JP2527947Y2 - Still picture videophone - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a still picture videophone device in which a videophone main body is combined with an electronic still camera which is detachable and electrically connectable and detachable.

[Prior Art] A conventional still picture videophone apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 6 is composed of a videophone main body 2 and a telephone 3, and is provided in a videophone main body 2 connected to a telephone line 5 via a line interface 4. An audio / image switching circuit 6 for switching between audio signals and image data is provided so that audio and images can be transmitted and received in a time-division manner. The image information is linearly quantized with a luminance of 16 or more gradations for each pixel. For example, if the gradation is 32 gradations, the maximum value (white) and the minimum value (black) of the luminance are equally divided into 32 values, and The value is defined as a gradation level. 1
Since the pixel is modulated in one cycle of the carrier, the transmission rate determined according to the carrier frequency (in this example, 1748 Hz) is 1748 pixels / sec. In the amplitude and phase modulation method, a combination of 16 amplitudes (4 bits) and 2 phases (1 bit) expresses 32 values corresponding to the number of gradations.
The bit rate is (4 bits + 1 bit) × 1748 baud, or 8740 bps. In addition, the communication mode includes a standard mode (160 horizontal dots and 100 vertical lines) with an aspect ratio of 3: 4, the same as a normal TV screen, and a high-speed mode (96 horizontal dots) with an aspect ratio of 5: 4, suitable for sending a face photo. (100 vertical lines), and the transmission time of each mode is about twice as wide.

The received image that has passed through the audio / image switching circuit 6 is first subjected to amplitude / phase demodulation by the demodulation circuit 7 and then supplied to the monitor receiver 9 or the image memory 10 via the image control circuit 8. The monitor receiver 9 displays the still image sent immediately before with the aspect ratio according to the designated communication mode, but the image memory 10 stores the still image only when receiving the storage designation. . However, the number of still images that can be stored in the image memory 10 is limited to about six.

On the other hand, when transmitting a still image, a still image taken by the imaging camera 11 or a still image read from the image memory 10 is sent to the modulation circuit 12 via the image control circuit 8. The still image signal subjected to the amplitude / phase modulation by the modulation circuit 12 is transmitted to the other party connected to the audio / image switching circuit 6 via the line interface 4 via the telephone line 5. However, during the period of sending and receiving more still images,
Since the audio / image switching circuit 6 and the telephone 3 are separated from each other in circuit, the call is interrupted.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] The above-described conventional still image videophone device 1 includes an imaging camera 11
And a videophone main body 2 having a built-in monitor receiver 9 and a telephone 3 connected to the videophone main body 2. Since the imaging camera 11 is integrally incorporated in the videophone main body 2, It cannot be easily carried like a general portable video camera, and is usually fixed at one place, so that the range of the transmitted image is extremely limited. Therefore, for example, when transmitting a guide map to the home to the other party, it is necessary to prepare the guide map in advance as a flip of a size that can be accommodated in the field of view of the imaging camera 11, and furthermore, the prepared flip is required. At present, it is far from image communication that can be easily performed by anyone, for example, it requires a certain degree of familiarity in order to shoot such images skillfully.

On the other hand, as for still images sent from the other party, the number of images that can be stored in the image memory 10 in the videophone main body 2 is limited.
For example, it is necessary to take a special method such as connecting an audio tape recorder to the image output terminal to record the image, and still images recorded on the audio tape cannot be reproduced except by the monitor receiver 9 built in the videophone main body 2. Had such a problem.

By the way, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-149663 "telephone terminal device"
2. Description of the Related Art There is disclosed a videophone device in which a video unit with a finder can be connected to and separated from a videophone main body so that an image can be transmitted from the video unit when connected to the videophone main body. However, this is such that a video unit can be connected to a videophone body with a monitor receiver via a transmission cable formed of a curl cord, and a video input unit limited to the vicinity of the monitor receiver is provided. It merely extends the imaging range to the extent that the transmission cable can reach. Although the video unit has an image capturing function, it does not have a function to record and play back the captured image, and confirms that the image desired to be transmitted is captured while looking through the viewfinder. Since the image transmission is performed by pressing the image button, only the image currently being captured can be transmitted. Therefore, of course, it is not desirable to read out and transmit a guide map or the like captured in the past in a timely manner, and to record the image sent from the other party and reproduce it as necessary. It was impossible at all.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has solved the above-mentioned problems, and has a telephone connected to a telephone line, and a still image connected to the telephone and transmitted and received using the telephone line, A videophone main body for displaying on a built-in monitor receiver, and a recording medium capable of recording and reproducing a still image at any time are built in. The videophone main body is detachably and electrically connected to and separated from the videophone main body, and specifies an image transmission mode. A still image received and reproduced from the recording medium is transmitted to the other party via the videophone main body, and a still image received from the other party via the videophone main body in response to designation of an image receiving mode is recorded on the recording medium. And an electronic still camera for recording.

[Operation] The present invention provides a video telephone that allows a detachable and electrically connectable and detachable electronic still camera to and from a video telephone body that displays a still image transmitted and received using a telephone line on a built-in monitor receiver. The electronic still camera connected to the main body functions as a transmission image reproducing unit and a reception image recording unit.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of the still picture videophone device of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are front views showing main parts of the videophone main body shown in FIG. The figure is a circuit configuration diagram of the still picture videophone device shown in FIG.

A still image videophone device 21 shown in FIG.
As an alternative, the electronic still camera 23 is configured to be detachable from the videophone main body 22 and electrically connectable and disconnectable. Electronic still camera 23 shown in the embodiment
As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic still camera 23 is attached by engaging a shoe-structured connection tool 25 with the tip of a pole-joint-structured mounting tool 24 on the side of the videophone main body 22. After the adjustment, the imaging field of view is fixed by locking the joint of the fixture 24. The electrical connection between the electronic still camera 23 and the videophone main body 22 is made using a dedicated signal cable 26.

By the way, the electronic still camera 23 is
, And can record and reproduce a still image freely as a single unit, like other cameras of the same type. As shown in FIG. 4, the subject of the subject photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 27 such as a CCD is shown in FIG. The image is converted by the recording / reproducing circuit 28 into a signal conforming to the recording standard. Here, the recording standard of the high band system is adopted, so that the center frequency of the luminance signal is frequency-modulated at 9 MHz instead of 7 MHz in the conventional recording system. Further, the red color difference signal and the blue color difference signal are frequency-modulated at the center frequencies of 1.2 MHz and 1.3 MHz, respectively, and sent out line-sequentially. The still image signal converted into a signal conforming to the recording standard is recorded on the magnetic recording medium 30 via the magnetic head 29.

The magnetic recording medium 30 is a floppy disk made of a disk-shaped magnetic sheet having an outer diameter of 47 mm, is driven at a constant speed of 3600 revolutions per minute by a drive motor 31, and is arranged concentrically at equal pitch intervals from the outer side to the inner side. 50 out of 52 tracks
Using a track, 50 still images can be field-recorded. In addition, by adopting a frame recording method when increasing the resolution, it is possible to record 25 still images.

Incidentally, since the still image signal reproduced by the recording / reproducing circuit 28 is a television signal of the NTSC system or the like, it is necessary to convert the signal into a signal conforming to the communication standard of the videophone.
Here, in order to convert the luminance signal demodulated by the recording / playback circuit 28 into a still image signal of 160 pixels in width and 100 lines in length corresponding to the standard mode, the data conversion in which the recording / playback circuit 28 is provided in the videophone main body 22 is performed. It is configured to be connected to the image control circuit 8 via the circuit 32. That is, the data conversion circuit 32 incorporates an AD converter (not shown) that compresses the still image signal transmitted via the recording / reproduction circuit 28 by sampling, The image data is converted from digital still camera standard to digital data conforming to the videophone standard by performing sampling (sampling) and compressing image data by line thinning.

In addition, as the image memory 10 in the videophone main body 22,
A 64K × n-bit DRAM is used, and has a storage capacity capable of writing a still image on n pages. here,
The page 0 is used as a memory for the monitor receiver 9, and the other pages are used as a memory for a received image. For this reason, the still image sent from the electronic still camera 23 is sent out to the modulation circuit 12 via the image control circuit 8 while being stored in the 0th page in the image memory 10 and at the same time, the monitor receiver 9 Is also displayed. However, when the high-speed mode is selected, the horizontal 160
Of the pixels, the left and right 32 pixels are not transmitted, and only the central 96 pixels are transmitted.

Here, when receiving a still image sent from the other party, as shown in FIG. 2, the receiving button switch 33 provided on the lower front surface of the videophone main body 22 is pressed, and the received image is received by the monitor receiver 9. Images can be displayed. The received image is not stored in the image memory 10 but in the electronic still camera 23.
In this case, the recording can be performed on the magnetic recording medium 30 in which case, by pressing the recording button switch 34, up to 50 still images can be recorded. Then, by playing back the electronic still camera 23 after disconnecting the telephone line 5, it is possible to take time to play back without worrying about the talk time.

On the other hand, when transmitting a still image captured by the electronic still camera 23, first, the monitor button switch 35 is pressed to display the still image sent from the electronic still camera 23 on the monitor receiver 9, and to change the imaging angle and brightness. After adjusting,
The image to be transmitted is turned into a still image by pressing the shooting button switch 36. Then, "I'll send you."
After a voice call is made to notify the other party of the transmission signal, the transmission button switch 37 is pressed to transmit an image to the other party. Also, the image recorded by the electronic still camera 23 can be displayed on the monitor receiver 9 by pressing the reproduction button switch 38 and transmitted to the other party by pressing the transmission button switch 37 for the one desired to be transmitted.

If only the electronic still camera 23 is used separately, up to 50 still images can be recorded on a single magnetic recording medium 30 at an arbitrary place. In advance, transmission can be performed efficiently.

As described above, the still image videophone device 21 is configured such that the electronic still camera 23 incorporating the magnetic recording medium 30 capable of recording and reproducing a still image at any time functions as a transmission image reproduction unit and a reception image recording unit. By separating the electronic still camera 23 from the videophone main body 22 and taking a still image as a single camera, the original function of the electronic still camera 23 can be effectively used, or the magnetic recording medium 30 Since still images can be recorded to fill the entire recording capacity, the still images that you want to send together are recorded on the magnetic recording medium 30 without being restricted by the shooting location or shooting time, and the electronic still camera 23 is connected to the videophone main unit. It can be played back when connected to 22 and transmitted efficiently to the other party, and still images sent from the other party can also be By keeping record by utilizing the temporary-storage function of the child still camera 23, after turning off the telephone line 5, it is also possible to play over only a time required image.

Further, by matching the recording standard of the electronic still camera 23 with the communication standard of the videophone in the data conversion circuit 32, it is possible to smoothly exchange data between the electronic still camera 23 and the videophone main body 22. And data conversion circuit
The 32 can change the sampling mode according to the communication mode and change the aspect ratio of the still image, enabling image communication compatible with the standard mode and high-speed mode specified in the videophone communication standard It is.

In addition, the electronic still camera 23 can record and save high-resolution still images far exceeding the resolution of images specified in the videophone communication standard, and transmit high-resolution still images by dividing them. However, by synthesizing the image on the receiving side, it is possible to open the way to improve the communication image quality for the future, such as transmitting the original image without deteriorating the image quality.

In the above embodiment, the electronic still camera 23 is detachably attached to the side of the videophone main body 22. However, like the still picture videophone device 41 shown in FIG. The electronic still camera 43 can be stored in the recess formed on the upper part of the electronic still camera 43, and a dedicated connector 45 provided on the back of the electronic still camera 43.
And the videophone main body 42 can be electrically connected. That is, mechanical connection and electrical connection of the electronic still camera 43 and the videophone main body 42 are simultaneously performed, and the usability is greatly improved.

Further, the recording medium incorporated in the electronic still camera is not limited to a magnetic recording medium, and another medium such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk can be used as the recording medium.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, this invention is an electronic device that incorporates a recording medium capable of recording and reproducing a still image at any time in a videophone that displays a still image transmitted and received using a telephone line on a monitor receiver. Since the still camera is detachable and electrically connectable and detachable, and the electronic still camera connected to the videophone main unit functions as a transmission image reproducing unit and a reception image recording unit, the electronic still camera is connected to the videophone main unit. By taking a still image as a single camera, the original functions of the electronic still camera can be used effectively, or still images can be recorded on a single recording medium with the full recording capacity. The still images you want to send can be recorded in advance on a recording medium without any restrictions such as the shooting location and shooting time. In addition, by playing the electronic still camera when it is connected to the videophone, it can be transmitted to the other party efficiently, and still images sent from the other party can be stored in the electronic still camera. By recording using the function, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect such that only necessary images can be reproduced with a long time after the telephone line is disconnected.

In addition, this invention is based on a modulation / demodulation circuit that converts a still image into several levels of gradation information using the amplitude and phase modulation method and transmits and receives the still image, and a communication standard that transmits the still image sent from the electronic still camera. An electronic still camera is provided by providing a data conversion circuit for converting the data into digital data specified in (1) and an image control circuit for selectively supplying a conversion output of the data conversion circuit or a demodulation output of the modulation / demodulation circuit to a monitor receiver. The recording standard of the TV and the communication standard of the videophone can be matched by the data converter, which enables smooth data exchange between the electronic still camera and the videophone itself, and furthermore, the data conversion. The circuit is equipped with an AD converter that changes the sampling mode in accordance with the communication mode and changes the aspect ratio of the still image, thereby achieving the communication standard for videophones. Depending on the determined communication mode,
For example, the sampling mode is switched for the standard mode or the high-speed mode, and the required image data can be easily sent out.

Also, an electronic still camera has an image sensor for photoelectrically converting an image of a subject, and an output video signal of the image sensor is modulated into a signal conforming to a recording standard, and a magnetic recording medium is output as a still image signal for one field or one frame. Recording and reproducing means for demodulating a still image signal reproduced from the magnetic recording medium and sending out only the demodulated luminance signal to the television main body, thereby providing an image specified by the videophone communication standard. In the future, while recording and storing high-resolution still images that far exceed the resolution of the original image, for example, the high-resolution still image is divided into several parts and transmitted, and then synthesized on the receiving side, so that the original image is transmitted without deterioration in image quality. And the like, which can open the way to improve communication image quality.

Furthermore, the electronic still camera can be detachably attached to the videophone main body by a connector that simultaneously achieves mechanical connection and electrical connection, thereby achieving organic coupling between the electronic still camera and the videophone main body. And the simultaneous use of mechanical connection and electrical connection can greatly improve the usability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of the still picture videophone device of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are front views showing main parts of the videophone main body shown in FIG. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of the still picture video phone shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a side view showing another embodiment of the still picture video phone of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram illustrating an example of a picture videophone device. 3 Telephone 4 Circuit interface 5 Telephone line 6 Voice / image switching circuit 7 Demodulation circuit 8 Image control circuit 9 Monitor receiver 12 Modulation circuit 21, 41 Stationary Picture videophone device 22,42 Videophone main unit 23,43 Electronic still camera 25,45 Connector 27 Image pickup device 28 Recording / reproducing circuit 29 Magnetic head 30 Magnetic recording medium 32 …… Data conversion circuit

Claims (5)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A telephone connected to a telephone line, a videophone main body connected to the telephone and displaying a still image transmitted / received using the telephone line on a built-in monitor receiver, Built-in recording media that can be recorded and reproduced,
The portable telephone is detachably and electrically connected to and detachable from the videophone main body, transmits a still image reproduced from the recording medium in response to designation of an image transmission mode to the other party via the videophone main body, and receives an image. An electronic still camera that records a still image received from the other party via the videophone main body in response to a mode designation on the recording medium. 2. The videophone main unit according to claim 1, wherein said videophone main body is a modulation / demodulation circuit for converting a still image into gradation information of several stages by an amplitude / phase modulation system and transmitting / receiving the still image, and a communication standard for the still image sent from said electronic still camera. And a video control circuit for selectively supplying a conversion output of the data conversion circuit or a demodulation output of the modulation / demodulation circuit to the monitor receiver. 2. The still picture videophone device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The still picture television according to claim 2, wherein the data conversion circuit has an AD converter that changes a sampling mode corresponding to a communication mode and varies an aspect ratio of a still picture. Telephone equipment. 4. An electronic still camera, comprising: an image pickup device for photoelectrically converting an image of a subject; and frequency modulation of an output video signal of the image pickup device separately into a luminance signal and a color difference signal, and a still image for one field or one frame. A video recording / reproducing means for recording on a recording medium as image information and demodulating still image information reproduced from the recording medium, and the videophone main body has recording / reproducing means for transmitting only a demodulated luminance signal. 2. The still picture videophone device according to 1. 5. The still picture according to claim 1, wherein the electronic still camera is detachably attached to the videophone main body, and has a connector for simultaneously achieving mechanical connection and electrical connection. Video phone equipment.