|
Digital Camera Patent Abstract
First pixels and second pixels are arranged in an LCD of a digital
camera. Image light from the first pixel is diffused by a diffusing
filter. Image light from the second pixel is deflected by a prism
and directed in an oblique direction. When the LCD is viewed from
a forward direction, only a captured image generated by the first
pixels is observed. When the LCD is viewed from the oblique direction,
the captured image, and camera information generated by the second
pixels are observed in a state that they overlap each other.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A digital camera which captures an image of a subject, comprising:
a display device for displaying a first image viewed from a first
direction and a second image viewed from a second direction that
is different from said first direction on a display surface; and
a display controller for directing said display device to display
said captured image as said first image and camera information of
said digital camera as said second image.
2. A digital camera described in claim 1, wherein said first direction
is a direction substantially perpendicular to said display surface
and said second direction is a downward, upward or lateral oblique
direction to said display surface.
3. A digital camera described in claim 2, wherein said display
device has a liquid crystal panel in which first pixels and second
pixels are arranged, said first pixels displaying said first image
and said second pixels displaying said second image.
4. A digital camera described in claim 3, wherein said first pixels
and said second pixels are arranged with a ratio of 2:1.
5. A digital camera described in claim 3, wherein said first pixels
are viewable from said oblique direction and when said first image
is viewed from said oblique direction, said first image overlaps
said second image and appears darker than said second image.
6. A digital camera described in claim 5, further comprising a
diffusing filter disposed in front of or behind each of said first
pixels, said diffusing filter transmitting light to said perpendicular
direction as it is, said diffusing filter transmitting light to
said oblique direction while attenuating the luminous intensity
of said light.
7. A digital camera described in claim 6, further comprising a
prism disposed in front of each of said second pixels, said prism
deflecting incident light in said oblique direction.
8. A digital camera described in claim 6, further comprising a
light-shielding plate disposed in front of or behind each of said
second pixels, said light-shielding plate being formed longitudinally
or laterally shorter than said second pixel and disposed such that
its upper or side edge coincides with an upper or side edge of said
second pixel, said light-shielding plate blocking light transmitted
to or from said second pixel which proceeds toward said perpendicular
direction and a direction symmetric to said oblique direction with
respect to said perpendicular direction.
9. A digital camera described in claim 8, further comprising a
switching liquid crystal element disposed in front of or behind
each of said second pixels, said switching liquid crystal element
being formed longitudinally or laterally shorter than said second
pixel and disposed such that its upper or side edge coincides with
an upper or side edge of said second pixel, said switching liquid
crystal element blocking light transmitted to or from said second
pixel which proceeds toward said perpendicular direction and a direction
symmetric to said oblique direction with respect to said perpendicular
direction when turned on, said switching liquid crystal element
transmitting said light as it is when turned off.
10. A digital camera described in claim 9, wherein when said switching
liquid crystal elements are turned off, both said first pixels and
said second pixels display said captured image.
11. A digital camera described in claim 1, wherein said camera
information includes at least one of remaining battery charge, number
of available recording frames and a shooting condition.
12. A digital camera described in claim 1, further comprising a
display switchover device for switching between said first image
and said second image.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a digital camera which
records captured images as digital image data.
[0003] 2. Description Related to the Prior Art
[0004] Digital cameras are well known, and record subject images
as digital image data to a data storage. The digital cameras have
a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) for displaying
various images. The display device displays a through image of a
subject at the time of framing, and camera information such as remaining
battery charge, number of available recording frames, a shooting
condition and the like over the through image. When the camera information
is displayed over the through image, part of the through image is
replaced by the camera information, and therefore the thorough image
cannot be viewed clearly and appropriately.
[0005] Such problem can be solved by providing a sub display device
in addition to a main display device, and displaying camera information
on the sub display device, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open
Publication No. 2001-69397. Such problem can also be solved by displaying
camera information over a through image only when the display of
the camera information is directed by an operation button, as disclosed
in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-211368.
[0006] In the publication JP-A-2001-69397, however, providing two
display devices raises production costs. In the publication JP-A-2001-211368,
the operation for switching display and nondisplay of the camera
information is troublesome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is a primary object of the present invention to provide
a digital camera which facilitates camera information checking,
and assures visibility of a through image.
[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide
a digital camera which improves visibility of a through image at
low costs.
[0009] In order to achieve the above and other objects, a digital
camera of the present invention includes a display device and a
display controller. The display device displays a first image which
is viewed from a first direction and a second image which is viewed
from a second direction that is different from the first direction
on a display surface. The display controller directs the display
device to display a captured image as the first image and camera
information of the digital camera as the second image.
[0010] It is preferable that the first direction is a direction
substantially perpendicular to the display surface and the second
direction is a downward, upward or lateral oblique direction to
the display surface.
[0011] It is preferable that the display device has a liquid crystal
panel in which first pixels and second pixels are arranged. The
first pixels preferably display the first image and the second pixels
preferably display the second image.
[0012] The first pixels and the second pixels are preferably arranged
with a ratio of 2:1.
[0013] The first pixels are viewable from the oblique direction
as well. Therefore, when the first image is viewed from the oblique
direction, the first image preferably overlaps the second image
and appears darker than the second image.
[0014] It is preferable that a diffusing filter is disposed in
front of or behind each of the first pixels. The diffusing filter
transmits light to the perpendicular direction as it is. At the
same time, the diffusing filter transmits light to the oblique direction
while attenuating the luminous intensity of the light. Moreover,
a prism is preferably disposed in front of each of the second pixels
and deflects incident light in the oblique direction.
[0015] It is also preferable that a light-shielding plate is disposed
in front of or behind each of the second pixels. The light-shielding
plate is formed longitudinally or laterally shorter than the second
pixel and disposed such that its upper or side edge coincides with
an upper or side edge of the second pixel. The light-shielding plate
blocks light transmitted to or from the second pixel which proceeds
toward the perpendicular direction and a direction symmetric to
the oblique direction with respect to the perpendicular direction.
[0016] It is also preferable that a switching liquid crystal element
is disposed in front of or behind each of the second pixels. The
switching liquid crystal element is formed longitudinally or laterally
shorter than the second pixel and disposed such that its upper or
side edge coincides with an upper or side edge of the second pixel.
The switching liquid crystal element blocks light transmitted to
or from the second pixel which proceeds toward the perpendicular
direction and a direction symmetric to the oblique direction with
respect to the perpendicular direction when turned on. The switching
liquid crystal element transmits the light as it is when turned
off.
[0017] When the switching liquid crystal elements are turned off,
both the first pixels and the second pixels preferably display the
captured image.
[0018] The camera information preferably includes at least one
of remaining battery charge, number of available recording frames
and a shooting condition.
[0019] It is preferable that the digital camera further includes
a display switchover device for switching between the first image
and the second image.
[0020] According to the present invention, the captured image and
the camera information can be viewed on the identical display surface
by changing the viewing direction between the first and second directions.
Owing to this, the camera information can be easily observed. In
addition, only the captured image becomes observable depending on
the viewing direction. Owing to this, it is prevented that the visibility
of the captured image is lowered when overlapped by the camera information.
Moreover, the captured image and the camera information are displayed
on one display device, and therefore production cost is reduced
as compared to the digital camera with two display devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The above objects and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a front side of
a digital camera;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a rear side of
the digital camera;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure
of the digital camera;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a plan view of an LCD;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V of FIG. 4,
illustrating image light illuminated from each first and second
pixel;
[0027] FIG. 6A is an explanatory view illustrating the LCD viewed
from a forward direction in an image capture mode, and FIG. 6B is
an explanatory view illustrating the LCD viewed from a downward
oblique direction in the image capture mode;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another LCD, illustrating
image light illuminated from each first and second pixel;
[0029] FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are sectional views of yet another LCD,
illustrating image light illuminated from each first and second
pixel, in which FIG. 8A shows a state that switching liquid crystal
elements are turned on and FIG. 8B shows a state that the switching
liquid crystal elements are turned off; and
[0030] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure
of a digital camera according to another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] In FIG. 1, a digital camera 10 according to the present
invention has a camera body 12 with a substantially rectangular
parallelepiped shape. At a front surface of the camera body 12,
a lens barrel 16 holding a taking lens unit 14 is disposed. At a
top surface of the camera body 12, a shutter button 18 is disposed,
and at a side surface of the camera body 12, a memory card slot
(not shown) to which a memory card 20 (see, FIG. 3) is detachably
connected and a lid 22 for closing the memory card slot are disposed.
When the digital camera 10 is set to an image capture mode and the
shutter button 18 is depressed, an image capturing operation is
executed, and then a captured image is recorded in the memory card
20.
[0032] In FIG. 2, an operating section 24 and an LCD 26 are disposed
on a rear surface of the camera body 12. The operating section 24
is composed of a mode selection button for selecting one of the
image capture mode, a playback mode and a menu mode, a zoom button
for varying a zoom magnification, a cursor key for moving a cursor,
and the like.
[0033] The LCD 26 displays a through image of a subject in the
image capture mode, an image recorded in the memory card 20 in the
playback mode, and a setup screen for making various settings in
the menu mode. On the LCD 26, it is possible to observe only the
through image, or to observe the through image and camera information
including remaining battery charge, number of available recording
frames and a shooting condition on an identical screen, by changing
the viewing direction.
[0034] In FIG. 3, a control section 28 is disposed inside the digital
camera 10. The control section 28 controls each component of the
digital camera 10 based on a control program stored in a memory
30. Besides the control program, an image processing program, and
various data such as a current shooting condition and setup information
are stored in the memory 30.
[0035] The taking lens unit 14 is composed of a zoom lens for varying
the optical zoom magnification and a focus lens for focus adjustment,
and driven by a lens drive mechanism 32 including a motor. An aperture
stop 34 adjusts the aperture size when it is driven by an aperture
drive mechanism 36 including a motor. The lens drive mechanism 32
and the aperture drive mechanism 36 are controlled by the control
section 28 through motor drivers 38 and 40, respectively.
[0036] Behind the taking lens unit 14, a CCD 42 is located. As
well known, the CCD 42 has a plurality of photoelectric conversion
elements which generate and accumulate an electrical charge corresponding
to the amount of light received, and outputs an image signal photoelectrically
converted from the light of a subject. The CCD 42 starts capturing
a through image when the digital camera 10 is set to the image capture
mode. Once the shutter button 18 is depressed during the through
image capturing, the CCD 42 temporarily stops the through image
capturing and captures a principal image for recording.
[0037] The image signal output from the CCD 42 is input to an analog
signal processor 44. The analog signal processor 44 has, as is known,
a correlation double sampling circuit (CDS), an amplifier (AMP)
and an A/D converter (A/D) (none of them shown). In the analog signal
processor 44, the image signal is filtered for noise reduction and
amplified, and then converted into digital image data. The digital
image data is input to a frame memory 48 through a data bus 46.
[0038] The frame memory 48 temporarily stores image data output
from the analog signal processor 44. The frame memory 48 is a work
memory for a digital signal processor 50. The digital signal processor
50 applies various image processing, such as gradation conversion,
white balance correction, .gamma. correction and the like, to the
image data in the frame memory 48. The processed image data is displayed
on the LCD 26 via an LCD driver 52 if it is the through image data.
Alternatively, the processed image data is sent to a JPEG compression
circuit (not shown) if it is the principal image data, and is recorded
in the memory card 20 via a media controller 54.
[0039] As shown, in FIG. 4, the LCD 26 has a liquid crystal panel
60 in which liquid crystal molecules are enclosed. The liquid crystal
panel 60 has first pixels 62 and second pixels 64 arranged therein.
Each of the first and second pixels 62 and 64 is driven by a driving
signal from the LCD driver 52, and alters the light transmission
rate by changing the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules.
In the preset embodiment, the first pixels 62 and the second pixels
64 are arranged with a ratio of 2:1, however the ratio thereof can
be changed as appropriate. The arrangement pattern of the first
and second pixels 62 and 64 may be changed from the pattern shown
in FIG. 4.
[0040] In FIG. 5, one of RGB color filters 66 is disposed behind
each pixel 62 and 64. Behind the color filters 66, a backlight 68
is located. Light from the backlight 68 is converted into light
of R, G or B color by the color filters 66 and then enters the first
and second pixels 62 and 64. Each of the first and second pixels
62 and 64 controls the light transmission rate, and thereby producing
an image light having density gradation in each RGB color.
[0041] A diffusing filter 70 is located in front of each first
pixel 62, and a prism 72 is located in front of each second pixel
64. The image light passed through the first pixels 62 enters the
diffusing filters 70. The diffusing filters 70 diffuse the image
light within a predetermined angular range around a center line
perpendicular to a display surface of the LCD 26. The image light
from the diffusing filters 70 is transmitted with maximum luminous
intensity in the direction perpendicular to the display surface.
The luminous intensity of the image light becomes lower as angular
difference from the perpendicular direction becomes larger.
[0042] The image light passed through the second pixels 64 enters
the prisms 72. The prisms 72 deflect the image light downward or
upward. In the present embodiment, the image light is deflected
downward and emanated. Note that the image light may also be deflected
sideways.
[0043] For this configuration, a first image generated by the first
pixels 62 can be viewed from the direction perpendicular to the
display surface of the LCD 26. A second image generated by the second
pixels 64 can be viewed from the downward oblique direction to the
display surface of the LCD 26.
[0044] The image light of the first image generated by the first
pixels 62 is also diffused downward on the rear side of the camera
body 12 even though its luminous intensity is lowered. Therefore,
the first image can be observed along with the second image generated
by the second pixels 64 when the LCD 26 is viewed from the downward
direction. At this time, the first image is displayed with lower
density (brightness) than the second image.
[0045] The control section 28 drives the first and second pixels
62 and 64 through the LCD driver 52 to generate images. Under the
control of the control section 28, the first pixels 62 generate
a through image in the image capture mode, the image recorded in
the memory card 20 in the playback mode, or the setup screen image
in the setup mode. In addition, the control section 28 checks the
supply voltage in the image capture mode to measure the remaining
battery charge. Moreover, the control section 28 accesses the memory
card 20 to detect the number of available recording frames. Furthermore,
the control section 28 refers the memory 30 to detect the shooting
condition. Owing to this, the control section 28 drives the second
pixels 64 to generate the detected camera information.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 6A, in the image capture mode, the through
image can be observed when the LCD 26 is viewed from the forward
direction. Similarly, the image recorded in the memory card 20 can
be observed in the playback mode, and the setup screen can be observed
in the setup mode when the LCD 26 is viewed from the forward direction.
As shown in FIG. 6B, in the image capture mode, the camera information
and the through image having lower brightness can be observed when
the LCD 26 is viewed from the downward oblique direction.
[0047] According to the present invention, only the through image
can be observed depending on the viewing direction of the LCD 26.
Owing to this, the through image can be viewed clearly and appropriately.
Moreover, since the camera information can be easily observed on
the identical screen of the through image by changing the viewing
angle to the LCD 26, it is convenient. If the camera information
is displayed over the through image, it has conventionally been
necessary to display the camera information small near the edge
of the screen. According to the present invention, however, there
is no need to display the camera information near the edge of the
screen. Therefore, images and characters of the camera information
can be displayed large, and large amount of information can be included
in the camera information. In addition, according to the present
invention, it is possible to reduce production costs as compared
to the conventional digital cameras having plural LCDs for displaying
the through image and the camera information separately.
[0048] In the above embodiment, the prisms are used to emanate
the image light from the second pixels in the downward direction
of the rear surface of the camera body, however, the present invention
is not limited to this. For example, light-shielding plates 82 may
be used to emanate the image light from the second pixels 64 in
the downward direction of the rear surface of the camera body 12,
like an LCD 80 shown in FIG. 7. Note that the components identical
to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference
numerals in FIGS. 7, 8A, 8B and 9, and descriptions thereof are
omitted.
[0049] In FIG. 7, a diffusing filter 84 is disposed in front of
the liquid crystal panel 60 of the LCD 80. The diffusing filter
84 is disposed over a whole front surface of the liquid crystal
panel 60, and diffuses the image light from the first and second
pixels 62 and 64 within a predetermined angular around a center
line perpendicular to a display surface of the LCD 80.
[0050] The light-shielding plate 82 is located in front of each
second pixel 64. Each light-shielding plate 82 is shorter than the
second pixel 64 and disposed such that its upper edge coincides
with an upper edge of the second pixel 64. Each light-shielding
plate 82 blocks a part of the image light from the second pixel
64 that proceeds to the area above the perpendicular line to the
display surface of the LCD 80. Owing to this, the image light from
the second pixels 64 is emanated in the downward direction of the
rear surface of the camera body 12.
[0051] In addition, switching liquid crystal elements 92 may be
used instead of the light-shielding plates 82, like an LCD 90 shown
in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The switching liquid crystal elements 92 are
disposed in the same manner as the light-shielding plates 82.
[0052] The switching liquid crystal elements 92 are turned on and
off under the control of the control section 28. When turned on,
each switching liquid crystal element 92 blocks a part of the image
light from the second pixel 64 that proceeds to the area above the
perpendicular line to a display surface of the LCD 90, as shown
in FIG. 8A. When turned off, each switching liquid crystal element
92 transmits the image light passed through the second pixels 64
as it is, as shown in FIG. 8B. When the switching liquid crystal
elements 92 are turned on, the same effect as the above embodiment
can be obtained in the LCD 90.
[0053] In the LCD 90, when the switching liquid crystal elements
92 are turned off, the image light from the second pixels 64 is
not blocked, but diffused within a predetermined angular range around
the center line perpendicular to the display surface of the LCD
90, like the image light from the first pixels 62. Accordingly,
when the switching liquid crystal elements 92 are turned off, it
is possible to generate a high-resolution image by using both the
first and second pixels 62 and 64.
[0054] In the above embodiments, the first pixels generate the
through image and the second pixels generate the image of the camera
information. However, the first pixels may generate the image of
the camera information and the second pixels may generate the through
image. In addition, it is also possible to provide a display switchover
button 102, like a digital camera 100 shown in FIG. 9. In the digital
camera 100, a first image generated by the first pixels 62 and a
second image generated by the second pixels 64 are switched under
the control of a control section 104 every time the display switchover
button 102 is depressed.
[0055] In the above embodiments, the through image and the camera
information are observed on the identical screen by changing the
viewing direction or by operating the display changeover button
in the image capture mode, however the present invention is not
limited to this. For example, the image recorded in the memory card
and the through image may be checked on the identical screen in
the playback mode.
[0056] In the above embodiments, the image light from the second
pixels is emanated in the downward direction of the rear surface
of the camera body. However, the image light from the second pixels
may be emanated, for example, in an upward or a lateral direction
of the rear surface of the camera body. In addition, it is also
possible to dispose the prisms, the light-shielding plates or the
switching liquid crystal elements in front of the first pixels so
as to control the emanation direction of the image light from the
first pixels.
[0057] In the above embodiments, the through image having low brightness
is displayed with the camera information, however, the present invention
is not limited to this. For example, a dual-view LCD panel which
is viewable only from two directions may be used. When using the
dual-view LCD panel, the image light from the first pixels is emanated
in the upward direction of the rear surface of the camera body and
the image light from the second pixels is emanated in the downward
direction of the same. For this configuration, the camera information
and the through image can be viewed selectively without overlapping
each other.
[0058] In the above embodiments, the present invention is applied
to the digital camera with the LCD. However, the present invention
can also be applied to, for example, the digital camera with other
kinds of display device such as an organic light emitting display
(OLED). The present invention may be applied to a digital camera
incorporated in various devices such as a cell phone with camera.
[0059] Various changes and modifications are possible in the present
invention and may be understood to be within the present invention.
|