Image processing apparatus and image processing method

• US 9,575,630 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2013
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kouda, Michitomo, Koike, Tatsunobu, Sonoda, Yuu
• Primary Examiner(s): Osinski, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/083,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20140082564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes an operation receiving unit; and a control unit configured to perform a normal mode display process of displaying icon images of kinds corresponding to an operation status of the apparatus in a display unit and an icon description display process of displaying an icon selection image for selecting an icon image that is being displayed in the display unit upon reception of an operation input to activate an icon description mode by the operation receiving unit during the normal mode display process in the display unit and displaying a description image for an icon image selected upon reception of an operation input by the operation receiving unit while the icon selection image is being displayed in the display unit.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging circuit configured to capture an image; and

circuitry configured to;

set a description mode ON/OFF based on a first user operation, and

display the image with a plurality of first icons, each of the plurality of first icons representing a corresponding function and one of a plurality of operation modes available for the corresponding function,

wherein the plurality of first icons includes a selected icon that is displayed differently from another of the first icons, the selected icon corresponding to a first function and a first operation mode of a plurality of operation modes available for the first function,

wherein, when the description mode is set ON, the selected icon is displayed with a description and at least one of a plurality of second icons,

wherein the at least one of the plurality of second icons is related to the first function and represents a second operation mode of the plurality of operation modes available for the first function, and

wherein the description is detailed information corresponding to the selected icon.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the description is not displayed when the description mode is set OFF.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the description is displayed, in response to an indication operation to the selected icon by a user, when the description mode is set ON.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the description further includes a title related to the first function.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first function is related to a setting to capture the image.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first operation mode is a capturing mode.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first operation mode is related to a parameter of a capturing mode.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the description represents an explanation of the first function.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the description represents an explanation of the first operation mode represented by the selected icon.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is displayed as a background image.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selected icon includes a character.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first icons is selectable by a second user operation.

13. The imaging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, in response to a second user operation to select the at least one of the plurality of second icons, the circuitry is configured to set the imaging apparatus to the second operation mode of the plurality of operation modes available for the first function.

14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a touch panel, wherein the circuitry is configured to display an indicator, on the touch panel, to differentiate the selected icon from the other of the plurality of first icons.

15. The imaging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the circuitry is configured to display the indicator based on a touch operation performed by a user on the touch panel.

16. The imaging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, in response to a second user operation on the touch panel, the circuitry is further configured to change the display from a combination of the image and the plurality of first icons to a combination of the selected icon, the at least one of the plurality of second icons and the description.

17. An imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging circuit configured to capture an image; and

circuitry configured to;

set a description mode ON/OFF based on a first user operation, and

display the image with a plurality of first icons, each of the plurality of first icons representing a corresponding function and one of a plurality of operation modes available for the corresponding function,

wherein the plurality of first icons includes a selected icon that is displayed differently from another of the plurality of first icons, the selected icon corresponding to a first function and a first operation mode of a plurality of operation modes available for the first function,

wherein the selected icon is displayed with at least one of a plurality of second icons,

wherein the at least one of the plurality of second icons is related to the first function and represents a second operation mode of the plurality of operation modes available for the first function, and

wherein, when the description mode is set ON, the selected icon is displayed with a description that includes detailed information corresponding to the selected icon.

18. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the description is not displayed when the description mode is set OFF.

19. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the description is displayed, in response to an indication operation to the selected icon by a user, when the description mode is set ON.

20. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the description further includes a title related to the first function.

21. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first function is related to a setting to capture the image.

22. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first operation mode is a capturing mode.

23. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first operation mode is related to a parameter of a capturing mode.

24. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the description represents an explanation of the first function.

25. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the description represents an explanation of the first operation mode represented by the selected icon.

26. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the image is displayed as a background image.

27. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the selected icon includes a character.

28. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of first icons is selectable by a second user operation.

29. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, wherein, in response to a second user operation to select the at least one of the plurality of second icons, the circuitry is configured to set the imaging apparatus to the second operation mode of the plurality of operation modes available for the first function.

30. The imaging apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a touch panel, wherein the circuitry is configured to display an indicator, on the touch panel, to differentiate the selected icon from the other of the plurality of first icons.

31. The imaging apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the circuitry is configured to display the indicator based on a touch operation performed by a user on the touch panel.

32. The imaging apparatus according to claim 30, wherein, in response to a second user operation on the touch panel, the circuitry is further configured to change the display from a combination of the image and the plurality of first icons to a combination of the selected icon, the at least one of the plurality of second icons and the description.

33. An imaging method for an imaging apparatus, comprising:

capturing, with circuitry, an image;

setting, with the circuitry, a description mode ON/OFF based on user operation; and

displaying, with the circuitry, the image with a plurality of first icons, each of the plurality of first icons representing a corresponding function and one of a plurality of operation modes available for the corresponding function,

wherein the plurality of first icons includes a selected icon that is displayed differently from the plurality of first icons, the selected icon corresponding to a first function and a first operation mode of a plurality of operation modes available for the first function,

wherein, when the description mode is set ON, the selected icon is displayed with a description and at least one of a plurality of second icons,

wherein the at least one of the plurality of second icons is related to the first function and represents a second operation mode of the plurality of operation modes available for the first function, and

wherein the description is detailed information than the selected icon.

34. An imaging method for an imaging apparatus, comprising:

capturing, with circuitry, an image;

setting, with the circuitry, a description mode ON/OFF based on user operation; and

displaying, with the circuitry, the image with a plurality of first icons, each of the plurality of first icons representing a corresponding function and one of a plurality of operation modes available for the corresponding function,

wherein the plurality of first icons includes a selected icon that is displayed differently from the another of the plurality of first icons, the selected icon corresponding to a first function and a first operation mode of a plurality of operation modes available for the first function,

wherein the selected icon is displayed with at least one of a plurality of second icons,

wherein the at least one of the plurality of second icons is related to the first function and represents a second operation mode of the plurality of operation modes available for the first function, and

wherein, when the description mode is set ON, the selected icon is displayed with a description that includes detailed information than the selected icon.