JPH11187289A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable easy decision on the functional state of an external device which is connected to an electronic equipment. SOLUTION: This electronic equipment is provided with a communication means 50 which communicates with an external device connected to the electronic equipment, a control means 1 which decides whether a prescribed function of an external device is available in the communication between the means 50 and the electronic equipment, and an announcement means 40 which announces the available state of the prescribed function of the external device that is decided by the means 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic device suitable for application to a video device such as a video camera device connected to an external device such as a battery device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, video equipment such as a video camera or other electronic equipment is often used by connecting an external equipment. For example, in the case of a video camera device, various devices such as a battery device for obtaining a power source for operation, a light device for assisting shooting, and an external microphone device are connected.

[0003]

When these external devices are connected, they are connected to a position (for example, a battery connection portion, an accessory shoe, etc.) prepared for connecting the external devices. Is completed,
If what is needed at that position is connected, the user using the device can determine that it is physically connected.

[0004] However, depending on the type of external device to be connected, usable functions may differ depending on the type, and it is not possible to determine the usable functional state by merely determining the physical connection. There is.
Conventionally, when the function was actually executed using the device, it was possible to judge that the function could be executed for the first time.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to easily determine the functional state of a connected device when an external device is connected to this type of electronic device.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a communication means for communicating with an external device when the external device is connected, and a predetermined function of the external device by the communication. The control means includes a control means for determining whether the apparatus is ready for use, and a notifying means for notifying that the control means determines that the predetermined function can be used.

According to this configuration, the state of the external device can be determined from the notification by the notification means, and the functional connection state can be determined.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a so-called recorder-integrated video camera apparatus having a recording unit for a recording medium (here, a video tape). First, FIG. 1 shows the entire configuration of the video camera apparatus. . This video camera apparatus is configured to process a video signal as digital data and record the digital signal as it is on a recording medium.

The structure will be described below. Image light incident on a face plate of the image sensor 11 via an optical system (not shown) such as a lens is converted into an electric image signal, and the image signal is converted into an analog / digital signal. To the vessel 12,
Digital data. The digital imaging data is supplied to the camera signal processing unit 13 to perform various kinds of signal processing on the imaging data and perform a process of converting the data into video data of a predetermined format.

The camera signal processing unit 13 is connected to other circuit blocks via a digital bus line 14. Other circuit blocks connected to the digital bus line 14 include a video signal processing unit 20 that performs recording and reproduction processing on a recording medium and a display signal processing unit 30 that performs processing of a video signal to be displayed on a monitor device. There is. The system controller 1, which is a microcomputer for controlling the operation of each unit of the video camera device, is also connected to the bus line 14, and each circuit block operates in a corresponding state according to control data from the system controller 1. I do.

In the video signal processing section 20, video data supplied from the camera signal processing section 13 via the bus line 14 is converted into video data for recording in the signal processing section 21, and the video data for recording is recorded. A process of recording on the reproducing unit 15 and recording on a recording medium (here, a video tape) 16 is performed. In this case, from the signal processing unit 21 to the recording / reproducing unit 15
In the middle of the line for recording video data, a character addition section 24 is provided, and processing for adding character information to the video data is performed as necessary. The configuration of the character addition unit 24 will be described later.

The video data reproduced by the recording / reproducing unit 15 from the recording medium 16 (or the video data supplied from the camera signal processing unit 13 via the bus line 14) is transmitted from the signal processing unit 21 to the character adding unit 22. To the digital / analog converter 23, converts the analog video signal into an analog video signal, supplies the converted video signal to the output processing unit 17, and outputs from the output terminal 18 to another external video device (not shown). )
To supply. The character adding section 22 is a circuit for performing processing for adding character information to video data as necessary, and the configuration thereof will be described later. Although the configuration for outputting an analog video signal has been described here, a terminal for outputting digital video data as it is may be provided.

The display signal processing unit 30 converts video data supplied from the camera signal processing unit 13 via the bus line 14 (or video data reproduced and supplied from the recording medium 16 by the recording and reproducing unit 15). , The signal processing unit 31 performs processing for image reception. Then, the processed video data is supplied to the digital / analog converter 32 via the character addition unit 32, and is converted into an analog video signal. The converted video signal is supplied to a monitor device 40 mounted on the video camera device, and an image is displayed on a screen of the monitor device 40. As the monitor device 40, for example, a relatively small liquid crystal image display panel having a screen size of about several inches is used.

Further, the video camera device of the present embodiment includes a battery connecting portion 50 for connecting a battery device containing a secondary battery or the like, and operates a power supplied from the battery device connected to the connecting portion 50. Each circuit operates as a power supply for use. In this case, the battery device connected to the battery connection unit 50 of the present example is simply 2
In addition to a built-in secondary battery, a control unit for managing the state of charge and usable time of the secondary battery is built-in.
When the battery device is connected to the battery connection unit 50, the control unit of the battery device is connected to the interface unit provided in the battery connection unit 50 and the bus line 14.
And a system controller 1 of the video camera device based on the battery state determined by the control unit on the battery device side.
Makes judgments such as battery duration and battery life.

The result determined by the system controller 1 through the communication with the battery device is, for example, the monitor device 4
The configuration is such that characters and the like are superimposed on the image displayed as 0 and the user is notified. In this specification, the notification to the user based on the result obtained by the communication with the control unit in the battery device is referred to as a battery guidance system.

Next, a description will be given of the processing in each of the character addition units 22, 24, and 32 for performing the character superimposition processing for performing the notification and the like. Under the control of the system controller 1, the video camera device of this example includes, in the video displayed on the monitor device 40, the video recorded on the recording medium 16, and the video in the video signal output from the output terminal 18, Character information can be individually superimposed on each.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration in which character information is superimposed in each of the character adding units 22, 24, and 32. The system controller 1 includes an input device 2 as an input key for performing various operation instructions of the video camera. Is connected, and based on the operation command of the input device 2, the system controller 1 instructs the character display control unit 3 to display character information. The input device 2 of the present embodiment includes direction keys 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d for instructing four directions of up, down, left, and right as shown in at least FIG.

The character display control unit 3 stores information on characters that can be displayed by the video camera of the present embodiment, and includes, for example, katakana, hiragana, kanji, alphabets, numbers,
Information on the display pattern of a character such as a simple figure is stored. When the character or the like is displayed, the stored information on the display pattern is read out, and a character string (character ), And the character string data is supplied to each of the character adders 22, 24, and 32.

Each of the character adders 22, 24, 32 has basically the same configuration, and FIG. 2 shows only one. Each of the character addition units 22, 24, and 32 includes a changeover switch 4
From the terminal 5 to the first fixed contact 4 of the changeover switch 4
a of the character string supplied from the character display control unit 3 to the second fixed contact 4 b of the changeover switch 4. A process for switching between data and data is performed. The connection position of the movable contact 4m of the changeover switch 4 is controlled by the character display control unit 3. The changeover switch 4 is a switch whose switching is controlled in pixel units of supplied video data. The control of the switch 4 by the character display control unit 3 includes connecting the movable contact 4m to the first fixed contact 4a at a place where the character is not superimposed on the video data obtained at the terminal 5, and setting the video data at the place where the character is superimposed. Is controlled to connect the movable contact 4m to the second fixed contact 4b only at the timing when is supplied.

By switching the changeover switch 4, the character string prepared in the character display control section 3 is superimposed on the video data. In this case, the display position and the display range of the displayed character string in the video are controlled by the system controller 1 based on an operation command generated by a user operation of the directional keys 2a to 2d constituting the input device 2. .
The display mode such as the size of the displayed character (character) can be freely set by operating the input device 2 by setting the display mode.

Next, an example of processing for displaying characters and the like with such a configuration will be described. Here, processing when a battery device is connected to the battery connection unit 50 of the video camera device of the present example will be described.

When a battery device is connected to the battery connection unit 50, the system controller 1
Attempt to communicate with the control unit in the battery device via the interface unit in the unit. If communication is not possible,
The system controller 1 determines that a battery device having no function of managing the usable time of the secondary battery is connected, and
No indication is made on the next battery.

When the system controller 1 is able to communicate with the control unit in the battery device, first, an image displayed on the monitor device 40 on which the system controller 1 is mounted (an image being photographed) is displayed as shown in FIG. As shown in A of FIG. 7, the user is notified that the battery guidance system of the present example is operating by displaying "battery guidance system" in characters. This display process is executed by the character addition unit 32 under the control of the system controller 1, and is performed, for example, until a predetermined time elapses after battery connection is determined.

When the battery guide system is activated, information such as the remaining battery power and the usable time determined by the control unit is transferred to the system controller 1 through communication with the control unit of the battery device. A display based on the information is superimposed on a video to be displayed on the mounted monitor device 40. The display process in this case is also executed by the character addition unit 32 under the control of the system controller 1. At this time, the display on the monitor device 40 may be, for example, displaying the remaining battery power in minutes, or when the battery life has expired based on the determination of the number of times of charging or the like.
There is a display that warns of this with characters or the like.

As described above, according to the video camera device of the present embodiment, when a battery device having a battery guide system is connected, a display indicating that the system is operating is immediately displayed on the monitor device 40 in characters. In this case, not only the physical connection state of the battery device but also the functional connection state can be immediately determined, and the usability as a video camera device is improved.

As an indication that the battery guide system is operating when the battery is connected, the example in which Japanese is displayed in the above-described example is shown, but it may be displayed in another language. For example, when a plurality of languages for performing the guidance display of the video camera device can be selected by operating the input device 2 or the like, the system controller 1 may control the display in the selected language. A display example when English is selected is shown in FIG. 4B. When communication with the battery device can be performed when the battery is connected, the image displayed on the monitor device 40 includes “BATTERY INFO”.
RMATIONSYSTEM "is displayed, and the same notification as in Japanese is given to the user.

Although an example in which characters are superimposed on an image displayed on the monitor device 40 has been described here, an external monitor device is connected to the output terminal 18 and the output terminal 18 is connected to the output terminal 18.
When a similar display is performed on a monitor device that receives a video signal output from a video signal processing unit, a similar character superimposition process may be performed by the character addition unit 22 in the video signal processing unit 20. Further, when characters are superimposed on the video to be recorded on the recording medium, the same processing may be performed by the character addition unit 24 in the video signal processing unit 20.

In the above-described example, when the system controller 1 determines connection of the battery device in which the battery guide system does not operate, nothing is displayed on the monitor device 40. However, this case is also supported. Some kind of display may be performed. For example, a message such as "the battery guidance system is not operating" may be displayed to positively notify that it is not operating.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the display example in the case where the battery device is connected to the video camera device has been described. However, another external device is connected to the video camera device, and the function at the time of the connection is connected. The state may be notified to the user in characters or the like. Also, the notification processing may be performed by a method other than the characters displayed on the monitor device. For example, a dedicated pilot lamp for notifying the operation of the system may be provided, or the notification may be made by voice synthesis.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, the processing when an external device is connected to the video camera device has been described. However, when any external device is connected to various electronic devices other than the video camera device, the connection is established. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to processing for notifying the user of the functional state at the time.

[0032]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the state of the external device can be determined from the notification by the notification means, and the functional connection state can be quickly determined without actually operating the device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the notifying process of the notifying unit is performed by performing a process of notifying by displaying on the monitor unit, so that the function of displaying characters and the like is achieved. The user can be well notified of a typical connection state.

According to the invention described in claim 3, in the invention described in claim 2, a battery device for operating the electronic device is used as the external device, and a function different from power supply from the battery device is provided. The function of the battery device can be effectively utilized by displaying on the monitor means that the battery device can be used.

According to the invention described in claim 4, in the invention described in claim 3, the function different from the power supply from the battery device is a function of managing the usable time of the secondary battery built in the battery device. By doing so, the fact that management of the usable time of the battery device is performed can be surely recognized by the display on the monitor means at the time of connection or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a video camera device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a character superimposition processing configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a position setting input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... System controller, 2 ... Input device, 3 ... Character display control part, 22, 24, 32 ... Character addition part, 40 ...
On-board monitor device

Claims (4)

[Claims] A communication means for communicating with an external device when the external device is connected, and a control means for judging whether a predetermined function of the external device can be used by communication by the communication means. And an electronic device provided with a notifying means for notifying when the control means determines that the predetermined function can be used. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, as the notification processing by said notification means, a notification is performed by a display on a monitor means. 3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein a battery device that operates the electronic device is used as the external device, and a function different from power supply from the battery device can be used. An electronic device for displaying on the monitor means. 4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein a function different from the power supply from the battery device is a function of managing a usable time of a secondary battery included in the battery device.