JP4121017B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a digital camera having a communication function.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, digital cameras have rapidly spread, and for example, a system for managing a digital image data obtained by acquiring a site photograph of a construction site with a digital camera instead of an optical camera has been proposed. In such a system, it is preferable that the digital image data obtained by the digital camera can be easily transmitted to a desired terminal. Conventionally, a digital camera having a function of transmitting an image via the Internet has been proposed.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-243153
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the prior art, the image transmission process is complicated, and there is a problem that the operation of the switch or button becomes complicated, for example, the power switch also serves as a switch for switching between reproduction / recording of image data and transmission / reception.
[0005]
It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera that is excellent in operability while reducing the number of switches or buttons.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an imaging device, means for storing image data obtained by the imaging device, a selection button for selecting a desired transmission destination from a plurality of transmission destinations, a transmission button, A digital camera having means for transmitting the image data in an e-mail format to the transmission destination selected by the selection button when the transmission button is operated, wherein the selection button and the transmission button are the same It consists of buttons, selected by a short press operation of the buttons, and transmitted by a long press operation. By consolidating functions of selection operations and transmission operations related in time series into the same button, the configuration can be simplified and the operability can be improved.
[0007]
Here, it is preferable that the selection is canceled by operating a release button or turning off a power switch. Thus, even if the selection operation is performed by mistake, the original transmission destination can be restored when the release button is operated at the time of shooting, or the original transmission destination can be restored when the release button is turned on again after the power is turned off.
[0008]
The digital camera of the present invention further includes a card slot and means for transferring the image data to the memory card when the memory card is inserted into the card slot and the transmission button is operated. It is suitable to have. The transfer to the memory card is nothing but the transmission to the memory card, and by combining the transmission button and the transfer button to the memory card, it is possible to further consolidate functions while maintaining operability.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of a communication system using the digital camera of the present embodiment. In this system, an image captured by a digital camera is transmitted to a server. The digital camera 10 is wirelessly connected to the Internet 12 and transmits the acquired image data to the mail server 14 in an e-mail format. A destination (e-mail address) for sending an e-mail from the digital camera 10 is set in advance in a memory in the digital camera 10, and the user can send an e-mail to a predetermined destination only by operating the send button. By transmitting the image data directly from the digital camera 10 in the e-mail format, the field worker can easily and quickly transmit it. The image data is transmitted as an e-mail attachment file. When the image data is acquired in the JPEG format, the JPEG image data is converted into text data using an encoder such as Base64 and transmitted.
[0011]
The mail server 14 receives an electronic mail transmitted from the digital camera 10 via the Internet 12, extracts image data attached to the electronic mail, and supplies the image data to the ASP server 16. When the digital camera 10 acquires a plurality of pieces of image data and transmits the plurality of pieces of image data one by one in an e-mail format, the mail server 14 receives a plurality of e-mails. The image data is sorted based on the mail subject (subject) data and supplied to the ASP server 16. The data in the subject is specifically a project number, and more specifically a folder project number. In the digital camera 10, a folder is formed for each transmission destination, and the acquired image data is stored together in each folder. When different image data groups are transmitted to the same destination, these image data cannot be identified from each other in a single folder. Therefore, the digital camera 10 manages the plurality of image data with the project number assigned to each folder. The project number is automatically inserted into the subject of the electronic mail and transmitted to the mail server 14. The mail server 14 sorts the image data based on the project number in the subject and supplies it to the ASP server 16.
[0012]
The ASP server 16 stores image data for each project number supplied from the mail server 14 in a database, and edits or processes the image data stored for each project number into a predetermined format to generate file data. To do. At the same time, when the ASP server 16 receives an e-mail from the digital camera 10, more precisely, when receiving image data from the mail server 14, the ASP server 16 determines the digital camera 10 based on the ID of the digital camera 10 included in the e-mail subject. A management terminal that manages the camera 10 is specified, and a reception notification is transmitted to the management terminal. The reception notification can be transmitted in the e-mail format via the Internet 12. The management terminals 18 and 20 that manage the digital camera 10 can confirm that the image data acquired by the digital camera 10 has been stored in the ASP server 16 by receiving the reception notification from the ASP server 16. When image data from a plurality of digital cameras 10 is received, the ASP server 16 transmits a reception notification to each terminal managing each digital camera 10.
[0013]
When an administrator of the digital camera 10 needs an image data file, the administrator accesses the ASP server 16 using the management terminal 18 (or 20), and acquires file data edited or processed by the ASP server 16. Display on the terminal display device. The administrator visually confirms the file data displayed on the display device of the management terminal 18, thereby confirming the image data acquired by the digital camera 10 in the field, and further creating a file in a predetermined format obtained by editing the image data. Obtainable.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera 10 in FIG. The digital camera 10 includes a sensor 10a such as CMOS or CCD, a DSP 10b, a CPU 10c, a memory interface I / F 10d, a JPEG codec 10e, a memory 10f, a communication interface I / F 10g, a video interface I / F 10h, a signal processor 10i, an electronic viewfinder ( EVF) 10j and various buttons. Signals from various buttons are input to the CPU 10c.
[0015]
Image data obtained by the sensor 10a is subjected to gamma correction, color difference signal processing, and luminance signal processing by the DSP 10b, and then displayed on the EVF 10j through the video interface I / F 10h and the signal processor 10i. When the release button is operated, the CPU 10c detects the operation of the release button, converts the image data into the JPEG format by the JPEG codec 10e, and stores it in the flash memory. When image data is stored in the flash memory, it is collectively managed in a folder created for each destination. For example, when there are two transmission destinations 1 and 2, folders 1 and 2 having transmission destination numbers are created, image data to be sent to the transmission destination 1 is stored in the folder 1, and an image to be sent to the transmission destination 2 Data is stored in folder 2. The CPU 10c assigns a project number from each initial value to each destination folder. The shooting date and time is also stored.
[0016]
When the release button is operated, the CPU 10c continues to display the image when the release button is operated, that is, the image stored in the flash memory, on the EVF 10j for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds). That is, in the normal state, the images sampled at a predetermined sampling timing are sequentially displayed on the EVF 10j. Therefore, when the subject is moving, the moving image is displayed on the EVF 10j. When operated, the image data at that time is not updated and is continuously displayed on the EVF 10j. Specifically, when the release button is operated, the image data at that time is stored in the RAM of the memory 10f, and the stored image data is repeatedly read and continuously displayed on the EVF 10j. Therefore, even when the subject is moving, not the current image formed on the sensor 10a but the image when the release button is operated is displayed as a still image on the EVF 10j.
[0017]
When the send button is operated, the CPU 10a detects this operation, converts the image data stored in the transmission destination folder into text data as an attached file of the e-mail, attaches it, and also applies the subject of the e-mail. The data such as the project number is acquired from the flash memory and automatically inserted and transmitted to the mail server 14. Conversion from JPEG data (binary data) to text data is executed by the CPU 10c. The above conversion can also be performed by the DSP 10b.
[0018]
When the communication speed is not sufficient, transmission of a plurality of image data at a time may cause communication interruption due to some kind of failure. Therefore, it is preferable that the digital camera 10 stores a plurality of image data in the transmission destination folder, and transmits the plurality of images in a plurality of times even when transmitting the plurality of images. For example, when 24 pieces of image data are stored in the transmission destination folder 1 and all of them are transmitted, one piece of image data is assigned to one and divided into a total of 24 e-mails. The project number of each subject of a total of 24 emails is the same. After transmitting all the image data in the destination folder, the CP 10c deletes the transmitted image data stored in the flash memory, and increments the project number of the destination folder by 1 for the next transmission. Prepare for. Each of the plurality of image data is identified with a unique file name such as nnnnnnnnnn.jpg incremented from the initial value.
[0019]
Next, various buttons in FIG. 2 will be described.
[0020]
FIG. 3 shows an external view of the digital camera 10. 3A is a front view and FIG. 3B is a rear view. An EVF 10j, a status display LCD 11b, a power switch 11c, a selection button 11e, and a set button 11f are provided on the rear surface of the digital camera 10, and a release button 11d is provided on the upper part of the camera. In addition, a lens 11i, a light amount sensor 11h, and a strobe 11g are provided on the front of the digital camera 10, and a slot 11k and a USB connector 11j for mounting a communication card or memory card are provided on the side. When transmitting image data captured by the digital camera 10 to a desired transmission destination by e-mail, when a communication card is inserted into the card slot 11k and image data is stored in an external memory, or a version stored in the external memory When the upgrade program is downloaded and the control program of the digital camera 10 is upgraded, a memory card is inserted.
[0021]
The status display LCD 11b displays the number of images that can be taken, the radio wave state when the communication card is installed, the remaining battery level, and the like. In the conventional digital camera, a certain size is required to display a photographed image on a liquid crystal display provided on the back surface. However, in this embodiment, since the photographed image is not displayed on the status display LCD 11b, the size can be reduced. .
[0022]
The selection button 11e is a button for selecting a desired transmission destination from a plurality of transmission destinations, and is a transmission button for transmitting image data stored in the flash memory by e-mail. When the selection button 11e is pressed long, the CPU 10c creates an e-mail and transmits image data. When the selection button 11e is pressed for a short time, the CPU 10c sequentially changes and displays the transmission destination number on the status display LCD. When there are five transmission destinations, the transmission destination changes in order of 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → CF → 1 every time the key is pressed. The CF means a memory card when a memory card is inserted in the card slot 11k.
[0023]
Although the transmission destination can be selected with the selection button 11e also serving as the transmission button, when the release button 11d is operated during selection, the CPU 10c cancels the selection process. Canceling the selection process means returning the transmission destination to the original transmission destination that has already been determined. The CPU 10c also cancels the selection process when the power switch 11c is operated from the on position to the off position instead of the release button 11d. Even if the selection button 11e is operated by mistake for some reason, the photographed image is stored in the correct transmission destination folder and transmitted when the release button 11d is operated to automatically return to the original transmission destination. It becomes possible to do. Further, since the original correct transmission destination is automatically restored by turning off the power switch 11c, when the power switch is turned on again, the photographed image can be stored in the correct transmission destination folder and transmitted.
[0024]
The set button 11f is a button for confirming the transmission destination. After selecting the transmission destination with the selection button 11e, the CPU 10c confirms the transmission destination by operating the set button 11f, and the folder of the confirmed transmission destination. The captured images are stored sequentially.
[0025]
FIG. 4 shows a process flowchart of the digital camera 10 when various buttons are operated. In the following, a case where captured image data is transmitted to a desired transmission destination will be described.
[0026]
First, when the user (on-site worker) operates the power switch 11c of the digital camera 10 to turn on the power (S101), the CPU 10c reads the setting parameters stored in the flash memory (S102). The setting parameter is, for example, a connection condition (phone number, PPP password, POP password, account, text data of e-mail, etc.) for each transmission destination. The read setting parameters are expanded on the RAM.
[0027]
Next, the CPU 10c identifies the mode (S103). This mode identification process identifies whether a communication card is installed in the card slot 11k, a memory card is installed, or a card is not installed. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a communication card is attached and the CPU 10c is identified as a mode in which image data is transmitted to a transmission destination via the Internet.
[0028]
The user operates the selection button 11e and the set button 11f to select and confirm the transmission destination, and the CPU 10c processes the image obtained from the sensor 10a with the video I / F 10h and the signal processor 10i and displays it on the EVF 10j ( S104). The user determines a composition to be photographed while visually recognizing the image displayed on the EVF 10j (framing), and depresses the release button 11d. When the CPU 10c detects a pressing operation of the release button 11d, a photographing process is executed (S105), and the obtained image data is stored in the flash memory. When the user operates the selection button 11e for a long time after shooting, the CPU 10c detects this, converts the image data stored in the flash memory into text data, and transmits an e-mail (S106).
[0029]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the selection button 11e serves both as a transmission destination selection function and an image data transmission function, so that the transmission destination can be selected and transmitted with a small number of buttons. Further, since the transmission destination selection function and the transmission function are related to each other and have a time-series relationship (first, the transmission destination is selected and then transmitted), the operation is easy.
[0030]
Furthermore, since the release button 11d serves not only for the opening / closing control of the shutter (or electronic shutter) but also for the selection canceling function by the selection button 11e, the possibility of transmitting image data to an incorrect transmission destination can be reduced. .
[0031]
As described above, the case where the communication card is mounted in the card slot 11k and the image data is transmitted has been described. However, when the memory card is mounted in the card slot 11k, by operating the selection button 11e also serving as the transmission button, Transfer to a memory card can be performed.
[0032]
That is, when the CPU 10c detects that a memory card is attached in S103, the CPU 10c shifts to a transfer mode to the memory card. That is, when the user sets the transmission destination to “CF” using the selection button 11e and the set button 11f and then operates the selection button 11 for a long time, the CPU 10c interprets “transmission” as transfer to the memory card, and flashes. All image data stored in the memory destination folder is transferred to the memory card. After the transfer is completed, the CPU 10c erases all the image data in the transmission destination folder. Since the transfer to the memory card can be regarded as the transmission to the memory card, the transfer to the memory card by the operation of the transmission button is easy for the user.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the operability can be improved while simplifying the configuration of the digital camera.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a system using a digital camera of an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a digital camera.
FIG. 3 is an external view of a digital camera.
FIG. 4 is a process flowchart of the digital camera.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 digital camera, 11d release button, 11e selection button (send button), 11f set button.

Claims (4)

An image sensor;
Means for storing image data obtained by the imaging device;
A selection button for selecting a desired destination from a plurality of destinations;
A submit button,
Means for transmitting the image data in an e-mail format to the transmission destination selected by the selection button when the transmission button is operated;
A digital camera having
The digital camera is characterized in that the selection button and the transmission button are the same button, selected by a short press operation of the button, and transmitted by a long press operation. The digital camera of claim 1, further comprising:
Release button,
And the selection is canceled by operating the release button. The digital camera of claim 1, further comprising:
A power switch;
And the selection is canceled by turning off the power switch. The digital camera of claim 1, further comprising:
A card slot;
Means for transferring the image data to the memory card when a memory card is inserted into the card slot and the send button is operated;
A digital camera comprising:

Images