Abstract:
It is an object of this invention to properly output sounds in stereo at the time of reproducing of images in a video camera having a pivotal image display unit. The invention includes an image display unit which can pivot on an electronic device body and displays images, first and second sound output units, a detection unit for detecting pivoting operation of the image display unit, and a control means for controlling switching of sound signals output to the first and second sound output units upon pivoting operation of the image display unit.

Description:
This is a continuation claims the benefit of priority to application Ser. No. 09/781,858, filed Feb. 12, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,937,280 which in turn claims the benefit of priority to JP 2000-036610, filed Feb. 15, 2000. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an electronic device which has a display unit designed to pivot on the device body and sound output units such as speakers and can be suitably used for a video camera, notebook personal computer, or the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A video camera as a typical electronic device which has become pervasive on the market has an image display unit formed by a liquid crystal display for displaying sensed images. This image display unit has a mechanism that is pivotal on the device body to allow a user to take an angle shot or check a sensed image of an object to be sensed. 
     In a video camera having such a pivotal image display unit, inversion processing is electrically performed to vertically invert an image signal displayed on the image display unit in accordance with its rotational angle so as to prevent a displayed image from being displayed in an inverted position upon rotation of the image display unit. 
     There are needs on the market for an improvement in the quality of sound recorded together with sensed images as well as an improvement in image quality. To meet the needs, a video camera designed to record sounds in stereo becomes popular. 
     A video camera having a pivotal image display unit like the one described above, in outputting a sound in stereo at the time of reproducing of an image, when the image signal is inverted, the stereo sound output does not match with the image. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problem. 
     In order to achieve the above object, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device comprising a display panel for displaying an image based on image data stored in a storage medium, first and second sound output units for outputting sounds in stereo on the basis of sound data stored in the storage medium, a pivoting member for pivoting the display panel, a detection member for detecting that a display screen of the display panel is physically set in a predetermined direction by pivoting operation of the pivoting member, and a control unit for outputting a sound, which is to be output from the first sound output unit, from the second sound output unit, and outputting a sound, which is to be output from the second sound output unit, from the first sound output unit when the detection member detects that the display screen of the display panel is set in the predetermined direction. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a video camera according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a portion for performing video/sound reproducing processing in the video camera according to this embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing reproducing processing in the video camera according to this embodiment; 
         FIGS. 4A to 4E  are perspective views of the video camera according to this embodiment; 
         FIGS. 5A to 5E  are perspective views of a DVD player according to this embodiment; and 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are perspective views of a notebook PC according to this embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a video camera which is an electronic device according to this embodiment. 
     A camera unit  1  is comprised of an image-sensing lens  11 , auto iris  12 , CCD  13 , CDS/AGC circuit  14 , A/D converter  15 , and camera signal processing circuit  16 . The CCD  13  converts an optical image, which is formed by the image-sensing lens  11  and subjected to light amount adjustment in the auto iris  12 , into an electrical signal. 
     The CDS/AGC circuit  14  performs double-correlation sampling of the output image signal from the CCD  13  and automatically adjusts the gain of the signal. The A/D converter  15  converts the resultant signal into a digital signal and supplies it to the camera signal processing circuit  16 . The camera signal processing circuit  16  performs known processing such as γ correction, color balance adjustment, and luminance/color difference conversion for the output signal from the CDS/AGC circuit  14 , and supplies the resultant signal to a recorder unit  2 . 
     The recorder unit  2  is comprised of an image signal processing circuit  22 , recording/reproducing circuit  23 , and magnetic tape  24  as a recording medium. The image signal processing circuit  22  performs DCT processing, quantization, variable-length coding, and image signal processing including image compression processing for a video signal from the camera signal processing circuit  16  in the camera unit  1 , and supplies the resultant signal to the recording/reproducing circuit  23  and a display unit  3 . In the reproducing mode, a reproducing video signal is supplied from the recording/reproducing circuit  23  to the display unit  3 . 
     In the recording mode, the recording/reproducing circuit  23  performs channel coding for the video signal from the image signal processing circuit  22  while adding an error correction code to the signal, and records the resultant signal on the magnetic tape  24 . In the reproducing mode, the recording/reproducing circuit  23  produces the recorded signal from the magnetic tape  24 , decodes it, and performs error correction. The recording/reproducing circuit  23  then supplies the reproducing video signal to the image signal processing circuit  22 . The image signal processing circuit  22  decompresses the compressed image signal. 
     The display unit  3  is comprised of a liquid crystal display panel  31 , an illumination light source  32  for illuminating the liquid crystal display panel  31  from the back side, and a driving circuit block  33  for driving the illumination light source  32 . The liquid crystal display panel  31  is compatible with a wide screen having an aspect ratio of 9:16 as well as a general screen having an aspect ratio of 3:4. The liquid crystal display panel  31  may use one of the following: a simple-matrix TN liquid crystal, STN liquid crystal, FLC (Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal), active-matrix MIM, amorphous Si-TFT, high-temperature poly-Si-TFT, and low-temperature poly-Si-TFT. A diffusion plate may be formed on the upper surface of the liquid crystal display panel  31 . 
     An audio unit  5  is comprised of microphones  47  for inputting sounds, speakers  42  for outputting sounds, an audio signal processing circuit  43  for processing audio signals from the microphones  47  and to speakers  42 , an A/D converter  44 , a D/A converter  45 , and an audio input/output conversion processing circuit  46 . As each microphone  47 , an omnidirectional microphone is generally used. However, a gradient microphone (bidirectional) or intermediate type microphone (unidirectional) may be used. 
     As a conversion mechanism for converting the movement of a diaphragm used in each speaker  42  into electric energy, an electrodynamic (dynamic) speaker whose output voltage is proportional to the vibrating speed of the diaphragm, an electrostatic speaker whose output voltage is proportional to the vibration displacement of the diaphragm, a piezoelectric speaker, a carbon speaker, or the like is available. 
     The electrodynamic speaker includes a moving coil speaker and ribbon speaker. The moving coil speaker is robust and easy to handle, has a wide dynamic range, and exhibits high conversion efficiency. For this reason, this speaker has become mainstream. The ribbon speaker has good frequency characteristics but is susceptible to mechanical stress. The electrostatic speaker includes an electret condenser speaker, which has excellent frequency characteristics and requires an impedance conversion circuit although it requires no bias source. The piezoelectric speaker includes a crystal speaker, which is compact and lightweight but deteriorates in characteristics at a high temperature and high humidity although it has a high impedance. The carbon speaker has high sensitivity but suffers much noise and instability. 
     This embodiment uses two speakers  42  for stereo sounds. Assume that each speaker  42  in this embodiment is a dynamic moving coil speaker and comprised of a magnetic circuit, voice coil, and vibration system. The dynamic speaker is characterized in that it has a simple structure and exhibits excellent characteristics and high conversion efficiency. For this reason, this speaker has become mainstream. 
     A system control unit  41  is formed by a microcomputer such as a CPU, and controls the camera unit  1 , the recorder unit  2 , the display unit  3 , the audio unit  5 , and a rotation detection unit  6 . 
     The rotation detection unit  6  detects that the display unit  3  is rotated and positioned at a predetermined angle, and sends information indicating this state to the system control unit  41 , thereby instructing the image signal processing circuit  22  to perform vertical/horizontal inversion processing for a picture to be displayed. In addition, when the rotation detection unit  6  detects that the display unit  3  is rotated and positioned at a predetermined angle, left and right sound outputs from the speakers  42  are interchanged and switched. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the detailed arrangement associated with the detection of the rotation of the liquid crystal display panel  31 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a hinge portion  54  is a movable member that allows the liquid crystal display panel  31  to rotate relative to the device body. A detection switch  50  is comprised of a rotation switch detection unit  51  for detecting the rotation of the liquid crystal display panel  31  and an opening/closing switch detection unit  52  for detecting that the liquid crystal display panel  31  is rotated from the withdrawn state to the open state with respect to the device body to allow the user to see the screen. 
     When the liquid crystal display panel  31  is rotated, and the detection switch  50  detects that the display screen is set in the display position to be described later, the system control unit  41  instructs the image signal processing circuit  22  to perform vertical/horizontal inversion processing for a picture to be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel  31 . In the reproducing mode, when the detection switch  50  detects that the liquid crystal display panel  31  is rotated, the system control unit  41  instructs the audio signal processing circuit  43  to invert left and right sound outputs from the speakers  42  before the rotation of the liquid crystal display panel  31  is detected by the detection switch  50 . 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart showing reproducing processing for an image and sound in the system control unit  41 .  FIGS. 4A to 4E  are perspective views showing the outer appearance of the video camera according to this embodiment. Referring to  FIGS. 4A to 4E , the liquid crystal display panel  31  for displaying sensed images is attached to a side surface of a video camera body  60 . The speakers  42  are integrally fixed on the two end portions of the liquid crystal display panel  31 . The speakers  42  respectively have an L channel (Left) and R channel (Right). The stereo microphones  47  are located on the front surface of the video camera body  60 . 
     Reproducing processing for an image and sound in this embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 4E . 
     First of all, as shown in  FIG. 4A , the liquid crystal display panel  31  is in the withdrawn state. When the user is to check a sensed image by using the liquid crystal display panel  31 , he/she opens the liquid crystal display panel  31 , as shown in  FIG. 4B . At this time, the video signal and stereo signal are normally reproduced (step S 1 ). 
     When the liquid crystal display panel  31  performs predetermined rotating operation, as shown in  FIGS. 4C and 4D , the rotation detection unit  6  detects the predetermined rotating operation which rotates the liquid crystal display panel  31  more than a predetermined angle around hinge portion  54  (step S 2 ). If the predetermined rotating operation of the liquid crystal display panel  31  is not detected, the processing in steps S 3  and S 4  is not performed. 
     When the predetermined rotating operation of the liquid crystal display panel  31  is detected, the system control unit  41  instructs the image signal processing circuit  22  to perform vertical/horizontal inversion processing for a picture to be displayed on the liquid crystal display panel  31 , as shown in  FIGS. 4D and 4E  (step S 3 ). In addition, when the predetermined rotating operation of the liquid crystal display panel  31  is detected, the system control unit  41  instructs the audio signal processing circuit  43  to interchange and switch audio signals to be output to the L and R channels of the speakers  42  (step S 4 ). 
     As described above, according to this embodiment of the present invention, in accordance with the rotating operation of the liquid crystal display panel  31 , audio outputs to the left and right stereo speakers are interchanged. This makes it possible to properly reproduce a picture and sound. 
     In this embodiment, as a recording medium, a tape-like magnetic medium is used. However, the present invention can be applied to a reproducing device using a disk or semiconductor memory as a recording medium. 
     The present invention can also be applied to a DVD player which integrally has a liquid crystal display monitor and reproduces DVD video software, which is designed to rotate the liquid crystal display panel for displaying images, make itself compact, and reproducing pictures. 
       FIGS. 5A to 5E  are perspective views of a portable DVD (Digital Video Disk) device to which this embodiment is applied. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A to 5E , a housing portion  70  is used to house a DVD as a storage medium. A liquid crystal display panel  71  is used to reproduce/display pictures recorded on the DVD. Stereo speakers (Left, Right)  72  are fixed to the liquid crystal display panel  71 . A hinge portion  73  allows a user to open/close the liquid crystal display panel  71  with respect to the device body. An operation button group  74  is arranged on the front surface of the device body and used to reproduce and stop pictures and sounds, adjust the brightness of pictures, and adjust the volume level. 
       FIG. 5A  is a view showing a standard reproducing state of the DVD device of this embodiment. A case wherein the DVD device is switched from the state shown in  FIG. 5A  to the state shown in  FIG. 5E  will be described. First of all, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the liquid crystal display panel  71  is moved to an upright position from the state where the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel  71  is closed, facing the device body. As shown in  FIGS. 5C and 5D , the liquid crystal display panel  71  is rotated through 180° about the hinge portion  73 . When a rotation detection unit (not shown) detects that the liquid crystal display panel  71  is rotated to become physically parallel to the panel support surface of the device body and allow the user to see the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel  71 , a system control unit (not shown) performs vertical/horizontal inversion processing for a picture to be displayed with respect to the state shown in  FIG. 5A , as shown in  FIG. 5E . In addition, when the rotation of the liquid crystal display panel  71  is detected, left and right sound outputs from the stereo speakers  72  are interchanged and output. With this arrangement, pictures and sounds can be properly reproduced without making the operation of the operation members difficult. 
       FIG. 6  shows an example of how this embodiment is applied to a notebook PC (Personal Computer). 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , reference numeral  80  denotes a PC body. A liquid crystal display panel  81  serves to reproduce/display a picture recorded on a DVD. Stereo speakers (Left, Right)  82  are fixed to the liquid crystal display panel  81 . A hinge portion  83  allows the liquid crystal display panel  81  to pivot about a predetermined side of the PC body  80  through about 180° from the state where the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel  81  is closed on the receiving surface of the PC body. Reference numeral  84  denotes a keyboard; and  85 , a pointing device for moving the cursor displayed on the liquid crystal display panel  81 . 
       FIG. 6A  shows how the PC body  80  is normally used. When the liquid crystal display panel  81  is pivoted about the hinge portion  83  through about 180° from the state shown in  FIG. 6A , in which the liquid crystal display panel  81  is closed with respect to the PC body  80 , in the direction indicated by the arrow, as shown in  FIG. 6B , a detection unit (not shown) detects the pivoting movement of the liquid crystal display panel  81 , a picture is vertically/horizontally inverted to be seen as a normal picture when viewed by a person who is facing a user (in the direction indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 6B ). In addition to the picture, left and right sound outputs L and R from the speakers  82  are interchanged to be output at normal positions. 
     According to such a form of the PC body  80 , when, for example, a salesman explains something to a person who is facing the salesman, pictures and sounds which the person facing the salesman can see without any sense of incongruity can be reproduced by simply tilting the liquid crystal display panel  81  and directing it toward the person. 
     As has been described above, according to this embodiment, when the liquid crystal display panel is rotated, left and right sounds from the stereo speakers are interchanged. This makes it possible to provide an electronic device which can always properly reproduce pictures displayed in any reproducing form and sound outputs. 
     The object of each of the embodiments described above can be attained by providing an electronic device with program codes of software for realizing the functions of each embodiment via a network, and by arranging the computer (or a CPU or an MPU) of the system or the apparatus to read and execute the program codes stored in a storage medium. 
     In this instance, the program codes read out from the storage medium are arranged to realize the functions of each of the embodiments described above. Then, the storage medium is included also in the embodiments. 
     The storage medium which stores the program codes may be selected, for example, from among storage media such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM. 
     The embodiments also apply to such cases where not only the functions of the embodiments described above are realized by executing the program codes read out by a computer but also processes required for the functions are executed, in accordance with the instructions of the program codes, either in part or in their entirety by an operating system (OS) operating on the computer. 
     The embodiments further also applies to a case where the program codes read out from a storage medium are written into a memory provided either on a function expanding board inserted in a computer or included in a function expanding unit connected to a computer, and, after that, processes required for the functions are executed, in accordance with the instructions of the program codes, either in part or in their entirety by a CPU or the like provided on the function expanding board or the function expanding unit. 
     When the embodiments are applied to the above-described storage medium, program codes corresponding to the above-described flow chart are stored in the storage medium. That is, a module indispensable for the electronic device of the present embodiment is stored in the storage medium. 
     As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.