Digital camera having input devices and a display capable of displaying a plurality of set information items

• US 20050030404A1
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Okuma, Keisuke, Takahashi, Yukio
• Application Number:
  US10/947,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20050030404A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.10
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

An LCD (21) for displaying a plurality of set information items is provided for a digital camera (10). When a plurality of input keys disposed around the LCD (21) are depressed, set information which is displayed adjacent to the input key can be changed. A control portion of the digital camera (10) performs a variety of control operations of the digital camera (10) in accordance with set information. Therefore, the position of the input portion which is used when the setting of the digital camera (10) can easily be understood. Thus, the setting can be changed by performing only a simple operation.

Claims

1. A digital camera, comprising:

an image pickup portion which converts light from an object to be photographed, into image data;

a display portion capable of displaying a plurality of set information items thereon;

a plurality of input devices respectively disposed adjacent to the set information items displayed on the display portion;

a changing device which changes at least one of the set information items in accordance with input to at least one of the input devices which is disposed adjacent to the at least one of the set information items;

a control portion which controls the digital camera in accordance with at least one of the set information items; and

a shutter button capable of inputting an instruction to start photographing to the control portion,

wherein the plurality of input devices, respectively disposed adjacent to the set information items, include;

a plurality of first input devices disposed along a periphery of the display portion in a first direction which is in parallel with an axial line of the shutter button; and

a plurality of second input devices disposed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the first input devices are disposed along a first side surface of the display portion adjacent to the shutter button, and the second input devices are disposed along a second side surface of the display portion opposite to a third side surface of the display portion adjacent to the shutter button, across the display portion.

3. The digital camera of claim 2, wherein the set information items include at least one kind of set information of shutter speed, aperture, white balance, and flash.

4. The digital camera of claim 2, further comprising a circularly changing device which circularly changes a plurality of contents of the set information items whenever input to the input devices is performed.

5. The digital camera of claim 2, wherein the display portion is capable of displaying an image in accordance with the image data.

6. A digital camera, comprising:

an image pickup portion which converts light from an object to be photographed, into image data;

a display portion capable of displaying at least of setting screens including a plurality of set information items indicative of picture taking settings;

a displaying device which displays one type of a plurality of types of the setting screens on the display portion;

a plurality of input devices respectively disposed adjacent to the plurality of set information items;

a changing device which changes at least one of the set information items and which changes the type of setting screen in accordance with input to at least one of the input devices which is disposed adjacent to the changed at least one of the set information items;

a control portion which controls the digital camera in accordance with at least one of the set information items; and

a shutter button capable of inputting an instruction to start photographing to the control portion.

7. The digital camera of claim 6, wherein the input devices include

a plurality of first input devices disposed along a periphery of the display portion in a first direction which is in parallel with an axial line of the shutter button;

and

a plurality of second input devices disposed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

8. The digital camera of claim 7, wherein the first input devices are disposed along a first side surface of the display portion adjacent to the shutter button, and the second input devices are disposed along a second side surface of the display portion opposite to a third side surface of the display portion adjacent to the shutter button, across the display portion.

9. The digital camera of claim 8, wherein the input devices are disposed adjacent to a plurality of set information items displayed on the display portion, respectively.

10. The digital camera of claim 9, wherein the set information items include at least one kind of set information of shutter speed, aperture, white balance, and flash.

11. The digital camera of claim 9, further comprising a circularly changing device which circularly changes a plurality of contents of the set information items whenever input to the input devices is performed.

12. The digital camera of claim 9, wherein the display portion is capable of displaying an image in accordance with the image data.