 500, 0 is marked at the starting point and 500 is
marked at the ending point of the graduations. For example, the
graduations are marked in such a way that the number of image frames
represented by amplitude of a unit variation of the indicator needle
55 when the number of frames is in the range of 0 to 10 is different
from the number of frames represented by amplitude of a unit variation
of the indicator needle 55 when the number of frames is in the range
of 10 to 20. Here, the amplitude of a unit variation is set only
as a matter of convenience to explain the marking rule of the graduations,
is a predetermined angle (for example, 5 degrees) which is invariable
over the full range of the number of frames, and corresponds to
a unit interval between graduations as set forth in the claims.
For example in detail, the frame-number graduations are marked in
one frame division in the range of 0 to 10 on the display panel
49. Given that, amplitude of variation of the indicator needle 55
in the range of 0 to 10, corresponding to one frame, is called amplitude
of a unit variation, amplitude of a unit variation in the range
of 10 to 20 corresponds to about 5 to 10 frames. As described above,
the number of image frames represented by a unit interval between
graduations becomes larger in the range of 10 to 20 frames than
in the range of 0 to 10 frames. In the same manner, the number of
frames represented by a unit interval between graduations becomes
larger in the range of 100 to 500 than in the range of 10 to 100.
That is, the frame-number graduations are marked in such a way that
the number of frames represented by a unit interval between graduations
increases from the starting point toward the ending point. Generally,
when a large number of remaining frames is available, (for example
not lower than 100 frames), it is satisfactory that the number of
remaining frames is roughly checked by a large number of frames
(for example by 100 frames), so that a user is not willing to precisely
check the number of remaining frames by a small number of frames
(for example, by one frame). Accordingly, it is proper to roughly
show the number of remaining frames by a large number of frames
when a large number of remaining frames (not lower than 100) are
available. On the contrary, since a user has a great regard for
the number of remaining frames by every shot, while taking pictures
when a small number of remaining frames is available, it is proper
to precisely show the number of remaining frames by one frame in
the range where the number of remaining frames is small (for example
not greater than 10). If the frame-number graduations are marked
in such a way that the number of remaining frames represented by
a unit interval between graduations increases from the starting
point to the ending point, it can show a wide range of the number
of remaining frames by a small amplitude of variation at the ending
point of the graduations, so that it is possible to reduce an area
demanded to mark the graduations. When the amplitude of variation
of the indicator needle 55, which corresponds to one frame, is narrow,
it is difficult for a user to check the number of remaining frames
by one frame. However, even in case that the amplitude of variation
of the indicator needle 55, which corresponds to one frame, is narrow,
it is possible for a user to roughly check the number of remaining
frames. Accordingly, at the ending point where it is not needed
to precisely check the number of remaining frames by a small number
of frames, a user can check the number of remaining frames with
satisfactory accuracy even though an interval between graduations,
corresponding to one frame, becomes narrower. Accordingly, if the
frame-number graduations are marked in such a way that the number
of frames represented by a unit interval between graduations increases
from the starting point to the ending point, it is possible to give
information to a user with satisfactory accuracy and reduce an area
needed to mark the graduations. Further, if the frame-number graduations
are marked in such a way that the number of frames represented by
a unit interval between graduations increases from the starting
point to the ending point, it is possible to properly inform a user
of the number of remaining frames with a limited area where the
graduations can be marked.
[0042] The operating part 19 includes a dial switch 47 serving
as the driving unit as set forth in claim 1, a dial switch 41 serving
as the driving unit as set forth in claim 1, and a shutter button
46 for triggering a shooting operation. The dial switch 47 is a
switch to select a shutter speed and a kind of shooting conditions.
The dial switch 41 is a switch to select a shooting condition intended
by a user out of the selected kind of shooting conditions. In addition,
the manipulation unit 19 further includes a dial switch 43, a switching
switch 42 and an advanced lever 45. The dial switch 43 is a switch
to set sensitivity of a pixel, and the switching switch 42 is a
switch to switch an angle of view. The advanced lever 45 is provided
to succeed maneuverability of a film camera 45, and the shutter
button 46 may be pressed down by performing advancing operation
using the advanced lever 45. The operating part 19 may further includes
a manipulation switch (not shown) to display digital images stored
and a plurality kinds of setting menus on the LCD 34, or operate
the setting menus displayed.
[0043] The description made above refers to a hardware constitution
of a digital still camera. Next, the operation of the digital still
camera 1 will be explained below.
[0044] When photographing, at first, a user turns on the power
of the digital still camera 1 using the power switch (not shown).
[0045] When the power is turned on, the controlling part 27 drives
the indicator needles 53 and 54 pointing to predetermined positions
so as to indicate the shooting conditions which are set. Further,
a description on how the shooting conditions are set will be made
below. As for the indicator needle 55, after the number of remaining
frames which is available right after the power is turned on is
grasped, and the indicator needle 55 pointing to a predetermined
position is driven to indicate the number of remaining frames gasped.
Explanation about the predetermined position will be made below.
A process of grasping the number of remaining frames available right
after the power is turned on is performed because the number of
remaining frames grasped after the power-on can be different from
the number of remaining frames which is available right before the
power-off due to a certain reason, for example, the removable memory
31 may be replaced during the power-off. The controlling part 27
grasps the remaining capacity of the removable memory 31 by controlling
the storage part 30, obtains the number of frames available to be
additionally stored (the number of remaining frames) in the removable
memory 31 on the basis of the grasped remaining capacity and the
compression ratio which is currently set, and drives the indicator
needle 55 to indicate an angle corresponding to the obtained number
of remaining frames by controlling the driver 35. In more detail,
the number of remaining frames can be obtained either by dividing
the remaining capacity by amount of data corresponding to the compression
ratio which is currently set, remembering average amount of data
by a compression ratio in advance, or by specifying the number of
remaining frames in a table format on the basis of the grasped remaining
capacity and the currently set compression ratio, remembering relationships
between the remaining capacity and the number of remaining frames
by a compression ratio in the table format in advance.
[0046] Next, a user operates the operating part 19 according to
his/her demand, and sets the shooting conditions of white balance
and compression ratio. When setting the shooting conditions, a user,
at first, rotates the dial switch 47 and matches the symbol of reference
numeral 56 or the symbol of reference numeral 57, representing the
kind of shooting conditions, written on the dial switch 47, to a
triangle mark 51. Here, the symbol denoted by reference numeral
56 represents a compression ratio as a kind of shooting condition.
The symbol denoted by reference numeral 57 represents white balance.
By the symbols denoted by reference numeral 56 and 57, either kind
of the shooting conditions to be set is determined. Next, the user
rotates the dial switch 41. When the dial switch 41 is rotated,
the controlling part 27 drives the indicator needle in response
to an input given by user. In more detail, for example, the controlling
part 27 controls the driver 35 so as for the indicator needle corresponding
to the selected kind of shooting condition to be rotated by an angle
in response to the rotated angle of the dial switch 41. The controlling
part 27 stores the shooting condition corresponding to the rotated
angle of the dial switch 41 into the flash memory 27b. The shooting
condition recognized by the controlling part 27 is identical to
the shooting condition indicated by the indicator needle after the
indicator needle is rotated. Thus, the shooting condition is set.
Further, even though the indicator needles 53 and 54 are electrically
driven by the driver 35 in the first embodiment of the present invention,
for example, the indicator needles 53 and 54 may be also mechanically
driven by a cogwheel which transfers the force exerted when a user
rotates the dial switch 41 to the indicator needles 53 or 54. A
user checks whether the indicator needle indicates the desired shooting
condition after it is rotated, and repeats manipulations of the
dial switch 41 until the indicator needle indicates the intended
shooting condition if it is wrong. Meanwhile, the shooting condition
currently set is acceptable, additional manipulations are not needed.
[0047] Further, in the first embodiment of the present invention,
a user gives an input by rotating manipulation of the dial switches
47 and 41. However, for example, a user can also give an input by
selecting a shooting condition from a menu displayed on the LCD
34 after setting menus provided for setting shooting conditions
are displayed. The controlling part 27 can drive the driver 35 in
accordance with the selected shooting condition.
[0048] When the shutter button 46 is pressed down by the user,
the controlling part 27 controls each unit, and the digital camera
1 converts an optical image which is formed by the optical system
20 to a digital image on the basis of the shooting conditions set.
That is, on the basis of the shooting conditions indicated by the
indicator needles 53 and 54, the digital camera 1 converts an optical
image to a digital image. For example, if "day light"
is set as white balance, the controlling part 27 controls the digital
image processing part 23 to perform white balance correction to
match white balance to "day light". In the same manner,
the controlling part 27 controls the compression/decompression part
24 to compress an image at the compression ratio which is set. Further,
in the first embodiment of the present invention, even though the
compression ratio is referred as the exemplary shooting condition
set, the shooting condition may be the number of pixels, arranged
in rows and columns, of the digital image, i.e. size of an image
frame. That is, the digital camera 1 can convert an optical image
to a digital image with an image size set.
[0049] Next, the controlling part 27 controls the storage part
30, and stores the converted digital image into the removable memory
31.
[0050] Then, the controlling part 27 grasps the remaining capacity
of the removable memory 31 from the storage part 30 and updates
the angle of the indicator needle 55.
[0051] When the power is turned off by a user after photographing
is ended, the controlling part 27 controls the driving part 35 and
drives all the indicator needles to point to the predetermined positions
as shown in FIG. 3 before the digital camera 1 is turned off. Here,
in the first embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined
position of the indicator needle 53 is "N," the predetermined
position of the indicator needle 54 is "A," the predetermined
position of the indicator needle 52 is "E" and the predetermined
position of the indicator needle 55 is "O." Further, the
predetermined positions can be properly set as a matter of convenience.
In case that it is designed for all the indicator needles to point
to a predetermined position altogether, a user can check the digital
still camera 1 is turned off by the position of the indicator needles.
On the contrary, when the digital still camera is turned on, since
the entire indicator needles are simultaneously driven, a user can
visually identify that the digital still camera 1 is turned on.
Accordingly, it is easy to check whether the power is on or off.
[0052] In accordance with the digital still camera 1 according
to the first embodiment of the present invention as described above,
it is possible to check digital still camera's peculiar shooting
conditions such as white balance and compression ratio by indicator
needles. In case of displaying shooting conditions by the indicator
needles, since almost no power is consumed except for power consumption
needed to drive the indicator needles, only smaller power is needed
in comparison with a case that the shooting conditions are displayed
on the LCD 34. Further, since it does not give a user any manipulation
burden to switch the displaying mode to check the shooting conditions,
a user can easily check the shooting conditions. Thus, in accordance
with the digital still camera 1, it is possible to easily check
the shooting conditions with low power consumption.
[0053] In addition, according to the digital still camera 1, since
it is possible to check the number of remaining frames by indicator
needles, a process of checking the number of remaining frames can
be easily performed with low power consumption.
[0054] Further, according to the digital still camera 1, since
the display panel 44 is arranged inside of the display panel 49,
different kinds of graduations for showing a plurality of shooting
conditions and the number of remaining frames come into one spot.
Therefore, according to the digital camera 1, a user can check a
plurality of shooting conditions and the number of remaining frames
at a glance. Meanwhile, the display panel 44 may be arranged outside
of the display panel 49.
[0055] Still further, in the first embodiment of the present invention,
explanation is made in reference to the digital still camera 1,
but the present invention can be applied to a digital video camera.
Second Embodiment
[0056] A digital camera according to a second embodiment of the
present invention indicates the number of remaining frames which
is available right before the power is turned off even during the
power-off by the indicator needle.
[0057] As for a stepping motor of the digital still camera regarding
the second embodiment, for example, frictional force between a driving
shaft and a retainer is much greater than a force exerted when turning
moment generated by the indicator needles in response to a pose
of a digital still camera makes the driving shaft rotate. Accordingly,
in the second embodiment of the present invention, during the power-off
of the digital still camera, it dose not happen that positions pointed
by the indicator needles 52, 53, 54 and 55 are changed.
[0058] The digital still camera according to the second embodiment
of the present invention does not change angles of the indicator
needles 52 to 55 by controlling the driver 35 when the power is
turned on by a user. As a result, each indicator needle keeps its
angle as pointed right before the power is turned off. Accordingly,
each indicator needle is in a position to point the shooting condition
set and the number of remaining frames right before power-off even
while the power is off.
[0059] According to the digital still camera regarding the second
embodiment of the present invention as described above, it is possible
to check the shooting conditions as set right before the power is
turned off even during the power-off. For example, after taking
pictures and turning off the power, when a user wants to check again
whether the shooting conditions under which pictures have been taken
are not the currently intended shooting conditions, it is not necessary
to turn on the power for checking according to the digital still
camera of the second embodiment. Accordingly, even while the power
is off, it is possible to easily check the shooting conditions.
[0060] Further, according to the digital still camera of the second
embodiment, it is possible to check the number of remaining frames
right before the power is turned off even during the power-off.
A user can determine a timing to check the number of remaining frames
by his or her needs regardless of whether the power is on or off.
Accordingly, it happens that a user wants to check the number of
remaining frames when the power is off. In such case, according
to the digital still camera of the second embodiment, there is no
need to turn on the power for checking. Accordingly, it is possible
to easily check the number of remaining frames even if the power
is off.
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