JP2003134365A - Function expanding device for digital camera and digital camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a function expanding device for a digital camera, which is integrally connected to the digital camera and is capable of charging the digital camera and making a data communication through a network. SOLUTION: The function expanding device 6 is provided with a main body 6a, a movable section 6b and a mounting section 6c. When the digital camera 1 is mounted on the section 6c, a stopper 94a provided on the section 6c fixes the camera 1. The device 6 charges the camera 1 when the camera 1 is mounted on the section 6c. Also, the device 6 is constituted in such a way that a CPU is provided in its inside to control photographing operations of the camera 1 mounted on the section 6c and image display, etc., and that the device 6 is connected to the network to make data communications to external equipment through the network.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a function expanding device for a digital camera and a digital camera system having a structure in which the digital camera and the function expanding device are integrally connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a charging device for a digital camera, a device for charging the digital camera by mounting the digital camera is known. The charging device is provided with a contact that is joined to the contact of the digital camera when the digital camera is placed, and the charging device charges the digital camera through the contact.

Further, as an additional function of the charging device, a computer can be connected, and a contact for data communication is provided on the mounting surface on which the digital camera is mounted, in addition to a contact for charging. There is also a charging device configured such that when the digital camera is placed on the charging device, the computer can be charged and the image data recorded in the digital camera can be read out.

When a digital camera is mounted on such a charging device and the digital camera is charged or image data is read out, the digital camera is fixed to the charging device.

[0005]

By the way, in recent years, for the purpose of confirming the inside of an absent house from the outside or checking the state of an old man or a child from another room, the inside of the house is monitored. The demand for installing cameras is increasing.

Therefore, if a commercially available digital camera can be used as a surveillance camera, there are advantages in terms of cost and handiness as compared with the case where a dedicated surveillance camera is installed inside a house. However, if the functions required for the surveillance camera are added to the digital camera itself, the size of the digital camera is increased and it becomes inconvenient to carry.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the fact that the above-mentioned charging device is placed inside a house,
An object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera function expansion device that is integrally connected to a digital camera and can expand the functions of the digital camera.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a function expanding device for a digital camera, comprising: a mounting portion for mounting and fixing the digital camera. , A charging unit that charges the digital camera when the digital camera is mounted on the mounting unit, a communication unit that performs data communication with an external device via a network, and the external unit by controlling the communication unit. And a control unit that controls the digital camera mounted on the mounting unit while transmitting and receiving data to and from a device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the function expanding device for a digital camera according to the first aspect, there is further provided with photographing direction changing means for changing a photographing direction of the digital camera mounted on the mounting portion. There is.

The invention described in claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the function expanding device for a digital camera described in the above item 1, the control means controls the display state of a display means provided in the digital camera.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the function expanding device for a digital camera according to the third aspect, the control means controls the photographing operation of the digital camera to obtain image data obtained from the digital camera. , Configured to transmit to the external device via the communication means, and based on image data input from the external device,
The display state of the display means provided in the digital camera is controlled.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the function expanding device for a digital camera according to the second aspect, the control means controls the photographing operation of the digital camera to obtain image data obtained from the digital camera. It is characterized in that it is configured to transmit to the external device via the communication means, and operates the photographing direction changing means based on a command signal of the photographing direction inputted from the external device.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 4 or 5.
In the function expanding device for a digital camera described in (3), the control means starts the shooting operation in the digital camera when a shooting start signal is received from the external device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera system comprising a digital camera and a function expanding device for the digital camera integrally connected to the digital camera, wherein the function expanding device comprises: A mounting unit for mounting and fixing the digital camera, a charging unit that charges the digital camera when the digital camera is mounted on the mounting unit, and a charging unit for the digital camera mounted on the mounting unit. Control means for controlling internal operation,
The control means includes a communication means for performing data communication with an external device via a predetermined network, and is displayed by the control of the control means when the digital camera is mounted on the mounting portion. Display means for changing the contents, and photographing means for performing a photographing operation under the control of the control means when mounted on the mounting portion.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<1. Configuration of Digital Camera> First, the configuration of the digital camera will be described. 1 and 2 are
1 is an external view showing a configuration of a digital camera 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 showing a front side and FIG. 2 showing a back side. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera 1 has a taking lens 11, a finder window 12, and a flash 1 on the front side.
3. A fixing recess 14a is provided. Digital camera 1
A shutter button 15 is provided on the upper surface side of the. Also,
On the back side of the digital camera 1, an image display unit 20 composed of a liquid crystal display, operation buttons 16 for a user to perform an input operation, a finder window 12, and a fixing concave portion 14.
b is provided. The fixing concave portions 14 a and 14 b are fixing portions for fitting the stopper of the function expanding device 6 described later to fix the digital camera 1 to the function expanding device 6.

The image display section 20 of the digital camera 1
Is installed in the digital camera 1 via the first movable member 21 and the second movable member 22. Both ends of the first movable member 21 are connected to the main body of the digital camera 1, and the center of the second movable member 22 is connected to the first movable member 21. The image display unit 20 is fixed to the second movable member 22.

3 and 4 are views showing the state of the image display section 20 when the first movable member 21 and the second movable member 22 are moved, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the digital camera 1. FIG. 4 shows a top view of the digital camera 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first movable member 21 is provided so as to be rotatable about the movable axis α1, and by rotating the first movable member 21, the image display section 20 is moved. By rotating in the θ1 direction, it is possible to change from a state in which the image display unit 20 displays an image toward the back side of the digital camera 1 to a state in which the image display unit 20 displays an image toward the front side.

Further, the second movable member 22 is constructed so as to be rotatable in the θ2 direction about the rotation axis α2 of the central portion connected to the first movable member 21. Then, when the display surface of the image display unit 20 is turned to the front side of the digital camera 1 by the rotating operation of the first movable member 21, as shown in FIG.
The image display unit 2 is rotated by rotating the image display device around the rotation axis α2.
It is possible to turn the display surface of 0 in any direction.

FIG. 5 shows the image display section 2 of the digital camera 1.
3 is a diagram showing a state in which 0 is directed to the front side of the digital camera 1. FIG. By rotating the first movable member 21 as described above, the digital camera 1 can be set to the state shown in FIG. 5, and the shooting direction of the digital camera 1 and
It is also possible to set the display direction of the image display unit 20 to be substantially the same. This state is particularly effective when the digital camera 1 is used as a TV phone, which will be described later.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the outer appearance of the digital camera 1 including the bottom portion. As shown in FIG. 6, a data transmission / reception terminal 17 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the function expansion device 6 when the digital camera 1 is attached to the function expansion device 6 is provided on the bottom surface of the digital camera 1. And a charging terminal 18 for charging the storage battery inside the digital camera 1 by the function expansion device 6. These terminals 1
When the digital camera 1 is mounted on the function expansion device 6, the terminals 7 and 18 are configured to be joined to the terminals provided on the function expansion device 6.

Next, the internal structure of the digital camera 1 will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the digital camera 1. The digital camera 1 is provided with a data processing unit 10 and a power supply unit 50.
0 is for performing data processing such as image data and control data, and the power supply unit 50 is for charging the storage battery 53 and supplying electric power to each unit of the data processing unit 10.

As shown in FIG. 7, the data processing unit 10 is
An image sensor 31 that photoelectrically converts an object image formed by the taking lens 11 to generate an image signal, a signal processing unit 32 that A / D converts the image signal from the image sensor 31 to generate image data, and a signal process The image memory 33 that temporarily stores the image data generated by the unit 32, the autofocus (AF) drive unit 34 that drives the lens included in the taking lens 11 to perform focus control, and the lens included in the taking lens 11 Data transmission / reception is realized between the function expansion device 6 and the CPU 40 via the zoom drive unit 35 that drives to change the photographing magnification, the operation button group 19 including the shutter button 15 and the operation button 16, and the data transmission / reception terminal 17. Data transmission / reception unit 36, data transmission / reception terminal connection detection unit 37 for detecting that the function expansion device 6 is connected to the data transmission / reception terminal 17. Is constituted by a memory card, or the like,
A data storage unit 38 for storing various data such as image data obtained by photographing, and a rotation detection unit for generating a display switching signal when the rotation angle of the rotation axis α1 of the image display unit 20 becomes a predetermined angle or more. 39 and
It is configured to include a CPU 40 that controls each of the above units.

The CPU 40 controls each unit inside the digital camera by executing a predetermined program, and with respect to image data obtained by photographing with the image pickup device 31 or image data to be displayed on the image display unit 20. A display control unit 4 that controls the image processing unit 41 and the image display unit 20 that perform data processing by switching on / off of the image display.
2 and functions as a shooting control unit 43 that controls the shooting operation of the digital camera 1. Further, when the digital camera 1 is attached to the function expansion device 6, the data transmission / reception terminal connection detection unit 37 is configured to give a signal indicating that the function expansion device 6 is attached to the CPU 40.
When the U40 receives this signal, the data transmitting / receiving unit 36
Data communication with the function expansion device 6 is performed via the, and a control operation according to a command from the function expansion device 6 is performed.

When the image processing unit 41 receives the display switching signal from the rotation detection unit 39, the image to be displayed on the image display unit 20 is turned upside down or rotated by 180 ° and given to the image display unit 20. Accordingly, even when the display surface of the image display unit 20 is set to be in the same direction as the shooting direction (for example, the image display unit 20 is rotated about 180 degrees around the rotation axis α1), the display image is displayed. It is possible to prevent an upside down display and perform an appropriate image display.

Further, the digital camera 1 has the function expansion device 6
When the digital camera 1 and the function expansion device 6 are integrally attached to the image processing unit 41, the image processing unit 41 responds to a command from the function expansion device 6 to obtain an image or function expansion obtained from the image sensor 31. An image input from the device 6 is given to the image display unit 20.

Further, when the digital camera 1 is used alone, the display control unit 42 switches the image display unit 20 on / off in accordance with the operation of the operation button group 19, while the digital camera 1 Is used in a state of being integrated with the function expanding device 6, the on / off state of the image display unit 20 is switched according to a command from the function expanding device 6.

Further, when the digital camera 1 is used alone, the photographing control section 43 also controls the photographing function of the image pickup device 31 and the like in accordance with the operation of the operation button group 19, while the digital camera 1 is controlled. Is used in a state of being integrated with the function expanding device 6, the photographing function is controlled according to a command from the function expanding device 6. Specifically, in response to a command from the function expansion device 6, the AF drive unit 34
And the zoom driving unit 35 to perform focus control and change control of the photographing magnification, and drive control of the image pickup device 31 to control the photographing operation.

On the other hand, the power supply unit 50 detects whether the function expansion device 6 is connected to the charging terminal 18 and notifies the CPU 40 of the fact, and the CPU 4 and the charging terminal connection detecting unit 51.
0 based on the control signal from the charging terminal 18 and the storage battery 53
Charging switch 52 for switching between energized state and cutoff state with
And a storage battery 53 that performs charging with electric power supplied from the function expansion device 6 when the charging switch 52 is in the energized state, and supplies electric power to each unit when the digital camera 1 is used alone. Consists of Although not shown, the voltage level of the storage battery 53 is monitored by the CPU 40. When the CPU 40 inputs a detection signal from the charging terminal connection detection unit 51, the charging switch 52 is turned on, and the voltage level of the storage battery 53 exceeds a predetermined voltage. Alternatively, when the detection signal is lost, the charging switch 52 is turned off.

The charging terminal connection detection unit 51 monitors the voltage applied to the charging terminal 18, for example, and when the terminal voltage becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage, it is determined that the function expansion device 6 is connected to the charging terminal 18. Adopting a configuration for detecting, or a configuration for detecting that the function expanding device 6 is connected to the charging terminal 18 by a push button switch that is pressed to be turned on when attached to the function expanding device 6. You can

The power supply unit 50 is configured to be able to supply electric power to each unit of the digital camera 1 even while the storage battery 53 is being charged.

<2. Configuration of Function Expansion Device> Next, the configuration of the function expansion device 6 for expanding the functions of the digital camera 1 will be described. FIG. 8 is an external view showing the configuration of the function expansion device 6 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the function expansion device 6 is configured to include a main body portion 6a, a mounting portion 6b, and a movable portion 6c. The mounting portion 6b is for mounting and fixing the digital camera 1, and is connected to the main body portion 6a via the movable portion 6c.

Various operation buttons and indicators are arranged on the front side of the main body 6a, and various connectors and a speaker 65 for connecting to an external device are arranged on the side surface of the main body 6a. Further, a pointing device 63 and a microphone 64 are provided on the upper surface side of the main body.

As various connectors of the main body portion 6a, a keyboard connecting terminal 71a to which a keyboard for easily inputting characters can be connected, a video output terminal 71b for outputting an image to an external TV receiver, etc., as described above. A second connection terminal 71c for connecting a second digital camera different from the digital camera 1, a PC connection terminal 71d for connecting an external computer such as a personal computer (PC),
A network output terminal 71e for connecting to a network such as the Internet via a public network or the like, and a network input terminal 71f for inputting a modem output of an external computer or the like are provided. The second digital camera may have the same configuration as the digital camera 1 described above, or may be a digital camera having a relatively simple configuration having only a shooting function and an image display function.

As operation buttons, a network connection switching button 61a and an effective camera switching button 6 are provided.
1b, shooting direction changing mode switching button 61c, PC
A connection on / off switching button 61d, a videophone mode on / off button 61e, and a power button 61f are provided.

Network connection switching button 61a
Is a button for selecting whether to connect the CPU inside the function expansion device 6 or the external computer connected to the network input terminal 71f to the network connected to the network output terminal 71e.
When the user operates the network connection switching button 61a, a network interface device, which will be described later, operates to switch the contact to be connected to the network output terminal 71e. Then, the current connection state is displayed on the indicator 62a according to the button operation by the user. For example, when the CPU inside the function expanding device 6 is connected to the network output terminal 71e, the function expanding device 6 can perform data communication with an external device such as a mobile phone or a computer via the network.
The network input terminal 71f is replaced with the network output terminal 7
When connected to 1e, an external computer connected to the network input terminal 71f can perform data communication with an external device via the network.

The effective camera switching button 61b is used for the digital camera 1 for taking an image transmitted to the communication destination via the network, which is the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting portion 6c or for the second connection terminal 71c. It is a button for selecting whether or not to be the second digital camera to be connected, and the indicator 6 is selected according to the selection operation by the user.
The currently selected digital camera is displayed in 2b.

Shooting direction changing mode switching button 61c
Is a button for selecting whether the operation of the movable portion 6b for changing the shooting direction of the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting portion 6c is performed manually or by the automatic control of the main body portion 6a. The operation method currently selected is displayed on the indicator 62c according to the content of the selection operation by.

PC connection on / off switching button 61d
Is for switching between a state in which the function expansion device 6 operates in accordance with a control signal input from an external computer connected to the PC connection terminal 71d or a state in which a control signal from the external computer is not accepted. This is a button, and the indicator 62d is turned on when the function expansion device 6 is controlled by the external computer, and is turned off when the control signal from the external computer is not accepted.

The TV telephone mode ON / OFF button 61e realizes the function as a TV telephone device by integrating the digital camera 1 and the function expanding device 6 when the digital camera 1 is attached to the function expanding device 6. This is a button for selecting whether or not to do so, and the indicator 62e lights up when it functions as a TV phone device.

The power button 61f is a button for switching the power of the function expanding device 6 on and off, and the indicator 62f lights up when the power is on.

The pointing device 63 is an operation input means for the user to input data to the function expansion device 6.

Next, the movable portion 6b has a rotating column 81 and a rotating column 8 which are rotatable about a rotational axis β1 parallel to the vertical direction by a pan drive motor provided inside the main body 6a.
1 is connected to the upper end of the rotary member 8 and is rotatable by a tilt drive motor about a rotation axis β2 perpendicular to the rotation axis β1.
2 and a supporting member 83 that is connected to the rotating member 82 and supports the mounting portion 6c. If the shooting direction change mode is manually set, the rotating column 81
The rotary member 82 is configured to rotate by manual operation. The movable portion 6b is configured to be stationary at the rotated position when it is rotated about the rotation axes β1 and β2.

By the operation of this movable part 6b,
Since the mounting portion 6c connected to the movable portion 6b operates integrally with the operation of the movable portion 6b, the shooting direction of the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting portion 6c can be changed. Therefore, the movable portion 6b functions as a photographing direction changing unit that changes the photographing direction of the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting portion 6c.

That is, by rotating the movable portion 6b about the rotation axis β1, the photographing direction of the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting portion 6c can be changed to the pan direction (turning direction), and the movable portion 6b can be changed. By rotating about the rotation axis β2, it is possible to change the photographing direction of the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting portion 6c to the tilt direction (depression direction).

On the upper surface side of the mounting portion 6c, there is formed a recess 90 into which the bottom portion of the digital camera 1 can be mounted. At the bottom of the recess 90, the digital camera 1 is mounted on the function expansion device 6. Data transmission / reception terminal 91 for transmitting / receiving data to / from the digital camera 1
And a charging terminal 92 for charging the storage battery inside the digital camera 1 from the function expansion device 6. These terminals 91 and 92 are configured to be joined to the terminals 17 and 18 provided in the function expanding device 6 when the digital camera 1 is attached to the function expanding device 6. Also, the recess 9
At the bottom of 0, a push button type digital camera connection detection unit 93 configured to be pressed by the bottom surface of the digital camera 1 when the digital camera 1 is mounted is provided.

Further, stoppers 94a and 94b are provided at the edges of the recess 90 of the mounting portion 6c. Stoppers 94a, 9
4b is biased toward the center of the recess 90 by a biasing means such as a spring. Therefore, when the digital camera 1 is mounted on the mounting portion 6c, each stopper 94
The tip portions of a and 94b are fitted into fixing recesses 14a and 14b formed in the digital camera 1, and the digital camera 1
Is fixed to the function expansion device 6 while being attached. Since the stoppers 94a and 94b fix the digital camera 1 to the mounting portion 6c, the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting portion 6c
The terminals 17 and 18 of FIG. 3 and the terminals 91 and 92 of the mounting portion 6c are always electrically connected, and the movable portion 6b operates to move the digital camera 1 in the pan direction and tilt. Even when the posture is changed in the direction, the digital camera 1 can be maintained in the fixed state without being detached from the mounting portion 6c.

A charging indicator 95 is arranged on the front side of the mounting portion 6c. Charging indicator 95
Has two built-in light emitting diodes of different emission colors, and is configured, for example, to indicate that the digital camera 1 is being charged by lighting in red and that charging has been completed by lighting in green. The off state is a state in which the digital camera 1 is not mounted and fixed to the mounting portion 6c.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a state in which the digital camera 1 is fixed to the function expansion device 6 having the above structure. As shown in FIG. 9, by mounting and fixing the digital camera 1 on the mounting unit 6c of the function expansion device 6, and further rotating the image display unit 20 of the digital camera 1 about the rotation axis α1, the shooting direction of the digital camera 1 is changed. Both the display direction of the image display unit 20 faces the front side of the function expansion device 6. Further, even when the movable portion 6b of the function expanding device 6 is operated in this state, the digital camera 1 is fixed by the stoppers 94a and 94b, so that the digital camera 1 is not detached from the mounting portion 6c. Absent. In this way, the digital camera system 3 is realized by mounting and fixing the digital camera 1 on the function expansion device 6.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the main internal structure of the function expansion device 6. As shown in FIG. 10, in addition to the configuration described above, the function expansion device 6 includes a pan drive motor 75 for driving the movable portion 6b in the pan direction, and the movable portion 6b.
A tilt drive motor 76 for driving the
A data transmitting / receiving unit 7 for transmitting / receiving data between the CPU 100 and the digital camera 1 via a pan / tilt driving unit 74 for giving a drive signal to the pan driving motor 75 and the tilt driving motor 76, and a data transmitting / receiving terminal 91.
3, a digital camera connection detection unit 93 for transmitting to the CPU 100 that the digital camera 1 is attached to the attachment unit 6c, a charging circuit 96 for charging the digital camera 1 via the charging terminal 92, and a second connection terminal 71c detects that the second digital camera 2 is connected to C
A connection detection unit 72 for transmitting to the PU 100, a data storage unit 77 for storing various data, and an operation button group 6 including the above-mentioned buttons and pointing device 63.
1. Indicator group 6 including the above-mentioned indicators
2. A microphone 64 for converting input voice into a voice signal and giving it to the CPU 100, a speaker 65 for generating voice by a voice signal from the CPU 100, and a PC for performing data communication with the external computer 7 via the PC connection terminal 71d.
The communication unit 78, the network interface device 66 that switches the connection state of the network 9, and the CPU 100 that functions as a control unit are configured.

The CPU 100 controls each unit provided in the function expansion device 6 by executing a predetermined program, and at the same time, the photographing direction control unit 110, the digital camera control unit 120, the command analysis unit 130, and the communication control unit 140. Function as.

When the photographing direction changing mode is the automatic control mode, the photographing direction control unit 110 drives the pan drive motor 75 and the tilt drive motor 76 by giving a control command to the pan / tilt drive unit 74. , Controls the shooting direction of the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting portion 6c.

The digital camera control unit 120 sends a shooting command to the digital camera 1 via the data transmission / reception unit 73 to control the shooting operation of the digital camera 1, and also sends an image display command and image data to send the digital camera 1. The display image for the image display unit 20 is controlled. In addition, the digital camera control unit 120 accesses the data storage unit 38 (see FIG. 7) of the digital camera 1,
The data reading process and the recording process are also performed. Furthermore, when the second digital camera 2 is connected to the second connection terminal 71c, the digital camera control unit 1
Reference numeral 20 also controls the photographing operation of the second digital camera 2.

The command analysis unit 130 analyzes a command input from the external device 8 via the network 9 or a command input from the external computer 7 connected to the PC connection terminal 71d, and the photographing direction control unit according to the content of the command. 110 and the digital camera control unit 120 are made to function, and the data storage unit 77 is accessed to read and record data.

The communication control section 140 transmits communication data and commands in order to perform data communication with a communication destination such as the external device 8 connected via the network 9 or the external computer 7 connected to the PC connection terminal 71d. It is generated and output to the network interface device 66 and the PC communication unit 78.

Further, when the CPU 100 receives a notification from the digital camera connection detection unit 93 that the digital camera 1 is attached to the attachment unit 6c, the CPU 100 turns on the charging circuit 96 and starts the charging process for the digital camera 1. Let

The CPU 100 also controls the indicator group 6 according to the user's operation contents input from the operation button group 61.
The display state of No. 2 is switched and the operation is performed according to the selected operation content.

For example, the effective camera switching button 61b
Is operated and the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting portion 6c is selected, the digital camera control unit 120
Controls the digital camera 1 while the second digital camera 2 connected to the second connection terminal 71c is selected, the digital camera control unit 120 controls the second
The digital camera 2 of FIG. However, the second digital camera 2 is controlled by the connection detection unit 7
Only when 2 detects the connection of the second digital camera 2.

When the photographing direction changing mode switching button 61c is operated and the manual operation of the movable portion 6b is selected, the photographing direction control portion 110 does not function and the movable portion 6b is not operated.
When the automatic control operation is selected, the shooting direction control unit 11
0 functions to control the operation of the movable portion 6b according to a command input from the external computer 7 or the external device 8.

When the PC connection ON / OFF switching button 61d is operated to select the state in which the function expansion device 6 is controlled by the external computer 7, C
The PU 100 operates according to a command input from the external computer 7, and does not perform data communication with the external device 8 via the network 9. On the other hand, when the state in which the control signal from the external computer 7 is not accepted is selected, the CPU 100 enters a state in which data communication with the external device 8 is possible via the network 9.

Further, when the videophone mode is turned on, the CPU 100 realizes the above-mentioned functions and transmits the audio signal input from the microphone 64 to the external device 8 via the network 8. , External equipment 8
Is applied to the speaker 65 via the network 9 to generate a voice. At this time, the CPU 100 causes the image display unit 20 of the digital camera 1 to function as the display screen of the TV phone, and
By controlling the shooting of the digital camera 1, the digital camera 1 and the function expansion device 6 are integrally realized as a TV phone device. In the TV phone mode, the CPU 100 performs any one of a TV phone mode process, a surveillance camera mode process, and an answering machine mode process, which will be described later.

The data storage unit 77 stores answering machine data (voice data, text data, or image data) used in the answering machine mode process. Further, the CPU 100 can also take out the captured image or the like stored in the data storage unit 38 of the digital camera 1 and store it in the data storage unit 77.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an outline of the network interface device 66. The network interface device 66 includes a network communication unit 67, a changeover controller 68, a changeover switch 69, and the above-mentioned network output terminal 71e.

The network communication section 67 is a communication means having a communication function such as a modem function, and transmits the communication data output by the CPU 100 to the destination via the network 9. The switching controller 68 controls the contact switching of the switch 69 according to the operation of the network connection switching button 61a. When the contact 69c connected to the network output terminal 71e is connected to the contact 69a, the CPU 100 of the function expansion device 6 is connected to the network 9, and when the contact 69c is connected to the contact 69b, The external computer 7 is connected to the network 9.

As a result, when the location of the external computer 7 such as a personal computer is fixed and the location of the function expansion device 6 is also fixed in a general household, the user only operates the network connection switching button 61a. Then, either one of the external computer 7 and the function expansion device 6 can be connected to the network 9, and it is not necessary to change the wiring state, which improves convenience.

With the function expanding device 6 having the above-described configuration, the digital camera 1 and the function expanding device 6 integrally function as the digital camera system 3 with the digital camera 1 attached.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing how the digital camera system 3 is used. First, as described above, the digital camera system 3 uses the network 9 such as the Internet.
12A, the data communication with the external device 8 can be performed via the network 9 as shown in FIG. And the digital camera system 3
By displaying an image or the like input from the external device 8 via the network 9 on the image display unit 20 of the digital camera 1, a TV phone function or an Internet browser function can be realized. In addition, digital camera 1
It is also possible to realize a function as a remote monitoring camera, for example, to check the inside of the house from the outside by transmitting the image captured in (1) to an external device via the network 9. Further, the CPU 100 of the function expansion device 6 displays a text editing screen on the image display unit 20 of the digital camera 1, accepts character input from the keyboard connected to the pointing device 63 or the keyboard connection terminal 71a, and performs the text editing process. The electronic mail function can also be realized by performing the above processing and transmitting the text data to the external device 8.

Since the digital camera system 3 has a function of connecting to the external computer 7, FIG.
As shown in (b), the photographing operation of the digital camera 1 can be controlled by the external computer 7, or the photographed image data stored in the digital camera 1 can be moved to the computer 7.

Since the digital camera system 3 can connect the external computer 7 to the network 9, if the external computer 7 wants to access the Internet or the like, as shown in FIG. Can be connected to the network 9 via the digital camera system 3 to perform data communication with the external device 8. Therefore, the external computer 7 can browse images on the Internet or the like and send and receive electronic mail.

In any of the above usage modes,
While the function expansion device 6 charges the digital camera 1, the above-described operation can be realized.

Even when the digital camera system 3 is not connected to the network 9 or the external computer 7, the function expansion device 6 charges the digital camera 1 and the function expansion device 6 stores the digital camera 1 in the stored state. It is possible to move the captured image to the data storage unit 77 of the function expansion device 6.

<3. Operation as Digital Camera System> Next, the operation as the digital camera system 3 will be described.

First, the charging operation in the digital camera system 3 will be described. FIG. 13 is a state transition diagram showing the charging operation of the digital camera system 3. When the digital camera 1 and the function expansion device 6 are separated, the charging circuit 96 of the function expansion device 6 is in the off state (state ST11).

When the function expansion device 6 detects the connection of the digital camera 1 in the state ST11, the CPU 100 turns on the charging circuit 96 (process P1).
1). As a result, the charging switch 52 in the digital camera 1 is turned on, and the storage battery 53 of the digital camera 1 is energized (state ST12). The CPU 40 of the digital camera 1 monitors the voltage of the storage battery 53, switches the charging switch 52 to the off state when the voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold (process P15), and interrupts the energization of the storage battery 53 of the digital camera 1. State (state ST1
Go to 3).

Then, in the state ST13, when it is detected that the digital camera 1 and the function expanding device 6 are separated, the function expanding device 6 switches the charging circuit 96 to the off state (process P13) and goes to the state ST11. Transition.

On the other hand, in the state ST13, when the voltage of the storage battery becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold value, the CPU 40 of the digital camera 1 turns on the charging switch 52 again (process P14), and the storage battery 53 of the digital camera 1 is turned on.
Is turned on (state ST12).

Then, when it is detected that the digital camera 1 and the function expanding device 6 are separated in the state ST12, the charging switch 52 in the digital camera 1 is switched to the off state, and the function expanding device 6 in the digital camera 1. The charging circuit 96 is switched to the off state (process P1
2) Transition to state ST11.

As described above, in the digital camera system 3, the charging operation is repeated as long as the digital camera 1 is attached to the function expansion device 6. That is,
Even when the function expansion device 6 controls the photographing operation and image display of the digital camera 1, the charging operation described above is performed in parallel with the control operation.

Next, operations other than the charging operation will be described. FIG. 14 is a state transition diagram showing an operation state of the digital camera 1. When the digital camera 1 is separated from the function expansion device 6, the digital camera 1 operates in the digital camera single mode and functions as a normal digital camera, that is, the subject is photographed when the user presses the shutter button 15. Functions and captured images are displayed on the image display unit 2
It has a function of displaying 0 (state ST21). State S
In the digital camera single mode of T21, the digital camera 1 is driven by the electric power stored in the storage battery 53.

Then, from the state ST21, the digital camera 1
When the digital camera 1 detects that it has been attached to the function expansion device 6, the digital camera 1 shifts to the command standby mode from the function expansion device 6 (state ST22). In the state ST22, the digital camera 1 is controlled by the function expanding device 6, and the internal operations such as the photographing operation, the image display and the data transfer all operate based on the command from the function expanding device 6. Therefore, even if the shutter button 15 or the like of the digital camera 1 is operated, the digital camera 1 does not perform the operation according to the operation content. However, the image inversion or rotation processing according to the rotation operation of the image display unit 20 functions in the digital camera 1. This state ST22 has three sub states ST221, ST222, and ST223, and transitions are made between the respective sub states by a command from the function expansion device 6.

First, the digital camera 1 is the function expansion device 6
When it is detected that it is attached to the
Then, the digital camera 1 enters the mode for displaying the image data input from the function expansion device 6. That is, the image display unit 20 of the digital camera 1 is caused to function as the display unit of the function expansion device 6. As a result, the menu screen of the function expansion device 6 can be displayed on the image display unit 20 of the digital camera 1, and how to configure the digital camera system 3 in which the digital camera 1 and the function expansion device 6 are integrated. The user can select whether to perform the function by operating the pointing device 63 while visually recognizing the image display unit 20 of the digital camera 1. At this time, the digital camera 1 can also perform a shooting operation, the image captured by the digital camera 1 is output to the function expansion device 6, and the image input from the function expansion device 6 is displayed on the image display unit 20. By displaying, T
It is possible to realize the V telephone function.

When the digital camera 1 receives the display off command from the function expansion device 6 in the state ST221, the digital camera 1 turns off the image display unit 20 and shifts to the state ST222. Further, the digital camera 1 may automatically turn off the image display unit 20 and shift to the state ST222 when there is no new image data input from the function expansion device 6 for a predetermined time. . In the state ST221 as well, the digital camera 1 can perform the image capturing operation, and when the image capturing command is received from the function expansion device 6, the image capturing element 31 is controlled to perform the image capturing process.

In the state ST221 or the state ST222, when the digital camera 1 receives a command from the function expansion device 6 to display the image photographed by the digital camera 1 on the image display unit 6, the state ST223. Then, the digital camera 1 enters the captured image display mode for displaying the image obtained by the image sensor 31 on the image display unit 20.

Then, each sub-state ST221, ST22
In 2, ST223, when it is detected that the digital camera 1 is separated from the function expansion device 6, the digital camera 1 shifts to the digital camera single mode (state ST21).

Next, the operation state of the function expansion device 6 will be described. FIG. 15 is a state transition diagram showing an operation state of the function expansion device 6. When the power-on operation is performed in the main power-off mode in state ST31, the function expansion device 6 starts the system (process P31) and shifts to the main power-on mode (state ST32). The state ST32 has three sub-states ST321, ST322, and ST323. When the main power supply is turned on, first, the power saving mode of the state ST321 is entered.

In the digital camera connection mode in state ST322 and the videophone mode in state 323, the charging operation described above is performed.

The power saving mode in state ST321 is a state in which only some of the functions of the function expansion device 6 operate effectively. Specifically, this is a mode in which the operation button group 61, the digital camera connection detection unit 93, the connection detection unit 72, the network interface device 66, etc. function effectively. With the network interface device 66 functioning effectively, when the user operates the network connection switching button 61a, the switching controller 68 operates and the switching switch 69 can be switched, and the external computer 7 browses images on the Internet. It becomes possible to perform data communication. Further, when the digital camera connection detection unit 93 or the connection detection unit 72 detects that the digital camera 1 or the second digital camera is connected, the fact is transmitted to the CPU 100, and the CPU 100 is activated.

When the CPU 100 detects that the digital camera 1 is connected, it shifts to the digital camera connection mode in the state ST322. The function expansion device 6 causes the image display unit 20 of the digital camera 1 to display a menu screen and allows the user to select and determine the operation content of the digital camera system 3. The selection contents at this time include, for example, an e-mail transmission / reception mode, an Internet home page browsing mode, a TV phone mode, a PC connection mode, an image transfer mode, and the like. However, among these modes, the TV phone mode and the PC connection mode are not only selected from the menu screen, but also the PC connection ON / OFF switching button 61d and the TV phone mode ON which are provided in the function expansion device 6 by the user. It can also be selected by directly operating the off button 61e.

In the electronic mail transmission / reception mode and the Internet home page browsing mode, the image display function of the image display unit 20 of the digital camera 1, the information input function of the pointing device 63 of the function expansion device 6, and the communication control unit of the function expansion device 6 are used. By effectively operating the network communication function of 140, the network 8
In this mode, an electronic mail, an internet homepage, etc. input via the are displayed on the image display unit 20 of the digital camera 1.

In the PC connection mode, the function expansion device 6
This is a mode that operates in accordance with a control signal input from the external computer 7 connected to the connection terminal 71d. At this time, the function expansion device 6 operates the image display unit 2 of the digital camera 1.
0 is turned off. For example, when the external computer 7 instructs to read all the image data stored in the data storage unit 38 of the digital camera 1, the function expansion device 6 reads the image data from the digital camera 1 and stores it in the data storage unit 77. Or transfer it to the external computer 7.

In the image transfer mode, the image data stored in the digital camera 1 is transferred to the data storage section 7 of the function expansion device 6 regardless of whether the external computer 7 is connected or not.
This is a mode for transferring to 7.

In the TV phone mode, the network 9 is used.
This is a mode for transmitting and receiving images and the like to and from the external device 8 via the digital camera connection mode (state ST32
When the videophone mode is selected in 2), the state ST
323 shifts to the videophone mode. In addition, when the videophone mode on / off button 61e is operated in the power saving mode (state ST321), the mode also shifts to the videophone mode (state ST323).

When the videophone mode ends in state ST323, the mode shifts to the power saving mode (state ST321) again. In addition, the digital camera connection mode (state ST3
When the separation of the digital camera 1 is detected in 22), the power saving mode (state ST321) is entered.

When the power-off operation is performed in the state ST32 of the main power-on mode, the function expansion device 6 shuts off the system power, and the main power-off mode (state ST3
Go to 1).

When it is detected that the digital camera 1 is connected in the main power off mode of the state ST31, the digital camera connection mode (state ST32) is automatically set.
It is preferable to configure so as to shift to 2).

Next, detailed operation in the videophone mode will be described. However, in the following description, the case where the shooting direction changing mode is set to the automatic control mode is illustrated. 16 to 21 are flowcharts showing the operation of the function expansion device 6 in the videophone mode.

First, when shifting to the TV telephone mode, the CPU 100 of the function expanding device 6 determines whether the function expanding device 6 is connected to the external device 8 via the network 9 (step S10). If the function expansion device 6 is not connected to the network 8, the network interface device 66 is controlled to perform the network connection processing so that the CPU 100 is connected to the network 9 (step S12). In the TV phone mode, since data communication is performed with the external device 8 via the network 9,
This is because the function expansion device 6 needs to be connected to the network 9. When the function expansion device 6 is connected to the network 9, step S14
Proceed to.

In step S14, the CPU 100 determines whether or not the digital camera 1 is connected to the mounting portion 6c of the function expanding device 6. Here, when the digital camera 1 is not attached to the attachment portion 6c, it is determined whether or not the second digital camera 2 is connected to the second connection terminal 71c. Then, if at least one digital camera is connected to the function expansion device 6, it is determined to be "YES" in step S14, and if no digital camera is connected, it is determined to be "NO".

For the function expansion device 6, the digital camera 1
If neither the second digital camera 2 is connected, the answering machine mode process is automatically performed (step S1).
It will move to 6). That is, network 9
Since it is not possible to transmit an image in real time to the external device 8 via the telephone, the system shifts to the answering machine mode process.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing details of the answering machine mode process. Answering machine mode processing (step S1)
When 6) is entered, first, an access standby state from the external device 8 as a communication destination is set (step S102). Then, the external device 8 as the communication destination performs access processing to the function expansion device 6 via the network 9 (step S402). At this time, the external device 8 of the communication destination transmits the user name and password for logging in to the function expanding device 6 to the function expanding device 6.

When there is an access request from the external device 8, the function expansion device 6 determines whether or not the user name and password previously registered in the data storage unit 77 and the received user name and password match. (Step S10
4). As a result, if the user name and the password do not match, the process returns to the access standby state (step S102) again. If the user name and the password match, the process proceeds to step S106, and the login completion report is transmitted to the external device 8 of the communication destination. Send to. As a result, the external device 8 as the communication destination can confirm that the login is completed (step S404).

Then, in the function expansion device 6, the answering machine image data, voice data, character data, or the like stored in advance in the data storage unit 77 is transmitted to the communication destination external device 8 via the network 9. (Step S10
8). As a result, the external device 8 that is the communication destination can display an image for answering machine, etc., and recognizes that the user of the function expansion device 6 is in a state where it is impossible to make a telephone call by the videophone. can do.

Then, it is judged whether or not there is an instruction to end the answering machine mode (step S110). If there is no ending instruction, the process returns to step S102 to continue the answering machine mode processing, while if there is an ending instruction, answering machine mode processing (step S110). The step S16) is ended.

By performing such processing, the TV
When the digital camera is not connected to the function expansion device 6 in the telephone mode, the answering machine function in the videophone mode can be realized.

On the other hand, in step S14 of FIG.
When either the digital camera 1 or the second digital camera 2 is connected to the function expansion device 6, the process proceeds to step S18, and the mode selection operation from the user is accepted.

The mode selection operation is an operation process for selecting whether to operate the digital camera system 3 in the TV phone mode or the surveillance camera mode. When the surveillance camera mode is selected, the process proceeds to the surveillance camera mode process (step S20), and when the videophone mode is selected, the videophone mode process (step S2).
Proceed to 2). In the surveillance camera mode process (step S20) and the videophone mode process (step S22), when both the digital camera 1 and the second digital camera 2 are connected to the function expansion device 6, the function expansion device 6 Targets the digital camera 1, and when only one of the digital camera 1 and the second digital camera 2 is connected to the function expansion device 6, the function expansion device 6 controls the connected digital camera. set to target.

In the monitoring camera mode, the digital camera mounted on the function expansion device 6 is controlled by the CPU 100 to perform a photographing operation, and a real-time photographed image is unidirectionally transmitted to the external device 8 via the network. Mode. However, for control commands, the external device 8
To the function expansion device 6 via the network 9.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing the details of the surveillance camera mode processing. When the surveillance camera mode is selected, the function expansion device 6 first turns off the image display unit 20 of the digital camera 1 (step S202). In the surveillance camera mode, the image display unit 20 is turned off because it is sufficient that the image captured by the digital camera 1 can be transmitted to the communication destination.

Then, the function expansion device 6 enters a state of waiting for access from the external device 8 which is the communication destination (step S2).
04). Then, the external device 8 of the communication destination performs access processing to the function expansion device 6 via the network 9 (step S408). At this time, the external device 8 of the communication destination transmits the user name and password for logging in to the function expanding device 6 to the function expanding device 6.

When an access request is issued from the external device 8, the function expansion device 6 determines whether or not the user name and password previously registered in the data storage unit 77 and the received user name and password match. (Step S20
6). As a result, if the user name and the password do not match, the process returns to the access standby state (step S204) again, and if the user name and the password match, the process proceeds to step S208, and the login completion report is transmitted to the external device 8 of the communication destination. Send to. As a result, the external device 8 as the communication destination can confirm that the login is completed (step S410).

Then, the function expansion device 6 performs command processing (step S210). The command process is a process of performing operation control according to a command received from the external device 8 via the network 9. Therefore, in the command process (step S210), when the communication destination performs the command transmission process (step S412), the function expansion device 6 receives the command and performs the process according to the command to execute the process according to the command. The image captured in 2 is sent to the communication destination. As a result, the external device 8 that is the communication destination can display the image taken by the digital camera 1 or 2 in real time (step S414).

FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing details of command processing in the surveillance camera mode processing. The function expansion device 6 first waits for a command (step S212).
When the command from the communication destination is received, the received command is analyzed (step S214).

Then, the function expansion device 6 performs processing according to the content of the command (steps S216 to S228). First, the function expansion device 6 determines whether or not the received command is a shooting start signal (step S216). If the received command is a shooting start signal, the CPU 100 of the function expansion device 6 causes the digital camera 1 or 2 to perform a shooting operation. To start photographing and start transmitting a photographed image to the external device 8 via the network 9 (step S218). When the transmission of the captured image is started, thereafter, the function expansion device 6 sequentially acquires the captured image from the digital camera 1 or 2 at a predetermined timing until the end command is received,
The captured image is continuously transmitted to the external device 8. As a result, the external device 8 can display the image captured by the digital camera 1 or 2 in real time. If the received command is not a shooting start signal,
Furthermore, it progresses to step S220.

The function expansion device 6 determines whether the received command is a pan / tilt operation command (step S220), and if it is a pan / tilt operation command,
The CPU 100 of the function expansion device 6 gives a control command according to the command to the pan / tilt drive unit 74 for operating the movable unit 6b to drive the pan drive motor 75 and the tilt drive motor 76, and the mounting unit 6c. The shooting direction of the digital camera 1 attached to the camera is changed (step S2
22). As a result, the external device 8 can change the shooting direction of the image received from the function expansion device 6, and the remote device 8 can display the image in which the shooting direction is changed in real time on the external device 8. become. However, when the control target of the function expansion device 6 is the second digital camera 2, the process of step S222 may not be performed. Further, even when the shooting direction changing mode is set to the manual operation mode, the process of step S222 is not performed. If the received command is not the pan / tilt operation command, the process further proceeds to step S224.

The function expanding device 6 determines whether or not the received command is the focus / zoom operation command (step S224). If the command is the focus / zooming operation command, the CPU 100 of the function expanding device 6 causes the digital camera 1 to execute the operation. Alternatively, the photographing lens 11 of No. 2 is drive-controlled to realize the focus state or zoom magnification designated by the external device 8 (step S226). As a result, the external device 8 can change the focus state and zoom magnification of the image received from the function expansion device 6, and at the same time, the image whose focus state and zoom magnification have been changed by remote control can be displayed on the external device 8 in real time. Can be displayed with. If the received command is not the focus / zoom operation command, the process further proceeds to step S228.

The function expanding device 6 judges whether the received command is an end command (step S22).
8) If it is a termination command, the surveillance camera mode processing (step S20) is terminated.

As described above, in the surveillance camera mode, an image is taken by the digital camera connected to the function expansion device 6 and is output to the external device 8 via the network 9, so that the external device 8 can operate at a remote location. Also makes it possible to monitor the environment in which the function expansion device 6 is installed.
In addition, pan / tilt operations and focus /
By transmitting a command related to the zoom operation to the function expanding device 6, the user of the external device 8 can confirm the surrounding condition of the environment in which the function expanding device 6 is installed, and can confirm a finer portion or a wider portion. It becomes easy to do.

In particular, the user of the external device 8 installs the function expansion device 6 at home, mounts the digital camera 1 on the function expansion device 6, and goes out with the videophone mode enabled. For example, it will be possible to monitor the inside of the house from outside. That is, if the digital camera 1 and the function expansion device 6 are combined without installing a dedicated surveillance camera for monitoring the inside of the house, it can be used as a surveillance camera.

Next, a videophone mode process (step S2)
2) will be described. In this videophone mode processing,
The CPU 100 controls the digital camera 1 to perform a shooting operation, transmit a real-time captured image to the external device 8 via the network, and display a real-time image of the communication destination input from the external device 8 on the digital camera 1 as an image. It is displayed on the part 20. Also, voice data is transmitted and received for a call.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing details of the TV phone mode processing. When the TV phone mode is selected, the function expansion device 6 first displays a communication destination address input screen on the image display unit 20 of the digital camera 1 to prompt the user to input the communication destination address. According to this screen display, the user operates the pointing device 63 or the like to input the communication destination address (step S302). At this time, the user name and password for accessing the external device 8 of the communication destination are also input. When the communication destination address is input, the function expansion device 6 causes the external device 8 corresponding to the communication destination address designated via the network 9.
Is accessed (step S304).

The external device 8 serving as the communication destination performs the user name and password confirmation processing (step S416), and if the user name and password are appropriate, grants access permission to the function expansion device 6 (step S416). S41
8).

In the function expansion device 6, after accessing the communication destination, the function extension device 6 is in a standby state for receiving access permission (step S306). If access permission is not obtained, step S306 is performed.
Returning to step 302, if access permission is obtained, step S
Proceed to 308.

When the function expansion device 6 receives the access permission, it starts the photographing control of the digital camera 1 and
Start voice input from the microphone 64 (step S30).
8). At this time, the function expansion device 6 causes the digital camera 1 to continuously perform the shooting operation to generate dynamic image data.

On the other hand, after transmitting the access permission, the external device 8 also starts image capturing and voice input (step S420) to generate dynamic image data and voice data.

The function expansion device 6 is the digital camera 1
Image data obtained from the microphone and audio data obtained from the microphone 69 via the network 9 to the external device 8 of the communication destination.
Image data and audio data from the external device 8 via the network 9 (step S310). At this time, the external device 8 at the communication destination also transmits and receives image data and audio data (step S422). It should be noted that transmission and reception of image data and audio data performed between the function expansion device 6 and the external device 8 are continuously performed thereafter.

In the function expansion device 6, an image is displayed on the image display section 20 of the digital camera 1 based on the image data input from the external device 8, and the speaker 65 is output based on the audio data input from the external device 8. More voice output is performed (step S312). That is, the CPU 100 of the function expansion device 6 updates the display state of the image display unit 20 in the digital camera 1 based on the image data sequentially input from the external device 8 and also outputs the sound.

Similarly, also in the external device 8, the image display is performed based on the image data input from the function expanding device 6 and the voice output is performed based on the sound data input from the function expanding device 6 (step S424). ).

As a result, a call involving an image can be carried out between the digital camera system 3 including the digital camera 1 and the function expansion device 6 and the external device 8, and the function as a videophone is realized.

Further, in the external device 8, the function expansion device 6
When the command for is generated, the external device 8 performs a command transmission process (step S426) and transmits the command to the function expansion device 6.

When the function expansion device 6 receives a command from the external device 8, the function expansion device 6 performs command processing (step S314).

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing details of command processing in the videophone mode processing. The function expansion device 6 first determines whether or not a command has been received (step S316). If a command has been received, the process advances to step S318, while if no command has been received, the command processing ends.

When the command is received, the function expansion device 6
Analyzes the received command (step S
318).

Then, the function expansion device 6 performs the processing according to the content of the command (steps S320 to S326). First, the function expansion device 6 determines whether the received command is a pan / tilt operation command (step S32).
0), if the command is a pan / tilt operation command, the CPU 100 of the function expansion device 6 gives a control command according to the command to the pan / tilt drive unit 74 for operating the movable unit 6b, and the pan drive motor 75 and The tilt drive motor 76 is driven to change the shooting direction of the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting portion 6c (step S322).
This allows the external device 8 to change the shooting direction of the image received from the function expansion device 6, and
It becomes possible to display an image in which the shooting direction is changed by remote control on the external device 8 in real time.
However, when the control target of the function expansion device 6 is the second digital camera 2, the process of step S322 may be omitted. Also, when the shooting direction changing mode is set to the manual operation mode, step S32 is performed.
The processing of 2 is not performed. Therefore, if the shooting direction changing mode is set to the manual operation mode during the videophone mode processing, it is possible to prevent others from observing the inside of the house, and the shooting direction changing mode switching button 61c is used for the shooting direction. Will also function as a prohibition measure that prohibits changes to the.

If the received command is not the pan / tilt operation command, the process proceeds to step S324.

The function expanding device 6 determines whether or not the received command is the focus / zoom operation command (step S324). If the command is the focus / zooming operation command, the CPU 100 of the function expanding device 6 determines that the digital camera 1 has received the command. Alternatively, the photographing lens 11 of No. 2 is drive-controlled to realize the focus state or zoom magnification designated by the external device 8 (step S326). As a result, the external device 8 can change the focus state and zoom magnification of the image received from the function expansion device 6, and at the same time, the image whose focus state and zoom magnification have been changed by remote control can be displayed on the external device 8 in real time. Can be displayed with.

When the processing according to the received command ends, the command processing (step S314) ends, and the process returns to the flowchart of FIG.

Then, the function expansion device 6 determines whether or not there is an instruction to end the videophone mode (step S32).
6) If there is no end instruction, the image data and the audio data are repeatedly transmitted and received by the TV telephone function, and the command processing input from the external device 8 is executed. Also,
If there is an end instruction, the videophone mode process ends.

Then, the process proceeds to step S24 in the flowchart of FIG. 16 and the power saving mode (state ST321)
And the videophone mode is terminated.

As described above, the function expansion device 6 shown in this embodiment has the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting portion 6c.
When the digital camera 1 is attached, the digital camera 1 can be charged and the external device 8 can be charged via the network 9.
Since the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting portion 6c can be controlled while transmitting and receiving data to and from the digital camera 1, the digital camera 1 is charged and data is transmitted and received via the network 9. It will be possible. In particular, by being configured to be able to control the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting portion 6c while transmitting / receiving data to / from the external device 8 via the network 9, the captured image of the digital camera 1 can be networked. Can be transmitted to the external device 8 via the digital camera 1, and the function expansion device 6 can realize the functions of the surveillance camera and the TV phone in the state where the digital camera 1 is attached.

Further, since the movable part 6b of the function expanding device 6 is configured to change the photographing direction of the digital camera 1 mounted on the mounting part 6c, the function expanding device 6 mounted on the digital camera 1 is It is possible to change the shooting direction of the digital camera 1 when functioning as a surveillance camera or a TV phone.

Further, in particular, since the function expansion device 6 is configured to control the display state of the image display section 20 provided in the digital camera 1, the image input from the external device 8 is the image of the digital camera 1. It can be displayed on the display unit 20, and the function as a TV phone can be enhanced.

<4. Modifications> Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above description.

For example, in the above description, the case where the function expansion device 6 is configured to be connectable to the second digital camera 2 is illustrated, but the second digital camera 2 is configured to be connectable. You don't have to.

Further, in the above description, the case where the function expansion device 6 is configured to be connectable to the external computer 7 has been illustrated, but the external computer 7 may not necessarily be configured to be connectable. However, as in the above embodiment, by configuring the external computer 7 to be connectable, the captured image data stored in the digital camera 1 is moved to the external computer 7 under the control of the external computer 7. It is possible to secure the functions that were realized from.

In the above description, the case where the function expansion device 6 and the external device 8 transmit and receive not only an image but also a voice during the TV telephone mode process (step S22), but only an image is transmitted and received. It may be in the form.

In the above description, when the digital camera 1 is mounted on the function expansion device 6, the charging terminal 92 for charging and the data transmitting / receiving terminal 91 for transmitting / receiving data are separately provided. However, it is also possible to combine these into one. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a configuration in which electrical connections between the digital camera 1 and the function expansion device 6 are integrated. As shown in FIG. 22, the function expansion device 6 is provided with a digital camera connection terminal 97 for connecting the digital camera 1, and the digital camera 1 is connected with the function expansion device connection terminal 24 for connecting the function expansion device 6. Is provided. Then, each of the digital camera connection terminal 97 and the function expansion device connection terminal 24 is configured to transmit and receive data and supply charging power. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 22, by combining the electrical connection parts of the digital camera 1 and the function expansion device 6 into one, the respective structures of the digital camera 1 and the function expansion device 6 can be simplified. It is possible. A USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector or the like can be used as an example for realizing such an electrical connection unit.

[0148]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the function expanding device for a digital camera charges the digital camera when the digital camera is mounted on the mounting portion, and As it is configured to control the digital camera mounted on the mounting part while transmitting / receiving data to / from external devices via the network, not only charging the digital camera but also image data etc. via the network. It is possible to send and receive data.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the image pickup direction changing means for changing the image pickup direction of the digital camera mounted on the mounting portion is provided, it is possible to charge the digital camera and display the image. When shooting is performed, the shooting direction can be changed.

According to the invention described in claim 3, since the display state of the display means provided in the digital camera is controlled, it is possible to display an image on the display means while charging the digital camera. In particular, if the image data input via the network is displayed on the display unit, it is possible to display an image such as an Internet home page on the display unit while charging the digital camera.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the photographing operation of the digital camera is controlled to transmit the image data obtained from the digital camera to the external device through the communication means, and Since the display state of the display unit provided in the digital camera is controlled based on the image data input from the external device, the image data can be transmitted and received like a TV phone.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the photographing operation of the digital camera is controlled, and the image data obtained from the digital camera is transmitted to the external device through the communication means, and the external device is used. Since the photographing direction changing means is configured to operate based on the photographing direction command signal input from the device, the image taken by the digital camera can be confirmed in the external device, and the external device can change the image in the digital camera. Remote operation for changing the shooting direction can be performed.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, when the photographing start signal is received from the external device, the photographing operation in the digital camera is started. Therefore, the photographing operation is started by remote control from the external device. be able to.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the function expansion device controls the digital camera mounted on the mounting portion while charging the digital camera and transmitting / receiving data to / from an external device via the network. In addition, since the digital camera is configured to change the display content of the display unit and the shooting operation of the shooting unit under the control of the function expansion device, the digital camera can be charged while charging the digital camera. It is possible to send and receive data such as captured image data via a network. It is also possible to display an image input via the network.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view including a front side of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view including a rear side of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state of an image display unit when a first movable member is moved.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of an image display unit when a second movable member is moved.

5 is a diagram showing a state in which the image display unit 20 of the digital camera 1 is directed to the front side of the digital camera 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an external appearance including a bottom portion of a digital camera.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a digital camera.

FIG. 8 is an external view showing a configuration of a function expansion device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an external view showing a digital camera system in which a digital camera is fixed to a function expansion device.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a main internal configuration of the function expansion device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an outline of a network interface device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a usage mode of a digital camera system.

FIG. 13 is a state transition diagram showing a charging operation of the digital camera system.

FIG. 14 is a state transition diagram showing an operation state of the digital camera.

FIG. 15 is a state transition diagram showing an operating state of the function expansion device.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the function expansion device in the videophone mode.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing details of answering machine mode processing.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing details of surveillance camera mode processing.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing details of command processing in surveillance camera mode processing.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing details of videophone mode processing.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the operation of the function expansion device 6 in the videophone mode.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a configuration in which electrical connections between a digital camera and a function expansion device are integrated.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 digital camera 3 Digital camera system 6 Function expansion device 6a main body 6b Moving part (imaging direction changing means) 6c mounting part 8 External equipment 9 network 11 Shooting lens 20 Image display section (display means) 31 Image sensor (imaging means) 66 network interface device 73 Data transmitter / receiver 96 Charging circuit (charging means) 100 CPU (control means)

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Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A function expansion device for a digital camera, comprising: a mounting part for mounting and fixing the digital camera; and charging the digital camera when the digital camera is mounted on the mounting part. A charging unit that performs charging, a communication unit that performs data communication with an external device via a network, and a digital camera that is mounted on the mounting unit while controlling the communication unit to transmit and receive data to and from the external device. A function expanding device for a digital camera, comprising: 2. The function expansion device for a digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a shooting direction changing unit that changes a shooting direction of the digital camera mounted on the mounting portion. 3. The function expansion device for a digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a display state of a display unit provided in the digital camera. Expansion device. 4. The function expansion device for a digital camera according to claim 3, wherein the control unit controls image capturing operation of the digital camera to obtain image data obtained from the digital camera via the communication unit. Function expansion of a digital camera, characterized in that the display state of a display means provided in the digital camera is controlled based on image data input from the external device and transmitted to the external device. apparatus. 5. The function expansion device for a digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the control unit controls image capturing operation of the digital camera to obtain image data obtained from the digital camera via the communication unit. A function expansion device for a digital camera, which is configured to be transmitted to the external device and which operates the photographing direction changing means based on a command signal of the photographing direction input from the external device. 6. The function expansion device for a digital camera according to claim 4, wherein the control unit starts the photographing operation in the digital camera when a photographing start signal is received from the external device. A digital camera function expansion device. 7. A digital camera system comprising a digital camera and a function expanding device for the digital camera connected integrally with the digital camera, wherein the function expanding device is equipped with the digital camera. A mounting unit for fixing, a charging unit for charging the digital camera when the digital camera is mounted on the mounting unit, and a control unit for controlling an internal operation of the digital camera mounted on the mounting unit. And a communication unit for allowing the control unit to perform data communication with an external device via a predetermined network, wherein the digital camera is displayed under the control of the control unit when mounted on the mounting unit. A display unit for changing the contents; and a photographing unit for performing a photographing operation under the control of the control unit when the photographing unit is mounted on the mounting unit. Digital camera system.