JP2005140686A - Mobile electronic equipment system, mobile electronic equipment, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a size of an equipment, to reduce a weight thereof, and to execute a processing operation based on an accurate time. <P>SOLUTION: A cradle 11 has a RTC (real time clock) (or radio-controlled time piece) for clocking a time, and a function for transmitting to a digital still camera 10 a time data indicating the time clocked by the RTC when the digital still camera 10 is connected. The digital still camera 10 receives the time data transmitted from the cradle 11 when connected to the cradle 11, starts counting at timing when the time data is received, and calculates the present time based on a counted value and the time indicated by the time data received from the cradle 11, when the present time is required. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device system, a portable electronic device, a portable electronic device, and a program suitable for a digital still camera or the like that executes a processing operation based on time.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable electronic devices such as digital still cameras can be connected to other information devices such as desktop personal computers using a cradle to perform data transmission / reception, synchronization, charging, and the like. By using a cradle, there is a sense of stability compared to connecting with a cable, and the procedure on the user side can be simplified.

Further, in recent years, since the added value of the charger (cradle) is increased by exchanging data with the main body of the mobile phone, for example, accurate time data managed by the charger can be transferred to the mobile phone. A charger is considered (for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-178745

  However, in the conventional cradle (charger), accurate time data managed on the cradle side is transferred to the mobile phone, and the current time managed by the mobile phone is updated, that is, the time is adjusted using the time data. I just did.

  On the other hand, in order to realize complicated specifications related to a clock in a digital still camera, for example, independent alarm activation, a high-performance RTC (Real Time Clock) must be mounted on the main body. In recent years, there has been a demand for downsizing and weight reduction of digital still cameras. However, in order to realize the complicated specifications related to watches as described above, it is essential to mount an IC for RTC, etc. The device could not be reduced in size and weight for these time-measurement components.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is intended to reduce the size and weight of the device, and to carry out a processing operation based on an accurate time, An object is to provide a portable electronic device and a program.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable electronic device system having a cradle device and a portable electronic device connected by being mounted on the cradle device, wherein the cradle device includes a time measuring means for measuring time, and a portable electronic device. A time transmitting unit that transmits time data indicating the time measured by the time measuring unit to the portable electronic device when the device is connected, and the portable electronic device is connected to the cradle device. A time receiving means for receiving time data transmitted from the cradle device by the time transmitting means, a counting means for starting counting at the timing when the time receiving means receives the time data, and a counting by the counting means The current time is calculated based on the value indicated and the time indicated by the time data received by the time receiving means. Characterized by comprising a time calculation means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the cradle device performs an interrupt activation for the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is connected.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the time calculation means of the portable electronic device calculates the current time when the current time is required.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a portable electronic device that can be connected to a cradle device, a time receiving unit that receives time data transmitted from the cradle device when connected to the cradle device; Counting means for starting counting at a timing when time data is received; time calculating means for calculating a current time based on a value counted by the counting means and a time indicated by the time data received by the time receiving means; It is characterized by comprising.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program executed by a computer built in a portable electronic device connectable to the cradle device, the time transmitted from the cradle device when the computer is connected to the cradle device. The time receiving means for receiving data, the counting means for starting counting at the timing when the time receiving means receives the time data, the value counted by the counting means, and the time data received by the time receiving means It functions as time calculation means for calculating the current time based on the time.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the portable electronic device is connected to the cradle device, the time data is transmitted from the cradle device to the portable electronic device, and the portable electronic device receives the time data from the cradle device. By starting counting at the timing, the current time can be calculated based on the time indicated by the time data from the cradle device and the counted value. Therefore, since the current time data can be used without mounting a component (for example, an RTC IC) for measuring the time on the portable electronic device, the device corresponding to the component can be reduced in size and weight. In addition, it is possible to realize a processing operation based on an accurate time based on the time data provided from the cradle device.

  According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the invention of claim 1, when a portable electronic device is connected to the cradle device, even if the operation of the portable electronic device is stopped, the interrupt activation from the cradle device is started. The count required for calculating the current time can be started.

  According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the invention of claim 1, in the normal state where the data of the current time of the portable electronic device is not required, the counting after merely receiving the time data from the cradle device is continued. It does not increase the processing load significantly.

  According to the invention of claim 4, when connected to the cradle device, the time data is received from the cradle device, and the time data from the cradle device indicates by starting counting at the timing when the time data is received. The current time can be calculated based on the time and the counted value. Therefore, since the data of the current time can be used without mounting a component for measuring time (for example, an RTC IC), the device for the component can be reduced in size and weight. In addition, it is possible to realize a processing operation based on an accurate time based on the time data provided from the cradle device.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when connected to the cradle device, the time data is received from the cradle device, and the time data from the cradle device indicates by starting counting at the timing when the time data is received. The current time can be calculated based on the time and the counted value. Therefore, since the data of the current time can be used without mounting a component for measuring time (for example, an RTC IC), the device for the component can be reduced in size and weight. In addition, it is possible to realize a processing operation based on an accurate time based on the time data provided from the cradle device.

  Embodiments in which the present invention is applied to a digital still camera will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an external configuration of a digital still camera 10 according to an embodiment (first embodiment, second embodiment) of the present invention mounted on a cradle 11 that also serves as a charging stand. The digital still camera 10 is mounted on the cradle 11 with its back side facing forward, so that the built-in battery can be charged and the cradle 11 can be connected via a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable (not shown). For example, it is assumed that image data and other various data can be transmitted and received by connecting to a personal computer.

  The digital still camera 10 is a housing having a metal exterior that is about the size of a cigarette box, for example, and a power key 12 and a shutter key 13 are disposed on the upper surface thereof.

  On the back of the digital still camera 10, a mode key 14, an optical finder 15, a focus indicator 16, a strobe indicator 17, a display unit 18, a zoom key 19, a menu (MENU) key 20, a ring key 21, and a set (SET) key are provided. 22 and a display (DISP) key 23 are provided.

  The power key 12 turns on / off the power of the digital still camera 10.

  The shutter key 13 performs image shooting when operated in the shooting mode.

  A mode key 14 is a key switch for switching between a photographing mode (REC) and a playback mode (PLAY), which are basic modes, by a slide operation, and is set to the playback mode side in the figure.

  The optical viewfinder 15 is for optically viewing the field of view of the subject image.

  The focus indicator 16 is disposed in the vicinity of the optical viewfinder 15 and displays that the focus is locked in a state where the user removes the optical viewfinder 15, for example, by lighting a red LED (Light Emitting Diode).

  The strobe indicator 17 is positioned in the vicinity of the optical viewfinder 15 and indicates that the charging of the strobe has been completed with the user removing the optical viewfinder 15, for example, by lighting a green LED.

  The display unit 18 is configured by a color TFT liquid crystal panel having a backlight, for example, a size of about 2 inches diagonal, and displays an image to be captured at that time on the monitor in the shooting mode, while this digital still in the playback mode. It is read from a flash memory (described later) that is a recording medium of the camera 10 and selectively displayed. Also, the current time (including date) is displayed in response to the request.

  The zoom key 19 changes the focal length of the photographing lens steplessly to the telephoto (T) side or the wide angle (W) side in the photographing mode.

  The menu key 20 displays various mode settings and the like as menu items on the display unit 18. For example, menu items for various settings are displayed when an alarm function, a data reception function, or the like using the cradle 11 is used (second embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9).

  The ring key 21 is used to change the item displayed on the display unit 18 in the up, down, left, and right directions depending on the operation position of the ring-shaped operation key, and the menu item selected by the set key 22 located in the center Select and set. Further, by placing the digital still camera 10 on the cradle 11, when the alarm function and the data receiving function are used, the digital still camera 10 is operated when responding to various displays.

  The display key 23 switches on / off the display on the display unit 18 and switches the display form on the display unit 18.

  The cradle 11 is provided with a “PHOTO” key 24, a USB key 25, a charge (CHARGE) indicator 26, and a USB indicator 27 as shown in the figure. Is provided with a USB connector terminal.

  By placing the digital still camera 10 on the cradle 11 and connecting the AC cable of the cradle 11 to a household outlet, the rechargeable battery provided in the digital still camera 10 can be charged. At this time, the charging indicator 26 is lit when charging is being performed.

  Further, by operating the “PHOTO” key 24, the image data recorded in the digital still camera 10 is displayed on the display unit 18, and the digital still camera 10 and the cradle 11 are displayed on an electronic photo stand (photo frame). It can also be used as

  In addition, the cradle 11 on which the digital still camera 10 is placed is connected to an information device such as a personal computer (not shown) using a USB cable, and the USB key 25 is operated, whereby the digital still camera 10 and the information device are connected to each other. The image data can be easily transferred between the two. During the transfer of the image data, the USB indicator 27 is lit. In addition to transferring image data between the information device and the digital still camera 10, video data and other data (time data, program guide data, etc.) are transmitted and received between the cradle 11 and the digital still camera 10. In this case, USB is also used.

  Next, a circuit configuration in the digital still camera 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the monitoring state in the photographing mode, the CCD 33, which is an imaging element disposed behind the photographing optical axis of the lens optical system 32 including the photographing lens, whose focus position and aperture position are moved by driving the motor (M) 31. Are scanned and driven by a timing generator (TG) 34 and a vertical driver 35, and output a photoelectric conversion output corresponding to a light image formed at regular intervals for one screen.

  This photoelectric conversion output is appropriately gain-adjusted for each primary color component of RGB in the state of an analog value signal, then sampled and held by a sample hold (S / H) circuit 36, and digital data by an A / D converter 37 The color process circuit 38 performs color process processing including pixel interpolation processing and γ correction processing in the color process circuit 38 to generate a digital luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cb and Cr, and a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 39. Is output.

  The DMA controller 39 once uses the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals Cb and Cr output from the color process circuit 38 by using the composite synchronization signal, the memory write enable signal, and the clock signal from the color process circuit 38 once. And the DMA transfer to the DRAM 41 used as a buffer memory via the DRAM interface (I / F) 40.

  The control unit 42 includes a CPU, a ROM that stores an operation program executed by the CPU including processing of a time management function and a data reception function, which will be described later, and a RAM that is used as a work memory. The control unit 42 controls the entire digital still camera 10. After the DMA transfer of the luminance and color difference signals to the DRAM 41 is completed, the luminance and color difference signals are read from the DRAM 41 via the DRAM interface 40, and the VRAM controller 43. Is written in the VRAM 44 via Moreover, the control part 42 implement | achieves a time management function by running a time management program (1st Embodiment). When executing the time management function, the control unit 42 counts the elapsed time from the timing when the time data is received from the cradle 11 by the timer 42a. Here, for example, the elapsed seconds are simply counted. However, it is not always necessary to count the number of elapsed seconds, and it is possible to count in any unit as long as the time can be calculated based on the count value. Moreover, a data reception function is implement | achieved by running a data reception program, and an alarm function is implement | achieved by executing an alarm management program (2nd Embodiment mentioned later). In the time management function, when the digital still camera 10 is placed on the cradle 11, time data is received from the cradle 11, counting is started at the timing when the time data is received, and data of the current time is required. The current time is calculated based on the counted value and the time indicated by the time data received from the cradle 11. As a result, it is not necessary to mount components necessary for measuring an accurate time such as an RTC IC and a radio timepiece in the digital still camera 10. The data reception function and the alarm function will be described in a second embodiment to be described later.

  Although not shown in the figure, when the control unit 42 is instructed to activate the interrupt from the CONNECT signal from the detection means for detecting that the digital still camera 10 is mounted and the cradle 11. It is assumed that a signal line for an interrupt signal (INT) to be input (asserted) is connected.

  The digital video encoder 45 periodically reads out luminance and color difference signals from the VRAM 44 via the VRAM controller 43, generates video signals based on these data, and outputs them to the display unit 18.

  As described above, the display unit 18 functions as a monitor display unit (electronic finder) in the photographing mode. By performing display based on the video signal from the digital video encoder 45, the VRAM controller 43 at that time An image based on the captured image information is displayed in real time.

  When the shutter key 13 constituting the key input unit 46 is operated at a timing when still image shooting is desired in a state where the image at that time is displayed in real time as a monitor image on the display unit 18 as described above, a trigger signal is generated. Occur.

  In response to this trigger signal, the control unit 42 immediately stops the path from the CCD 33 to the DRAM 41 immediately after the completion of the DMA transfer of the luminance and color difference signals for one screen being captured from the CCD 33 to the DRAM 41. Transition to record save state.

  In this recording and storage state, the control unit 42 transmits the luminance and color difference signals for one frame written in the DRAM 41 to the vertical 8 pixels × horizontal 8 pixels for each of Y, Cb, and Cr components via the DRAM interface 40. Are read out in units called basic blocks and written into a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) circuit 47. The JPEG circuit 47 uses ADCT (Adaptive Discrete Cosine Transform) and Huffman coding, which is an entropy coding system. Data compression is performed by such processing.

  Then, the obtained code data is read out from the JPEG circuit 47 as a data file of one image, and a flash memory which is a nonvolatile memory enclosed in a memory card which is detachably mounted as a recording medium of the digital still camera 10 Write to 48.

  At this time, regarding the image data file to be written to the flash memory 48, for example, when the shutter key 13 is operated, in addition to the date and time based on the current time calculated by the time management function, a predetermined number of digits consisting of a serial number, for example, It is assumed that a file name such as “0303311122340001.jpg” is automatically added and recorded.

  For example, the file name “0303311122340001.jpg” is “(20) 03” “03” month “31” day “12” time “12” time “34” and still image data compressed by the “0001” -th JPEG method. It is shown that.

  Note that the flash memory 48 may be built in the digital still camera 10 separately from the removable memory card, or may be a combination of both the memory card and the built-in memory.

  Then, along with the compression processing of the luminance and color difference signals for one frame and the completion of writing all the compressed data to the flash memory 48, the control unit 42 activates the path from the CCD 33 to the DRAM 41 again.

  Further, a USB interface (I / F) 49 is further connected to the control unit 42. The USB interface 49 is used for communication control when image data and other data are transmitted / received to / from an external information device, for example, a personal computer, which is wired via the USB connector 50, and data between the cradle 11 and the like. Performs transmission / reception communication control. The digital still camera 10 is connected to the time data managed in the cradle 11 from the cradle 11 via the USB interface 49, or the video / audio data of the TV broadcast received in the cradle 11, or the network such as the Internet. The received image, video, audio and other data (program guide data, etc.) can be acquired (second embodiment).

  The key input unit 46 includes the power key 12, the mode key 14, the zoom key 19, the menu key 20, the ring key 21, the set key 22, and the display key 23 in addition to the shutter key 13 described above. A signal accompanying the key operation is directly sent to the control unit 42.

  However, at the time of shooting a moving image instead of a still image, while the shutter key 13 of the key input unit 46 continues to be operated, the above-described recording of the still image data in the DRAM 41 is continuously performed, When the operation of the shutter key 13 ends or a predetermined time limit, for example, 30 seconds elapses, the series of still image data is sequentially compressed by the JPEG circuit 47, and then the series of still image data compressed is compressed. A motion JPEG moving image data file is generated and recorded in the flash memory 48. In the state where the digital still camera 10 is connected to the cradle 11, the video data transmitted from the cradle 11 can be recorded in the flash memory 48 in the same manner regardless of the key operation described above.

  Further, in the playback mode, the control unit 42 selectively reads out the image data recorded in the flash memory 48, and the image data compressed by the JPEG circuit 47 in a procedure opposite to the procedure of data compression in the shooting mode is obtained. The decompressed image data is held in the DRAM 41 via the DRAM interface 40, and the content held in the DRAM 41 is stored in the VRAM 44 via the VRAM controller 43. The image data is periodically read out from the VRAM 44. A video signal is generated and reproduced by the display unit 18. In the state where the digital still camera 10 is connected to the cradle 11, the slide show process is activated by the interruption activation from the cradle 11, and the image data is read out and reproduced and output to the display unit 18 in the same manner as described above. Shall.

  When the selected image data is not a still image but a moving image, playback of the individual still image data constituting the selected moving image data file is executed continuously in time, and all the still image data is played back. When the operation is finished, the image is reproduced and displayed using only the still image data positioned at the head of the moving image data until the next reproduction instruction is given.

  Next, a circuit configuration in the cradle 11 is shown in FIG. The cradle 11 is centered on a control unit 51 that controls the cradle 11 as a whole. The control unit 51 includes a USB interface (I / F) 52, a charge control unit 53, a key input unit 54, an indicator unit 55, and an RTC 56 (or The radio clock unit 56a) and the display unit 57 are connected. The cradle 11 only needs to be provided with either the RTC 56 or the radio clock unit 56a capable of measuring an accurate time.

  The control unit 51 includes a CPU, a ROM that stores various operation programs executed by the CPU in a fixed manner, a RAM that is used as a work memory, and the like. The time is managed by the RTC 56 or the radio clock unit 60. The time data can be transmitted to the digital still camera 10 (mobile electronic device) connected via the USB connector 62. Although not shown in the figure, a connect signal from a detecting means for detecting that the digital still camera 10 is placed on the cradle 11 and an output when the digital still camera 10 is interrupted and activated ( It is assumed that a signal line for an interrupt signal (INT) to be asserted is also provided.

  The USB interface 52 controls transfer of image data transmitted and received between an information device such as a personal computer (not shown) connected to the outside via a USB cable 56 and the digital still camera 10 connected to the USB connector 57. To do. In addition, transfer control of time data and the like from the control unit 51 to the digital still camera 10 is performed.

  The charging control unit 53 rectifies the AC power obtained when the AC plug 59 is connected to a household outlet (not shown) via the AC cord 58, and converts each circuit in the cradle 11 to a DC power source having a necessary voltage. On the other hand, a DC power supply for charging is supplied to the digital still camera 10 via the power line of the USB connector 57 to the digital still camera 10 placed on the cradle 11.

  The key input unit 54 includes a “PHOTO” key 24 and a USB key 25, and these key inputs are directly input to the control unit 51.

  The indicator unit 55 includes a charging indicator 26 and a USB indicator 27, and lights up and emits light based on a control signal from the control unit 51.

  The display unit 57 is a small liquid crystal display provided outside the casing of the cradle 11, and displays a message or the like when executing various processes.

  The RTC 56 measures time based on an oscillator and outputs date / time data (time data). For example, the RTC 56 is configured as shown in FIG.

  The radio clock 60 is a clock having a function of receiving a standard radio wave including time information transmitted from a transmitting station by the antenna 60a, analyzing the time information, and automatically correcting based on the time information.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the RTC 56 provided in the cradle 11.

  In FIG. 4, a clock signal is supplied to a frequency divider 56b from a clock oscillator 56a that oscillates a reference clock. The clock signal from the clock oscillator 56a is appropriately divided by the frequency dividing circuit 56, and is output as a timed clock signal of 1 pulse per second (1P / 1S).

  The clocking clock signal is sequentially divided by the counting circuits 56c1, 56c2, 56c3, 56c4, and 56c5 arranged in decimal, hex, decimal, hex, and decimal in series. The count values of the counting circuits 56c1 and 56c2 correspond to the unit of time “second”, the counting circuits 56c3 and 56c4 use “minute” units, and the counting circuit 56c5 uses “hour” units as clocks. To come. That is, the counting circuits 56c1 to 56c5 constitute the time counting circuit 56c, and the count signals (time signals) of the counting circuits 56c1 to 56c5 for “minute” and “hour” are output.

The count signals of the count circuits 56c1 to 56c5 are also output to the comparison circuit 56d. For example, the count signals are compared with a count signal from a counter (not shown) having an alarm function, and a coincidence signal output is obtained when they coincide. The Further, a correction signal is input to the time counting circuit 56c, and a time correction operation is performed.
As a result, the cradle 11 can measure an accurate time.

(First embodiment)
Next, the operation in the first embodiment will be described.
In the first embodiment, the cradle 11 transmits time data indicating the time measured by the RTC 56 (or the radio clock 57) to the digital still camera 10, and the digital still camera 10 uses the time management function to transmit the time data. The timer 42a starts counting at the received timing, and when the digital still camera 10 needs data of the current time, the current time is calculated based on the time data from the cradle 11 and the count value counted by the timer 42a. calculate.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for explaining operations in the cradle 11 and the digital still camera 10 when the time management function in the first embodiment is executed.

  First, when the control unit 51 of the cradle 11 recognizes that the digital still camera 10 is connected by changing the CONNECT signal line from High to Low (Step A1), an interrupt signal (INT) is sent to the digital still camera 10. Is asserted (High → Low) (step A2). Here, it is assumed that the digital still camera 10 is placed in a state where the operation is stopped in order to charge the rechargeable battery, for example.

  The control unit 42 of the digital still camera 10 is activated when receiving an interrupt signal from the cradle 11. The control unit 51 of the cradle 11 transmits data indicating the activation factor to the digital still camera 10 (step A3), and the digital still camera 10 receives the data indicating the activation factor transmitted from the cradle 11 ( Step B1).

  When receiving the data indicating the activation factor from the cradle 11, the control unit 42 of the digital still camera 10 determines the activation factor based on this data (step B2). Here, when the activation factor is not the activation due to the connection to the cradle 11, another process based on the other activation factors is executed.

  On the other hand, if the activation factor is activation by connection to the cradle 11, the process proceeds to step B3.

  In this case, the cradle 11 transmits time data indicating the time counted by the RTC 56 (or the radio clock unit 56a) to the digital still camera 10 (step A4). The digital still camera 10 receives time data transmitted from the digital still camera 10, that is, the current time measured in the cradle 11 (step B3).

  The control unit 42 of the digital still camera 10 stores the time data received from the cradle 11 (step B4), resets the timer 42a (step B5), and starts counting up (step B6). That is, the elapsed time (for example, the number of elapsed seconds) after receiving the time data from the cradle 11 is counted. Thus, every time time data is received connected to the cradle 11, the timer 42 a is reset and counting is started, so that time adjustment is performed at the time accurately counted by the cradle 11. The control unit 42 continues to count up the timer 42a.

  On the other hand, when there is a request for displaying the current time (step B7), the control unit 42 specifies, for example, a shooting mode or a playback mode, and if it is necessary to display the current time on the display screen at that time, or When the shutter key 13 is operated in the mode, a still image is shot. When it is necessary to record the current time (shooting time) together with the shot image, the current time is calculated. Note that the situation where there is a request for time display is not limited to this, but is applicable in any case, but when the current time data is required, the current time is calculated.

  The control unit 42 uses the time indicated by the time data received from the cradle 11 as the reference time, and adds the elapsed time (for example, elapsed seconds) counted by the timer 42a to the reference time. Time is calculated (step B8).

  The control unit 42 causes the display unit 18 to display the current time calculated based on the time data received from the cradle 11 and the value counted by the timer 42a.

  When the current time thus calculated is continuously displayed on the display unit 18, the control unit 42 sequentially updates and displays the current time according to the value counted by the timer 42a.

  In this way, in the first embodiment, when the digital still camera 10 is connected to the cradle 11, time data is transmitted from the cradle 11 to the digital still camera 10. In the digital still camera 10, the cradle 11 By starting the count by the timer 42a at the timing when the time data is received, the current time can be calculated based on the time indicated by the time data from the cradle 11 and the counted value. Therefore, since the current time data can be used without mounting an RTC IC or a radio clock for measuring the time in the digital still camera 10, it is possible to reduce the size and weight of the device for the parts. In addition, the processing operation based on the accurate time based on the time data provided from the cradle 11 can be realized.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described.
In the second embodiment, the data reception function and the alarm function are executed in the digital still camera 10 by using the time counted by the RTC 56 (or the radio clock unit 56a) provided in the cradle 11.

  The configuration of the cradle 11 in the second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. 6 and 7 show only main components, and the other components will be described as being the same as those in the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 3).

  A video decoder 70 and a tuner 72 are further added to the cradle 11 shown in FIG. The CPU 51 a constitutes the control unit 51.

  In the cradle 11 shown in FIG. 6, TV tuners can be received from an external antenna (not shown) by the tuner 72, and video and audio data can be supplied to the digital still camera 10 via the video decoder 70. In FIG. 6, video and audio data may be transmitted using USB in the same manner as in the first embodiment, or a line for transmitting and receiving video and authority signals may be provided separately. Anyway.

  A network controller 74 and a storage device 76 are further added to the cradle 11 shown in FIG.

  The cradle 11 shown in FIG. 7 has a function of capturing image and audio data using, for example, TCP (transmission control protocol) / IP (internet protocol) through the Internet connected via the network controller 74. . Video and image data captured by the network controller 74 is supplied to the digital still camera 10 through the USB interface 52. When the digital still camera 10 is not connected, the cradle 11 stores video and audio data in the storage device 76 provided with a large-capacity storage area, and when the digital still camera 10 is connected, Video and audio data stored in the storage device 76 can be supplied through the USB interface 52.

  Note that the cradle 11 of the second embodiment may be configured by combining FIG. 6 and FIG.

Next, the operation in the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 8 shows a flowchart for explaining operations in the cradle 11 and the digital still camera 10 when executing the data reception function in the second embodiment.

  Note that steps C1 to C4 and steps D1 to D3 and D7 shown in FIG. 8 are executed in the same manner as steps A1 to A4 and steps B1 to B3 and B11 shown in FIG. Also, the digital still camera 10 may calculate the current time based on the time data received from the cradle 11 and display time information on the display unit 57, for example, as in the first embodiment. It shall be possible.

  In the digital still camera 10, alarm information used for an alarm function to be described later can be set by operating the menu key 20 and the ring key 21 during normal use. As alarm information, in addition to the activation time, the type of activation factor (for example, there is a slideshow activation and a recording activation shown in FIG. 9 described later) can be set in advance. In addition, information related to reserved recording set based on program guide data (to be described later) received from the cradle 11, for example, a program to be recorded, start and end times, broadcast station (or address), etc. are included in the alarm information. You can also.

  The digital still camera 10 receives time data from the cradle 11 and executes processing by the time management function (first embodiment), and transmits alarm information set in advance during normal use to the cradle 11 (step) D4). The cradle 11 receives and stores the alarm information transmitted from the digital still camera 10 (step C5). The cradle 11 activates the digital still camera 10 next time by the alarm function based on the alarm information received from the digital still camera 10 (details of the operation of the alarm function will be described later (FIG. 9)).

  On the other hand, the cradle 11 transmits the program guide data to the digital still camera 10 (step C6). It is assumed that the cradle 11 receives program guide data from the outside (TV radio waves or the Internet) and stores it in the storage device 76 in advance when the digital still camera 10 is not connected. For example, the cradle 11 receives and records program guide data when a predetermined time (designated time, regular time, etc.) is reached.

  Further, when program guide data is transmitted to the digital still camera 10, the program guide data is not transmitted before the current time indicated by the RTC 56. Thereby, it is possible to avoid recording unnecessary data in the digital still camera 10.

  The digital still camera 10 receives the program guide data transmitted from the cradle 11 from the cradle 11 and stores it. This program guide data is used for recording setting. For example, in the digital still camera 10, during normal use, recording setting is performed by displaying a program guide on the display unit 57 based on the program guide data and designating a program to be recorded from among the program guide. . The recording setting is transmitted to the cradle 11 as the above-described alarm information activation factor (recording activation) or information relating to reserved recording. Note that the start time for the start of recording is the start time of the program set for recording (or the time immediately before it).

  Next, when the recording data is recorded in the storage device 76, the cradle 11 transmits this recording data to the digital still camera 10 (step C7). For example, when the cradle 11 has received information related to reserved recording from the digital still camera 10 in advance, the video and audio data of the reserved program is received through the tuner 72 or the network controller 74 in accordance with the reserved content, and the storage device 76. The cradle 11 transmits to the digital still camera 10 when the digital still camera 10 is connected when the data that has been reserved and recorded is in the storage device 76. If the digital still camera 10 is connected and activated when the reserved recording starts, the received video and audio data may be transmitted to the digital still camera 10 as it is. .

  The digital still camera 10 receives the data transmitted from the cradle 11 and records it in the flash memory 48, for example.

  When the above processing is completed, the digital still camera 10 enters the Power OFF state. The cradle 11 is always operating and enters a command standby state from the digital still camera 10.

  In this way, in the data receiving function of the second embodiment, not only time data from the cradle 11 to the digital still camera 10 but also transmission of alarm information from the digital still camera 10 to the cradle 11 and transmission from the cradle 11 to the digital still camera 10 are performed. Transmission of program guide data and recording data can be executed and stored in each.

Next, the alarm function in the second embodiment will be described.
FIG. 9 shows a flowchart for explaining operations in the cradle 11 and the digital still camera 10 when the alarm function in the second embodiment is executed.

  The control unit 51 (CPU 51a) of the cradle 11 always determines whether the time measured by the RTC 56 (or the radio clock unit 56a) has reached the time specified by the alarm information (step E1). When it is determined that the designated time has come (step E1, Yes), the control unit 51 outputs (asserts) an interrupt signal (INT) to the digital still camera 10 and activates the digital still camera 10 (step E2). ). The cradle 11 transmits data indicating the activation factor to the digital still camera 10 (step E3).

  The digital still camera 10 is activated in response to an interrupt signal (INT) from the cradle 11 and receives data indicating the activation factor (step F1). The digital still camera 10 branches the process according to the data indicating the activation factor.

  Here, when the activation factor is the slide show process, the digital still camera 10 executes the slide show process (step F3). For example, the digital still camera 10 displays still images recorded in the flash memory 48 while switching them at predetermined time intervals.

  If the activation operator is recording, the digital still camera 10 executes a recording process (step F4). The digital still camera 10 receives video and audio data recorded in the storage device 76 of the cradle 11 and records it in the flash memory 48, for example.

  Note that the activation factor can be a target other than the slide show process and the recording process described above, and can be executed as other processes (step F5).

  The digital still camera 10 performs processing according to the activation factor for a predetermined time, and then enters the Power OFF state.

  In this way, in the alarm function of the second embodiment, the digital still camera 10 placed on the cradle 11 is activated in accordance with the alarm information set in the digital still camera 10, and according to various activation factors. Processing can be executed. Thereby, even if the digital still camera 10 is not equipped with an RTC for measuring an accurate time, the digital still camera 10 can be accurately activated by an interruption from the cradle 11.

  The alarm information can be set not by the cradle 11 but by the digital still camera 10 and transmitted to the cradle 11. For this reason, it is possible to make settings while displaying menu items and the like on the display unit 18 (liquid crystal display) provided in the digital still camera 10. When the display screen of the display unit 18 provided in the digital still camera 10 is larger than the display screen of the display unit 57 provided in the cradle 11, the setting operation can be facilitated. Further, since the alarm information is transmitted to the cradle 11 simply by placing (connecting) the digital still camera 10 on the cradle 11, the operation is very simple.

  Further, when the digital still camera 10 is not connected to the cradle 11 and the reservation recording is set in advance by the digital still camera 10, the reservation recording is designated based on the time counted by the RTC 56. The program (video and audio data) received through the tuner 72 or the network controller 74 can be recorded in the storage device 76. Further, the data recorded in the storage device 76 of the cradle 11 is transmitted to the digital still camera 10 and recorded (data reception function) only by placing the digital still camera 10 on the cradle 11.

  When the digital still camera 10 is not connected to the cradle 11, the cradle 11 receives the program guide data and stores it in the storage device 76. When the digital still camera 10 is connected, the digital still camera 10 You can send and record. The digital still camera 10 can easily acquire program guide data used for reserved recording without performing any special operation. In addition, since the program guide data before the current time is not transmitted from the cradle 11 to the digital still camera 10, no extra data is recorded.

  Furthermore, by setting the activation time and activation factor in the cradle 11 as alarm information, for example, if recording processing is set as the activation factor, the digital still camera 10 is activated from the cradle 11 when the designated time comes. The video data transmitted from the cradle 11 can be recorded on the digital still camera 10. Also, by setting various processes such as a slide show process as activation factors, it is possible to execute various processes when the designated time comes.

  In the description of each embodiment described above, the digital still camera 10 is targeted as a portable electronic device, but has a function of managing time such as a cellular phone and is connected to an external device such as a cradle (or a charger). The present invention can also be applied to other possible portable electronic devices.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, the functions executed in the above-described embodiments may be combined as appropriate as possible. The above-described embodiments include various stages of the invention, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if several constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, an effect can be obtained, so that a configuration from which the constituent requirements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

  The processing described in each of the above-described embodiments is a program that can be executed by a computer, for example, a recording medium such as a magnetic disk (flexible disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD, etc.), and a semiconductor memory. And can be provided to various devices. It is also possible to transmit to a variety of devices by transmitting via a communication medium. A computer that implements a portable electronic device reads the program recorded on the recording medium or receives the program via the communication medium, and the operation is controlled by this program, thereby executing the above-described processing.

The figure which shows the external appearance structure of the state which mounted the digital still camera 10 which concerns on embodiment (1st Embodiment, 2nd Embodiment) of this invention in the cradle 11 which served as the charging stand. The block diagram for demonstrating the circuit structure in the digital still camera 10 in embodiment of this invention. The block diagram for demonstrating the circuit structure in the cradle 11 in embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows an example of a structure of RTC56 provided in the cradle 11 in this embodiment. 5 is a flowchart for explaining operations in the cradle 11 and the digital still camera 10 when executing the time management function in the first embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram shown about the structure of the cradle 11 in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram shown about the structure of the cradle 11 in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement in the cradle 11 and the digital still camera 10 in the case of performing the data reception function in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement in the cradle 11 and the digital still camera 10 in the case of performing the alarm function in 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital still camera, 11 ... Cradle, 12 ... Power key, 13 ... Shutter key, 14 ... Mode key, 15 ... Optical finder, 16 ... Focus indicator, 17 ... Strobe indicator, 18 ... Display part, 19 ... Zoom key, 20 ... Menu (MENU) key, 21 ... Ring key, 22 ... Set (SET) key, 23 ... Display (DISP) key, 24 ... "PHOTO" key, 25 ... USB key, 26 ... Charge indicator, 27 ... USB indicator, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Time measuring part, 31 ... Motor (M), 32 ... Lens optical system, 33 ... CCD, 34 ... Timing generator (TG), 35 ... Vertical driver, 36 ... Sample hold circuit (S / H), 37 ... A / D converter, 38 ... color process circuit, 39 ... DMA controller, 40 ... DRAM Interface (I / F), 41 ... DRAM, 42 ... Control unit, 43 ... VRAM controller, 44 ... VRAM, 45 ... Digital video encoder, 46 ... Key input unit, 47 ... JPEG circuit, 48 ... Flash memory, 49 ... USB Interface (I / F), 50 ... USB connector, 51 ... Control unit, 52 ... USB interface (I / F), 53 ... Charge control unit, 54 ... Key input unit, 55 ... Indicator unit, 56 ... Storage unit, 57 Display unit 58 Sound emitting unit 59 Time measuring unit 60 Radio wave clock unit 60a Antenna 61 61 USB cable 62 USB connector 63 133 133 AC cord 64 134 AC plug

Claims (5)

In a portable electronic device system having a cradle device and a portable electronic device connected by being placed on the device,
The cradle device is
A time measuring means for measuring time;
A time transmitting means for transmitting time data indicating the time measured by the time measuring means to the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is connected;
The portable electronic device is
A time receiving means for receiving time data transmitted from the cradle apparatus by the time transmitting means when connected to the cradle apparatus;
Counting means for starting counting at a timing at which time data is received by the time receiving means;
A portable electronic device system comprising: a time calculating unit that calculates a current time based on a value counted by the counting unit and a time indicated by time data received by the time receiving unit.   2. The portable electronic device system according to claim 1, wherein the cradle device interrupts and activates the portable electronic device when the portable electronic device is connected.   2. The portable electronic device system according to claim 1, wherein the time calculation means of the portable electronic device calculates the current time when the current time is required. In portable electronic devices that can be connected to a cradle device,
Time receiving means for receiving time data transmitted from the cradle device when connected to the cradle device;
Counting means for starting counting at a timing at which time data is received by the time receiving means;
A portable electronic device comprising: time calculation means for calculating a current time based on a value counted by the counting means and a time indicated by time data received by the time receiving means. A program executed by a computer built in a portable electronic device connectable to a cradle device,
Computer
Time receiving means for receiving time data transmitted from the cradle device when connected to the cradle device;
Counting means for starting counting at a timing at which time data is received by the time receiving means;
A program for functioning as time calculating means for calculating a current time based on a value counted by the counting means and a time indicated by time data received by the time receiving means.

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