JP2005191719A - Remote control camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control camera learning a new remote control signal by itself with a simple operation. <P>SOLUTION: When a remote control signal is transmitted to a digital camera set to a remote control photographing mode, the digital camera carries out remote control signal reception processing. When the received remote control signal is assigned to a processing, the digital camera executes the assigned processing. When the received signal being an unsetting remote control signal is not assigned to any processing, a timer and a counter starts their operation, and when the remote control signal is transmitted consecutively three times within less than two seconds, shutter release processing is applied to the remote control signal and the result is stored. When the unsetting remote control signal learned by the digital camera by assigning newly the shutter release processing to the control signal is transmitted to the digital camera, the digital camera can carry out photographing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes a remote control operation mode for receiving a remote control signal and executing a process assigned to the received remote control signal, and a remote control signal learning mode for newly assigning a process to an unknown remote control signal to which no process is assigned. It relates to a remote control camera.

  Remote control cameras that can be operated remotely by operating a remote control transmitter are widely known. Innumerable signal codes exist in the remote control signal transmitted from the remote control transmitter in order to discriminate the difference. For this reason, in the remote control camera, a predetermined process is assigned to a predetermined signal code and stored. When the remote control signal is received, the signal code of the received remote control signal is analyzed, and if the remote control signal is a known remote control signal to which processing is assigned, the assigned processing is executed.

  The remote control camera is usually provided with a dedicated remote control transmitter for transmitting a known remote control signal, and can be remotely operated only by this dedicated remote control transmitter. However, if this dedicated remote control transmitter is lost, or if you forget to go home and go on a trip, it will be inconvenient because you will not be able to use the remote control function.

  For this reason, in the camera described in Patent Document 1 below, the camera can be operated from any remote control transmitter by providing the camera with a learning function and newly assigning a process to an unknown remote control signal. I have to. In this remote control camera, the learning mode is set, and a remote control signal to which processing is newly assigned is transmitted to the camera for storage. Subsequently, the content of the process assigned to the remote control signal is selected.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-95311

  However, when learning a new remote control signal, the camera described in the above-mentioned patent document first operates the camera side to shift to the learning mode, and then sends the remote control signal to which the processing is newly assigned to the camera. The remote control transmitter side must be operated for transmission, and finally, the camera side must be operated to assign processing to be executed when this remote control signal is received. For this reason, the setting operation when learning a new remote control signal is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object thereof is to provide a remote control camera that can learn a new remote control signal by a simple operation.

  To achieve the above object, the remote control camera of the present invention includes a mode control means for automatically shifting to the remote control signal learning mode when an unknown remote control signal is received during the remote control operation mode, and a remote control signal learning mode. In the remote control signal learning mode, when the unknown remote control signal is repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time, the specific processing is assigned to the remote control signal. And a means.

  The remote control camera of the present invention includes a mode control unit that automatically shifts to the remote control signal learning mode when an unknown remote control signal is received during the remote control operation mode, and a process that is assigned in advance in the remote control signal learning mode. Characterized in that it comprises specified specific processing and processing assignment means for assigning the specific processing to the remote control signal when an unknown remote control signal is continuously transmitted for a predetermined time during the remote control signal learning mode. Yes.

  The identification process may be a shutter release process that is executed when shooting. Moreover, you may provide the notification means to notify that the said specific process was allocated to the said unknown remote control signal.

  According to the remote control camera of the present invention, when an unknown remote control signal is received during the remote control operation mode, the remote control signal learning mode is automatically entered, and the unknown remote control signal is received within a predetermined time during the remote control signal learning mode. When the remote control signal is repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times, a specific process designated in advance is assigned to the remote control signal, so that an operation for learning a new remote control signal is simple.

  Also, according to the remote control camera of the present invention, when an unknown remote control signal is received during the remote control operation mode, the remote control signal learning mode is automatically entered, and the unknown remote control signal is transmitted for a predetermined time during the remote control signal learning mode. When the remote control signal is continuously transmitted, a specific process designated in advance is assigned to the remote control signal, so that an operation for learning a new remote control signal is simple.

  Furthermore, by providing notification means for notifying that specific processing has been assigned to an unknown remote control signal, it is possible to make it easier for the user to understand that learning has been performed.

  A perspective view of the front side of the digital camera 10 with a remote control function embodying the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 (A), and a perspective view of the back side is shown in FIG. 1 (B). A photographing lens 13 is provided on the front surface of the camera body 11, and a shutter button 15 is provided on the upper surface.

  On the rear surface of the camera body 11, an operation unit 17 including a cursor button in which a zoom button, a mode selection button, a power button, and four buttons are arranged in a cross shape, and an LCD 19 for performing various displays are provided. A memory card 20 is detachably set on the side surface of the camera body 11. The memory card 20 stores image data converted into, for example, a JPEG format image file.

  The digital camera 10 is provided with a shooting mode, a playback mode, and a menu mode for performing various settings. The user can take a picture in the shooting mode while switching between these modes, or can take an image that has been shot in the playback mode. Or check. The digital camera 10 has an autofocus (AF) function and an automatic exposure adjustment (AE) function, and can perform full-auto shooting in the shooting mode.

  Further, the digital camera 10 has a remote control function for receiving a remote control signal and executing a predetermined process in accordance with the signal code of the received remote control signal. A remote control light receiving window 23 constituting 21 is exposed. The digital camera 10 is attached with a dedicated remote control transmitter 27 in which a shooting instruction button 25 corresponding to the shutter button 15 is arranged.

  The digital camera 10 is provided with a normal shooting mode and a remote control shooting mode in the shooting mode. In the normal shooting mode, shooting can be performed by pressing the shutter button 15, and in the remote control shooting mode, the shooting instruction button 25 can be used. Shooting can be performed. As will be described later, the remote control shooting mode is provided with a learning mode for learning a remote control signal from an arbitrary remote control transmitter, and shooting is also performed by transmitting a remote control signal learned in the learning mode. Can do.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the digital camera 10. The photographing unit 30 includes a photographing lens 13 and a CCD image sensor (CCD) 31. A CCD 31 is disposed behind the photographic lens 13, and subject light transmitted through the photographic lens 13 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 31 and transmitted to the analog signal processing circuit 33. The analog signal processing circuit 33 includes a CDS (correlated double sampling circuit), an amplifier, and an A / D converter. The analog signal signal transmitted from the CCD 31 is digitally converted to generate image data. The digital signal processing circuit 35 Send to.

  The digital signal processing circuit 35 includes an AF circuit, an AE circuit, and an image correction circuit, and performs various signal processing on the image data transmitted from the analog signal processing circuit 33. The AF circuit detects the focal position based on the transmitted image data and performs focusing. The AE circuit measures the subject illuminance based on the transmitted image data and performs exposure control. The image correction circuit performs image correction processing such as white balance correction, gamma correction, sharpness correction, and contrast correction on the captured image.

  When the digital camera 10 is set to the shooting mode or the remote control shooting mode, image capture by the CCD 31 is started. The CCD 31 normally captures an image as a through image with a reduced number of pixels, but captures an image as a main image when a shutter release process is executed during the shooting mode or the remote control shooting mode. The captured image is subjected to various processes by the analog signal processing circuit 33 and the digital signal processing circuit 35, and then the image data captured as a through image is displayed on the LCD 19 and captured as a main image. Image data is stored in the memory card 20.

  The photographing unit 30, analog signal processing circuit 33, digital signal processing circuit 35, LCD 19, and memory card 20 are connected to the CPU 40 and controlled by the CPU 40. A remote control transmitter 27 is connected to the CPU 40 via the shutter button 15, the operation unit 17, and the remote control signal receiving unit 21, and the CPU 40 performs various units of the digital camera 10 based on operation signals input from these. Control and drive.

  The shutter button 15 and the operation unit 17 are configured by a push detection type push switch. When the shutter button 15 is pressed, this operation signal is transmitted to the CPU 40. Upon receiving this operation signal, the CPU 40 executes a shutter release process, and the image data is stored in the memory card 20. Similarly, when the operation unit 17 is operated, power is turned on / off, shooting, playback, switching of menu modes, and the like are performed.

  The remote control transmitter 27 is provided with a light emitting element 26 that emits infrared light. As is well known, the remote control signal is distinguished by a signal code, and the signal code blinks infrared light and is expressed by a difference in this blinking pattern. The remote control transmitter 27 transmits the signal code “shutter release” by turning on the light emitting element 26 in a predetermined pattern when the photographing instruction button 25 is pressed.

  The remote control signal receiving unit 21 is provided with a light receiving element 22 that receives infrared rays inside the remote control light receiving window 23, and receives a remote control signal transmitted from a remote control transmitter 27 or the like. The remote control signal receiver 21 starts operating when the digital camera 10 is set to the remote control shooting mode, and continues to operate during the remote control shooting mode. The remote control signal transmitted during the remote control shooting mode is received by the light receiving element 22 and transmitted to the remote control signal processing unit 41 in the CPU 40.

  The remote control signal processing unit 41 includes a mode control unit 43 and a signal learning unit 45, and performs remote control signal reception processing while switching between the remote control shooting mode and the learning mode according to the signal code of the transmitted remote control signal. Hereinafter, the remote control signal reception process will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  The mode control unit 43 is provided with EEPROMs 47 and 48. The EEPROM 47 is a memory for temporarily storing the transmitted remote control signal, and the remote control signal transmitted to the remote control signal processing unit 41 is once stored in the EEPROM 47. On the other hand, the EEPROM 48 is a memory for storing a remote control signal assigned with a shutter release process as setting information. The EEPROM 48 is provided with a plurality of areas, in which a signal code “shutter release” is written in advance. The remaining area is an empty area at the time of product shipment because a remote control signal learned by a learning process described later is written.

  When the digital camera 10 receives the remote control signal and the remote control signal is written in the EEPROM 47, the mode control unit 43 reads the signal code of the remote control signal stored in the EEPROM 47 and the signal code of the remote control signal stored in the EEPROM 48. Compare Then, it is checked whether the transmitted remote control signal is a known remote control signal stored in the EEPROM 48 and assigned with shutter release processing, or an unknown remote control signal not stored in the EEPROM 48 and assigned with no processing. .

  If the transmitted remote control signal is known, the mode control unit 43 shifts the digital camera 10 to the remote control shooting mode and executes the shutter release process. On the other hand, when the transmitted remote control signal is unknown, the mode control unit 43 transmits the remote control signal to the signal learning unit 45 and shifts the digital camera 10 to the learning mode.

  The signal learning unit 45 starts an operation in accordance with the shift to the learning mode and performs a learning process. The signal learning unit 45 is provided with EEPROMs 49 and 50, a timer 51, and a counter 53. EEPROMs 49 and 50 are memories for temporarily storing remote control signals. The EEPROMs 49 and 50 are empty areas in the initial state, and an unknown remote control signal transmitted from the mode control unit 43 is stored in the EEPROM 49 when the EEPROM 49 is an empty area, and the remote control signal is already stored in the EEPROM 49. Is stored in the EEPROM 50.

  The timer 51 starts at the same time as the remote control signal is written in the EEPROM 49 and starts measuring time. At this time, “1” is set in the counter 53 and the count is started. Thereafter, the signal learning unit 45 enters a reception standby state for a newly transmitted remote control signal.

  The reception standby state has a time limit, and this time limit is set to 2 seconds. The reception standby state continues until the measurement time by the timer 51 elapses for 2 seconds, and overtime determination is made when 2 seconds elapse. When the overtime determination is made, the remote control signals stored in the EEPROMs 49 and 50 are deleted, the timer 51 and the counter 53 are reset, and the signal learning unit 45 is returned to the initial state. Thereby, the learning mode is initialized.

  On the other hand, when an unknown remote control signal is transmitted again from the mode control unit 43 while the reception standby state continues and the remote control signal is stored in the EEPROM 50, the signal learning unit 45 receives the signal code of the remote control signal stored in the EEPROM 49 and The signal code stored in the EEPROM 50 is compared.

  If the two signal codes are different, the remote control signal stored in the EEPROM 50 is overwritten on the EEPROM 49. By this overwriting, the timer 51 is restarted and “1” is reset to the counter 53. Thereafter, the remote control signal stored in the EEPROM 50 is erased, and the signal learning unit 45 enters a reception standby state.

  On the other hand, when the two signal codes match, the time count by the timer 51 is continued and 1 is added to the count number of the counter 53, and then the remote control signal stored in the EEPROM 50 is erased, The learning unit 45 enters a reception standby state. In this way, the counter 53 is incremented by repeatedly transmitting the same remote control signal while the reception standby state continues.

  When the counter 53 is counted up to “3” while the reception standby state continues, the signal learning unit 45 writes the remote control signal stored in the EEPROM 49 into the empty area of the EEPROM 48 provided in the mode control unit 43. . As a result, the remote control signal becomes a known remote control signal to which the shutter release process is assigned. Therefore, when the digital camera 10 receives the remote control signal from the next time, the shutter release process is executed. When this learning process is completed, the signal learning unit 45 is returned to the initial state, and the learning mode is initialized.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described. The user turns on the power of the digital camera, sets the photographing mode, and presses the shutter button 15 to execute the shutter release process. Thereby, shooting is performed and the image data is stored in the memory card 20.

  The digital camera 10 has a remote control function, and a dedicated remote control transmitter 27 used when using the remote control function is attached. When the photographing instruction button 25 of the remote control transmitter 27 is pressed, a remote control signal is transmitted. The signal code of this remote control signal is “shutter release”. On the other hand, the digital camera 10 is provided with an EEPROM 48 in which a remote control signal assigned with a shutter release process is stored, and a signal code “shutter release” is stored therein. The digital camera 10 executes a shutter release process by receiving a remote control signal having a signal code stored in the EEPROM 48 during the remote control shooting mode. Thereby, if the digital camera 10 is set to the remote control shooting mode and the shooting instruction button 25 is pressed, shooting can be performed from a remote position.

  Further, when the user forgets to use the dedicated remote control transmitter 27 and goes on a trip, the user can take a picture using any remote control transmitter by learning a new remote control signal. .

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the digital camera 10 is remotely operated using the power operation button 61 of the television remote control transmitter 60, the operation unit 17 of the digital camera 10 is operated. To set the remote control shooting mode. Then, the remote control transmitter 60 for television is directed to the digital camera 10, and the power operation button 61 is pressed three times in less than 2 seconds.

  As a result, the remote control signal transmitted when the power operation button 61 is pressed is stored in the EEPROM 48 and becomes a known remote control signal to which the shutter release process is assigned. In this way, the digital camera 10 learns a new remote control signal. Then, from the next time on, the user can take a picture by pressing the power operation button 61 of the remote control transmitter 60 for television.

  As described above, the digital camera 10 learns the remote control signal by transmitting the remote control signal a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time even if it is an unknown remote control signal. Is possible. Further, when learning, it is only necessary to transmit a signal from an arbitrary remote control transmitter to the digital camera set in the remote control shooting mode, so that the operation is simple. Furthermore, since learning is not performed unless the same number of identical remote control signals are input within a predetermined time, it is possible to prevent the user from learning a remote control signal that is not intended by the user.

  In the above embodiment, when a new remote control signal is learned, the remote control signal to be learned is transmitted three times in less than 2 seconds. However, for example, the remote control signal is transmitted 5 times within 3 seconds. The time limit and the number of transmissions can be set to arbitrary values. Alternatively, a process may be assigned by continuously transmitting a remote control signal to which a process is to be assigned for a predetermined time or more without assigning a process depending on the number of transmissions within the time limit.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the process assigned by learning is a process corresponding to the shutter button has been described as an example, but for example, a process corresponding to the power button and other processes are assigned by learning. You may do it. If an unknown remote control signal is transmitted continuously for 3 seconds or more, the process corresponding to the shutter button is learned, and if an unknown remote control signal is transmitted 3 times in less than 2 seconds, the power supply The learning process may be determined according to the transmission state of the remote control signal, such as learning the process corresponding to the button. In this way, a plurality of types of processing can be learned.

  Although not particularly mentioned in the above embodiment, the user may be notified that learning has been performed. In this case, for example, an LED may be provided on the front surface of the camera, and the LED may be turned on when learning is completed and a new process is assigned to an unknown remote control signal. Further, a speaker may be provided to notify the user that learning has been performed by voice. This makes it easier for the user to understand that learning has been performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the transition from the shooting mode to the remote control shooting mode has been described as an example performed by a user operation. However, the shooting mode may be automatically switched to the remote control shooting mode. In this case, if the remote control signal receiver is set to the shooting mode and the remote control signal receiving unit starts to operate and receives the remote control signal during the shooting mode, the remote control shooting mode can be triggered by this. Good. By doing so, the remote control function can be used easily, and the operation during learning becomes easier.

  In the above embodiment, the digital camera has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to cameras other than digital cameras, such as film cameras, video cameras, and mobile phones with cameras.

It is an external view of a digital camera. It is a block diagram of a digital camera. It is a flowchart showing a remote control signal reception process. It is a flowchart showing a learning process. It is explanatory drawing showing a mode that the remote control signal from the remote control transmitter for televisions is learned.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 21 Remote control signal receiver 22 Light emitting element 23 Light receiving window 25 Shooting instruction button 27 Remote control transmitter 40 CPU
41 Remote control signal processing unit 43 Mode control unit 45 Signal learning unit 47, 48, 49, 50 EEPROM
51 Timer 53 Counter

Claims (4)

A remote control camera having a remote control operation mode for receiving a remote control signal and executing processing assigned to the received remote control signal, and a remote control signal learning mode for newly assigning processing to an unknown remote control signal to which no processing is assigned In
Mode control means for automatically shifting to the remote control signal learning mode when an unknown remote control signal is received during the remote control operation mode;
As the process assigned in the remote control signal learning mode, a specific process specified in advance,
A remote control camera comprising: process assigning means for assigning the specific process to a remote control signal when an unknown remote control signal is repeatedly transmitted a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time during the remote control signal learning mode. A remote control camera having a remote control operation mode for receiving a remote control signal and executing processing assigned to the received remote control signal, and a remote control signal learning mode for newly assigning processing to an unknown remote control signal to which no processing is assigned In
Mode control means for automatically shifting to the remote control signal learning mode when an unknown remote control signal is received during the remote control operation mode;
As the process assigned in the remote control signal learning mode, a specific process specified in advance,
A remote control camera comprising: process assigning means for assigning the specific process to a remote control signal when an unknown remote control signal is continuously transmitted for a predetermined time during the remote control signal learning mode.   The remote control camera according to claim 1, wherein the specifying process is a shutter release process executed when shooting.   4. The remote control camera according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying that the specific process is assigned to the unknown remote control signal.

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