Electronic device, digital still camera and display control method

• US 20040008210A1
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ikehata, Tatsuhiko
• Granted Patent: US 6,992,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

An electronic device comprises a touch screen configured to output coordinate information corresponding to the position where it is touched, a display unit configured to display an item indicating an operating area in a predetermined position on the touch screen, and a control unit configured to clear the item displayed on the display unit when an area of the touch screen other than the area indicated by the item is touched.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a touch screen configured to output coordinate information corresponding to the position where it is touched;

a display unit configured to display an item indicating an operating area in a predetermined position on the touch screen; and

a control unit configured to clear the item displayed on the display unit when an area of the touch screen other than the area indicated by the item is touched.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the item to be displayed again on the display unit when the touch screen is not touched for more than a predetermined length of time in a state in which the item is cleared.

3. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the operating area of the touch screen indicated by the item is an area where a tapping operation is performed and the area of the touch screen other than the operating area indicated by the item is an area where a dragging operation is performed.

4. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen is a touch sensor in the form of a transparent sheet which is placed on the display unit to cover its display surface.

5. A digital still camera comprising:

an imaging unit configured to convert an optical image of a subject into an electrical signal;

a recording unit configured to record the electrical signal obtained from the imaging unit;

a touch screen configured to output coordinate information corresponding to the position where it is touched;

a display unit configured to display an image corresponding to the electrical signal from the imaging unit and an item indicating an operating area in a predetermined position on the touch screen; and

a control unit configured to clear the item displayed on the display unit when an area of the touch screen other than the area indicated by the item is touched.

6. A digital still camera according to claim 5, wherein the control unit causes the item to be displayed again on the display unit when the touch screen is not touched for more than a predetermined length of time in a state in which the item is cleared.

7. A digital still camera according to claim 5, wherein the operating area of the touch screen indicated by the item is an area where a tapping operation is performed and the area of the touch screen other than the operating area indicated by the item is an area where a dragging operation is performed.

8. A digital still camera according to claim 5, wherein the touch screen is a touch sensor in the form of a transparent sheet which is placed on the display unit to cover its display surface.

9. A digital still camera according to claim 5, wherein the display unit, when the camera is placed in an image enlargement display mode, displays an enlarged image and an item indicating an operating area in a predetermined position on the touch screen which, when operated, switches from the enlargement display mode to a normal display mode.

10. A digital still camera comprising:

an imaging unit configured to convert an optical image of a subject into an electrical signal;

a recording unit configured to record the electrical signal obtained from the imaging unit;

a touch screen configured to output coordinate information corresponding to the position where it is touched;

a display unit configured to display an image corresponding to the electrical signal from the imaging unit and, when the camera is placed in an image enlargement display mode, display an enlarged image and an item indicating an operating area in a predetermined position on the touch screen which, when operated, switches from the enlargement display mode to a normal display mode; and

a control unit configured to clear the item displayed on the display unit when an area of the touch screen other than the area indicated by the item is touched.

11. A digital still camera according to claim 10, wherein the control unit causes the item to be displayed again on the display unit when the touch screen is not touched for more than a predetermined length of time in a state in which the item is cleared.

12. A digital still camera according to claim 10, wherein the operating area of the touch screen indicated by the item is an area where a tapping operation is performed and the area of the touch screen other than the operating area indicated by the item is an area where a dragging operation is performed.

13. A digital still camera according to claim 10, wherein the touch screen is a touch sensor in the form of a transparent sheet which is placed on the display unit to cover its display surface.

14. A display control method comprising:

displaying an item indicating an operating area in a predetermined position on a touch screen configured to output coordinate information corresponding to the position where it is touched; and

clearing the displayed item when an area of the touch screen other than the area indicated by the item is touched.

15. A display control method according to claim 14, wherein the item is displayed again when the touch screen is not touched for more than a predetermined length of time in a state in which the item is cleared.

16. A display control method according to claim 14, wherein the operating area of the touch screen indicated by the item is an area where a tapping operation is performed and the area of the touch screen other than the operating area indicated by the item is an area where a dragging operation is performed.

17. A display control method according to claim 14, wherein the touch screen is a touch sensor in the form of a transparent sheet which is placed to cover a display surface which displays the item.