Image processing apparatus and method

• US 8,704,768 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2012
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Juen, Masahiro, Toyoda, Kenji, Ikeda, Osamu, Ide, Hisato
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siddiqui, Md Saiful A
• Application Number:
  US13/675,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20130120255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345173-179, 463 37- 38, 178 1801- 1809, 348/114, 348/141, 348/207.1, 348/840, 348/333.05, 348/564, 348/751
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/00 General purpose image data processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00397 Switches, knobs or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras

Abstract

An image processing apparatus provided with a display unit for displaying an operation picture, showing control indicia (e.g., icons) corresponding to multiple image processing functions, is operated to display the operation picture on an external display device. The operator selects one of the indicia shown on the external display device by operating an input device, such as touch screen of the apparatus or a remote control, to indicate the position of the desired one of the indicia. The operator can thereby quickly and reliably select an image processing function to be executed, without any need to view an operation picture on the display unit when making the selection.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

an operation picture producing portion which produces an operation picture containing indicia corresponding to a plurality of image processing functions among which a selection is made by an external operation;

an image display unit which displays said operation picture;

an output unit which outputs said operation picture to an external display device;

a position input portion including a touch responsive unit having a portion placed over a screen of said image display unit, with which an operator can designate a position on the operation picture displayed on the external display device by touch operation;

an image adding portion which adds a cursor indicating the position entered through said position input portion to the operation picture;

an identifying portion which identifies a selected image processing function, among said plurality of image processing functions, based on the designated position input by said position input portion;

an image processing portion which carries out the selected image processing function; and

a determining portion which determines whether the external display device is connected to said output unit,

wherein, when said determining portion determines that the external display device is not connected to said output unit, said position input portion operates in a first operating mode to enter a position designated by the touch operation as an absolute position on the operation picture displayed on said image display unit, the position of the external operation being the same as the position on the operation picture displayed on said image display unit, and when said determining portion determines that the external display device is connected to said output unit, the operation picture with the cursor is output to the external display device through said output unit, said image display unit does not display said operation picture, and the position input portion operates in a second operating mode to enter the position designated by the touch operation as a relative position, wherein, in the second operating mode, the position input portion measures displacement of the position designated by the touch operation per unit time, and adds a vector indicative of the measured displacement to a previous cursor position to determine a next cursor position.

2. An image processing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said position input portion is constructed to input a position designated by the operator, on the operation picture displayed on the external display device, with a remote control which provides a signal to said position input portion.

3. An image processing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said position input portion has the first operating mode to input a position designated by the operator via said touch-responsive unit on the operation picture displayed on said image display unit, and the second operating mode to input a position designated by the operator via said touch-responsive unit on the operation picture displayed on the external display device.

4. An image processing apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said position input portion is constructed to input a position designated by the operator, on the operation picture displayed on the external display device, with a remote control which provides a signal to the position input portion.

5. An image processing apparatus as defined in claim 1, and which is constituted by an electronic camera.

6. An operating method of an image processing apparatus having an image display unit and an output unit which is to be connected to an external display device, said method comprising:

producing an operation picture containing indicia corresponding to a plurality of image processing functions among which a selection is made;

outputting the operation picture to the external display device;

inputting a position designated by an operator by performing a touch operation of a touch-responsive unit having a touch portion placed over a screen of said image display unit;

adding a cursor indicating the position designated by the operator on the operation picture displayed on the external display device;

identifying a selected image processing function, among said plurality of image processing functions, based on the input position;

performing the selected image processing function; and

determining whether the external display device is connected to said output unit,

wherein, when it is determined that the external display device is not connected to said output unit, the operation picture is displayed on the image display unit and the position of the touch operation is the same as the position on the operation picture displayed on said image display unit, and when it is determined that the external display device is connected to said output unit, the operation picture with the cursor is displayed on the external display device, the image display unit does not display said operation picture, and displacement of the position designated by the touch operation per unit time is measured and a next cursor position of the operation picture is determined by adding a vector indicative of the measured displacement to a previous cursor position.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said position is designated by the operator with a remote control unit which provides a signal to the image processing apparatus.

8. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said inputting constitutes one of two selectable inputting modes, the other of said inputting modes including inputting a position designated by the operator on the operation picture displayed on said image display unit.

9. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein said image processing apparatus is an electronic camera.