JPH06133081A - Electronic still camera with portable telephone function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve instantaneity by loading a portable telephone function to an electronic still camera and constituting the camera to be capable of immediately transmitting a taken picture to a large storage medium at another place through the use of a telehone line and to miniaturize the whole camera by making a display for confirming the taken picture attachable and detachable. CONSTITUTION:At the time of half-pushing a release button 12, power source is supplied to a camera part and a control circuit 25 controls for photographing. A subject is displayed on the display 8 through a lens 1, image pickup element 2, a picture processing circuit 4 and a driver 7. When a composition is decided and the release button 12 is pushed, picture data is recorded in an internal memory 26 and at the same time, a picture line ensuring means 24 instructs a control circuit 28 of the portable telephone set to call a previously-inputted telephone number to connect the line. When the line is connected, picture data of the internal memory 26 is read out. The control circuit 28 sends the piece of picture data to the line through a modulating circuit 29 and a transmission circuit 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic still camera equipped with a mobile phone for transmitting and receiving call signals by radio.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, electronic still cameras have been digitized for reasons such as circuit stability. Similarly, in the external storage medium, a memory card is used because there is no image deterioration. FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a conventional digital electronic still camera. Light from a subject (not shown) is imaged on the image sensor 2 by the lens 1. The output of the image sensor 2 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 3, and a predetermined process is performed by the image processing circuit 4. The image data of the image processing circuit 4 is compressed and encoded. The encoded image data is expanded by the decoding circuit 6 and displayed on the display 8 by the driver 7. When the release button 12 is pressed, the pressing information is transmitted to the control circuit 11, and the encoded image data is stored in the memory card 10. The internal memory 9 is used, for example, when the capacity of the memory card 10 is insufficient, to temporarily store the captured image and to store the captured image in the replaced memory card having a free space.

[0003]

Although the memory card is used as an external storage medium as described above, there is a problem in that the number of images that can be stored in the memory card is small and the cost is still high. Further, in recent years, a liquid crystal display is often used for a finder unit for observing a photographing target such as a camera and a video and for confirming a photographed image from the viewpoint of viewability. However, the use of a liquid crystal display has a drawback that the size of the entire camera becomes large.

Therefore, the inventor of the present invention considered as a means for solving the above-mentioned drawbacks to equip a mobile phone function so as to enable photographing even without mounting a memory card.
FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a conventional mobile phone.
When a dialing operation is performed and the telephone number of the other party is input by the dial operation unit 14, the control circuit 17 sends the input telephone number to the transmission circuit 21 through the modulation circuit 18. The transmission circuit 21 superimposes it on the carrier wave of the carrier wave synthesizer 20 and transmits it via the duplexer 22 and the antenna 23. When there is a response that the other party is connected, the call becomes possible. The voice input from the microphone 15 is subjected to predetermined modulation processing by the modulation circuit 18, and is sent to the other party via the transmission circuit 21. On the other hand, the radio wave from the other party is received by the receiving circuit 19 via the antenna 23 and the duplexer 22. The carrier wave component is removed in the receiving circuit 19, and demodulated by the demodulating circuit 16. The demodulated audio signal is reproduced by the speaker 13.

The present invention is based on the above consideration. An object of the present invention is to mount a mobile phone function on an electronic still camera and immediately transfer a photographed image to a large-sized storage medium in another place by using a telephone line. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera with a mobile phone function, which is configured to be capable of transmission to improve immediacy and follow the small number of stored memory cards. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera with a mobile phone function, in which the display of the electronic still camera for observing an object to be photographed and confirming a photographed image is detachable so as to downsize the entire camera. To do.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic still camera with a mobile phone function according to the present invention is provided with an image input means, an image processing means, an image encoding means and an image storage, which are composed of a lens, an image pickup device and the like. A digital electronic still camera having means is equipped with a mobile phone function unit for wirelessly transmitting and receiving a telephone call signal, and the output of the internal memory of the image storage means is connected to the input of the modulation circuit of the mobile phone function unit. When the release button is pressed, the electronic still camera turns on the power of the camera unit, inputs an image from the image input unit, stores the image in the internal memory of the image storage unit, and then controls the power off of the camera unit. The mobile phone function unit is provided with a control means for performing a call at the same time as the release button is pressed to send out and call a preset partner telephone number. An image line securing unit is provided which operates the control unit and controls to read out the image data stored in the internal memory when the line is connected. When the line is connected by the control, the image data from the internal memory is sent to the connected line, and the line is controlled so as to be cut off when the sending is completed. It is configured to include a control unit that controls connection. Furthermore, in order to achieve another object, the present invention comprises a driver section and a display section, has a terminal mountable on the memory card mounting section of the image storage means, and takes in external light from the back surface of the display section. A memory card type display having the above is prepared, and the display is connected to the memory card mounting portion to be used as a finder and a reproduction screen.

[0007]

With the above arrangement, the power is turned on at the same time when the release button is pressed, the image of the subject is stored in the internal memory, and the line for image transmission is secured. Immediately after the line is secured. The image is transmitted, and the line is cut off when the transmission is completed. Therefore, the photographer can take a photograph without carrying an expensive and small-capacity external storage medium such as a memory card, and the above-mentioned problem is solved. Also, by making the display mountable, it is possible to realize a miniaturization of the electronic still camera that tends to be large due to the fact that it has a mobile phone function.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic still camera with a mobile phone function according to the present invention. In the figure,
A portion surrounded by a dotted line is a circuit portion of the digital electronic still camera shown in FIG. 10, and a portion B is a functional portion corresponding to the circuit portion of the mobile phone shown in FIG. 11, respectively. It is the part that performs the same function. The control circuit 25 of the digital electronic still camera has a release button 1
After the power of the camera unit is turned on by the half depression of 2, the control associated with the photographing operation is performed by the full depression. When the image line securing means 24 obtains the pressing information of the release button 12, the control circuit 2 of the mobile phone function unit provides the control information for making the mobile phone call, dial transmission, and line connection operation.
Send to 8. When the line connection information is obtained from the demodulation circuit 27, the internal memory 2 of the digital electronic still camera is obtained.
6 is instructed to read the image data. The output terminal of the read image data of the internal memory 26 is connected to the input terminal of the modulation circuit 29 of the mobile phone function section.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining an example of the external appearance of an electronic still camera with a mobile phone function according to the present invention.
(A) is an external perspective view of the camera, and (b) shows a state in which the user holds the camera. Body 2
5 has a speaker 13 on the upper front and a microphone 15 on the lower front.
Are arranged respectively, and the antenna 23 and the lens 1 are provided on the upper surface. Display 8 on the front center
However, the release button 12 is arranged on the lower side and the dial 14 is arranged on the lower side. When shooting
As shown in (a), when the user holds the camera with the left hand, points the lens at a subject (not shown), and presses the release button 12 halfway with the right hand, the camera unit is powered on and a subject image is displayed on the display 8. . The composition is determined while looking at the display 8, and the release button 12 is pressed down for photographing and transmitting the photographed image. When making a call, in the state of (a), the call can be made by the speaker 13 and the microphone 15 by pressing the call button of the dial operation unit 14 and inputting the other party's telephone number with the push button.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation sequence of the electronic still camera with a portable telephone function according to the present invention. When the release button 12 is pressed halfway down and the power of the camera unit is turned on (step “hereinafter, referred to as ST” 1, 2), the control circuit 25 causes the lens 1 to detect the subject imaged on the image sensor 2. Image to A / D converter 3
Is converted into a digital signal by the AGC,
After performing image processing such as γ correction, the image is displayed on the display 8 via the driver 7 (ST3, 4). When the composition is determined and the release button 12 is pressed all the way down (ST5), it is encoded by the encoding circuit 5 and recorded in the internal memory 26 (ST).
6) The power of the camera unit is turned off, leaving the minimum necessary circuits such as the internal memory 26 (ST7). At the same time as the above operation, the control circuit 25 determines whether or not the batch transfer mode is set (ST8), and when not set to the batch transfer mode, the control circuit 25 instructs the image line securing means 24 to control the mobile phone function unit. 28 to make a call (ST
9). Here, the batch transfer mode is a mode in which the photographer shoots a predetermined number of images, records them in the built-in memory, and then collectively transfers them, and is a mode that can be preset by the photographer by a setting switch (not shown).

On the other hand, when the batch transfer mode is set, the free capacity of the memory card (if mounted) 10 and the internal memory 26 is checked (ST1).
4). Then, it is determined whether or not the available capacity is n (which can be changed by a setting switch (not shown)) or less (ST15). If there are more than n sheets, the transmission is not performed and the process ends. If the number is less than n, the operation returns to ST9. The control circuit 28 uses the dial operation unit 14 in advance.
The destination telephone number input by the push button is read from the internal circuit built-in memory, sent out through the modulation circuit 29 and the transmission circuit 21 (ST10), and it is monitored whether the line is connected (ST11). . Then, when a signal indicating that the other party responds is returned from the line, the signal is received by the receiving circuit 19 and demodulated by the demodulation circuit 27, and the line connection information is obtained by the control circuit 28 and the image line securing means 24.
To enter. The image line securing means 24 reads the image data from the internal memory 26 by receiving the line connection information. The read image data is supplied to the modulation circuit 2
The signal is modulated at 9, and the carrier wave is superposed at the transmission circuit 21 and transmitted from the antenna 23 (ST12). When the transmission is completed, the control circuit 28 cuts off the line and turns off the power source power, leaving the minimum circuit necessary for the incoming call waiting state (ST.
13).

When the signal indicating that the other party has responded is not returned from the line and the line cannot be secured, it is judged whether or not the other party is busy (including the case where no response is made) (ST
16) If so, the fact is displayed by a lamp or the like (ST17). When it is determined that the other party is not busy, the fact that the other party is in a position where radio waves cannot be transmitted / received is displayed by a lamp or the like (ST18). Since no line connection is made in any of the above cases, the control circuit 28 next determines via the control circuit 25 whether or not the memory card 10 is attached (ST19). As a result of the determination, when the memory card 10 is not attached, the fact is notified to the photographer by a display or voice (ST20). When the photographer inserts the memory card 10 according to the warning (ST21), or when the memory card 10 is installed from the beginning, the image data recorded in the internal memory 26 is transferred to the memory card 10 (ST22). Then, it is checked whether or not the retry mode is set (ST2
3). If the retry mode is not set, the operation for transmission ends at that point. If the retry mode is set, the control circuit 28 activates the timer built in its own circuit and turns off the power supply to other circuit parts (ST2).
4).

When the timer elapses a predetermined time,
Turn on the power to the other circuits and make another call to read the destination telephone number from the built-in memory. Then, the read telephone number is sent to the line through the modulation circuit 29 and the transmission circuit 21 (ST25). As a result of judging whether the line can be secured (ST26), if the line can be connected, the image data is transferred from the memory card 10 to the internal memory 26 (ST).
27), and further sends the image data from the internal memory 26 to the line via the modulation circuit 29 and the transmission circuit 21 (ST1
2) Then, the transmission ends (ST13). If the line is not connected despite the calling again, the operation is returned to ST24, the built-in timer is started again, and the operation of calling after a predetermined time is repeated.

The flow chart of FIG. 3 is based on the premise that a power switch is provided separately from the release button 12, and the mobile phone functional unit is in a standby state by turning on the power switch. is there. Further, although the display section for the telephone function section is not specially provided, it is also possible to serve as the display 8 as well. As with the batch transfer mode, the retry mode can be selected by operating a setting switch (not shown). The retry mode is a mode in which the time until the next call is made is extended, for example, if the connection is not made in the first call, for example, 3 minutes later, and if it is not connected, 5 minutes later. Is. Further, although the image data is transmitted through the line by the above operation sequence, it is needless to say that the image can be recorded in the memory card from the beginning of photographing without transmitting.

In addition to transmitting image data, it is possible to receive image data from other places by providing a decoder or the like. Further, when it is desired to refer to the image data transmitted previously, it is also possible to control the other storage medium through the transmission path and transmit the image data from the recording medium if the storage medium can be line-controlled. Is. By making it possible to use two lines, it is possible to shoot and transmit images while talking. Further, by digitizing the line, it becomes possible to transmit voice information and image information by packet communication on one line. When shooting an image, there are cases where binary color data such as character information is used and only black and white gradation is sufficient. In each case, each circuit is configured so that shooting, image processing, and encoding can be performed. It is also possible. When a self-timer is used as another function, the remaining time until shooting is notified by voice, and data such as a shooting location and environment is added and transmitted by receiving data from a position information acquisition unit such as GPS. It is also possible to provide a circuit portion to do so.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining another example of the external appearance of the electronic still camera with a portable telephone function according to the present invention.
(A) is an external perspective view. The installation positions of the lens, viewfinder and release button are different from the appearance of the camera body in FIG. The lens 30 is provided on the left side surface and has a pop-up format. The finder 32 is provided on the right side surface and similarly has a pop-up format. When the electronic still camera is not used, both the lens 30 and the finder 32 are housed in the main body. The release button 31 is provided below the finder 32 on the right side surface. (B) is a detailed view of the finder 32, in which light is taken in from the external incident section 32a and the backlight of the liquid crystal display 32b is omitted. (C) and (d) show a gripping state when using the electronic still camera, in which the main body portion can be gripped with the left hand and the release button 31 can be pressed with the thumb of the left hand, and the operation can be performed with one hand. With this shape, the bottom of the hand hits the protruding portion of the microphone 15 and the armpits are easily squeezed, and it is easy to fix.

5A and 5B are views showing another embodiment of the electronic still camera with a portable telephone function according to the present invention. FIG. 5A is an external perspective view and FIG. 5B is a view showing a use state. The present embodiment is a small-sized electronic still camera that tends to be large due to the mounting of a mobile phone.
0a (see FIG. 1), a memory card type display 34 can be connected instead of the memory card. (A) shows a state in which the memory card type display 34 is connected to the memory card mounting portion 10a provided on the front portion of the upper surface of the main body, and the mirror plate 41 as an outside light receiving portion is opened. A speaker 50 is arranged above the front surface of the main body, a release button 45 is arranged below the speaker 50, and a dial operation portion 44 is arranged below the speaker. The microphone 46 is pivotally attached to the lowermost end of the front surface of the main body, is unfolded as shown in (a) when in use, and is folded and stored on the dial operation portion 44 and the release button 45 when not in use. In this embodiment, since the image data recorded in the built-in memory cannot be transferred to the memory card when the line is not connected, the memory card type display 34 mounted on the memory card mounting portion 10a is removed to remove the memory card. Will be installed.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram in which only a circuit configuration part different from FIG. 1 is extracted and shown. This circuit is the same as the circuit shown in FIG.
And the driver 7 are omitted, the selection circuit 43 is inserted between the encoding circuit 5 and the memory card mounting portion 10a, and the output of the image processing circuit 4 or the output of the encoding circuit 5 is output according to information from a card type identification pin described later. Is to be selected. The output of the encoding circuit 5 is connected when the memory card is attached, and the output of the image processing circuit 4 is connected when the memory card type display 34 is attached. FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining the structure of the memory card mounting portion of FIG. Memory card mounting part is a pop-up type connector 49
It is stored in the main body when not in use,
At the time of use, a part of the upper surface jumps up and the connector appears. The memory card type display 34 can be inserted at an angle as shown in FIG. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the memory card type display 34 of FIG. The terminals of the memory card connector 40 are connected to the controller 39, and the controller 39 drives and controls the X driver 37 and the Y driver 38. External light enters the back surface of the LCD 36 from the mirror plate 41 through the diffusion panel 35. FIG. 8B is an external perspective view of the memory card type display.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the structure of the memory card type display 34 of FIG. (A) is a figure which shows the development state of the mirror surface plate 41, (b) is a figure which shows the structure of a liquid crystal part. A protection panel 51 is arranged above the LCD 36, and a diffusion panel 35 is arranged below. A card type identification pin 42 is provided at the end of the connection terminal portion as shown in (c). The card type identification pin 42 allows the main body side to recognize that the memory card type display 34 is mounted, and the selection circuit 43 can switch the display. By making the display detachable in this way, it can be made compact and save power, and can be easily replaced if the memory card type display is damaged.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the transmission calling line is secured at the same time as the photographing, and the photographed image data is transmitted, the number of photographed images and the used memory capacity are increased. It is possible to take a picture without worrying about so much, and it becomes unnecessary to carry a memory card as an external storage medium. Therefore, it is not always necessary to carry an expensive memory card with a small number of shots. Since the captured image data is transmitted, and because of its shape, it is possible to shoot as if using a remote controller rather than as a camera. In addition, the camera powers on only when shooting, turns off at the end, and if it is impossible to secure a line, the power is automatically turned off.
Prevents useless power consumption and enables longer use. Furthermore, if the memory card mounting part has a structure in which the memory card type display can be attached / detached instead of the memory card, the memory card type display can be removed when the camera is not in use to realize a compact body, and the display itself. Even in the event of a malfunction, the display can be replaced easily. Since the structure is such that external light is incident from the back of the display, there is also an effect of saving power.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic still camera with a mobile phone function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an external appearance of the electronic still camera with a mobile phone function shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation sequence of the electronic still camera with a mobile phone function according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the external appearance of the electronic still camera with a mobile phone function shown in FIG.

5A and 5B are views showing another embodiment of an electronic still camera with a mobile phone function according to the present invention, in which FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the appearance of a memory card type display mountable on a memory card mounting portion, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a usage state.

FIG. 6 is a circuit configuration diagram of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining mounting of the memory card type display of FIG.

8A is a circuit configuration diagram in the memory card type display of FIG. 5, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view showing its appearance.

9 is a perspective view for explaining a configuration of a connector portion of the memory card type display of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a basic configuration diagram of a conventional electronic still camera.

FIG. 11 is a basic configuration diagram of a conventional mobile phone.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,30,47 Lens 2 Solid-state imaging device 3 A / D converter 4 Image processing circuit 5 Encoding circuit 6 Decoding circuit 7 Driver 8 Display 9,26 Internal memory 10 Memory card 11,25 Control circuit 12, 31, 45 Release button 13,50 Speaker 14,44 Dial operation part 15,46 Microphone 16,27 Demodulation circuit 17,28 Control circuit 18,29 Modulation circuit 19 Reception circuit 20 Carrier wave synthesizer 21 Transmission circuit 22 Duplexer 23,48 Antenna 24 Image line Securing means 32 Finder section 34 Memory card type display 35 Diffusion panel 36 LCD 37 X driver 38 Y driver 39 Controller 40 Memory card connector 41 Mirror plate 42 Card type identification pin 43 Selection circuit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A digital electronic still camera having an image input means including a lens, an image pickup device, etc., an image processing means, an image encoding means and an image storage means, and a mobile telephone function section for wirelessly transmitting and receiving a telephone call signal. Then, the output of the internal memory of the image storage means is connected to the input of the modulation circuit of the mobile phone functional unit, and the electronic still camera turns on the power of the camera unit when the release button is pressed to display the image. An image is input from the input unit and stored in the internal memory of the image storage unit, and a control unit for controlling the power-off of the camera unit is provided, and a call is issued at the same time when the release button is pressed and preset. The control means of the mobile phone function unit is operated so as to send and call the other party's telephone number, and when the line is connected, the image data stored in the internal memory is displayed. An image line securing means for controlling to read out is provided, and when the line is connected under the control of the image line securing means, the mobile phone function section sends the image data from the internal memory to the connected line. However, the electronic still camera with a mobile phone function is provided with a control unit that controls the line to be cut off after the transmission is completed and, if the line is not connected, controls the line connection again after a fixed time. 2. A memory card type display having a driver section and a display section, having a terminal attachable to the memory card mounting section of the image storage means, and having a structure for taking in external light from the back surface of the display section is prepared. 2. The electronic still camera with a mobile phone function according to claim 1, wherein the display is connected to the memory card mounting portion to be used as a finder and a reproduction screen.