JP2005051798A - Digital electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a convenient digital electronic camera which automatically recognizes a function mode in accordance with a direction where a photographing camera part is turned at present, in the digital electronic camera having functions of a cellular phone or PHS(R). <P>SOLUTION: When photographing an image, a user turns a photographing camera part 21 outward as illustrated in (a), a direction sensor 11 recognizes that the user is going to photograph the image, and reports setting of the photographing mode to a microcomputer 7, and the camera is functioned in the photographing mode under the control of the microcomputer 7. When using the camera as a video phone, the user then turns the photographing camera part inward as illustrated in (b), the direction sensor 11 recognizes that the user is going to use the camera as a video phone, and reports setting of a video phone mode to the microcomputer 7, and the camera is functioned in the video phone mode under the control of the microcomputer 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital electronic camera, and more particularly to a digital electronic camera having a function as a mobile phone or a PHS.

  Recently, digital electronic cameras that record captured images in a semiconductor memory element have been released by various companies, and these digital electronic cameras are easier to capture recorded images in a personal computer than conventional silver halide cameras. Mobile phones and PHS are rapidly spreading. In particular, PHS is attracting attention as a multimedia device capable of high-speed data communication as well as the purpose of a call, and a device in which a mobile phone, a PHS and a digital electronic camera are fused has been proposed in various forms.

  Here, the following examples have been proposed for a conventional digital electronic camera having a mobile phone or PHS function. First, an arbitrary image is taken. Next, an image to be transmitted is selected from the captured images. Then, an operation for transmission is performed with the switches, and transmission is started. Thus, a function of transmitting the captured image to a remote place is realized.

  In addition, when used as a telephone, a function as a videophone is also realized in which users talk while checking each other's faces.

  By the way, when using these functions, it is natural that the user must switch the function of how to use the digital electronic camera. In other words, when photographing and transmitting, it is necessary to operate switches for that purpose, and when using as a videophone, the operation for that is also necessary. Therefore, the user must perform an operation according to the function, which is very troublesome.

  Furthermore, since it is a function that is not so much provided in conventional portable electronic devices, it is a function that is not provided in conventional portable electronic devices, so the user is not accustomed to the operation in terms of operability. Therefore, there is a problem that an efficient operation cannot be performed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use digital electronic camera that automatically recognizes a function mode according to a direction in which a photographing camera unit is currently directed in a digital electronic camera having a mobile phone or PHS function. There is to do.

  The present invention relates to an imaging unit that converts a subject image into an electrical signal by a solid-state imaging device, a storage unit that processes the electrical signal and stores it in a storage medium as image information, a communication circuit that performs data communication, and various types of information. In a digital electronic camera having a display circuit for displaying, a camera main body, a photographing camera with a photographing direction variably provided with respect to the camera main body, and a direction sensor for detecting the direction of the photographing camera When the direction sensor detects that the shooting camera unit is facing outward, the camera body unit functions as a shooting mode, and when the shooting camera unit detects that the shooting camera unit is facing inward. The camera main body functions as a video phone mode, and further, an image shot in the shooting mode or a user's own image displayed in the video phone mode. About the digital electronic camera is characterized in that to send by the communication circuitry.

  The present invention also provides an image pickup means for converting an object image into an electric signal by a solid-state image pickup device, a storage means for processing the electric signal and storing it in a storage medium as image information, a communication circuit for performing data communication, and various information In a digital electronic camera having a display circuit for displaying a camera body, a camera body, a shooting camera unit in which a shooting direction is variably provided with respect to the camera body, and a direction sensor for detecting the direction of the shooting camera unit And when the direction sensor detects that the photographing camera unit is facing outward, the camera main body can function as a photographing mode and an image photographed in the photographing mode can be transmitted by the communication circuit. When it is detected that the photographing camera unit is facing inward, the camera body unit functions as a videophone mode and An image of the user himself displayed on Levi telephone mode to a digital electronic camera which is characterized in that it has to be transmitted by the communication circuit.

  According to the above configuration, in a digital electronic camera having a function of a mobile phone or a PHS, the digital electronic camera is automatically set in accordance with the direction in which the photographing camera unit whose direction is variable with respect to the camera body unit is currently directed. Recognize and operate the function mode.

  According to the present invention, in a digital electronic camera having a mobile phone or PHS function, the digital electronic camera automatically recognizes the function mode according to the direction in which the shooting camera unit whose direction is variable is currently directed, An easy-to-use digital electronic camera that does not require the operating user to select a function mode can be realized.

  Embodiments of a digital electronic camera according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B are external views of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment of the digital electronic camera of the present invention.

  In the figure, 1 is a lens, 2 is an image sensor such as a CCD, 3 is a signal processing device for creating image information, 4 is a memory A for storing at least one piece of image information, and 5 is for displaying image information and character information. 6 is a memory B for storing image information for a plurality of images, 7 is a microcomputer for system management, 8 is an operation switch operated by a user, 9 is a microphone, and 10 is a camera camera unit 21 manually. 11 is a direction sensor that monitors the direction in which the photographing camera unit is currently facing, 12 is a communication circuit for performing communication, 13 is an antenna, 21 is a photographing camera unit, and 22 is a camera body. .

  A specific operation of the digital electronic camera configured as described above when an image is captured, when the captured image is communicated, and when the digital electronic camera functions as a videophone will be described below. At the time of shooting an image, the user turns the shooting camera unit 21 outward as shown in FIG. The direction sensor 11 recognizes that the photographing camera unit is currently directed outward. That is, the user informs the microcomputer 7 that the shooting mode is the shooting mode. Here, the direction sensor 11 is a known sensor that is mechanical, electrical, magnetic, or optical.

  Hereinafter, the digital electronic camera functions as a shooting mode under the control of the microcomputer 7. A subject imaged by the lens 1 is converted into an electric signal by an image pickup device 2 such as a CCD. The signal processing circuit 3 creates image information from the electrical signal and writes it in the memories A and 4. Here, in the photographing standby state, the image information is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5. The user takes a picture while confirming the image on the display of the liquid crystal monitor 5. When shooting is performed, the image information recorded in the image memories A and 4 is written in the memories B and 6 that store image information for a plurality of sheets. An image is captured as described above.

  When the captured image is transmitted, the thumbnail image of the image information recorded in the memories B and 6 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5 via the memories A and 4. The user selects an image to be transmitted according to the display on the liquid crystal monitor 5. Only the selected image is written in the memories A and 4 as a full-size image. Then, it is transmitted to a remote place by the communication circuit 12 and the antenna 13. Similarly, when an image is received, it is recorded in the memories B and 6 via the antenna 13, the communication circuit 12, and the memories A and 4. Image communication is performed as described above.

  When used as a video phone, as shown in FIG. 1B, the user turns the photographing camera unit 21 inward. The direction sensor 11 recognizes that the photographing camera unit 21 is currently directed inward, that is, the user intends to use it as a videophone, and informs the microcomputer 7 that it is in the videophone mode. Hereinafter, the digital electronic camera functions as a videophone mode under the control of the microcomputer 7. A user's own image formed by the lens 1 is converted into an electric signal by an image pickup device 2 such as a CCD. The signal processing circuit 3 creates image information from the electrical signal and writes it in the memories A and 4. On the other hand, the image of the other user received by the antenna 13 and the communication circuit 12 is also written in the memories A and 4. Further, the images of the user himself and the other user written in the memories A and 4 are displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5. By using the microphone 9 while confirming the display on the liquid crystal monitor 5, the user himself and the other user can use it as a videophone. As described above, it is used as a video phone.

  According to the present invention, in a digital electronic camera having a mobile phone or PHS function, the digital electronic camera automatically recognizes the function mode according to the direction in which the shooting camera unit whose direction is variable is currently directed, An easy-to-use digital electronic camera that does not require the operating user to select a function mode can be realized.

1 is an external view of an embodiment of a digital electronic camera of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the structure in the Example of the digital electronic camera of this invention

Explanation of symbols

1 Lens 2 CCD
3 Signal processing circuit 4 Memory A
5 LCD monitor 6 Memory B
7 Microcomputer 8 Operation switch 9 Microphone 10 Hinge 11 Direction sensor 12 Communication circuit 13 Antenna 21 Camera unit 22 Camera body unit

Claims (2)

Imaging means for converting a subject image into an electrical signal by a solid-state imaging device, storage means for processing the electrical signal and storing it in a storage medium as image information, a communication circuit for performing data communication, and a display circuit for displaying various information In a digital electronic camera having
A camera body, a shooting camera unit in which a shooting direction is variably provided with respect to the camera body, and a direction sensor that detects the direction of the shooting camera unit;
When the direction sensor detects that the photographing camera unit is facing outward, the camera body unit functions as a photographing mode, and when the direction sensor detects that the photographing camera unit is facing inward, Let the camera body function as a videophone mode,
Furthermore, the digital electronic camera is characterized in that an image taken in the photographing mode or a user's own image displayed in the videophone mode can be transmitted by the communication circuit. Imaging means for converting a subject image into an electrical signal by a solid-state imaging device, storage means for processing the electrical signal and storing it in a storage medium as image information, a communication circuit for performing data communication, and a display circuit for displaying various information In a digital electronic camera having
A camera body, a shooting camera unit in which a shooting direction is variably provided with respect to the camera body, and a direction sensor that detects the direction of the shooting camera unit;
When the direction sensor detects that the shooting camera unit is facing outward, the camera body unit functions as a shooting mode and enables the communication circuit to transmit an image shot in the shooting mode.
When it is detected that the photographing camera unit is facing inward, the camera body unit functions as a videophone mode, and the user's own image displayed in the videophone mode can be transmitted by the communication circuit. A digital electronic camera characterized by that.

Images