Patent Publication Number: US-2012026381-A1

Title: Digital image signal processing method, digital image signal processing apparatus and recording medium having recorded thereon the method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0072481, filed on Jul. 27, 2010, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a digital image signal processing method, a digital image signal processing apparatus, and a recording medium having recorded thereon the digital image signal processing method, the method including enlarging a portion of a displayed image. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A plurality of thumbnail images are displayed on a single screen image in a preview mode. However, due to small sizes of the thumbnail images, it is difficult to recognize details of objects in the thumbnail images. Furthermore, it is difficult to evaluate the quality of images displayed on LCD panel of a digital camera. For example, it may be difficult to recognize motion blurs in thumbnail images displayed on an LCD panel of a digital camera. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, there is a need in the art for a digital image signal processing method, the method including generating a first display image in which a plurality of first images are arranged; displaying the first display image as a single screen image; selecting a first image from the displayed plurality of first images in the first display image; generating a second display image comprising a second image in which a portion of the selected first image is enlarged, wherein the second image is displayed in a display area of the second display image approximately corresponding to a display area of the selected first image in the first display image; and displaying the second display image as single screen image. 
     Generating a second display may include retrieving a larger sized image of the selected first image than used to generate the first display image; and generating the enlarged portion of the selected first image from the retrieved larger sized image. 
     Generating a second display image may include generating a second display image wherein the unselected first images are displayed in display areas of the second display image approximately corresponding to display areas of the unselected first images in the first display image. 
     The second image may be displayed in a display area of the second display image approximately corresponding to a display area of the selected first image in the first display image, and the second image and the selected first image have approximately the same size. 
     The digital image signal processing method may include generating another second display image comprising a second image in which a different portion of the selected first image is enlarged, wherein the second image is displayed in a display area of the second display image approximately corresponding to a display area of the selected first image in the first display image; and displaying the another second display image as single screen image. 
     The digital image signal processing method may include detecting an object area in the selected first image, and wherein the portion of the selected first image enlarged comprises at least some of the object area. 
     The digital image signal processing method may include detecting a face area in the selected first image, and wherein the portion of the selected first image enlarged comprises at least some of the detected face area. 
     The digital image signal processing method may include selecting a plurality of first images from the first images; detecting a plurality of face areas in each of the selected first images, and wherein the step of generating a second display image may include generating a second display image comprising second images in which a portion of the corresponding selected first image is enlarged, wherein each of the second images is displayed in a display area of the second display image approximately corresponding to a display area of the corresponding selected first image in the first display image, and wherein the portion of the corresponding selected first image enlarged comprises at least a part of the corresponding detected face area of the plurality of face areas, if a face area is detected in the corresponding selected first image. 
     The face areas depict faces may be of the same person. 
     The digital image signal processing method may include selecting a plurality of first images from among the first images; detecting face areas in each of the selected first images, and wherein the step generating a second display image may include generating a second display image comprising second images in which a portion of the corresponding selected first image is enlarged, wherein each of the second images is displayed in a display area of the second display image approximately corresponding to a display area of the corresponding selected first image in the first display image, wherein the portion of the corresponding selected first image enlarged is a face if a face is detected, and if a face is not detected then the corresponding selected first image enlarged is one of: an object detected and a focus area detected. 
     The digital image signal processing method may include detecting a focus area for the selected first image, wherein the portion of the selected first image enlarged is at least part of the focus area. 
     A computer readable medium is disclosed. The computer readable medium may be a non-transitory computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon computer readable instruction, that when executed by a computer cause the computer to execute the methods of the invention described herein. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a digital image signal processing apparatus including a first display image generating unit for generating a first display image, in which a plurality of first images having a first size are arranged in a single screen image; a selecting unit for selecting at least one of the plurality of first images in the first display image; a second display image generating unit for generating a second display image, in which a second image that corresponds to the selected first image and has a second size larger than the first size is arranged in a display area of the selected first image; and a display unit for displaying the second display image. 
     The digital image signal processing apparatus may further include a first image detecting unit for detecting the selected first image in an image file including the selected first image and the second image, wherein the images depict a single scene and having different sizes; and a second image detecting unit for detecting the second image in the image file. 
     In the second display image, the unselected first images may be displayed, and the second image may be displayed in the display area of the selected first image. 
     In the second display image, a portion of the second image may be displayed in the display area of the selected first image, wherein the size of the portion of the second image may correspond to the size of the display area of the selected first image. 
     The digital image signal processing apparatus may further include generating another second display image, in which the portion of the second image displayed in the display area of the selected first image is replaced with another portion of the second image, wherein the size of the other portion of the second image corresponds to the size of the display area of the selected first image. 
     The digital image signal processing apparatus may further include an object detecting unit for detecting an object area with respect to the at least one selected first image, wherein the second display image generating unit may generate a second display image, in which the portion of the second image includes at least a portion of the object area. 
     The digital image signal processing apparatus may further include a face detecting unit for detecting a face area with respect to the at least one selected first image, wherein the second display image generating unit may generate a second display image, in which the portion of the second image includes at least a portion of the face area. 
     The selecting unit may select a plurality of first images from among the first images, the face detecting unit may detect face areas corresponding to each of the selected first images, and the second display image generating unit may generate a second display image, in which portions of second images respectively corresponding to the selected first images are arranged in display areas of the corresponding selected first images. 
     The face areas respectively corresponding to the selected first images may depict faces of a single person. 
     The face detecting unit may detect face areas corresponding to each of the selected first image, and the second display image generating unit may generate a second display image, in which the portions of the second images are replaced with other portions of the second images including at least a portion of face areas of a person different from the person corresponding to the face areas included in a previous second display image. 
     The digital image signal processing apparatus may further include a focus area detecting unit for detecting a focus area with respect to the at least one selected first image, wherein the second display image generating unit may generate a second display image, in which the portion of the second image includes at least a portion of the focus area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a digital image signal processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart for describing a digital image signal processing method according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram for describing an example of image file structures; 
         FIGS. 4 through 6  are diagrams for describing an example of applications of the digital image signal processing method according to an embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart for describing a digital image signal processing method according to another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIGS. 8 through 10  are diagrams for an example of applications of the digital image signal processing method according to an embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIGS. 11 through 14  are diagrams for describing a digital image signal processing method according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplarily embodiments of digital image signal processing methods, digital image signal processing apparatuses, and a recoding medium having recorded thereon the methods are described below with reference to accompanied drawings. 
     A digital image signal processing apparatus may be a device as a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a TV, a digital picture frame, a mobile phone, a portable multimedia player (PMP), or the like. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a digital image signal processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the digital image signal processing apparatus may include an optics  10 , an optics driving unit  11  for driving the optics  10 , an imaging device  20 , an imaging device control unit  21 , a digital signal processor (DSP)  30 , a display unit  40 , an operating unit  50 , a memory  60 , a microphone/speaker  70 , and a memory card  80 . 
     The optics  10  may include a lens for concentrating optical signals, an iris for controlling an amount of the optical signals, and a shutter for controlling a time for input of the optical signals. The lens may include a zoom lens for narrowing or widening a picture angle according to focal lengths and a focus lens for focusing an object. Each of the lenses as stated above may be either an individual lens or a collection of lenses. The shutter may be a mechanical shutter, in which a screen moves in a vertical direction. Alternatively, supply of electric signals to the imaging device  20  may be controlled instead of arranging a shutter unit. 
     The optics driving unit  11  for driving the optics  10  may move the lens, open/close the iris, and operate the shutter to perform operations, such as auto-focusing, auto-exposure, iris controlling, zooming, and focus changing. The optics driving unit  11  may receive a control signal from the DSP  30  and control the optics  10  according to the control signal. 
     The imaging device  20  includes a photoelectric conversion device that receives an optical signal input via the optics  10  and converts the optical signal to an electric signal.) Examples of the photoelectric conversion device are a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor array and a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor array. Furthermore, the imaging device  20  may include a correlated double sampling (CDS)/ amplifier (AMP) that eliminates low frequency noises included in an electric signal output by the imaging device  20  and amplifies the electric signal to a predetermined level. Furthermore, the imaging device  20  may further include an analog-digital (AD) converter that performs digital conversion on an electric signal output by the CDS/AMP to generate a digital signal. 
     Although the imaging device  20  and the components stated above are included in a single block, that is, the components are included in the imaging device  20  in the current embodiment, the invention is not limited thereto, and the imaging device  20  and the components stated above may, for example, be included in separate blocks or included in the DSP  30 . 
     The optics driving unit  11  and the imaging device control unit  21  may be controlled according to a timing signal supplied by a timing generator (TG). Although not shown, the TG may be included in the DSP  30 . However, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, in a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera, the TG may be arranged in a lens unit attached to a body. 
     The TG outputs a timing signal to the imaging device  20  to control a period of time for exposure of each of pixels of the photoelectric conversion device or control read-out of electric charges. Therefore, the imaging device  20  may provide image data corresponding to a frame image according to a timing signal provided by the TG. 
     An image signal provided by the imaging device  20  is input to a pre-processing unit  31  of the DSP  30 . The pre-processing unit  31  performs calculations for automatic white balance (AWB), automatic exposure (AE), and automatic focusing (AF). Results of the calculations for AWB and AE are fed back to the imaging device control unit  21  so that the imaging device control unit  21  may acquire an image signal with suitable color outputs and suitable exposure levels from the imaging device  20 . Furthermore, the results of the calculations for AWB and AE may control opening/closing of the iris and shutter speed by driving an iris driving motor and a shutter driving motor of the optics driving unit  11 . Furthermore, a result of the calculation of AF may be output to the optics driving unit  11  to relocate the focus lens along an optic axis. AWB, AE, and AF may be selectively applied by a user to an input image signal. 
     An image signal processing unit  32  performs predetermined image signal processes on an image signal to display or record the image signal. For example, the signal processing unit  32  performs image signal processes on an image signal to convert the image signal into a form suitable for human vision, e.g., gamma correction, color filter array interpolation, color matrix, color correction, and color enhancement. Furthermore, the signal processing unit  32  also performs resizing process for adjusting the size of an image. 
     Furthermore, the DSP  30  includes a signal processing unit  33  that performs signal processes for performing particular functions. The signal processing unit  33  may include a detecting unit that detects a desired scene or object with respect to an image signal and a compression/decompression unit. The detecting unit may detect a desired scene or object by, for example, using information regarding color components, edge components, and characteristic points of the image signal. In the invention, the face of a person may be detected in the image signal and a face area including the detected face may be located in the image signal. The invention may also provide a face detecting unit that may detect at least one face area in an image including a plurality of faces and detect face areas of each of a plurality of images. The compression/expansion unit performs compression and expansion on an image signal to which image signal processes have been performed. For example, in a case of compression, the signal processing unit  32  compresses an image signal into a compression format, such as a JPEG compression format or H.264 compression format. An image file containing image data generated through a compression process is transmitted to the memory card  80  via a card controller  38  and is stored therein. In the invention, the compression/expansion unit may generate an image file that includes a first image having a first size and a second image having a second size, where the first image and the second image are captured with respect to the same scene, and the second size is larger than the first size. 
     Furthermore, the DSP  30  includes a display control unit  34 . The display control unit  34  controls operations for displaying an image and/or information on the display unit  40 . The display unit  40  may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, a light-emitting diode (LED) display device, or an organic light-emitting display (OLED) device. 
     Furthermore, the DSP  30  includes a CPU  35  that controls overall operations of each of components. The CPU  35  and the DSP  30  may be embodied as separate chips. 
     In the current embodiment, the CPU  35  includes a first display image generating unit for generating a first display image, in which a plurality of first images having a first size are arranged in a single screen image. Furthermore, the CPU  35  includes a selecting unit for selecting at least one of the plurality of first images in the first display image, or for receiving a selection of one of the plurality of first images in the first display image. Furthermore, the CPU  35  includes a second display image generating unit for generating a second display image, in which a second image corresponding to the selected first image and having a second size is arranged in a display area of the selected first image, where the second size is larger than the first size. 
     The selecting unit may either select one of the first images automatically by a particular program or receive a selection from a user via the operating unit  50 . The selecting unit selects at least one of the first images included in the first display image and displays an indication corresponding to the selection. In other words, the selecting unit may control the display control unit  34  to display edges of the selected first image with a different color. 
     In the second display image generating unit, the first images that are not selected and the second image, which corresponds to the selected first image, has a second size, which is larger than the first size, and is displayed in the display area of the selected first image, and may be arranged in a single screen image. 
     In detail, in the second display image, a portion of the second image corresponding to the size of the display area of the selected first image may be displayed in the display area of the selected first image. 
     Furthermore, the second display image generating unit may replace the second display image with a different second display image, by displaying a different portion of the second image corresponding to the size of the display area of the selected first image in the display area of the selected first image. The replacement may be either performed automatically by a particular program or manually by a user via the operating unit  50 . 
     Furthermore, the second display image generating unit may generate a second display image that includes a portion of the second image that includes at least a portion of an object area detected by the detecting unit. Since the detecting unit includes the face detecting unit, a second display image including at least a portion of a detected face area may be generated. Here, the face area may be extracted from the second image. When face detection is performed on each of the first images and face areas are extracted from the second image, a second display image including at least a portion of each of the face areas may be generated. In the invention, face detection may be performed with respect to the first images, the second image, or an original image. Alternatively, face detection information recorded in an image file may be read out and a face area may be detected in the second image. 
     Furthermore, the second display image generating unit may generate a second display image that includes face areas corresponding to each of at least two first images from among the first images. In detail, the second display image is divided into a plurality of display areas, where the first images may be displayed in a part of the display areas, and the face areas may be displayed in the remaining part of the display areas. Here, the face areas are extracted from the second image, and may depict the same person. 
     Furthermore, the second display image generating unit may not only generate a second display image that includes face areas of second images, but also generate another second display image including portions of face areas of a person different from the person corresponding to the face areas included in the first second display image. In detail, the detecting unit may detect a plurality of persons and detects a plurality of face areas, where a first second display image may include a first face area from among the plurality of face areas, and a second display image may include a second face area from among the plurality of face areas. A second display image including at least a portion of a first face area of a first person corresponding to each of selected first images may be generated, and another second display image including at least a portion of a second face area of a second person corresponding to each of the first images selected either automatically or manually by a user. The second display image may be modified to generate the other second display image. 
     Furthermore, the CPU  35  may further include a first image detecting unit and a second image detecting unit that respectively detect a first image and a second image from an image file including the first image and the second image, wherein the images depict the same scene and have different sizes. In detail, the first image detecting unit may detect the first image having the first size from the image file after the image file has been restored by the compression/expansion unit. The second image detecting unit may detect the second image having the second size from the image file restored by the compression/expansion unit 
     The DSP  30  includes a memory controller  36  for controlling the memory  60 , to which data of a captured image or image information are temporarily written. 
     Furthermore, the DSP  30  includes an audio controller  37  for controlling the microphone/speaker  70 . Furthermore, the DSP  30  includes the card controller  38 , which writes a captured image to the memory card  80  or reads out a stored image from the memory card  80 . The card controller  38  controls writing of image data to the memory card  70  and reading out of image data or setup information stored in the memory card  70 . 
     Furthermore, the digital image signal processing apparatus includes the operating unit  50 , via which control signals of a user are input. The operating unit  50  may include a component for setting various options for operating the digital photographing apparatus and capturing an image. For example, the operating unit  50  may be embodied as buttons, keys, a touch panel, a touch screen, or a dial, and user control signals for various functions, such as turning power on/off, starting/stopping photographing, starting/stopping/searching playback, driving optics, switching mode, operating menus, and operating selections, may be input via the manipulation unit  50 . For example, a shutter button may be half-pressed, fully pressed, or released by a user. An operation signal for starting focus control is output when a shutter button is half-pressed (operation  51 ), and the focus control is terminated when the shutter button is released. The shutter button may output an operation signal for starting photographing when the shutter button is fully pressed (operation S 2 ). The operation signals may be transmitted to the CPU  36  of the DSP  30 , and thus corresponding components may be driven. 
     The memory  60  may include a program storage unit for storing an operating system (OS) and application programs for operating the digital photographing apparatus. Examples of the program storage unit may be an EEPROM, a flash memory, and a ROM. Furthermore, the memory  60  may include a buffer memory for temporarily storing image data of a captured image. Examples of the buffer memory may be a SDRAM or a DRAM. The buffer memory may store image data of a plurality of images in sequential/a predetermined order, and may output image signals in the sequential/predetermined order during focusing. Furthermore, the memory  60  may include a display memory having at least one channel for displaying a first display image or a second display image. The display memory may simultaneously input and output image data to and from a display driving unit included in the display unit  40 . The size and the maximum number of displayable colors depend on the capacity of the display memory. 
     The memory card  80  may be attached to and detached from the digital photographing apparatus, and may be an optical disc (a CD, a DVD, a Blu-ray disc, or the like), an optical-magnetic disk, a magnetic disk, or a semiconductor memory. 
     Hereinafter, a digital image signal processing method according to the invention will be described with reference to attached drawings. 
     First, a digital image signal processing method according to an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a first display image including first images having a first size is generated (operation S 11 ). 
     Next, the first display image is displayed on a display unit (operation S 12 ). Although the first display image may be displayed after the first display image has been fully generated, the invention is not limited thereto, and generation and display of the first display image may be performed substantially at the same time according to factors including display memory capacity and image signal processing speed. For example, a first portion of the first display image may be generated and displayed, and a second portion of the first display image may be generated while generating the first portion of the first display image. 
     One of the first images included in the first display image is selected (operation S 13 ). The selection may be either performed automatically by a particular program or manually by a user. For example, a first image in which a face area is detected may be automatically selected from among the first images. 
     Especially, first images in which face areas corresponding to a single person are detected may be automatically selected. 
     Next, a second display image, in which a second image is displayed in a display area of the selected first image, is generated (operation S 14 ). The second image has a second size that is larger than the first size of the first images. 
     Furthermore, the selected first image and the second image may depict the same scene and may be stored in the same image file. Referring to  FIG. 3 , an original image may be generated by capturing a particular scene, and an image file may be generated by compressing the original image. Here, a thumbnail image has a size smaller than that of the original image and a screennail image has a size larger than the first size and smaller than that of the original image. The original image may be resized. Furthermore, an image file including the original image, the thumbnail image, and the screennail image may be generated. In the image file storing the selected first image and the second image and having a structure as stated above, if the selected first image is a thumbnail image, the second image may be a screennail image. Alternatively, if the selected first image is a screennail image, the second image may be an original image. The first and second display images may be generated by detecting the selected first image and the second image in the image file, respectively. According to the invention, the second display image is not displayed by simply upscaling the selected first image. According to the invention, the second image, which is stored in the same image file as the selected first image, is detected and the second display image including a portion of the second image having the same size as the selected first image may be displayed. 
     Next, the second display image is displayed on the display unit (operation S 15 ). In the same manner as with the first display image, generation and display of the second display image may be either performed sequentially or performed substantially at the same time. 
     An example of applying the digital image signal processing method as described above to a digital image signal processing apparatus will be described below with reference to  FIGS. 4 through 6 . In the current embodiment, a digital camera is used as an example of a digital image signal processing apparatus. 
     First, referring to  FIG. 4 , a display unit  40  is arranged on a rear surface of a digital camera  100 , and a power button P and a shutter-release button C are arranged on a top surface of the digital camera  100 . A first display image DI 1  is displayed on the display unit  40 . 
     The first display image DI 1  includes a plurality of display areas A. First images I 1  are arranged in the plurality of display areas A. The size of the display areas A may be the same as the size of the first images I 1 . Therefore, the first images I 1  may be fully displayed in the display areas A. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a second display image DI 2  displayed on the display unit  40  is shown. The second display image DI 2  includes at least one second image I 2  and the display areas A. In the current embodiment, the second display image DI 2 , in which the second image I 2  is displayed in the upper-left display area A and the first images I 1  other than the first image I 1  replaced by the second image I 2  are displayed in the remaining display areas A, is shown. The second image I 2  corresponds to a selected first image I 1 . In other words, the selected first image I 1  and the second image I 2  depict the same scene and have different sizes. The second image I 2  may be an enlarged portion of the same subject in the first image I 1 . The second image I 2  may either from the same source image as first image I 1  or from another source image of the same subject as first image I 1 . The selected first image I 1  and the second image I 2  may be stored in the same image file. The second image I 2  is a larger image than the selected first image I 1 , and only a portion of the second image I 2  may be displayed in the upper-left display area A. For example, in the second display image DI 2 , a portion I 2 _Part 1  of the second image I 2  corresponding to the selected first image I 1  is displayed in one of the display areas A, specifically the upper-left display area A, and the unselected first images I 1  are displayed in the remaining display areas A. The size of the portion I 2 _Part 1  of the second image I 2  corresponds to the size of the display areas A, and thus the size of the portion I 2 _Part 1  of the second image I 2  may be substantially the same as the size of the first images I 1 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , another second display image DI 2 ′ is shown. In the other second display image DI 2 ′, another portion I 2 _Part 2  of the second image I 2  is displayed in the upper-left display area A. For example, according to a replacement control signal, the portion I 2 _Part 1  of the second image I 2  displayed in the upper-left display area A may be replaced with the other portion I 2 _Part 2  of the second image I 2 . The size of the other portion I 2 _Part 2  of the second image I 2  also corresponds to the size of the display areas A, and thus the size of the other portion I 2 _Part 2  of the second image I 2  may also be substantially the same as the size of the first images I 1 . 
     The portion I 2 _Part 1  and the other portion I 2 _Part 2  of the second image I 2  may respectively include face areas of persons detected in the second image I 2 . Detailed descriptions thereof will be given below with reference to attached drawings. 
     A digital image signal processing method according to another embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to  FIG. 7 . Descriptions below will focus on differences between the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  and the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a first display image including a plurality of first images is generated (operation S 21 ). The first images have a first size. 
     Next, the first display image is displayed (operation S 22 ). 
     One of the first images included in the first display image is selected (operation S 23 ). The selection may be either performed automatically by a particular program or manually by a user. 
     A face is detected in the selected first image (operation S 24 ). Although a face is detected in the current embodiment, a particular object or a particular scene may instead be detected and an image of a detected area may be generated. A face area may be detected by acquiring information regarding the face area from an image file in which the first image is stored. Alternatively, information regarding the face area may be detected by executing a face detecting program with respect to the first image, a second image having a second size, or an original image. Based on the information, a face area may be detected in the second image. 
     A second display image including a second image including at least a portion of the face area is generated (operation S 25 ). The second image is displayed in a display area of the selected first image. The second display image may include the unselected first images and the second image, which corresponds to the selected first image. 
     The generated second display image is displayed (operation S 26 ). 
     The digital image signal processing method shown in  FIG. 7  will be described in closer detail with reference to  FIGS. 8 through 10 . 
     First, referring to  FIG. 8 , an example of a second image I 2  having a second size is shown. A face area FA is detected in the second image I 2 . The face area FA may be detected in the second image I 2  based on information regarding the face area FA detected in a first image I 1  having a first size, wherein the first size is smaller than the second size, or an original image. Alternatively, information regarding the face area FA may be detected in an image file, and the face area FA may be detected in the second image I 2  based on the information. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a first display image DI 1  including the first image I 1  having the first size is shown. The entire first image I 1  may be displayed in a display area A. The size of the display area A may be substantially the same as the size of the first image I 1 . The first display image DI 1  includes a plurality of images. 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 10 , when the first image I 1  at the center of the first display image DI 1 , a portion of the second image I 2  corresponding to the first image I 1  is displayed in the display area A in a second display image DI 2 . 
     The portion of the second image I 2  included in the second display image DI 2  includes the face area FA. In the current embodiment, the portion of the second image I 2  corresponds to the first image I 1 , where the size of the portion corresponds to the size of the display area A. Here, the portion is not a randomly selected portion, but a portion including the face area FA. 
       FIGS. 11 through 13  are diagrams for describing a digital image signal processing method according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a first display image DI 1  including a plurality of first images I 1  is displayed. The first images I 1  depict scenes at a wedding, and more particularly, depict scenes including a groom P 1  and a bride P 2  and/or guests P 3  through P 8 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , a second display image DI 2  includes second images I 2  having face areas I 2 _FD 1  of the groom P 1 . In the current embodiment, the second display image DI 2  includes the second images I 2  corresponding to the first images I 1  in the first display image DI 1 . In the current embodiment, the six first images I 1  depict the groom P 1 , and thus the second display image DI 2  including the second images I 2  having the face areas I 2 _FD 1  respectively corresponding to the six first images I 1  is displayed. The second images I 2  corresponds to the first images I 1  and has a second size that is larger than the first size of the first images I 1 . In detail, the face areas I 2 _FD 1  of the groom P 1  detected in the second images I 2  are arranged in display areas A of the corresponding first images I 1 . In the current embodiment, the face areas I 2 _FD 1  have substantially the same size as the display areas A. However, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, portions of the second images I 2  including portions of the face areas I 2 _FD 1  may be displayed in the display areas A. 
     Furthermore, in the current embodiment, the first images I 1  including a person with high priority are automatically selected or the first images I 1  including a face area of a person frequently detected in the first images I 1  are automatically selected. Alternatively, when the same person is detected in a plurality of the first images I 2 , the plurality of first images I 2  may be selected. 
       FIG. 13  shows a second display image DI 2 ′, in which other portions of the second images I 2  including portions of the face areas I 2 _FD 2  of the bride P 2  is displayed. In the current embodiment, the second display image DI 2 ′ replaces the second images I 2  in the second display image DI 2  at coordinates ( 1 ,  1 ), ( 1 ,  2 ), and ( 2 ,  3 ) with images including portions of the face areas I 2 _FD 2  of the bride P 2 . A replacement signal may be generated either automatically or manually by a user, and the second display image DI 2 ′ may be generated by modifying the second display image DI 2  based on the replacement signal. 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram showing another second display image DI 2 ″. In the second display image DI 2 ″ according to the current embodiment, the face areas I 2 _FD of the second image DI 2 ″ are arranged in the display areas A of the corresponding first images I 1  as in the previous embodiment when the face areas I 2 _FD are detected, and images including portions of focus areas I 2 _FA of the second images I 2  are arranged in the display areas A of the corresponding first images I 1 . 
     A focus area may be acquired to perform AF with the pre-processing unit  31  shown in  FIG. 1 . Therefore, the detecting unit may include a focus area detecting unit, and a focus area detected as described above may be used not only for performing AF, but also for generating a second display image. 
     According to the invention, an effect of selectively zooming in and displaying an object desired by a user, and more particularly, a face area, without interfering with display of a first image may be acquired. 
     The device described herein may comprise a processor, a memory for storing program data and executing it, a permanent storage such as a disk drive, a communications port for handling communications with external devices, and user interface devices, including a display, keys, etc. When software modules are involved, these software modules may be stored as program instructions or computer readable codes executable on the processor on a computer-readable media such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. This media can be read by the computer, stored in the memory, and executed by the processor. 
     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference has been made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used to describe these embodiments. However, no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended by this specific language, and the invention should be construed to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
     The invention may be described in terms of functional block components and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware and/or software components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, the invention may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, where the elements of the invention are implemented using software programming or software elements the invention may be implemented with any programming or scripting language such as C, C++, Java, assembler, or the like, with the various algorithms being implemented with any combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines or other programming elements. Functional aspects may be implemented in algorithms that execute on one or more processors. Furthermore, the invention could employ any number of conventional techniques for electronics configuration, signal processing and/or control, data processing and the like. The words “mechanism” and “element” are used broadly and are not limited to mechanical or physical embodiments, but can include software routines in conjunction with processors, etc. 
     The particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative examples of the invention and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the invention in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventional electronics, control systems, software development and other functional aspects of the systems (and components of the individual operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines, or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections or logical connections may be present in a practical device. Moreover, no item or component is essential to the practice of the invention unless the element is specifically described as “essential” or “critical”. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural. Furthermore, recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Finally, the steps of all methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. Numerous modifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.