JP3850120B2 - Digital electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital electronic camera, and more particularly to a digital electronic camera having a function as a mobile phone or a PHS.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Recently, digital electronic cameras that record captured images in a semiconductor memory element have been released by various companies, and these digital electronic cameras are easier to capture recorded images in a personal computer than conventional silver halide cameras. Mobile phones and PHS are rapidly spreading. In particular, PHS is attracting attention as a multimedia device capable of performing high-speed data communication as well as the purpose of a telephone call, and a device in which a mobile phone, a PHS and a digital electronic camera are fused has been proposed in various forms.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Here, the following examples have been proposed for a conventional digital electronic camera having a mobile phone or PHS function. First, an arbitrary image is taken. Next, an image to be transmitted is selected from the captured images. Then, an operation for transmission is performed with the switches, and transmission is started. Thus, a function of transmitting the captured image to a remote place is realized.
[0004]
In addition, when used as a telephone, a function as a videophone that allows users to talk while checking each other's faces is also realized.
[0005]
By the way, when using these functions, it is natural that the user must switch the function of how to use the digital electronic camera. When shooting and transmission are performed, it is necessary to operate switches for that purpose, and when using as a videophone, the operation for that is also necessary. That is, the user must perform an operation according to the function, which is very troublesome.
[0006]
Furthermore, there is a communication system most suitable for transmitting a still image to a remote place, and there is a communication system most suitable for it when used as a videophone. Therefore, the user needs to switch the communication method such as PIAFS, αDATA, and CDMA according to the function mode, and there is a problem that correct operation or efficient operation cannot be performed due to erroneous operation or troublesome operation.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to automatically recognize a function mode in a digital electronic camera having a function of a mobile phone or a PHS according to a direction in which the photographing camera unit is currently directed, and to set a communication method corresponding to the mode. It is to provide an easy-to-use digital electronic camera that automatically selects.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to an imaging unit that converts a subject image into an electrical signal by a solid-state imaging device, a storage unit that processes the electrical signal and stores it in a storage medium as image information, a communication circuit that performs data communication, and various types of information. A digital electronic camera having a display circuit for displaying , comprising: a shooting camera unit in which a shooting direction is variably provided with respect to the camera body unit; and a direction sensor for detecting the direction of the shooting camera unit, the direction sensor when sending the said captured but the image in the data communication circuit with to function in the imaging mode as the said imaging mode recognizes the shooting mode when detecting that the imaging camera unit is facing outward so as to use a communication method suitable for the mode, when the imaging camera unit detects that the facing inner, said tele recognizes the video communication mode If the transmitting image in the data communication circuit with during the video communication mode to function as a telephone mode to a digital electronic camera is characterized in that so as to use a communication method suitable for the video communication mode.
The present invention also relates to a digital electronic camera characterized in that in the videophone mode, images of the user and the other user are displayed together on the display circuit.
[0009]
According to the above configuration, in a digital electronic camera having a function of a mobile phone or a PHS, the digital electronic camera is automatically set in accordance with the direction in which the photographing camera unit whose direction is variable with respect to the camera body unit is currently directed. It recognizes the function mode, selects a communication method according to the function mode, and becomes operable.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a digital electronic camera according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B are external views of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment of the digital electronic camera of the present invention.
[0011]
In the figure, 1 is a lens, 2 is an image sensor such as a CCD, 3 is a signal processing device for creating image information, 4 is a memory A for storing at least one piece of image information, and 5 is for displaying image information and character information. 6 is a memory B for storing image information for a plurality of images, 7 is a microcomputer for system management, 8 is an operation switch for operation by a user, 9 is a microphone, and 10 is a photographing camera unit manually. Hinges directed in the direction, 11 is a direction sensor for monitoring the direction in which the photographing camera unit is currently facing, 12 is a communication system instruction circuit for instructing a communication system based on a signal from the microcomputer 7, and 13 is a communication circuit for performing communication , 14 is an antenna, 21 is a photographing camera section, and 22 is a camera body section.
[0012]
A specific operation of the digital electronic camera configured as described above when an image is captured, when the captured image is communicated, and when the digital electronic camera functions as a videophone will be described below.
At the time of shooting an image, the user turns the shooting camera unit outward as shown in FIG. The direction sensor 11 indicates that the photographing camera unit is currently directed outward, that is, the user mechanically, electrically, magnetically, or optically recognizes that photographing is to be performed, and notifies the microcomputer 7 that the photographing mode is in effect. .
[0013]
Hereinafter, the digital electronic camera functions as a shooting mode under the control of the microcomputer 7. A subject imaged by the lens 1 is converted into an electric signal by an image pickup device 2 such as a CCD. The signal processing circuit 3 creates image information from the electrical signal and writes it in the memories A and 4. Here, in the shooting standby state, the image information is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5, and the user takes a picture while confirming the image on the display of the liquid crystal monitor 5. When shooting is performed, the image information recorded in the image memories A and 4 is written in the memories B and 6 that store image information for a plurality of sheets.
[0014]
When the captured image is transmitted, the thumbnail image of the image information recorded in the memories B and 6 is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5 via the memories A and 4. The user selects an image to be transmitted in accordance with the display on the liquid crystal monitor 5, and only the selected image is written in the memories A and 4 as a full size image. And it is transmitted to a remote place by the communication circuit 13 and the antenna 14. At this time, the microcomputer 7 tells the communication system instruction circuit 12 that the photographing camera unit is currently directed outward and is in the photographing mode. The communication method instruction circuit 12 instructs the communication circuit 13 to use the communication method most suitable for the photographing mode, and the communication circuit 13 uses the communication method most suitable for the photographing mode.
[0015]
Similarly, when an image is received, it is recorded in the memories B and 6 via the antenna 14, the communication circuit 13, and the memories A and 4. Image communication is performed as described above.
[0016]
When used as a video phone, the user turns the photographing camera unit inward as shown in FIG. The direction sensor 11 recognizes that the photographing camera unit is currently facing inward, that is, the user is mechanically or electrically or magnetically or optically intended to be used as a videophone, and the microcomputer 7 indicates that it is in the videophone mode. To tell. Hereinafter, the digital electronic camera functions as a videophone mode under the control of the microcomputer 7.
[0017]
The user's own image formed by the lens 1 is converted into an electric signal by an image pickup device 2 such as a CCD. The signal processing circuit 3 creates image information from the electrical signal and writes it in the memories A and 4. On the other hand, the image of the other user received by the antenna 14 and the communication circuit 13 is also written in the memories A and 4. Further, the images of the user himself and the other user written in the memories A and 4 are displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 5.
[0018]
Here, a communication method for transmitting the user's own image to the other user will be described. The microcomputer 7 informs the communication system instruction circuit 12 that the photographing camera unit is currently facing inward and used as a videophone. The communication system instruction circuit 12 instructs the communication circuit 13 to use the communication system most suitable for the videophone. The communication circuit 13 uses a communication method most suitable for a video phone. In this way, the user and the other user can use the microphone 9 while confirming the display on the liquid crystal monitor 5 to use it as a videophone.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the digital electronic camera automatically recognizes the function mode in accordance with the direction in which the shooting camera unit whose direction is variable is currently directed in the digital electronic camera having the functions of the mobile phone and the PHS. The communication method according to the function mode is automatically selected. Therefore, it is possible to realize an easy-to-use digital electronic camera that does not require the user to select a function mode and has few erroneous operations.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1 Lens 2 CCD
3 Signal processing circuit 4 Memory A
5 LCD monitor 6 Memory B
7 Microcomputer 8 Operation switch 9 Microphone 10 Hinge 11 Direction sensor 12 Communication method instruction circuit 13 Communication circuit 14 Antenna 21 Camera unit 22 Camera body unit

Claims (2)

Imaging means for converting a subject image into an electrical signal by a solid-state imaging device, storage means for processing the electrical signal and storing it in a storage medium as image information, a communication circuit for performing data communication, and a display circuit for displaying various information In a digital electronic camera having
A shooting camera unit in which a shooting direction is variably provided with respect to the camera body unit, and a direction sensor for detecting the direction of the shooting camera unit,
If the directional sensor is to transmit the image in the data communication circuit with to function in the imaging mode as the said imaging mode recognizes the photographing mode when the photographing camera unit detects that the facing outward is so as to use a communication method suitable for the shooting mode, when said photographing camera unit detects that the facing inner, said videophone with function as the videophone mode recognizes the video communication mode digital electronic camera which is characterized in that so as to use a communication method suitable for the video communication mode if the transmitting image in the data communication circuit during mode. 2. The digital electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein in the videophone mode, images of the user and the other user are displayed together on the display circuit.

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