JP2005027002A - Camera with communication function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera with a communication function which can be remotely controlled by voice and can prevent image deterioration or the like caused by a failure such as hand shaking. <P>SOLUTION: This camera 10 with a communication function can transmit and receive information and has a communication part 32 for transmitting and receiving information, a photographing part 34 for photographing an object, a voice inputting part for inputting a voice, a voice registering part 50 for registering at least one piece of voice information inputted from the communication part or the voice inputting part, a voice recognizing part 48 for recognizing at least one voice between voices inputted from the communication part and the voice inputting part and performing collation as to whether or not the inputted voice is registered in the voice recognizing part 50, and a control part 52 for making the photographing part 34 take a photograph on the basis of the voice information of the voice recognized by the voice recognizing part 48 and voice information registered in the voice registering part 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera with a communication function capable of transmitting and receiving information, and more particularly to a camera with a communication function that includes a voice recognition unit that recognizes voice and a voice registration unit that can register voice and can be remotely operated by voice.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there has been proposed a camera capable of reliably photographing the vicinity of a sound source at the moment when sound pressure is generated (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In the camera disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a sound pressure that satisfies a predetermined condition is generated, a sound source position where the sound pressure is generated is estimated. The camera determines whether the sound source position is within the shooting range, for example. When the sound source position is within the photographing range, the estimated sound source position is recorded on a predetermined recording medium, and a photograph is taken by auto release.
[0003]
On the other hand, recently, a mobile communication terminal with a camera that has a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor and can photograph a subject such as a person has been realized. Using the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal, the user can perform information communication and can take a picture.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-110143 [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
[0005]
However, the camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 reacts based on sound pressure, estimates a sound source position, and takes a picture when the sound source position is within a shooting range. For this reason, there is a problem that it is not possible to take a picture under other specific conditions only by reacting to the sound pressure.
[0006]
On the other hand, camera-equipped mobile communication terminals are becoming lighter and smaller, and camera shake tends to occur if the operation of pressing the shutter button is large when taking a picture. For this reason, there is a problem that it is impossible to obtain a desired photograph, such as a photograph being blurred or being unable to take a subject as desired by the user.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camera with a communication function that can shoot under specific conditions and can prevent image deterioration due to an operation error such as camera shake. To do.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a camera with a communication function that performs a predetermined operation, and includes a photographing unit that photographs a subject, a communication unit that transmits and receives information including audio information, and a voice that inputs sound. An input unit; a voice registration unit that registers voice information input from the communication unit or the voice input unit in association with the predetermined operation; and voice information input from the communication unit or the voice input unit. Provided is a camera with a communication function, comprising: a voice recognition unit that collates with voice information registered in a registration unit; and a control unit that controls the predetermined operation based on a collation result of the voice recognition unit. Is.
[0009]
In the present invention, the predetermined operation is, for example, photographing of a subject by the photographing unit.
[0010]
Further, in the present invention, the control unit may be configured to use the photographing unit when the input voice information matches the voice information registered in the voice registration unit as a result of collation by the voice recognition unit. It is preferable to photograph.
Further, in the present invention, the control unit captures the image by the photographing unit when the input voice information does not match the voice information registered in the voice registration unit as a result of the collation by the voice recognition unit. It is preferable to make it.
[0011]
Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable that the photographing unit has a zoom function.
Moreover, in this invention, it is preferable to have an image display part which displays the image image | photographed by the said imaging | photography part.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a camera with a communication function according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a camera with a communication function according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera with a communication function according to the present embodiment shown in FIG.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, the camera 10 with a communication function is provided with a lens barrel 22 having a photographing lens 24 inside in a central portion of a front surface 12 a of a housing 12. An optical finder objective window 16 is provided on the front surface 12 a of the housing 12. A shutter button 14, a mode selection dial 15, and an antenna 30 are provided on the upper surface 12 b of the housing 12.
[0014]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, on the back surface 12c of the housing 12, an optical viewfinder eyepiece window 18, a power switch 20 for switching on / off the power of the camera 10 with communication function, and an image of the photographed subject are displayed. An image display unit 26 and a microphone (voice input unit) 28 are provided.
[0015]
The mode selection dial 15 switches the operation state of the communication function-equipped camera 10 to a voice registration mode, a shooting mode, or the like as will be described later. For example, the mode selection dial 15 has a rotatable disk shape. By rotating the mode selection dial 15, the mode can be switched to each mode. These modes are controlled by a control unit described later.
[0016]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the camera with a communication function of the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 3, the camera with communication function 10 includes the above-described image display unit 26, the above-described microphone 28, the communication unit 32, a photographing unit 34 for photographing a subject, a recording medium 46, and a voice recognition unit. 48, a voice registration unit 50, and a control unit 52.
The communication unit 32 transmits and receives information such as voice information, character information, and image information, and is connected to the antenna 30. The communication unit 32 transmits and receives information such as voice information, character information, and image information as digital data, for example.
[0017]
The photographing unit 34 includes the photographing lens 24, the CCD sensor 40, the A / D conversion unit 42, and the image data processing unit 44 described above, and photographs a subject.
The taking lens 24 has a zoom function.
[0018]
The CCD sensor 40 converts an object image formed by the photographing lens 24 into an analog image signal.
The A / D conversion unit 42 converts an analog image signal carrying an object image obtained by the CCD sensor 40 into digital image data.
[0019]
The image data processing unit 44 performs predetermined data correction such as DC offset correction, dark correction, or shading correction on digital image data. The image data processing unit 44 also outputs image data to the recording medium 46 and the image display unit 26.
The recording medium 46 is for recording image data of a photographed subject. Examples of the recording medium 46 include a memory card, FD, MO, CD, or DVD.
[0020]
The voice recognition unit 48 recognizes the voice input from the microphone 28 or the communication unit 32 and verifies whether the input voice includes a voice pattern registered in the voice registration unit 50 described later. is there.
The voice recognition unit 48 includes a conversion circuit (not shown) that converts an analog voice signal input from the microphone 28 into a digital voice signal. In the voice recognition unit 48 according to the present embodiment, the voice pattern registered in the voice registration unit 50 is compared with the voice pattern input from the microphone 28 or the communication unit 32. The collation result in the voice recognition unit 48 is output to the control unit 52.
[0021]
As a voice collating method in the voice recognition unit 48, for example, a standard pattern is set for each word, a pattern matching for identifying a word by matching an input signal with a standard pattern, and a standard pattern for each phoneme is set. One example is feature extraction that identifies words by subtracting a dictionary from the results of phoneme analysis of the input signal.
[0022]
The voice registration unit 50 registers the voice pattern of the voice recognized by the voice recognition unit 48 in association with the operation of the camera 10 with communication function.
The voice registration unit 50 is connected to the microphone 28 and the communication unit 32. The voice registration unit 50 associates a conversion circuit (not shown) that converts an analog voice signal input from the microphone 28 into a digital voice signal, and the operation of the voice signal and the camera 10 with a communication function. And a registration unit (not shown) to be stored. The voice registration unit 50 receives a voice signal from the communication unit 32 as digital data.
The registration unit includes, for example, a nonvolatile storage element, and an audio pattern is stored in the nonvolatile storage element in association with the operation of the camera 10 with communication function. An example of the nonvolatile memory element is an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).
[0023]
With this configuration, voice input from the microphone 28 can be registered in the voice registration unit 50, and voice can be registered from the communication partner and the network by connecting to the communication unit 32. it can. The state where the voice can be registered by the microphone 28 or the communication unit 32 is the voice registration mode. The voice registration mode can be selected by the mode selection dial 15.
For example, the voice registration unit 50 registers the voice “cush” via the microphone 28 in association with the operation of releasing the shutter.
[0024]
The control unit 52 controls the entire camera 10 with a communication function. The control unit 52 also serves as a timing generator that outputs a predetermined timing signal to the CCD sensor 40. Further, the control unit 52 is connected to the mode selection dial 15, and the camera with communication function 10 is switched between the voice registration mode and the shooting mode by an input from the mode selection dial 15. Thus, the control unit 52 also controls whether or not to operate the voice recognition unit 48, the voice registration unit 50, and the communication unit 32.
[0025]
The control unit 52 controls a predetermined operation of the digital camera 10 based on the collation result of the voice recognition unit 48. For example, if the voice “cush” is associated with the operation of releasing the shutter of the photographing unit 34, the subject is photographed by the voice input “cush”. In this way, the camera with communication function 10 is operated in a predetermined manner in accordance with the registered voice.
Further, the control unit 52 causes the image display unit 26 to display the image data output to the image data processing unit 44 or the image data recorded on the recording medium. Further, the control unit 52 causes the image display unit 26 to display an operation screen of the digital camera 10.
[0026]
The image display unit 26 displays an image of the subject photographed by the photographing unit 34 based on the image data output from the image data processing unit 44. The image display unit 26 also displays an image based on the image data recorded on the recording medium 46, and the free space of the recording medium 46.
[0027]
Next, the operation of the camera with a communication function of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation by voice input of the camera with communication function according to the first embodiment of the present invention in the order of steps.
In the present embodiment, an example is described in which the voice registration unit 50 is registered so that the shutter is released by the voice “cush”.
[0028]
First, for example, the user points the camera with communication function 10 (see FIG. 1) toward the subject.
Then, the user says “click” and inputs the voice to the camera 10 with a communication function via the microphone 28 (see FIG. 2) (step S1).
Next, the voice “cush” is converted into a digital voice signal by the voice recognition unit 48 (see FIG. 3). Then, for example, a frequency pattern is extracted as the voice pattern (step S2).
Next, the voice pattern of the voice registered in the voice registration unit 50 is collated with the voice pattern of the voice “cush” inputted (step S3).
Next, as a result of the collation, it is determined whether or not the input voice is a word for releasing the shutter “cush” (step S4).
[0029]
In step S4, when it is recognized that the sound is “click”, the control unit 52 outputs a control signal for releasing the shutter to the CCD sensor 40, and the shutter is released (step S5). Thereby, an image of the subject is obtained.
[0030]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that the audio signal of the input audio does not match the audio pattern “cush” and is not “cash”, the control unit 52 generates a control signal that does not operate the shutter. Output to the sensor 40 does not release the shutter. Then, the process returns to step S1 to wait for voice input again.
[0031]
In the present embodiment, the sound “cush” is associated with the operation of releasing the shutter, but the present invention is not limited to this. In addition to this, the term “zoom” may be associated with an operation for increasing the shooting magnification, and the term “off” may be associated with an operation for turning off the camera 10 with communication function. Good.
As described above, in the voice registration unit 50, the operation of the camera 10 with communication function can be controlled by voice input by associating each operation of the camera 10 with communication function with the words input by voice. it can.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, the sound for releasing the shutter is registered, and the shutter is released when the registered sound is input. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Conversely, the shutter may be released when there is a sound that is not registered. Thus, the setting of the operating condition of the camera with a communication function is not particularly limited. For example, in step S4 shown in FIG. 4, the camera may be operated by reversing the case where they match and the case where they do not match.
[0033]
In the present embodiment, for example, a light emitting element such as an LED is provided, and when the voice pattern is collated with respect to the voice input, when the voice pattern is being collated, the light emitting element is caused to emit light and the operation status is May be notified to the user.
[0034]
In addition, the camera with a communication function 10 according to the present embodiment may be provided with a timer that delays the time until execution after receiving a control signal from the control unit 52 after voice input and collation. In this case, the timer can change the set time and can be set to a predetermined time. Thereby, for example, in the case of automatic shooting, it is possible to set the time from when the voice is input until the shutter is actually released.
[0035]
In addition, the camera 10 with a communication function of this invention can also be used for a surveillance camera. Furthermore, the voice pattern registered in the voice registration unit 50 is not limited to a human language, and any sound pattern can be registered.
Further, when the camera with communication function 10 is used as a monitoring camera, the entire room to be monitored can be photographed. Furthermore, a sound that the user thinks is a suspicious sound or a suspicious sound is registered, and when such a sound is produced, the shutter is released. In addition, the user may register a sound generated in daily life, and the shutter may be released when a sound other than the sound generated in the daily life is generated.
[0036]
Furthermore, in the camera 10 with a communication function of the present invention, when a predetermined voice that has been registered is input continuously and is input at a predetermined interval, it is captured within a few seconds before and after the input of the voice. The image data of a predetermined number of frames taken before and after the inputted image or its sound is input may be stored, and the image data of other images may be deleted. As a result, a target image can be obtained and unnecessary image recording can be prevented. For example, by registering the sound of the fireworks, an image in a state where the fireworks are in full bloom can be obtained. In this way, even a subject that is difficult to capture timing can be captured.
[0037]
Further, in this embodiment, since the shutter can be released by voice input, a mechanical operation of pressing the shutter button is not necessary, so that camera shake can be prevented.
[0038]
Furthermore, the communication function-equipped camera 10 of the present embodiment can also associate the word “zoom” with an operation for increasing the shooting magnification. In this case, for example, when taking a group photo, first, the image is taken in accordance with the size of the frame. Next, saying “zoom”, this voice can be input, and the shooting magnification can be increased for shooting.
Furthermore, the word “upper body” may correspond to an operation for increasing the shooting magnification. In this case, “upper body” can increase the magnification of shooting.
[0039]
Also, by registering the shutter sound of a conventional camera using a silver salt film as a voice and associating the shutter sound with the operation of releasing the shutter, it can be used as a monitor of a conventional camera. Thereby, the finish of the photograph by this conventional camera can be predicted.
[0040]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a camera with a communication function according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those of the camera with communication function of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. Moreover, a present Example is an Example which uses the mobile communication terminal 11 with a camera as a camera with a communication function.
[0041]
The camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 of this embodiment is a mobile phone provided with photographing means, and its configuration is shown in FIG. 5 compared to the camera 10 with communication function of the first embodiment. Although not shown, it has a telephone function, has an input unit 60 for inputting a telephone number and characters, and further has a caller control mode that can be controlled by the voice of the other party, Since the other configuration is the same as that of the camera with communication function 10 of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0042]
The imaging unit 34 of this embodiment has the same configuration as that of the camera 10 with a communication function shown in FIG. 3 and has an imaging lens, a CCD sensor, an A / D conversion unit, and an image data processing unit, although illustration is omitted. A storage unit 54 is connected to the image data processing unit.
The storage unit 54 stores image data of a photographed subject. The storage unit 54 is configured by a RAM.
Although not shown, the input unit 60 includes buttons for inputting numbers and characters, and input elements such as a jog dial for moving a cursor displayed on the image display unit 26.
[0043]
The camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 of this embodiment has a voice registration function and a voice recognition function, and further includes at least a voice registration mode, a communication mode, a shooting mode, and a call for registering voice. Person control mode.
Also in the present embodiment, voice can be registered, and the registered voice and the operation of the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 can be associated with each other, so that voice input can be performed and the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 can shoot. it can.
[0044]
In addition, since the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 has been reduced in size and weight, when an external force such as pressing a button acts to release the shutter, camera shake is likely to occur. However, in the present invention, since the shutter is released by voice input, camera shake does not occur as in the prior art. This appears to be a noticeable difference as the weight and size are reduced.
[0045]
In addition, the user may input voice directly from the microphone 28 to the voice registration unit 50. Alternatively, the recorded voice may be input and registered as a voice. Furthermore, the reception sound of the other party may be recorded and registered. If there is a function to connect to the network, the voice may be obtained as digital voice data from a predetermined site and registered.
[0046]
In addition, a timer may be provided as in the first embodiment, so that, as in the first embodiment, for example, in the case of automatic shooting, until the shutter is actually released after voice input. You can set the time.
[0047]
The camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 of this embodiment registers the shutter sound of a conventional camera in the same manner as the camera 10 with a communication function of the first embodiment, and the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 uses the shutter sound. By setting so that the shutter can be released, this embodiment can be used as a monitor of a conventional camera. This makes it possible to predict the finish of a photograph taken with a conventional camera. In particular, the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 is preferable because it has been reduced in size and weight and does not interfere with shooting even when attached to a conventional camera. Even if the camera is not attached to the conventional camera, for example, the camera may be placed in the photographer's chest pocket so that the shooting unit 34 is projected, and the same place as that of the conventional camera may be shot.
[0048]
Also in this embodiment, it can be used as a surveillance camera by setting the same as in the first embodiment.
[0049]
Further, the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 according to the present embodiment can be operated not only by the audio signal from the microphone but also by the audio signal of the other party. In this case, by changing to the caller control mode, the operation of the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 can be controlled by the voice of the other party.
Thus, for example, when taking a group photo, one person out of the persons who become subjects at the predetermined position of the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 makes a phone call to the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 and the voice. By inputting, you can take a group photo. In this way, remote control is possible.
[0050]
Further, in addition to turning the shutter by voice input, the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 can be turned off by voice input, the incoming call can be notified by voice input, or the incoming call can be notified by vibration. Each operation of the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 such as switching between 11 modes may be set for each voice.
[0051]
Furthermore, by registering a password or the like by voice and identifying the speaker by voice, only the owner of the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal 11 can be used. As a result, the number of users is limited, and leakage of personal information can be prevented.
[0052]
In the present invention, control is performed by associating and registering a voice and an operation and inputting the registered voice by voice, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an acceleration sensor may be provided to control the operation of the camera with a communication function by associating the acceleration pattern with the operation. For example, if the camera with communication function is shaken once, the photographing mode is set, and if the camera is shaken twice continuously, the power may be turned off.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the camera with a communication function of the present invention, it is possible to correlate the meaning of the voice and the operation by voice recognition, so that shooting can be performed under a specific condition. Furthermore, human error such as camera shake is likely to occur particularly in a light and compact device, but in the present invention, since the shutter is controlled by sound, image degradation due to an operation error such as camera shake, etc. Can also be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a camera with a communication function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera with a communication function of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the opposite side.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a camera with a communication function according to the present exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation by voice input of the camera with communication function according to the first embodiment of the present invention in order of steps.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera with a communication function according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Camera with communication function 11 Mobile communication terminal with camera 12 Case 12a Front surface 12b Top surface 12c Back surface 14 Shutter button 15 Mode selection dial 16 Optical viewfinder objective window 18 Optical viewfinder eyepiece window 20 Power switch 22 Lens barrel 24 Shooting lens 26 Image display unit 28 Microphone 30 Antenna 32 Communication unit 34 Imaging unit 40 CCD sensor 42 A / D conversion unit 44 Image data processing unit 46 Recording medium 48 Voice recognition unit 50 Voice registration unit 52 Control unit 54 Storage unit 60 Input unit

Claims (6)

A camera with a communication function that performs a predetermined operation,
A shooting section for shooting the subject;
A communication unit that transmits and receives information including voice information;
A voice input unit for inputting voice;
A voice registration unit that registers voice information input from the communication unit or the voice input unit in association with the predetermined operation;
A voice recognition unit for collating voice information input from the communication unit or the voice input unit with voice information registered in the voice registration unit;
A camera with a communication function, comprising: a control unit that controls the predetermined operation based on a collation result of the voice recognition unit. The camera with a communication function according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation is photographing of a subject by the photographing unit. The said control part is made to image | photograph with the said imaging | photography part, when the input audio | voice information and the audio | voice information registered into the said audio | voice registration part correspond as a result of the collation by the said audio | voice recognition part. Camera with communication function. The said control part is made to image | photograph with the said imaging | photography part, when the input audio | voice information does not correspond with the audio | voice information registered into the said audio | voice registration part as a result of the collation by the said audio | voice recognition part. Camera with communication function. The camera with a communication function according to claim 2, wherein the photographing unit has a zoom function. A camera with a communication function according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
Furthermore, the camera with a communication function which has an image display part which displays the image image | photographed by the said imaging | photography part.

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