JP2005252867A - Electronic camera, image transfer method, and unused channel detecting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and a method for easily appreciating and printing an electronic image. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic camera 1 has a memory part 9 for storing electronic images, a controller 6 for performing processes of converting the electronic images into a video image signals of a television 2, of generating a control signal for controlling the television 2, of detecting an unassigned channel where no television broadcast takes place or the like, an infrared transmission part 14 for wirelessly transmitting the generated control signal in a specified direction; a television wave transmitting part 15 for wirelessly transmitting the converted video image signal using the frequency of the unassigned channel which has been detected, and so on. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for facilitating viewing and printing of electronic images.

In recent years, the spread of electronic cameras has been remarkably used by many people.
In general, viewing and printing of an electronic image (electronic data representing an image) obtained by photographing with an electronic camera is performed using a personal computer (PC). In this case, for example, an electronic camera and a PC are connected via a cable such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus), and the electronic image can be viewed by software such as image browsing that operates on the PC. An electronic image can be printed by connecting a printer.

Electronic images can also be viewed using a television receiver (television). In this case, the electronic camera and the television can be connected via a video cable, and an electronic image can be displayed on the television screen.
In addition, there is a type in which an electronic camera and a printer are directly connected via a cable to enable direct printing of an electronic image.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a surveillance camera system in which a television receiver receives a video signal transmitted wirelessly from a surveillance camera. The television receiver detects a vacant channel and monitors vacant channel information. An empty channel is set for the monitoring camera based on the empty channel information, and the television receiver receives a video signal wirelessly transmitted from the monitoring camera using the set empty channel and displays the video on the monitor. The system is described.
JP 2000-125279 A

  By the way, although the number of users of electronic cameras has increased, some of them include those who are unfamiliar with the handling of IT (Information Technology) devices such as PCs and printers. For these persons, the connection with the PC and the handling of the software are not simple, and it is difficult to view and print electronic images.

  In addition, when viewing electronic images, the system described in Patent Document 1 may be applied. In this system, a television with a special configuration is used instead of a television receiver with a general configuration. Since John's receiver is required, the application range is limited. For example, the application cannot be applied in consideration of the case where the user tries to reproduce data obtained by photographing with an electronic camera in an unspecified place such as a travel destination.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method capable of easily viewing and printing an electronic image.

  To achieve the above object, an electronic camera according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image storage means for storing an electronic image, a conversion means for converting the electronic image into a video signal of a television receiver, Control signal generation means for generating a control signal for controlling the television receiver, first transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the control signal generated by the control signal generation means in a specific direction, and television broadcasting are performed. Vacant channel detection means for detecting an unused channel, and second transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the video signal converted by the conversion means using the frequency of the vacant channel detected by the vacant channel detection means. Have.

  According to the above configuration, a vacant channel is detected, a control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to the vacant channel is wirelessly transmitted, and a video signal related to an electronic image is wirelessly transmitted using the frequency of the vacant channel. By transmitting, an electronic image can be displayed on the display screen of the television receiver.

  The electronic camera according to a second aspect of the present invention is the electronic camera according to the first aspect, wherein the empty channel detecting means includes a receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal, and a television received by the receiving means. A signal strength detecting means for detecting the signal strength of the broadcast signal, and a vacant channel in which a channel related to a television broadcast signal when the signal strength detected by the signal strength detecting means is equal to or less than a predetermined strength is stored as the vacant channel Channel storage means, and empty channel selection means for selecting one empty channel from the empty channels stored in the empty channel storage means, wherein the control signal generating means is a channel of the television receiver. For switching to an empty channel selected by the empty channel selecting means. Generating a Lumpur signal is intended.

According to this configuration, when the signal strength of the received television broadcast signal is equal to or lower than the predetermined strength, the channel of the television broadcast signal is detected as an empty channel.
The electronic camera according to a third aspect of the present invention is the electronic camera according to the first aspect, wherein the empty channel detecting means includes a receiving means for receiving a signal from the television receiver, and the television receiver. Signal strength detecting means for detecting a signal strength of a signal of a predetermined frequency received by the receiving means after the control signal for switching the channel to a specific channel is wirelessly transmitted by the first transmitting means, and the signal An empty channel storage means for storing the specific channel as the empty channel when the signal intensity detected by the intensity detection means is not more than a predetermined intensity, and an empty channel stored in the empty channel storage means Empty channel selecting means for selecting one empty channel, and generating the control signal Stage produces a control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver in the empty channel selected by the vacant channel selection means, is intended.

  According to this configuration, when the signal strength of a signal having a predetermined frequency received from the television receiver is wirelessly transmitted after the control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to the specific channel is wirelessly transmitted. The specific channel is detected as an empty channel.

  The electronic camera according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the electronic camera according to the first aspect, wherein the empty channel detecting means is received by the receiving means for receiving a signal from the television receiver, and received by the receiving means. Frequency detecting means for detecting the frequency of the received signal, channel specifying means for specifying the channel corresponding to the frequency detected by the frequency detecting means, and the channel specified by the channel specifying means are stored as the empty channel. Empty channel storage means, and empty channel selection means for selecting one empty channel from the empty channels stored in the empty channel storage means, and the control signal generating means includes the television receiver. An empty channel selected by the empty channel selecting means Generating a control signal for switching is intended.

According to this configuration, for example, the channel corresponding to the frequency of the signal received from the television receiver after the user switched the channel of the television receiver to an empty channel is specified, and the specified channel is detected as an empty channel. Is done.
The electronic camera according to a fifth aspect of the present invention further includes display means in the first aspect described above, and the empty channel detecting means is a region code and a region specified by the region code. A channel database that stores channel information related to a channel on which television broadcasting is performed or channel information related to a channel on which television broadcasting is not performed in the region specified by the region code, and stored in the channel database A region selection unit that selects a region code that has been set, and a free channel determination unit that searches the channel database based on the region code selected by the region selection unit to determine one free channel, The display means corresponds to the area corresponding to the area code stored in the channel database. Displays, said control signal generating means generates a control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver in the empty channels determined by the empty channel determining means is intended.

According to this configuration, by designating the region where the user exists from among the regions displayed on the display means, the corresponding channel information is retrieved from the channel database, and an empty channel is found based on the channel information. Detected.
An electronic camera according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an object and obtains an electronic image, an image storage unit that stores an electronic image obtained by the imaging unit, and a television that stores the electronic image. Conversion means for converting to a video signal of a receiver, control signal generation means for generating a control signal for controlling the television receiver, and wireless transmission of the control signal generated by the control signal generation means in a specific direction First transmission means, empty channel detection means for detecting an empty channel on which television broadcasting is not performed based on the electronic image obtained by the imaging means, and an empty channel detected by the empty channel detection means The second transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the video signal converted by the conversion means using the frequency of It has a.

  According to the above configuration, the image pickup means picks up the display screen of the television receiver, detects an empty channel based on the obtained electronic image, and controls the channel of the television receiver to switch to the empty channel. By wirelessly transmitting a signal and wirelessly transmitting a video signal related to the electronic image using the frequency of the vacant channel, the electronic image can be displayed on the display screen of the television receiver.

  The electronic camera according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the electronic camera according to the sixth aspect, wherein the empty channel detecting means has a control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to a specific channel. Obtained by imaging signal generation means for generating an imaging command signal for performing imaging by the imaging means once or a plurality of times after being wirelessly transmitted by one transmission means, and imaging performed in accordance with the imaging command signal Empty channel determination means for determining whether or not the specific channel is an empty channel based on one or a plurality of electronic images obtained by photographing the display screen of the television receiver, and the empty channel An empty channel in which the specific channel is stored as an empty channel when the determination unit determines that the channel is an empty channel. Storage means, and empty channel selection means for selecting one empty channel from the empty channels stored in the empty channel storage means, and the control signal generating means selects the channel of the television receiver. A control signal for switching to an empty channel selected by the empty channel selection means is generated.

  According to this configuration, after the control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to a specific channel is transmitted, the display screen of the television receiver is imaged by the imaging means, and the obtained electronic image is used. It is determined whether or not the specific channel is an empty channel, and the specific channel when it is determined to be an empty channel is detected as an empty channel.

  The electronic camera according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the electronic device according to the seventh aspect described above, wherein the empty channel determination means includes an image extraction means for extracting two electronic images from the plurality of electronic images; Correlation value calculation means for calculating a correlation value between two electronic images extracted by the image extraction means, and the specific channel is an empty channel based on the correlation value calculated by the correlation value calculation means Whether or not.

According to this configuration, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned specific channel is an empty channel based on the correlation value between two electronic images obtained by photographing the display screen of the television receiver.
The electronic camera according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the image extraction according to the seventh aspect, wherein the empty channel determining means extracts one electronic image from the one or more electronic images. And a spatial frequency distribution determining unit that determines a spatial frequency distribution of the electronic image extracted by the image extracting unit, and the specific channel is an empty channel based on a determination result by the spatial frequency distribution determining unit. It is what determines whether there exists.

According to this configuration, the spatial frequency distribution of one electronic image obtained by photographing the display screen of the television receiver is determined, and based on the determination result, it is determined whether or not the specific channel is an empty channel. A determination is made.
The image transmission method according to the tenth aspect of the present invention detects a vacant channel in which television broadcasting is not performed, generates a control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to the detected vacant channel, The generated control signal is wirelessly transmitted in a specific direction, and the video signal related to the electronic image converted into the video signal of the television receiver is wirelessly transmitted using the detected frequency of the empty channel.

According to the above method, an electronic image can be displayed on the display screen of the television receiver in the same manner as described in the first aspect.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image transmission method that performs one or more acquisitions of an electronic image by imaging after wirelessly transmitting a control signal for switching a channel of a television receiver to a specific channel, Whether or not the specific channel is an empty channel on which television broadcasting is not performed, based on one or a plurality of electronic images obtained by capturing images of the display screen of the television receiver. Determining and generating a control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to the specific channel when it is determined by the determination that the channel is an empty channel, and wirelessly transmitting the generated control signal in a specific direction. , Using the frequency of the specific channel when it is determined by the determination that the channel is an empty channel, A video signal according to the serial electronic image converted to a video signal of the television receiver wirelessly transmits.

According to the above method, an electronic image can be displayed on the display screen of the television receiver in the same manner as described in the seventh aspect.
An empty channel detection method according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention receives a television broadcast signal, detects the signal strength of the received television broadcast signal, and the detected signal strength is equal to or less than a predetermined strength. The channel related to the television broadcast signal is detected as an empty channel in which the television broadcast is not performed.

According to the above method, the empty channel is detected in the same manner as described in the second aspect.
An empty channel detection method according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention wirelessly transmits a control signal for switching a channel of a television receiver to a specific channel and receives a signal of a predetermined frequency from the television receiver. Then, the signal strength of the received signal is detected, and the specific channel when the detected signal strength is equal to or lower than a predetermined strength is detected as an empty channel in which television broadcasting is not performed.

According to the above method, the empty channel is detected in the same manner as described in the third aspect.
An empty channel detection method according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention wirelessly transmits a control signal for switching a channel of a television receiver to a specific channel, receives a signal from the television receiver, and receives the signal. The frequency of the detected signal is detected, the channel corresponding to the detected frequency is specified, and the specified channel is detected as an empty channel in which television broadcasting is not performed.

According to the above method, the empty channel is detected in the same manner as described in the fourth aspect.
An empty channel detection method according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention wirelessly transmits a control signal for switching a television receiver channel to a specific channel, and obtains an electronic image by imaging a plurality of times. The obtained two electronic images are extracted from a plurality of electronic images obtained by photographing the display screen of the television receiver, the correlation value of the two extracted electronic images is calculated, and the calculated correlation value Based on the above, it is determined whether or not the specific channel is an empty channel on which television broadcasting is not performed, and the specific channel when it is determined that the specific channel is an empty channel is detected as an empty channel. .

According to the above method, the empty channel is detected as described in the eighth aspect.
An empty channel detection method according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention wirelessly transmits a control signal for switching a channel of a television receiver to a specific channel, and obtains an electronic image by imaging once or a plurality of times. Extracting one electronic image from one or a plurality of electronic images obtained by capturing the image of the display screen of the television receiver, determining the spatial frequency distribution of the extracted electronic image, Based on the result of the determination, it is determined whether or not the specific channel is an empty channel on which television broadcasting is not performed, and the specific channel when it is determined that the specific channel is an empty channel is determined as an empty channel. Detect as.

  According to the above method, the empty channel is detected as described in the ninth aspect.

  According to the present invention, anyone can easily view and print electronic images.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of Embodiment 1 according to the present invention.
In this embodiment, the electronic camera 1 has a function of receiving a television broadcast radio wave transmitted from the radio tower 3 ((a) in the figure) in addition to a function as a normal camera, and a received television broadcast. A function for extracting a television broadcast signal of a specific television broadcast channel (hereinafter simply referred to as “channel”) from the radio wave, and detecting an empty channel where the television broadcast is not performed based on the signal strength ((( b)), a remote control function ((c) in the figure) for remotely controlling a television receiver (hereinafter simply referred to as “TV”) 2, and a video signal related to the photographed image using the detected frequency of the empty channel. A function for wireless transmission ((d) in the figure) is provided. The photographed image refers to an electronic image (electronic data representing an image) obtained by photographing with the electronic camera 1.

  As a result, the electronic camera 1 receives the television broadcast radio wave and detects a vacant channel, then controls the TV 2 to turn on the power of the TV 2 and sets the channel of the TV 2 to the vacant channel. Subsequently, the video signal related to the photographed image is wirelessly transmitted to the television 2 using the frequency of the empty channel, so that the photographed image can be displayed on the display screen of the television 2. Therefore, the user can easily view the captured image.

  On the other hand, the television 2 is a normal television, and is a device that receives television broadcast radio waves and performs video display and audio reproduction based on a television broadcast signal of a specific channel. A video printer 4 and an HD (Hard Disc) recorder 5 are connected to the television 2 so that the scene displayed on the display screen of the television 2 can be printed or recorded as necessary. Therefore, the user can easily print and record the captured image displayed on the display screen of the television 2.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the electronic camera 1 and the television 2 according to the first embodiment.
The electronic camera 1 includes a CPU, a memory in which a control program is stored, and the like. The controller 6 controls the overall operation of the electronic camera 1 by reading and executing the control program. An input unit 7 that inputs various instructions such as an instruction (shutter instruction) and a reproduction instruction, an imaging unit 8 that captures an image of a subject and obtains an electronic image, a storage unit 9 that stores the obtained electronic image, and an electronic image And the like, a radio wave receiving unit 11 that receives television broadcast radio waves, a television broadcast signal of a specific channel is extracted from the received television broadcast radio waves, and its signal intensity is detected, A signal strength determination unit 12 that determines whether or not the signal strength is equal to or lower than a predetermined strength, and a television set when the determination result is determined to be equal to or lower than the predetermined strength. There is directivity for wirelessly transmitting a control signal for remote control of the television 2 generated by the controller 6 using infrared rays in a specific direction using infrared rays. The electronic image converted into the video signal of the television 2 by the controller 6 by using the frequency of one empty channel selected from the empty channels stored in the infrared transmission unit 14 and the empty channel storage unit 13. A TV radio wave transmission unit 15 for wirelessly transmitting the video signal is included.

Note that the television radio wave transmission unit 15 wirelessly transmits a video signal using the frequency of one vacant channel, and thus can be said to transmit a so-called television broadcast radio wave.
On the other hand, the television 2 includes a CPU, a memory in which a control program is stored, and the like, and the CPU 16 reads and executes the control program so that the operation of the entire television 2 is controlled. An infrared receiver 17 that receives a control signal for controlling the television 2, a TV power supply 18 that turns on / off the power supply to each part of the television 2, and a television radio receiver 19 that receives a television broadcast radio wave. A tuner 20 that extracts a television broadcast signal of a specific channel from the television broadcast radio wave and obtains a video signal and an audio signal, a display unit 21 that displays the video signal, a speaker 22 that reproduces the audio signal, and the like. .

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the electronic camera 1 and the television 2 according to the first embodiment.
First, in the electronic camera 1, it is determined whether the set mode is the shooting mode or the playback mode (step (hereinafter simply referred to as “S”) 1). If the mode is the shooting mode, the process proceeds to S2. When it is in the reproduction mode, the process proceeds to S6.

  Here, when the mode is the shooting mode (S1 is shooting), when the input unit 7 inputs a shooting instruction in response to the user pressing the shutter button (S2), the imaging unit 8 performs shooting (S3). ) And the obtained electronic image is stored in the storage unit 9 (S4). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not to end the operation by detecting an ON / OFF switch of the power source or the like (S5). If the determination result is Yes, the operation is ended, and if it is No, S1 is ended. Return to.

On the other hand, when the mode is the playback mode (S1 is playback), it is subsequently determined whether the playback destination set in the electronic camera 1 is the display unit 10 or the television 2 (S6). When it is 10, the process proceeds to S7, and when it is the television 2, the process proceeds to S12.
Here, when the playback destination is the display unit 10 (S6 is the display unit), the electronic image stored in the storage unit 9 is selected in response to the user's image selection instruction (S7), and the selected electronic An image is acquired from the storage unit 9 (S8), and the display unit 10 displays the acquired electronic image (S9). In subsequent S10, the same processing as in S5 described above is performed.

  On the other hand, when the reproduction destination is the television 2 (S6 is a television), the processing of S11 and the processing of S12 and S13 are performed in parallel. Although details will be described later in S11, an empty channel is automatically detected, the detected empty channel is determined as a transmission channel to be used in the subsequent transmission in S14, and the power of the television 2 is turned on. The control signal for wirelessly transmitting the control signal for switching the TV 2 to the detected empty channel is transmitted to the TV 2 by wireless transmission to the TV 2 to wirelessly transmit the control signal of TV 2 to the TV 2. Processing such as switching to a channel is performed.

In S12 and S13, the same processing as S7 and S8 described above is performed.
In this example, the processing of S11 and the processing of S12 and S13 are performed in parallel, but these may be performed directly.
Subsequently, the electronic image acquired in S13 is converted into a video signal of the television 2, and the TV radio wave transmission unit 15 wirelessly transmits the video signal using the frequency of the transmission channel determined in S11 (S14). Thus, the television radio wave transmission unit 15 has transmitted a so-called television broadcast radio wave. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not to end the operation by detecting an ON / OFF switch of the power source (S15). If the determination result is Yes, the operation is ended, and if it is No, S11 is ended. And return to S12.

  On the other hand, in the television 2, when the infrared receiver 17 receives the control signal transmitted from the electronic camera 1 in S 11 for turning on the power of the television 2, the TV power supply 18 supplies power to each part of the television 2. Is turned on, and the TV 2 is turned on. Subsequently, when the infrared receiver 17 receives a control signal for switching the channel of the television 2 to an empty channel, similarly transmitted from the electronic camera 1 in S11, the channel of the television 2 is switched to the empty channel and set. (S16).

  Subsequently, when the television radio wave reception unit 19 receives the television broadcast radio wave transmitted from the electronic camera 1 in S14 (S17), the video signal related to the electronic image is acquired from the television broadcast radio wave (S18). The display unit 21 displays the video signal (S19). Thereby, an electronic image is displayed on the display unit 21 of the television 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing in detail the processing operation of S11 described above.
In this flow, first, among all the channels that can be set, one channel that has not been set in this step is set (S20), and a television broadcast radio wave is received (S21). Subsequently, the television broadcast signal of the channel set in S20 is taken out from the received television broadcast radio wave, the signal strength is detected, and it is determined whether the signal strength is equal to or higher than a predetermined strength (S22). If the determination result is Yes, the process returns to S20. If the determination result is No, the channel set in S20 is stored in the empty channel storage unit 13 as an empty channel (S23).

  In this example, it is determined whether or not the signal strength of the television broadcast signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined strength. If the signal strength is equal to or higher than the predetermined strength, the channel on which the television broadcast is performed is determined. If it is not equal to or higher than the predetermined strength, the channel is determined to be an empty channel on which the television broadcast is not performed, but it is determined whether or not the signal strength of the television broadcast signal is equal to or lower than the predetermined strength. When the intensity is less than or equal to a predetermined intensity, the channel may be an empty channel where television broadcasting is not being performed, and when the intensity is not less than or equal to the predetermined intensity, the channel may be regarded as a channel where television broadcasting is being performed. it can.

  When S23 ends, it is then determined whether or not all settable channels have been set in S20 (S24). If the determination result is No, the process returns to S20, and if Yes, an empty channel is determined. One empty channel selected from the empty channels stored in the storage unit 13 is determined as a channel (transmission channel) to be used for transmission by the TV radio wave transmission unit 15 (S25). Note that the transmission channel determined in this step is, for example, an empty channel stored in the empty channel storage unit 13 first.

  Subsequently, a control signal for turning on the power of the television 2 is generated, and the infrared transmission unit 4 wirelessly transmits the control signal (S26). Subsequently, the channel of the television 2 is changed to the transmission channel determined in S25. A control signal for switching is generated, and the infrared transmission unit 4 wirelessly transmits the control signal (S27). However, in the infrared transmission of S26 and S27, the directivity direction of the infrared transmission unit 4 is assumed to be directed to the infrared reception unit 17 of the television 2.

  According to the first embodiment, the electronic camera 1 receives a television broadcast radio wave, detects a vacant channel, and transmits a video signal related to a captured image to the television 2 using the frequency of the vacant channel. The photographed image can be displayed on the television 2. As a result, the user can easily view images taken by the electronic camera 1 on the television 2 and, if necessary, the video printer 4 and the HD recorder 5 connected to the television 2. It is also possible to print and record captured images.

  In addition, in the empty channel detection operation of the first embodiment, when one empty channel is detected, the empty channel can be determined as the transmission channel in S25.

In the present embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment is an empty channel detection method of the electronic camera 1.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram of Embodiment 2 according to the present invention.
In this embodiment, the electronic camera 1 does not have the function of receiving the television broadcast radio wave of the first embodiment, but has a function of receiving the leaked radio wave of the TV 2 ((e) in the figure) and is free. The channel detection function detects an empty channel based on the received leaked radio wave.

  As a result, the electronic camera 1 controls the television 2 to turn on the television 2 and switch the channel of the television 2 to a specific channel, and then receives a leaked radio wave generated from the television 2. It becomes possible to detect an empty channel based on the leaked radio wave.

FIG. 6A is a functional block diagram of the electronic camera 1 and the television 2 according to the second embodiment.
In the electronic camera 1 shown in FIG. 2A, the configuration different from that of the electronic camera 1 according to the first embodiment is that the television radio wave receiving unit 11 and the signal strength determining unit 12 shown in FIG. Leaked radio wave signal receiving unit 23 for receiving radio waves, and a leaked radio wave signal strength for taking out a signal of a certain intermediate frequency from the leaked radio waves, detecting the signal strength, and determining whether the signal strength is equal to or higher than a predetermined strength The point is that a determination unit 24 is provided. In the empty channel storage unit 13, the channel set in the television 2 when the leaked radio signal strength determination unit 24 determines that the signal strength of a certain intermediate frequency is equal to or higher than a predetermined strength is stored as a free channel. Become so.

On the other hand, the configuration of the television 2 according to the second embodiment is the same as that according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a partial configuration of the television 2, and is a diagram illustrating the leaked radio wave received by the leaked radio wave receiving unit 23. The configuration shown in FIG. 2B is a partial configuration of a normal television.

  In the example of FIG. 6B, the high frequency amplifier 26 passes and amplifies the signal of the frequency of the channel set in the television 2 out of the RF (Radio Frequency) signal input from the antenna 25, and the mixer To 27. On the other hand, the local oscillator 28 outputs an oscillation signal having a frequency corresponding to the channel set in the television 2 to the mixer 27. The mixer 27 mixes the output signal of the high frequency amplifier 26 and the oscillation signal from the local oscillator 28, and outputs an intermediate frequency signal (so-called IF (Intermediate Frequency) signal). The filter 29 passes only a signal of a certain intermediate frequency that is a difference signal among the output signals of the mixer 27. The intermediate frequency amplification unit 30 amplifies the signal that has passed through the filter 29 and outputs the amplified signal to the demodulation unit 31. The demodulator 31 demodulates the output signal of the intermediate frequency amplifier 30 and acquires a video signal and an audio signal.

  In such a configuration, assuming that the output signal of the high frequency amplifier 26 is f1 and the oscillation signal from the local oscillator 28 is f2, the signal passing through the filter 29 is a signal having a constant intermediate frequency that becomes a difference signal. It becomes f1-f2. Here, when the television broadcast is performed on the channel set in the television 2, the difference signal f1-f2 passes through the filter 29, and a signal having a certain intermediate frequency is transmitted to the intermediate frequency. When the television broadcast is not performed on the channel, the signal of the frequency of the channel is only noise and the output signal of the high frequency amplifier 26 is almost zero. As a result, the difference signal f 1 −f 2 does not pass through the filter 29 and is not input to the intermediate frequency amplifier 30.

  Therefore, the electronic camera 1 according to the present embodiment uses such a phenomenon to receive a leaked radio wave generated by a signal having a constant intermediate frequency that passes through the filter 29, and from the leaked radio wave, the constant intermediate frequency. These signals are extracted, the signal strength is detected, and it is determined whether or not the signal strength is equal to or higher than a predetermined strength, thereby detecting an empty channel in which television broadcasting is not performed.

Next, operations of the electronic camera 1 and the television 2 according to the present embodiment will be described.
As described above, the operation according to the present embodiment is different from the operation according to the first embodiment in the empty channel detection operation. That is, the contents of the processing operation of S11 related to the empty channel detection among the operations shown in FIG. 3 are different. Therefore, here, the processing operation of S11 according to the second embodiment and the operation of the television 2 associated therewith will be described, and description of other processing operations will be omitted.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation of S11 according to the second embodiment and the operation of the television 2 associated therewith.
In this flow, first, in the electronic camera 1, the controller 6 generates a control signal for turning on the power of the television 2, and the infrared transmission unit 14 wirelessly transmits the control signal (S31). On the other hand, in the television 2, when the infrared receiver 17 receives the control signal, the TV power supply 18 turns on the power supply to each part of the television 2, and the power of the television 2 is turned on (S32).

  After S31, in the electronic camera 1, the controller 6 sets one channel that has not been set in this step among all the settable channels (S33), and sets the channel of the television 2 in S33. A control signal for switching to the channel is generated, and the infrared transmission unit 14 wirelessly transmits the control signal (S34). On the other hand, in the television 2, when the infrared receiver 17 receives the control signal, the controller 16 switches the channel of the television 2 to a channel corresponding to the received control signal (S35).

  Subsequently, in the electronic camera 1, the leaked radio wave receiving unit 23 receives the leaked radio wave from the television 2 (S36), and extracts a signal of a certain intermediate frequency that passes through the filter 29 from the leaked radio wave to obtain a signal intensity. Is detected, and it is determined whether or not the signal intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined intensity (S37). If the determination result is Yes, the process returns to S33, and if the determination result is No, the process returns to S33. The channel set by the above process is stored in the empty channel storage unit 13 as an empty channel (S38).

  In this example, it is determined whether or not the signal strength is equal to or higher than a predetermined strength. When the signal strength is equal to or higher than the predetermined strength, the channel is set as a channel on which television broadcasting is performed. When the channel strength is not higher than the predetermined strength, the channel is determined to be an empty channel where television broadcasting is not performed, but it is determined whether or not the signal strength is lower than the predetermined strength, and the signal strength is lower than the predetermined strength. In addition, the channel may be an empty channel on which television broadcasting is not performed, and if it is not less than a predetermined intensity, the channel may be a channel on which television broadcasting is performed.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not all settable channels have been set (S39). If the determination result is No, the process returns to S33, and if Yes, the process proceeds to S40.
In subsequent S40 to S42, the same processing as S25 to S27 of FIG. 3 described above is performed.
According to the second embodiment described above, the electronic camera 1 detects a vacant channel by extracting a signal of a certain intermediate frequency from the leaked radio wave received from the television 2 and detecting its signal intensity, and the frequency of the vacant channel is determined. By transmitting the video signal related to the captured image to the television 2 by using it, the captured image can be displayed on the television 2. As a result, the user can easily view images taken by the electronic camera 1 on the television 2.

  In the empty channel detection operation of the second embodiment, when one empty channel is detected, the empty channel can be determined as the transmission channel in S40.

  In the present embodiment, the difference from the first or second embodiment is an empty channel detection method of the electronic camera 1. Although the empty channel detection method according to the third embodiment is different from that according to the first embodiment, it is the same as the second embodiment in that a leaked radio wave from the television 2 is received and an empty channel is detected. However, the second embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that a leaked radio wave to be received is a leaked radio wave from the local oscillation unit 28.

FIG. 8A is a functional block diagram of the electronic camera 1 and the television 2 according to the third embodiment.
In the electronic camera 1 shown in FIG. 6A, the configuration different from that of the electronic camera 1 according to the second embodiment includes the infrared transmitter 14, the leaked radio wave receiver 23, and the leaked radio signal strength determination unit 24 shown in FIG. Instead of having, the local oscillation leakage radio wave reception unit 32 that receives the leakage radio wave of the local oscillation unit 28, the leakage radio frequency detection unit 33 that detects the frequency of the received leakage radio wave, and the channel from the detected frequency of the leakage radio wave It is a point provided with a channel specifying unit 34 for specifying. In the empty channel storage unit 13, the channel specified by the channel specifying unit 34 is stored as an empty channel.

  On the other hand, the configuration of the television 2 according to the third embodiment is basically the same as that according to the second embodiment, but in FIG. 8 (a), the infrared receiver 17 is not shown and the user's A channel setting unit 35 for setting the channel according to the operation is clearly shown. In this embodiment, the television 2 may or may not have a remote control function as long as the user can freely switch the channel of the television 2.

FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a partial configuration of the television 2 and is a diagram for explaining the leaked radio wave received by the local oscillation leaky radio wave receiving unit 32.
Since the configuration of FIG. 6B is the same as that shown in FIG. 6B, a detailed description is omitted. However, when the channel setting unit 35 sets a channel according to the channel operation of the user, As described above, the local oscillator 28 outputs an oscillation signal having a frequency corresponding to the set channel to the mixer 27. As a result, a leaked radio wave corresponding to the oscillation signal is radiated from the local oscillation unit 28.

  Therefore, the electronic camera 1 according to the present embodiment uses such a phenomenon, and after the user sets a channel on the television 2 where a television broadcast is not performed while viewing the display screen of the television 2, By detecting the leaked radio wave from the local oscillation unit 28, detecting the frequency of the leaked radio wave, and specifying the channel corresponding to the frequency, an empty channel in which television broadcasting is not performed is detected. Is.

Next, operations of the electronic camera 1 and the television 2 according to the present embodiment will be described.
As described above, the operation according to the present embodiment is different from the operation according to the second embodiment in the empty channel detection operation. That is, the contents of the processing operation of S11 related to the empty channel detection among the operations shown in FIG. 3 are different. Therefore, here, the processing operation of S11 according to the third embodiment and the operation of the television 2 associated therewith will be described, and description of other processing operations will be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation of S11 according to the third embodiment and the operation of the television 2 associated therewith.
In this flow, after the electronic camera 1 is placed near the television 2 by the user, first, the television 2 is turned on in response to the user's operation in the television 2 (S46), and the channel setting unit 35 is turned on. Sets a channel according to the user's operation (S47). However, here, it is assumed that the user operates the television 2 so as to set a channel on which television broadcasting is not performed.

As a result, the local oscillating unit 28 radiates a leaked radio wave corresponding to the oscillation signal having a frequency corresponding to the channel set in S47 (S48).
On the other hand, in the electronic camera, the local oscillation leakage radio wave reception unit 32 receives the leakage radio wave from the local oscillation unit 28 of the television 2 (S49), and the leakage radio frequency detection unit detects the frequency of the received leakage radio wave (S50). ), The channel specifying unit specifies the channel corresponding to the detected frequency (S51).

In the present embodiment, the electronic camera 1 has information indicating the correspondence between the channel and the frequency related to the oscillation signal output from the local oscillation unit 28 in advance, and the channel specifying unit is based on this information. Reference numeral 34 designates a channel.
Subsequently, the channel specified in S51 is stored as an empty channel in the empty channel storage unit 13 (S52), and the empty channel is determined as a channel (transmission channel) to be used for transmission by the TV radio wave transmission unit 15. (S53).

  In the present embodiment, since the user has already set the power source of the TV 2 and the setting of the empty channel for which the television broadcast is not performed in the above-described S46 and S47, after the S53, This flow is finished without performing the process related to power ON or switching to an empty channel (the processes in S26 and S27 in FIG. 4 or S41 and S42 in FIG. 7). Accordingly, the process of S16 in FIG. 3 is not performed.

  According to the third embodiment described above, the electronic camera 1 detects a vacant channel by detecting the frequency of the leaked radio wave received from the local oscillation unit 28 of the television 2 and uses the frequency of the vacant channel as a captured image. By transmitting such a video signal to the television 2, a captured image can be displayed on the television 2. As a result, the user can easily view images taken by the electronic camera 1 on the television 2.

In the present embodiment, the difference from the first, second, or third embodiment is an empty channel detection method of the electronic camera 1.
FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of Embodiment 4 according to the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the electronic camera 1 does not have the function of receiving the television broadcast radio wave of the first embodiment or the function of receiving the leaked radio wave from the television 2 of the second or third embodiment. A channel database ((f) in the figure) in which channel information is stored is provided, and the empty channel detection function detects an empty channel from channel information corresponding to a region selected according to a user instruction. is there.

Thus, the electronic camera 1 acquires channel information corresponding to the region selected according to the instruction from the channel database when the region where the user exists is instructed by the user, and acquires an empty channel from the channel information. It becomes possible to detect.
FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of the electronic camera 1 and the television 2 according to the fourth embodiment.

  In the electronic camera 1 of the figure, the configuration different from that of the electronic camera 1 according to the first embodiment is not provided with the TV radio wave reception unit 11 and the signal strength determination unit 12 of FIG. A channel DB (database) 36 in which channel information corresponding to the region code is stored is provided. Note that the channel information stored in the channel DB 36 is channel information indicating an empty channel on which television broadcasting is not performed, or channel information indicating channels on which television broadcasting is being performed and all channels.

On the other hand, the configuration of the television 2 according to the fourth embodiment is the same as that according to the first embodiment.
Next, operations of the electronic camera 1 and the television 2 according to the present embodiment will be described.
As described above, the operation according to the present embodiment is different from the operation according to the first embodiment in the empty channel detection operation. That is, the contents of the processing operation of S11 related to the empty channel detection among the operations shown in FIG. 3 are different. Therefore, here, the processing operation of S11 according to the fourth embodiment will be described, and description of other processing operations will be omitted.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation of S11 according to the fourth embodiment. In this flow, first, a region code related to a region designated by the user is selected. In addition, the area instruction | indication by a user is performed by instruct | indicating a desired area from the area corresponding to the area code displayed on the display part 10, for example.

  Subsequently, the channel DB 36 is searched based on the selected region code, channel information corresponding to the selected region code is acquired from the channel DB 36 (S57), and television broadcasting is performed based on the acquired channel information. An empty channel that is not present is detected (acquired) (S58).

  In S58, if the detected channel information is channel information indicating an empty channel for which television broadcasting is not performed, the channel indicated in the channel information is detected as an empty channel. If the detected channel information is the channel information indicating the channel on which the television broadcast is being performed and all the channels, the channel on which the television broadcast is being performed indicated in the channel information. And all the remaining channels are detected from the remaining channels.

Subsequently, the empty channel detected in S58 is stored in the empty channel storage unit 13 (S59).
In subsequent S60 to S62, the same processing as S25 to S27 of FIG. 3 described above is performed.
According to the fourth embodiment described above, the electronic camera 1 acquires channel information corresponding to the region code related to the region designated by the user from the channel DB 36, detects an empty channel from the channel information, By transmitting the video signal related to the captured image to the television 2 using the frequency of one vacant channel, the captured image can be displayed on the television 2. As a result, the user can easily view images taken by the electronic camera 1 on the television 2.

  The electronic camera 1 according to the fourth embodiment acquires the corresponding channel information by designating the area by the user. For example, the electronic camera 1 can be used for a position detection function using GPS, a mobile phone, or the like. It is also possible to provide a position detection function that is mounted, specify a region based on the detected position information, and acquire corresponding channel information.

In the present embodiment, the difference from the first, second, third, or fourth embodiment is an empty channel detection method of the electronic camera 1.
FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram of Embodiment 5 according to the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the electronic camera 1 includes a function of receiving the television broadcast radio wave of the first embodiment, a function of receiving leaked radio waves from the television 2 of the second or third embodiment, and a channel database of the fourth embodiment. Instead, the image determination function ((g) in the figure) for determining whether the image obtained by photographing the display screen of the television 2 is an image when the television broadcast is not performed is provided. The empty channel detection function detects an empty channel based on the determination result by the image determination function.

  As a result, the electronic camera 1 controls the television 2 to turn on the television 2 and switch the channel of the television 2 to a specific channel. Subsequently, the electronic camera 1 photographs the display screen of the television 2 and shoots the image. By performing image determination of an image, it becomes possible to detect an empty channel based on the determination result.

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of the electronic camera 1 and the television 2 according to the fifth embodiment.
In the electronic camera 1 shown in the figure, the configuration different from that of the electronic camera 1 according to the first embodiment is that the TV 2 obtained by shooting is not provided with the TV radio wave reception unit 11 and the signal strength determination unit 12 shown in FIG. It is a point provided with the image determination part 37 which determines whether the image of a display screen is an image when television broadcasting is not performed. The empty channel storage unit 13 stores, as an empty channel, a channel set in the television 2 when the image determination unit 37 determines that the image is a television broadcast that is not being performed. It becomes like this.

On the other hand, the configuration of the television 2 according to the fifth embodiment is the same as that according to the first embodiment.
Next, operations of the electronic camera 1 and the television 2 according to the present embodiment will be described.
As described above, the operation according to the present embodiment is different from the operation according to the first embodiment in the empty channel detection operation. That is, the contents of the processing operation of S11 related to the empty channel detection among the operations shown in FIG. 3 are different. Therefore, here, the processing operation of S11 according to the fifth embodiment and the operation of the television 2 associated therewith will be described, and description of other processing operations will be omitted.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation of S11 according to the fifth embodiment and the operation of the television 2 associated therewith.
In this flow, first, in the electronic camera 1, the controller 6 generates a control signal for turning on the power of the television 2, and the infrared transmission unit 14 wirelessly transmits the control signal (S66). On the other hand, in the television 2, when the infrared receiver 17 receives the control signal, the TV power source 18 turns on the power supply to each part of the television 2, and the power of the television 2 is turned on (S67).

  After S66, in the electronic camera 1, the controller 6 sets one channel that has not been set in this step among all the settable channels (S68), and sets the channel of the television 2 in S68. A control signal for switching to the channel is generated, and the infrared transmission unit 14 wirelessly transmits the control signal (S69). On the other hand, in the television 2, when the infrared receiver 17 receives the control signal, the controller 16 switches the channel of the television 2 to a channel corresponding to the received control signal. Thereby, the display according to the switched channel is displayed on the display screen of the television 2 (S70). For example, when the switched channel is a channel on which television broadcasting is not performed, a so-called sandstorm display or a single color display such as blue or gray is performed.

  After S69, in the electronic camera 1, the controller 6 generates a shooting command signal for causing the imaging unit 8 to perform imaging once or a plurality of times, and the imaging unit 8 performs once or a plurality of times according to the shooting command signal. The one or a plurality of electronic images are acquired by performing the above imaging, and the obtained one or a plurality of electronic images are stored in the storage unit 9 (S71). However, in this step, when the imaging unit 8 performs imaging, imaging is performed in a state where the photographing lens of the electronic camera 1 is directed to the display screen of the television 2.

  Subsequently, the controller 6 selects one or a plurality of electronic images stored in the previous step, and the image determination unit 37 determines whether the selected electronic image is an image when the television broadcast is not performed. Such image determination is performed (S72). The image determination method performed in this step will be described later with reference to FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b).

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the image determination result is a determination result that is an image when no television broadcast is performed (an image in a no-signal state) (S73). If YES, the process returns to S68. If YES, the channel set in S68 is stored in the empty channel storage unit 13 as an empty channel (S74).

Subsequently, it is determined whether all settable channels have been set (S75). If the determination result is No, the process returns to S68, and if Yes, the process proceeds to S76.
In subsequent S76 to S78, the same processing as S25 to S27 of FIG. 3 described above is performed.
Next, the image determination method performed in S72 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b).

  16A and 16B are diagrams showing a configuration example of the image determination unit 37. FIG. (A) in the figure shows a configuration in which image determination is performed by obtaining a correlation value between electronic images, and (b) in the same figure performs image determination based on the spatial frequency distribution characteristics of the electronic image. The configuration shown in FIG. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, it is assumed that the storage unit 9 stores one or a plurality of electronic images photographed in S71 described above.

First, image determination performed by the image determination unit 37 of FIG.
In FIG. 5A, the image determination unit 37 includes a region selection unit 38, a correlation calculation unit 39, a correlation value memory 40, a peak detection unit 41, and a determination unit 42.
In such a configuration, when two electronic images read from the storage unit 9 are input to the region selection unit 37, the region selection unit 37 corresponds to the display screen portion of the television 2 in each input electronic image. A region is selected, and the selected region image is output to the correlation calculation unit 39. The correlation calculation unit 39 calculates a correlation value (for example, a luminance or brightness correlation value) between the selected selection area images. The calculated correlation value is stored in the correlation value memory 40. The peak detection unit 41 detects the peak of the correlation value from the correlation values stored in the correlation value memory 40 and outputs the detection result to the determination unit 42. Based on the detection result, the determination unit 42 determines whether the image is when the television broadcast is not performed.

  For example, in this case, the display screen of the television 2 when a vacant channel where television broadcasting is not performed is set is a so-called sandstorm-like display screen or a single color display screen such as blue. When two photographed electronic images are input to the image determination unit 37, no peak is detected from the correlation value between the selected region images at this time. Accordingly, in this case, the determination unit 42 determines that the image is an image when the television broadcast is not performed.

  On the other hand, when two electronic images obtained by photographing the display screen of the television 2 when the channel on which the television broadcast is performed are set are input to the image determination unit 37, the selected region image at this time A peak is detected from the correlation value between them. Therefore, in this case, the determination unit 42 determines that the image is when a television broadcast is being performed.

  However, even if two electronic images are captured on the display screen of the television 2 when the channel on which the television broadcast is performed is set, the selection area at this time is changed due to a scene change of the television broadcast. There is a possibility that a peak is not detected from the correlation value between images, and it is determined that the image is an image when television broadcasting is not performed.

  Therefore, in order to prevent this, the image determination by the image determination unit 37 is performed not only on one pair of images but also on a plurality of pairs of images, and correlation values of at least two or more pairs of images are determined. When the peak is not detected, it is possible to determine that the image is when the television broadcast is not performed.

In this example, the display screen of the television 2 when the television broadcast is not being performed is captured in advance to acquire the electronic image, and one of the two electronic images input to the region selection unit 38 is acquired. One can be an electronic image acquired in advance.
On the other hand, the image determination performed by the image determination unit 37 in FIG.

  In FIG. 6B, the image determination unit 37 includes an area selection unit 38, a plurality of band pass filters 43 (43-i (i = 1, 2,..., N)), and a plurality of integration units 44 (44). -I (i = 1, 2,..., N)) and a determination unit 45. For example, the band pass filter 43 passes a higher (or lower) spatial frequency component (luminance or brightness component) toward the band pass filter 43-1 to 43-N.

  In such a configuration, when the electronic image read from the storage unit 9 is input to the region selection unit 38, the region selection unit 38 selects a region corresponding to the display screen portion of the television 2 of the input electronic image. Then, the selected area image is input to a plurality of band pass filters 43. Each of the plurality of band-pass filters 43 passes a corresponding spatial frequency component. Each of the plurality of integrating units 44 integrates the spatial frequency component that has passed through the corresponding bandpass filter 43 and outputs the integrated value to the determining unit 45. The determination unit 45 determines whether or not the image is an image when the television broadcast is not performed, based on the integration value output from each of the plurality of integration units 44.

  For example, in this case, the display screen of the television 2 when a vacant channel where television broadcasting is not performed is set is a so-called sandstorm-like display screen or a single color display screen such as blue. When the captured electronic image is input to the image determination unit 37, the value of each integration value output from the plurality of integration units 44 is substantially constant. Therefore, in this case, the determination unit 45 determines that the image is an image when the television broadcast is not performed.

  On the other hand, when an electronic image obtained by photographing the display screen of the television 2 when a channel on which television broadcasting is performed is set is input to the image determination unit 37, it is output from the plurality of integration units 44. A difference occurs in each integral value. That is, the value becomes larger as the integrated value of the component having the lower spatial frequency, and the value becomes lower as the integrated value of the component having the higher spatial frequency. Therefore, in this case, the determination unit 45 determines that the image is a television broadcast.

  According to the fifth embodiment described above, the electronic camera 1 performs image determination of an electronic image obtained by photographing the display screen of the television 2 to detect a vacant channel, and uses the frequency of the vacant channel to generate a video signal related to the photographed image. Can be displayed on the television 2 by transmitting to the television 2. As a result, the user can easily view images taken by the electronic camera 1 on the television 2.

In the empty channel detection operation of the fifth embodiment, when one empty channel is detected, the empty channel can be determined as the transmission channel in S76.
By the way, in the first embodiment described above, the electronic camera 1 has a function of receiving television broadcast radio waves, a function of detecting an empty channel, a remote control function, a function of wirelessly transmitting a video signal using the frequency of the empty channel, and the like. It is the structure which included the provided information terminal device inside. Therefore, the information terminal device can be independent from the electronic camera 1.

FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram of the first embodiment in that case.
As shown in the figure, in this case, the information terminal device 1b acquires the electronic image transmitted from the electronic camera 1a and temporarily stores it in the internal storage unit. The electronic image transmitted from the electronic camera 1a to the information terminal device 1b is transmitted wirelessly or by wire. Or the electrical contact which the electronic camera 1a has, and the electrical contact which the information terminal device 1b contact directly, and an electronic image may be transmitted via both electrical contacts.

The operation of the information terminal device 1b after acquiring the electronic image and the operation of the television 2 associated therewith are the same as the operations performed after the reproduction destination is determined to be the television 2 in the determination result of S6 of FIG. Operation is performed.
Even with such a configuration, an image captured by the electronic camera 1 a can be easily viewed on the television 2.

  In the second or third embodiment described above, the electronic camera 1 wirelessly transmits a video signal using the function of receiving leaked radio waves from the television 2, the function of detecting an empty channel, the remote control function, and the frequency of the empty channel. It is also a configuration that includes an information terminal device provided with a function to perform such functions. Therefore, the information terminal device can be independent from the electronic camera 1.

  Although not shown, in this case as well, the information terminal device acquires an electronic image from the electronic camera 1a and temporarily stores it in the internal storage unit, similarly to the information terminal device 1b of FIG. The subsequent operation of the information terminal device and the operation of the television 2 associated therewith are performed in the same manner as the operation performed after it is determined that the playback destination is the television 2 in the determination result of S6 in FIG. . However, here, as the processing operation of S11, the processing operation shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 9 is performed.

  Further, in the above-described fourth embodiment, the electronic camera 1 is an information terminal device having a channel database, a function of detecting an empty channel, a remote control function, a function of wirelessly transmitting a video signal using the frequency of the empty channel, and the like. It is also a configuration including the inside. Therefore, the information terminal device can be independent from the electronic camera 1.

  Although not shown, in this case as well, the information terminal device acquires an electronic image from the electronic camera 1a and temporarily stores it in the internal storage unit, similarly to the information terminal device 1b of FIG. The subsequent operation of the information terminal device and the operation of the television 2 associated therewith are performed in the same manner as the operation performed after it is determined that the playback destination is the television 2 in the determination result of S6 in FIG. . However, here, the processing operation shown in FIG. 12 is performed as the processing operation of S11.

  As mentioned above, although the apparatus and method of this invention were demonstrated in detail, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, various improvement and a change may be performed. is there.

It is a conceptual diagram of Example 1 concerning the present invention. 1 is a functional block diagram of an electronic camera and a television set according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the electronic camera and the television according to the first embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the processing operation of S11 in detail. It is a conceptual diagram of Example 2 which concerns on this invention. (a) is a functional block diagram of an electronic camera and a television according to Example 2, and (b) is a diagram showing a partial configuration of the television. It is the flowchart which showed the processing operation of S11 based on Example 2, and operation | movement of the television 2 accompanying it. (a) is a functional block diagram of an electronic camera and a television according to Example 3, and (b) is a diagram showing a partial configuration of the television. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the processing operation of S11 and the operation of the television 2 associated therewith according to the third embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram of Example 4 which concerns on this invention. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of an electronic camera and a television set according to a fourth embodiment. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation of S11 according to the fourth embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram of Example 5 which concerns on this invention. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of an electronic camera and a television set according to a fifth embodiment. It is the flowchart which showed the processing operation of S11 and operation | movement of the television 2 which accompanies it based on Example 5. FIG. (a), (b) is the figure which showed the structural example of the image determination part. It is a conceptual diagram of Example 1 at the time of making an information terminal device independent from an electronic camera.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic camera 2 Television 3 Radio tower 4 Video printer 5 HD recorder 6 Controller 7 Input part 8 Imaging part 9 Memory | storage part 10 Display part 11 Television radio wave receiving part 12 Signal strength determination part 13 Empty channel storage part 14 Infrared transmission part 15 Television radio wave Transmitter 16 Controller 17 Infrared receiver 18 TV power supply 19 Television radio wave receiver 20 Tuner 21 Display unit 22 Speaker 23 Leaked radio wave receiver 24 Leaked radio wave signal intensity determination unit 25 Antenna 26 High frequency amplifier 27 Mixer 28 Local oscillator 29 Filter 30 Intermediate frequency amplification unit 31 Demodulation unit 32 Local oscillation leakage radio wave reception unit 33 Leakage radio frequency detection unit 34 Channel identification unit 35 Channel setting unit 36 Channel DB
37 Image determination unit 38 Region selection unit 39 Correlation calculation unit 40 Correlation value memory 41 Peak detection 42 Determination unit 43 Band pass filter 44 Integration unit 45 Determination unit

Claims (16)

Image storage means for storing electronic images;
Conversion means for converting the electronic image into a video signal of a television receiver;
Control signal generating means for generating a control signal for controlling the television receiver;
First transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the control signal generated by the control signal generation means in a specific direction;
An empty channel detecting means for detecting an empty channel on which television broadcasting is not performed;
Second transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the video signal converted by the conversion means, using the frequency of the empty channel detected by the empty channel detection means;
An electronic camera comprising: The empty channel detecting means includes
Receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal;
Signal strength detecting means for detecting the signal strength of the television broadcast signal received by the receiving means;
Empty channel storage means for storing a channel related to a television broadcast signal when the signal intensity detected by the signal intensity detection means is equal to or less than a predetermined intensity as the empty channel;
Empty channel selection means for selecting one empty channel from the empty channels stored in the empty channel storage means;
Have
The control signal generating means generates a control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to an empty channel selected by the empty channel selecting means;
The electronic camera according to claim 1. The empty channel detecting means includes
Receiving means for receiving a signal from the television receiver;
Signal strength detection for detecting the signal strength of a signal of a predetermined frequency received by the receiving means after the control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to a specific channel is wirelessly transmitted by the first transmitting means. Means,
Empty channel storage means for storing the specific channel as the empty channel when the signal intensity detected by the signal intensity detection means is equal to or less than a predetermined intensity;
Empty channel selection means for selecting one empty channel from the empty channels stored in the empty channel storage means;
Have
The control signal generating means generates a control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to an empty channel selected by the empty channel selecting means;
The electronic camera according to claim 1. The empty channel detecting means includes
Receiving means for receiving a signal from the television receiver;
Frequency detecting means for detecting the frequency of the signal received by the receiving means;
Channel specifying means for specifying a channel corresponding to the frequency detected by the frequency detecting means;
Empty channel storage means for storing the channel specified by the channel specifying means as the empty channel;
Empty channel selection means for selecting one empty channel from the empty channels stored in the empty channel storage means;
Have
The control signal generating means generates a control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to an empty channel selected by the empty channel selecting means;
The electronic camera according to claim 1. It further has a display means,
The empty channel detecting means includes
Channel code related to a channel that is broadcasted in the area specified by the area code, or channel information related to a channel that is not broadcasted in the area specified by the area code A channel database where
A region selecting means for selecting a region code stored in the channel database;
Empty channel determining means for searching the channel database based on the area code selected by the area selecting means to determine one empty channel;
Have
The display means displays a region corresponding to a region code stored in the channel database;
The control signal generating means generates a control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to an empty channel determined by the empty channel determining means;
The electronic camera according to claim 1. Imaging means for capturing an electronic image by imaging a subject;
Image storage means for storing an electronic image obtained by the imaging means;
Conversion means for converting the electronic image into a video signal of a television receiver;
Control signal generating means for generating a control signal for controlling the television receiver;
First transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the control signal generated by the control signal generation means in a specific direction;
Empty channel detecting means for detecting an empty channel on which television broadcasting is not performed based on the electronic image obtained by the imaging means;
Second transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the video signal converted by the conversion means, using the frequency of the empty channel detected by the empty channel detection means;
An electronic camera comprising: The empty channel detecting means includes
After the control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to a specific channel is wirelessly transmitted by the first transmission unit, a shooting command signal is generated for performing imaging by the imaging unit one or more times Photographing signal generating means for performing,
Whether or not the specific channel is an empty channel based on one or a plurality of electronic images obtained by photographing in response to the photographing command signal and photographed on the display screen of the television receiver Free channel determination means for determining whether or not
Empty channel storage means for storing the specific channel as an empty channel when the empty channel determination means determines that the channel is an empty channel;
Empty channel selection means for selecting one empty channel from the empty channels stored in the empty channel storage means;
Have
The control signal generating means generates a control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to an empty channel selected by the empty channel selecting means;
The electronic camera according to claim 6. The empty channel determination means includes
An image extracting means for extracting two electronic images from the plurality of electronic images; and a correlation value calculating means for calculating a correlation value between the two electronic images extracted by the image extracting means. Determining whether the specific channel is an empty channel based on the correlation value calculated by the calculating means;
The electronic camera according to claim 7. The empty channel determination means includes
Image extraction means for extracting one electronic image from the one or more electronic images, and spatial frequency distribution determination means for determining the spatial frequency distribution of the electronic image extracted by the image extraction means, Determining whether the specific channel is an empty channel based on a determination result by the spatial frequency distribution determining means;
The electronic camera according to claim 7. Detect free channels that are n’t broadcasting,
Generating a control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to the detected empty channel;
Wirelessly transmitting the generated control signal in a specific direction;
Using the detected frequency of the vacant channel, wirelessly transmitting a video signal related to an electronic image converted into a video signal of the television receiver,
An image transmission method characterized by the above. After wirelessly transmitting a control signal for switching the television receiver channel to a specific channel, the electronic image is acquired once or multiple times by imaging,
Whether or not the specific channel is an empty channel on which television broadcasting is not performed, based on one or a plurality of electronic images obtained by capturing the image of the display screen of the television receiver. Determine
Generating a control signal for switching the channel of the television receiver to the specific channel when it is determined by the determination that the channel is an empty channel;
Wirelessly transmitting the generated control signal in a specific direction;
Using the frequency of the specific channel when it is determined by the determination that the channel is an empty channel, the video signal related to the electronic image converted into the video signal of the television receiver is wirelessly transmitted.
An image transmission method characterized by the above. Receive television broadcast signals,
Detecting the signal strength of the received television broadcast signal;
Detecting a channel related to a television broadcast signal when the detected signal strength is equal to or less than a predetermined strength as an empty channel in which the television broadcast is not performed,
An empty channel detection method characterized by the above. Wirelessly transmit a control signal to switch the channel of the television receiver to a specific channel,
Receiving a signal of a predetermined frequency from the television receiver;
Detecting the signal strength of the received signal;
Detecting the specific channel when the detected signal intensity is equal to or lower than a predetermined intensity as an empty channel in which television broadcasting is not performed;
An empty channel detection method characterized by the above. Receiving a signal from the television receiver;
Detecting the frequency of the received signal;
Identify the channel corresponding to the detected frequency,
Detecting the identified channel as an empty channel in which television broadcasting is not performed,
An empty channel detection method characterized by the above. Wirelessly transmit a control signal to switch the channel of the television receiver to a specific channel,
Obtaining an electronic image by imaging multiple times,
Extracting two electronic images from a plurality of electronic images obtained by capturing the captured image of the display screen of the television receiver,
Calculating a correlation value between the two extracted electronic images;
Based on the calculated correlation value, it is determined whether or not the specific channel is an empty channel in which television broadcasting is not performed,
Detecting the specific channel as an empty channel when it is determined by the determination that the channel is an empty channel;
An empty channel detection method characterized by the above. Wirelessly transmit a control signal to switch the channel of the television receiver to a specific channel,
Obtaining an electronic image by imaging once or multiple times,
Extracting one electronic image from one or a plurality of electronic images obtained by capturing the image of the display screen of the television receiver,
Determining the spatial frequency distribution of the extracted electronic image;
Based on the result of the determination, it is determined whether or not the specific channel is an empty channel for which television broadcasting is not performed,
Detecting the specific channel as an empty channel when it is determined by the determination that the channel is an empty channel;
An empty channel detection method characterized by the above.

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