JPH1065859A - Image input device and voice reproduction device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device able to be connected to a personal computer and used singly. SOLUTION: An image pickup section 14 has a memory to store image data tentatively and the image pickup section is used singly (Fig. a). A connector 16 of the image pickup section 14 and a connector 21 of a memory function section 19 are connected (Fig. c) to store image data stored in the memory of the image pickup section 14 to a memory of the memory function section 19. A PC card interface connector 20 of the memory function section 19 is loaded to a PC card slot of a personal computer (figure b) to allow the image data stored in the memory of the memory function section 19 to be transferred to the personal computer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input / output device of an information processing apparatus, and more particularly, to a small and highly portable image input apparatus and a sound reproducing apparatus suitable for multimedia.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image input device such as a digital still camera records an image and then stores the image data in an FD.
Data was transferred to a personal computer or the like via a medium, a memory card, or the like.

[0003]

For this reason, in the case of reproducing and editing an image, for example, it lacks integration and is inconvenient to use, and the memory function unit and the imaging unit cannot function separately. Further, a sound board or the like used by connecting to a personal computer cannot be used alone, but transfers data from a memory of the personal computer and reproduces the data as voice.

An object of the present invention is to provide a small and highly portable image input device and sound reproducing device which can be connected to a personal computer and can be used alone.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image input device connected to an information processing apparatus for inputting image data, the image input device comprising: An information processing apparatus and a portable memory function unit having a connection terminal for the image pickup unit, each of which functions independently when the image pickup unit and the memory function unit are separated; Is connected, the image data in the imaging unit is transferred to and stored in the memory function unit. When the memory function unit is connected to the information processing device, the stored image data is transferred to the information processing device. And input it.

Further, the image pickup section and the memory function section are connected to each other by connecting means, and function as an integrated device.

Further, there is provided an audio reproducing apparatus connected to the information processing apparatus for outputting audio data, wherein the memory function stores audio data from the information processing apparatus when connected to the information processing apparatus. And an audio reproducing unit that reads out the stored audio data and reproduces and outputs the audio data when disconnected from the information processing apparatus.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

<Embodiment 1> FIG. 1 shows an image input apparatus according to the present invention. The image input device of the present invention includes a portable imaging unit and a portable memory function unit. FIG. 1A shows the imaging unit 14. The imaging unit 14 can be used alone and connected to a memory function unit described later, or can be used by connecting to a memory function unit and a personal computer. The imaging unit 14 is provided with a shooting switch 15, a connector (plug) 16 for connecting to the memory function unit, a cable 17, and a guide 22 for coupling the imaging unit 14 to the memory function unit.

FIG. 1B shows a memory function unit. The memory function section 19 is provided with a guide rail 18 for coupling to the imaging section 14 and a PC card interface connector 20 for mounting the memory function section on a PC card slot of a personal computer. ing.

FIG. 1C shows a configuration in which the image pickup unit 14 and the memory function unit 19 are connected to each other by a guide rail 18 and a guide 22 to be used as an integrated device.
The guide 22 of the imaging unit 14 is mechanically coupled to the guide rail 18 of the memory function unit 19, and the connection connector 16 of the imaging unit 14 is electrically connected to the connection connector (receptacle) 21 of the memory function unit 19. .

FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the image input apparatus of the present invention and the connection relationship thereof. The imaging unit 14 includes a lens 1, an imaging element 2, an AD converter 3, a controller 4, an imaging switch 5, a memory 6, and a battery 10. The memory function unit 19 includes the controller 7, the memory 8, the PC card interface unit 9, and the battery 11. The memory function unit 19 has a function as a memory card by itself.

When the image input apparatus of this embodiment is used only by the image pickup section 14, the photographing switch 5 (the photographing switch 15 of FIG. 1) is pressed in the state of FIG.
Power is supplied to each unit from the battery 10, and the controller 4 temporarily stores image data captured via the lens 1, the imaging element 2, and the AD converter in the memory 6.

Next, the connector (plug) 16 of the imaging unit 14 and the connector (receptacle) 21 of the memory function unit 19 are connected. Thus, the image data stored in the memory 6 of the imaging unit 14 is stored in the memory 8 via the controller 4 of the imaging unit 14 and the controller 7 of the memory function unit 19. The capacity of the memory 8 of the memory function unit 19 is larger than the capacity of the memory 6 of the imaging unit 14. When the memory 6 of the imaging unit 14 is full of image data, the image data in the memory 6 is transferred to the memory 8 of the memory function unit 19 as described above, and then the image data in the memory 6 is deleted. Or overwrite the image data and record new image data.

Next, the PC card interface connector 20 of the memory function unit 19 is connected to the personal computer 1.
2 in the PC card slot 13. This allows
The image data recorded in the memory 8 of the memory function unit 19 is transferred to the personal computer 12 via the PC card interface unit 9.

Further, as shown in FIG.
4 and the memory function unit 19 with the guide rail 18 and the guide 2
By combining the two, it can also be used as an integrated image input device. As described above, the image data captured by the imaging unit 14 is transferred to the memory of the memory function unit 19 by connecting the connector (plug) 16 and the connector (receptacle) 21.

Further, the memory function unit 19 is mounted on the PC card slot 13 of the personal computer 12, and the image pickup unit 14 and the memory function unit 19 are connected with the connectors 16 and 21.
(In this case, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the guide rail 18 and the guide 22 may be used by connecting them together or may be used without being connected) Under the control of the personal computer 12, the controller 4 of the imaging unit 14 and the controller 7 of the memory function unit 19 are controlled to take an image. And
The image data captured and stored in the memory 6 is immediately transferred to the personal computer 12 via the controller 4, the controller 7 of the memory function unit 19, and the PC card interface unit 9.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 3 shows an audio reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a PC card type sound reproducing apparatus, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the sound reproducing apparatus when (a) is viewed from an opposite direction. In FIG. 3, 23 is an external output connector, 29 is a reproduction stop switch, 30 is a rewind switch, 31 is a fast forward switch,
32 is a volume up switch, 33 is a volume down switch, 35 is an LCD for displaying reproduced data information, and 38 is a PC card interface connector.

FIG. 4 shows an internal configuration of the audio reproducing apparatus according to the present invention and a connection relationship with a personal computer. The audio reproducing device includes an external output connector 23 to which an earphone, a speaker, and the like are connected, an amplifier 24, a DA converter 25,
Controller 26, memory 27, PC card interface unit 28, playback stop switch 29, rewind switch 30, fast forward switch 31, volume up switch 32,
It comprises a volume down switch 33, a battery 34, and a reproduction data information display LCD 35.

The audio reproducing apparatus of the present invention functions as follows. That is, the audio reproduction device and the personal computer 36 are connected by attaching the connector 38 of the PC card type audio reproduction device to the PC card slot 37 of the personal computer 36. Thus, the audio data stored in the personal computer 36 is transferred to and stored in the memory 27 of the audio reproducing device via the PC card interface unit 28.

When the audio data is stored in the audio reproducing device as described above, the audio reproducing device is connected to the PC card slot 3.
7, and the audio reproduction device is used alone. That is, by pressing the reproduction switch 29, the controller 26 reads out the audio data from the memory 27,
The audio data is sent to the A converter 25, and the audio signal is output to the external connector 23 via the amplifier 24. Further, by providing identification data such as a title and stereo / monaural in the audio data, the controller 26
The identification data is displayed on the reproduction data display LCD 35.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image input device can be separated into the memory function unit and the imaging unit, or can function as an integrated device. In addition, since the memory function unit is a PC card type, and the imaging unit can be mounted on the memory function unit, a small and highly portable image input device can be configured. Further, since the audio reproducing device is a PC card type, it is small and excellent in portability, and can be used alone as the audio reproducing device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A to 1C show an image input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration of an image input apparatus according to the present invention and a connection relation thereof.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show an audio reproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an internal configuration of the audio reproducing apparatus of the present invention and a connection with a personal computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 lens 2 imaging element 3 AD converter 4, 7 controller 5, 15 imaging switch 6, 8 memory 9 PC card interface unit 10, 11 battery 12 personal computer 13 PC card slot 14 imaging unit 16 connector (plug) 17 cable 18 guide Rail 19 Memory function unit 20 PC card interface connector 21 Connector (receptacle) 22 Guide 23 External output connector 24 Amplifier 25 DA converter 26 Controller 27 Memory 28 PC card interface unit 29 Playback stop switch 30 Rewind switch 31 Fast forward switch 32 Volume up Switch 33 Volume down switch 34 Battery 35 LCD for displaying reproduced data information 36 Personal computer 37 PC car Slot 38 PC card interface connector

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image input device connected to an information processing device for inputting image data, the image input device comprising: an image capturing unit for capturing an image; and a portable type including a connection terminal for the information processing device and the image capturing unit. When the imaging unit and the memory function unit are separated, they function independently, and when the imaging unit and the memory function unit are connected, the image data in the imaging unit is stored in the memory function unit. Transferred and stored in the department
When the memory function unit is connected to the information processing device,
An image input device, wherein the stored image data is transferred to the information processing device and input. 2. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup unit and said memory function unit are mutually connected by a connecting means and function as an integrated device. 3. An audio reproducing apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus for outputting audio data, wherein the memory function stores audio data from the information processing apparatus when connected to the information processing apparatus. Unit, when disconnected from the information processing device, read the stored audio data,
An audio reproducing device comprising: an audio reproducing unit for reproducing and outputting.