Apparatus and method for displaying both an image and control information related to the image

• US 5,793,367 A
• Filed: 07/08/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Taguchi, Tomishige
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chauhan, U.
• Application Number:
  US08/676,895
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 395/501, 395/326, 395/327, 395/329-332, 395/348, 395/349, 348/6, 348/10, 348/12-16, 348/211-214, 364/514 A
• US Class Current: 715/756
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• 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 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

An electronic apparatus includes a display and a data processor for processing data. First output circuitry outputs the data processed by the data processor to the display in order to display the data. An image pickup device picks up an object image and outputs motion-image data. Second output circuitry outputs to the display (i) the motion-image data output by the image pickup device, and (ii) control-window data for controlling the image pickup device. Preferably, camera pan and zoom icons are displayed on a computer display and may be used to pan and zoom a camera to place the camera moving image within an image display area on the same computer display.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus for controlling operational control features of image pickup means having an optical processing part which images an object and generates an object image signal, said apparatus comprising:

display means, including an image display area, for displaying on said image display area (i) a motion object image signal processed by said optical processing part and corresponding to the imaged object, and (ii) image pickup means control icons for the operational control features of the optical processing part of the image pickup means;

pointing means for designating the control icons; and

control means for controlling the optical processing part of the image pickup means in accordance with a designation of a control icon by said pointing means, wherein said display means displays a horizontally-movable graphic menu bar for controlling the operation of said image pickup means in a horizontal direction, and a vertically-movable graphic menu bar for controlling the operation of said image pickup means in a vertical direction.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising mirror-image forming means for inverting in the horizontal direction an image represented by an input image signal, and wherein said control means controls the operation of said image pickup means in the horizontal direction in accordance with the operation or the non-operation of said mirror-image forming means.

3. An electronic apparatus for controlling operational control features of image pickup means having an optical processing part which images an object and generates an object image signal, said apparatus comprising:

display means, including an image display area, for displaying on said image display area (i) a motion object image signal processed by said optical processing part and corresponding to the imaged object, and (ii) image pickup means control icons for the operational control features of the optical processing part of the image pickup means;

pointing means for designating the control icons; and

control means for controlling the optical processing part of the image pickup means in accordance with a designation of a control icon by said pointing means, wherein movable ranges of the respective control icons correspond to movable ranges of corresponding operational control features of the image pickup means.

4. A processing system comprising:

a camera comprising (i) image pickup means for imaging an object and (ii) output means for outputting an object image; and

a display apparatus including (i) input means for inputting the object image, and (ii) display means for displaying the object image and a control window used for controlling the camera, said control window indicating an operational range of the camera.

5. A processing method used in an electronic apparatus for controlling image pickup means having an optical processing section which images an object and generates an object image signal corresponding to the imaged object, comprising the steps of:

causing a display means to display (i) an object image signal processed by said optical processing section and corresponding to the imaged object, and (ii) image pickup means control icons for instructing operational control of said optical processing section of the image pickup means;

causing said optical processing section of the image pickup means to be controlled in accordance with the instruction to said image pickup means control icons; and

causing the display means to display (i) a horizontal direction instruction display for controlling the operation of said image pickup means in a horizontal direction, and (ii) a vertical direction instruction display for controlling the operation of said image pickup means in a vertical direction.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said image pickup means comprises a camera.

7. A method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of providing the instruction to the control icons using one of a mouse, a track ball, a digitizer, or a touch panel.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein said image pickup means control icons comprise an icon for controlling a diaphragm.

9. A method according to claim 5, wherein said image pickup means control icons comprise an icon for controlling a zoom.

10. A method according to claim 5, wherein said image pickup means is connected to another electric apparatus.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said image pickup means is supplied with electric power from the another electric apparatus.

12. A processing method used in conjunction with an electronic apparatus for controlling image pickup means having an optical processing means which images an object and generates an object image signal corresponding to the imaged object, comprising the steps of:

causing a display means to display (i) an object image signal processed by said optical processing means and corresponding to the imaged object, and (ii) image pickup means controls icons for instructing operational control of said optical processing means of the image pickup means; and

causing said optical processing means of the image pickup means to be controlled in accordance with the instruction to said image pickup means control icons,

wherein movable ranges of said image pickup control means icons correspond to movable ranges of the image pickup means.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said image pickup means comprises a camera.

14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of providing the instruction to the control icons using one of a mouse, a track ball, a digitizer, or a touch panel.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein said image pickup means control icons comprise an icon for controlling a diaphragm.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein said image pickup means control icons comprise an icon for controlling a zoom.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein said image pickup means is connected to another electric apparatus.

18. A processing method used in an electronic apparatus which controls image pickup means having an optical processing portion which images an object and generates an object image signal corresponding to the imaged object, comprising the steps of:

causing a display means to display (i) an object image signal processed by said optical processing portion and corresponding to the imaged object, and (ii) image pickup control means symbols for instructing operational control of said optical processing portion of the image pickup means;

causing said optical processing portion of the image pickup means to be controlled in accordance with the instruction to said image pickup control means symbols;

causing said display means to display an operational display for moving said image pickup means in a horizontal direction by performing a first operation and moving said image pickup means in a vertical direction for performing a second operation.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said image pickup means comprises a camera.

20. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of providing the instruction to the control symbols using one of a mouse, a track ball, a digitizer, or a touch panel.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein said image pickup means control symbols comprise an icon for controlling a diaphragm.

22. A method according to claim 18, wherein said image pickup means control symbols comprise an icon for controlling a zoom.

23. A method according to claim 18, wherein said image pickup means is connected to another electric apparatus.

24. A method according to claim 18, wherein said image pickup means is connected to another electric apparatus.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein said image pickup means is supplied with electric power from another electric apparatus.

27. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said image pickup means comprises a camera.

28. Apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising one of a mouse, a track ball, a digitizer, or a touch panel, for providing the instruction to the control icons.

29. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said image pickup means control icons comprise an icon for controlling a diaphragm.

30. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said image pickup means controls icons comprise an icon for controlling a zoom.

31. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said image pickup means is coupled to another electric apparatus.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said image pickup means is supplied with electric power from said another electric apparatus.

34. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said image pickup means comprises a camera.

35. Apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising one of a mouse, a track ball, a digitizer, or a touch panel, for providing the instruction to the control icons.

36. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said image pickup means control icons comprise an icon for controlling a diaphragm.

37. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said image pickup means controls icons comprise an icon for controlling a zoom.

38. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said image pickup means is coupled to another electric apparatus.

40. Apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said image pickup means comprises a camera.

41. Apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising one of a mouse, a track ball, a digitizer, or a touch panel, for providing the instruction to the control symbols.

42. Apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said image pickup means control symbols comprise an icon for controlling a diaphragm.

43. Apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said image pickup means control symbols comprise an icon for controlling a zoom.

44. Apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said image pickup means is coupled to another electric apparatus.

45. Apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said image pickup means is supplied with electric power from said another electric apparatus.

26. An electronic apparatus for controlling image pickup means which have an optical processing section which images an object and generates an object image signal corresponding to the imaged object, said apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying (i) an object image signal processed by said optical processing section and corresponding to the imaged object, (ii) image pickup means control icons for instructing operational control of said optical processing section of the image pickup means, (iii) a horizontal direction instruction display for controlling the operation of said image pickup means in a horizontal direction, and (iv) a vertical direction instruction display for controlling the operation of said image pickup means in a vertical direction; and

processing means for causing said optical processing section of the image pickup means to be controlled in accordance with the instruction to said image pickup means control icons.

33. An electronic apparatus for controlling image pickup means having an optical processing portion which images an object and generates an object image signal corresponding to the imaged object, said apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying (i) an object image signal processed by the optical processing portion and corresponding to the image object, and (ii) image pickup means control icons for instructing operational control of said optical processing portion of the image pickup means; and

processing means for causing the optical processing portion of the image pickup means to be controlled in accordance with the instruction to said image pickup means control icons, movable ranges of said image pickup control means icons corresponding to movable ranges of the image pickup means.

39. Electronic apparatus for controlling image pickup means having an optical processing means which images an object and generates an object image signal corresponding to the imaged object, said apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying (i) an object image signal processed by the optical processing means and corresponding to the imaged object, (ii) image pickup means control symbols for instructing operational control of said optical processing means of the image pickup means, and (iii) an operational display for moving said image pickup means in a horizontal direction by performing a first operation and moving said image pickup means in a vertical direction by performing a second operation; and

a processor for causing the optical processing means of the image pickup means to be controlled in accordance with the instruction to said image pickup means control icons.