JP2576458B2 - Image transmission device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to transmitting and receiving images.
The present invention relates to an image transmission device such as a videophone .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, a large number of still picture videophones have been commercialized which transmit and receive still picture images in addition to transmitting and receiving audio. Normally, in this type of videophone, an image sensor is arranged near a display unit in a fixed state, and images a user located in front of the telephone. Ma
In addition, a camera unit having an image sensor and a display device is detachable
The object at a distant position is
After modulating the captured still image,
By sending it to a body that is connected to the telephone line by a wire
Some can transmit still image images.

[0003]

The object of the invention is to solve] Thus, wearing the above-mentioned
In the camera section, the captured image is sent wirelessly to the master unit.
Can be transmitted over a telephone line,
Only images within the range of the line can be transmitted. Ma
In addition, the above-described camera unit records and holds the captured image.
No memory available. For this reason, the range in which imaging can be performed
Is limited and you must shoot within range of the radio
No. In addition, the modulating unit that modulates the image
Since it is located in the child part, the configuration of the detachable imaging element part becomes large.

[0004]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to connect a communication line.
Even if the main unit is fixed, the detachable camera
Can capture any image without limiting the area that can be imaged
And transfer the captured image to another via a communication line.
And the size of the detachable camera unit is reduced.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image transmission device capable of performing the above.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides:

An image pickup device for picking up an image and this image pickup device
For recording and holding the image data captured by the
Recording and holding means, and image data captured by the image sensor.
Data or image data recorded and held in the record holding means.
A camera unit having display means for displaying data,
The camera unit can be attached to and detached from the camera unit.
Electrically connected and sent from the camera unit
Sending the image data held in the record holding means to the communication line.
Modulating means for modulating transmission data which can be transmitted;
Transmitting the transmission data converted in the step to the communication line
And a main body having means. This allows communication
Detachable even if the main unit connected to the line is fixed
The camera range is not limited by the
Objects can be captured, and the captured images can be
And can be transmitted to another, and the detachable camera unit
Can be made smaller.

[0008] Further , the main body is transmitted from the camera.
Image data held by the record holding means
Recording means for recording data, and the modulation means
Transmitting the image data recorded in the recording means to the communication line.
The transmission data may be modulated. This
And temporarily records the image data sent from the camera
Means that the image data can be buffered by the main unit.
Can be done.

[0009]

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the external configuration.

Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a telephone body,
The receiver 12 is placed on the left end. Further, a push button 13, a display unit 14, and an imaging unit 15 are provided on the upper surface. The display unit 14 is attached to the imaging unit 15 so as to be freely tiltable, and is configured using, for example, a liquid crystal display panel, and its angle can be adjusted according to the position of the user using the telephone. .

The image pickup section 15 has a CCD image pickup device and respective circuits for controlling the CCD image pickup element, and can be separated from the display section 14 and the telephone body 11 as shown in FIG. The imaging unit 15 is connected to the telephone body 11 by, for example, a curl cord 16, and a separation switch for detecting a separation state is provided below the imaging unit 15 (not shown). When the separation switch detects that the imaging unit 15 has been separated from the display unit 14 and the telephone body 11 as shown in FIG. 2, the image obtained by the imaging unit 15 has a normal left and right inverted. The image is displayed on the display unit 14 as a real image instead of a mirror image.

FIG. 3 shows the internal circuit configuration of the telephone main body 11, the display unit 14 and the imaging unit 15, wherein 21 is a telephone line, 22 is a still picture TV phone modem, and the still picture TV phone modem. A telephone 23 for transmitting and receiving normal voice is connected to 22. The still picture TV telephone modem 22 is also connected to a microcomputer 24 for transmitting and receiving still picture images.

The microcomputer 24 writes / reads still image video data to / from the memory 25 and displays the display unit 14 in accordance with the video data sent from the still image TV telephone modem 22 or the controller 29 of the imaging unit 15. Drive and control the segment driver 26 and the common driver 27 in the same, and display the still image of the other party on the liquid crystal display panel 28, and the image data of the still image sent from the controller 29 for the still image TV phone. After being output to the modem 22 and subjected to data processing in accordance with the standard still image format, the data is transmitted to the other party via the telephone line 21.

The controller 29 controls the image pickup in the image pickup section 15. In the imaging unit 15, the image formed on the CCD image sensor 31 by the lens 30 is C
The signal is photoelectrically converted under the control of the CD controller 32 and sent to the A / D converter 33 as an electric signal. The A / D converter 33 digitizes a signal from the CCD image sensor 31 in accordance with a sampling clock from the CCD controller 32 to obtain video data. The obtained video data is sequentially sent to the controller 29.

The controller 29 converts the video data sequentially sent from the A / D converter 33 in an address order suitable for a mirror image / real image according to the open / close state of the above-described separation switch 35 provided below the image pickup unit 15. Once written in the image memory 34, it is read out when one screen is completed and sent to the microcomputer 24.

A main power supply 36 is used as a power supply for supplying power to the circuits on the telephone body 11 and the display unit 14, and a sub power supply is used as a power supply for supplying power to each circuit on the imaging unit 15 side.
37 are provided.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed circuit configuration of the controller 29 for controlling the operation of each circuit on the image pickup section 15 side. In the figure, an image is captured by the CCD image sensor 31 and the A / D
The video data digitized by the converter 33 (“CC
D input) is first input to the input / output control circuit 29a in the controller 29.

The input / output control circuit 29a controls the column address counter 29b and the row address counter 29c to specify the address of the image memory 34, and outputs the input video data to the image memory 34 for writing. .

At this time, the input / output control circuit 29a controls the row address counter 29c according to the open / close state of the separation switch 35, that is, whether or not the imaging unit 15 is separated from the telephone body 11.
To send an instruction for up-counting / down-counting.
This is done by a 1-bit control signal,
When the control signal is "1", the row address counter 29
When the signal is sent to the count-up terminal of c, the count is up. When the signal is sent to the count-down terminal of the row address counter 29c, the count is down.

The video data written in the image memory 34 in this manner is read out by the designation of the addresses of the column address counter 29b and the row address counter 29c under the control of the input / output control circuit 29a at the time when the data for one screen has been prepared. Are sent to the input / output control circuit 29a. At this time, the row address counter 29c always counts up regardless of the state of the separation switch 35 by the control signal of the input / output control circuit 29a. The video data read by the input / output control circuit 29a is sent to the microcomputer 24 of the telephone body 11 as it is.

In the above configuration, when the imaging unit 15 is mounted on the telephone body 11 and the display unit 14 as shown in FIG. 1, photoelectric conversion is performed by the CCD imaging device 31, and the A / D converter is used. The video data digitized in 33 is
The image memory is temporarily stored in the memory 29 by the instruction of the input / output control circuit 29a.
Written in 34.

At this time, the input / output control circuit 29a sets the control signal to the row address counter 29c to "0" and operates the row address counter 29c as a down counter. Therefore, the video data written into the image memory 34 is mirror image video data whose right and left are reversed. When the writing of one screen of the video data is completed, the input / output control circuit 29a reads the video data next.

At this time, the input / output control circuit 29a sets the control signal to the row address counter 29c to "1" and operates the row address counter 29c as an up counter. The read video data is sent from the controller 29 to the microcomputer 24 of the telephone body 11, and is temporarily stored in the memory 25.

The microcomputer 24 controls the driving of the segment driver 26 and the common driver 27 according to the video data stored in the memory 25 to display a video on the liquid crystal display panel 28. In this case, the video data is displayed as a mirror image. The microcomputer 24 reads this video data from the memory 25 in accordance with a user's instruction, and
The call is transmitted to the other party via the telephone modem 22 and the telephone line 21.

When the imaging unit 15 is separated from the telephone body 11 and the display unit 14 as shown in FIG. 2, the image is photoelectrically converted by the CCD imaging device 31 and digitized by the A / D converter 33. Data is input / output control circuit in controller 29
The data is temporarily written into the image memory 34 according to the instruction of 29a. At this time, the input / output control circuit 29a sets the control signal to the row address counter 29c to "1" and operates the row address counter 29c as an up counter. Therefore, image memory
The video data written in 34 is real image video data.
When the writing of one screen of the video data is completed, the input / output control circuit 29a reads the video data next. At this time, the input / output control circuit 29a sets the control signal to the row address counter 29c to "1" as it is, and
Operate as an up counter. The read video data is sent from the controller 29 to the microcomputer 24 of the telephone body 11, and is temporarily stored in the memory 25. The microcomputer 24 drives and controls the segment driver 26 and the common driver 27 in accordance with the video data stored in the memory 25 to display a video on the liquid crystal display panel 28. In this case, the video data is displayed as a real image. The microcomputer 24 reads out the video data from the memory 25 in accordance with a user's instruction, and reads the still image TV telephone modem 22,
The call is transmitted to the other party via the telephone line 21.

The input / output control circuit 29a includes a CCD
When writing video data sent from the imaging device 31 via the A / D converter 33 to the image memory 34, the row address counter 29c is counted up / down in accordance with the state of the separation switch 35, and the real image / mirror image is obtained. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when writing to the image memory 34, the row address counter 29c is always counted up, and when reading, the row address counter 29c is controlled according to the state of the separation switch 35. The address counter 29c may be read out by counting up / down, and switching between the real image and the mirror image of the video data may be controlled. [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows the external configuration.

In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes a telephone body,
The receiver 42 is placed on the left end. Further, a push button 43, a display unit 44, and an imaging unit 45 are provided on the upper surface. The display unit 44 can be separated from the telephone body 11 integrally with the imaging unit 45. The display unit 44 itself is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel.
46 and its driving circuit.

The image pickup section 45 has a CCD image pickup element 47 provided on the same surface as the liquid crystal display panel of the display section 44 and each circuit for controlling the CCD image pickup element 47, and an image pickup switch for instructing image pickup on a lower surface thereof. It has 48. Display unit 44 of imaging unit 45
The side portion connected to the display unit 44 is rotatable with respect to the display unit 44 as shown by an arrow A in the figure. When the display unit 44 and the imaging unit 45 are separated from the telephone body 41, As shown in the figure, the CCD image pickup device 47 of the image pickup section 45 and the liquid crystal display panel 46 of the display section 44 can be opposed in completely different directions.

In FIG. 6, the direction in which the image pickup section 45 faces the CCD image pickup element 47 is the same as the direction in which the display section 44 faces the liquid crystal display panel 46.
The case where the image pickup switch 48 is located on the upper surface thereof by 0 ° is shown. A connector 49 is provided below the display unit 44,
With this connector 49, the display unit 44 and the telephone body 41 are electrically connected.

FIG. 7 shows the telephone main body 41 and the display unit 44.
And 51 shows a telephone line, 52 shows a still picture TV phone modem, and a telephone 53 for transmitting and receiving normal voice is connected to the still picture TV phone modem 52. Is done. A microcomputer 54 for transmitting and receiving still picture images is connected to the still picture TV telephone modem 52.

The microcomputer 54 writes / reads still image / video data to / from the memory 55,
The controller controls transmission and reception of video data between the V-phone modem 52 and the controller 56 on the imaging unit 45 side.
The video data sent from is a still picture TV phone modem
After data processing is performed in accordance with the standard still image format in 52, the data is transmitted to the other party via the telephone line 21.

The controller 56 controls the display on the display unit 44 and the imaging on the imaging unit 45.
In the image pickup unit 45, a CCD image pickup device is provided by a lens 57.
The image formed on 47 is photoelectrically converted under the control of a CCD controller 58 and sent to an A / D converter 59 as an electric signal.

The A / D converter 59 digitizes the signal from the CCD image pickup device 47 in accordance with the sampling clock from the CCD controller 58 and obtains video data. The obtained video data is sequentially sent to the controller 56. Can be

The controller 56 writes the video data sequentially sent from the A / D converter 59 into the image memory 60, then reads out the video data when one screen is completed, and sends it to the microcomputer 54. Alternatively, the segment driver 61 and the common driver 62 in the display unit 44 are driven and controlled according to the video data, and displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 46.

The main power supply 63 serves as a power supply for supplying power to each circuit of the telephone body 41, and the sub power supply serves as a power supply for supplying power to each circuit of the display unit 44 and the image pickup unit 45.
64 are provided. The sub power supply 64 is configured by, for example, a rechargeable battery, and is charged by the main power supply 63 in a state where the normal display unit 44 and the imaging unit 45 are connected to the telephone body 41, and the display unit 44 and the imaging unit 45 Power is supplied to each circuit of the display unit 44 and the imaging unit 45 while being separated from the telephone body 41.

Although not described in detail here, the controller 56 is the controller 29 shown in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment.
A liquid crystal controller for driving and controlling the segment driver 61 and the common driver 62 is provided in addition to the respective circuits in FIG.

In the above-described configuration, when the imaging switch 48 is operated with the display unit 44 and the imaging unit 45 separated from the telephone main body 41 as shown in FIG. An instruction is sent from 56 to the CCD controller 58, and photoelectric conversion in the CCD image pickup device 47 is executed. The image formed on the CCD image pickup device 47 by the lens 57 is photoelectrically converted and digitized by the A / D converter 59, and then temporarily stored in the image memory 60 by the controller 56.
Are written in sequence.

When the writing of the video data for one screen is completed, the controller 56 reads the video data next, and
The segment driver 61 and the common driver 62 are driven and controlled according to the contents, and an image is displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 46.

Therefore, the user can select the display unit 44 and the imaging unit.
An arbitrary drawing, map, or the like that is desired to be transferred using the 45 can be picked up by the CCD image pickup device 47 by operating the image pickup switch 48 and displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 46.

When a desired image is obtained, the user mounts the display unit 44 and the imaging unit 45 on the telephone body 41. Display
When transfer of the video data held in the image memory 60 and displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 46 is instructed while the camera 44 and the imaging unit 45 are mounted on the telephone body 41, the image memory 60 is written to the image memory 60 in accordance with the instruction. The stored video data is read again by the controller 56 and sent to the microcomputer 54 of the telephone main body 41.

The microcomputer 54 temporarily stores the video data in the memory 55, and then stores the still image TV telephone modem.
In 52, data is processed according to the standard still image format,
The call is transmitted to the other party via the telephone line 21.

Further, the display unit 44 and the image pickup unit 45 are connected to the telephone body.
When video data of a still image is transmitted via the telephone line 51 while being attached to the computer 41, the video data is temporarily stored in the memory 55 by the microcomputer 54 and then transmitted to the controller 56. The controller 56 sequentially writes the video data into the image memory 60, reads out the video data, controls the driving of the segment driver 61 and the common driver 62, and causes the liquid crystal display panel 46 to display the video data.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention,

Image pickup device for picking up an image and this image pickup device
For recording and holding the image data captured by the
Recording and holding means, and image data captured by the image sensor.
Data or image data recorded and held in the record holding means.
A camera unit having display means for displaying data,
The camera unit can be attached to and detached from the camera unit.
Electrically connected and sent from the camera unit
Sending the image data held in the record holding means to the communication line.
Modulating means for modulating transmission data which can be transmitted;
Transmitting the transmission data converted in the step to the communication line
And a main body having means. This allows communication
Detachable even if the main unit connected to the line is fixed
The camera range is not limited by the
Objects can be captured, and the captured images can be
And can be transmitted to another, and the detachable camera unit
Can be made smaller.

Further , the main unit is transmitted from the camera unit.
Image data held by the record holding means
Recording means for recording data, and the modulation means
Transmitting the image data recorded in the recording means to the communication line.
The transmission data may be modulated. This
And temporarily records the image data sent from the camera
Means that the image data can be buffered by the main unit.
Can be done.

[0046]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a specific use state of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall circuit configuration according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed circuit configuration in the controller of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where a display unit and an imaging unit in FIG. 5 are separated.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the overall circuit configuration according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 41 ... telephone body, 12, 42 ... handset, 13, 43 ... push button, 14, 44 ... display unit, 15, 45 ... imaging unit, 16 ... curl code, 21, 51 ... telephone line, 22, 52 ... Still picture TV telephone modem, 23, 53 ... telephone, 24, 54 ... microcomputer, 25, 55 ... memory, 26, 61 ... segment driver,
27, 62 ... common driver, 28, 46 ... liquid crystal display panel, 2
9, 56 ... controller, 29a ... input / output control circuit, 29b ...
Column address counter, 29c ... row address counter, 29d
... Inverter, 30,57 ... Lens, 31,47 ... CCD image sensor, 32,58 ... CCD controller, 33,59 ... A / D converter, 34,60 ... Image memory, 35 ... Separation switch, 36,63 ...
Main power supply, 37, 64 ... sub power supply, 48 ... imaging switch, 49
…connector.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] (1)An image sensor that captures an image, Records and holds image data captured by this image sensor
Record holding means for performing The imaging data imaged by the imaging device or the
A table for displaying the image data recorded and held in the record holding means.
A camera unit having indicating means; The camera unit is detachable from the camera unit, and the camera unit is
Is electrically connected when it is
Communicating the image data held in the record holding means.
A modulating means for modulating transmission data that can be transmitted to a line, The transmission data converted by the modulation means is transmitted to the communication line.
And a main body having transmission means for transmitting
Feature Image transmission device. (2)The main unit is sent from the camera unit.
Image data held in the record holding means
Recording means for recording, The modulating means includes an image data recorded in the recording means.
Is modulated to transmission data that can be transmitted to the communication line.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein Image transmission device.