Imaging apparatus, user interface, and associated methodology for a co-existent shooting and reproduction mode

Abstract

A currently captured image of an object is displayed at a center of a display frame on a display screen in a shooting mode. When a dial is rotated, the currently captured image is moved rightward. A reproduced image captured before the currently captured image is displayed on the left thereof. Another reproduced image captured before the reproduced image is displayed on the left thereof. The currently captured image and the reproduced images are displayed simultaneously on the display screen as a co-existent shooting and reproducing mode. When the dial is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, only the reproduced images are displayed in a reproducing mode. The reproduced images are displayed along a time axis.

1 . An image display apparatus comprising:
 a control unit configured to control a display to display a current image of an object currently being captured by an imaging unit and a previously captured image simultaneously,   wherein the control unit is configured to control, responsive to an instruction, the imaging unit to capture the current image as a new previously captured image, and   the control unit is configured to control, responsive to the instruction, the display to animate a gradual decrease in size of the new previously captured image, the gradual decrease including at least a two-step decrease.   
     
     
         2 . The image display apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an input device configured to generate the instruction in response to an external input.   
     
     
         3 . The image display apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the input device is a shutter button. 
     
     
         4 . A method of causing an image display apparatus to display at least one image, comprising:
 displaying, on a display, a current image of an object currently being captured by an imaging unit and a previously captured image simultaneously;   capturing, in the imaging unit and responsive to an instruction, the current image as a new previously captured image; and   animating, on the display, a gradual decrease in size of the new previously captured image,   wherein the gradual decrease including at least a two-step decrease.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the instruction is generated in response to depression of a shutter button. 
     
     
         6 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-readable instructions thereon that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
 displaying a current image of an object currently being captured by an imaging unit and a previously captured image simultaneously;   capturing, responsive to an instruction, the current image as a new previously captured image; and   animating a gradual decrease in size of the new previously captured image, wherein the gradual decrease including at least a two-step decrease.   
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 6 , wherein the instruction is generated in response to depression of a shutter button. 
     
     
         8 . An image display controlling apparatus, comprising:
 a control unit configured to control a display to display a current image of an object currently being captured by an imaging unit and a first previously captured image simultaneously,   wherein the control unit is configured to control, responsive to an instruction, the imaging unit to capture the current image as a second previously captured image, and   the control unit is configured to control, responsive to the instruction, the display to animate the second previously captured image to gradually move in a direction corresponding to the first previously captured image.   
     
     
         9 . The image display apparatus according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an input device configured to generate the instruction in response to an external input.   
     
     
         10 . The image display apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the input device is a shutter button. 
     
     
         11 . A method of causing an image display controlling apparatus to control image display, comprising:
 displaying a current image of an object currently being captured by an imaging unit and a first previously captured image simultaneously on a display;   controlling, responsive to an instruction, the imaging unit to capture the current image as a second previously captured image; and   controlling, responsive to the instruction, the display to animate the second previously captured image to gradually move in a direction corresponding to the first previously captured image.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the instruction is generated in response to depression of a shutter button. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-readable instructions thereon, the computer-readable instructions when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
 displaying a current image of an object currently being captured by an imaging unit and a first previously captured image simultaneously on a display;   controlling, responsive to an instruction, the imaging unit to capture the current image as a second previously captured image; and   controlling, responsive to the instruction, the display to animate the second previously captured image to gradually move in a direction corresponding to the first previously captured image.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to  claim 13 , wherein the instruction is generated in response to depression of a shutter button.