Patent Publication Number: US-2015062401-A1

Title: Information terminal and imaging control method

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
     The present invention relates to an information terminal and an imaging control method. 
     BACKGROUND ART  
     An information terminal having a touch panel is commonly used today, and an operation of a camera mounted on the information terminal is performed through the touch panel. For example, a user can set a focus on a desired position simply by looking at an imaging object shown on the touch panel and touching the position to be focused on (i.e. Patent Literature 1, for example). Then, the user presses a shutter button displayed on the touch panel and can thereby take a picture. 
     Further, in some information terminal, a user can set a focus by touching the operating surface of the touch panel, and a shutter mechanism operates to take a picture at the same time as when the user releases the finger from the operating surface. 
     CITATION LIST  
     Patent Literature  
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-48526 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
     Technical Problem 
     However, in the information terminal according to related art, because the shutter mechanism is activated simultaneously with releasing a finger from the operating surface of the touch panel, it is necessary to take a specified procedure for cancellation when stopping picture taking after focusing or performing another processing (such as exposure adjustment) after focusing, which makes the operation complicated. 
     In light of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an information terminal and an imaging control method that can enhance the user-friendliness of a picture taking operation. 
     Solution to Problem 
     An information terminal according to one aspect of the present invention includes a touch panel display configured to include a press detection mechanism capable of accepting a press operation on an operating surface and display an image output from an imaging device, a detection means configured to detect a touch operation that brings a contact object into contact with the operating surface of the touch panel display and a press operation on the operating surface of the touch panel display, a focus control means configured to control a focus mechanism of the imaging device to set a focus on a subject displayed on the touch panel display when the touch operation is detected by the detection means, and a shutter control means configured to control a shutter mechanism of the imaging device to perform imaging when a specified press operation is detected by the detection means. 
     An imaging control method according to one aspect of the present invention is an imaging control method in an information terminal with a touch panel display including a press detection mechanism capable of accepting a press operation on an operating surface and displaying an image output from an imaging device, the method including a detection step of detecting a touch operation on the operating surface of the touch panel display and a press operation on the operating surface of the touch panel display, a focus control step of controlling a focus mechanism of the imaging device to set a focus on a subject displayed on the touch panel display when the touch operation is detected in the detection step, and a shutter control step of controlling a shutter mechanism of the imaging device to perform imaging when a specified press operation is detected in the detection step. 
     Because the information terminal and the imaging control method described above have a configuration that allows detection of a press of the touch panel, a user can execute not only a touch operation but also a press operation on the touch panel. The information terminal and the imaging control method control the shutter mechanism of the imaging device by detecting the press operation, not the touch operation, on the touch panel. Thus, because the information terminal and the imaging control method control the shutter mechanism by detecting the press operation, the shutter mechanism is not activated even when a finger or the like touching the touch panel for focusing is released from the touch panel, and picture or video taking is not done. It is thereby possible to easily cancel picture or video taking even after performing processing to set a focus on the subject. As a result, it is possible to enhance the user-friendliness of a picture taking operation. 
     In one embodiment, the focus control means may control the focus mechanism to fix a focus on a subject displayed on the touch panel display when release of the contact object from the operating surface is detected by the detection means. 
     According to this configuration, it is possible to release a hand from the touch panel display while fixing a focus on a desired subject, and therefore other settings can be made on the touch panel display. 
     Further, in one embodiment, the focus control means may control the focus mechanism to fix a focus on a subject displayed on the touch panel display when the specified press operation is detected by the detection means. 
     According to this configuration, it is possible to release a hand from the touch panel display while fixing a focus on a desired subject, and therefore other settings can be made on the touch panel display. 
     Further, in one embodiment, the detection means may detect a contact position on the operating surface where a contact is made by the touch operation, and the focus control means may control the focus mechanism to set a focus on a subject displayed at the contact position detected by the detection means among subjects displayed on the touch panel display. 
     According to this configuration, it is possible to set a focus on a subject selected by a user even when many subjects are displayed on the touch panel display. 
     Further, in one embodiment, when the contact position detected by the detection means changes, the focus control means nay control the focus mechanism in conjunction with the changing contact position. 
     According to this configuration, it is possible to maintain a focus on a subject when a user keeps touching an image part corresponding to the position to be focused on in the image displayed on the touch panel. It is thereby possible to activate the shutter mechanism of the imaging device at the moment of a click (press operation), for example, in the state where the subject is focused on, and it is less likely to miss a photo opportunity. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to enhance the user-friendliness of a picture taking operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an outline view showing an external configuration of a portable terminal according to a first embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view showing a click mechanism of the portable terminal shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the portable terminal shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of an imaging display screen displayed on a touch panel display. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the portable terminal shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a flow of a camera control process in the portable terminal shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a portable terminal according to a second embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing a flow of a camera control process in the portable terminal shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
     An embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter with reference to the appended drawings. Where possible, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description thereof is omitted. The dimension ratio of the drawings does not necessarily coincide with the description. Further, in the description, a term indicating the direction such as “up” and “down” is a term used for the sake of convenience based on the state shown in the drawings. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is an outline view showing an external configuration of a portable terminal according to a first embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a portable terminal (information terminal)  1  is a communication terminal having a touch panel display  4 , and by touching the touch panel display  4 , an operation of a camera (imaging device) mounted on the portable terminal  1 , a function corresponding to an object (icon) in an application or the like can be executed. The portable terminal  1  has a click mechanism (press detection mechanism)  10  on the back side of (at the rear of) the touch panel display  4 . A user can perform a click operation by pressing the touch panel display  4 . 
       FIGS. 2(   a ) and  2 ( b ) are sectional views showing the click mechanism in the portable terminal. On the backside of an operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4 , the click mechanism  10  for giving a click feeling upon press (press operation) by a user and detecting (accepting) the press is provided. The click mechanism  10  includes a support member  11  that supports the touch panel display  4  on a board  13  and a contact sensor  12  that is mounted on the board  13 . In the click mechanism  10 , the touch panel display  4  pressed by a user is bent to come into contact with the contact sensor  12  (see  FIG. 2(   b )) and thereby the press of the touch panel display  4  is detected. It is thereby possible to give the user a click feeling and detect the press. Note that the click mechanism is not limited to the above, and it may have a structure having a tact switch (not shown) or the like mounted on the backside of the touch panel display  4  or on a board (not shown) that supports the touch panel display  4  and movable up and down (in the direction orthogonal to the operating surface), where the tact switch turns on when the touch panel display  4  is pressed down. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the portable terminal  1  according to the first embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the portable terminal  1  includes a camera  6 , the touch panel display  4 , a camera function request unit  20 , a detection unit (detection means)  30  including a touch detection unit  31  and a click detection unit  32 , a focus control unit (focus control means)  40 , a shutter control unit (shutter control means)  50 , and a function control unit  60 . Each component is described hereinbelow. 
     The camera  6  includes a front camera  6   a  mounted on a front surface  2   a , which is the surface where the touch panel display  4  of a terminal body  2  is mounted, and a rear camera  6   a  mounted on a rear surface  2   b , which is the opposite side of the front surface  2   a . The camera  6  mainly includes a lens, a diaphragm, a shutter, an imaging element and the like, and imaging conditions such as an aperture, a shutter speed and ISO sensitivity are adjustable. Further, the camera  6  ( 6   a  and  6   b ) includes a focus mechanism  7  that adjusts a focus of the camera  6  and a shutter mechanism  8  that adjusts opening and closing of a shutter. 
     The touch panel display  4  is mounted on one surface  2   a  of the terminal body  2  and accepts an operation (operation by a finger, a touch pen (contact object) or the like) from a user and displays an image output from the camera  6 , which is described later. In the portable terminal  1  according to the first embodiment, the touch panel display  4  receives a signal requesting start of the camera function from the camera function request unit  20 , which is described later, and displays an imaging display screen  42  as shown in  FIG. 4 , for example. 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram showing an example of the imaging display screen displayed on the touch panel display. The imaging display screen  42  includes an image area  43  to display an image output from the camera  6  and an operation area  46  to display a button or the like for the operation of the camera function. 
     In the image area  43 , a focus frame  44  or the like indicating the position of a subject S to be focused on in the image output from the camera  6  may be displayed. In the operation area  46 , a shutter button  47  for controlling the shutter mechanism  8  of the camera  6  and a setting button  48  for starting a screen to set an exposure, ISO (International Organization for Standardization) sensitivity and the like in the camera  6  may be displayed. 
     The camera function request unit  20  is a part that requests activation of the camera function to the detection unit  30  including the touch detection unit  31  and the click detection unit  32  and the touch panel display  4  when an application using a camera is started. When the event occurs, the camera function request unit  20  outputs a signal for activating the camera function to the detection unit  30  including the touch detection unit  31  and the click detection unit  32 , and the touch panel display  4 . 
     The detection unit  30  is a part that detects a touch operation on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4 , a contact position on the operating surface  4   a  by the touch operation, and a click operation on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4 . The detection unit  30  includes the touch detection unit  31  and the click detection unit  32 . 
     The touch detection unit  31  is a part that detects a touch operation on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4 . This operation can be acquired using a basic function of the touch panel display  4 . The touch detection unit  31  outputs contact information on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  to the focus control unit  40 , which is described later. 
     The click detection unit  32  is a part that detects a click operation on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4 . This operation can be acquired by using information from the contact sensor  12  or the like included in the click mechanism  10  described above. The click detection unit  32  detects a click operation on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  and then outputs information indicating the detection to the shutter control unit  50 , which is described later. Further, the click detection unit  32  outputs focus information indicating a subject to be focused on and a focus state output from the focus control unit  40 , which is described later, to the shutter control unit  50 . 
     The focus control unit  40  is a part that controls the focus mechanism  7  of the camera  6  to set a focus on the subject displayed on the touch panel display  4  when a touch operation is detected by the detection unit  30 . The focus control unit  40  according to the first embodiment controls the focus mechanism  7  of the camera  6  to set a focus on the subject displayed on the touch panel display  4  during a period when a touch operation is detected by the detection unit  30 . Note that a contact with the touch panel display  4  is not limited to the shutter button  47  shown in  FIG. 4  as long as it is made on the operating surface  4   a  where a touch operation is detected. 
     Further, the focus control unit  40  controls the focus mechanism  7  of the camera  6  to fix a focus on the subject S displayed on the touch panel display  4  when release of a user&#39;s finger from the operating surface  4   a  is detected by the touch detection unit  31 . Note that, when a touch operation is detected again by the detection unit  30 , the focus control unit  40  controls the focus mechanism  7  of the camera  6  to set a focus on the subject S displayed on the touch panel display  4  at that time. 
     The shutter control unit  50  is a part that controls the shutter mechanism of the camera  6  based on a state of a click on the touch panel display  4  detected by the detection unit  30 . The shutter control unit  50  in the portable terminal  1  according to the first embodiment receives a request signal and the focus information output from the click detection unit  32  and controls the shutter mechanism of the camera  6  and thereby takes a picture (performs imaging) with the camera  6 . 
     The function control unit  60  is a part that controls the shutter mechanism  8  of the camera  6  as to whether or not to continue the picture taking after the picture taking with the camera  6  is finished. When the picture taking continues by a user, which is when the application using the camera  6  is not terminated, the function control unit  60  outputs a signal requesting to display the imaging display screen  42  again on the touch panel display  4  to the camera function request unit  20 . When the picture taking is finished by a user, which is when the application using the camera  6  is terminated, the function control unit  60  outputs a signal requesting to remove the imaging display screen  42  from the touch panel display  4  to the camera function request unit  20 . 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the portable terminal. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the portable terminal  1  includes a CPU (central processing unit)  61  that executes the camera control process in the portable terminal  1 , which is described later, an operating system, an application program and the like, a main storage unit  62  composed of ROM (read only memory) and RAM (random access memory), an auxiliary storage unit  63  composed of a hard disk, a memory and the like such as the database (see  FIG. 1 ) described above, an input unit  64  such as a menu button and the touch panel display  4  (see  FIG. 1 ), and an output unit  65  such as the touch panel display  4  (see  FIG. 1 ). The functions of the camera function request unit  20 , the detection unit  30 , the focus control unit  40 , the shutter control unit  50  and the function control unit  60  described above are executed by reading given software into the CPU  61  and the main storage unit  62  and making control by the CPU  61 . 
     A flow when performing a control method for a camera (imaging control method) according to the first embodiment is described hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing a flow of a camera control process in the portable terminal. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , in the portable terminal  1 , when an application using the camera is started by a user, the camera function request unit  20  requests start of the camera function to the detection unit  30  including the touch detection unit  31  and the click detection unit  32  and the touch panel display  4 . The camera function request unit  20  outputs a signal for starting the camera function to the detection unit  30  including the touch detection unit  31  and the click detection unit  32  and the touch panel display  4  to prepare for input by a user. The imaging display screen  42  is displayed on the touch panel display  4  (S 1 ). 
     Next, the touch detection unit  31  detects a contact to the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  (S 2 : detection step), and when a contact of a finger onto the operating surface  4   a  is detected (YES in S 2 ), for example, the touch detection unit  31  outputs information indicating a contact on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  and coordinate information of the contact position to the focus control unit  40 . Even when a contact of a finger onto the operating surface  4   a  is not detected (NO in S 2 ), the touch detection unit  31  monitors the presence or absence of a contact of a finger onto the operating surface  4   a  for a certain period of time. 
     Then, receiving the information indicating a contact on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  from the touch detection unit  31 , the focus control unit  40  makes control to set a focus on the subject S that is currently displayed on the touch panel display  4  (S 3 : focus control step). Note that, when information indicating a loss of a contact on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  (release of a user&#39;s finger from the operating surface  4   a ) is input from the touch detection unit  31 , the focus control unit  40  fixes a focus on the currently displayed subject, that is, maintains the state where the subject is focused on in Step S 3 . Further, when a touch operation is detected again by the touch detection unit  31 , the focus control unit  40  controls the focus mechanism  7  of the camera  6  to set a focus on the subject S displayed on the touch panel display  4 . 
     Then, the click detection unit  32  detects a press on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  (S 4 : detection step) and, when a click on the operating surface  4   a  is detected (YES in S 4 ), the click detection unit  32  outputs the focus information output from the focus control unit  40  and click information indicating a click on the operating surface to the shutter control unit  50 . Even when a click on the operating surface  4   a  is not detected (NO in S 4 ), the click detection unit  32  monitors the presence or absence of a click on the operating surface  4   a  for a certain period of time. 
     Then, when the shutter control unit  50  receives the focus information output from the focus control unit  40  and the click information from the click detection unit  32 , it controls the shutter mechanism  8  of the camera  6  to take a picture (S 5 : shutter control). 
     After the function control unit  60  controls the shutter mechanism  8  of the camera  6  and performs picture taking, it determines whether to continue the picture taking (S 6 ). When the picture taking continues by a user, which is when the application using the camera  6  is not terminated (YES in S 6 ), the function control unit  60  outputs a signal requesting to display the imaging display screen  42  again on the touch panel display  4  to the camera function request unit  20 . 
     On the other hand, in Step S 6 , when the picture taking is finished by a user, which is when the application using the camera  6  is terminated (NO in S 6 ), the function control unit  60  outputs a signal requesting to remove the imaging display screen  42  from the touch panel display  4  to the camera function request unit  20  (S 7 ). 
     As described above, because the portable terminal  1  according to the first embodiment includes the click mechanism  10  as shown in  FIG. 2(   a ), it is possible to perform not only the touch operation but also the click operation on the touch panel display  4 . Because the portable terminal  1  according to the first embodiment controls the shutter mechanism  8  of the camera  6  by detecting the click operation, not the touch operation on the touch panel display  4 , the shutter mechanism  8  is not activated even when a finger or the like touching the operating surface  4   a  for focusing is released from the operating surface  4   a , and picture taking is not done. It is thereby possible to easily cancel picture taking even after performing processing to set a focus on the subject S. As a result, it is possible to enhance the user-friendliness of a picture taking operation in the portable terminal  1 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     A portable terminal (information terminal)  101  according to a second embodiment is described hereinafter with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 .  FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the portable terminal according to the second embodiment, and  FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing a flow of a camera control process in the portable terminal shown in  FIG. 7 . Note that the elements having the same function as in the portable terminal  1  according to the first embodiment is denoted by the same reference symbol and redundant description thereof is omitted. 
     The portable terminal  101  according to the second embodiment is different from the portable terminal  1  according to the first embodiment in that it includes a function detail setting unit  145 . Further, the functions in a click detection unit  132 , a focus control unit  140  and a shutter control unit  150  are different from the functions of the click detection unit  32 , the focus control unit  40  and the shutter control unit  50  in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, only those differences are described, and description of the other functions is omitted. 
     The click detection unit  132  is a part that detects an operation of clicking on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4 . This operation can be acquired by using information of the contact sensor  12  or the like included in the click mechanism  10  described above. The click detection unit  132  according to the second embodiment detects a single click and a double click on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  in distinction from each other. When the click detection unit  132  detects a single click on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4 , it outputs information indicating the detection to the focus control unit  140 , which is described later. Further, when the click detection unit  132  detects a double click on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4 , it outputs information indicating the detection to the shutter control unit  150 , which is described later. At this time, the click detection unit  132  also outputs focus information indicating a subject S to be focused on and a focus state output from the focus control unit  140 , which is described later, to the shutter control unit  150 . 
     The focus control unit  140  is a part that controls the focus mechanism  7  of the camera  6  to set a focus on the subject S displayed on the touch panel display  4  when a touch operation is detected by the detection unit  130 . The focus control unit  140  according to the second embodiment controls the focus mechanism  7  of the camera  6  to set a focus on the subject S that is currently displayed on the touch panel display  4  when a touch operation is detected by the detection unit  130 . Further, the focus control unit  140  controls the focus mechanism  7  of the camera  6  to remove a focus set on a specific subject in the previous stage when release of a user&#39;s finger from the operating surface  4   a  is detected by the touch detection unit  31 . Note that, when a touch operation is detected again by the detection unit  130 , the focus control unit  140  controls the focus mechanism  7  of the camera  6  to set a focus on the subject S displayed on the touch panel display  4 . 
     Further, receiving input from the click detection unit  132 , the focus control unit  140  according to the second embodiment sets a focus on the subject S that is currently displayed on the touch panel display  4  and fixes the focus. 
     The function detail setting unit  145  is a part that, when detailed settings different from focus control, such as an exposure and ISO sensitivity, for example, are made to the subject S, executes the settings. When there are additional detailed settings on the subject S made by a user in the state where a focus is fixed by the focus control unit  140 , the function detail setting unit  145  according to the second embodiment can control the camera  6  to execute the settings. 
     The shutter control unit  150  is a part that controls the shutter mechanism  8  of the camera  6  based on a state of a click on the touch panel display  4  detected by the detection unit  130 . The shutter control unit  150  in the portable terminal  101  according to the second embodiment receives a request signal and the focus information output from the click detection unit  132  in response to detection of a double click and controls the shutter mechanism  8  of the camera  6  and thereby takes a picture (performs imaging) with the camera  6 . 
     A flow when performing a control method for a camera (imaging control method) according to the second embodiment is described hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 8 , mainly for differences from the first embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing a flow of a camera control process in the portable terminal according to the second embodiment. 
     In Step S 3  (focus control step), when a touch operation is detected by the detection unit  130 , the focus control unit  140  controls the focus mechanism  7  of the camera  6  to set a focus on the subject S that is currently displayed on the touch panel display  4 . Further, when release of a user&#39;s finger from the operating surface  4   a  is detected by the touch detection unit  31 , the focus control unit  140  according to the second embodiment controls the focus mechanism  7  of the camera  6  to remove a focus set on the specific subject S in the previous stage. Note that, when a touch operation is detected again by the detection unit  130 , the focus control unit  140  controls the focus mechanism  7  of the camera  6  to set a focus on the subject S displayed on the touch panel display  4 . 
     In Step S 4 , the click detection unit  132  according to the second embodiment detects a single click and a double click on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  in distinction from each other. When the click detection unit  132  detects a single click on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  (S 4 : single click), it outputs information indicating the detection to the focus control unit  140 . 
     Then, when the focus control unit  140  receives the information indicating the detection of a single click on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  from the click detection unit  132 , it sets a focus on the subject S that is currently displayed on the touch panel display  4  and fixes the focus (S 41 ). 
     Then, when there are additional detailed settings such as an exposure and ISO sensitivity on the subject made by a user in the state where a focus is fixed by the focus control unit  140 , the function detail setting unit  145  controls the camera  6  to execute the settings (S 42 ). 
     On the other hand, when the click detection unit  132  detects a double click on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  (S 4 : double click), it outputs information indicating the detection to the shutter control unit  150 . At this time, the click detection unit  132  also outputs focus information indicating the subject S to be focused on and a focus state output from the focus control unit  140  to the shutter control unit  150 . The shutter control unit  150  receives a request signal and the focus information output from the click detection unit  132  in response to detection of a double click and controls the shutter mechanism  8  of the camera  6  and thereby takes a picture (performs imaging) with the camera  6  (S 5 : shutter control step). 
     The subsequent flow after Step S 6  is the same as that of the portable terminal  1  according to the first embodiment and thus not redundantly described. 
     As described above, because the portable terminal  101  according to the second embodiment, just like the portable terminal  1  according to the first embodiment, controls the shutter mechanism  8  of the camera  6  based on the click operation on the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4 , the shutter mechanism  8  is not activated even when a finger or the like touching the touch panel for focusing is released from the touch panel, and picture taking is not done. It is thereby possible to easily cancel picture taking even after performing processing to set a focus on the subject S. As a result, it is possible to enhance the user-friendliness of a picture taking operation. 
     Further, the portable terminal  101  according to the second embodiment can fix the current focus state by detecting a single click. Thus, even after performing processing of setting a focus on the subject S, it is possible to make detailed settings such as an exposure and ISO sensitivity. 
     Hereinbefore, the first and second embodiments have been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Although the focus control unit  40  controls the focus mechanism  7  of the camera  6  to fix a focus on a subject displayed on the touch panel display  4  when a touch (contact) on an arbitrary position (for example, the shutter button  47  on the imaging display screen  42 ) of the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  is detected by the detection unit  30  ( 130 ) or while the touch is detected in the portable terminal  1  ( 101 ) according to the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     For example, the focus control unit  40  ( 140 ) can control the focus mechanism of the camera  6  based on an image displayed on the contact position of the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4  which is detected by the touch detection unit  31  ( 131 ) in the image (or video) displayed on the touch panel display  4 . Thus, the focus control unit  40  ( 140 ) in the portable terminal  1  ( 101 ) may make control to set a focus on the subject S that is currently displayed on the position of the operating surface  4   a  touched by a user when the user touches the operating surface  4   a  of the touch panel display  4 . According to the portable terminal  1  ( 101 ) of this configuration, it is possible to maintain a focus on the subject S when a user keeps touching the image part corresponding to the subject S to be focused on in the image displayed on the touch panel display  4 . It is thereby possible to activate the shutter mechanism  8  of the camera  6  at the moment of a click (double click), for example, in the state where the subject S is focused on, and it is less likely to miss a photo opportunity. 
     Further, in the above-described embodiments, both of release of a finger from the operating surface  4   a  and detection of a specified press operation may be detectable, and a focus may be fixed when one of an operation to release a finger from the operating surface  4   a  and a specified click operation is performed by a user. 
     Further, although the present invention is applied to the portable terminal in the above-described embodiments, it is not limited thereto, and the present invention may be applied also to a stationary terminal, a PDA and the like. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST  
       1  . . . portable terminal (information terminal),  2  . . . device body,  4  . . . touch panel display,  4   a  . . . operating surface,  6  . . . camera (imaging device),  6   a  . . . front camera,  6   a  . . . rear camera,  7  . . . focus mechanism,  8  . . . shutter mechanism,  10  . . . click mechanism (press detection mechanism),  11  . . . support member,  12  . . . contact sensor,  13  . . . board,  20  . . . camera function request unit,  30 , 130  . . . detection unit (detection means),  31 , 131  . . . touch detection unit,  32 , 132  . . . click detection unit,  40 , 140  . . . focus control unit (focus control means),  42  . . . imaging display screen,  43  . . . image area,  44  . . . focus frame,  46  . . . operation area,  47  . . . shutter button,  48  . . . setting button,  50 , 150  . . . shutter control unit (shutter control means),  60  . . . function control unit,  61  . . . CPU,  62  . . . main storage unit,  63  . . . auxiliary storage unit,  64  . . . input unit,  65  . . . output unit,  145  . . . function detail setting unit