JP2008252487A - Camera with projector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the operation of a projector device in a state wherein a camera is mounted on a cradle. <P>SOLUTION: A camera with a projector includes an imaging means 40 of picking up a subject image, a projecting means 30 of projecting an image, a mounting detecting means 108 of detecting the camera being mounted on the cradle 2, a restricting means 50 of imposing restrictions on functions of the projecting means 30, a decision means 50 of deciding whether the restrictions are imposed by the restricting means 50, and a canceling means 50 of canceling the restrictions on condition that the decision means 50 decides that the restrictions are imposed on the functions of the projecting means 30 when the mounting detecting means 108 detects the camera being mounted on the cradle 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera including a projector.

Conventionally, a camera including a projector device for projecting an image is known (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-222547 A

  However, the conventional technology does not consider the operation of the projector device when a camera including the projector device is placed on a cradle.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera with a projector that detects an object mounted on a cradle, an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject, a projection unit that projects an image, a limiting unit that limits the function of the projection unit. When the placement detection means and the placement detection means detect the placement of the camera on the cradle, there are restrictions on the function of the projection means by the judgment means for judging whether there is a restriction by the restriction means. A release means for releasing the restriction when it is determined that the restriction is present.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a projector according to the first aspect, when the determination unit determines that the function of the projection unit is restricted, the user is inquired about whether or not the restriction needs to be released. It further comprises a release inquiry means and a release operation member operated by the user to instruct release of the restriction, and the release means releases the restriction when the release operation member is operated.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a projector according to the first or second aspect, the projection unit has a light source for projecting an image, and the limiting unit sets the luminance of the light source during lighting to a low luminance. And a sleep mode in which the functions relating to the projection unit are stopped.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the camera with a projector according to the third aspect further includes capacity detecting means for detecting a remaining capacity of the power source, and is limited when the detected remaining capacity of the power source becomes a predetermined capacity or less. The means is characterized in that the luminance of the light source is set to a low luminance.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a projector according to the third or fourth aspect, the camera further includes a setting operation member that is operated by the user to perform settings related to various functions of the camera and the projection unit, and the setting operation member is a predetermined time. When the operation is not performed as described above, the restricting means shifts to the sleep mode.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a projector according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, the release unit is configured to reduce the luminance of the light source that is lit at a low luminance by the limiting unit at a predetermined rate per unit time. It is characterized in that the maximum brightness is set while increasing.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a projector according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, when the placement detection unit detects the placement of the camera on the cradle, the projection unit projects the projection. The image processing apparatus further includes adjustment mode starting means for starting an adjustment mode for adjusting the image.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a projector according to the seventh aspect, when the adjustment mode is activated, the projection unit projects an adjustment screen.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a projector according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, when the placement detecting means detects that the camera is placed on the cradle, the projection means projects an image. A mounting direction determining unit that determines whether or not the image is mounted in a possible direction, and the mounting direction determining unit determines that the image is projected in a direction in which the projection unit can project an image, and the projecting unit Operation start inquiry means for inquiring the user whether or not the operation of the projection means needs to be started, an operation start operation member operated by the user to instruct the start of the operation of the projection means, and an operation start operation Projection control means for starting projection of an image by the projection means when the member is operated is further provided.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the camera with a projector according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the image is projected by the detecting unit that detects the temperature of the projecting unit and the projecting unit while being placed on the cradle. And a warning means for notifying a warning when the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold.

  According to the present invention, when the camera is placed on the cradle, the restriction on the projection unit can be released.

  An electronic camera with a projector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The body 10 of the electronic camera 1 shown in FIG. 1C is provided with a photographing lens 101, a flash window 102, and a projector projection window 103. A release button 104, a projector button 71, and a main switch 105 are provided on the upper surface of the body 10 of the electronic camera 1 shown in FIG. The projector button 71 is an operation member for switching the operation mode of the electronic camera 1 between a camera mode and a projection mode described later.

  On the back surface of the body 10 shown in FIG. 1B, an operation member 106, a liquid crystal display 107, and a charging notification LED 114 are provided. The operation member 106 includes a magnification button 106a for changing the magnification of the photographing lens 101, the enlargement ratio of the reproduction display image and the projection image, a mode button 106b for selecting various operation modes, and switching for switching between photographing and reproduction display. A button 106c, a menu button (MENU) 106d for displaying a menu screen for various settings on the liquid crystal display 107, a delete button 106e for deleting an image recorded on the recording medium, a projected image and the liquid crystal display 107 A cross key 106f for selecting an image to be reproduced and displayed, an OK button 106g for determining settings on the menu screen, and the like. The charging notification LED 114 is lit when the electronic camera 1 is being charged by a cradle 2 or the like, which will be described later, and notifies the user that charging is in progress.

  2A and 2B are views showing the appearance of the cradle 2 used for charging the electronic camera 1, FIG. 2A is a front perspective view, and FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view. Inside the housing 201 of the cradle 2, a placement unit 202 is formed so as to have an inclined surface with a predetermined angle with respect to a horizontal plane in order to place the electronic camera 1. A USB terminal 204, an AV output terminal 205, an AC output terminal 206, and a power switch 207 are provided on the rear surface of the housing 201, and a camera connector 208 is provided on the mounting unit 202. The camera connector 208 is connected to an external connector provided on the bottom surface of the electronic camera 1 to perform data communication with the electronic camera 1 and supply of a charging current.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the placement unit 202 is formed so that the electronic camera 1 can take two placement forms. That is, as shown in FIG. 3A, a form (projector side placement) in which the front surface of the electronic camera 1 (the surface on which the projector projection window 13 is disposed) is placed toward the front surface of the cradle 2 or FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, any one of the forms (liquid crystal side placement) in which the back surface of the electronic camera 1 (the surface on which the liquid crystal display 107 is disposed) is placed toward the front surface of the cradle 2 is provided. Is possible. The electronic camera 1 placed on the cradle 2 is inclined at the same angle as the inclined surface of the placement unit 202. As a result, the user can easily view the image displayed on the liquid crystal display 107 when the liquid crystal is placed on the liquid crystal side, and the lower end of the image projected from the projector projection window 103 is prevented from being hidden by an obstacle or the like when placed on the projector side. It is out.

  The cradle 2 charges the electronic camera 1 placed on the placement unit 202 via the camera connector 208 and acquires image data from the electronic camera 1. The cradle 2 can communicate with other external devices (for example, a printer, a photo data storage device, etc.) via cables attached to the USB terminal 204 and the AV output terminal 205. The cradle 2 can be supplied with commercial power via a power cable attached to the AC terminal 206.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram in a state where the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2.
(Cradle)
In FIG. 4, the cradle 2 has a cradle control circuit 209 to which the above-described USB terminal 204, AV output terminal 205, and camera terminal 208 are connected. An external power supply circuit 210 is included.

  The cradle control circuit 209 performs a predetermined calculation using signals input from each part constituting the cradle 2 based on the cradle control program, and sends a control signal to each part of the cradle 2 to perform communication operation and cradle operation. Take control. The cradle control circuit 209 sends a command to the external power supply circuit 210 to charge the electronic camera 1 when the power of the electronic camera 1 is off as will be described later. The cradle control program is stored in a non-illustrated non-volatile memory in the control circuit 209.

  The AV output terminal 205 displays a video signal for displaying image data transmitted from the electronic camera 1 via the camera connector 208 when the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2 on an external television monitor or the like. Generate. By connecting an external television monitor or the like to the AV output terminal 205, a reproduced image is displayed on the television monitor.

  When the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2, data communication and charging current are supplied between the electronic camera 1 and the cradle 2 via the camera connector 208 according to a command from the cradle control circuit 209. Done. As will be described later, the electronic camera 1 can be mounted on the cradle 2 in two types of mounting forms, and the camera connector 208 is configured to be rotationally symmetric.

  The camera connector 208 has terminals 208a to 208j as shown in a connector configuration diagram viewed from the upper surface of the cradle 2 in FIG. The terminals 208a to 208d are used for data transmission with the connected electronic camera 1. The terminals 208e to 208h are used for power supply to the electronic camera 1. Further, the terminals 208i to 208j are used for determining the mounting form of the mounted electronic camera 1.

  The external power supply circuit 210 is composed of an AC / DC conversion circuit or the like, converts AC power input via a power cable connected to the AC terminal 206 into DC power required in each part in the cradle 2, and after conversion Is supplied to each block. The external power supply circuit 210 further supplies a charging current necessary for charging the battery in the electronic camera 1 to the electronic camera 1 via the camera connector 208.

(Electronic camera)
The electronic camera 1 includes a projector unit 30, an imaging unit 40, and a control circuit 50 as main components. In addition to the memory 60 being connected to the control circuit 50, the projector switch 71s that is linked to the operation of the projector button 71, the half-press switch 104a, the full-press switch 104b, the main switch 105, and various types that are linked to the operation of the operation member 106. A switch group 106s is also connected. The half-push switch 104 a and the full-push switch 104 b each output an on signal or an off signal to the control circuit 50 in conjunction with the depression operation of the release button 104. The control circuit 50 further includes a liquid crystal display 107, a memory card interface 109, a battery 111, a charging circuit 112, a temperature sensor 113, and a charging notification LED 114, and is connected to the external connector 108.

  Based on the control program, the control circuit 50 performs a predetermined calculation using signals input from each unit constituting the electronic camera 1 and sends a control signal to each unit of the electronic camera 1 to perform a photographing operation and a projection operation. Control. The control program is stored in a nonvolatile memory (not shown) in the control circuit 50. Even when the electronic camera 1 is operating in any one of a camera mode and a projection mode, which will be described later, the release button 104, the main switch 105, and the operation member 106 are not operated for one minute, which is a predetermined time, for example, and the control circuit 50 When the operation signal is not input, the control circuit 50 sets the electronic camera 1 to the sleep mode. The sleep mode is a mode in which the power of the electronic camera 1 is on but the operation of each unit is stopped to save power. After shifting to the sleep mode, the control circuit 50 turns off the electronic camera 1 when no operation signal is input for a predetermined time, for example, 5 minutes. The predetermined time can be changed by a user operation.

  The memory 60 is used as a working memory for the control circuit 50. When the control circuit 50 sets the sleep mode while projecting an image in the projection mode described later, image data corresponding to the projected image is temporarily saved in the memory 60 and stored.

  The external connector 108 transmits / receives data to / from other external devices (for example, cradle 2, printer, photo data storage device, etc.) connected via an interface cable (not shown) according to a command from the control circuit 50. Do. The external connector 108 includes a control interface (Control I / F) line for transmitting and receiving control signals, a video interface (VIDEO I / F) line for transmitting and receiving video signals, and a digital interface (Digital I / F) for transmitting image data. And a power line to which charging current is supplied.

  The external connector 108 has terminals 108a to 108e as shown in a connector configuration diagram viewed from the bottom of the electronic camera 1 in FIG. 7B, for example. The terminals 108a and 108b are used for power feeding from the cradle 2, and the terminals 108c and 108d are used for data transmission with the cradle 2. The terminal 108e is used for determining the mounting form of the electronic camera 1. When the terminal 108e and the terminal 208i of the camera connector 208 shown in FIG. 7A are connected, the control circuit 50 determines that the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2 in the projector-side placement form described above. When the terminal 108e and the terminal 208j of the camera connector 208 are connected, the control circuit 50 determines that the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2 in the liquid crystal side placement form.

  In the case of projector-side mounting, the terminals 108 a and 108 b are connected to the terminals 208 e and 208 f of the camera connector 208, respectively, and the electronic camera 1 is supplied with power from the cradle 2. Further, the terminals 108c and 108d are connected to the terminals 208a and 208b of the camera connector 208, respectively, and data transmission is performed between the electronic camera 1 and the cradle 2.

  In the case of mounting on the liquid crystal side, the terminals 108 a and 108 b are connected to the terminals 208 h and 208 g of the camera connector 208, respectively, and the electronic camera 1 is supplied with power from the cradle 2. The terminals 108c and 108d are connected to the terminals 208d and 208c of the camera connector 208, respectively, so that data transmission is performed between the electronic camera 1 and the cradle 2.

  The battery 111 is constituted by a rechargeable battery and supplies necessary power to each part in the electronic camera 1. The charging circuit 112 charges the battery 111 with a charging current supplied from the cradle 2 via the external connector 108. Note that the remaining capacity of the battery 111 is monitored by the control circuit 50.

  The memory card interface 109 is an interface to which the memory card 110 can be attached and detached. The memory card interface 109 is an interface circuit that writes an image file to the memory card 110 and reads an image file recorded on the memory card 110 based on the control of the control circuit 50. The memory card 110 is a semiconductor memory card such as a compact flash (registered trademark) or an SD card.

  The temperature sensor 113 measures the temperature around the LED light source 303 of the projector unit 30 that is operating in the projection mode described later, and outputs the measurement result to the control circuit 50. The control circuit 50 compares the temperature t input from the temperature sensor 113 with a preset threshold value tc. When the measured temperature exceeds the threshold value tc, the control circuit 50 operates the projector unit 30 in a temperature rise suppression mode described later.

-Imaging unit-
The imaging unit 40 includes a photographing lens 401 (101 in FIG. 1), an imaging element (image sensor) 402, a lens driving circuit 403, and a photographing control circuit 404. As the image sensor 402, a CCD, a CMOS image sensor, or the like is used. The imaging control circuit 404 drives and controls the image sensor 402 and the lens driving circuit 403 according to a command from the control circuit 50 and performs predetermined image processing on the imaging signal (accumulated charge signal) output from the image sensor 402. . Image processing includes white balance processing and gamma processing.

  The photographing lens 401 forms a subject image on the imaging surface of the image sensor 402. The imaging control circuit 404 causes the image sensor 402 to start imaging in response to an imaging start instruction, reads the accumulated charge signal from the image sensor 402 after the imaging is completed, performs the above-described image processing, and sends it to the control circuit 50 as image data. To do.

  The lens driving circuit 403 drives the zoom lens (not shown) constituting the photographing lens 401 forward and backward in the optical axis direction (tele side or wide side) based on the zoom adjustment signal output from the photographing control circuit 404. The control circuit 50 sends a zoom-up signal to the photographing control circuit 404 by a right long press operation of the enlargement / reduction button 160a, and sends a zoom-down signal to the photographing control circuit 404 by a long left push operation of the enlargement / reduction button 106a.

-Projector section-
The projector unit 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4 and the configuration diagram of the projector unit 30 in FIG. 5, the projector unit 30 includes a lens driving circuit 300, a projection optical system 301, a liquid crystal panel 302, an LED light source 303, a condensing optical system 304, A PBS (polarization beam splitter) block 305, a projection control circuit 306, and a bending prism 307 are provided. The liquid crystal panel 302 generates a light image according to the drive signal from the projection control circuit 306. In this embodiment, a reflective liquid crystal panel is used as the liquid crystal panel 302 as shown in FIG. The projection control circuit 306 sends a control signal to the LED light source 303 and the liquid crystal panel 302 in accordance with the projection command output from the control circuit 50.

  The LED light source 303 is a white LED that emits white light, and emits white light along the optical axis L1 shown in FIG. The condensing optical system 304 is an optical system that emits white light emitted from the LED light source 303 and entering the PBS block 305 as substantially parallel light. The PBS block 305 is a polarization beam splitter having a polarization separation unit 305a that forms an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis L1 of illumination light emitted from the condensing optical system 304. The surface 305b of the PBS block 305 is subjected to non-reflection processing such as black processing, for example. A liquid crystal panel 302 composed of a reflective liquid crystal element (LCOS) is disposed on the right side surface of the PBS block 305. The liquid crystal panel 302 includes a plurality of pixels on which red, green, and blue filters are formed, and is driven by the projection control circuit 306 so as to generate a color image.

  A polarized light beam (for example, P-polarized light) incident on the PBS block 305 passes through the PBS block 305 and illuminates the liquid crystal panel 302. When the light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal panel 302 enters the liquid crystal panel 302, the light travels rightward through the liquid crystal layer, is reflected by the reflective surface of the liquid crystal panel 302, and then travels leftward through the liquid crystal layer. The light is emitted from 302 and is incident again on the PBS block 305. Since the liquid crystal layer to which a voltage is applied functions as a phase plate, the light incident on the PBS block 305 is a mixed light of modulated light that is S-polarized light and unmodulated light that is P-polarized light. The PBS block 305 reflects (folds) only the modulated light, which is the S-polarized component, of the re-incident light beam in the direction along the optical axis L2 by the polarization separation unit 305a, and emits the light toward the upper projection optical system 301. To do.

  The projection optical system 301 guides the light image emitted from the liquid crystal panel 302 to the bending prism 307. Based on the focus adjustment signal output from the projection control circuit 306, the lens driving circuit 300 drives a focus lens (not shown) constituting the projection optical system 301 forward and backward in the direction of the optical axis L2. The bending prism 307 deflects the projection light incident from the projection optical system 301 in the direction of the optical axis L3 and projects the projection image from the projector projection window 103 toward the front of the body 10.

  As described above, the projector unit 30 is mounted on the electronic camera 1. The electronic camera 1 projects information such as an image from the projector projection window 103 toward a screen or the like disposed on the front. Therefore, the electronic camera 1 has a projection mode for projecting an image by the projector device 30 and a camera mode for capturing an image as operation modes.

  The camera mode has a shooting mode and a playback mode. In the shooting mode, the electronic camera 1 captures an image by the imaging unit 40 and stores the captured image data as a captured image file in a recording medium (for example, the memory card 110 or the internal memory). In the playback mode, the electronic camera 1 reads the captured image data from a recording medium (for example, the memory card 110 or the internal memory), and plays back and displays the playback image based on the image data on the liquid crystal display 107. The shooting start instruction corresponds to an operation signal output in response to the pressing operation of the release button 104.

  In the projection mode, the captured image data is read from a recording medium (for example, the memory card 110 or the internal memory), and a reproduced image (still image or moving image) based on the image data is generated as a projection image. Is projected from the projector projection window 103. When the projection mode is set, the projector unit 30 is configured to be able to project a reproduced image based on image data read from other than the recording medium or image data supplied from the outside of the electronic camera 1. Yes.

  When the control circuit 50 receives a switching signal generated by operating the projector button 71 while the electronic camera 1 is activated in the camera mode, the control circuit 50 switches the operation of the electronic camera 1 to the projection mode. That is, the control circuit 50 turns on the LED light source 303 and causes the projector unit 30 to start projecting an image. At this time, the control circuit 50 generates a wallpaper image corresponding to the wallpaper image data read from the internal memory, and forms it on the liquid crystal panel 302. As a result, the projector unit 30 projects the wallpaper image as described above. For example, every time an operation signal is input by operating the cross key 106f, the control circuit 50 has the oldest recording date and time in the memory card 110 (the first image recorded in the recorded image data). The image data is read in order from the image data, and the read image data is sent to the projector unit 30.

  When all the image data in the memory card 110 has been read, the control circuit 50 reads the image data recorded in the internal memory in the order of the oldest recording date according to the operation of the cross key 106f, and sends it to the projector unit 30. . However, when the memory card 110 is not attached to the electronic camera 1, the image data recorded in the internal memory is read in the order described above.

In the projection mode, the following various operation modes are provided.
1. 1. LCD display lighting mode 2. Liquid crystal display non-lighting mode Adjustment mode 4. Projection restriction mode

-LCD display lighting mode-
During image projection in the projection mode, the control circuit 50 turns on the liquid crystal display 107, and the same image as the projection image, a plurality of images including the projection image, or a projection image corresponding to the operation of the enlargement / reduction button 106a. An index such as a bar graph indicating the enlargement ratio and the size of the projected image is displayed. When displaying a plurality of images, the control circuit 50 displays four or nine images on the liquid crystal display 107. At this time, the control circuit 50 selects, for example, 3 or 8 images in order of oldest recording date and time based on the same image as the projected image and the same image, and displays a total of 4 or 9 images. To do.

-LCD display non-lighting mode-
When an operation signal is input from a remote control device such as a remote controller (not shown), the control circuit 50 turns off the liquid crystal display 107 and does not display the same image as the projected image.

−Adjustment mode−
In the electronic camera 1 according to this embodiment, it is possible to set parameters for adjustment in adjustment contents such as the focus adjustment state, light amount, angle of view, and keystone correction of the projected image during projection. For example, each time the mode button 106b is operated, the control circuit 50 activates a focus adjustment mode, a light amount adjustment mode, a field angle adjustment mode, and a keystone correction mode, and an adjustment screen corresponding to each adjustment mode is displayed on the projector unit 30. Project. As a result, the user can set adjustment parameters by operating the enlargement / reduction button 106a, for example, while checking the adjustment screen. When the control circuit 50 inputs an operation signal generated by operating the switching button 106c while the adjustment mode is activated, the control circuit 50 ends the adjustment mode. As will be described later, when the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2 in the projector-side placement form, the control circuit 50 automatically switches to the adjustment mode. In the liquid crystal display lighting mode, the control circuit 50 can display the above adjustment contents on the liquid crystal display 107 as a menu, and the user can select the adjustment contents on the menu screen. Selection of the adjustment content is performed, for example, with the cross key 106f.

(Focus adjustment mode)
By shifting the focus lens that constitutes the projection optical system 301 in the optical axis direction, the projector unit 30 adjusts the focus of the projected image. The control circuit 50 changes the adjustment value by raising or lowering the value of the adjustment parameter by a predetermined value every time a right push or left push operation signal is received by operating the enlargement button 106a. The control circuit 50 outputs a focus adjustment signal corresponding to the set adjustment value to the projection control circuit 306. Based on this focus adjustment signal, as described above, the lens driving circuit 300 drives the focus lens (not shown) constituting the projection optical system 301 to advance and retreat in the direction of the optical axis L2.

(Light intensity adjustment mode)
By controlling the drive current value to the LED light source 303, the projector unit 30 adjusts the light amount of the projected image. The control circuit 50 outputs a light amount adjustment signal corresponding to the set adjustment value to the projection control circuit 306. The projection control circuit 306 controls the light emission amount of the LED light source 303, that is, the drive current value based on the light amount adjustment signal.

(Field angle adjustment mode)
The control circuit 50 adjusts the angle of view of the projected image by performing an electronic zoom process on the image data. The changed adjustment value of the adjustment parameter is recorded in a predetermined recording area in the control circuit 50. The control circuit 50 reads this adjustment value, performs electronic zoom processing on the image data to be projected based on the read adjustment value on the memory 60, and sends the processed image data to the projection control circuit 306.

(Keystone correction mode)
When the projected image changes to a trapezoidal shape, the control circuit 50 performs electrical trapezoidal correction (keystone correction) by image processing to correct the projected image from a trapezoidal shape to a rectangular shape. The correction value whose adjustment parameter has been changed is recorded in a predetermined recording area in the control circuit 50. The control circuit 50 reads this correction value, performs trapezoidal correction processing on the image data to be projected based on the read correction value on the memory 60, and sends the processed image data to the projection control circuit 306.

-Projection restriction mode-
During image projection in the projection mode, the control circuit 50 sets a projection restriction mode that restricts the operation of the projector unit 30 according to the remaining capacity of the battery 111. In the projection restriction mode, when the control circuit 50 detects that the remaining capacity of the battery 111 has become a predetermined value or less during projection of a still image, the control circuit 50 sets the electronic camera 1 to the sleep mode. The control circuit 50 turns off the power of the electronic camera 1 when a predetermined time of 5 minutes elapses after the sleep mode is set. When the battery 111 becomes a predetermined value or less during projection of the moving image, the control circuit 50 sets the drive current value of the LED light source 303 to, for example, 50% of the drive current value when driving at the maximum luminance. The brightness of the LED light source 303 is lowered. Alternatively, the control circuit 50 may set the drive current value to 50% of the current drive current value of the LED light source 303. The projection restriction mode can be set by a user operation from the menu screen displayed on the liquid crystal display 107.

Next, the operation of the electronic camera 1 when the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2 will be described.
For example, the control circuit 50 detects the level of a predetermined signal of the external connector 108 every predetermined time, and determines placement on the cradle 2 based on the detected value. Furthermore, as described above, the control circuit 50 places the electronic camera 1, that is, the electronic camera 1 in accordance with the connection state between each terminal constituting the external connector 108 and each terminal constituting the camera connector 208. Is determined to be placed on the liquid crystal side on the projector side. The control circuit 50 controls the operation of the projector unit 30 when it is determined that the projector is placed on the projector side, and controls the operation of the imaging unit 40 when it is determined that the projector is placed on the liquid crystal side.

(1. Placed on the projector side)
Processing when the projector side placement is determined by the control circuit 50 will be described for the following three cases.
1. 1. Power on the electronic camera 1 2. the electronic camera 1 is in the sleep mode; Power off the electronic camera 1

(1-1. Power on)
Processing of the control circuit 50 when the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2 while operating in the projection mode will be described. The control circuit 50 continues the liquid crystal display lighting mode or the liquid crystal display non-lighting mode even after detecting the placement on the cradle 2. Since power is supplied via the cradle 2, when the projection restriction mode is set, the control circuit 50 releases various restrictions by the projection restriction mode as follows. That is, when the control circuit 50 is switched to the sleep mode according to the remaining capacity of the battery 111, the control circuit 50 resumes the projection of the still image. When the drive current of the LED light source 303 is reduced during the projection of the moving image, the control circuit 50 increases the drive current value at a predetermined rate per unit time, and gradually increases the luminance of the LED light source 303. Let Note that the drive current value may be increased at once.

  Thereafter, the control circuit 50 activates the adjustment mode, and causes the projector unit 30 to project the adjustment screen by superimposing it on the projection image. In the adjustment mode, the control circuit 50 changes the focus adjustment state of the projected image, changes the light amount, changes the angle of view based on the adjustment parameters changed and set as described above. Perform adjustment, keystone correction, etc. Then, the control circuit 50 ends the adjustment mode when the operation signal by the operation of the switching button 106c is input, and causes the projector unit 30 to resume projecting an image.

  If the control circuit 50 determines that the temperature t measured by the temperature sensor 113 has exceeded the threshold value tc during image projection while the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2, the temperature rise suppression mode is activated. This threshold value tc is a temperature at which an adverse effect such as distortion does not occur in the projection optical system 301 due to heat generated by the image projection of the projector unit 30, and is set in advance by an experiment or the like. When the temperature rise suppression mode is activated, the control circuit 50 reduces the luminance of the LED light source 303 by reducing the drive current value of the LED light source 303 to a predetermined value while continuing to project the image by the projector unit 30. Then, the control circuit 50 superimposes and displays a warning message such as “please cool” on the projection image. Thereafter, when the temperature t measured by the temperature sensor 113 falls below the threshold value td, the control circuit 50 increases the drive current value of the LED light source 303 to return the luminance to normal, and ends the display of the warning message. Note that the threshold value td is a temperature lower than the threshold value tc.

(1-2. Sleep mode)
Processing of the control circuit 50 when the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2 in the sleep mode will be described. When the control circuit 50 detects that the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2, the control circuit 50 cancels the sleep mode and causes the projector unit 30 to resume image projection. At this time, the control circuit 50 reads the image data stored in the memory 60 before setting the sleep mode, and causes the projector unit 30 to project an image corresponding to the read image data. Further, the control circuit 50 instructs the charging circuit 112 to start charging the battery 111 with the charging current supplied from the cradle 2. When charging is started, the control circuit 50 turns on the charging notification LED 114 with low luminance. In other words, the charging notification LED 114 is driven with an LED drive current lower than the LED drive current when the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2 and charging is started in the liquid crystal side placement mode described later. The notification LED 114 may be blinked.

(1-3. Power off)
Processing of the control circuit 50 when the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2 with the power off is described. When it is detected that the external connector 108 is connected to the camera connector 208 of the cradle 2, the power source of the electronic camera 1 is turned on. Then, the control circuit 50 displays a message such as “Do you want to project the projector? Y / N” on the liquid crystal display 107. When the user selects, for example, “Y” in the message with the cross key 106 f and the control circuit 50 inputs an operation signal instructing the start of projection, the control circuit 50 activates the projector unit 30 to project an image. Start. At this time, the control circuit 50 causes the projector unit 30 to project a wallpaper image corresponding to the wallpaper image data read from the internal memory, and thereafter causes the electronic camera 1 to operate in the projection mode. Further, the control circuit 50 causes the charging circuit 112 to start charging the battery 111 with the charging current supplied from the cradle 2. When charging is started, the control circuit 50 turns on the charging notification LED 114 with low luminance as described above. The notification LED 114 may be blinked.

  When “N” of the above message is selected and operated by the user's cross key 106f or the like and the control circuit 50 inputs an operation signal instructing not to start projecting an image, the control circuit 50 turns off the liquid crystal display 107. . Then, the control circuit 50 causes the charging circuit 112 to start charging the battery 111 with the charging current supplied from the cradle 2. When charging is started, the control circuit 50 turns on the charging notification LED 114 with low luminance as described above. The notification LED 114 may be blinked.

(2. Placed on the liquid crystal side)
When the control circuit 50 detects that the electronic camera 1 operating in the camera mode is placed on the cradle 2 in the liquid crystal side placement mode, the control circuit 50 continues the operation in the camera mode. For example, when a reproduced image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 107, the control circuit 50 continues displaying the reproduced image. In addition, when the electronic camera 1 whose power is off is placed on the cradle 2 in a state where the liquid crystal is placed on the liquid crystal, the control circuit 50 uses the charging current supplied from the cradle 2 to the charging circuit 112 as described above. Instruct to start charging to 111.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing by a program executed by the control circuit 50 of the electronic camera 1. 6 is stored in a memory (not shown), and is activated when a signal indicating that the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2 is input from the external connector 108 to the control circuit 50.
In step S101, it is determined whether or not the mounting form on the cradle 2 is projector-side mounting. If the projector is placed on the projector side, an affirmative decision is made in step S101 and the process proceeds to step S102. In the case of liquid crystal side placement, a negative determination is made in step S101, and the process proceeds to step S125 described later. In step S102, it is determined whether the electronic camera 1 is powered on. If the power is on, an affirmative determination is made in step S102 and the process proceeds to step S103. If the power is off, a negative determination is made in step S102 and the process proceeds to step S120 described later.

  In step S103, it is determined whether the projector unit 30 is projecting an image. If an image is being projected in the projection mode, an affirmative decision is made in step S103 and the process proceeds to step S104. In the sleep mode, a negative determination is made in step S103, and the process proceeds to step S116 described later. In step S104, the projection restriction mode is canceled and the process proceeds to step S105.

  In step S105, it is determined whether the projector unit 30 is projecting an image by lowering the luminance of the LED light source 303. When the luminance of the LED light source 303 is lowered by the projection control mode, an affirmative determination is made in step S105 and the process proceeds to step S106. In step S106, the drive current value of the LED light source 303 is gradually increased to increase the luminance of the LED light source 303, and the process proceeds to step S107. If the brightness of the LED light source 303 has not been lowered, a negative determination is made in step S105, and step S106 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S107.

  In step S107, the adjustment mode is activated to cause the projector unit 30 to project the adjustment screen, and the process proceeds to step S108. As the adjustment screen, first, an adjustment screen for focus adjustment is projected, and the screen is switched to projection of a light amount adjustment screen, a field angle adjustment screen, and a keystone correction screen in accordance with the operation of the mode button 106b. When the enlargement / reduction button 106a is operated while each of the screens is being projected, the projection image is adjusted by changing the adjustment parameters as described above. In step S108, it is determined whether or not the adjustment mode activated in step S107 has been terminated. When the switching signal by the operation of the switching button 106c is input, an affirmative determination is made in step S108 and the process proceeds to step S109. When the switching signal by the operation of the switching button 106c is not input, a negative determination is made in step S108, the process returns to step S107, and the adjustment mode is continued.

  In step S109, the projector unit 30 projects an image, and the process proceeds to step S110. In step S110, it is determined whether or not the temperature t measured by the temperature sensor 113 exceeds the threshold value tc. If the temperature t exceeds the threshold value tc, an affirmative determination is made in step S110 and the process proceeds to step S111. In step S111, the drive current value of the LED light source 303 is decreased, the luminance of the LED light source 303 is decreased, and the process proceeds to step S112. If the temperature t measured by the temperature sensor 113 is less than or equal to the threshold value tc, a negative determination is made in step S110 and step S111 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S112.

  In step S112, it is determined whether the power is turned off. When the power off signal is input from the main switch 105, an affirmative determination is made in step S112, and the series of processing ends. If no power off signal is input from the main switch 105, a negative determination is made in step S112 and the process proceeds to step S113.

  In step S113, it is determined whether a projection image selection operation has been performed. If an operation signal is input by operating the cross key 106f, an affirmative determination is made in step S113 and the process proceeds to step S114. If the projection image selection operation has not been performed, a negative determination is made in step S113 and the process returns to step S110. In step S114, the next image data is read from the memory card 110 or the internal memory, and the process proceeds to step S115. In step S115, the image of the image data read in step S114 is projected on the projector unit 30, and the process returns to step S110.

  When the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2 in the sleep mode, a negative determination is made in step S103, the process proceeds to step S116, the sleep mode is canceled, and the process proceeds to step S117. In step S117, the charging circuit 112 is instructed to charge the battery 111 with the charging current supplied from the cradle 2, the brightness of the charging notification LED 114 is lowered, and the process proceeds to step S118.

  In step S118, the image data stored in the memory 60 is read and the process proceeds to step S119. In step S119, the image of the image data read in step S118 is projected on the projector unit 30, and the process proceeds to step S110.

  When the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2 with the power turned off, a negative determination is made in step S102 and the process proceeds to step S120, and the liquid crystal display 107 is turned on. Then, for example, a message such as “Do you want to project the projector? Y / N” is displayed. Next, it progresses to step S121 and it is determined whether operation which instruct | indicated starting of the projector part 30 was performed. If an operation signal for selecting “Y” is input to the message displayed in step S120 by operating the cross key 106f, an affirmative determination is made in step S121 and the process proceeds to step S122. In step S122, charging to the battery 111 is started in the same manner as in step S117, the brightness of the charging notification LED 114 is lowered and turned on, and the process proceeds to step S123.

  In step S123, the LED light source 303 is turned on and the process proceeds to step S124. In step S124, the wallpaper image data recorded in the internal memory is read out, the wallpaper image is projected on the projector unit 30, and the process proceeds to step S110.

  In step S121, when an operation signal for selecting “N” is input to the message displayed in step S120 by operating the cross key 106f, a negative determination is made in step S121, and the process proceeds to step S126 described later.

  On the other hand, when the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2 on the liquid crystal side, a negative determination is made in step S101 and the process proceeds to step S125 to determine whether or not the power of the electronic camera 1 is off. If the power is off, an affirmative determination is made in step S126 and the process proceeds to step S126. In step S126, the charging circuit 112 is started to charge the battery 111, and the series of processing ends.

  If the power is on, a negative determination is made in step S125 and the process proceeds to step S127. In step S127, an image is displayed on liquid crystal display 107, and the process proceeds to step S128. In step S128, it is determined whether the power is turned off. If a power-off signal is input from the main switch 105, an affirmative determination is made in step S128, and the series of processing ends. If the power off signal is not input, a negative determination is made in step S128 and the process returns to step S127.

According to the electronic camera 1 of the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) When the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2, the control circuit 50 releases the projection restriction mode set for the electronic camera 1 according to the remaining capacity of the battery 111. Therefore, the projector unit 30 can project a good image without any limitation.

(2) When the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2, the control circuit 50 turns on the LED light source 303 set to low brightness in the projection limit mode with maximum brightness. Therefore, the user can appreciate a bright projection image. Further, when the luminance of the LED light source 303 is increased, the control circuit 50 increases the drive current value of the LED light source 303 at a predetermined rate per unit time. You can prevent the situation of feeling uncomfortable.

(3) When the electronic camera 1 is placed on the cradle 2, the control circuit 50 activates the adjustment mode and causes the projector unit 30 to project the adjustment screen. Accordingly, since the adjustment mode for performing various settings such as the focus of the projected image is automatically activated in accordance with the change of the placement location of the electronic camera 1, it is not necessary for the user to perform an operation for starting the adjustment mode. Convenience is improved.

(4) When the power-off electronic camera 1 is placed on the projector side in the cradle 2, the control circuit 50 displays a message for inquiring whether or not the projector unit 30 is activated on the liquid crystal display 107. When the activation of the projector unit 30 is instructed by a user operation, the control circuit 50 causes the projector unit 30 to project an image. Therefore, since the user can select whether to charge the electronic camera 1 or project an image, the degree of freedom of operation of the electronic camera 1 can be increased.

(5) When the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 113 exceeds the predetermined threshold value tc while projecting an image while being placed on the cradle 2, the control circuit 50 activates the temperature rise suppression mode and projects a message. The user is warned. Accordingly, the user can grasp that the projection optical system 301 may be adversely affected as the temperature rises, and can take measures such as the end of the projection, so that the projection optical system 301 is distorted by heat. Can be suppressed.

The electronic camera 1 of the embodiment can be modified as follows.
(1) Even when placed on the cradle 2 in the sleep mode, the control circuit 50 turns on the liquid crystal display 107 and displays a message such as “Restart projection? Y / N”, for example. Good. In this case, when “Y” of the message is selected by the user operation, for example, using the cross key 106f, the control circuit 50 determines that the operation is an instruction to resume projection, and causes the projector 30 to resume image projection. In addition, charging of the battery 111 by the charging circuit 112 is started. When “N” of the message is selected by the cross key 106f, the control circuit 50 starts charging only the battery 111 by the charging circuit 112 without restarting the projection of the image by the projector 30.

  Alternatively, when an operation signal is input by operating either the operation member 106 or the release button 104 after the above message is displayed, the control circuit 50 restarts the projection of the image by the projector unit 30 and the charging circuit. 112 starts charging the battery 111. At this time, after the above message is displayed, the control circuit 50 does not resume the projection of the image by the projector unit 30 and does not resume the image projection for 30 seconds, for example, and only the battery 111 is charged by the charging circuit 112. Start.

(2) When the projection restriction mode is activated at the time of placement on the cradle 2 and the luminance of the LED light source 303 is lowered, the luminance of the LED light source 303 is increased by the control circuit 50. However, the LED light source 303 may be turned on while maintaining the luminance as it is.

(3) Regardless of whether the electronic camera 1 is operating in the camera mode or in the projection mode, the control circuit 50 operates while operating in the camera mode instead of setting the sleep mode under the same conditions. The time until the sleep mode is set may be different from the time until the sleep mode is set during operation in the projection mode.

(4) Instead of the temperature increase suppression mode being activated based on the temperature measurement by the temperature sensor 113, the temperature increase suppression mode is activated when the image projection by the projector unit 30 is continued for a predetermined time. Also good. This predetermined time is a time during which no adverse effects such as distortion occur in the projection optical system 301 or the like due to heat generated by the image projection of the projector unit 30, and is measured in advance through experiments or the like.

(5) In the temperature rise suppression mode, the control circuit 50 may display a warning message such as “please cool” only on the liquid crystal display 107, or display both on the projected image and the liquid crystal display 107. May be.

(6) The temperature sensor 113 may measure the temperature of the liquid crystal panel 302 or the projection optical system 301.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as the characteristics of the present invention are not impaired, and other forms conceivable within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention are also within the scope of the present invention. included.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is an external view of the electronic camera by embodiment of this invention, (a) shows a top view, (b) shows a rear view, (c) shows a front view. It is an external view of the cradle which mounts the electronic camera by embodiment, (a) shows a front perspective view, (b) shows a back perspective view. It is a figure explaining the mounting form in the case of mounting an electronic camera in a cradle, (a) shows the form which mounts the front surface of an electronic camera toward the front surface of a cradle, (b) is the back surface of an electronic camera. The form which mounts toward the front of a cradle is shown. It is a block diagram explaining the principal part structure of an electronic camera and a cradle. It is sectional drawing of the electronic camera explaining the structure of a projector part, (a) shows the sectional view on the AA line of Fig.1 (a), (b) is the sectional view on the BB line of Fig.1 (a). Indicates. It is a flowchart explaining the process in the projection operation | movement of an electronic camera. 2A and 2B are configuration diagrams of terminals included in the connector, in which FIG. 1A illustrates an arrangement of terminals provided in a camera connector included in a cradle, and FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic camera 2 Cradle 30 Projector part 40 Imaging part 50 Control circuit 108 External connector 133 Temperature sensor 303 LED light source

Claims (10)

Imaging means for capturing a subject image;
Projection means for projecting an image;
Limiting means for limiting the function of the projecting means;
A placement detection means for detecting that it is placed on the cradle;
A determination means for determining whether or not there is a restriction by the restriction means when the placement detection means detects the placement of the camera on the cradle;
A camera with a projector, comprising: a release unit that cancels the restriction when the determination unit determines that the function of the projection unit is restricted. The camera with a projector according to claim 1,
When it is determined by the determination means that a restriction is imposed on the function of the projection means, a release inquiry means for inquiring the user whether or not the restriction needs to be released,
A release operation member operated by a user to instruct release of the restriction,
The camera with a projector, wherein when the release operation member is operated, the release means releases the restriction. The camera with a projector according to claim 1 or 2,
The projection means has a light source for projecting an image,
The camera with a projector, wherein the limiting unit applies the limitation by either setting a luminance of the light source being turned on to a low luminance or setting a sleep mode in which a function relating to the projection unit is stopped. . The camera with a projector according to claim 3,
It further comprises capacity detection means for detecting the remaining capacity of the power supply,
The camera with a projector, wherein when the remaining capacity of the detected power source becomes a predetermined capacity or less, the limiting means sets the luminance of the light source to the low luminance. The camera with a projector according to claim 3 or 4,
A setting operation member that a user operates to perform settings related to various functions of the camera and the projection unit;
The camera with a projector according to claim 1, wherein when the setting operation member is not operated for a predetermined time or more, the restriction unit shifts to the sleep mode. The camera with a projector according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
The camera with a projector, wherein the canceling unit sets the luminance of the light source that is lit at low luminance by the limiting unit to a maximum luminance while increasing the luminance at a predetermined rate per unit time. The camera with a projector according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
An adjustment mode activation unit that activates an adjustment mode for adjusting an image projected by the projection unit when the placement detection unit detects the placement of the camera on the cradle. Camera with projector. The camera with a projector according to claim 7,
When the adjustment mode is activated, the projection unit projects an adjustment screen. The camera with a projector according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
A placement direction determination means for determining whether or not the image is projected by the projection means when it is detected that the placement detection means is placed on the cradle;
When it is determined by the placement direction determination unit that the projection unit is mounted in a direction in which an image can be projected and the projection unit is not operating, the necessity of starting the operation of the projection unit is determined. An operation start inquiry means for inquiring the user;
An operation start operation member operated by a user to instruct an operation start of the projection means;
A projector-equipped camera, further comprising: a projection control unit that starts projection of an image by the projection unit when the operation start operation member is operated. The camera with a projector according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
Detection means for detecting the temperature of the projection means;
And a warning means for notifying a warning when the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold when an image is projected by the projection means in a state of being placed on the cradle. Camera with projector.

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