IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF DISPLAYING OPERATION ITEM, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20120306738A1
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Koide, Yuji, Yamashita, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,947,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1803 Receiving particular commands
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user

Abstract

An image processing apparatus which is capable of preventing the display of an operation item, such as an icon, from hindering user'"'"'s viewing an image which the user desires to view. A distance and position-detecting section and a system controller detect a distance between a screen and an operation element. The system controller displays at least one operation candidate item on the screen when the detected distance becomes not larger than a first threshold distance. Further, when the detected distance becomes not larger than the first predetermined threshold distance, the system controller changes a display form of the operation candidate item depending on the detected distance and displays the operation candidate item as an operable item.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus that displays an image on a screen based on image data, and displays an operation item for use in inputting an operation for causing the image processing apparatus to perform processing concerning the image, on the screen, to thereby perform processing associated with the operation item when the operation item is operated by an operation element, comprising:

a distance detection unit configured to detect a distance between the screen and the operation element to obtain a detected distance;

a first display control unit configured to display at least one operation candidate item on the screen when the detected distance becomes not larger than a first predetermined threshold distance; and

a second display control unit configured to be operable when the detected distance becomes not larger than the first predetermined threshold distance, to change a display form of the operation candidate item depending on the detected distance and display the operation candidate item as an operable item.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the detected distance becomes smaller than a second predetermined threshold distance smaller than the first predetermined threshold distance, said second display control unit displays the operation candidate item as the operable item on the screen.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second display control unit displays the operable item in a more highlighted manner than the operation candidate item.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second display control unit three-dimensionally displays the operable item.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first display control unit displays the operation candidate item in a display form which does not hinder visual recognition of the image.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first display control unit two-dimensionally displays the operation candidate item.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an identification unit configured to obtain an identification result by identifying a shape of the operation element, and wherein said first display control unit displays an operation candidate item corresponding to the identification result on the screen.

8. An image pickup apparatus comprising:

an image pickup unit configured to pick up an object to acquire image data of the object; and

an image processing apparatus that displays an image on a screen based on image data, and displays an operation item for use in inputting an operation for causing the image processing apparatus to perform processing concerning the image, on the screen, to thereby perform processing associated with the operation item when the operation item is operated by an operation element,

wherein said image processing apparatus comprises;

a distance detection unit configured to detect a distance between the screen and the operation element to obtain a detected distance;

a first display control unit configured to display at least one operation candidate item on the screen when the detected distance becomes not larger than a first predetermined threshold distance; and

a second display control unit configured to be operable when the detected distance becomes not larger than the first predetermined threshold distance, to change a display form of the operation candidate item depending on the detected distance and display the operation candidate item as an operable item.

9. A method of controlling an image processing apparatus that displays an image on a screen based on image data, and displays an operation item for use in inputting an operation for causing the image processing apparatus to perform processing concerning the image, on the screen, to thereby perform processing associated with the operation item when the operation item is operated by an operation element, comprising:

detecting a distance between the screen and the operation element by a detection sensor to obtain a detected distance;

displaying at least one operation candidate item on the screen when the detected distance becomes not larger than a first predetermined threshold distance; and

changing, when the detected distance becomes not larger than the first predetermined threshold distance, a display form of the operation candidate item depending on the detected distance and displaying the operation candidate item as an operable item.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable control program for causing a computer to execute a method of controlling an image processing apparatus that displays an image on a screen based on image data, and displays an operation item for use in inputting an operation for causing the image processing apparatus to perform processing concerning the image, on the screen, to thereby perform processing associated with the operation item when the operation item is operated by an operation element,

wherein the method comprises:

detecting a distance between the screen and the operation element by a detection sensor to obtain a detected distance;

displaying at least one operation candidate item on the screen when the detected distance becomes not larger than a first predetermined threshold distance; and

changing, when the detected distance becomes not larger than the first predetermined threshold distance, a display form of the operation candidate item depending on the detected distance and displaying the operation candidate item as an operable item.