Digital camera

• US 20050259173A1
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Tsuji, Shuji, Nakajima, Yasumasa, Shirakarwa, Masanobu
• Granted Patent: US 7,675,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.120
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects

Abstract

A digital camera is characterized by an optical system for forming an optical image of a subject, conversion means for converting the formed optical image of the subject into a digital image, selection means for selecting a layout at the playback time of the digital image output by the conversion means, a display, determination means for determining the playback orientation of the digital image output by the conversion means with respect to the selected layout, display control means for combining an object indicating how to hold the digital camera at the ready in response to the determined playback orientation and a digital moving image output by the conversion means into one for display on the display in a state in which a still image record command can be entered, and image record means for storing a digital still image output by the conversion means in nonvolatile memory in association with the selected layout when a still image record command is entered.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

an optical system that forms an optical image of a subject;

a conversion unit that converts the formed optical image of the subject into a digital image;

selection means that selects a default image to be combined with the digital image output by said conversion means;

a display;

a determination unit that determines whether or not the selected default image contains a pixel to be superposed on the digital image output by the conversion unit;

a display controller, if a default image having a pixel to be superposed on the digital image output by the conversion unit is selected, combines a thumbnail image of the selected default image and a digital moving image output by the conversion unit into one for display on the display in a state in which a still image record command can be entered, and if a default image not containing any pixel to be superposed on the digital image output by the conversion unit is selected, combines a predetermined object and a digital moving image output by the conversion unit into one for display on the display in a state in which a still image record command can be entered; and

an image recorder that stores a digital still image output by the conversion unit in nonvolatile memory in association with the selected default image when a still image record command is entered.

2. The digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object is a belt-like pattern displayed in a margin of said display.

3. A digital camera comprising:

an optical system for forming an optical image of a subject;

a conversion unit that converts the formed optical image of the subject into a digital image;

a selection unit that selects a layout at the playback time of the digital image output by the conversion unit;

a display;

a determination unit that determines playback orientation of the digital image output by the conversion unit with respect to the selected layout;

a display controller that combines an object indicating how to hold the digital camera at the ready in response to the determined playback orientation and a digital moving image output by the conversion unit into one for display on the display in a state in which a still image record command can be entered; and

an image recorder that stores a digital still image output by the conversion unit in nonvolatile memory in association with the selected layout when a still image record command is entered.

4. The digital camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines the playback orientation of the digital image output by the conversion unit by information defining the playback orientation of the digital image output by the conversion unit.

5. The digital camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines the playback orientation of the digital image output by the conversion unit by coordinates defining a placement area of the digital image output by the conversion unit at the playback time of the digital image.

6. The digital camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein the object is a pattern indicating an upper direction in a state in which said digital camera is correctly held at the ready.

7. The digital camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein the object is a belt-like pattern displayed in a margin of a screen as an upper margin in a state in which said digital camera is correctly held at the ready.

8. The digital camera as claimed in claim 3, wherein the object is an arrow indicating an upper direction in a state in which said digital camera is correctly held at the ready.

9. The digital camera as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

an attitude detection unit that detects an attitude of a cabinet housing said optical system; and

a warning unit that issues a warning in response to the detected cabinet attitude and the determined playback orientation.

10. A display control method of a digital camera comprising an optical system for forming an optical image of a subject, a conversion unit for converting the formed optical image of the subject into a digital image, a selection unit for selecting a layout at the playback time of the digital image output by the conversion unit, and a display, the method comprising:

determining playback orientation of the digital image output by the conversion unit with respect to the selected layout;

combining an object indicating how to hold the digital camera at the ready in response to the determined playback orientation and a digital moving image output by the conversion unit into one for display on said display in a state in which a still image record command can be entered; and

storing a digital still image output by the conversion unit in nonvolatile memory in association with the selected layout when a still image record command is entered.