JP3643614B2 - Digital electronic still camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a digital electronic still camera capable of recording and reproducing image data and audio data with respect to a storage medium. More specifically, the present invention can communicate with a communicable external device such as a personal computer or a facsimile. This is related to the digital electronic still camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a digital electronic still camera that can communicate with an external device, as in a digital electronic still camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-167979, compressed image data is received and a built-in compression / expansion means is provided. A configuration is known in which data is decompressed and transmitted.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the conventional digital electronic still camera does not include means for detecting whether or not the external device to be communicated is operable, the operator can determine whether or not the external device is operable during communication. After confirming this, it is necessary to perform communication, which complicates the operation.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide a digital electronic still camera that can easily communicate with an external device and has improved operability.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an imaging means for imaging a subject and outputting image data, an image data encoding means for encoding image data, and the encoded image data provided in the camera body. In a digital electronic still camera comprising recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing data on / from a storage medium and communication interface means for performing serial communication with an external device capable of serial communication, the external device side that is the object of communication is operable. A detecting means for detecting whether or not the camera is in a state, and when it is detected that the detecting means is operable, the communication interface means is set in a communicable state, and the camera is set in a recording mode or a playback mode. And setting means for setting the mode to a communicable state.
[0006]
Also, a mode selector switch for switching the recording or reproduction setting mode of the recording / reproducing means, the communication interface means is set to the receivable mode when the recording mode of the mode selector switch is set, and the communication is set when the reproducing mode of the changeover switch is set. Communication state setting means for setting the interface means to a transmittable mode is provided.
[0007]
[Action]
In the digital electronic still camera according to the present invention configured as described above, when connected to an external device that is a communication target, whether or not the external device is operable is detected, and if it is operable, a recording mode or a playback mode is detected. Will automatically be ready for communication.
[0008]
Whether or not the external device is operable is detected by detecting the presence or absence of a data terminal preparation completion signal (DTR) at the interface with the external device.
[0009]
In addition, when the external device is operable and ready to communicate, if the mode switch on the camera side is in the recording mode side, it automatically enters the receivable mode, and the mode switch is set to the playback mode side. If it is in, it automatically enters the transmission mode.
[0010]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a reference example for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, wherein 1 is a microphone, 2a and 2b are amplifiers / filters, and 3 is audio data for encoding / decoding audio data. An audio data compression / decompression circuit as encoding means and audio data decoding means, 4 is an A / D (analog / digital) conversion circuit, and 5 is a D / A (digital / analog) conversion circuit.
[0012]
Reference numeral 6 denotes a photographing lens 7, an aperture 8, a CCD (or MOS type image pickup element) 9 as an image pickup device, a CDS (correlated double sampling) circuit 10 and the like, and 11 a digital signal processing for various image processing. Circuit, 12 is an image data encoding means for encoding / decoding image data and an image data compression / decompression circuit as image data decoding means, 13 is a FIFO circuit, 14 is a general memory card function and personal A card I / F circuit that takes an interface (I / F) with a PC card 16 that is a kind of storage medium having a function that can be read and written by a computer (PC), 17 is a card to which the PC card 16 and the like are connected It is a connector.
[0013]
Reference numeral 18 denotes a mechanical drive unit (driver) of the camera imaging unit 6, 19 denotes an electrical timing signal generation unit (SG) of the camera imaging unit 6, 20 denotes a strobe as illumination means, and 21 sets various modes. An operation unit 22 is a mode display unit that displays a set mode.
[0014]
23 is a communication I / F that takes I / F with an external communicable device such as a modem (for example, RS-232C of serial interface), 25 is for transmitting and receiving data to a communication line A transmission / reception circuit such as a modem, and 26 is a CPU for controlling the above-described units.
[0015]
In FIG. 1, a subject image is input from a taking lens 7 to a CCD 9 that is an image pickup device and converted into an electrical signal. The image sensor output signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 4 through the CDS circuit 10 at an optimum sampling frequency (for example, an integer multiple of the subcarrier frequency of the NTSC signal). The CDS output signal converted into the digital signal is subjected to normal camera signal processing such as gamma correction and color separation in the digital signal processing circuit 11, and Y (luminance), Cb, and Cr (color difference) signals are created. These signals are encoded by the image compression unit of the image data compression / decompression circuit 12 and temporarily recorded in a FIFO (or DRAM) circuit 13 which is a storage element. The compressed image data recorded in the FIFO circuit 13 is read through the card I / F circuit 14 and output to the PC card 16 for recording.
[0016]
On the other hand, the sound is converted into an electric signal by the microphone 1 which is an audio-electric signal conversion element, further amplified by the amplifier / filter 2a, and passed through a filter which cuts off to a necessary band, and then the A / D conversion circuit 4 Thus, it is converted into a digital signal at a sampling frequency that is at least twice the required bandwidth. This signal is encoded by the audio compression unit of the audio data compression / decompression circuit 3 and recorded in the FIFO circuit 13. The compressed audio data recorded in the FIFO circuit 13 is read through the card I / F circuit 14 and output to the PC card 16 for recording.
[0017]
Next, the operation of decoding image / audio data will be described.
[0018]
The compressed image data read from the PC card 16 is written into the image FIFO of the FIFO circuit 13 through the card I / F circuit 14. The image data written here is expanded in real time by the image expansion unit of the image data compression / decompression circuit 12 and input to the digital signal processing circuit 11. The Y, Cb, and Cr signals input to the digital signal processing circuit 11 are digitally encoded into NTSC signals, D / A converted, and output as video signals.
[0019]
On the other hand, the compressed audio data read from the PC card 16 is written into the audio FIFO of the FIFO circuit 13 through the card I / F circuit 14. The audio data written here is expanded in real time by the audio expansion unit of the audio data compression / expansion circuit 3, converted into an analog signal by the D / A conversion circuit 5, and output as an audio signal.
[0020]
The CPU 26 controls all operations inside the camera in accordance with an instruction from the operation unit 21 or an external operation instruction such as a remote controller (not shown). Further, the display of the camera internal state and the like is displayed on a mode display section (for example, LCD, LED, EL, etc.) 22.
[0021]
Next, the operation of data communication will be described.
[0022]
Although communication with an external device such as an external PC can be performed using the PC card 16, communication with the external device is also possible by connecting a communication line to the terminal connection portion of the camera body. For example, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2, when the communication device 24 is connected via a communication line (S1-1), the CPU 26 having the functions of the detection means and the setting means has a communication I / F 23. Detects the presence or absence of a DTR (data terminal ready) signal on the RS-232C signal line (S1-2), determines whether the partner transmitting / receiving circuit 25 is in an operable state, and is operable When it is in the state, the camera side is set to a communicable state (S1-3). In this state, the transmission / reception selector switch 21a provided in the operation unit 21 is operated (S1-4), and when data is to be transmitted to the communication device 24, the switch is set on the transmission side and the image / The voice-decoded data or uncompressed data is sent to the communication device 24 via the communication I / F 23 and the transmission / reception circuit 25 (S1-5). If you want to receive data from the communication device 24, switch on the receiving side, receive the data via the communication I / F 23 and the transmission / reception circuit 25 (S1-6), and perform digital signal processing as described above. The data is recorded on the PC card 16 (S1-7).
[0023]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart relating to the communication operation in the embodiment of the present invention. The operation unit 21 is provided with a mode selection switch 21b (see FIG. 1) for setting a recording mode or a reproduction mode on the camera side. The CPU 26 can detect the selection mode of the mode selection switch 21b and set the transmission / reception mode.
[0024]
That is, when the CPU 26 is also provided with a function as a communication state setting means and is in a communicable state by DTR detection (S2-1 to S2-3), the mode selection switch 21b is set to the recording side. If it is in (S2-4), the transmission / reception circuit 25 is set in the reception mode (S2-5), and data is received from the external device and recorded on the PC card 16 (S2-6, S2-7). If it is in the playback side (S2-4), the transmission / reception circuit 25 is set to the transmission mode (S2-8), and data is sent to the external device (S2-9). In this way, the transmission / reception mode suitable for the purpose of use can be automatically set, and the transmission / reception selector switch can be dispensed with.
[0025]
In this embodiment, there are provided means for encoding image data, means for encoding audio data, means for decoding both data, and means for reading and decoding image data recorded in a storage medium. However, the present invention is applied to a digital electronic still camera provided with at least one of these means.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the digital electronic still camera of the present invention, when connected to an external device capable of communication, the digital electronic still camera can be automatically made communicable and the operator can communicate. There is no need to check the status, and the operation is easy and easy to use.
[0027]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to automatically set to the reception or transmission mode by setting the recording or reproduction mode of the mode switching switch on the camera side, and to eliminate the need for a transmission / reception switching switch. The camera can be downsized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reference example for explaining an embodiment of a digital electronic still camera of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart according to a communication operation of a reference example.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart according to the communication operation of the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Microphone, 3 ... Audio | voice data compression / decompression circuit, 6 ... Camera imaging part, 12 ... Image data compression / decompression circuit, 14 ... Card I / F circuit, 16 ... PC card, 21 ... Operation part, 21a ... Transmission / reception switching Switch 21b... Mode changeover switch 23 23 Communication I / F 24 Communication device 25 Transmission / reception circuit 26 CPU (detection means, setting means, communication state setting means)

Claims (2)

Imaging means for imaging a subject and outputting image data, image data encoding means for encoding image data, and recording / reproduction for recording / reproducing the encoded image data on a storage medium provided in the camera body In a digital electronic still camera provided with a communication interface means for performing serial communication with an external device capable of serial communication,
Detection means for detecting whether or not the external device that is the communication target is operable, and a state in which the communication interface means can communicate when it is detected that the detection means is operable And a setting means for setting the camera from a recording mode or a playback mode to a communicable state .   A mode changeover switch for switching a recording or reproduction setting mode of the recording / reproducing means, and the communication interface means is set to a receivable mode when the recording mode of the mode changeover switch is set, and the communication interface means when the reproduction mode of the changeover switch is set. 2. The digital electronic still camera according to claim 1, further comprising communication state setting means for setting the camera to a transmittable mode.

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