JP2005295478A - External device and electronic device capable of transmission connection - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate users when transmission connection to an external device is carried out by a single interface with an electronic device capable of transmission connection in a plurality of transmission standards using a single interface. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic device can carry out transmission connection to the external device with the single interface based on a transmission standard selected from among a plurality of the transmission standards. When the electronic device is connected to the external device through the interface, a setting window in response to the motion mode selected from among a plurality of motion modes is displayed. 1 or two or more transmission standards which might be used in the selected motion mode is indicated on each setting window. The device is characterized in that transmission connection to the external device is established after the transmission standard is selected by using the displayed setting window. The device also can select cancellation of transmission connection to the external device on each setting window. Once cancellation is selected, a window to request users to release connection to the external device is displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus such as a digital camera that is connected to an external apparatus such as a personal computer or a printer.

  Currently, as a means of communication connection between a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) and various peripheral devices such as printers and scanners, the purpose is to unify the communication connection between the PC and the peripheral device into one type of interface. USB (Universal Serial Bus) is widely used, and USB is also used for communication connection between an imaging apparatus represented by a digital camera and a PC. When the image capturing apparatus and the PC are connected by a USB cable, both are communicably connected based on the USB mass storage class standard, and the PC can access a recording medium included in the image capturing apparatus. Thereby, for example, the user can output the image data recorded on the recording medium included in the imaging apparatus to the display of the PC, to the printer connected to the PC, or to record on the hard disk of the PC. it can.

  Initially, an image pickup apparatus was provided with a USB interface for the purpose of processing image data recorded on a recording medium included in the image pickup apparatus via or on a PC. Then, the image pickup apparatus and the printer are directly connected by communication, and the image data recorded on the recording medium of the image pickup apparatus is output by the printer without using the PC. In this case, the imaging device and the printer are connected for communication based on the PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) standard defined based on the USB still image class standard.

  In recent years, imaging apparatuses that can be used as so-called PC cameras or Web cameras have also appeared. When the imaging device is connected to a PC using a USB and used as a PC camera, the imaging device and the PC are connected for communication based on the USB video image class standard.

Such an imaging apparatus is compatible with a plurality of USB communication standards, but it is necessary to select a USB communication standard that is actually used when communicating with an external apparatus. Therefore, in a conventional imaging apparatus, a setting screen is displayed on a display unit such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) when a user performs a predetermined operation, and the user uses the setting screen to select a USB communication standard. (See Patent Document 1). The setting screen is also used for various settings related to brightness adjustment of the display unit and video signal system.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-305679

  As described above, in a conventional electronic device including an imaging device, every time an external device connected for communication using USB changes, a predetermined operation must be performed to call a setting screen to select a USB communication standard. Don't be. However, such an operation is cumbersome and troublesome for the user. In addition, a situation in which a user connects an electronic device and an external device with a USB cable without setting an appropriate USB communication standard in advance frequently occurs. In this case, since normal communication connection is not performed between the electronic device and the external device, the user confirms the contact of the USB connector before the necessity of changing the setting of the USB communication standard, or is unnecessary and unnecessary. An irrelevant operation is performed on an electronic device or an external device.

  Furthermore, in a conventional electronic device, when a USB cable is connected to an external device, the USB controller is driven to establish a communication connection with the external device, more specifically, a connection negotiation process is performed. In addition, there is a problem that the user cannot stop the communication connection between the electronic device and the external device.

  The present invention solves the above-described problem. For an electronic device that can communicate with a plurality of communication standards using a single interface, it is convenient for the user to make a communication connection to an external device using the interface. It aims to plan.

  An electronic device of the present invention is an electronic device that can be connected to an external device using a single interface based on a communication standard selected from a plurality of communication standards. When connected, a setting screen corresponding to the operation mode selected from the plurality of operation modes is displayed. In each setting screen, one or two or more of the possibility of being used in the selected operation mode is displayed. A communication standard is shown, and after the communication standard is selected using the displayed setting screen, processing for establishing a communication connection with the external device is performed.

  Furthermore, the electronic device according to the present invention can select the cancellation of the communication connection with the external device on the setting screen, and when the cancellation of the communication connection is selected, the connection with the external device is used. The screen requested by the user.

  In addition to the above configuration, when the electronic device of the present invention is connected to the external device via the interface when the power is off, the power is automatically turned on. Further, the electronic device of the present invention returns to the state before the connection when the connection with the external device is released.

  In the electronic device of the present invention, when connected to the external device via the interface, a selection screen is displayed, and the user of the electronic device knows that the external device is securely connected to the electronic device. The setting screen is displayed according to the selected operation mode, and the user selects an appropriate communication standard using the setting screen, and then the electronic device performs processing for establishing a communication connection with the external device. Do. As described above, in the electronic device of the present invention, the setting screen corresponding to the operation mode is displayed every time the external device is connected via the interface, and the user can select an appropriate communication standard using this. Therefore, unlike the conventional electronic device, the user need not be aware of the selection of the communication standard before connecting to the external device, and further perform a predetermined operation to call the setting screen to select the communication standard. In addition, when the user forgets to select a communication standard, an inappropriate communication standard is used and a normal communication connection between the electronic device and the external device cannot be prevented. Further, since each setting screen indicates a communication standard that may be used in the operation mode, it is possible to prevent the user from selecting an inappropriate communication standard.

  Furthermore, in the setting screen, by making it possible to select the cancellation of the communication connection with the external device, when the user determines that there is no need for the communication connection although the electronic device and the external device are connected, Communication connection can be stopped freely. Since a screen for requesting the user to release the connection with the external device is displayed, it is possible to prevent the electronic device from being left connected to the external device.

  Also, when the power is automatically turned on when connected to an external device when the power is off, the user does not need to press the power button, and when the connection with the external device is released, By returning to the state before the connection, the operational burden on the user is reduced.

  Hereinafter, an electronic device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Although the following description will be given by taking a digital camera as an example, the present invention is not limited to a digital camera and further an imaging device, and can be widely applied to electronic devices that can be connected to an external device.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a digital camera (1) which is an embodiment of the present invention. The digital camera (1) operates in at least one of an operation mode of a shooting mode and a playback mode. Basically, the shooting mode is an operation mode for shooting a subject and recording image data, and the playback mode is an operation mode for outputting the recorded image data to a display unit or the like. In the photographing mode, light sent from the subject through the light collecting means (2) including a focus lens and a zoom lens is incident on an image sensor (3) using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like. Based on the timing signal sent from the timing generator (4), the image sensor (3) accumulates charges in the pixels (elements) arranged in a lattice pattern and extracts charges accumulated in some pixels. Repeat.

  An image signal for one frame is output from the image sensor (3) at a predetermined cycle, and correlated double sampling and gain adjustment are performed by a CDS (Correlated Double Sampling) / AGC (Auto Gain Control) circuit (5). Etc. are given. Thereafter, the image signal is converted into digital image data by the analog-digital conversion circuit (6) and then input to the signal processing circuit (7). In the signal processing circuit (7), gamma correction, white balance adjustment, RGB-YUV conversion processing, and the like are performed on the image data.

  The image data output from the signal processing circuit (7) is temporarily stored in the SDRAM (9) via the memory controller (8), then read out as appropriate, and input to the video encoder (10). The video encoder (10) converts the image data into a composite image signal such as NTSC and outputs it to the LCD monitor (11). The LCD monitor (11) is used for outputting image data recorded on a recording medium and displaying various setting screens, and also functions as an EVF (Electronic View Finder). In the shooting mode, the series of image signals output from the image sensor (3) is processed as described above, and a so-called through image is displayed on the LCD monitor (11).

  The user of the digital camera presses the release button (12) at an appropriate timing while viewing the through image displayed on the LCD monitor (11). The depression of the release button (12) is detected by the system controller (13), and a signal notifying it is sent from the system controller (13) to the CPU (14). When an instruction is sent from the CPU (14) to the timing generator (4) to read out charges from all the pixels of the image sensor (3), the timing generator (4) sends a timing signal corresponding to this to the image sensor (3 ). Then, in the image sensor (3), charge accumulation and readout of charges of all pixels are performed, and an image signal having a higher resolution (a larger number of pixels) than the image signal of the through image is received from the image sensor (3). Is output.

  The image signal output from the image sensor (3) is processed in the same manner as described above, temporarily stored as image data in the SDRAM (9), and then sent to the JPEG codec unit (15). In the JPEG codec unit (15), the image data is compressed based on the JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) method. The compressed image data is recorded on a memory card (17) which is a recording medium via a memory interface (16). The memory card (17) is detachably provided in the digital camera (1). For example, an SD memory card (registered trademark), a memory stick (registered trademark), or the like is used.

  In the reproduction mode, the image data recorded on the memory card (17) is read out, temporarily stored in the SDRAM (9), and then sent to the JPEG codec unit (15). In the JPEG codec unit (15), image data is decompressed based on the JPEG method. The decompressed image data is sent to the video encoder (10), and an image is displayed on the LCD monitor (11) based on the image data.

  The CPU (14) as the first control means controls the timing generator (4), the signal processing circuit (7), the memory controller (8), and the like as described above. The digital camera (1) is provided with a ROM and a RAM (not shown). Various control programs and the like are stored in the ROM, and programs executed by the CPU (14) are stored in the RAM. A numerical value or the like used for calculation is temporarily stored. The system controller (13), which is the second control means, uses a microcomputer and performs basic processing such as key input processing necessary for the operation of the digital camera (1). As described above, the release button (12) is connected to the system controller (13). Furthermore, the power button (18), the mode switch (19), the set button (20), and the four-way button (21). Is connected.

  The power button (18) is used to turn on / off the power of the digital camera (1). When the power button (18) is pressed to turn on the power, the system controller (13) controls the power circuit (23) connected to the built-in battery (22), and the CPU (14), Power is supplied to the components of the digital camera (1) such as the image sensor (3), the signal processing circuit (7), and the LCD monitor (11). When the power button (18) is pressed again to turn off the power, the system controller (13) controls the power circuit (23) to supply power to the components of the digital camera (1). Stop. The system controller (13) is constantly supplied with power from the battery (22) via the power supply circuit (23). The system controller (13) may be supplied with power from a separately provided battery. The mode switch (19) is a change-over switch for selecting an operation mode of the digital camera (1) between the shooting mode and the playback mode. The four-way button (21) is used for selecting image data to be output to the LCD monitor (11), selecting a selection item on the setting screen, and the like.

  In response to a command from the CPU (14), the OSD unit (24) generates character data such as characters and icons necessary for displaying various setting screens. The character data generated in the OSD section (24) is superimposed on the image data by the video encoder (10) or replaced with the image data, and various setting screens, characters, icons, etc. are displayed on the LCD monitor (11). Is displayed.

  The digital camera (1) includes a USB interface (25) and a USB controller (26), and is communicably connected to an external device such as a PC or a printer using a USB. The USB interface (25) is specifically a USB receptacle, and a USB plug provided at one end of the USB cable is inserted. The system controller (13) detects whether or not the digital camera (1) and the external device are connected via a USB cable, for example, based on a voltage change of the signal line. The USB controller (26) controls communication performed with an external device.

  Next, processing that is performed when the digital camera (1) of this embodiment is connected to an external device using a USB cable will be described. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing this processing. First, the digital camera (1) and an external device are connected using a USB cable (S1). A USB plug (32) (see FIGS. 4 (a) to (c)) provided at one end of the USB cable (31) is inserted into the USB interface (25) of the digital camera (1), and the USB cable (31) The USB plug provided at the other end of the USB plug is inserted into a USB interface included in the external device (not shown). Also, the power supply of the external device is turned on.

  When the digital camera (1) and the external device are connected with the USB cable (31), the system controller (13) determines whether the power of the digital camera (1) is currently turned on, that is, the power button (18 ) Is pressed to determine whether power is currently supplied to the components of the digital camera (1) such as the CPU (14), video encoder (10), and LCD monitor (11) (S2). When the power of the digital camera (1) is off, the system controller (13) controls the power circuit (23) to turn on the power of the digital camera (1) (S3). When the power of the digital camera (1) is on, the CPU (14) receives a notification that the USB cable (31) is connected from the system controller (13), and currently performs it in shooting mode or playback mode. The process is canceled (S4). For example, in the shooting mode, the process of displaying the through image on the LCD monitor (11) is stopped, and in the playback mode, the output process of the image data recorded on the memory card (17) is stopped.

  After step S3 or S4, the CPU (14) determines whether the shooting mode or the playback mode is selected by the mode switch (19) (S5), and if the shooting mode is selected, A first connection selection screen is displayed on the LCD monitor (11) (S6). FIG. 4 (a) is a rear view showing the digital camera (1) in a state in which the first connection selection screen is displayed on the LCD monitor (11). In the upper left of the first connection selection screen, a character string “PC connection” indicating a connection form with the external device is shown. Basically, the digital camera (1) is connected to the PC in the shooting mode. In addition, the first connection selection screen displays character strings “video image” and “mass storage” corresponding to two selectable USB communication connection standards, and a character string “cancel” corresponding to communication connection cancellation. Has been.

  The user uses the first connection selection screen to select the communication standard to be used or the cancellation of the communication connection (S7). On the left side of the first connection selection screen, an arrow (33) is arranged beside any character string, and the arrow (33) moves in accordance with the operation of the four-way button (21). When the user places an arrow (33) next to the character string indicating the desired processing content and presses the set button (20), the subsequent processing is confirmed.

  In step S7, when the set button (20) is pressed while the arrow (33) is placed next to the character string “video image”, the USB controller (26) is instructed by the instruction from the CPU (14). Transmits a communication connection request to the USB controller included in the external device, and starts a connection negotiation between the USB controllers (S8). At the time of connection negotiation, the fact that communication connection based on the USB video image class standard is made is declared from the digital camera (1) to the external device, and the USB video is transmitted between the digital camera (1) and the external device. A communication connection based on the image class standard is established (S9).

  In step S9, after the communication connection is established between the digital camera (1) and the external device, for example, the digital camera (1) starts a process of acquiring image data relating to the through image, and the SDRAM ( The series of image data stored in 9) is converted into a signal in a format based on the USB video image class standard, and sent to an external device via the USB controller (26), the USB cable (31), or the like.

  In step S7, when the set button (20) is pressed while the arrow (33) is placed next to the character string “mass storage”, the USB controller (26) is instructed by the CPU (14). Sends a communication connection request to the USB controller of the external device, starts a connection negotiation with the USB controller (S10), and connects the USB mass storage class between the digital camera (1) and the external device. A communication connection based on the standard is established (S11). In the connection negotiation, the digital camera (1) declares to the external device that communication connection is performed based on the USB mass storage class standard. In step S11, after the communication connection is established between the digital camera (1) and the external device, for example, processing for reading the image data stored in the memory card (17) based on a command sent from the external device Is done. The image data is converted into a signal in a format based on the USB mass image class standard, and then sent to an external device. Further, processing for storing the image data sent from the external device in the memory card (17) is also performed.

  In step S7, when the set button (20) is pressed while the arrow (33) is placed next to the character string “Cancel”, the USB controller (26) does not perform connection negotiation. Instead, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the CPU (14) displays on the LCD monitor (11) a cable connection release request screen for requesting the user to release the connection with the external device via the USB cable (31). A display process is performed (S12). In the cable connection release request screen, a character string “Please disconnect the USB cable” is displayed.

  After step S12, the USB plug (32) is pulled out from the USB interface (25) by the system controller (13) (or the USB plug is pulled out from the USB interface by an external device), and the USB cable (31 ) Is detected whether the connection with the external device is released (S13). When the connection is released, the digital camera (1) of this embodiment returns to the state before being connected to the external device with the USB cable (31). First, the system controller (13) determines whether or not to turn off the power (S14). When the power is turned on by performing step S3, that is, when the digital camera and the external device are connected with the USB cable (31) while the power is off, the system controller (13) determines to turn off the power. Then, the power supply circuit (23) is controlled to stop the power supply to the CPU (14) or the like (S15).

  When the digital camera (1) and the external device are connected with the USB cable (31) in the power-on state, it is determined in step S14 that it is not necessary to turn off the power, and the system controller (13) determines that the CPU ( 14) is notified that the connection via the USB cable (31) has been released. Then, the CPU (14) resumes the process stopped in step S4 (S16).

  If it is determined in step S5 that the playback mode is selected, the processing shown in FIG. 3 is performed. First, as shown in FIG. 4C, the CPU 14 displays a second connection selection screen on the LCD monitor 11 (S21). Similar to the first connection selection screen shown in FIG. 4A, a character string “printer connection” indicating a connection form with the external device is shown at the upper left of the second connection selection screen. Basically, the digital camera (1) is connected to a printer in the reproduction mode. In addition, on the second connection selection screen, character strings “Determine” and “Cancel” and an arrow (33) are shown. The user determines subsequent processing using the second connection selection screen (S22).

  In step S22, when the set button (20) is pressed while the arrow (33) is placed next to the character string “OK”, the USB controller (26) is instructed by the CPU (14). Then, a communication connection request is transmitted to the USB controller of the external device, connection negotiation with the USB controller is started (S23), and a communication connection between the digital camera (1) and the external device is established. (S24). At the time of connection negotiation, the digital camera (1) declares to the external device that communication connection is performed based on the PTP standard. In step S24, after the communication connection is established between the digital camera (1) and the external device, for example, the CPU (14) performs a process of reading the selected image data from the memory card (17). Image data is converted into a signal in a format based on the PTP standard, and then sent to an external device.

  In step S22, when the set button (20) is pressed while the arrow (33) is placed next to the character string “Cancel”, the USB controller (26) does not perform connection negotiation, and thereafter Steps S12 to S16 shown in FIG. 2 are performed.

  In the above processing, the first selection screen and the second selection screen can be integrated into a single selection screen. In this case, the PTP standard is used in the shooting mode, and the USB video image is used in the playback mode. Standards or USB mass storage standards may be selected. Therefore, in the electronic device of the present invention, when there are a plurality of operation modes, a setting screen corresponding to each operation mode is displayed, and one or more that may be used in the operation mode on each setting screen Preferably, the communication standard is indicated.

  The present invention has been described by taking a digital camera that is connected to an external device such as a PC or a printer using USB as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to an electronic device that is connected to an external device using USB. The present invention can be applied to any electronic device that can be connected to an external device using a single interface based on a communication standard selected from a plurality of communication standards.

  The above description of the embodiments is for explaining the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. Each part configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera which is an Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed with the digital camera which is an Example of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process performed with the digital camera which is an Example of this invention. 4A to 4C are rear views showing a state in which the screen according to the present invention is displayed on the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

(1) Digital camera
(11) LCD monitor
(13) System controller
(14) CPU
(17) Memory card
(23) Power circuit
(24) OSD Department
(25) USB interface (receptacle)
(26) USB controller
(31) USB cable
(32) USB plug

Claims (4)

In an electronic device that can communicate with an external device using a single interface based on a communication standard selected from a plurality of communication standards.
When connected to the external device via the interface, a setting screen corresponding to the operation mode selected from the plurality of operation modes is displayed.
Each setting screen shows one or more communication standards that may be used in the selected operation mode,
An electronic apparatus that performs processing for establishing a communication connection with the external apparatus after a communication standard is selected using a displayed setting screen. In each setting screen, it is possible to select the cancellation of communication connection with the external device,
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the cancellation of the communication connection is selected, a screen for requesting a user to release the connection with the external device is displayed.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the power is off, the power is automatically turned on when the external device is connected via the interface. 4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein when the connection with the external device is released, the state before connection is restored.

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