JPH0846843A - Camera device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of a camera device and to easily obtain a desired image. CONSTITUTION:The desired one of those image information which are continuously obtained by a camera device 100 is stored in a frame memory 4 together with the image that is outputted when a shutter switch 7 of the device 100 is operated. Then the same image information are outputted as long as the switch 7 is continuously pushed. Thus the picture quality can be controlled by the volumes 8 and 9 which are used for control of the contrast, brightness, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera device used as an image input device of an external device having an image editing function such as a word processor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a system for inputting an image taken by a video camera to a word processor by using a video camera and an adapter device for A / D converting an analog video signal from the video camera.

However, since the system is large-scale and the video camera is a commercially available one, it is very inconvenient.

The present inventor has newly developed a convenient camera device for a word processor, in which a camera and an adapter are integrated. This camera device is capable of outputting images taken at predetermined intervals to a word processor, and the development of this camera device has a problem to be solved as described later.

[0005]

The camera device has a function of digitizing and binarizing image information captured by the camera unit, storing the information, and a function of transmitting the stored information to the outside (word processor). There is. The image input to the word processor is displayed on its display. The photographer checks the displayed image to see if it is an ideal image, and if the result is not good, the camera device further causes the camera device to continue shooting and transmission.

Here, when the composition of the photographed image is good, but the image quality (contrast or bright) is not good, the corresponding adjustment volume provided in the camera device is adjusted. As a result, it has been found that there is a problem in that the camera device may move and the good composition may shift, which makes adjustment difficult.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to improve the shooting operability of a camera device and to easily obtain a desired image.

[0008]

The camera device of the present invention comprises:
A lens, an image sensor, and a control circuit for controlling the image sensor; a photographing means for photographing at a predetermined interval; and a storage means for storing photographing information obtained by the photographing means,
In a camera device having means for transmitting the information obtained by the photographing means to the outside and means for transmitting the information stored by the storing means to the outside, means for transmitting the information obtained by the photographing means to the outside Is a camera device characterized in that the same information is transmitted to the outside by operating a switch provided in the camera device, and new information is sequentially transmitted again to the outside by means of releasing the switch operation. is there.

[0009]

The camera device of the present invention outputs ideal information among image information continuously obtained from the camera device when the shutter switch is pressed by operating the shutter switch provided in the camera device. The stored image is stored in the storage means, and the same image information is output from the camera device while the shutter switch is pressed, so that the image quality can be adjusted by the adjustment volume such as contrast and brightness. I am trying.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 10 is an external view of the camera device 100 of the present invention. FIG. 10A is a left side view, FIG. 10B is a front view, and FIG. 10C is a right side view. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a usage state of the camera apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 4A shows a state in which the camera apparatus 100 is used without being connected to the word processor 200, and FIG. 4B shows the camera apparatus 100 in the word processor 200. FIG. 3 is a use state diagram showing a state in which the connection is used by a connection cable 105 and the connection cable 105.

The camera device 100 includes a lens 110 and a small and lightweight camera 1a such as a CCD image sensor having a focus adjusting function (111 is an adjusting focus knob) of the lens 110, and a shutter switch (SW) for photographing. A frame memory that stores 7 and 8 images, a remaining number display unit 103 that displays the number of possible shots (remaining number), and a clear SW1 that clears the memory.
04, an internal power supply, and a scanner I / F connector (camera output terminal) 1 for communicating with the word processor 200.
0, VR (volume) 8 for contrast adjustment,
VR9 for brightness (brightness) adjustment, shooting mode switch SW106 for switching the binarization conversion mode depending on whether the subject is a character or an image (person, etc.), and a camera power supply that is an ON / OFF switch for the internal power supply of the camera device. It is provided with a switch 107, a battery monitor display unit 108 when the power is turned on, and a battery lid that covers a storage place of a battery, which is an internal power supply, and is made in a palm size excellent in portability.

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a camera device 100 of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera 1a including a lens, an image pickup device (for example, a CCD image sensor), and a control circuit for controlling the image pickup device, and an A / D for converting an analog video signal into a digital signal. The camera unit has a built-in signal processing unit 1b including a conversion circuit. Information captured by the camera 1a is output as a video by a CCD image sensor, and the signal control unit 1b performs analog signal processing such as automatic gain control. / D conversion 8
Output digital data of bit.

Reference numeral 2 is a circuit for binarizing the video information digitized by A / D conversion, and data for immediately after A / D conversion or data after binarization processing is stored in the frame memory of 4. Processing of a dedicated IC (dedicated gate array) having a dedicated interface for transmitting binary information to the external interface and the external device (word processor 200) and an interface function with the 3 CPUs performing internal control. It is a department. Then, this binarization processing unit 2
After the preprocessing of the input image data (offset adjustment, gain adjustment, contour enhancement, etc.) is performed,
Perform value conversion processing.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an external device (word processor 200).
6 is an input terminal for detecting whether or not power is being supplied from the internal battery 11, and is also an input terminal for detecting whether or not power can be supplied by the internal battery 11.

Reference numeral 7 designates a camera device as a word processor 200.
This is a shutter SW for instructing the capture of imaging information when it is used independently (circuit drive by the internal battery 11) after being separated from.

Reference numerals 8 and 9 respectively denote a contrast and brightness adjusting volume, and a gain and an offset are adjusted by writing a value proportional to the set voltage of the volume from the CPU to the dedicated IC 2. Therefore, the operation information by the operator is read by the microcomputer 3, and the information on the image quality adjustment is transferred to the gate array by 8-bit parallel data.

Reference numeral 10 designates a connector conforming to the scanner I / F. The portable word processor 200 has a dedicated cable 1
You can connect with 05. Then, the binarized image data from the binarization processing unit 2 is serially transferred to an external device such as a word processor through the scanner I / F.

The inputs of the input terminals 5 and 6 and the adjusting potentiometers 8 and 9 are analog inputs, and although not shown, they have an A / D conversion circuit inside, and the CPU inputs analog voltage inputs. Converted to a digital value that can be handled. [When using the camera device alone] Next, the camera device 1
00 is a connection cable 105 for connecting to the word processor 200
The case of removing the item and using it alone will be described.

By loading the battery 11 inside the camera device 100, the photographing operation by the internal battery 11 is possible, and the camera device 100 can be handled like a normal still camera. That is, when the shutter SW7 attached to the camera device 100 is pressed, the image information of each frame taken at the time of pressing is stored in the frame memory 4 inside the device as binarized information.

As a result, in the still camera, the memory capacity of the frame memory 4 of the camera apparatus 100 is a binary unit of one frame so that one film is consumed each time the shutter SW is pressed once. Will decrease. The number of images that can be taken is proportional to the size of the frame memory, and the camera device of this embodiment can take up to eight images.

The function corresponding to the diaphragm of the still camera is realized by the contrast volume 8 and the bright volume 9 attached to the camera body.

The camera device 100 includes a frame memory 4
As a means for transmitting the image information stored in the external device (word processor 200) to the external device (word processor 200), the portable word processor has a transmitting means compliant with the scanner I / F. It is possible to output to.

Next, the internal processing operation will be described. First, the CPU 3 first checks whether power is supplied from the internal battery 11 or from the external power supplied from the word processor 200 via the scanner I / F connector 10. This detection is performed by checking the input voltage of the detection input terminals 5 and 6 of the CPU 3.

When it is determined that the driving is performed by the internal battery 11, the CPU 3 waits for the input of the shutter SW7, and the values of the contrast VR8 and the bright VR9 are written in the binarization processing unit 2 at the moment when the shutter is pressed. From
The dedicated IC 2 is instructed to capture (record) an image. The binarization processing unit 2 obtains A obtained from the camera unit 1 in frame units.
The image information immediately after the / D conversion is temporarily stored in the frame memory 4.

Thereafter, while the image information after A / D conversion is sequentially read from the frame memory 4 and binarized in accordance with the contrast setting and the bright setting, the binarization processing unit 2 again sets the storage location of the frame memory 4 to the above-mentioned storage location. Stores binary information in different locations.

In this case, since a plurality of images can be taken, the CPU
Reference numeral 3 designates to the binarization processing unit 2 which image in the frame memory 4 the photographing information is to be stored.

The above processing can be performed until the frame memory 4 is full.

When the stored image information is transmitted to the word processor main body 200 using the scanner I / F 10 and the connection cable 105 for editing in the word processor, the CPU 3 instructs the binarization processing unit 2 to Instruct to send (play) the image. Binarization processing unit 2 that received the instruction
Is sequentially fetched from the area of the frame memory 4 in which the binary image information is stored and sent to the word processor main body via the scanner I / F. [When the camera device is used by connecting it to the scanner I / F of the main body of the word processor] By connecting the external device having the scanner interface 10 typified by the portable word processor and the camera device 100 by cable, the photographing information is continuously transmitted. It can be sent to an external device.

In this case, since power is supplied from an external device, continuous shooting is possible until the power supply is stopped.

The brightness adjustment is the same as the use of the camera device alone.

The following internal processing operation will be described. First, the CPU 3 first checks whether power is being supplied from the internal battery 3 or external power supplied from the word processor 200 via the scanner I / F connector 10, so that the input terminal 5 Check the input voltage of 6 and 6. If it can be judged that the voltage (usually 12V) from the external power supply input to the input terminal 5 is normal,
The CPU 3 instructs the binarization processing unit 2 to capture an image. In this way, if the voltage of the external power supply is normal, the external power supply has priority even if the internal battery voltage is normal.

In this case, the image is not captured based on the operation of the shutter SW7, the CPU 3 continuously issues a photographing instruction at a predetermined interval, and the binarization processing unit 2 takes a photographing screen at the time of receiving the instruction. Take in.

The image capturing method is almost the same as that of the camera device 100 alone, except that the output data is output to the scanner I / F, and the image can be captured without being restricted by the number of images in the frame memory 4. become.

Therefore, although the images are continuously output, the CPU 3 displays them while giving an instruction each time, and the binarization processing unit 2 continues to send the photographing information according to the instruction of the CPU 3.

As described above, when the camera device is connected to the word processor 200 and used, the shutter SW is used.
Although continuous shooting is performed without pressing 7, the operation when the shutter SW 7 is pressed in the state of continuous shooting will be described below.

In this case, the image information output from the camera device 100 via the scanner I / F 10 includes the shutter S
The image transmitted immediately before pressing W7 is continuously fed while the shutter SW7 is being pressed. This is because the CPU 3 uses the shutter S
This can be realized by instructing the binarization processing unit 2 to stop photographing and permitting only output when it is detected that W7 has been pressed. That is, since the image information immediately after A / D conversion from the camera unit 1 is always stored in the frame memory, the data after A / D conversion may not be rewritten if an instruction to stop shooting is given. Absent.

Therefore, while the shutter SW7 is being pressed, the process of transmitting the image pickup information via the scanner I / F while repeating binarization is repeated.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the photographing information transmission processing of the camera device of the present invention.

In the figure, in S (step) 21, the values of the contrast VR8, the bright VR9 and the input information of the shutter SW7 are read into the input section of the CPU3. The contrast VR value is converted into gain data, and the bright VR value is converted into offset data. Shutter SW3 in S22
When is on, the data input pause flag is set. When it is off, the data input suspension flag is reset.

In S25, the gain, offset data, data input temporary stop flag and the like previously set in the CPU 3 are transferred to the binarization processing unit 2, and in S26 the binarization processing unit 2
The binarization processing is performed by.

At this time, if the data input temporary stop flag is set, the same digital information as the previous time will be binarized. On the other hand, if the data input suspension flag is reset, the latest digital information fetched from the signal controller is binarized.

The image data binarized in S27 is transferred to an external device such as a word processor. The transferred image data is input to the word processor and sequentially displayed on a display unit such as an LCD display, so that the image captured by the camera device 100 can be confirmed.

By performing such processing, if the shutter SW7 is pressed when the desired image information is displayed, the contrast VR8 and the brightness of the same image information will be maintained for the same image information while the shutter SW7 is continuously pressed. By changing the VR 9 and performing the binarization process, the image quality can be adjusted while being displayed on the word processor.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the shutter SW7 and the photographed image information output to the word processor 200. When the shutter SW7 is off, it is shown in the L state, and when it is turned on, it is shown in the H state.

FIG. 3A shows a state in which the photographing information is sequentially updated when the shutter SW 7 is off. The photographing information is photographed by the camera unit 1 at predetermined intervals and is output to the word processor 200. Further, FIG. 3B shows a state in which the update of the shooting information is temporarily stopped while the shutter SW7 is on, and the shooting information is updated again when the shutter SW7 is off. While the shutter SW7 is on, the camera unit 1
The shooting is stopped, and shooting information 2 is output three times in a row. [Case of Saving Information in Frame Memory 4] Next, a case of erasing the saved information in the frame memory 4 of the camera device 100 will be described. In this case, the transmission cannot be cleared unless the transmission means (I / F 10) is used to transmit to an external connection device such as a word processor.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of transmitting image data from the camera device 100 to the word processor 200.

In the figure, a device for receiving the transmission information in S51,
For example, it is checked whether or not the power source of a word processor or the like having a receivable interface is turned on, and whether or not the receiving side is in a receivable state. Here, if the receiving side cannot receive, the transmitting process is forcibly ended, and if the receiving side is in the receivable state, the transmitting process starts.
Next, in S52, the maximum storable number N that can be stored in the frame memory 4 is compared with the current storable number, and if the storable number is equal to N (no storage information exists), the current shooting information is transmitted. If the number of storable sheets is smaller than N (save information exists), S53 is performed.
The process of transmitting the storage information of is performed.

In S54, it is checked whether or not there is untransmitted stored information. If all the transmitted information has been transmitted, the transmitted flag is set in S55, and the transmission process is terminated. If the transmission information remains, the process returns to S53.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process for deleting the stored information in the frame memory 4.

In the figure, in S61, it is determined whether or not the erase SW 104 has been pressed. If not, the process ends. If the delete SW 104 has been pressed, it is determined in S62 whether or not the flag indicating that transmission has been completed is set. If the flag is set, a process of deleting the stored information in the frame memory 4 is executed in S63. . In this erasure, both the storage information itself and the information indicating the number of stored sheets may be cleared, or only the information indicating the number of stored sheets may be cleared.

FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the case where the receiving side (for example, the word processor 200) is receivable and the image information stored in the frame memory 4 from the camera device 100 (see FIG. 7A) and the clearing of the frame memory 4. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship (see FIG. 7B) after performing processing, and as shown in the figure, the same storage information is transmitted until clear processing is performed every time reception is possible, and after clear processing is performed, If the receiving side is ready to receive, the current shooting information is sent. [Whether the digital image information transmitted from the camera device 100 to the word processor 200 has been stored in the frame memory 4 of the camera device 100 or is currently being photographed by the camera device 100 is determined by a special hardware. And processing without using software]
Next, whether the digital image information transmitted from the camera device 100 to the word processor 200 has been stored in the frame memory 4 of the camera device 100 or is currently being photographed by the camera device 100 is specially determined. A process of making a decision without using various hardware and software will be described.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the transmission time (H level state) and the non-transmission time (L level state) of the image information stored in the frame memory 4.

When the storage information continues to be transmitted, the non-transmission time T1 between the Rth and the R + 1th is set to be shorter than the nontransmission time T3 after transmitting the Nth transmission information, which is the last transmission information. As a result, the device (word processor) that receives this can determine that the received information up to now is the stored information.

After the lapse of T3, a process of retransmitting the stored information, a process of transmitting the photographing information at the present time, or a process of no transmission (waiting for transmission) may be performed again as described below.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relationship between the transmission information when transmitting the current photographing information from the camera device and the non-transmission information indicated by T2. In this case, since the camera device 100 continuously transmits the current shooting information while the receiving device can receive the information, the receiving device can make a determination by the continuous T2.

Here, T1 and T2 may or may not be equal, but in the relationship with T3, T1 <T3 and T3
It is necessary to satisfy 2 <T3.

As another embodiment, the camera device 100
The number of images transmitted from the predetermined number (the camera device 100
(When the number of shots is equal to the number of shots when used alone), the word processor 200 on the receiving side determines that the information stored in the camera device 100 has been sent,
On the other hand, when the image information is repeatedly transmitted even when the number of sheets exceeds the predetermined number, the word processor 200 on the receiving side
Can determine that the image information captured by the camera device 100 at the present time has been sent.

[0060]

As described above, according to the camera device of the present invention, the operability of photographing by the camera device is improved,
The target image can be easily obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block configuration diagram of a camera device 100 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of shooting information transmission processing of the camera device of the present invention.

3 is a diagram showing a relationship between shutter SW7 and captured image information output to a word processor 200. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a usage state of the camera device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a camera device 100 to a word processor 200.
6 is a flowchart of an image data transmission processing operation for the image data.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process for erasing stored information in the frame memory 4.

FIG. 7 shows a relationship between a receiving side (for example, a word processor 200) when receiving and image information stored in the frame memory 4 from the camera device 100 (see FIG. 7A) and clear processing of the frame memory 4. It is the figure which showed the relationship after performing (refer FIG. 7B).

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between a transmission time (H level state) and a non-transmission time (L level state) of image information stored in the frame memory 4.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between transmission information and non-transmission information indicated by T2 when the camera apparatus transmits the current shooting information.

FIG. 10 is an external view of the camera device 100 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Camera Section 2 Binarization Processing Section 3 CPU 4 Frame Memory 5 Input Terminal 6 Input Terminal 7 Shutter SW 8 Contrast VR 9 Bright VR 10 I / F 11 Internal Power Supply

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Mikida 2-5-5 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photographing means including a lens, an image pickup device, and a control circuit for controlling the image pickup device, for photographing at predetermined intervals, a storage means for storing photographing information obtained by the photographing means, and the photographing operation. In a camera device having means for transmitting the information obtained by the means to the outside, and means for transmitting the information stored by the storage means to the outside, the means for transmitting the information obtained by the photographing means to the outside, A camera device, wherein the same information is transmitted to the outside by operating a switch provided in the camera device, and new information is sequentially transmitted again to the outside by means of releasing the switch operation. 2. A photographing means including a lens, an image pickup element, and a control circuit for controlling the image pickup element, for photographing at predetermined intervals, and means for digitizing photographing information obtained by the photographing means by A / D conversion. A means for binarizing the digital information, a storage means for storing the digital information and the binarized information, and a means for transmitting the digital information or the binarized information obtained by the photographing means to the outside. In a camera device having means for transmitting digital information or binarized information stored by the storage means to the outside, and control means for controlling each of the means, the digital information or 2 obtained by the photographing means The means for transmitting the binarized information to the outside changes the angles of the lens and the image pickup element, and new digital information or binarized information is sequentially sent to the outside each time the subject is changed. When transmitted, the same digital information is transmitted to the outside by operating the shutter switch provided in the camera device, and new digital information is sequentially transmitted again to the outside by means of releasing the shutter switch operation. A camera device that features things. 3. Image quality of binarized information by operating contrast, bright VR, etc. in a means for transmitting the same digital information to the outside by operating a shutter switch provided in the camera device. The camera device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: