Method and apparatus for displaying a target region and an enlarged image

An image displaying method, in an image displaying apparatus, of enlarging a specified region in an entire original image displayed on a display screen and displaying the enlarged specified region on said display screen, said method comprising the steps, performed by said image displaying apparatus, of:

• pointing, by use of an input device, to specify a target on said display screen;
• selecting one of a plurality of conditions including an area of an enlargement target region including said specified target, an area of an enlarged image display region and a value of an enlargement ratio between said enlargement target region and said enlarged image display region;
• determining other values so as to satisfy said selected condition;
• and
• simultaneously displaying without overlap said enlargement target region and said enlarged image display region on said display screen over said entire original image on the basis of said determined values;
• said simultaneous displaying step including the step of:
• automatically arranging said enlargement target region and said enlarged image display region based on said selected condition.

An image displaying method, in an image displaying apparatus, of simultaneously displaying on a display screen an enlargement target region specified in an entire original image displayed on said display screen and an enlarge image display region displaying an enlarged image display region displaying an enlarged image of said enlargement target region, said method comprising the steps, performed by said image displaying apparatus, of:

• pointing by use of an input device, to specify a target on said display screen;
• setting said enlarged image display region so as to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance on said display screen from said enlargement target region and to preferentially satisfy one of a plurality of selected conditions including an area of said enlargement target region, an area of said enlarged image display region and a value of an enlargement ratio between said enlargement target region and said enlarged image display region;
• and
• displaying without overlap at the same time on said display screen over said entire original image said enlarged image on said enlarged image display region;
• said simultaneous displaying step including the step of:
• automatically arranging said enlargement target region and said enlarged image display region based on said selected condition.

An image displaying method, in an image displaying apparatus, of simultaneously displaying on a display screen an enlargement target region specified in an entire original image displayed on said display screen and an enlarged image;

• of enlargement target region, said method comprising the steps, performed by said image displaying apparatus, of:
• determining values of an area of said enlargement target region so that said area of said enlargement target region on said display screen is maximized under a predetermined enlarging condition;
• and
• according to said determined values automatically disposing and displaying without overlap both said enlargement target region and said enlarged image display region on said display screen over said entire original image
• said disposing and displaying step including the step of:
• automatically arranging said enlargement target region and said enlarged image display region based on a size of said enlargement target region, a size of said enlarged image display region and an enlargement ratio of said enlargement target region and said enlarged image display region.

An image displaying apparatus for displaying an enlarged part of an entire original image displayed on a display screen of displaying means, comprising:

• input means for pointing to specify a target to be enlarged in said entire original image;
• and
• automatic disposing means for deciding, according to a predetermined basic rule, whether an area of an enlargement target region including said specified target on said display screen or an area of an enlarged image display region displaying an enlarged image representing details of said target in said enlargement target region is to be preferentially selected, and on the basis of the result of said decision, automatically disposing and displaying without overlap both said regions to be easily distinguishable on the same display screen over said entire original image;
• said automatic disposing means including means for automatically arranging said enlargement target region and said enlarged image display region based on a size of said enlargement target region, a size of said enlarged image display region and an enlargement ratio of said enlargement target region and said enlarged image display region.

An image displaying apparatus for simultaneously displaying an entire original image and its partly enlarge image on the same display screen, comprising:

• input means for pointing to specify a target to be enlarged;
• means for setting an enlargement target region including said specified target;
• means for determining a maximized enlarged image display region which does not overlap said enlargement target region on said display screen;
• means for providing priority to one of a plurality of selected conditions including an are of said enlargement target region an area of said enlarged image display region and a value of an enlargement ratio between said enlargement target region and said enlarged image display region;
• means for setting said area of said enlargement target region at a predetermined minimum value when said value of said enlargement ratio is preferentially selected, setting said enlargement ratio at a predetermined minimum value when said area of said enlargement target region is preferentially selected, setting said area of said enlarged image display region at that of said maximized enlarged image display region when said area of said enlarged image display region is preferentially selected, and determining other values;
• and
• automatic disposing means for automatically disposing without overlap both said enlargement target region and said enlarge image display region on the basis of the result of computation of said area of said enlargement target region and said area of said enlarged image display region;
• said automatic disposing means including means for automatically arranging said enlargement target region and said enlarged image display region based on one of a plurality of selected conditions provided with priority.