Digital camera capable of image processing for display on a monitor

• US 7,733,388 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xacti Corporation (Office Support KK)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Asaeda, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): WHIPKEY, JASON T
• Application Number:
  US12/153,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20080231717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.03, 348/333.11, 348/240.2, 348/239, 348/231.3, 348/231.6, 348/240.99, 348/240.1, 348/333.12, 348/588, 348/598, 715/520, 715/726, 715/798, 715/800, 715/801
• US Class Current: 348/239
• 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 5/2621 Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects during image pickup, e.g. digital cameras, camcorders, video cameras having integrated special effects capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

In a digital camera, when a motion image reducing mode is set, a pointer is displayed on a monitor. When the operator operates on cursor key, the pointer moves, and when the operator operates a determination key at two different pointer positions, a rectangular frame is formed. Namely, the two pointer positions represent upper left and lower right coordinates of the frame. The picked up real time motion image is displayed in the rectangular frame. The displayed motion image is reduced to a magnification corresponding to the ratio of the rectangular frame with respect to the monitor frame. When the operator operates a shutter button at this time, the image in the motion image frame is recorded on a memory card. As the motion image is displayed in the motion image frame in accordance with the instruction by the operator and the image in the motion image frame is recorded in accordance with the operation of the shutter button, a processed image can be obtained without the necessity of preparing a separate image processing apparatus.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

a forming circuit unit responsive to a reproduction instruction by an operator for forming a first still image frame corresponding to a monitor frame on a memory;

a reproducing circuit unit responsive to said reproduction instruction for reproducing a first still image signal from a recording medium;

a writing circuit unit for writing said first still image signal in said first still image frame;

a display circuit unit reading out said first still image signal from said memory for displaying a first still image on a monitor,

wherein the forming circuit unit is responsive to a synthesizing instruction by said operator for forming a second still image frame smaller than said first still image frame in said first still image frame,

the reproducing circuit unit is responsive to said synthesizing instruction for reproducing a second still image signal smaller in size than said first still image signal,

the writing circuit unit is configured to write said second still image signal in said second still image frame, and

the display circuit unit is configured to read out a synthesized image signal of said first still image signal and said second still image signal from said memory for displaying a synthesized image on said monitor;

an updating unit responsive to a moving instruction by said operator for updating a position of said second still image frame,

wherein the reproducing circuit unit is responsive to said moving instruction for reproducing said first still image signal,

the writing circuit unit is configured to write said first still image signal in said first still image frame,

the reproducing circuit unit is configured to reproduce said second still image signal after said first still image signal is written,

the writing circuit unit is configured to write said second still image signal into said second still image frame updated by said updating unit,

the display circuit unit is configured to read out a synthesized image signal of said first still image signal and said second still image signal from said memory for displaying a synthesized image on said monitor; and

a recording unit responsive to a recording instruction by said operator for recording said synthesized image signal on said recording medium.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said forming circuit unit includes

a determination unit determining a size of said second still image frame, and

a frame forming unit forming said second still image frame at the center of said first still image frame based on said size determined by said determination unit.

3. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first changing unit responsive to a first changing instruction by said operator for changing said first still image signal reproduced from said recording medium, and

a second changing unit responsive to a second changing instruction by said operator for changing said second still image signal reproduced from said recording medium.

4. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein

the reproducing circuit unit is responsive to said first changing instruction for reproducing another first still image signal from said recording medium,

the writing circuit unit is configured to write said another first still image signal into said first still image frame,

the reproducing circuit unit is configured to reproduce said second still image signal after said another first still image signal is written,

the writing circuit unit writing is configured to write said second still image signal in said second still image frame, and

the display circuit unit is configured to read out a synthesized image signal of said another first still image signal and said second still image signal from said memory for displaying a synthesized image on said monitor.

5. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein

the reproducing circuit unit is responsive to said second changing instruction for reproducing said first still image signal,

the writing circuit unit is configured to write said first still image signal in said first still image frame,

the forming circuit unit is configured to form another second still image frame smaller than said first still image frame in said first still image frame,

the reproducing circuit unit is configured to reproduce another second still image signal from said recording medium after said first still image signal is written,

the writing circuit unit is configured to write said another second still image signal in said another second still image frame,

and the display circuit unit is configured to read out a synthesized image signal of said first still image signal and said another second still image signal from said memory for displaying a synthesized image on said monitor.

6. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said monitor also functions as a view finder.