Image-capturing device having an electronic viewfinder and external monitor with shared control

• US 6,778,217 B1
• Filed: 12/09/1999
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nishimura, Yoshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Christensen, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): GENCO, BRIAN C
• Application Number:
  US09/457,375
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/333.11, 348/333.12, 348/115, 348/207.99, 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/376, 348/341, 396/373, 345/158, 345/159, 345/160, 345/173, 345/174, 345/179
• US Class Current: 348/333.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera

Abstract

An image-capturing device includes an external monitor which has a touch panel mounted on an image display screen having a backlight, and which has an openable/closeable and rotatable mechanism; an electronic viewfinder which is smaller than the external monitor and which has an eyepiece section; and a display device for displaying a pointer which moves within the screen of the electronic viewfinder in accordance with an operation of the touch panel and for displaying an operation area for inputting an instruction of various operations which are associated with taking a photograph by specifying and selecting the operation area by the pointer. When an image is recorded or replayed by using the electronic viewfinder, the pointer is moved by operating the touch panel in order to select a desired operation area, thereby inputting an instruction of various operations.

Claims

1. An image-capturing device comprising:

an external monitor having a touch panel and an image display screen, wherein said touch panel is mounted on said image display screen and said image display screen has a backlight and an openable/closeable and rotatable mechanism;

an electronic viewfinder that is smaller in size than said external monitor and includes an eyepiece section; and

display means for displaying a pointer on a screen of said electronic viewfinder, moving said pointer in accordance with an operation of said touch panel, and displaying on the screen of said electronic view finder an operation area for inputting one of a plurality of operation instructions associated with taking a photograph by specifying and selecting the operation area by the pointer, wherein when an image is recorded or replayed while watching said electronic viewfinder, the pointer is moved by operating the touch panel in order to select a desired operation area, thereby inputting one of a plurality of operation instructions, wherein said electronic viewfinder and said external monitor have common methods of operation associated with recording and replaying an image.

2. An image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein, when an operation of inputting an instruction-of various operations is performed by using said electronic viewfinder, the image display screen of said external monitor is housed in a main unit of the device with the image display screen of said external monitor facing the outside of the device main unit, and the pointer is moved by moving a finger on the touch panel.

3. An image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein, when an operation of inputting an instruction of various operations is performed by using said electronic viewfinder, an instruction of various operations is input by tapping a finger in an area displayed on the touch panel of the external monitor.

4. An image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein, when an image is recorded or replayed by using said electronic viewfinder, said external monitor is placed in a power saving mode.

5. An image-capturing device according to claim 1, wherein said common methods of operation include operation buttons that are common to both of the screens of said electronic viewfinder and said external monitor.