JP2000217015A - Camera with communication function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent recording data from being affected by incoming call notification and to prevent the recording data from being affected even when photographing is performed during the incoming call notification by changing the notifying method of the incoming call notification corresponding to the state of a camera. SOLUTION: In the case that a mode selected by a mode changeover button is a still image photographing mode, the incoming call notification by vibration and display is inhibited, an incoming call is notified by sound and a communicating party is informed by voice (S1 and 2). A voice guide for selecting whether or not to interrupt photographing or voice recording and perform communication is read from a memory inside a CPU and outputted from a speaker (S3). Whether or not 'Yes' button is pressed is detected and at the time of detecting that pressing is performed, a photographing mode or a voice recording mode is switched to a communication mode and the communication with the opposite party is made possible (S4 and 5). At the time of detecting the end of the communication, it returns to the photographing mode or the voice recording mode (S6 and 7). When 'No' button is pressed or 10 seconds elapses after the incoming call, a prescribed processing is executed (S8-10).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a digital camera,
The present invention relates to a silver halide camera, a video camera, and the like, and particularly to a camera having a communication function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A camera equipped with a portable telephone function has been proposed in which a portable telephone having a communication function and a digital camera are combined. Further, as a means of notifying a user of an incoming call as a portable telephone alone, a technique of notifying an incoming call by sound and notifying an incoming call by vibration is known.

[0003]

However, for example, if a camera with a communication function, which is a combination of a mobile phone and a digital camera, employs a technology for notifying an incoming call by vibration, The captured image is blurred due to the vibration. Also, when an incoming call is notified by sound at the time of capturing a moving image in which sound is recorded or at the time of sound recording, a ringtone is recorded together with the sound.

The present invention provides a camera with a communication function that does not affect the recorded data due to the incoming call notification, and a camera with a communication function that does not affect the recorded data even if shooting is performed while the incoming call notification is being performed. The purpose is to do.

[0005]

In a camera with a communication function according to the present invention, a communication means for communicating with another communication device, and an incoming call notification for notifying a user of an incoming call from another communication device by a plurality of notification methods. Means for capturing an image of a subject, detecting means for detecting a state of the camera, and notification changing means for changing a notification method of an incoming call notification according to the state of the camera detected by the detecting means. And

In the camera with a communication function of the present invention,
A communication unit that communicates with another communication device; an incoming notification unit that notifies a user of an incoming call from another communication device; an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject; And an imaging control changing means for changing the imaging control using the imaging means.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a camera with a communication function according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a camera with a communication function (hereinafter referred to as a camera) 1 includes a photographing lens 2, a speaker 3, a display unit 4, a photographing start button 5, and “Y”.
es "button 6," No "button 7, dial button 8, mode switching button 9, microphone 10, and antenna 11.

The photographing lens 2 is a lens for forming an image of a subject on an image sensor 201 described later, and is provided so as to be rotatable by 180 degrees. The speaker 3 is for converting an electric signal into a sound. The display unit 4 is an LCD
And displays various information such as image information and character information. The recording start button 5 is a button for starting recording of various information according to the mode setting by the mode switching button 9. The “Yes” button 6 and the “No” button 7 are buttons for the user to operate according to his / her will in response to an inquiry from the camera. The dial buttons 8 are a group of buttons used to input a telephone number. The mode switching button 9 is a group of buttons for setting various modes such as power-off, call mode, still image shooting mode, moving image shooting mode, and audio recording mode. The microphone 10 is for converting sound into an electric signal. The antenna 11 is for transmitting and receiving radio waves.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal mechanism of the camera 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, an image sensor 201, an image processing circuit 2
2, a frame memory 203, a compression / expansion circuit 204, a flash memory 205, a microphone circuit 206, an audio processing circuit 207, a speaker circuit 208, a CPU 209, a display circuit 210, a switch circuit 211, a vibration circuit 212, and a telephone circuit 213.

An image sensor 201 is a photoelectric conversion device such as a CCD, and outputs a subject image as image data of an electric signal. The image processing circuit 202 performs various image processing on the image data output from the image sensor 201. The frame memory 203 is a volatile semiconductor memory that temporarily stores image data and audio data that have undergone image processing.

The compression / expansion circuit 204 is a circuit for compressing and expanding image data and audio data. The flash memory 205 is a non-volatile memory that records image data and audio data for storage. Microphone circuit 20
Reference numeral 6 denotes a circuit for driving the microphone 10.

The audio processing circuit 207 performs various processes on audio data input from the microphone 10. The speaker circuit 208 is a circuit that drives the speaker 3. C
The PU 209 is electrically connected to a circuit in the camera 1 of the present embodiment, and is a circuit that controls all controls in the camera 1. Further, the CPU 209 has a timer and a memory. Various guides for notifying the user are stored in the memory in advance.

The display circuit 210 is a circuit for driving the display unit 4. The switch circuit 211 is a circuit for transmitting operation states of switches and buttons to the CPU 209. The vibration circuit 212 is a circuit for making the camera 1 signal in order to notify the user of the incoming call by vibration.

The telephone circuit 213 is a circuit for realizing a telephone function for transmitting and receiving information. Hereinafter, control performed by the CPU 209 of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is started by receiving a call signal from the other party's telephone.

In step S1, it is detected whether or not the mode selected by the mode switching button 9 is a still image photographing mode. If the mode is the still image shooting mode, the process proceeds to step S2. If the mode is not the still image shooting mode, the process proceeds to step S11. In step S2, incoming call notification by vibration and display is prohibited, incoming call notification by sound is made, and the other party is notified by voice. Here, the incoming call notification by display is also prohibited. This is because the composition of a still image is important. This is because it is considered that the image displayed on the display unit 4 is hidden to some extent when the notification by the display is performed. However, it goes without saying that an incoming call notification by display may be performed.

In step S3, an audio guide as to whether or not to interrupt the photographing or recording to make a call is read from the memory in the CPU and output from the speaker 3. In step S4,
It is detected whether the "Yes" button 6 has been pressed. If it is detected that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S5. If it is not detected that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S5, the mode is switched from the photographing mode or the voice recording mode to the talking mode, and talking with the other party is enabled. In step S6, it is detected whether or not the call has ended, and if it has been detected, the process proceeds to step S7. If the call has not ended, step S6 is repeated to continue detecting the end of the call.

In step S7, the process returns to the photographing mode or the voice recording mode. In step S8, if it is not detected in step S4 that the "Yes" button 6 has been pressed, it is detected whether or not the "No" button 7 has been pressed. If it is detected that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S10.
If it is not detected that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S9, it is detected by a timer in the CPU whether or not 10 seconds have elapsed since the incoming call. 10
If seconds have elapsed, the process proceeds to step S10. If 10 seconds have not elapsed, the process returns to step S3. Step S1
At 0, the flow shown in FIG. 4 is executed. Step S11
In step S1, if the camera is not in the still image shooting mode, it is detected whether the camera is in the moving image shooting mode or the audio recording mode. If the mode is the moving image shooting mode or the sound recording mode, the process proceeds to step S12. If the mode is not the moving image shooting mode or the sound recording mode, the process proceeds to step S19.

In step S12, it is detected whether or not shooting or recording is being performed in the moving image shooting mode or the voice recording mode. Step S if recording is in progress
Proceed to 13. If not, the process proceeds to step S2. In step S13, the incoming call notification by vibration and voice is prohibited, the incoming call notification is displayed on the display unit 4, and the other party is displayed.

In step S14, a guide as to whether to interrupt the photographing or recording and make a call is read from the memory in the CPU and displayed on the display unit 4. In step S15, it is detected whether or not the shooting start button 5 has been pressed. If it is detected that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S5. If it is not detected that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S16.

In step S16, it is detected whether the "No" button 7 has been pressed. If it is detected that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S18. If it is not detected that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, it is detected by a timer in the CPU whether or not 10 seconds have elapsed since the incoming call. If 10 seconds have elapsed, the process proceeds to step S18. If 10 seconds have not elapsed, the process returns to step S14.

In step S18, the flow shown in FIG. 4 is executed. In step S19, it is determined that the mode is not the still image shooting mode in step S1 and the moving image shooting mode or the voice recording mode is not set in step S11. In step S20, a call is started.

In step S21, it is detected whether or not the call has ended. If completed, the flow ends. If the call has not been completed, the process returns to step S20 to continue the call. FIG. 4 shows steps S10 and S1 in FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the control performed in Step 8;

In step S201, a message that the call cannot be made is sent to the other party, and a message is sent to the other party. In step S202, the message is recorded when the other party's telephone number and the other party have sent the message. Here, the message can be stored in a memory in the camera or in a predetermined memory of the telephone company.

In step S203, it is detected whether the mode has been switched from the photographing mode to the talking mode. If the switching is detected, the process proceeds to step S204. If the switching is not detected, it is continuously detected that the mode is switched from the shooting mode to the talking mode. In step S204, it is detected whether a message from the other party has been recorded. If a message has been recorded, the process proceeds to step S205. If no message has been recorded, the process proceeds to step S210.

In step S205, a voice or display informs whether or not to listen to the message. Step S206
Then, it is detected whether or not the “Yes” button 6 has been pressed. If it is detected that the button has been pressed, step S20 is performed.
Go to 7. If it is not detected that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S208.

In step S207, the recorded message is reproduced, and the flow ends. Step S208
In step S206, when it is not detected that the "Yes" button 6 is pressed, it is detected whether the "No" button is pressed. If it is detected that the button has been pressed, this flow is terminated. If it is not detected that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S209.

In step S209, a timer
It detects whether 10 seconds have passed since the message was heard or notified. If ten seconds have elapsed, this flow ends. If 10 seconds have not elapsed, step S206
Return to In step S210, whether or not to call the other party is notified by voice and display. In step S211,
It is detected whether the "Yes" button 6 has been pressed. If it is detected that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S212. If it is not detected that the button has been pressed, step S2
Proceed to 14.

In step S212, the user dials the recorded telephone number. In step S213, a call is started. In step S214, it is detected whether or not the call has ended. If completed, the flow ends. Also,
If the communication has not been completed, the process returns to step S213 to continue the call.

In step S215, step S211
If it is not detected that the "Yes" button 6 is pressed, it is detected whether the "No" button 7 is pressed. If it is detected that the button has been pressed, this flow is terminated. If it is not detected that the button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step S216. In step S216, a timer is used to detect whether 10 seconds have elapsed since the caller was notified of the call. If ten seconds have elapsed, this flow ends. 10
If the second has not elapsed, the process returns to step S211.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the notification of incoming calls due to vibration is prohibited during the shooting of a still image, during standby, and during the standby of moving image shooting, so that the shot image may be blurred. Absent. In addition, during the shooting of the moving image, the incoming call notification by vibration and sound is prohibited, so that the image being shot does not blur and the ringtone is not recorded.

In addition, the photographing is interrupted, the mode is switched to the call mode, and the mode is returned to the photographing mode in response to the end of the call, so that the photographing can be resumed immediately after the call is ended. In addition, when an incoming call notification is received during shooting, the mode can be shifted to a call mode by an operation of stopping shooting, so that a call can be made immediately after stopping shooting.

Further, when a call is received during shooting, a message to the effect that a call cannot be made to the other party is automatically transmitted, so that the other party can be notified of his / her situation without interrupting the shooting. Further, when a call is received during shooting, the telephone number of the other party is automatically stored, so that a call can be made after the shooting is completed.

Further, when a call is received during shooting, the message of the other party can be stored, so that the message of the other party can be stored without interrupting the shooting, and the requirements of the other party can be known after the shooting. Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of a CPU 209 according to the embodiment. The configuration of the camera according to the second embodiment is the same as that described in the previous embodiment, and a description thereof will not be repeated.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 starts when the camera 1 receives a communication from another communication means in a state where an incoming call notification by vibration is selected. In step S301, the state of the recording start button 5 and the state of the image sensor 201 are detected, and it is determined whether or not the camera 1 is performing a shooting operation. When the recording start button 5 is
If the camera 1 is in a fully-pressed state in which exposure is performed, or if the image sensor 201 is in the middle of an exposure period in response to the fully-pressed state of the recording start button 5, the camera 1 determines that the camera 1 is in a shooting operation, Proceed to step S302. If the recording start button 5 is off and the image sensor 201 is not in the exposure period, it is determined that the camera 1 is not in the shooting operation, and the process proceeds to step S308.

If it is determined in step S301 that the camera 1 is performing a shooting operation, the flow advances to step S302. In step S302, the incoming call notification due to vibration is prohibited by prohibiting the driving of the vibration circuit 212. Step S30
Upon completion of the process of Step 2, the process proceeds to Step S303. In step S303, the setting state of the incoming call notification of the camera 1 is detected, and the incoming call notification is started by a method excluding the vibration from the setting state, a method set by the user, or a method set by default. As an example, when the incoming call notification method is set to vibration and sound, the incoming call notification using only sound is started. As another example, when the method of the incoming call notification is set to only vibration, the incoming call notification is started by the method set by default from among the incoming call notifications other than vibration. If the default incoming notification is a sound or voice notification, the incoming notification by sound or voice is started. If the default incoming notification is a notification by display on the display unit 4, the incoming notification message is displayed on the display unit 4. Start display. Upon completion of the process in the step S303, the process proceeds to a step S304.

In step S304, the recording start button 5
And the state of the image sensor 201 to determine whether or not the photographing operation has been completed. If the recording start button 5 is off and the image sensor 201 is not in the exposure period, it is determined that the shooting operation has been completed, and the process proceeds to step S305. Also, when the recording start button 5 is in a fully-pressed state in which the imaging element 201 performs exposure, or when the imaging element 201 is in the middle of an exposure period in response to the fully-pressed state of the recording start button 5,
It is determined that the photographing operation is continuing, and the process stands by in step S304.

In step S305, the notification of the incoming call due to the vibration is permitted by permitting the driving of the vibration circuit 212.
When the process of step S305 is completed, step S306
Proceed to. In step S306, it is determined whether or not the incoming call notification started in step S303 continues even after the photographing operation is completed. If the incoming call notification continues, the process proceeds to step S307. If the incoming call notification has been completed, the processing of this flow ends.

In step S307, the vibrating circuit 212 is driven to start an incoming call notification by vibration. It should be noted that the incoming call notification by a method other than the vibration started in step S303 may be terminated when the incoming call notification by the vibration is started, or may be continued as it is. When the process of step S307 is completed, the process of this flow ends.

If it is determined in step S301 that the camera 1 is not performing a shooting operation, the flow advances to step S308. In step S308, the vibration circuit 212 is driven to start the incoming call notification by vibration. In addition, the setting of the incoming call notification is detected, and if an incoming call notification using a method other than vibration is set, the incoming call notification is also started. Upon completion of the process in the step S308, the process proceeds to a step S309.

In step S309, the recording start button 5
Is disabled, and control is performed so that recording is not performed by the imaging unit even when the recording start button 5 is turned on. Upon completion of the process in the step S309, the process proceeds to a step S310. In step S310, it is determined whether or not the incoming call notification started in step S308 has ended. If the incoming call notification has ended, the process advances to step S311.
If the incoming call notification has not ended, the process stands by in step S310.

In step S311, the recording start button 5
Is activated, and control is performed so that shooting can be performed by turning on the recording start button. When the processing in step S311 is completed, the processing of this flow ends. As described above, according to the second embodiment, it is determined whether or not a shooting operation is being performed when an incoming call is received, and if a shooting operation is being performed, the incoming call notification due to vibration is prohibited. There is no end.
In addition, when a photographing operation is not being performed, an incoming call notification by vibration can be performed even in a photographing standby state in a photographing mode.

Since the operation of the recording start button 5 is disabled while the incoming call notification is being made by vibration, the risk of obtaining a shot image blurred by vibration can be avoided. Further, in the second embodiment, since it is determined whether or not a shooting operation is being performed at the time of an incoming call, it is possible to perform a call and an image shooting at any time without switching the operation mode. Also applicable to cameras.

Regarding the determination of the photographing operation in the second embodiment, the state of the recording start button 5 is
Although the determination is made based on whether or not the shutter is fully pressed to perform exposure for recording at 01, the determination of the shooting operation is not limited to that described in the second embodiment, and the recording start button 5 May be determined based on whether the camera is in a so-called half-pressed state in which the camera 1 performs a focusing operation, a photometric operation, and the like, which are preliminary operations for exposure.

In the second embodiment, the operation of the recording start button 5 is invalidated during the non-photographing operation while the incoming call notification by vibration is performed, so that the photographing of the subject by the imaging means 201 is prohibited. are doing. However, the control of the photographing operation during the notification of the incoming call due to the vibration is not limited to the control described in the second embodiment. The output of the image signal from the flash memory 201 may be prohibited, or the recording to the flash memory 205 may be prohibited.

Further, in the second embodiment, control is performed such that photographing of a subject by the imaging means 201 is prohibited while an incoming call notification by vibration is performed during a non-photographing operation.
However, shooting of a subject by the imaging unit 201 can be performed even in the event of an incoming call notification by vibration in a situation where urgency and immediacy such as evidence photographs of incidents and accidents are required. It is desirable. Therefore, when the recording start button 5 is operated and turned on while the incoming call notification by vibration is being performed, the user is warned that there is a possibility that the captured image may be affected by the blur, and then permitted to shoot. Control may be performed. In addition, only when the recording start button 5 and another specific operation member are operated in combination, control may be performed such that photographing is permitted even while the incoming call notification by vibration is being performed. Further, a mode may be provided in which the operation of the recording start button 5 can be set in advance to be effective even while the incoming call notification by vibration is being performed. Further, if it is desired to take a picture while the incoming call notification by vibration is being performed, an operation means that can immediately cancel the incoming call notification by vibration may be provided.

In the second embodiment, the embodiment has been described on the assumption that only an image is photographed. Therefore, during the photographing operation, control is performed such that only the incoming call notification by vibration is prohibited.
For a device such as a video camera capable of recording sound simultaneously with an image, it may be configured to prohibit not only incoming notification by vibration but also incoming notification by sound or voice during the shooting operation. .

In the first and second embodiments, the electronic camera capable of capturing a moving image and a still image has been described. However, the electronic camera capable of capturing only a still image can also be realized.
It can also be realized by a film camera that records on a silver halide film.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, the notification method of the incoming call notification is changed according to the state of the camera, so that the photographed image data is not adversely affected by the incoming call notification. In addition, since the imaging control using the imaging unit is changed while the incoming call notification by vibration is being performed, the possibility that image data is adversely affected by the incoming call notification can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a camera with a communication function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a camera 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal mechanism of the device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating control performed by CPU 209 of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows steps S10 and S1 of FIG.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the control performed in Step 8;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating control performed by a CPU 209 of the camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera with a communication function 2 ... Shooting lens 3 ... Speaker 4 ... Display part 5 ... Shooting start button 6 ... "Yes" button 7 ... "No" button 8. Dial button 9 Mode switch button 10 Microphone 10 11 Antenna 201 Image sensor 202 Image processing circuit 203 Frame memory 204 Compression / expansion circuit 205 ..Flash memory 206 ... Microphone circuit 207 ... Sound processing circuit 208 ... Speaker circuit 209 ... CPU 210 ... Display circuit 211 ... Switch circuit 212 ... Vibration circuit 213 ... Telephone circuit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Communication means for communicating with another communication device; incoming notification means for notifying a user of an incoming call from another communication device by a plurality of notification methods; imaging means for capturing a subject image; Detecting means for detecting the state of the, according to the state of the camera detected by the detecting means,
A camera with a communication function, comprising: a notification changing unit that changes a notification method of an incoming call notification. 2. The incoming call notifying means is capable of notifying incoming call by vibration, and when detecting the photographable state by the detecting means, the notice changing means inhibits incoming call notification by vibration. The camera with a communication function according to claim 1. 3. The incoming call notifying unit is capable of notifying incoming call by vibration and sound. When the detecting unit detects that a moving image can be shot, the notifying change unit outputs the incoming call notification by vibration and sound. The camera with a communication function according to claim 1, wherein the camera is prohibited. 4. The incoming call notifying means is capable of notifying incoming call by vibration, and when detecting that the photographing operation is being performed by the detecting means, the notification changing means inhibits incoming call notification by vibration. The camera with a communication function according to claim 1. 5. A communication means for communicating with another communication device; an incoming notification device for notifying a user of an incoming call from another communication device; an imaging device for imaging a subject; A camera with a communication function, comprising: an imaging control changing unit configured to change imaging control using the imaging unit during the operation. 6. The communication according to claim 5, wherein the image pickup control changing unit prohibits the image pickup unit from picking up an image of a subject while the incoming call notifying unit notifies the incoming call by vibration. Camera with function.