JPH10271377A - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability by facilitating image transmission to external device, such as a printer by printing an image at the external printer, when a print starting instruction is applied by forcedly setting any other mode when a cable is mounted at a mounting means in the case of manually operating the mode of image photographing or reproducing display. SOLUTION: A control part 10 is operated in respective photographing, reproducing and printing modes which correspond to signals from switches S1 and S2 at an operating part 14 and a switch S4 at a connecting part 15. When the switch S4 is turned off, namely, when a cable 31 is not mounted at a connector, the setting of switches S1 and S2 is made valid. When the switch S1 is turned on, the photographing mode is set, regardless of whether the switch S2 is turned on or off, and when the switch S1 is turned off and the switch S2 is turned on, the reproduction mode is set. When the cable 31 is mounted on the connector and a printer 30 is connected, the printing mode is set. When a switch S3 is turned on, all the images are read out of a storage part 13, passed through the connecting part 15 and the cable 31, and printed by the printer 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic still camera, and more particularly, to an electronic still camera for transmitting a captured image to an external device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electronic still camera, a photographed image is stored in a flash memory, a memory card, or the like, and the stored image is reproduced and displayed on a display device provided in the camera. Generally, an electronic still camera is not provided with a printing device, and an image is transmitted to an external printing device and printed to store the image.

[0003] Such an electronic still camera has a connector for attaching a cable for connecting the camera and the printing apparatus, and has an operation member such as a dial for switching operation modes of photographing, reproduction and printing. Have.
The user switches the operation mode by manual operation,
When shooting and playback are performed by the camera alone and printing is performed, a cable is attached to the connector to connect the printing apparatus, and the mode is manually switched to the print mode.

In recent years, an image has been transmitted from an electronic still camera to a personal computer, and various processes such as printing, displaying, storing, and synthesizing the image have been performed by the personal computer. When transmitting an image to a personal computer, the user needs to attach a cable to the connector and switch to a mode in which the image is transmitted manually.

[0005]

However, it is troublesome for the user to perform both the operation of attaching the cable and the operation of switching the operation mode in order to transmit an image to an external device such as a printing device or a personal computer. That is. In addition, it is necessary to return to the photographing mode or the reproduction mode again by a manual operation after printing or the like is terminated and the cable is disconnected from the connector. This is also a troublesome operation for the user, and if the user forgets to return the mode, the user may miss a photo opportunity in the next shooting.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera with good operability, which facilitates transmission of an image to an external device such as a printing device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a first mode for photographing and storing an image, and a second mode for displaying the stored image. In an electronic still camera that operates in a third mode of transmitting an image to an external printing device via a detachable cable and printing the image through a detachable cable and switching between the first mode and the second mode by manual operation, Mounting means for mounting, a determining means for determining whether or not the cable is mounted on the mounting means, and a manual operation when the determining means determines that the cable is mounted on the mounting means. Regardless of the selection of the first mode and the second mode,
There is provided setting means for setting to the third mode.

[0008] In this electronic still camera, the user switches between the first mode and the second mode by manual operation to capture or display an image. Even when the mode is set to either the first mode or the second mode, the third mode is forcibly set by the setting means. In this mode, if the user gives an instruction to start printing, the image is printed by an external printing device. After the printing is completed, when the cable is disconnected from the mounting means, the first or the second set before the cable was mounted. Return to mode 2.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention also provides an electronic still camera for storing captured images and transmitting the stored images to an external device via a detachable cable. Mounting means for mounting, a sending means for sending the stored image from the mounting means, a determining means for determining whether or not a cable is mounted on the mounting means, based on a determination result of the determining means, Control means is provided for permitting the transmitting means to transmit the image whenever the cable is mounted, and for prohibiting the transmitting means from transmitting the image whenever the cable is not mounted.

In this configuration, the transmitting operation of the image from the mounting means by the transmitting means is permitted whenever and only when the cable is mounted on the mounting means. Therefore, if a cable is attached, it is possible to transmit an image to an external device at any time, and in a state where the cable is not attached, that is, in a state where it is not connected to the external device, an image is transmitted. Meaningless operation is prohibited.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of an electronic still camera to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an appearance of an electronic still camera 1 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a camera) according to the present embodiment as viewed obliquely from above and rearward. The camera 1 has a photographic lens 21 on the front of the body, a finder 22 on the back, and a color liquid crystal display (LCD) 2
3, a power switch SM and two switches S1, S
2, a release button 24 and a dial 25 on the upper surface, a card insertion slot 26 on the side surface, and a connector 27 for mounting a cable 31 for connecting to an external image printing printer 30 on the other side surface.

The camera 1 forms an image of light from a subject on a light receiving surface of a charge-coupled device (CCD) by a photographing lens 21 and electronically photographs the image by the CCD. The captured image is stored in a memory card inserted through the card insertion slot 26. The release button 24 is provided with a switch S3 (not shown).
Turns on when is pressed.

The camera 1 captures an image and stores the image in a memory card, a playback mode in which the image stored in the memory card is reproduced and displayed on the LCD 23, and a printer 30 which stores the image stored in the memory card. And prints an image on a sheet by the printer 30. The shooting mode and the playback mode are set by switches S1 and S2.
It can be switched manually by the user. The start of shooting in the shooting mode, the change of the displayed image in the reproduction mode, and the start of printing in the print mode are instructed by turning on the switch S3.

The photographing is performed in one of a macro mode suitable for photographing a subject at a short distance, a person mode suitable for ordinary photographing such as portrait photographing, and a sports mode suitable for photographing a fast moving subject. Can be selected, and these can be switched by the dial 25.

The printer 30 is not always connected to the camera 1, but is connected by attaching a cable 31 to the connector 27 by a user during printing. When the cable 31 is attached to the connector 27,
A switch S4 (not shown) which is set to N and turned off when not mounted is provided. This switch S4
ON / OFF switches between the print mode and other shooting modes and playback modes.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the camera 1. The configuration of the camera 1 is roughly divided into a photographing unit 11, a display unit 12, a storage unit 13, an operation unit 14, a connection unit 15, and a control unit 10.
The photographing unit 11 drives the photographing lens 21, a CCD for converting light transmitted through the photographing lens into an electric signal, an amplifier for amplifying an output signal of the CCD, an A / D converter for converting an amplified analog signal to a digital signal, and a CCD. CCD
And a display unit 12 for displaying a reproduced image.
It comprises an LCD driver for driving the CD 23 and the LCD 23.

The storage unit 13 includes a memory card and a card driver for inputting and outputting data to and from the memory card. The operation unit 14 includes a switch S1, a switch S2, and a switch S3 provided on a release button 24. Connection part 1
5 includes a connector 27 for attaching the cable 31 and a switch S4 provided on the connector 27.

The control unit 10 is composed of a microcomputer, and performs image processing and controls each of the above units. Specifically, in the photographing mode, a signal from the photographing unit 11 is processed to generate an image signal, and the image signal is stored in the storage unit 13. The image signal is output to the display unit 12 to display an image. In the print mode, the image signal read from the storage unit 13 is transmitted from the connection unit 15 to the printer 3 via the cable 31.
Transmit to 0.

The control unit 10 is provided with a switch S
An operation mode is determined among a photographing mode, a reproduction mode, and a print mode according to signals from S1, S2 and a switch S4 of the connection unit 15. FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the switches S1, S2 and S4 and the operation modes. When the switch S4 is OFF, that is, when the cable 31 is not attached to the connector 27, the settings of the switches S1 and S2 become valid.

In this case, when both the switches S1 and S2 are OFF, a stop mode is set. At this time, the control unit 10 does not operate each unit of the camera 1. When the switch S1 is ON, the photographing mode is set regardless of whether the switch S2 is ON or OFF. When the switch S1 is OFF and the switch S2 is ON, a reproduction mode is set.

When the switch S4 is ON, that is, when the cable 31 is connected to the connector 27 and the printer 30 is connected to the camera 1, the printing mode is set regardless of ON / OFF of the switches S1 and S2. When the switch S4 returns from ON to OFF, the settings of the switches S1 and S2 become valid again.

FIG. 4 shows the flow of control processing performed by the control unit 10. First, the state of the switches S1 to S4 is detected (step # 5), and it is determined whether or not the switch S4 is ON (# 10). If the switch S4 is ON, the process waits until the switch S3 is turned ON (# 15). When the switch S3 is turned ON, all the images are read from the storage unit 13 and output to the connection unit 15 (# 20). ). The output image is received by the printer 30 via the cable 31 and printed on paper. The process thereafter returns to step # 5.

If the switch S4 is OFF in the determination of # 10, it is determined whether or not the switch S1 is ON (#
25). If the switch S1 is ON, it is further determined whether or not the switch S3 is ON (# 30). If the switch S3 is ON, shooting is performed (# 35). That is, an image signal is generated from the output of the photographing unit 11 and stored in the storage unit 13. After shooting and when switch S3 is OFF
If F, the process returns to step # 5.

If the switch S1 is OFF in the determination of # 25, it is determined whether or not the switch S2 is ON (# 4).
0), if the switch S2 is OFF, the process returns to step # 5. If the switch S2 is ON, the first image is read from the storage unit 13, displayed on the display unit 12, and the image is reproduced (# 45). Next, it is determined whether the switch S3 is ON (# 50). If the switch S3 is turned on within a predetermined time, the next image is read from the storage unit 13 and displayed on the display unit 12, thereby changing the display image (# 5).
5). Then, the process returns to step # 50. If the switch S3 is not turned on within a predetermined time in # 50, step # 5
Return to

After the photographing, reproducing, and printing processes, the control unit 10 again detects the setting status of the switches S1 to S4 in step # 5, and performs the photographing, reproducing, or printing process according to the setting of each switch. Do. Also in this case, first, the setting status of the switch S4 is determined, and the printing process is prioritized over the shooting and playback processes.

As described above, the electronic still camera 1
Then, when the cable 31 is attached to the connector 27, the print mode is always set, and when the cable is not attached to the connector 27, the mode is set to the shooting mode or the reproduction mode according to the manual operation. Therefore, when printing an image, the user does not need to be aware of the operation mode of the camera 1, and the preparation is completed only by connecting the printer 30 to the camera.

Although the present embodiment has been described by taking as an example the case where printing is performed by connecting a printer to an electronic still camera, another external device such as a personal computer is connected to the electronic still camera of the present invention. Not only printing but also other processing such as image display and composition can be performed.
In addition, an image can be stored in a large-capacity storage device of an external device. In that case, the operation mode for transmitting an image is automatically set by simply connecting the cable for connection to the external device to the connector.

[0028]

According to the electronic still camera of the first aspect, the camera can be put into a printable state only by performing the minimum necessary operation of connecting an external printing device to the camera. The number of manual operations by the user is reduced, and printing can be performed easily. In addition, the operability is improved without fear of forgetting to return the operation mode to the state before printing after printing.

According to the electronic still camera of the second aspect, the transmission of images is always permitted when a cable is attached, so that only the camera and an external device are connected, regardless of other setting conditions of the camera. The image can be transmitted to an external device. Moreover, since image transmission is permitted only when the cable is attached, it is ensured that the image is transmitted in a state where it is not connected to an external device, that is, in a state where it is meaningless to transmit the image. Be avoided. Therefore, there is no need to wait for the end of the meaningless transmission operation, and the operability particularly when a large number of images are transmitted is improved. Further, even when the camera is configured to automatically delete stored images after transmission, there is no risk of erasing images that were not transmitted because no external device was connected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of an electronic still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the electronic still camera.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between switch settings and operation modes of the electronic still camera.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of photographing, reproducing, and printing processes of the electronic still camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 electronic still camera 10 control unit (setting unit, sending unit, control unit) 11 imaging unit 12 display unit 13 storage unit 14 operation unit 15 connection unit 21 shooting lens 22 finder 23 LCD 24 release button 25 dial 26 card insertion slot 27 connector (Mounting means) 30 Printer 31 Cable SM Power switch S1 switch S2 switch S3 switch S4 switch (Determination means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yoko Sogabe 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi Inside the Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Katsuyuki Namba 2-3-3 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi No. 13 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first mode for capturing and storing an image,
It operates in a second mode for displaying stored images and a third mode for transmitting and printing stored images to an external printing device via a detachable cable, and the first mode is manually operated. An electronic still camera capable of switching between the first mode and the second mode, wherein: mounting means for mounting the cable; determining means for determining whether the cable is mounted on the mounting means; Setting means for setting the third mode regardless of the selection between the first mode and the second mode by manual operation when the determination means determines that the first mode is mounted on the mounting means. An electronic still camera. 2. An electronic still camera for storing a captured image and transmitting the stored image to an external device via a detachable cable, comprising: mounting means for mounting the cable; Transmitting means for transmitting the image being performed from the mounting means; determining means for determining whether the cable is mounted on the mounting means; and determining whether the cable is mounted on the mounting means based on a determination result of the determining means. Control means for permitting the transmission means to transmit an image whenever the transmission means is in use, and prohibiting the transmission means to transmit the image whenever the cable is not attached. Electronic still camera.