IMAGING DEVICE, DISPLAY CONTROL DEVICE, DISPLAY DEVICE, AND IMAGE DISPLAY SYSTEM

• US 20090251564A1
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,013,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.200
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00442 Simultaneous viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. using a mosaic display arrangement of thumbnails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00456 for layout preview, e.g. page layout
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3877 Image rotation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/325 Modified version of the image, e.g. part of the image, image reduced in size or resolution, thumbnail or screennail
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3254 Orientation, e.g. landscape or portrait; Location or order of the image data, e.g. in memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

An imaging device which is capable of realizing an easily viewable thumbnail display is provided. The imaging device includes: an imaging optical system for forming an optical image of an object; an imaging sensor for receiving the optical image of the object formed by the imaging optical system, for converting the received optical image into an electrical image signal, and for outputting the electrical image signal; an attitude detection section for detecting an attitude of the imaging device at the time of shooting; an image recording section for interrelating and recording the outputted image signal and attitude information indicative of the detected attitude; a display section for displaying a reduced image based on the recorded image signal; a reception section for receiving a selection of the attitude information from a user; and an image display control section for changing a location and a display size of the reduced image on the display section in accordance with the selected attitude information. The image display control section restores an orientation of the reduced image so as to correspond to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting in accordance with the attitude information, and causes the display section to display the restored reduced image.

Claims

1. An imaging device for outputting an optical image of an object as an electrical image signal, the imaging device comprising:

an imaging optical system for forming the optical image of the object;

an imaging sensor for receiving the optical image of the object formed by the imaging optical system, for converting the optical image into the electrical image signal, and for outputting the electrical image signal;

an attitude detection section for detecting an attitude of the imaging device at the time of shooting;

an image recording section for interrelating and recording the outputted image signal and attitude information indicative of the detected attitude;

a display section for displaying a reduced image based on the recorded image signal;

a reception section for receiving a selection of the attitude information from a user; and

an image display control section for changing a location and a display size of the reduced image on the display section in accordance with the selected attitude information, wherein

the image display control section restores an orientation of the reduced image so as to correspond to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting in accordance with the attitude information and causes the display section to display the restored reduced image.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the attitude information includes information indicating whether respective shot images are vertical images or horizontal images,

the reception section receives a selection of either the vertical images or the horizontal images from the user, and

the image display control section changes, in accordance with a result of the selection, locations of the vertical images and the horizontal images on the display section, and changes a display size of either the vertical images or the horizontal images, which correspond to the selected attitude information, to be larger than the other.

3. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the image display control section changes the number of the vertical images and the horizontal images to be displayed on the display section in accordance with the result of the selection.

4. The imaging device according to claim 2, further comprising

a layout storage section for storing a layout which defines a location and a display size of each of the vertical images and the horizontal images to be displayed on the display section, wherein

the layout storage section stores a vertical image preferential display layout for displaying each of the vertical images in a larger size than the horizontal images and a horizontal image preferential display layout for displaying each of the horizontal images in a larger size than the vertical images, and

the image display control section causes the display section to display the vertical images and the horizontal images in accordance with the result of the selection and also in accordance with either the vertical image preferential display layout or the horizontal image preferential display layout.

5. An imaging device which outputs an optical image of an object as an electrical image signal and which is connectable to a display device, the imaging device comprising:

an imaging optical system for forming the optical image of the object;

an imaging sensor for receiving the optical image of the object formed by the imaging optical system, for converting the optical image into the electrical image signal, and for outputting the electrical image signal;

an attitude detection section for detecting an attitude of the imaging device at the time of shooting;

an image recording section for interrelating and recording the outputted image signal and attitude information indicative of the detected attitude;

a reception section for receiving a selection of the attitude information from a user; and

a display control signal output section for outputting, in accordance with the selected attitude information, a display control signal for changing a location and a display size of a reduced image on the display device, the reduced image being based on the image signal, wherein

the image display control signal includes a signal for restoring an orientation of the reduced image so as to correspond to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting in accordance with the attitude information and for causing the display section to display the restored reduced image.

6. A display control device connectable to a display device, comprising:

a reading section for reading an image signal and attitude information corresponding to the image signal, the image signal and the attitude information being recorded in a recording section;

a reception section for receiving a selection of the attitude information from a user; and

a display control signal output section for outputting, in accordance with the selected attitude information, a display control signal for changing a location and a display size of a reduced image on the display device, the reduced image being based on the image signal, wherein

the display control signal includes a signal for restoring an orientation of the reduced image so as to correspond to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting in accordance with the attitude information and for causing the display section to display the restored reduced image.

7. The display control device according to claim 6, wherein

the attitude information includes information indicating whether respective shot images are vertical images or horizontal images,

the reception section receives a selection of either the vertical images or the horizontal images from the user, and

the display control signal includes a signal for changing, in accordance with a result of the selection, locations of the vertical images and the horizontal images on the display section, and for changing a display size of either the vertical images or the horizontal images, which correspond to the selected attitude information, to be larger than the other.

8. The display control device according to claim 6, wherein the display control signal includes a signal for changing the number of the vertical images and the horizontal images to be displayed on the display section in accordance with the result of the selection.

9. The display control device according to claim 6, further comprising

a layout storage section for storing a layout which defines a location and a display size of each of the vertical images and the horizontal images to be displayed on the display section, wherein

the layout storage section stores a vertical image preferential display layout for displaying each of the vertical images in a larger size than the horizontal images and a horizontal image preferential display layout for displaying each of the horizontal images in a larger size than the vertical images, and

the display control signal includes a signal for causing the display section to display the vertical images and the horizontal images in accordance with the result of the selection and in accordance with either the vertical image preferential display layout or the horizontal image preferential display layout.

10. An image display system including an imaging device for outputting an optical image of an object as an electrical image signal, and a display device for displaying a shot image,

the imaging device comprising:

an imaging optical system for forming the optical image of the object;

an imaging sensor for receiving the optical image formed by the imaging optical system, for converting the optical image into the electrical image signal, and for outputting the electrical image signal;

an attitude detection section for detecting an attitude of the imaging device at the time of shooting;

an image recording section for interrelating and recording the outputted image signal and attitude information indicative of the detected attitude;

a reception section for receiving a selection of the attitude information from a user; and

a display control signal output section for outputting, in accordance with the selected attitude information, a display control signal for changing a location and a display size of a reduced image on the display device, the reduced image being based on the image signal,

the display control signal including a signal for restoring an orientation of the reduced image so as to correspond to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting in accordance with the attitude information and for causing the display section to display the restored reduced image,

the display device comprising;

a reception section for receiving the recorded image signal and the outputted display control signal; and

a display section for displaying the reduced image in accordance with the display control signal, the reduced image being based on the image signal.

11. The display system according to claim 10, wherein

the attitude information includes information indicating whether a shot image is a vertical image or a horizontal image in accordance with an attitude of the imaging device,

the reception section receives a selection of either the vertical image or of the horizontal image from the user, and

display control signal includes a signal for changing, in accordance with a result of the selection, locations of the vertical image and the horizontal image on the display section, and for changing a display size of either the vertical image or the horizontal images, which correspond to the selected attitude information, to be larger than the other.

12. An imaging system including a lens barrel and an imaging device which is detachably fixed to the lens barrel, wherein

the lens barrel comprises

an imaging optical system for forming an optical image of an object,

the imaging device comprises:

an imaging sensor for receiving the optical image of the object formed by the imaging optical system connected thereto, for converting the optical image into the electrical image signal, and for outputting the electrical image signal;

an attitude detection section for detecting an attitude of the imaging device at the time of shooting;

an image recording section for interrelating and recording the outputted image signal and attitude information indicative of the detected attitude;

a display section for displaying a reduced image based on the recorded image signal;

a reception section for receiving a selection of the attitude information from a user; and

an image display control section for changing a location and a display size of the reduced image on the display section in accordance with the selected attitude information, and

the image display control section restores an orientation of the reduced image so as to correspond to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting in accordance with the attitude information and causing the restored reduced image to be displayed in the display size.

14. The imaging system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein

the attitude information includes information indicating whether respective shot images are vertical images or horizontal images,

the reception section receives a selection of either the vertical images or the horizontal images from the user, and

the image display control section changes, in accordance with a result of the selection, locations of the vertical images and the horizontal images on the display section, and changes a display size of either the vertical images or the horizontal images, which correspond to the selected attitude information, to be larger than the other.

13. An imaging system including a lens barrel and an imaging device which is detachably fixed to the lens barrel, wherein

the lens barrel comprises:

an imaging optical system for forming an optical image of an object; and

an attitude detection section for detecting an attitude of the imaging device at the time of shooting,

the imaging device comprises;

an imaging sensor for receiving the optical image of the object formed by the imaging optical system connected thereto, for converting the optical image into the electrical image signal, and for outputting the electrical image signal;

the attitude detection section for detecting the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting;

an image recording section for interrelating and recording a reduced image based on the outputted image signal and attitude information indicative of the detected attitude;

a display section for displaying the recorded reduced image;

a reception section for receiving a selection of the attitude information from a user; and

an image display control section for changing a location and a display size of the reduced image on the display section in accordance with the selected attitude information, and

the image display control section restores an orientation of the reduced image so as to correspond to the attitude of the imaging device at the time of the shooting in accordance with the attitude information and causing the restored reduced image to be displayed in the display size.