JPH08265496A - Image transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To simply and accurately execute the facsimile(FAX) transmission of an image taken by a video camera or the like by transmitting a FAX signal converted by a signal conversion means to a communication destination selected by a dial part. CONSTITUTION: When an image input start switch 7 is depressed while photographing an object or the like to be transmitted by the video camera 3 or the like, a video signal from the camera 3 is converted into a FAX signal by the signal conversion means 25. The FAX signal converted by the means 25 is transmitted to a FAX equipment 28 to be a communication destination selected by the dial part 5 through a FAX communication MODEM 29 and a telephone line 4. Since a video photographed by the camera 3 can be transmitted to the communicated FAX equipment 28 only by selecting the transmission destination to which data are to be transmitted by the dial part 5, photographing an object or the like to be transmitted by the camera 3 and depressing the switch 7 as transmitting work, the work can be extremely easily executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image transmitting apparatus, and more particularly to an image transmitting apparatus for transmitting an image recorded by a video camera or a digital still camera or an image recorded by a VTR (video tape recorder) to a facsimile apparatus. Image transmitting apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile apparatus has been well known, and generally, a dial section for selecting a communication destination to be transmitted, a transmission start switch for starting transmission, and a reading section for reading a document to be transmitted. It has and. When the transmission start switch is pressed, the facsimile signal read by the reading unit is transmitted to the destination facsimile machine selected by the dial unit via the modem and the telephone line. Conventionally, there is also known a facsimile machine having a receiving section for receiving a polling signal (facsimile transmission request signal) from a telephone line via a modem. In this facsimile machine, when a polling signal is received, a preset document is set. Is read by the reading unit to generate a facsimile signal, and the facsimile signal is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus of the communication destination that has transmitted the polling signal. It is also known that instead of setting the original document in the reading unit in advance, the original document is read by the reading unit in advance and stored in a memory. By the way, conventionally, in the case of transmitting a shape of a three-dimensional object, a large painting, or the like by facsimile, it is generally necessary to draw an illustration on paper and then send it by facsimile, or take a photograph and send it by facsimile. . Alternatively, the above-mentioned three-dimensional object is photographed by a video camera or a digital still camera, the image photographed by the video camera or the like is taken into a personal computer, and further, a facsimile machine of a communication destination is connected to the personal computer via a facsimile transmission modem connected to the personal computer. It is also possible to send.

[0003]

However, it takes time to draw an illustration on paper, and it is difficult to accurately represent it with a natural object such as a painting or cloud, so it is easy and accurate to send them by facsimile. Can not do it. On the other hand, when using a personal computer, it is possible to quickly send a facsimile, but the equipment for that is expensive, and since ordinary people are reluctant to operate the personal computer, even if those devices are set. It may not be usable. Further, since a personal computer generally lacks weather resistance, it is difficult to use it outdoors. Further, according to the facsimile device having the polling function, it is possible to take out an image photographed by the video camera or the like from a remote place, but the image must be set in the facsimile device in advance, and the image can be obtained from the remote place. It was not possible to take out images taken with a video camera in real time. Further, in the facsimile device having the polling function, an image taken by the video camera or the like can be taken from a remote place by sending a polling signal, but on the contrary, an image cannot be taken unless the polling signal is sent. However, when the situation changed, for example, the window glass was damaged or there was an intruder, the situation could not be immediately known. Therefore, the first aspect of the present invention provides an image transmitting apparatus capable of easily and accurately facsimile transmitting an image captured by a video camera or the like and can be manufactured at a lower cost than a conventional apparatus using a personal computer or the like. It is a thing. The second invention is
It provides an image transmission device that can take out images taken with video cameras etc. easily, quickly, and in real time by using the polling function of facsimile devices installed all over the country. is there. Further, the third invention is such that when the window glass is broken or there is an intruder, and these are detected by an impact sensor or an infrared sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an object, the situation is photographed by a video camera, and There is provided an image transmitting apparatus capable of facsimile transmitting an image of the video camera or the like to a facsimile apparatus of a communication destination selected in advance by a dial section.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, the first invention is a dial section for selecting a communication destination to be transmitted, an image capturing start switch, and a video signal of a video camera or the like when the image capturing start switch is pressed. And a signal converting means for converting the facsimile signal into a facsimile signal, and the facsimile signal converted by the signal converting means can be transmitted to the destination facsimile machine selected by the dial section via a modem and a telephone line. It is a thing. Also the second
The invention is directed to an image capturing start signal generating circuit for generating an image capturing start signal by receiving a polling signal from a telephone line through a modem, and an image capturing start signal when the image capturing start signal is input from the image capturing start signal generating circuit. A signal conversion means for converting a video signal of a video camera or the like into a facsimile signal, and the facsimile signal converted by the signal conversion means is transmitted to a facsimile device of a communication destination which has transmitted the polling signal via a modem and a telephone line. It was made possible. Furthermore the third
The invention is directed to a dial section for selecting a communication destination to be transmitted, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an object or impact, and an image capture start signal generation circuit for generating an image capture start signal by receiving a signal from this sensor. And a signal converting means for converting a video signal of a video camera or the like into a facsimile signal when the image capturing start signal from the image capturing start signal generating circuit is inputted, and the facsimile signal converted by the signal converting means is modem. Also, the data can be transmitted to the facsimile device of the communication destination selected by the dial section via the telephone line.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the image capturing start switch is pressed while the object or the like to be transmitted is photographed by the video camera or the like, the video signal of the video camera at that time is converted into the facsimile signal by the signal converting means. . Then, the facsimile signal converted by the signal converting means is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus of the communication destination selected by the dial section via the modem and the telephone line. Therefore, in order to transmit the image captured by the video camera or the like to the facsimile device of the communication destination, the dial unit selects the communication destination to be transmitted, the object to be transmitted is captured by the video camera, and By pressing the image capture start switch, the operation can be made extremely easy. According to the second aspect of the invention, the image capturing start signal generating circuit generates the image capturing start signal by receiving the polling signal from the telephone line through the modem. Then, the signal conversion means converts the video signal of the video camera when the image capture start signal is input into a facsimile signal, and transmits the facsimile signal to the facsimile device of the communication destination which has transmitted the polling signal via the modem and the telephone line. Like Therefore, if you aim at the object you want to monitor the video camera in advance, such as pets such as dogs and cats left at home, you can easily and easily use the polling function of the facsimile machines installed throughout the country. The current status of the object can be quickly received by facsimile. Furthermore, according to the third aspect of the invention, a necessary sensor is set in advance, for example, an impact sensor that detects damage to the window glass is set, and
By pointing the video camera toward the window, the sensor will detect when the window glass is damaged. Then, the image capture start signal generating circuit receives the signal from the sensor to generate the image capture start signal. Then, the signal converting means converts the video signal of the video camera when the image capture start signal is input into a facsimile signal and transmits it to a facsimile device of a communication destination selected in advance by the dial section via a modem and a telephone line. Come to do. Therefore, by obtaining the image of the video camera with the facsimile machine of the communication destination, the current situation can be promptly obtained without sending a polling signal.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiment. Referring to FIG.
A video camera 3 is connected via a video signal cable 2 such as a coaxial cable, and a telephone line 4 is connected. On the casing 1, a dial section 5 for selecting a communication destination to which an image from the video camera 3 is to be transmitted, a transmission start switch 6 for starting facsimile transmission to the communication destination selected by the dial section 5, An image capture start switch 7 for capturing an image from the video camera 3 into a first memory, which will be described later, and a transmission stop switch 8 for canceling the transmission started by pressing the transmission start switch 6, A polling transmission operation changeover switch 9 for setting whether to automatically respond to a polling signal from the outside is provided. Furthermore, a sensor 1 such as an impact sensor that detects the presence or absence of an impact when a window glass or the like is broken or an infrared sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object outside the casing 1.
0 is provided so that the signal from the sensor 10 can be supplied into the housing 1.

In FIG. 2, a storage means 15 for storing the image of the video camera obtained from the video camera 3 is provided in the housing 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage means 15 is, for example, 512 x 512 dots XY
An XY coordinate generation circuit 16 for sequentially generating coordinate positions,
Coordinates for inputting the signal from the XY coordinate generation circuit 16 and the video signal from the video camera 3 to match the scan position by the video camera 3 with the XY coordinate position from the XY coordinate generation circuit 16. The coincidence detection circuit 17 and the X-Y detected and specified by the coordinate coincidence detection circuit 17.
A / D conversion circuit 1 for converting an analog video signal from the video camera 3 corresponding to the coordinate position into a digital luminance signal
8 and the aforementioned first memory 19 for storing the digital signal converted by the A / D conversion circuit 18. The XY coordinate generation circuit 16 detects that the image capture start switch 7 is pressed and outputs the XY coordinate position to the coordinate coincidence detection circuit 17, and at the same time, outputs the XY coordinate position to the first memory 19. The first memory 19 outputs a signal, and the first memory 19 displays the image captured by the video camera 3 when the image capture start switch 7 is pressed, in the digital brightness corresponding to each point of 512 × 512 dots. It will be stored as a signal. When the XY coordinate generation circuit 16 sends all the coordinate positions of 512 × 512 dots and causes the first memory 19 to capture the image from the video camera 3, the image capture end signal is converted into the signal conversion means 25.
Output. In the illustrated embodiment, the signal converting means 25 is composed of software of the arithmetic unit (MPU) 26, and when the arithmetic unit 26 inputs the image capturing end signal, the signal converting means 25 is stored in the first memory 19. The stored video signal of the video camera is converted into, for example, a GIII standard facsimile signal, and at the same time, the facsimile signal is stored in the second memory 27.

In this state, when the destination facsimile device 28 is selected by the dial unit 5 and the transmission start switch 6 is pressed, the facsimile transmission modem 29 connects the telephone line 4 to the destination facsimile device. Connect to 28. When a transmission request signal is received from the destination facsimile device 28, this signal is input to the arithmetic unit 26. When the arithmetic unit 26 inputs this signal, the facsimile signal stored in the second memory 27 is transferred to the modem. The data is transmitted to the facsimile device 28 of the communication destination via 29 and the telephone line 4. Therefore, when transmitting the image captured by the video camera 3 to the facsimile device 28 of the communication destination, the image capture start switch 7 is pressed toward the subject to be captured by the video camera 3, and the dial unit 5 is used to transmit the facsimile of the communication destination. Device 2
It suffices to select 8 and press the transmission start switch 6, and the image of the video camera 3 can be transmitted extremely easily to the facsimile device 28 of the communication destination. As described above, according to the present invention, an image captured by the video camera 3 can be easily and quickly transmitted by facsimile, and an object such as a painting or a cloud that is difficult to draw as an illustration can be easily transmitted by facsimile. be able to. Further, it can be manufactured at a lower cost as compared with a conventional device using a personal computer, etc., and it is easy to obtain waterproofness, so that it is suitable for outdoor use. If the facsimile device 28 of the communication destination has been selected by the dial unit 5 in advance, the transmission start switch 6 can be operated only by pressing the image capture start switch 7.
The image of the video camera 3 may be transmitted to the facsimile device 28 of the communication destination without pressing.

Next, in the casing 1, an image capture start signal is generated by receiving a polling signal from an external facsimile device 28 via the telephone line 4 and the modem 29 to generate an image capture start signal. Circuit 3
5 is provided. The image capture start signal generation circuit 35
When the polling signal is received, the image capturing start signal is output to the XY coordinate generating circuit 16. In this case, the XY coordinate generating circuit 16 causes the image capturing start switch 7 to be pressed. Even if it does not exist, the XY coordinate position is output to the coordinate coincidence detection circuit 17, and at the same time, the signal is output to the first memory 19. Therefore, the first memory 19 will store the image of the video camera taken by the video camera 3 when the polling signal is received. The subsequent work is the same as the operation when the image capture start switch 7 is pressed,
When the image from the video camera 3 is captured in the first memory 19, the XY coordinate generation circuit 16 outputs an image capture end signal to the arithmetic unit 26, whereby the signal conversion means 2 is generated.
5 converts the video signal of the video camera stored in the first memory 19 into a facsimile signal and stores it in the second memory 27. Thereafter, the control device 26 sends the facsimile signal stored in the second memory 27 to the modem 29.
Then, the polling signal is transmitted via the telephone line 4 to the facsimile device 28 of the communication destination which has transmitted the polling signal. Therefore, if the video camera 3 is aimed at the subject to be photographed, the image photographed by the video camera 3 can be taken out by the facsimile device 28 in real time by utilizing the polling function of the facsimile device 28 at a remote place.

Further, the signal from the sensor 10 such as the impact sensor is input to the arithmetic unit 26, and when the sensor 10 detects that an impact or the like is present, the arithmetic unit 26 is operated. A facsimile transmission request signal that is substantially equal to the polling signal is output to the image capture start signal generation circuit 35. As a result, the image capture start signal generation circuit 35 outputs the image capture start signal to the XY coordinate generation circuit 16 in the same manner as when the polling signal is received, whereby the first memory 19 is output.
In addition, the image of the video camera taken by the video camera 3 when the sensor 10 detects that there is a shock or the like is stored. The subsequent work is the same as the operation when the image capture start switch 7 is pressed, and when the image from the video camera 3 is captured in the first memory 19, the XY coordinate generation circuit 16 operates. An image capture end signal is output to the arithmetic unit 26, whereby the signal conversion means 25 converts the video signal of the video camera stored in the first memory 19 into a facsimile signal and the second memory 27.
Will be remembered. After that, the control unit 26 sends the facsimile signal stored in the second memory 27 through the modem 29 and the telephone line 4 in advance to the dial unit 5.
Then, the data is transmitted to the facsimile device 28 of the communication destination set in. Therefore, when the sensor 10 is set, the facsimile device 28 of the communication destination is set in the dial portion 5 in advance, and the video camera 3 is further aimed at the subject to be photographed, the window glass is damaged. At this time, the image of the situation can be automatically transmitted by facsimile to the facsimile device 28 at a remote place.

Either one or both of the first memory 19 and the second memory 27 may be omitted as required. Further, although the video camera 3 is used in the above embodiment, a VTR may be used instead of the video camera 3 if necessary.
It is possible to use a digital still camera or the like. In particular, since the digital still camera can continuously output the shot images, if a timer for taking an image every one hour is incorporated, the same use as the video camera 3 can be performed.

[0012]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an image taken by a video camera or the like can be easily and accurately transmitted by facsimile, and at a lower cost than a conventional apparatus using a personal computer or the like. The effect that it can be manufactured is obtained. According to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to take out images taken by a video camera or the like easily, quickly, and in real time by using the polling function of facsimile machines installed all over the country. The effect is obtained. Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, by setting the necessary sensor, it is possible to automatically transmit an image showing the situation immediately to a facsimile apparatus of a communication destination when a certain event occurs. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 ... Video camera 4 ... Telephone line 5 ...
Dial section 6 ... Transmission start switch 7 ... Image capture switch 10
... Sensor 15 ... Memory means 19 ... First memory 25
... Signal conversion means 26 ... Arithmetic device 27 ... Second memory 28
... Facsimile machine 29 ... Modem 35 ... Image capture start signal generation circuit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A dial section for selecting a communication destination to be transmitted, an image capturing start switch, and a signal converting means for converting a video signal of a video camera or the like when the image capturing start switch is pressed into a facsimile signal. An image transmitting apparatus comprising: a facsimile signal converted by the signal converting means, and transmitting the facsimile signal to a communication destination facsimile apparatus selected by the dial section via a modem and a telephone line. 2. An image capturing start signal generating circuit for generating an image capturing start signal by receiving a polling signal from a telephone line via a modem, and an image capturing start signal from the image capturing start signal generating circuit. And a signal converting means for converting a video signal of a video camera or the like into a facsimile signal, and the facsimile signal converted by the signal converting means is transmitted to the facsimile apparatus of the communication destination which has transmitted the polling signal via a modem and a telephone line. An image transmitting apparatus for transmitting. 3. A dial section for selecting a communication destination to be transmitted, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an object or impact, and an image capture start signal for generating an image capture start signal by receiving a signal from this sensor. A facsimile signal converted by the signal converting means, which includes a generating circuit and signal converting means for converting a video signal of a video camera or the like into a facsimile signal when the image capturing start signal from the image capturing start signal generating circuit is input. Is transmitted to a facsimile device of a communication destination selected by the dial section via a modem and a telephone line. 4. A first memory for storing a video signal of the video camera is provided, and the signal converting means converts the video signal of the video camera or the like stored in the first memory into a facsimile signal. The image transmitting device according to claim 1. 5. A second memory for storing the facsimile signal converted by the signal converting means is provided, and the facsimile signal stored in the second memory is transmitted via the modem and a telephone line. The image transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.