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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus having a display device for a camera, said apparatus
comprising:
(A) display means for displaying a first image corresponding to an image to
be photographed;
(B) memory means for storing data representing at least a second image
which has been already photographed; and
(C) control means for enabling said display means substantially
simultaneously display both the first and second images in such a manner
that a resulting combined image is substantially continuous at a junction
formed between the first and second images.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises
shifting means for shifting the junction.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said display means comprises
a picture frame, and said shifting means comprises right shifting means
for shifting the junction to a position which is right of a centerline of
said picture frame.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said display means comprises
a picture frame, and said shifting means comprises right shifting means
for shifting the junction to a position which is right of a centerline of
said picture frame.
5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said shifting means
comprises operation means for operating said shifting means.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising additional memory
means for storing data representing the first image, said control means
comprising means for reading out the stored data to enable said display
means to display the first image.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said control means comprises
shifting means for shifting the junction by means of reading out the data
stored in said memory means and in said additional memory means according
to an address of said memory means and an address of said additional
memory means.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means comprises
right panorama means for enabling said display means to display the first
and second images so as to form a panorama display in the rightward
direction.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said display means comprises
a picture frame, and wherein said control means comprises setting means
for setting the junction at a position which is right of a centerline of
said picture frame.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means
comprises left panorama means for enabling said display means to display
the first and second images so as to form a panorama display in the
leftward direction.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said display means
comprises a picture frame, and wherein said control means comprises
setting means for setting the junction at a position which is left of a
centerline of said picture frame.
12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images so as to form a panorama display.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said display means
comprises a picture frame, and wherein said control means comprises
setting mean for setting the junction at a predetermined position of said
picture frame.
14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control means
comprises shifting means for shifting the junction in said display means.
15. The apparatus or a device according to claim 14, wherein said display
means comprises a picture frame, and said shifting means comprises right
shifting means for shifting the junction to a position which is right of a
centerline of said picture frame.
16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said display means
comprises a picture frame, and said shifting means comprises right
shifting means for shifting the junction to a position which is left of a
centerline of said picture frame.
17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images by scrolling.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to stop scrolling and to
display the first and second images as a stationary image.
19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images as a stationary image.
20. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the junction in
the form of a borderline.
21. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control means
comprise means for enabling said display means to display at least two
previously photographed images and stored in said memory means as data in
such a manner that the resulting combined image is substantially
continuous at a junction formed between the at least two previously
photographed images.
22. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images in a partially overlapped state.
23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to change the display
according to whether the partially overlapped state is stored.
24. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control means
comprises shifting means for shifting the junction in a lateral direction.
25. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display only the second
image.
26. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images so as to form a lateral panorama display.
27. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images so as to form a longitudinal panorama display.
28. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means
comprises a picture frame, and said control means comprises setting means
for setting the junction at a predetermined position of said picture
frame.
29. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images by scrolling.
30. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to stop scrolling and to
display the first and second images as a stationary image.
31. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images as a stationary image.
32. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the junction in
the form of a borderline.
33. An apparatus having a display device according to claim 1, wherein said
control means comprises means for enabling said display means to display
at least two previously photographed images in combination as the first
image and stored in said memory means as data in such a manner that the
resulting combined image is substantially continuous at said junction
formed therefrom.
34. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images in a partially overlapped state.
35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to change the display
according to whether the partially overlapped state is stored.
36. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means
comprises shifting mean for shifting the junction in a lateral direction.
37. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display only the first
image.
38. An apparatus having a display device for a camera, said apparatus
comprising:
(A) display means for displaying a first image to be photographed;
(B) memory means for storing data representing a second image which has
been already photographed; and
(C) control means for enabling said display mean to substantially
simultaneously display both the first and second images in such a manner
that a resulting combined image is substantially continuous at a junction
formed between the first and second images, said control means being
capable of shifting the junction.
39. The apparatus according to clam 28, wherein said control means
comprises shifting means for shifting the junction.
40. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said display means
comprises a picture frame, and said shifting means comprises left shifting
means for shifting the junction to a position which is left of a
centerline of said picture frame.
41. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said control means
comprises operation means for operating said control means.
42. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said control means
comprises shifting means for shifting the junction in a lateral direction.
43. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images so as to form a lateral panorama display.
44. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images so as to form a longitudinal panorama display.
45. An apparatus having a display device for a camera, said apparatus
comprising:
(A) display means for displaying a first image to be photographed;
(B) memory means for storing data representing a second image which has
been already photographed; and
(C) control means for enabling said display means to substantially
simultaneously display both the first and second images in such a manner
that a resulting combined image is substantially continuous at a junction
formed between the first and second images in such a manner to form a
panorama display.
46. An apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said control means
comprises control means for shifting the junction.
47. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said display means
comprises a picture frame, and said control means comprises right control
means for controlling the junction to a position which is right of a
centerline of said picture frame.
48. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said display means
comprises a picture frame, and said control means comprises right control
means for controlling the junction to a position which is left of a
centerline of said picture frame.
49. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said control means
comprises operation means for operating said control means.
50. The apparatus according to claim 45, further comprising additional
memory means for storing data representing said first image, said control
mean comprising means for reading out the stored data to enable said
display means to display the first image.
51. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said control means
comprises shifting means for shifting the junction of the data stored in
said memory means and in said additional memory means according to an
address of said memory means and an address of said additional memory
means.
52. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said control means
comprises right panorama means for enabling said display means to display
both the first and second images so as to form a panorama display in the
right direction.
53. The apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said display means
comprises a picture frame, and wherein said control means comprises
setting means for setting the junction at a position which is right of a
centerline of said picture frame.
54. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said control means
comprises left panorama means for enabling said display means to display
first and second images so as to form a panorama display in the leftward
direction.
55. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein said display means
comprises a picture frame and wherein said control means comprises setting
mean for setting the junction at a position which is left of a centerline
of said picture frame.
56. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said display means
comprise a picture frame and wherein said control means comprises setting
means for setting the junction at a predetermined position of said picture
frame.
57. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images so as to form a lateral panorama display.
58. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images so as to form a longitudinal panorama display.
59. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images by scrolling.
60. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to stop scrolling and to
display the first and second images as a stationary image.
61. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images as a stationary image.
62. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the junction in
the form of a borderline.
63. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display at least two
previously photographed images in combination as the first image and
stored in said memory means as data in such a manner that the resulting
combined image is substantially continuous at said junction formed
therefrom.
64. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said control mean
comprises means for enabling said display means to display the first and
second images in a partially overlapped state.
65. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to change the display
according to whether the partially overlapped state is stored.
66. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said control means
comprises shifting means for shifting the junction in a lateral direction.
67. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said control means
comprises means for enabling said display means to display only the first
image.
68. An apparatus having a display device for a camera, said apparatus
comprising
(A) display means for displaying an image;
(B) image generating means for generating an image signal corresponding to
a displayed image;
(C) memory means for storing image signals in a frame-by-frame manner; and
(D) control means for causing said display means to simultaneously display
at least a portion of a frame of a stored image, and at least a portion of
a frame of a subsequently stored image in such a manner that a resulting
combined image is substantially continuous at a junction between the
images.
69. An apparatus having a display device for a camera, said apparatus
comprising:
(A) display means for displaying an image;
(B) image generating means for generating an image signal corresponding to
an image;
(C) memory means for storing the image signal as data;
(D) control means for causing said display means to simultaneously display
at least a portion of a first image, the portion being derived from said
image signal stored in said memory means, and at least portion of a second
image corresponding to a real-time image in such a manner that a resulting
combined image is substantially continuous at a junction between the
images.
70. An apparatus having a display device for a camera, said apparatus
comprising:
(A) display means for displaying an image;
(B) memory means for storing data representing a plurality of images which
have been already photographed; and
(C) control means for enabling said display means to substantially
simultaneously display both a first image and a second image in such a
manner that a resulting combined image in such a manner that a resulting
combined image is substantially continuous at a junction formed between
the first and second images. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a panorama photographing device having an
electronic viewfinder, such as a camera.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, panoramic photography has required a photographer to
remember the position of the juncture between adjacent sections of an
object or scenery which are to be photographed in successive frames of
pictures. It has also been necessary to fix the camera by, for example, a
tripod. It is very troublesome to remember the juncture between adjacent
object sections. In addition, it is very difficult to smoothly connect the
successive shots because the photographer has to compose the panoramic
image in such a manner that the juncture which is on one end. e.g., right
end, of the picture frame photographed has to be located on the other end,
e.g., left end, of the picture frame in the next shot. This problem is
serious particularly when the object to be photographed is a monotonous
one having no particular characteristic as in the case of a landscape. In
such a case, the photographer encounters difficulty in smoothly connecting
the successive images If the photographer has forgotten the position of
the juncture, he has to repeat the photographing from the beginning, i.e.,
from the first object section. In some cases, panoramic photography
requires the photographer to connect images not only in the horizontal
direction but also in the vertical direction. It is not easy to obtain a
smooth connection of images both horizontally and vertically without the
aid of a tripod. Namely, panoramic photography may fail even with a slight
change in the position of the camera held by the photographer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a panorama
photographing device improved in such a way as to obviate these problems
of the prior art.
To this end, according to the present invention, there is provided a
panorama photographing device comprising: display means for displaying an
image to be photographed; memory means for storing data concerning an
image which has been already photographed; and control means for enabling
the display means to display, substantially simultaneously, both the image
to be photographed and the image already photographed and stored in the
memory means.
With this arrangement, the image which has been already photographed and
the image which is to be photographed subsequently are simultaneously
displayed so as to enable the photographer to smoothly connect both images
thereby ensuring high quality of the panorama photograph.
In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided display means,
imaging means, memory means and control means. The display means is
arranged to display an image of an object. The imaging means generates
image signals corresponding to the object. The memory means stores the
image signals generated by the imaging means. The control means causes the
display means to simultaneously display (1) at least a portion of the
image which corresponds to the stored image signals, and (2) at least a
portion of a subsequent image.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided imaging
means, memory means, display means, and control means. The imaging means
converts a first image into an image signal. The memory means stores the
image signals, and the display means displays a second image which is
substantially a real-time image. The control means causes the display
means to simultaneously display (1) at least a portion of the first image,
that portion derived from the image signal stored in the memory means, and
(2) the second image.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become clear from the following description of the
preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera;
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a principal circuit incorporated in the
camera shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are illustrations of a first example of a display on
the camera shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are illustrations of horizontal addresses of successive
images corresponding to FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b);
FIGS. 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c) are illustrations of a second example of the
display on the camera shown in FIG. 1;
FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) and 6(c) are illustrations of a third example of the
display on the camera shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a circuit for forming the image on display
as shown in FIG. 6;
FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are illustrations of a fourth example of the display on
the camera shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of a circuit for forming the image on display
as shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is an illustration of a fifth example of the display on the camera
shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram of a circuit for forming the image on display
as shown in FIG. 10;
FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b) are illustrations of a sixth example of the display
on the camera shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 13 is an illustration of a circuit for forming the image on display as
shown in FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is an illustration of a seventh example of the display on the
camera shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 15 is an illustration of an eighth example of the display on the
camera shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 16 is an illustration of a ninth example of the display on the camera
shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 17 is an illustration of a tenth example of the display on the camera
shown in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 18 is an illustration of another circuit which incorporates a
microcomputer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a camera incorporating a panorama photographing device in
accordance with the present invention. In the following description, the
same reference numerals are used to denote the same parts or elements. The
camera shown in FIG. 1 has a camera body 1, a release button 2, a display
device 3, a left scroll switch button 4, a right scroll switch button 5,
and a lens 6 for focusing an image on a photographic film or on an imaging
device.
FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a circuit incorporated in the camera. The
circuit has an imaging address generating device 404 which generates and
then superimposes electrical signals, in the form of image addresses, on
the image signal imaged by the imaging device 401. The image signals are
converted into digital signals by an A/D (Analog-to-Digital) converter 402
and these digital signals are stored in RAMs (Random Access Memory) 403.
There are 36 RAMs, RAM1 to RAM36 which are adapted to be selected by a RAM
selecting device 411 in accordance with information given by a film
counter 412.
The image signals stored in the RAMs 403 are delivered to D/A (Digital to
Analog) converter 409 and the analog signals output from the D/A converter
409 are displayed at a position on display device 410 designated by the
address generated by the display address generating device 406. A phase
control device 405 operates to provide a phase difference between the
displayed address and the imaging address so that the display device 410
displays the image as if the start address has been materially changed, as
will be explained later in connection with FIG. 4. The phase control
device 405 delivers a signal to the RAM select device 411 to enable the
display device 410 to display the data in the next or adjacent RAM 403 in
accordance with the address information as will be explained later,
whereby display images as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are obtained.
The switches 407 and 408 shown in FIG. 2 are selection switches which
enable the photographer to select either a rightward panorama mode or a
leftward panorama mode, whereby a display image as shown in FIG. 3(a) or a
display image as shown in FIG. 3(b) is obtained.
FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) illustrate an example of the display obtained in the
camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The display as shown in FIG. 3(a) is
obtained when the rightward panorama mode has been selected through the
manipulation of the switch 407. In this case, only the hatched area of the
n-TH picture frame showing the previously photographed image is shown at
the left end of the frame now appearing in the viewfinder, whereas the
image to be photographed next, i.e., the object section to be photographed
on the (n+1)TH picture frame is dynamically displayed on the right portion
of the frame now appearing in the viewfinder. The photographer therefore
can precisely join the image on the n-TH picture frame and the image on
the (n+1)TH frame at the expected juncture. Although the rightward
panorama mode has been described, the user can equally select the leftward
mode in which the camera is swung from right to left, by operating the
leftward panorama switch 408. In such a case, the hatched left end portion
of the picture on the n-TH frame is displayed on the right end of the
frame now appearing in the viewfinder, while the hatched area of the
(n+1)TH frame is displayed on the left end of the viewfinder, whereby
panoramic photographing of the image is possible by swinging the camera
from the right to the left.
FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show the horizontal addresses of the n-TH and (n+1)TH
images displayed in the viewfinder, corresponding to the display images
shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), respectively.
Referring first to FIG. 4(a), it is assumed here that a single image has
horizontal addresses extending from 00.sub.H to FF.sub.H. In such a case,
the display as shown in FIG. 3(a) can be obtained by displaying, in the
address region 00.sub.H to 3F.sub.H on the viewfinder, the image of the
n-TH frame addressed between CO.sub.H to FF.sub.H, while displaying the
portion of the image of the (n+1)TH frame between the addresses 00.sub.H
to BF.sub.H on the region of the viewfinder addressed between 40.sub.H and
FF.sub.H. The display as shown in FIG. 3(b) can be obtained in a similar
manner by making use of the address information as shown in FIG. 4(b).
From these facts, it is understood that the display as shown in FIGS. 3(a)
and 3(b) can be obtained by suitably shifting the address information.
FIGS. 5(a), 5(b), and 5(c) illustrate a second example of the display. In
this case, entire portions of two adjacent images are displayed in a
side-by-side relation on a frame in the viewfinder. More specifically, in
this example, data are read from alternating RAMs 403 both in the vertical
and horizontal directions by the operation of the address generating
device 404 in the circuit of FIG. 2, and the phase shift device 405 and
the RAM select device 411 are suitably operated such that the start
addresses for the n-TH frame and the (n+1)TH frame are set in a manner
corresponding to the display shown in FIGS. 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c) causing
the display address generating device 406 to designate the vertical range
of the display address.
FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c) illustrate a third example of the display. In contrast
to the display of FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) in which the phase difference is
fixed, the example shown in FIGS. 6(a), 6(b) and 6(c) enables the size or
area of display of the image of the preceding picture frame to be varied
by scrolling the images progressively from the state of FIG. 6(a) to the
state of FIG. 6(b) and then to the state of FIG. 6(c) by means of the
buttons 4 and 5 shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the image to be photographed in the
next frame, i.e., (n+1)TH frame, is dynamically displayed on the right
portion of the area in the viewfinder, whereas the static image which has
been photographed in the preceding frame, i.e., n-TH frame, is shown on
the left portion of the area in the viewfinder.
The display as shown in FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c) can be realized by, for example,
a circuit which will be described hereinunder with reference to FIG. 7.
The object image is converted into image signals by the imaging device 401
which are processed by the A/D converter 402 to become digital signals.
These digital signals are input to the DI terminals of the RAMs 703 to
705. RAMs 703 to 705 comprise the RAM 403 explained before. Actually,
there are many RAMs corresponding in number to the number of the frames of
the photographic film, although only some of them are shown. The vertical
transfer clock pulses .phi.V for the imaging device 401 are counted by a
vertical address counter 717 so as to transfer the vertical addresses to
the imaging device 401 and to the RAMs 703 to 705. The counter 717 is
adapted to be reset by a vertical blanking signal VD when a predetermined
number of transfer clock pulses oV have been counted. Similarly, the
horizontal transfer clock pulses oH for the imaging device 401 are counted
by a horizontal address counter 718 so as to transfer the horizontal
addresses to the imaging device 401 and to the RAMs 703 to 705. The
counter 717 is adapted to be reset by a horizontal blanking signal HD when
a predetermined number of transfer clock pulses oH have been counted.
The film counter 412 delivers a signal representing the number of frames of
the photographic film. In response to this signal, the decoder 715
delivers a signal to the WE terminals of the RAMs 703 to 705 so that one
of the RAMs 703 to 705 is selected into which the image signals from the
imaging device are delivered. The content of the film counter 412 is
incremented by one in response to the exposure timing signal delivered by
a shutter control device 729 so that the output of the decoder 715 is
switched, whereby the image data is recorded in the form of a still image
in the RAM which was selected by the decoder 715. The present image data
are successively delivered to the D/A converter 409 through the RAMs so as
to be converted into analog signals and are dynamically displayed on the
display device 410 as the present image.
The RAM from which the data is to be read is selected by inputting a signal
to the OE terminal of the RAM to be selected from a select gate comprised
of AND gates 709 to 714 and OR gates 706 to 708 in response to the outputs
from the decoder 715 and the exclusive OR gates 726, 727 which will be
explained later.
The switches 723 and 724 are adapted to be operated in response to the
pressing of the buttons 4 and 5 shown in FIG. 1. These switches, when
turned on, enable a clock generating device 730 to deliver a clock signal
to UP and DOWN counters of an address difference counter 720 so that the
counter 720 conducts up-counting and down-counting, respectively. The
value counted by the address difference counter is used as the amount of
scroll, i.e., the value of offset of the juncture between the image on the
n-th frame and the image on the (n+1)th frame. A direction detecting
device 728 detects the direction of the scroll so as to determine whether
the image of the n-th frame is to be displayed on the right side or the
left side of the display area of the display device 410.
A comparator 719 compares the content of the imaging horizontal address
counter 718 and the content of the address difference counter 720. The
results of the comparison are delivered to exclusive OR circuits 726 and
727, respectively. The value counted by the address difference counter 720
is thus compared with the content of the imaging horizontal address
counter 718. When the output from the direction detecting device 728
indicates that rightward scrolling is being conducted, the exclusive OR
gate 726 provides an output "H" while the exclusive OR circuit 727
provides an output of "L" level, as long as the content of the imaging
horizontal address counter 718 is greater than the value counted by the
address difference counter 720. If the content of the film counter 412 is
(n+1) in this state, the AND gate 712 is selected in accordance with the
output from the decoder 715, so that the image data on the n-TH frame is
read from the RAM 704 and is delivered to the display device 410 through
the D/A converter 409. The display device 410 performs the displaying
operation in accordance with the addresses designated by the display
horizontal address counter 721 and the display vertical address counter
722. The display horizontal address counter 721 is reset at the moment of
the coincidence signal (=) is from the comparator 719.
Thereafter, the content of the imaging horizontal address counter 718
becomes greater than the count value of the address difference counter 720
and the image data in the RAM 704 corresponding to the addresses in the
imaging horizontal address counter in this state, i.e., the right portion
of the image on the n-TH frame, is displayed on the left portion of the
display area on the display device 410. Thereafter, the imaging horizontal
address counter 718 is reset to the initial state by the horizontal
blanking signal HD and the content of the imaging horizontal address
counter 718 becomes smaller than the value counted by the address
difference counter 720. As a result, the exclusive OR gates 726 and 727
output "L" and "H" signal, respectively, in accordance with the output of
the comparator 719, so that the AND gate 713 is selected and the image
data on the present frame, i.e., on the (n+1)TH frame is read from the RAM
705 and input to the display device 410 through the D/A converter 409.
In consequence, the display device 410 displays images in such a manner
that the image data corresponding to the first address in the imaging
horizontal address counter 718 is displayed at the position which
corresponds to the address designated by the display horizontal address
counter 721 at this moment. In consequence, a left end portion of the
image on the (n+1)TH frame is displayed on the right side of the n-TH
frame in contact with the latter as shown in FIG. 6(b).
In case of a leftward scroll, the output of the direction detecting means
728 is inverted so that the condition of switching of the outputs from the
exclusive OR gates 726 and 727 is reversed from that in the rightward
scroll. In consequence, a right end portion of the image on the (n+1)TH
frame is displayed on the left portion of the display area of the display
device 410, while the left end portion of the image on the n-TH frame is
displayed on the right side of the display area on the display device 410.
The imaging address generating device 404 used in the circuit shown in FIG.
2 can be obtained by combining the imaging vertical address counter 717
and the imaging horizontal address counter 718 of this embodiment. At the
same time, the phase control device 405 of the circuit shown in FIG. 2 may
comprise the address difference counter 720 with fixed up-count and
down-count values, direction detecting device 728, comparator 719 and the
exclusive OR gates 726 and 727, all of which are used in this embodiment.
In addition, the RAM select device 411 used in the circuit of FIG. 2 may
comprise the combination of OR gates 706 to 708, AND gates 709 to 714 and
the decoder 715. Finally, the address generating device 406 of the circuit
shown in FIG. 2 may comprise a combination of the display horizontal
address counter 721 and the display vertical address counter 722 of this
embodiment.
FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) illustrate a fourth example of the display, in which a
border line is drawn between both images so as to facilitate the
discrimination between two images. The border line enables the
photographer to easily find the position of the juncture between two
images even when these two images are substantially continuous as shown in
FIG. 8(b).
A method for obtaining this type of display will be explained with
reference to FIG. 9. The coincidence signal (=) from the comparator 719 is
inverted by an inverter 1201 and the inverted signal is input to one of
the inputs of an AND gate 1202, while the other input receives the data
from the RAM 403. The output from the AND gate 1202 is delivered to the
D/A converter 409. In consequence, when the coincidence signal is output
from the comparator 719, the AND gate 1202 inhibits the delivery of the
data of the RAM 403 to the D/A converter 409 and the inhibited portion of
the data is displayed as the border line shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 illustrates an improvement in the scroll function explained in
connection with FIG. 7. In this case, the address difference counter 720,
which is the same as that shown in FIG. 7, is controlled by a decoder 1203
such that it counts down or up frame numbers when the scroll has proceeded
beyond the preceding frame or the subsequent frame and delivers the
counted value to the decoder 715 thus enabling scrolling of the film over
a multiplicity of frames. Namely, with reference to FIG. 10, after
conducting panorama photographing on the (n-2)TH frame, (n-1)TH frame and
the n-TH frame, the display region A is shifted to the left and right in
response to the manipulation of the scroll buttons, thereby displaying the
desired image on the viewfinder. This arrangement enables the photographer
to confirm the state of the panorama photograph in the electronic
viewfinder after a series of shots.
FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b) illustrate a sixth example of the display in which a
portion of the image in the preceding frame, i.e., n-TH frame, is left on
the display and the image in the next frame, i.e., the (n+1)TH frame is
superposed on the left image of the preceding frame. More specifically,
FIG. 12(a) shows the state in which the duplicate portions do not
correctly overlap each other, while FIG. 12(b) shows the state in which
the duplicate portions precisely overlap each other so that the image of
the preceding frame has become invisible. It may seem that this measure is
not preferred because th | | |
