JP2005150887A - Electronic apparatus unit, cradle, and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive electronic apparatus unit capable of enhancing the convenience of an electronic apparatus by the electronic apparatus and a cradle containing it. <P>SOLUTION: A digital camera unit comprises a digital camera 10 and a cradle 20 for containing the digital camera 10. The cradle 20 comprises a terminal 21 for connecting electrically with the digital camera 10 in a contained state, and a drive 22 operating by the control of the digital camera 10 through the terminal 21. The digital camera 10 comprises a terminal 11 for electrically being connected with the cradle 20, and a control section 12 for controlling the drive 22 through the terminal 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device unit, a cradle, and an electronic device having an electronic device and a cradle that houses the electronic device.

  Conventionally, there is a camera system described in Patent Document 1 as a camera system including a digital camera and a cradle that houses the digital camera. In the system described in Patent Document 1, the digital camera and the cradle can be connected by a connector, and the CPU in the cradle acquires the image data recorded in the built-in memory of the digital camera via the connector. Control is performed to display an image based on the image data on the display unit of the cradle, or to record the image data in the storage device of the cradle. According to this system, even when the capability of the digital camera is low, the low capability can be covered by the cradle.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-60183

  However, in the above system, since the cradle has a CPU, the manufacturing cost of the cradle becomes high. For this reason, the manufacturing cost of the whole system will also become high.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device unit capable of improving the convenience of an electronic device at low cost by using the electronic device and a cradle that houses the electronic device. And

  The electronic device unit of the present invention is an electronic device unit having an electronic device and a cradle that houses the electronic device, and the cradle is electrically connected to the electronic device in a state in which the electronic device is housed. An interface for controlling the electronic device through the interface, and the electronic device electrically connects the cradle with the drive. Control means for controlling.

  In the electronic device unit of the present invention, the interface of the cradle and the interface of the electronic device are terminals that contact each other when the electronic device is housed in the cradle.

  In the electronic device unit of the present invention, the electronic device includes a drive controlled by the control unit, and the control unit selectively controls the drive of the electronic device and the drive of the cradle. is there.

  With this configuration, the electronic device and the cradle are electrically connected in a state where the electronic device is housed in the cradle, and the cradle drive can be operated by control from the control means of the electronic device. For this reason, for example, the data stored in the storage medium attached to the drive of the electronic device can be stored in the storage medium attached to the drive of the cradle, and the convenience of the electronic device can be improved. . Moreover, since the cradle has only the terminal and the drive, the above effect can be obtained while keeping the manufacturing cost low.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electronic device unit which can improve the convenience of an electronic device by an electronic device and the cradle which accommodates it can be provided at low cost.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital camera unit for explaining the best mode for carrying out the present invention.
The digital camera unit 100 includes a digital camera 10 and a cradle 20 that houses the digital camera 10. The cradle 20 has a function (including a charging function) for performing at least one of transmission and reception of signals with the digital camera 10 in a state where the digital camera 10 is accommodated. In FIG. 1, a configuration such as a minimum photographing function required for the digital camera 10 is omitted, and only components necessary for the description of the present embodiment are shown.

  The cradle 20 includes a terminal 21 that is an interface for electrical connection with the digital camera 10 in a state in which the digital camera 10 is accommodated, a drive 22 that operates by control from the digital camera 10 via the terminal 21, and a drive 22 And a portable storage medium 23 to be mounted on. The portable storage medium 23 is a memory stick (registered trademark), an SD card (registered trademark), a CF card (registered trademark), a CD-R, a CD-RW, a DVD-R, a DVD-RW, an MO, a flexible disk, or the like. It is a storage medium. The drive 22 reads / writes data from / to the portable storage medium 23.

  The digital camera 10 includes a terminal 11 that is an interface for electrically connecting to the cradle 20 while being accommodated in the cradle 20, a control unit 12 that controls the drive 22 of the cradle 20 via the terminal 11, and a control unit. USB 13 which is an interface for communicating with a computer 13 which is an external device, a drive 13 controlled by 12, a storage medium 14 such as a portable storage medium or a built-in storage medium (for example, hard disk) mounted on the drive 13 The terminal 11 and the drive 13 are connected to the control unit 12 via the bus 16, and the USB interface 15 is connected to the control unit 12 via the bus 17.

  The terminal 11 electrically connects the digital camera 10 and the cradle 20 by contacting the terminal 21 of the cradle 20 in a state where the digital camera 10 is accommodated in the cradle 20. The interface for electrically connecting the digital camera 10 and the cradle 20 is not limited to the terminals 11 and 21 but may be an infrared communication port or the like.

  The drive 13 reads / writes data from / to the storage medium 14. Image data captured by the digital camera 10 is stored in the storage medium 14 attached to the drive 13. The digital camera 10 has a DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) function that can set the number of print orders, the print size, and the like of captured image data for each image data. The storage medium 14 stores DPOF setting information together with the image data. (Print order information) is also stored.

  The control unit 12 controls the drive 22 of the cradle 20 via the terminal 11 in a state where the digital camera 10 is accommodated in the cradle 20 and the digital camera 10 and the cradle 20 are electrically connected. The control unit 12 selectively controls the drive 13 and the drive 22 by using a select signal or the like or switching the control destination with a switch. The control unit 12 controls the designated drive in response to a drive designation signal that designates either the drive 13 or the drive 22 received from the computer 30 via the USB interface 15. The control unit 12 controls the specified drive to store the image data and the like transferred from the computer 30 via the USB interface 15 in the storage medium 14 or the storage medium 23.

Next, the operation of the digital camera unit shown in FIG. 1 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation flow of the digital camera unit for explaining the best mode for carrying out the present invention. In the case where image data stored in the storage medium 14 is stored in the storage medium 23. It is a figure which shows an operation | movement flow.

  The user of the digital camera unit 100 takes a picture with the digital camera 10, sets DPOF for a part of the taken image data, and then stores the digital camera 10 in the cradle 20. When the digital camera 10 is accommodated in the cradle 20 and the terminal 11 and the terminal 21 come into contact with each other, a connection detection signal indicating that the digital camera 10 and the cradle 20 are electrically connected is notified to the control unit 12. The connection detection signal is generated, for example, when a protrusion provided on the digital camera 10 presses a connection detection button provided on the cradle 20. In this state, when the user gives an image editing instruction for instructing editing of the image data recorded in the storage medium 14, the control unit 12 operates as follows according to the instruction. This image editing instruction is performed by pressing an image editing instruction button provided on the cradle 20 or operating the operation unit of the digital camera 10.

  First, the control unit 12 controls the drive 13 of the digital camera 10 to search only the image data for which DPOF setting has been made from the image data stored in the storage medium 14 (S201). Data is temporarily stored in a RAM or the like in the control unit 12 (S202). Thereafter, the control unit 12 transfers the image data stored in the RAM to the drive 22 of the cradle 20, and stores the image data in the portable storage medium 23 (S203).

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation flow of the digital camera unit for explaining the best mode for carrying out the present invention. The image data transferred from the computer 30 is stored in the storage medium 14 or the portable storage medium. FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow in a case where data is transferred to 23 and stored.
When the user operates the computer 30 and notifies the control unit 12 notified of the connection detection signal to store the image data stored in the computer 30 in the storage medium 14 or 23, the image is displayed. Data and the instruction are input to the control unit 12 via the USB interface 15 (S301). The control unit 12 recognizes the input instruction, and when the instruction is an instruction to store image data in the storage medium 14 (S302: YES), the control unit 12 transmits a select signal to the drive 13 to make the drive 13 in an operating state. (S303). Thereafter, the control unit 12 controls the drive 13 by transferring the input image data to the drive 13 (S304). Then, image data is stored in the storage medium 14 by the drive 13 (S305).

  On the other hand, when the input instruction is an instruction to store image data in the portable storage medium 23 (S302: NO), the control unit 12 transmits a select signal to the drive 22 to put the drive 22 in an operating state. (S306). Thereafter, the control unit 12 controls the drive 22 by transferring the input image data to the drive 22 (S307). Then, the drive 22 stores the image data in the portable storage medium 23 (S308).

  As described above, according to the digital camera unit 100, DPOF setting is made among the image data stored in the storage medium 14 of the digital camera 10 simply by accommodating the digital camera 10 in the cradle 20 and instructing image editing. Only the stored image data can be stored in the portable storage medium 23 attached to the drive 22 of the cradle 20. For this reason, even when the storage medium 14 mounted on the drive 13 of the digital camera 10 is a hard disk (when the digital camera 10 does not have a drive for a portable storage medium), only the DPOF-set image data is portable. It can be easily transferred to the storage medium 23. It is possible to transfer not only the image data for which DPOF settings have been made but also all the image data stored in the storage medium 14 to the storage medium 23.

  When the storage medium 14 attached to the drive 13 of the digital camera 10 is a portable storage medium, the storage medium 14 attached to the drive 13 of the digital camera 10 is inserted every time an image print order is desired. Thus, there is no need to perform an operation of taking out from the drive 13.

  Further, according to the digital camera unit 100, since the necessary image data can be stored in the portable storage medium 23 and carried without connecting the digital camera 10 and the computer 30, an image print order is made. The work up to can be simplified.

  Further, according to the digital camera unit 100, since the cradle 20 has only the terminal 21 and the drive 22, the above effects can be obtained without increasing the manufacturing cost of the cradle 20.

  Also, according to the digital camera unit 100, the cradle 20 is not limited in size unlike the digital camera 10, and therefore, a plurality of types of storage media 23 to be mounted on the drive 22 can be used. .

  Further, according to the digital camera unit 100, the digital camera 10 and the computer 30 can be connected by the USB interface 15, and the image data transferred from the computer 30 side can be stored in the storage medium 14 or the storage medium 23. That is, by purchasing the digital camera unit 100, the digital camera 10 can be used and data can be stored in two storage media.

  Further, according to the digital camera unit 100, the image data transferred from the computer 30 can be stored in the portable storage medium 23 using the USB interface 15 of the digital camera 10. For this reason, it is not necessary to acquire the USB ID in the cradle 20, and the manufacturing cost of the cradle 20 can be kept low.

  For example, when it is desired to store image data in the MO using the computer 30 having only a CD-R drive, it is necessary to connect the MO drive to the computer 30. The MO drive is connected to the computer 30 by USB or the like. However, since it takes a cost to acquire the USB ID, a large amount of money is required to purchase the MO drive. However, since the digital camera unit 100 can store image data in the portable storage medium 23 such as an MO using the USB interface 15 of the digital camera 10, the cradle 20 acquires the USB ID. There is no cost for cradle, and cradle purchase funds are small. Therefore, the user can obtain a function equivalent to that of the drive for the portable storage medium with less funds than purchasing the drive for MO.

  In the above, after the image data for which DPOF setting is made among the image data stored in the storage medium 14 is stored in the storage medium 23, the control unit 12 controls the drive 13 to store it in the storage medium 14. All of the stored image data or only those for which DPOF settings have been made may be automatically deleted.

  Further, in the above, the image data for which DPOF setting is made among the image data stored in the storage medium 14 is stored in the storage medium 23, but on the contrary, the storage medium is controlled by the control unit 12. It is also possible to store the image data stored in the storage medium 14 in the storage medium 14.

  In the above, the digital camera 10 and the computer 30 are connected by the USB interface 15, and the image data transferred from the computer 30 side can be stored in the storage medium 14 or the storage medium 23. On the contrary, It is also possible to transfer the image data stored in the storage medium 14 or the storage medium 23 to the computer 30.

  In the above description, the case where there is only one drive 22 in the cradle 20 has been described as an example. However, the cradle 20 may be provided with drives corresponding to a plurality of types of storage media.

  The above-described embodiment is not limited to a digital camera and can be effectively applied to electronic devices including mobile terminal devices such as mobile phones and PDAs.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the digital camera unit for demonstrating the best form for implementing this invention The figure which shows the operation | movement flow of the digital camera unit for demonstrating the best form for implementing this invention The figure which shows the operation | movement flow of the digital camera unit for demonstrating the best form for implementing this invention

Explanation of symbols

100 Digital Camera Unit 10 Digital Camera 11, 21 Terminal 12 Controller 13, 22 Drive 14 Storage Medium 15 USB
16, 17 bus 20 cradle 23 portable storage medium

Claims (14)

An electronic device unit having an electronic device and a cradle that houses the electronic device,
The cradle includes an interface for electrically connecting to the electronic device in a state in which the electronic device is accommodated, and a drive that is operated by control from the electronic device via the interface,
The electronic device unit includes an interface for electrically connecting to the cradle, and a control unit that controls the drive via the interface. The electronic device unit according to claim 1,
An electronic device unit, wherein each of the cradle interface and the electronic device interface is a terminal that contacts each other when the electronic device is housed in the cradle. The electronic device unit according to claim 1 or 2,
The electronic device includes a drive controlled by the control means,
The control unit is an electronic device unit that selectively controls a drive of the electronic device and a drive of the cradle. The electronic device unit according to claim 3,
The drive of the cradle is a drive for a portable storage medium, the drive of the electronic device is a drive for a built-in storage medium, and the built-in storage medium includes image data including image data associated with print order information Is remembered,
The control means is configured to perform the image editing of the image data in response to an image editing instruction for instructing editing of the image data recorded in the internal storage medium performed in a state where the electronic device is accommodated in the cradle. An electronic device unit that stores image data associated with print order information in the portable storage medium attached to the cradle by controlling the drive of the cradle. The electronic device unit according to claim 3,
The drive of the cradle is a drive for a portable storage medium, the drive of the electronic device is a drive for a portable storage medium, and the portable storage medium attached to the drive of the electronic device is print order information. The image data including the image data associated with is recorded,
The control means is an image editing instruction for instructing editing of image data stored in the portable storage medium attached to a drive of the electronic device, which is performed in a state where the electronic device is accommodated in the cradle. Accordingly, the image data associated with the print order information in the image data is stored in the portable storage medium attached to the cradle by controlling the drive of the cradle. unit. The electronic device unit according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
The electronic device includes an external device interface for communicating with the external device,
The control means controls the designated drive according to a drive designation signal that designates either the drive of the electronic device or the drive of the cradle received via the external device interface. Electronic equipment unit. A cradle that houses electronic equipment,
An interface for electrical connection with the electronic device in a state in which the electronic device is accommodated;
A cradle comprising a drive that operates under the control of the electronic device via the interface. The cradle according to claim 7,
A cradle in which the interface is a terminal that contacts a terminal of the electronic device when the electronic device is accommodated. An electronic device housed in a cradle having a drive,
An interface for electrically connecting to the cradle in a state of being accommodated in the cradle;
And an electronic device comprising control means for controlling the drive via the interface. The electronic device according to claim 9,
An electronic device in which the interface is a terminal that contacts a terminal of the cradle when housed in the cradle. The electronic device according to claim 9 or 10,
A drive controlled by the control means;
The control means is an electronic device that selectively controls a drive of the electronic device and a drive of the cradle. The electronic device according to claim 11,
The drive of the cradle is a drive for a portable storage medium, the drive of the electronic device is a drive for a built-in storage medium, and the built-in storage medium includes image data including image data associated with print order information Is remembered,
The control means is configured to perform the image editing of the image data in response to an image editing instruction for instructing editing of the image data recorded in the internal storage medium performed in a state where the electronic device is accommodated in the cradle. An electronic apparatus that stores image data associated with print order information in the portable storage medium mounted on the cradle by controlling the drive of the cradle. The electronic device according to claim 11,
The drive of the cradle is a drive for a portable storage medium, the drive of the electronic device is a drive for a portable storage medium, and the portable storage medium attached to the drive of the electronic device is print order information. The image data including the image data associated with is recorded,
The control means is an image editing instruction for instructing editing of image data stored in the portable storage medium attached to a drive of the electronic device, which is performed in a state where the electronic device is accommodated in the cradle. Accordingly, the image data associated with the print order information in the image data is stored in the portable storage medium attached to the cradle by controlling the drive of the cradle. . The electronic device according to claim 11,
It has an external device interface for communicating with external devices,
The control means controls the designated drive according to a drive designation signal that designates either the drive of the electronic device or the drive of the cradle received via the external device interface. Electronics.

Images