Digital camera and mobile equipment with photographing and displaying function

• US 20040183934A1
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Tatamiya, Hisashi
• Application Number:
  US10/765,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183934A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00397 Switches, knobs or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00477 Indicating status, e.g. of a job for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N2201/3219
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00496 Constructional details of the interface or console not otherwise provided for, e.g. rotating or tilting means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32122 in a separate device, e.g. in a memory or on a display separate from image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3252 Image capture parameters, e.g. resolution, illumination conditions, orientation of the image capture device H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3273 Display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/70 Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene

Abstract

A digital camera has a display processor, a release button, and a button operation detector. The display processor displays an object image on a screen as a moving-image before photographing a still-image. The release button is operated for recording the still-image. The button operation detector, detects the contact of a finger with the release button. The display processor superimposes photograph information on the moving image when the button operation detector detects the contact.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

a display processor that displays an object image on a screen as a moving-image before photographing a still-image;

a release button that is operated for recording the still-image;

a button operation detector that detects a contact of a finger with said release button;

wherein said display processor superimposes photograph information on the moving image when said button operation detector detects the contact.

2. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the photograph information represents at least one of a photograph condition and a situation of an object before recording, said photograph condition being changed by a user.

3. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the photograph information comprises a plurality of setting items associated with a photograph condition, each item being constructed of an indicator indicating the item and setting condition information changed by a user, all said plurality of setting items being superimposed on the moving-image at the same time.

4. The digital camera of claim 2, wherein the photograph information comprises at least one of an exposure correcting value, a white balance mode, a compression rate, a recording size, an ISO sensitivity, a metering manner, and a histogram.

5. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein said button operation detector further detects a half-depression and a full-depression of said release button.

6. The digital camera of claim 5, wherein said button operation detector comprises a first, second, and third conductive and elastic contact members and an electric contact, said first contact member touching said release button, said electric contact, said third contact member, said second contact member, and said first contact member being stratified toward the release button in this order while maintaining a given interval along a depression-direction,

wherein said button operation detector detects the contact of the finger when said first and second contact members touch each other due to the finger contact, detects the half-depression when said third contact-member touches said second contact member in a situation where said first and second contact members touch each other due to the half-depression, and detects the full-depression when said electric contact touches said third contact members in a situation where said first and second contact members touch each other and said third contact member touches said second contact member due to the full-depression.

7. The digital camera of claim 5, wherein said display processor superimposes an exposure value on the moving-image when said button operation detector detects the half-depression.

8. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein said digital camera is a compact type camera wherein a user can hold said digital camera in only one hand and can operate said release button using only one finger.

9. Mobile equipment with photographing and displaying functions comprising:

a display processor that displays an object image on a screen as a moving-image before photographing a still-image;

a recording button that is operated for recording the still-image;

a button operation detector that detects a contact of a finger with said recording button;

wherein said display processor superimposes photograph information on the moving image when said button operation detector detects the contact.