KR100261599B1 - A device of camera and method for explaining the function of camera automatically - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A camera device for automatically notifying camera functions and a controlling method of the camera device are provided to promptly notify in character or sound if a user demands the corresponding information of camera functions. CONSTITUTION: A camera device for automatically notifying camera functions includes a help selection switch(S1) for outputting a signal for explaining camera functions, a function selection switch(S2) for outputting signal for selection of a certain camera functions of all functions of the camera, a function information storing unit storing explanation data of functions adopted in the camera, a controlling unit reading explanation information of the functions, which are selected by the function selection switch according to the output signal of the help selection switch, from the function storing unit and controlling the read selection function information to allow the user to ascertain, an information display unit receiving explanation data of functions set in the camera and outputting in character or sound to show to the user, and a receiving unit(10) for downloading character or sound information of the camera functions transferred from external personal computer(100) by the control of the controlling unit and storing into the function information storing unit.

Description

Camera device that automatically informs camera functions and control method {A DEVICE OF CAMERA AND METHOD FOR EXPLAINING THE FUNCTION OF CAMERA AUTOMATICALLY}

The present invention relates to a function display device of a camera. More specifically, the present invention relates to a camera device for automatically informing a camera function of expressing a predetermined camera function selected by a user by voice or text so that the user can know and a control method thereof. will be.

Currently, cameras are becoming increasingly versatile to meet the various needs of users.

Therefore, the cameras currently produced and the cameras already produced and released have a wide variety of shooting functions and other functions.

However, a general camera user except an expert may not know the functions possessed by the camera as described above, and accordingly, the user uses the camera function known only within the limited use range when shooting.

In other words, even if the user wants to shoot a desired shot, such as continuous shooting, interval shooting, etc., the user may not be able to understand the camera term and the desired function, or the lack of understanding of the switches and other devices attached to the camera. Often, you can't take the shot you want.

Although the camera manual is enclosed with the camera, the user can read it when purchasing the initial camera, or keep the user manual separately and read the stored manual when in doubt about the camera. .

Even in the case described above, it is called shooting at home, the user can immediately take a picture with reference to the user manual, but there is a problem in that it is difficult to refer to the user manual in general, because the camera is usually taken outdoors.

Therefore, the camera has a lot of functions, but due to the lack of understanding of the user can not be fully utilized there is a disadvantage that does not meet the needs of the user.

Therefore, the present invention is to solve the shortcomings of the prior art, the camera to store the description of the electronic function of the camera in advance, so that the user can be informed by text or voice immediately when requesting information about the corresponding function A camera device for automatically notifying a function and a control method thereof are provided.

1 is a block diagram of a camera apparatus for automatically informing a camera function according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

2 is a block diagram of a digital still camera that automatically informs the camera function according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an operation flowchart of a camera apparatus for automatically informing a camera function according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention;

4 is a state diagram of a camera to which an apparatus for automatically informing a camera function according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The configuration of the present invention for solving the above technical problem,

Help selection means for outputting a signal to be described by the user for a given camera function;

Function selection means for outputting a signal for allowing a user to select a predetermined camera function from among the functions possessed by the camera;

Function information storage means for storing voice information or text information on an electronic function of the camera;

Sets a help mode according to the signal output from the help selection means, controls the user to know the electronic function of the camera according to the help mode setting, receives a signal output from the function selection means Control means for determining the selection of the camera function, reading information on the camera function determined from the function information storing means, and controlling the user to know;

And information informing means for receiving corresponding camera function information stored in the function information storage means and outputting the corresponding camera function information in a text or voice according to the control signal output from the control means.

Another means of the present invention for achieving the above technical problem,

Setting a help mode;

Controlling all types of electronic camera functions to be displayed;

Setting a predetermined camera function by a user among electronic camera functions;

Reading a description of the set camera function;

And expressing the read camera function for the user to know.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention.

1 is a block diagram of a camera device for automatically informing the camera function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a camera apparatus for automatically informing a camera function according to the first embodiment of the present invention,

A help switch S1 for outputting an electrical signal for the user to perform a description of a predetermined camera function;

A function selection switch (S2) for outputting an electrical signal operated by a user to select a predetermined camera function among the functions of the camera;

A function information storage unit (1) for storing types of electronic functions and text information on electronic functions;

After setting the help mode according to the signal output from the help switch (S1), the electronic function of the camera is displayed to control the user to know, and receives the operation signal output from the function selection switch (S2) A control unit 2 for selecting a corresponding camera function, reading information on the selected camera function from the function information storage unit 1, and controlling the user to know;

An information display section (3) for displaying information on an electronic camera function on a liquid crystal display (LCD) in accordance with a control signal output from the control section (1);

In accordance with a control signal output from the controller 1 comprises a voice notification unit 4 for outputting information according to the camera function as a voice.

2 is a block diagram of a digital still camera automatically informing the camera function according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, a digital still camera (hereinafter referred to as DSC) that automatically informs the camera function according to the second embodiment of the present invention,

The same help switch (S1), function selection switch (S2) as in the first embodiment;

A receiving unit 10 for downloading a help program transmitted from a personal computer 100 located outside;

A storage unit 20 for receiving and storing voice information and text information for describing a camera function output from the receiving unit 30;

After setting the help mode according to the signal output from the help switch (S1), the electronic function of the camera is displayed to control the user to know, and receives the operation signal output from the function selection switch (S2) A central process unt (30) for determining a corresponding camera function, reading information on the selected camera function from the storage unit 20, and controlling the user to know;

According to the control signal output from the CPU 30, the voice output unit 40 converts the voice information from the information signal for the output camera function into an analog signal, converts the voice information into the voice information, and then outputs the voice information. )Wow;

In accordance with the control signal output from the central processing unit 30, the text signal of the information signal for the camera function is displayed as a character, and comprises an image display unit 50 for displaying the image of the subject.

4 is a state diagram of a camera to which an apparatus for automatically informing a camera function according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

As shown in the accompanying Figure 4, the camera according to an embodiment of the present invention,

In order to display information of a camera or an image of a subject, an information display unit 3 or an image display unit 50 made of a liquid crystal display is provided, and a help switch S1 is provided next to the information display unit 3 or the image display unit 50. The function selection switch S2 is installed next to the help switch S1 so as to select an electronic camera function shown in the image display unit 50 or the information display unit 3.

Here, the function selection switch S2 is a button type so that the function selection can be made up, down, left and right.

Hereinafter, the digital still camera 200 which automatically informs the function of the camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4.

When the user presses the help switch S1, the help switch S1 operates to output an operation signal to the control unit 2.

Then, the control unit 2 sets the help mode according to the operation signal of the help switch S1 (S10).

Then, the control unit 2 outputs a control signal to the function information storage unit 1 so that a user knows the type of electronic function the camera has, and the function information storage unit 1 controls the control unit. According to the control signal of (2), the signal for the type of the electronic function stored in the address is output to the controller 2 (S30).

Therefore, the control unit 2 receives a signal for the type of electronic function output from the function information storage unit 1 and outputs the signal to the information display unit 3.

Here, the information display unit 3 is a device that displays information on the operation of the camera, that is, information about the number of shots, the currently set shooting mode, the date, etc. on the LCD as a letter or a sign.

Thus, the information display unit 3 displays the type of the electronic function in characters on the LCD in accordance with the control signal of the control unit 2.

If the type of electronic function is displayed on the information display unit 3 as above, the user operates the function selection switch S2 to select a predetermined electronic function that the user wants to know.

Then, the function selection switch S2 operates by a predetermined number of times by a user's operation and outputs an operation signal to the controller 2.

The controller 3 receives an operation signal of the function selection switch S2 to determine the number of operations, and determines a corresponding camera function selected by the user according to the determined number of times (S40).

Then, the control unit 3 outputs a corresponding control signal to the information display unit 3 so that the user can check the determined camera function (S50).

Then, the information display unit 3 highlights a predetermined camera function among the types of camera electronic functions displayed according to the control signal of the controller 3 so that the user can determine that the highlighted camera function is currently being selected. .

Here, in order to highlight a predetermined camera function, the information display unit 3 may use a method of blinking the corresponding camera function, using a cursor, or changing the size of characters and symbols.

As described above, the user who checks the information display unit 3 operates the function selection switch S2 for a predetermined time, if the user wants the camera function. Accordingly, the control unit 2 outputs the information output switch S3. A control signal is input to set a predetermined camera function currently selected (S60 and S70).

Then, the control unit 2 outputs a control signal to the corresponding address of the function information storage unit 1 so as to obtain information on the set camera function, and reads description information about the predetermined camera function stored at the corresponding address. Information about the camera function read and output is output to the voice notification unit 4 (S80 and S90).

Here, the information stored in the function information storage unit 1 is stored as a digital signal.

Therefore, the voice notification unit 4 first converts the information on the input camera function into an analog signal, and then decodes and decorates the extracted voice signal and outputs it through a speaker (not shown).

Then, the user hears the voice output through the speaker, and if the voice output is the camera function selected by the user, that is, the continuous mode, the user can hear the description of the continuous mode.

The above is an operation in the general camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and the apparatus for automatically informing the camera function according to the second embodiment of the present invention applied to the digital still camera is as follows.

Here, an apparatus for automatically informing the camera function according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

The overall operation of the apparatus for automatically informing the DSC function according to the second embodiment is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, but the following difference occurs depending on the characteristics of the digital still camera and the general camera.

First, the DSC 200 may be connected to a peripheral device such as the PC 100 to exchange information.

Therefore, the producer of the DSC may be manufactured in a state in which voice and text information for each DSC function is stored in the storage unit 20 which is an internal memory when the DSC 200 is manufactured.

However, the producer does not store the voice and text information for each DSC function in the storage unit 20 or the voice information for the basic DSC function in order to meet various users' demands for the voice and text information for each DSC function. It can be produced with only text information stored.

Therefore, the manufacturer writes a program for text information and voice information for each function of the DSC 200 to supplement the contents stored in the storage unit 20 after the DSC 200 is produced. We add program and sell.

Then, the user inserts a diskette in which the program is stored into the PC 100 held by the user, and connects the PC 100 and the DSC 200 to receive the DSC 200 of the program. 10).

Then, the receiving unit 10 stores the received program in the storage unit 20 of the DSC 200.

In this case, the program may be modified by the user. That is, the user can change the voice and text for each DSC function contained in the program to the desired voice and text.

When the voice and text for each function of the DSC 200 are input to the storage unit 20 as described above, the user performs the same operation as in the first embodiment, so that the voice or text for each camera function is output to the voice output unit 40 or the image display unit. Output through (5).

However, at this time, according to the second characteristic of the DSC, the second embodiment has different features from the first embodiment.

That is, the DSC 200 displays an image of the subject as an image on the image display unit 50 made of a liquid crystal display instead of an optical finder.

In addition, the image display unit 50 displays information on the type of camera shooting mode, the camera function currently being performed, the number of shots, and the like by using a character or a code so that the user can check it.

The type of electronic function of the DSC 200 is represented by the LCD on the image display unit 50.

In addition, when the user selects a predetermined DSC electronic function of informing information as a character from among the types of electronic functions of the DSC 200 shown in the image display unit 50, the central processing unit 30 is connected to the storage unit ( A control signal is output to the corresponding address of 20) to read information on the predetermined camera function selected above, and when it is determined that the read information is character information, the read information is output to the image display section 50.

Then, the image display unit 50 reads the character information output from the central processing unit 30 and displays the corresponding character so that the user can check it.

Therefore, the present invention provides a description of the electronic function of the camera by text or voice, so that the electronic function of the camera can be easily learned anywhere, and thus the user can make full use of all the functions of the camera. It is effective.

Claims (3)

A help selection switch, which is manipulated by a user and outputs a signal to cause a description of a predetermined camera function to be performed; A function selection switch operated by a user and outputting a signal for selecting a predetermined camera function among functions of the camera; Function information storage means for storing description contents of functions employed in the camera; Control means for reading description information on a function selected by the function selection switch according to an output signal of the help selection switch from the function storage means, and controlling the user to check the selected selection function information; Information notification means for receiving description data on a function set in the camera by the control means and outputting the text and voice in a descriptive manner to inform the user; A camera for automatically informing the camera function further comprising a receiving means for downloading text or voice information for a predetermined camera function transmitted from an external personal computer and storing the text or voice information under the control of the control means in the function information storage means. Device. The method of claim 1, wherein the information notification means, In accordance with the control signal of the control means, a text display unit for displaying a technical description of the set camera function in text, and a voice output unit for outputting the technical description of the camera function set in accordance with the control signal of the control means by voice Camera apparatus for automatically informing the camera function, characterized in that. Setting a help mode; Controlling all types of electronic camera functions to be displayed; Setting a predetermined camera function by a user among electronic camera functions; Reading a description of the set camera function; A method for automatically informing camera functions, including the steps of outputting a descriptive description of the read camera functions in text and voice so that the user can understand them.

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