IMAGE PROCESSOR AND CONTROL METHOD

• US 20070195354A1
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Kentaro
• Granted Patent: US 7,821,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A control method for an image processor having an operation member and an image display unit that displays images, wherein it is determined whether a touch wheel button has been operated according to a first operation method or whether it has been operated according to a second operation method, wherein functions executable by instructions from the touch wheel button include a first function allocated if it is determined to be the first operation method and a second function allocated if it is determined to be the second operation method, and wherein an image is displayed in the first display mode on the display unit if it is determined to be the first operation method and an image is displayed in the second display mode different from the first display mode if it is determined to be the second operation method.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a display unit that displays an image,

an operation member to which a plurality of different functions are allocated respectively in accordance with a plurality of different operation methods, and

a controller that exercises control such that when said operation member is operated according to a first operation method among the plurality of operation methods, an image is displayed on said display unit in a first display mode, and when said operation member is operated according to a second operation method, an image is displayed on said display unit in a second display mode different from the first display mode.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller exercises control such that, in the first display mode, an image of a function allocated to said operation member is superimposed on an image displayed when said operation member is operated, and, in the second display mode, a plurality of images generated and stored in advance are displayed simultaneously in parallel.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first operation method is an operation method, in which a continuous moving amount of a contact point on said operation member used for operating said operation member is smaller than a preset threshold value, and the second operation method is an operation method, in which the continuous moving amount of the contact point is not less than the preset threshold value.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first operation method is an operation method, in which a rate of travel of a contact point on said operation member used for operating said operation member is not more than a preset threshold value, and the second operation method is an operation method, in which the rate of travel of the contact point is greater than the preset threshold value.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a detection unit that detects the contact point,

wherein said controller determines the movement of the contact point based on the contact point detected by said detection unit.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a detection unit that detects whether said operation member has been pressed,

wherein said controller exercises control such that when a depression of said operation member is detected by said detection unit in the first display mode, processing corresponding to a function allocated to the contact point at the time of detection of the depression is executed and results of its execution are displayed.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said controller provides an enhanced display of a function allocated to the contact point of said operation member in the first display mode.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a detection unit that detects the contact point,

wherein said controller determines the movement of the contact point based on the contact point detected by said detection unit.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a detection unit that detects whether said operation member has been pressed,

wherein said controller exercises control such that when a depression of said operation member is detected by said detection unit in the first display mode, processing corresponding to a function allocated to the contact point at the time of detection of the depression is executed and results of its execution are displayed.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said controller provides an enhanced display of a function allocated to the contact point of said operation member in the first display mode.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the case where an operation according to the first operation method has been stopped during display of an image in the first display mode, said controller continues to provide display in the first display mode for a prescribed time after stopping the operation.

12. A control method for an image processing apparatus having an operation member and a display unit that displays images, the control method comprising:

a determination step of determining whether the operation member has been operated according to a first operation method or whether it has been operated according to a second operation method different from the first operation method,

a function allocation step of allocating functions executable by instructions from the operation member, including a first function, which is allocated if it is determined to be the first operation method, and a second function, different from the first function, which is allocated if it is determined to be the second operation method,

a first display step of displaying an image in the first display mode on said display unit if it is determined to be the first operation method,

a second display step of displaying an image in the second display mode different from the first display mode if it is determined to be the second operation method.

13. The control method according to claim 12, wherein control is exercised such that, in the first display mode, an image of a function allocated to the operation member is superimposed on an image displayed when the operation member is operated, and, in the second display mode, a plurality of images generated and stored in advance are displayed simultaneously in parallel.

14. The control method according to claim 12, wherein the first operation method is an operation method, in which the continuous moving amount of a contact point on the operation member used for operating the operation member is smaller than a preset threshold value, and the second operation method is an operation method, in which the continuous moving amount of the contact point is not less than the preset threshold value.

15. The control method according to claim 12, wherein the first operation method is an operation method, in which a rate of travel of a contact point on the operation member used for operating the operation member is not more than a preset threshold value, and the second operation method is an operation method, in which the rate of travel of the contact point is greater than the preset threshold value.

16. The control method according to claim 14, further comprising a detection step of detecting the contact point,

wherein the travel of the contact point is determined based on the contact point detected in said detection step.

17. The control method according to claim 14, further comprising:

a detection step of detecting whether the operation member has been pressed; and

a step, in which control is exercised such that when a depression of the operation member is detected in said detection step during display of an image in the first display mode, processing corresponding to a function allocated to the contact point at the time of detection of the depression is executed and results of its execution are displayed.

18. The control method according to claim 15, further comprising a detection step of detecting the contact point,

wherein the travel of the contact point is determined based on the contact point detected in said detection step.

19. The control method according to claims 15, further comprising:

a detection step of detecting whether the operation member has been pressed; and

a step, in which control is exercised such that when a depression of the operation member is detected in said detection step during display of an image in the first display mode, processing corresponding to a function allocated to the contact point at the time of detection of the depression is executed and results of its execution are displayed.

20. The control method according to claim 14, wherein an enhanced display of the function allocated to the contact point of the operation member is provided in the first display mode.

21. The control method according to claim 12, further comprising:

a step of determining whether operation according to the first operation method has been stopped during display of an image in the first display mode, and

an erasure step of, in the case where an operation according to the first operation method has been stopped, continuing display in the first display mode for a preset time, and erasing an image of a function allocated to the operation member if the preset time has elapsed without operation according to the first operation mode being carried out.

22. A recording medium readable by an information processing apparatus, which stores a program executable by the information processing device, comprising a program code used for carrying out the steps of the control method of claim 12.