JPH11160761A - Video equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To enable operation of a touch panel while looking at a finder screen. SOLUTION: During shooting or playback, a driving circuit 12
The image display device 10 is driven according to the input image signal, and an image is displayed on the screen of the image display device 10. The image displayed on the image display device 10 passes through the half mirror 16 and enters the eye of the user who looks through the viewing window 14. The image of the operation menu printed on the surface of the transparent or translucent touch panel switch 18 or the like is reflected by the half mirror 16 and similarly enters the user's eyes.
When the user brings the finger close to the touch panel switch 18,
Since the external light is blocked by the finger, the corresponding portion becomes dark, and finally, when the finger touches the touch panel switch 18,
You can see your fingerprint. When the lid 20 is overlaid on the touch panel switch 18, external light can be shielded. In this case, only the display screen of the video display element 10 can be seen from the viewing window 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video device,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a video device including a video display / operation device capable of displaying a video and inputting various instructions by a touch panel method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image display / operation device capable of inputting various instructions by operating a display screen with a finger while displaying an image is a cash depositing / paying machine and a cash dispensing machine of a bank.
It is also widely used in automatic ticket issuing machines and the like. For example, a transparent touch panel switch is arranged on a display screen of a liquid crystal display panel or a CRT display. The touch panel switch has an advantage that the layout and function of the switch can be freely set.

There is a concept that such a touch panel switch is used as an operation means of an image pickup apparatus, for example, a camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus, instead of a conventional key switch. However, since it is a place that is easier to operate at the time of playback than at the time of shooting, and the playback image is displayed on the finder of a very small screen, conventionally, the display device of the playback image is located on the top surface of the imaging device. It is arranged.

In recent years, the monitor screen of a camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus has become large, such as a 3-inch or 4-inch screen, and it has become easy to operate even if a touch panel is arranged on the display screen. The same configuration as the image display / operation device of a large machine such as a cash deposit / payment machine can be adopted.

[0005]

However, still,
A general usage of an imaging apparatus is to take a picture while looking into a finder of a small screen, and an image display / operation apparatus capable of inputting various instructions by a touch panel method while looking at the small screen has not been realized.

In a conventional touch panel type image display / operation device, since a touch panel switch is provided on the screen, fingerprints remaining on the touch panel switch are conspicuous, and it is difficult to view the displayed image. It is an obstacle. In other words, in the conventional example, basically, the operation menu (or the switch menu) is always displayed on the display screen, and when displaying the shooting screen or the playback screen on the imaging device or the video playback device, various operations are performed. Considering a use such as inputting an instruction, it is preferable to display the operation menu only when necessary.

In an image pickup apparatus, an image signal in a specific range within a photographing screen is sometimes extracted and used for control, such as focus or exposure. It is desired to be able to move and enlarge / reduce in the screen to some extent according to the situation. For example, a joystick or a cross key is used in combination for the movement and deformation of the control frame (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 172593/1996). Such a frame operation is also used to specify a range of an image to be enlarged and displayed by a zoom operation for enlarging and displaying the image.

Conventionally, in order to move and deform the control frame, generally, a switch for instructing confirmation of the moving deformation is required.
This is because, if such a switch is omitted, the photographing conditions are sequentially changed even during the operation of moving and deforming, which makes it difficult to perform photographing as intended. In the conventional example, it is necessary to provide such a decision switch separately, so that the number of switches increases, and even without that, the number of switches increases, which may impair operability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a video device capable of performing an operation input by a touch panel system even on a small screen that can be looked into.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image apparatus which does not hinder the observation of an image on which a fingerprint or the like of a finger for operation is displayed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a video device which selectively displays an operation menu of a touch panel when necessary.

[0012] The present invention further provides a video device in which the touch panel, which has been introduced recently, is used to determine a frame change operation, and the operability of changing shooting conditions and video display conditions is improved without increasing the number of switches. The purpose is to do.

[0013]

An image apparatus according to the present invention includes an image display unit, a touch panel, and an optical synthesizing unit for optically synthesizing a display image of the image display unit and an image of the touch panel. It is characterized by the following. As a result, it is possible to perform an operation input by a touch panel method even on a small screen that looks into the screen.

By providing the touch panel with a light transmitting structure and providing a means for blocking light to the touch panel, display / non-display of the operation menu of the touch panel can be selected with a very simple and inexpensive structure.

The video device according to the present invention also includes a video display means, a touch panel, a text video generation means for generating a text video signal indicating an operation menu and a touch position of the touch panel, a video signal to be displayed, and A video synthesizing means for synthesizing the text video signal from the text video generating means and supplying the synthesized video signal to the video display means, an operation detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of an operation of the touch panel, and a detection signal of the operation detecting means Holding means for holding for a period and validating the output of the character / video signal by the character / video generating means during the period.

According to such a configuration, since the operation menu of the touch panel is displayed only for a predetermined period after the operation of the touch panel, the operation menu is displayed only when necessary, and does not hinder the observation of the displayed image. . In addition, since the operation menu is displayed for a predetermined period after the finger or the like is released from the touch panel, when the finger or the like is accidentally separated from the touch panel or when the finger or the like is moved to another location on the touch panel, the operation menu is displayed. Since the display of the operation menu does not disappear immediately, the operability is improved.

The video apparatus according to the present invention also includes a video display unit, a touch panel disposed in front of the video display unit, and a frame on the screen of the video display unit, the frame indicating a range for setting a shooting condition. Two-dimensional movement operation means for moving to the desired position of the touch panel, and, when the touch operation of the touch panel is detected in a new frame in accordance with the frame movement operation of the two-dimensional movement operation means, the two-dimensional movement operation And control means for enabling frame movement by means.

Thus, the movement of the frame is enabled by a certain operation on the touch panel, so that unnecessary changes in the photographing conditions during the movement of the frame by the two-dimensional movement operation means are eliminated, and the screen can be viewed as it is. Operation becomes possible.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention incorporated in a finder of an image pickup apparatus. 10
Is a video display element (for example, a liquid crystal display panel) that displays images on the shooting screen and the reproduction screen, and 12 is a drive circuit that drives the video display element 10 according to an input video signal.
Between the image display element 10 and the viewing window 14, a half mirror 16 inclined at about 45 ° is disposed. A touch panel switch 18 is arranged at a position conjugate with the display screen of the video display element 10 by the half mirror 16. The touch panel switch 18 is transparent or translucent,
0 can be concealed.

The touch panel switch 18 is, for example,
It has a structure in which many pressure-sensitive sensors are incorporated between two transparent or translucent panels, and a pressure-sensitive position can be detected by scanning the pressure-sensitive sensor at high speed by an external scanning circuit. The touch panel switch has various configurations, and the present embodiment is not limited to the individual configuration of the touch panel switch. An operation menu indicating an operation target as shown in FIG. 2 is printed on the front surface, the inside, or the rear surface of the touch panel switch 18 of this embodiment. This printing pattern is preferably printed on the surface of the touch panel switch 18. This is because if it is printed on the front surface, it can be operated in the same manner as a normal key switch without looking through the viewing window 14.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. During shooting or playback, the drive circuit 12 drives the video display element 10 according to an input video signal,
An image is displayed on the screen of the image display element 10. The image displayed on the image display device 10 passes through the half mirror 16 and enters the eye of the user who looks through the viewing window 14. At the same time, the image of the operation menu of the touch panel switch 18 shown in FIG.
Similarly, it enters the user's eye. As a result, the user sees an image in which the image of the switch pattern of the touch panel switch 18 is superimposed on the image of the shooting screen or the reproduction screen, as shown in FIG.

When the user brings his / her finger close to the touch panel switch 18, the external light is blocked by the finger, so that the corresponding portion is darkened. Finally, when the finger touches the touch panel switch 18, the fingerprint becomes so visible. . “FAD” in FIG.
The vertical round part with a diagonal line over E "indicates the finger,
Among them, a small, horizontally long, rounded portion painted black indicates a portion in contact with the finger. This allows the user to
Even if it seems that the touch panel switch 18 is operated by groping without leaving the eyes from the viewing window, substantially,
The operating position can be visually confirmed.

When the lid 20 is slid forward or rotated to overlap the surface of the touch panel switch 18, external light can be shielded. In this case, only the display screen of the video display element 10 can be seen from the viewing window 14, for example, as shown in FIG. Thus, even if the surface of the touch panel switch 18 is stained with a fingerprint or the like, the stain does not overlap with the display screen of the video display element 10. When the touch panel switch 18 is concealed by the lid 20, the print pattern shown in FIG. 2 is also invisible from the viewing window 14, so that the photographing screen or the reproduction screen can be observed finely without being disturbed by the switch pattern.

In the above embodiment, the touch panel switch 18 is hidden by the lid 20 when only the display screen of the video display element 10 is observed.
Can be freely flipped up to a position parallel to the touch panel switch 18 and the same effect can be obtained by flipping up the half mirror 16. However, since the external light is transmitted through the touch panel switch 18 and the half mirror 16 and enters the inside, the visibility of the display screen of the image display element 10 may be somewhat reduced.

Next, an embodiment in which an operation menu on the touch panel is selectively displayed when necessary will be described. FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram of the embodiment.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 30 denotes an image sensor for converting an optical image into an image signal; 32, a video signal generation circuit for converting an image signal output from the image sensor 30 into a video signal of a predetermined format; A synchronizing signal generating circuit for generating a synchronizing signal; 36, a touch panel; 38, a position detecting circuit for detecting a pressed position of the touch panel 36; 40, a function control for controlling various functions of the imaging apparatus according to a detected position signal from the position detecting circuit 38 Circuit.

Reference numeral 42 denotes a synchronous signal from the synchronous signal generating circuit 34 and an operation position signal from the position detecting circuit 36,
A character signal generation circuit (CG) for generating a video signal for displaying characters of an operation menu at a predetermined position and displaying a predetermined mark (for example, '+' or an arrow or the like) at a screen position corresponding to the operation position of the touch panel 44, an operation detection circuit for detecting the presence or absence of an operation on the touch panel 36; 46, a holding circuit for holding and outputting the operation detection signal of the operation detection circuit 42 for a predetermined period; 48, opening / closing control by the output of the holding circuit 46 Below, a character display control circuit that supplies the output of the character signal generation circuit 42 to the video composition circuit 50. The video composition circuit 50 combines the output of the video signal generation circuit 32 with the output of the character display control circuit 48 (the output of the character signal generation circuit 42) and applies the resultant to the drive circuit 54 of the video display device 52. The driving circuit 54 is composed of
The video display element 56 (for example, a liquid crystal display panel or a CRT display) is driven according to the output of 0 to display a video.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a screen in which the operation menu of the touch panel 36 is synthesized and displayed on the video signal output from the video signal generation circuit 32. FIG. 7 shows only the video signal output from the video signal generation circuit 32. It is an example of a screen in a state where it is. In FIG. 6, the '+' cursor is displayed at the operation position of the touch panel 36.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. The image sensor 30 outputs an image signal corresponding to the optical image of the subject to the video signal generation circuit 32 in, for example, RGB format in synchronization with the synchronization signal from the synchronization signal generation circuit 34. The video signal generation circuit 32 includes the image sensor 3
A video signal of a predetermined format is generated from the image signal from 0 and output to the synthesizing circuit 50.

The position detection circuit 38 detects a position on the touch panel 36 touched by the photographer, and supplies the position data to the function control circuit 40. The function control circuit 40 outputs a control signal for executing a function corresponding to the position data. For example, if the photographer touches a position corresponding to the fade function on the touch panel 36, the function control circuit 40 outputs a control signal for executing the fade function to the corresponding circuit from the position data. As a result, the fade function is executed.

The position data detected by the position detection circuit 38 is also applied to a character signal generation circuit 42. The character signal generation circuit 42 converts the operation menu and a video signal including a symbol (such as a “+” symbol or an arrow) indicating the operation position into the screen position indicated by the position data from the position detection circuit 38, It is generated in synchronization with the synchronizing signal from the CPU and applied to the character display control circuit.

Apart from the position detection circuit 38, an operation detection circuit 44 detects whether or not the photographer is touching the touch panel 36. It is also possible to detect the presence or absence of an operation based on the detected position data output from the position detection circuit 38. The holding circuit 46 holds the operation detection signal of the operation detection circuit 44 for a certain period of time, during which time the character display control circuit 48 permits the character display. That is, when the operation detection circuit 44 detects the operation of the touch panel 36, the holding circuit 46 immediately permits the character display control circuit 48 to display the character. The display control circuit 48 continues to permit the character display. Such a function can be realized by a simple mono-multi. Character display control circuit 4
8 is specifically realized by a gate circuit or a switch that is opened and closed by the binary output of the holding circuit 46.

The character signal that has passed through the character display control circuit 48 is converted by the synthesizing circuit 50 into the video signal generating circuit 3.
2 and is applied to the drive circuit 54 of the video display device 52. The drive circuit 54 drives the display element 56 according to the video signal from the synthesizing circuit 50, and displays an image of the video signal.

In this embodiment, the photographer operates the touch panel 36
When the touch panel is touched, the screen of the display element 56 displays an image in which the operation menu and the operation position of the touch panel 36 are combined and displayed on the captured image for a predetermined holding time set in the holding circuit 46 as shown in FIG. After the holding period, as shown in FIG. 7, the image becomes an image of only the captured video.

Although the operation at the time of photographing is described as an example, in an imaging device in which a video recording / reproducing device is integrated, that is, in a camera-integrated recording / reproducing device, the touch panel operation at the time of reproducing can be operated in the same manner. It's clear what you can do.

FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention applied to an image pickup apparatus (camera-integrated recording / reproducing apparatus) having a joystick for moving a control frame for controlling focus and exposure.
FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the embodiment.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 60 denotes a camera-integrated VT.
It is an R main body and has a camera unit, a recording unit, and a reproducing unit.
Reference numeral 62 denotes a liquid crystal display panel, on which a transparent touch panel 64 is attached. Reference numeral 66 denotes a joystick capable of two-dimensional operation, reference numeral 68 denotes a control frame which is moved within the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 62 by the joystick 66, and reference numeral 70 denotes a start / stop button for instructing start and stop of video signal recording. .

The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the power switch is turned on and operation starts in the camera mode, the control frame 68 is normally set at the center position of the screen of the liquid crystal display panel 62, and the focus and exposure are automatically controlled by the image in the control frame 68. The frame 68 is moved according to the operation of the joystick 66 (S2), and the new position of the frame 68 is stored in a memory (not shown) (S3). While the joystick 66 is being operated, S2 and S3 are repeated.

When the joystick 66 is not operated (S
1) When a finger or a pen tip touches the touch panel 64 (S4), the touched position is detected and stored as panel data (S5).

The frame data stored in S3 is compared with the panel data stored in S5, and it is determined whether or not the touch on the touch panel 64 is within the range of the frame indicated by the frame data stored in S3 (step S3). S6). If it is within the frame (S6), S3
The frame indicated by the frame data stored in the step is set as a new focus and exposure control frame, and focus control and exposure control are executed. If the frame is outside the frame (S6), the position of the frame is not updated, and the process returns to S1. Return.

In the above embodiment, the focus control frame and the exposure control frame are assumed to be the same frame. However, it is apparent that the same is true even if each of them can be moved separately. In such a case, it is specified in advance whether to move the focus control frame or the exposure control frame. The same operation can be performed for zooming.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, by moving the control frame with the joystick and touching within the destination frame,
Since the movement of the control frame is determined, the control frame can be updated by a simple operation while looking at the screen. Since the shooting conditions are not changed during the update, an unintended image does not enter during the update operation of the control frame.

More simply, the control frame 6 is placed at a position touched on the touch panel 64 without using a joystick.
8 may be moved immediately. This means, for example, that the subject specified on the screen is focused, and the operational feeling of focus control is significantly improved.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
Since shooting conditions such as exposure and zoom can be set by touching the screen, complicated key operations are eliminated and operability is improved. By touching an arbitrary position on the display screen, the operation of the operation means is switched on and off, so that complicated key operations and switches can be reduced, and operability can be improved and cost can be reduced.

[0046]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, while checking the displayed image,
Various instructions can be input by a touch panel arranged apart from the display screen. By writing the operation menu on the touch panel, means for converting the operation menu into a video signal can be omitted, and the operation menu can be realized simply and inexpensively. Since the display image and the operation menu of the touch panel are optically synthesized, it can be realized at low cost. Since the image display means and the touch panel can be arranged at separate positions, the present invention can be applied to, for example, a viewfinder of an imaging device in a case where the user looks into the image by peeping.

By hiding the touch panel, only the display screen can be observed, and fingerprints and the like adhering to the touch panel surface do not disturb.

Since the operation menu is displayed only for a certain period of time from the start of the touch operation, the trouble caused by constantly displaying the operation menu for operating the touch panel is eliminated. When the finger or the like is accidentally separated from the touch panel or when the finger or the like is moved to another place on the touch panel, the display of the operation menu does not disappear immediately, so that the operability is improved. Further, it is possible to omit a unit and a trouble for instructing whether or not to display the operation menu. When the operation menu is displayed, the operation position of the touch panel is also displayed, so that the touch panel does not have to be installed in front of the display screen, and the need for a transparent touch panel is eliminated.

Further, since the photographing conditions are shifted by touching the movable frame on the display screen, unnecessary changes in the photographing conditions during the movement of the frame by the joystick are eliminated, and the screen can be viewed as it is. Operation becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of an operation menu of a touch panel switch 18.

FIG. 3 is a composite display example of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an example of an observation screen when the touch panel switch 18 is hidden by a lid 20.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a composite screen display in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a photographing screen display example of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an operation flowchart of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: video display element 12: drive circuit 14: viewing window 16: half mirror 18: touch panel switch 20: lid 30: imaging device 32: video signal generation circuit 34: synchronization signal generation circuit 36: touch panel 38: position detection circuit 40: Function control circuit 42: Character signal generation circuit (CG) 44: Operation detection circuit 46: Holding circuit 48: Character display control circuit 50: Video synthesis circuit 52: Video display device 54: Drive circuit 56: Video display element 60: Camera 1 Body VTR body 62: LCD panel 64: Touch panel 66: Joystick 68: Control frame 70: Start / Stop button

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image apparatus comprising: an image display means; a touch panel; and an optical synthesizing means for optically synthesizing a display image of the image display means and an image of the touch panel. 2. The video device according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel has a light transmitting structure. 3. The video apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical combining means comprises an optical element that transmits light coming from one surface and reflects light coming from the other surface. 4. The video device according to claim 1, further comprising means for blocking light to said touch panel. 5. An image display means, a touch panel, a character image generation means for generating a character image signal indicating an operation menu and a touch position of the touch panel, an image signal to be displayed, and a character image signal from the character image generation means. A video synthesizing unit that synthesizes a character video signal and supplies the video display unit to the video display unit; an operation detection unit that detects whether or not the touch panel is operated; and a detection signal of the operation detection unit that is held for a predetermined period. A video device comprising: a holding unit for validating the output of the character video signal by the character video generating unit. 6. A video display means, a touch panel disposed in front of the video display means, and a frame indicating a range for setting a shooting condition on a screen of the video display means is moved to a desired position on the screen. Two-dimensional movement operation means for enabling the frame movement by the two-dimensional movement operation means when a touch operation of the touch panel is detected in a new frame in accordance with the frame movement operation of the two-dimensional movement operation means A video device comprising: