Imaging device and user interface

• US 8,214,739 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yoritate, Miwako, Kobayashi, Motoki, Funabashi, Yoshimitsu, Iriya, Shinichi, Sasaki, Kayo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECKER, SHASHI KAMALA
• Application Number:
  US11/568,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20070192741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,619 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/704, 715/730
• US Class Current: 715/716
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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 1/00448 horizontally
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00458 Sequential viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. browsing or scrolling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure

Abstract

A screen ST1 of an LCD with which a digital camera is provided displays an icon of a folder F1 indicating that the folder F1 has been selected. Image files P11 and P12 are captured reproduced images. A display frame SC displays a currently captured picture of an object, files P11 and P12, and the icon of the folder F1. To switch the folder F1 to a folder F2, the user presses a down button of a cross key 27. When the user presses the down button on the screen ST1, the screen ST1 is switched to a screen ST3 through a screen ST2. On the screen ST2, the number denoted in the icon is changed. The screen ST2 displays a state of which the folders are being switched. An icon displayed on the screen ST3 indicates that the folder F1 was switched to the folder F2.

Claims

1. A electronic apparatus, comprising:

a display device configured to display images corresponding to at least one folder stored in a record medium, each of the at least one folder including a plurality of image files;

an input device having an up and down direction and a left and right direction, one of the up and down direction and the left and right direction being selected as a designated direction to switch folders, the folders being switched in response to operation of the designated direction, images in a current folder being scrolled on the display device in response to operation of a direction not designated, the switching of folders occurring in at least one of a shooting mode and a reproducing mode,

wherein a screen displaying multiple image files corresponding to a first folder and a currently-captured image is switched to a screen displaying multiple image files corresponding to a second folder and the currently-captured image on the display device in response to the switching of folders, the switching of screens being intermediated by an animated transition display screen simultaneously displaying at least partial image files from the first and second folders as the folders are being switched, the animated transition display screen displaying at least part of a first frame including the currently-captured image and at least part of a second frame including an updated currently-captured image.

2. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein image files stored in each folder are displayed along a time axis.

3. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein an icon denoting a folder of the at least one folder indicates that folders were switched, the icon having a design of photographic film and being embedded in one of the images displayed on the screen.

4. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of a single-folder display mode of which image files of one of folders are displayed and an all-folder display mode of which all image files of all folders are arranged along a time axis and displayed is selected in the reproducing mode.

5. The electronic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a reproducing menu option is selected while one folder or one image file is selected.

7. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an image sensor configured to capture the currently-captured image, the display device displaying the currently-captured image and at least one image file stored in a folder when in the shooting mode,

wherein, the display device displays the updated currently-captured image after switching folders.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein images displayed on a right side of the time axis are more recent than images displayed on a left side of the time axis.

9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the icon is embedded in the currently-captured image.

10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the icon includes a folder number.

11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, in the transition display screen, an icon including a folder number corresponding to the first folder is embedded in the at least part of the first frame and an icon including a folder number corresponding to the second folder is embedded in the at least part of the second frame.

6. A user interface for an electronic apparatus, comprising:

a display device; and

an input device having an up and down direction and a left and right direction, one of the up and down direction and the left and right direction being selected as a designated direction to switch folders, folders storing image files being switched at least in one of a shooting mode and a reproducing mode in response to operation of the designated direction, images in a current folder being scrolled on the display device in response to operation of a direction not designated,

wherein a screen displaying image files corresponding to a first folder and a currently-captured image is switched to a screen displaying image files corresponding to a second folder and the currently-captured image on the display device in response to the switching of folders, the switching of screens being intermediated by an animated transition display screen simultaneously displaying image files from the first and second folders as the folders are being switched, an updated transition display screen displaying at least part of a first frame including the currently-captured image and at least part of a second frame including the currently-captured image.