JP2007129645A - Photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing device which is capable of suppressing a transmission power even in the case that image data keeps a high resolution. <P>SOLUTION: The photographing device includes an imaging part which photographs a subject to obtain image data representing an image of the subject, an image transmission part for transmitting the image data obtained by the imaging part, a determination part for directly or indirectly determining whether a communication quality in data transmission of the image transmission part is good or not, and a transmission inhibition part for inhibiting the image transmission part from transmitting image data in the case that the communication quality is determined to be a bad by the determination part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus having a communication function.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a digital camera, which is a kind of photographing apparatus, has been pursued to reduce its outer shape, and it is desired to reduce the size of a battery as the outer shape is reduced. In addition, there is a strong demand for efficient use of electric power and suppression of electric power consumption so that such a miniaturized battery can cover electric power.

  On the other hand, there has been proposed a digital camera equipped with a communication function for transmitting photographed image data to a remote place such as a personal computer or a print service at home, and the image data is stored by using this communication function. You can shoot without worrying about the storage capacity of the storage medium. In a digital camera provided with such a communication function, it is conceivable that the communication function of the digital camera is used in a place with a poor communication environment such as a mountainous area, a building district, or a basement. As described above, when image data is transmitted to a remote place in a place with a poor communication environment, a large amount of power is required because the transmission efficiency of the image data is poor. In addition, when power consumption is large, transmission interruption occurs due to power outage. Therefore, taking into consideration safety in communication, there is a strong demand for power saving of an imaging apparatus having a communication function.

On the other hand, a communication method (for example, see Patent Document 1) has been devised in which image data is transmitted within the remaining battery capacity by increasing the compression rate of the captured image data. Also, a method has been devised in which the number of images that can be shot with the remaining battery power is displayed on the shooting device and a warning is given to the user (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Is also possible.
JP 2001-148802 A JP 2003-219245 A

  However, in the photographing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, since the resolution is reduced by compressing the image data to a transmittable data amount at the time of transmission, it is generally desired to obtain high-resolution image data. There is a problem that it is contrary to the feelings of the users. In addition, when the imaging device described in Patent Document 2 is applied to warn of the number of communicable images, image data is transmitted safely if the user follows the warning, but the power required for transmission is conventional and There is a problem that it is similar.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of suppressing transmission power even when image data remains at a high resolution.

The first photographing apparatus of the present invention that solves the above problems is
An imaging unit that obtains image data representing an image of the subject by photographing the subject;
An image transmission unit for transmitting image data obtained by the imaging unit;
A determination unit that directly or indirectly determines the quality of communication quality in the data transmission of the image transmission unit;
And a transmission prohibiting unit that prohibits the image transmitting unit from transmitting image data when the determining unit determines that the communication quality is poor.

  The first photographing apparatus of the present invention includes a transmission prohibition unit that prohibits transmission of image data when the determination unit determines that the communication quality is poor. Transmission is performed only with quality, power efficiency in transmission is high, power consumption is suppressed, and communication safety is also achieved.

In the first photographing apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the determination unit directly determines whether the communication quality is good or not based on a transmission speed in the image transmission unit. Also,
In the first photographing apparatus of the present invention, it is also preferable that the determination unit directly determines whether the communication quality is good or not based on the degree of error in data transmission of the image transmission unit.

  Since these desirable photographing apparatuses directly determine the quality of communication quality based on a quantitative index, the communication quality is measured systematically.

  Further, when the transmission speed is an indicator of communication quality, the image data is transmitted when the transmission end within the short transmission time is guaranteed, and therefore, battery waste is avoided. Also, when the degree of error rate is an indicator of communication quality, image data is transmitted when reliable transmission of image data is guaranteed, so communication safety is particularly high. .

The first photographing apparatus of the present invention is
“Equipped with a geodetic unit that identifies the position of this camera,
The determination unit indirectly determines the quality of the communication quality based on the position specified by the geodetic unit. ''
It is desirable.

  This desirable imaging device is equipped with a geodetic unit, so that it can transmit image data in places where communication quality is expected to be poor, such as underground, mountainous areas, or places where base stations are sparse. Not done. Therefore, useless power consumption can be suppressed. In addition, since the location by the geodetic unit can be, for example, geodetic by receiving a geodetic signal, power consumption can be further reduced compared to direct determination of communication quality involving data transmission trials, etc. Be expected.

The first photographing apparatus of the present invention is
"We have a battery that supplies power to this camera,
The transmission prohibition unit prohibits the image transmission unit from transmitting image data even when a transmission time required for transmitting the image data exceeds a transmission time that can be continued depending on a remaining battery level. "
It is desirable.

  In this desirable photographing apparatus, even when the communication quality is good, the transmission of the image data is stopped when there is no remaining battery power necessary for the transmission of the image data. Power failure is avoided and communication safety is ensured.

  In the first photographing apparatus of the present invention, if the transmission prohibition unit prohibits transmission of image data and then the determination unit determines that the communication quality is good, the image to the image transmission unit is displayed. It is also desirable to cancel the prohibition of data transmission.

  This desirable photographic device suppresses power consumption even when the communication quality is unstable because the transmission of the image data is resumed when the communication quality is recovered successfully even if the communication quality once becomes poor. Can be sent.

The second photographing apparatus of the present invention that solves the above problem is as follows.
An imaging unit that obtains image data representing an image of the subject by photographing the subject;
An image transmission control unit that is connected to a communication device and transmits image data obtained by the imaging unit by the communication device;
A determination unit that directly or indirectly determines the quality of communication quality in the data transmission of the image transmission unit;
And a transmission prohibiting unit that prohibits the image transmission control unit from transmitting image data when the determination unit determines that the communication quality is poor.

  Since the image capturing apparatus of the present invention includes an image transmission control unit that transmits image data obtained by the image capturing unit using an external communication device, the power consumption of the image capturing apparatus for transmitting the image data can be reduced. It is possible to cover with the power of the image, and to transmit while suppressing the power consumption of the photographing apparatus. In addition, power consumption in the communication device can be suppressed.

  In addition, about the 2nd imaging | photography apparatus, it shows only the basic form here, but this is only in order to avoid duplication, and this 2nd imaging | photography apparatus has not only said basic form, Various forms corresponding to the respective forms of the first photographing apparatus described above are included.

  As described above, according to the photographing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to provide a photographing apparatus that suppresses battery consumption and can safely transmit image data while maintaining high resolution.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a photographing apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the appearance of the first embodiment of the digital camera will be described.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera to which the first embodiment of the image pickup apparatus of the present invention is applied as seen from diagonally above the front. FIG. 2 is a diagram of the digital camera shown in FIG. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a photographing lens 101 is provided at the center of the front surface of the digital camera 100. Further, an optical viewfinder objective window 102 and a flash light emitting unit 103 are provided on the upper front of the digital camera 100. Furthermore, a slide-type power switch 104 and a release switch 105 for instructing still image shooting are provided on the upper surface of the digital camera 100. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a communication antenna 112 is provided on the side surface of the digital camera 100, and an optical viewfinder eyepiece window 106, a menu button 107, an execution / screen changeover switch 108, An LCD 109, a cross key 110, and a mode dial 111 are provided.

  The mode dial 111 described above is a dial that can be rotated in the direction indicated by the double-headed arrow in the figure. By operating the mode dial 111, the user operates the still image shooting mode (Cam) and the playback mode ( Play) and an operation setting mode (Setup), which is a mode for setting the operation, can be selected. FIG. 2 shows a state where the playback mode (Play) is selected. Further, the digital camera 100 can transmit and receive captured image data by wireless communication via the communication antenna 112 described above.

  FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of the digital camera whose appearance is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  In FIG. 3, various switches and buttons such as the mode dial 111 and the release switch 105 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are collectively illustrated as an operation unit 205. Therefore, for example, an instruction to shoot a still image when the release switch 105 is pressed is included in the operation of the operation unit 205. When the power switch 104 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is turned on, power is supplied from the secondary battery 212 and the digital camera 100 is activated.

  The digital camera 100 is provided with a CPU 206 that controls each unit of the digital camera 100, and a ROM 207 that is a memory in which a program that indicates a procedure of operations executed by the CPU 206 is stored. In accordance with this program, the CPU 206 executes processing corresponding to the operation. Further, the digital camera 100 is provided with a RAM 208 in which variable data is written as needed according to the progress of the processing process of each unit. Then, the CPU 206 performs the above-described processing by exchanging data with each unit via the bus 1200.

  In addition, the digital camera 100 includes an optical system (not shown) such as a focus lens, a zoom lens, and an aperture, and an imaging unit 201 provided with a CCD that is a kind of imaging device. The object light to be shown is always converted into an analog image signal representing the object light in the CCD in the imaging unit 201. The analog image signal is processed by the signal processing unit 202 and finally becomes digitized image data, which is displayed on the LCD 109 via the display control unit 209 that controls image display. An image (a so-called through image) is displayed. In addition, the display control unit 209 causes the LCD 109 to display the remaining power of the secondary battery 212 via the power supply control unit 211.

  Here, the imaging unit 201 corresponds to an example of an imaging unit according to the present invention.

  Further, when the mode dial 111 shown in FIG. 2 is operated, the still image shooting mode (Cam) is selected, and the release switch 105 shown in FIG. 1 is operated, the processing is performed in the signal processing unit 202. The image data is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 203, subjected to JPEG compression, and then recorded in the external storage unit 210 such as a memory card.

  The digital camera 100 includes a transmission / reception unit 204 that performs communication with the outside using the communication antenna 112 shown in FIG. As will be described later, information is exchanged between the digital camera 100 and the nearest base station via the transmission / reception unit 204, and image data obtained by photographing is transmitted to an external server under predetermined conditions. Is done. The transmission / reception unit 204 corresponds to an example of an image transmission unit according to the present invention.

  Via this transmission / reception unit 204, the CPU 206 obtains information from GPS (Global Positioning System) and the nearest base station, determines the quality of the communication quality based on this information, and according to the determination, the transmission / reception unit 204 An instruction to prohibit transmission of image data is given.

  Here, the CPU 206 corresponds to an example of a determination unit and a transmission prohibition unit according to the present invention, and the CPU 206 and the transmission / reception unit constitute an example of a geodetic unit according to the present invention.

  By the way, since the secondary battery 212 covers the power of the entire digital camera 100, the power of the secondary battery 212 is naturally supplied not only when shooting an object and reproducing an image but also when transmitting image data. The Since the power consumption at the time of data transmission is affected by the communication quality at that time, the digital camera 100 of the present embodiment employs a method for performing transmission control according to the communication quality in order to save power. Yes. Also, four types of communication methods are prepared as the methods, and one of the communication methods is selectively set in advance by the user, and the CPU 206 controls each unit based on the setting so that the image data can be appropriately selected. Is sent. Each communication method will be described below. First, an operation for selectively setting one method from the above-described four communication methods will be described.

  First, the mode dial 111 shown in FIG. 2 is set to “Setup”, the cross key 110 and the execution / screen changeover switch 108 are operated, and a menu screen for setting the communication method is displayed on the LCD 109.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a menu screen for setting a communication method.

  The menu screen 300 shown in FIG. 4 includes four options “transmission speed”, “error rate”, “transmission position”, and “total data size” and a cross key for selecting the communication method described above. A cursor 301 that moves between the above options when operated is shown. Here, the communication method is selected by placing the cursor 301 on any of the above options and pressing the execution / screen switch. Here, when “communication speed” is selected, a communication method is set for communication while determining communication quality based on the transmission speed. When “error rate” is selected, a communication method is set for communication while determining communication quality based on the error rate. In addition, when “communication position” is selected, a communication method is set in which communication is performed while determining communication quality based on a position in consideration of the distance to the nearest base station and the surrounding environment. When “total data size” is selected, a communication method for communication is set in consideration of not only the quality of communication quality but also the total data size of image data to be transmitted.

  After the communication method is set as shown in FIG. 4, when the mode dial 111 shown in FIG. 2 is set to the playback mode (Play), the captured image is displayed on the LCD. Next, when the user operates the cross key, an image to be transmitted is selected from among the images, and when the menu button is pressed, the display on the LCD is erased, transmitted, edited, etc. Switches to the menu screen for selecting a processing item. On the menu screen, there is an item for instructing transmission of an image, and when the item is selected by the user, transmission of the image is started. The communication method at this time is a communication method set as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, specific operations in the four communication methods will be described with reference to flowcharts and the like.

  First, the first communication method in which “transmission speed” is selected and set in FIG. 4 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing communication processing by the first communication method.

  When transmission by the first communication method is started, first, test data having a small data size is transmitted from the digital camera to the nearest base station (step S1). The transmission time T is measured at the nearest base station based on the transmitted test data, and the measured transmission time T is transmitted from the nearest base station to the digital camera (step S2). Then, a transmission speed V obtained by dividing the data size of the transmitted test data by the transmission time T is calculated by the CPU (step S3), and is compared with a predetermined threshold value V0 by the CPU (step S4). Here, the threshold value described is assumed to be determined at the product stage, and the same applies hereinafter. When the transmission speed V is greater than the predetermined threshold value V0, the CPU determines that the communication quality is good and transmits image data from the transmission / reception unit to the nearest base station (step S5). At this time, the image data is transmitted after being divided into packets of a predetermined size, and the transmission time T is measured again based on the transmitted packets (step S2). The transmission speed V is calculated again based on the transmission time T (step S3), and again compared with the threshold value V0 (step S4). If the transmission speed V is smaller than the predetermined threshold value V0 in step S4, it is determined that the communication quality is poor and the transmission of the image data is interrupted for a fixed time. After a certain period of interruption, the process returns to step S1, and the processes of steps S1 to S4 described above are repeated. Then, when all the image data is transmitted, the communication process shown in FIG. 5 ends.

  As described above, according to the first communication method, transmission of image data is stopped when communication quality is determined to be poor based on the transmission speed, and transmission of image data is resumed when communication quality is restored. The For this reason, when the communication quality is good, the image data is efficiently transmitted with low power consumption, which is effective for power saving. In addition, according to the first communication method, whether the communication quality is good or not is determined based on the transmission speed, so that an effect of shortening the communication time is expected, which is a preferable method for image data having a large data size.

  Next, the second communication method in which “error rate” is selected and set in FIG. 6 will be described. Before that, the error rate will be described. In general, when image data is communicated, lost data is generated during transmission, so a difference occurs between the data size of the transmission source and the data size of the transmission destination. Therefore, the difference between the data size of the transmission source and the data size of the lost data is equal to the data size of the transmission destination. Here, the data size of the transmission source per the data size of the transmission destination is defined as an error rate. The lost data can be quantitatively evaluated based on the error rate.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing communication processing by the second communication method.

  When transmission by the second communication method is started, first, test data having a small data size is transmitted from the digital camera to the nearest base station (step S11). At the nearest base station, the data size of the received test data is measured, and the measured data size is transmitted from the nearest base station to the digital camera (step S12). Then, the error rate E for quantitatively evaluating the lost data is calculated by the CPU (step S13), and is compared with a predetermined threshold value E0 by the CPU (step S14). When the error rate E is smaller than the predetermined threshold value E0, the CPU determines that the communication quality is good and transmits image data from the transmission / reception unit to the nearest base station (step S15). At this time, the image data is divided into packets of a predetermined size and transmitted, and the data size is acquired again for the transmitted packets (step S12). The error rate E is calculated again based on the data size (step S13) and compared with the threshold value E0 again (step S14). If the error rate E is greater than the predetermined threshold value E0 in step S14, it is determined that the communication quality is poor and the transmission of the image data is interrupted for a fixed time. After interruption for a fixed time, the process returns to step S11, and the above-described processes of steps S11 to S14 are repeated. Then, when all the image data is transmitted, the communication process shown in FIG. 6 ends.

  As described above, according to the second communication method, when the communication quality is determined to be poor based on the error rate, the transmission of the image data is stopped, and when the communication quality is restored, the transmission of the image data is resumed. Is done. For this reason, when the communication quality is good, the image data is efficiently transmitted with low power consumption, which is effective for power saving. Further, according to the second communication method, since the quality of the communication quality is determined based on the error rate, it is particularly effective for high-quality image data in which the lost data is preferably smaller.

  Next, a third communication method in which “transmission position” is selected and set in FIG. 7 will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing communication processing by the third communication method.

  When transmission by the third communication method is started. First, the position data H of the digital camera is acquired from the GPS via the transmission / reception unit or the like (step S21), and the nearest base station from the digital camera by the CPU based on the position data H and the map data stored in the RAM. Is calculated (step S22). Further, the CPU compares the calculated transmission distance D with a predetermined threshold D0 (step S23), and when the transmission distance D is smaller than the predetermined threshold D0 (step S23: Yes), the communication quality is good by the CPU. The image data is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit to the nearest base station (step S24). Since the user may move with the digital camera during the transmission of the image data, the position data H is acquired again during the transmission of the image data (step S21), and the transmission distance D is calculated again (step S22). ). If the transmission position D is larger than the predetermined threshold value D0 in step S23 (step S23: No), it is determined that the communication quality is poor and the transmission of the image data is interrupted for a certain time. After the interruption for a certain time, the process returns to step S21, and the above-described processes of steps S21 to S23 are repeated. Then, when all the image data is transmitted, the communication process shown in FIG. 7 ends.

  As described above, according to the third communication method, transmission of image data is stopped when communication quality is determined to be poor based on the transmission distance D, and transmission of image data is resumed when communication quality is restored. The For this reason, image data is efficiently transmitted with low power consumption in a place where communication quality is considered to be good, which is effective for power saving. Also, according to the third communication method, unlike the first communication method and the second communication method, test data is not transmitted, so that power consumption for judging approval / disapproval of communication quality is small and a power saving effect is high.

  Next, a fourth communication method in which “total data size” is selected and set in FIG. 8 will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing communication processing according to the fourth communication method.

  When transmission by the fourth communication method is started, first, test data having a small data size is transmitted from the digital camera to the nearest base station (step S31). The transmission time T is measured at the nearest base station based on the transmitted test data, and the measured transmission time T is transmitted from the nearest base station to the digital camera (step S32). Then, the transmission speed V obtained by dividing the data size of the transmitted test data by the transmission time T is calculated by the CPU (step S33). Next, the total data size A of the image data to be transmitted is acquired by the CPU via the external storage unit (step S34), the remaining power P is acquired via the power control unit, and the test data The power consumption rate B is calculated by the CPU from the data size and the power consumption during transmission (step S35). Next, transmission of image data obtained by dividing the remaining power P by the power consumption rate B, which can be continued by the remaining amount of the secondary battery, and the total data size A divided by the transmission speed V The CPU compares the transmission time required for (step S36). If the transmission time that can be continued depending on the remaining capacity of the secondary battery is longer than the transmission time required for image data transmission, communication quality in a higher order that takes into account the data size and the capacity of the secondary battery Is determined to be good, and the image data is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit to the nearest base station (step S37). At this time, the image data is divided into packets of a predetermined size and transmitted, and the transmission time T is measured again based on the transmitted packet (step S32). The transmission speed V is calculated again by the transmission time T (step S33), the total data size A is acquired by the CPU again (step S34), and the remaining power P and the power consumption rate B are acquired via the power control unit. (Step S35). If the transmission time required for transmitting the image data is smaller than the transmission time that can be continued depending on the remaining amount of the secondary battery in step S36, it is determined that the communication quality is poor and the transmission of the image data is interrupted for a certain time. Is done. After the interruption for a fixed time, the process returns to step S31, and the above-described processes of steps S31 to S36 are repeated. Then, when all the image data is transmitted, the communication process shown in FIG. 5 ends.

  As described above, according to the fourth communication method, not only the quality of simple communication quality depending on the communication speed, but also the communication quality in a higher order that takes into account the data size and remaining power of image data. Since the image data transmission is performed based on the above, not only is it effective for power saving, but the safety of the image data transmission is particularly high.

  Thus, according to the four types of communication methods described above, when image data is transmitted in response to a user operation, power consumption can be suppressed even if the image data remains at a high resolution.

  Further, the first embodiment of the digital camera has a free capacity expansion function for automatically transmitting image data recorded on the information storage medium to an external server in order to expand the free capacity of the information storage medium. Is provided. This free space expansion function is a selection item provided in the menu for still image shooting displayed on the LCD when the mode dial 111 shown in FIG. 2 is set to the still image shooting mode (Cam) and the menu button is pressed. When execution of the free space expansion function is selected, the free space is started and the free space is monitored. Hereinafter, specific operations in the free space expansion function will be described with reference to flowcharts.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation in the free space expansion function.

  When the free capacity expansion function is started, first, the remaining power P is acquired through the power control unit (step S41), and the free capacity Q of the memory card is acquired through the external storage unit (step S42). The communication quality is evaluated (step S43). Here, the evaluation similar to the above-described evaluation in the communication method set in FIG. 4 is used for the communication quality evaluation. However, this free capacity expansion function is loosely evaluated because the main purpose is to expand the free capacity rather than to save electricity. When it is determined that the communication quality is good, the remaining power P is larger than the threshold value P0, and the free capacity Q is smaller than the threshold value Q0 (step S44: Yes), the image data is transmitted to the nearest base station and transmitted. The image data is erased from the memory card, and the free space is expanded. After the free space of the memory card is expanded, the process returns to step 41. If the remaining power P is smaller than the threshold value P0 or the free capacity Q is larger than the threshold value Q0 in step S44 (step S44: No), the process returns to step S41 without transmitting image data.

  Since the free space of the memory card is automatically expanded by such a free space expansion function, the user can continue shooting without worrying about the free space.

  Next, a second embodiment of the digital camera will be described.

  The digital camera 200 of the second embodiment described below is the same as the digital camera of the first embodiment described above except that it has a communication control unit instead of the above-described transmission / reception unit and a communication device is connected. Since it is an apparatus, the duplication description is abbreviate | omitted below and only a communication control part etc. are demonstrated.

  FIG. 10 is an external perspective view of a digital camera to which the second embodiment of the photographing apparatus of the present invention is applied as viewed from the rear and obliquely above.

  The digital camera 200 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is provided with a USB connector 113 into which the USB cable 114 is inserted. By connecting the USB connector 113 and the communication device (here, the mobile phone 115) via the USB cable 114, the digital camera 200 has a function equivalent to the transmission / reception unit 204 shown in FIG. Become.

  FIG. 11 is an internal configuration diagram of the digital camera whose appearance is shown in FIG.

  The digital camera 200 of the second embodiment includes a USB connector 113 and a communication control unit 213, and a mobile phone 115 is connected to the USB connector 113 via a USB cable 114.

  The communication control unit 213 notifies the CPU 206 of the connection status between the digital camera 200 and the mobile phone 115, and requests the mobile phone 115 to transmit the image data stored in the external storage unit 210 according to an instruction from the CPU 206.

  Here, the communication control unit 213 corresponds to an example of an image transmission control unit according to the present invention.

  In the above description, the example in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to, for example, a mobile phone or a portable information terminal having a photographing function. However, it can also be applied to video cameras that shoot movies.

It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the digital camera with which 1st Embodiment of the imaging device of this invention was applied from front diagonally upward. It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the digital camera shown in FIG. 1 from back diagonally upward. FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of a digital camera whose appearance is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is a figure which shows the menu screen for setting a communication system. It is a flowchart which shows the communication processing by a 1st communication system. It is a flowchart which shows the communication processing by a 2nd communication system. It is a flowchart which shows the communication process by a 3rd communication system. It is a flowchart which shows the communication processing by a 4th communication system. It is a flowchart in which the free space expansion method is executed. It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the digital camera to which 2nd Embodiment of the imaging device of this invention was applied from back diagonally upward. It is an internal block diagram of the digital camera which shows an external appearance in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Digital camera 101 Shooting lens 102 Optical viewfinder objective window 103 Flash light emission part 104 Power switch 105 Release switch 106 Optical viewfinder eyepiece window 107 Menu button 108 Execution / screen changeover switch 109 LCD
110 Cross key 111 Mode dial 112 Communication antenna 113 USB connector 114 USB cable 115 Mobile phone 200 Digital camera 201 Imaging unit
202 Signal Processing Unit 203 Buffer Memory 204 Transmission / Reception Unit 205 Operation Unit 206 CPU
207 ROM
208 RAM
209 Display control unit 210 External storage unit 211 Power supply control unit 212 Secondary battery 213 Communication control unit 300 Menu screen 301 Cursor 1200 Bus

Claims (7)

An imaging unit that obtains image data representing an image of the subject by photographing the subject;
An image transmission unit for transmitting image data obtained by the imaging unit;
A determination unit that directly or indirectly determines the quality of communication quality in the data transmission of the image transmission unit;
An imaging apparatus, comprising: a transmission prohibition unit that prohibits transmission of image data to the image transmission unit when the determination unit determines that communication quality is poor.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit directly determines the quality of the communication quality based on a transmission speed in the image transmission unit.   The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit directly determines whether the communication quality is good or not based on a degree of error in data transmission of the image transmission unit. It has a geodetic unit that identifies the position of this imaging device,
The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit indirectly determines the quality of the communication quality based on a position specified by the geodetic unit. It has a battery that supplies power to this imaging device,
The transmission prohibition unit prohibits the image transmission unit from transmitting image data even when a transmission time required for transmitting the image data exceeds a transmission time that can be continued depending on a remaining battery level. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   If the transmission prohibition unit prohibits transmission of image data and then determines that the communication quality is good by the determination unit, the transmission prohibition unit cancels the prohibition of transmission of image data to the image transmission unit. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein: An imaging unit that obtains image data representing an image of the subject by photographing the subject;
An image transmission control unit that is connected to a communication device and transmits image data obtained by the imaging unit by the communication device;
A determination unit that directly or indirectly determines the quality of communication quality in the data transmission of the image transmission unit;
An imaging apparatus comprising: a transmission prohibiting unit that prohibits the image transmission control unit from transmitting image data when the determination unit determines that the communication quality is poor.

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