FR2932348A1 - Shooting adjustment and triggering control method for e.g. webcam, involves transmitting converted signal to electronic circuit of digital camera, and performing adjustments and triggering of shooting at level of digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves determining a control signal emitted by a computer device, and receiving a control signal by an electronic control conversion module (1). The control signal is processed by the electronic control conversion module for converting the control signal into a signal exploitable by an electronic circuit of a digital camera e.g. webcam. The converted signal is transmitted to the electronic circuit of the digital camera. Adjustments and triggering of shooting are performed at the level of the digital camera. An independent claim is also included for a device for remotely controlling adjustments and triggering of shooting of a digital camera.

Description

The present invention relates to a method and a device for adapting digital cameras to enable their remote control by a computer device. It applies in particular, but not exclusively, to the adaptation of conventional digital cameras in order to remotely control them by a computer.

It is known that the triggering of certain digital cameras can be remotely controlled by means of a remote control, however, this solution does not make it possible to modify the settings of remote shooting by means of this remote control, the operator having to define these settings before moving away with the remote control, and start shooting.

In addition, some high-end digital cameras 25 are equipped to allow remote control of shooting settings. However, these cameras include in their manufacture this feature whose implementation requires the prior installation of software, usually paid, on a computer. On the other hand, digital photography devices that do not incorporate this feature into their manufacture could not be remotely controlled from a computer to take pictures. The object of the invention is therefore more particularly to eliminate this drawback by proposing a method and a device making it possible to adapt a digital photography apparatus in order, in particular, to make it possible to set and trigger remote shots. , this adaptation being fast, easy, and achievable on most digital photography devices that do not understand this feature.

For this purpose, it proposes a method making it possible to adapt a digital photographic camera so as to be able to remotely control the settings and the triggering of shots by means of a computing device, characterized in that it comprises the realization of the steps following: • the connection of a specific electronic control conversion module to the electronic circuit of said digital camera; • the installation on the computer device of a specific software comprising an image interface allowing a user to perform commands such as adjustment and triggering shots; • the connection according to a usual connection mode, from the digital camera to the computer device by means of a wired or wireless link; • determining by the user by means of said interface at least one command and the transmission by the computing device of at least one corresponding control signal; • the receipt of this control signal by the electronic control conversion module; The processing of this control signal by this electronic module, which converts it into at least one signal that can be used by the electronic circuit of the digital camera; • the transmission of this signal thus converted to said electronic circuit of the digital camera; • the realization of the command at the digital camera.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the user can determine at least one shooting adjustment command. In this way, it is possible to adapt a digital camera to remote control it through the interface of the software installed on the computer device, the user can make such adjustments, such as adjusting the focus or brightness, but also when shooting, without directly manipulating the camera.

Thus, in the case where the command determined by the user is intended to trigger the shooting, and after possibly making said remote adjustments, the method according to the invention may comprise the following steps: by the specific electronic control converting module to the signal computing device comprising the information that the settings have been made; • the selection by the user by means of said interface of the triggering control of the shooting and the transmission by the computing device of at least one corresponding control signal; • the receipt of this control signal by the electronic control conversion module; • the processing of this control signal by the electronic module, that it converts it into at least one signal usable by the electronic circuit of the digital camera; • the transmission of this signal thus converted to said electronic circuit of the digital camera; • the execution of this shot.

Preferably, the specific electronic control conversion module can be integrated into the body of the digital camera. In this case and advantageously, the housing of the specific electronic module may be shaped so as to have substantially the shape of two cylindrical cells in order to allow the insertion of this housing into the battery housing of the digital camera.

In addition, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the image interface can display on the screen of the computer device the image captured by the lens of the digital camera. In this way, the user can with great ease of use make optimal settings for the desired shooting.

In addition, thanks to a periodic and rapid renewal of the image captured by said lens, and to a continuous operation of this feature, the digital camera can serve as a webcam or video camera.

Embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a digital camera with highlighted on the one hand, a wired connection making it possible to connect it to a computing device and, on the other hand, the battery compartment into which the specific electronic module can engage; FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the electronic module specific with highlighting son to connect to the electronic circuit of the digital camera; Figure 3 is a schematic sectional representation of the electronic module with a highlight of its electronic components.

As shown in FIG. 2, the specific electronic control conversion module 1 comprises: an electronic circuit 2 making it possible in particular to carry out the conversion of commands; A housing 3 which in this case is advantageously shaped so as to have substantially the shape of two cylindrical stacks in order to allow the insertion of this housing 3 into the housing 4 of the stacks of a digital photographic camera 5 such as the shown in Figure 1.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the housing 3 of the specific electronic module 1 may be shaped so that it can be inserted into the housing (not shown) of the battery of the digital camera 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic circuit 2 of the specific electronic module 1 may include but is not limited to: • a central processing unit 6 (CPU); Memory means such as permanent memory 7 (ROM) and / or volatile memory 8 (RAM); A clock 9; 5 management means (not shown) for transferring the data; A digital analog converter 11; A video conversion means 12.

This electronic circuit 2 of the specific electronic module 1 is connected to the electronic circuit (not shown) of the digital camera 5 by means of two connection wires 10, 10 '.

Furthermore, the user can install on a computer device (not shown), such as a computer, specific software comprising an image interface allowing him to select commands such as adjustment and triggering shots.

This computer device is connected to the digital camera 15 by means of: a wired link 11 with a connection to the image transfer port 12 of the digital camera 5, this port 12 being of the USB type; or • a wireless link. In this way, after having connected the digital camera 5 and the computer device, the user can, by means of the image interface, select a command such as in particular but not exclusively: a control of settings, those which can be in particular to have focus and / or brightness; • a command to trigger a shot.

The computer device then proceeds to the transmission of at least one corresponding control signal, this signal being received by the specific electronic control conversion module 1 which converts the data of this signal into data that can be used by the electronic circuit. the digital camera 5.

More specifically, the central processing unit 6 of the specific electronic module 1 and the conversion means 11, 12 carry out this conversion by using conversion instructions stored preferentially in the read-only memory 7, the data to be converted and the converted data being stored. preferentially in the volatile memory 8.

Thus, the specific electronic module 1 performs a simulation of presses on the keys of the digital camera 5, the converter 11 can for example: • generate a specific signal of 5 volts to select a corresponding contactor on / off corresponding to a specific order; or • generating a signal having a specific voltage level, which makes it possible to select a determined component of the electronic circuit of the digital camera 5.

The support signal of these data thus converted is then transmitted to this electronic circuit of the digital camera 5 which allows the realization of the command.

In this way, a conventional digital camera can be easily adapted to allow remote control by means of a computer device.

Claims (10)

Revendications1. A method of adapting a digital camera (5) to remotely control camera settings and triggering by means of a computer device, characterized by the steps of: connecting a specific electronic control converting module (1) to the electronic circuit of said digital camera (5); • installing on the computer device specific software including an image interface allowing a user to perform commands such as setting controls and triggering shots; • the connection according to a usual connection mode, from the digital camera (5) to the computer device by means of a link (11) wired or wireless; • the determination by the user by means of said interface of at least one command and the transmission by the computing device of at least one corresponding control signal; • the reception of this control signal by the electronic module (1) of control conversion; The processing of this control signal by this electronic module (1), which converts it into at least one signal usable by the electronic circuit of the digital camera (5); • the transmission of this signal thus converted to said electronic circuit of the digital camera (5); Carrying out the control at the digital camera (5). 8 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the control determined by the user is a shooting adjustment control such as a control for adjusting the focus or brightness. 3. Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the control determined by the user is intended to trigger the shooting thus, after possibly making said remote settings, the method according to the The invention comprises the following steps: the transmission by the specific electronic control conversion module (1) to the computer device of the signal comprising the information according to which the adjustments have been made; • the selection by the user by means of said interface of the triggering control of the shooting and the transmission by the computing device of at least one corresponding control signal; • the reception of this control signal by the electronic module (1) of control conversion; • the processing of this control signal by the electronic module (1), which it converts it into at least one signal usable by the electronic circuit of the digital camera (5); • the transmission of this signal thus converted to said electronic circuit of the digital camera (5); • the execution of this shot. 4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the specific electronic control converter module (1) is integrated in the body of the digital camera (5); in this case, the housing (3) of the specific electronic module (1) is shaped to have substantially the shape of two cylindrical stacks to allow the insertion of this housing (3) in the housing (4) of the batteries of the digital camera (5). 5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the housing (3) of the specific electronic module (1) is shaped so as to be inserted into the housing of the battery of the digital camera ( 5). 6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the image interface makes it possible to display on the screen of the computing device the image captured by the objective of the digital camera (5). 7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the image captured by the lens of the digital camera (5) is renewed periodically and quickly. 8. Device for implementing the method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the specific electronic control conversion module (1) comprises: • an electronic circuit (2) allowing in particular to carry out the conversion of commands, this circuit (2) comprising: a central processing unit (6) (CPU); memory means such as permanent memory (7) (ROM) and / or volatile memory (RAM); o a clock (9); o data transfer management means; o a digital analog converter (11); a video conversion means (12). A housing (3). 9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the electronic circuit (2) of the specific electronic module (1) is connected to the electronic circuit of the digital camera (5) by means of two connection wires (10, 10 '). 10. Device according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the computer device is connected to the digital camera (5) by means of: • a wire connection (11) with a connection to the port ( 12) for transferring images from the digital camera (5), this port (12) being of the USB type; or • a wireless link.