KR101377936B1 - Endoscope camera for mobile device - Google Patents

Abstract

The objective of the present invention is to provide an endoscope camera using a mobile device for freely recording and storing images of areas which cannot be easily seen with naked eyes and checking the recorded images by being connected to a mobile device such as a smart phone. The endoscope camera using a mobile device given in the present invention includes: a mobile device which runs an application when an endoscope camera is connected through a USB terminal, receives image data transmitted from the endoscope camera, displays the image data on a display unit, and stores the received image data; and an endoscope camera which includes a camera module installed at one side to provide recorded image data and outputs the recorded image data to the mobile device connected to the other side. The endoscope camera acts as a USB host for USB data communication with the mobile device. The present invention enables a user to freely record and store images of areas which cannot be easily seen with naked eyes and is easy to carry and use.

Description

Endoscopic camera using mobile device {ENDOSCOPE CAMERA FOR MOBILE DEVICE}

The present invention relates to an endoscope camera using a mobile device, and more particularly, a mobile device capable of freely photographing and storing a part that cannot be easily seen by the eye by connecting to a mobile device such as a smartphone, and confirming the captured contents. It relates to an endoscope camera using.

Recently, with the rapid development of mobile device-related technologies such as smart phone 10, people can use a variety of additional functions such as video and music player, game machine, camera 11, lighting device, musical instrument, remote control, with the use of various information using the Internet. Its utilization is increasing.

In addition, the development of an additional device for creating a new additional function by mounting on such a mobile device is also actively made.

On the other hand, in a general home or industrial site, equipment equipped with an endoscope camera is used to identify a narrow space or a pipe that is difficult to see directly with human eyes.

In other words, in order to check the back of the farm or blockage pipes at home, it is necessary to move the farm or release the pipes, and in the industrial field, engineers can repair or check the status of broken equipment or machinery. The use of endoscope cameras is increasing even more because it is only possible to disassemble the equipment in order to check inside.

In addition, pipes are installed in buildings or ships for the transfer of various fluids, and these pipes are internally inspected after connection.

For example, in the case of small pipes having a small diameter, endoscope equipment is generally used because it is difficult to enter the inspection apparatus equipped with a general camera into the pipe.

The endoscope equipment for inspecting small pipes, such as buildings or ships, inspects whether there are foreign matters or defects inside the small pipes. do.

However, such an endoscope camera requires a dedicated device for operating the endoscope camera, which is expensive and has a problem that the general public cannot carry and use it.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention is to provide an endoscope camera using a mobile device that can be connected to a mobile device, such as a smartphone, freely photographing and storing the parts that can not be easily seen by the eye, and can check the captured content. The purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an endoscope camera using a mobile device, when the endoscope camera is connected through a USB terminal, by analyzing the driving information provided by the endoscope camera to search for executable applications to be executed or display Is executed when an application icon displayed on the screen is selected to control the image data transmitted by the endoscope camera to be displayed or stored through the display unit and to share the image data with one or more mobile devices connected through a communication network. A mobile device for transmitting or storing to a remote server; And a camera module installed at one side and outputting captured image data, a USB connector installed at the other side and connected to the mobile device, outputting power and operation control signals to the camera module, and a mobile device through the USB connector. A control unit which operates as a USB host-client and performs USB data communication with the mobile device, and controls to receive and transmit image data output from the camera module to the mobile device, the camera module and the USB connector; An endoscope camera having a cable installed between the control unit to transmit and receive power, a USB data signal, and image data, and having a cable refracted in an arbitrary direction so as to bend and maintain the camera module in a desired direction. The control unit receives an operation signal from the user An input switch unit, a data communication unit performing USB data communication with the mobile device, a USB communication control unit for controlling USB data to be transmitted to the mobile device using a USB protocol, and when an operation signal is input from a user, And a battery that controls the camera controller to output on / off and operation control signals, and to be charged when power is supplied from the USB connector, and to supply power for driving the endoscope camera.

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In addition, the camera module according to the present invention comprises a camera for outputting an image as an electrical signal; And a light source unit providing illumination to the photographing area of the camera.

In addition, the camera according to the invention is characterized in that any one of the camera for 3D photographing or a single lens camera or two single lens camera is installed.

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In addition, the endoscope camera according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a cradle (cradle) is mounted on the mobile device, the docking unit is removable so that the mounted mobile device.

The present invention connects the endoscope camera to a mobile device such as a smart phone, and can freely photograph and store a part that cannot be easily seen by the eyes, and has the advantage of being easily portable.

In addition, the present invention has the advantage that the mobile device can check the image information taken through the endoscope camera.

1 is a perspective view showing a typical smartphone.
2 is a perspective view showing an endoscope camera using a mobile device according to the present invention.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the endoscope camera of the endoscope camera using the mobile device according to FIG.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the endoscope camera using the cradle in the endoscope camera using a mobile device according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the endoscope camera using a mobile device according to the present invention.

(Embodiment 1)

2 is a perspective view showing an endoscope camera using a mobile device according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the endoscope camera of the endoscope camera using the mobile device according to FIG.

2 and 3, the endoscope camera using the mobile device according to the present invention includes a mobile device 100 and an endoscope camera 200.

The mobile device 100 is a portable device that can install an application which is an arbitrary execution program, and is a device that is easy to carry and move, such as a smartphone, a PDA, a tablet PC, a notebook PC, and preferably a smartphone.

In the present embodiment, for convenience of description, a smart phone is described as an embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The mobile device 100 is provided with a USB terminal 101 on one side of the body, and when the endoscope camera 200 is connected through the USB terminal 101, the driving information provided by the endoscope camera 200 is analyzed. Then, the executable application 120 is searched for and executed according to the analyzed driving information.

The application 120 is a plug provided by the endoscope camera 200 when the user directly selects an application icon displayed on the display 110 or when the endoscope camera 200 is connected through the USB terminal 101. When the N-play information is received, the execution is performed to control the operation of the endoscope camera 200 and the display of image data.

That is, the application 120 displays the image data captured by the endoscope camera 200 through the display 110, edits the image data, or stores the image data in an arbitrary storage space of the mobile device 100. To be stored.

In addition, the application 120 may share the image data with one or more mobile devices connected to the mobile device 100 through a communication network of the mobile device 100, and transmit and store the image data to a remote server. You may.

The application 120 accesses and installs any web server through a wireless data communication network of the mobile device 100 and installs it through a download, or the application 120 previously downloaded from a computer with the mobile device 100. You can connect and install it yourself.

The endoscope camera 200 is provided with a camera module 210 is installed on one side to provide the captured image data, and controls to output the captured image data to the mobile device 100 connected to the other side, the mobile device 100 ) Operates as a USB host-client during USB data communication, and includes a camera module 210, a USB connector 220, a controller 230, and a cable 240.

The camera module 210 converts the photographed image data into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal. The camera module 210 includes a camera 211 and a light source unit 212.

The camera 211 outputs an image as an electrical signal, and converts the image into an electrical signal using either a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor to output the image.

In addition, the camera 211 is provided with at least one single lens camera, when outputting the general image data to provide the image data taken by one single lens camera, when the shooting for 3D image data acquisition is performed Two single lens cameras may be installed.

The light source unit 212 provides illumination to an area photographed by the camera 211 to enable acquisition of image data even in a dark place.

The USB connector 220 is connected to the USB terminal 101 of the mobile device 100 to supply power to the endoscope camera 200 and to transmit and receive data between the mobile device 100 and the endoscope camera 200. As a constitution, a known mini USB connector is used.

The controller 230 supplies power to the camera module 210 together with the output of the operation control signal, and connects to the mobile device 100 through the USB connector 220 to the USB host-client during USB data communication. It operates to receive the image data output from the camera 210 and to be transmitted to the mobile device 100, the switch unit 231, the data communication unit 232, USB in a rectangular housing It includes a host controller 233, a camera controller 234, and a battery 235.

The switch unit 231 is installed in the housing of the controller to receive an operation signal from the user, for example, power on / off of the camera 211, zoom in / out, on / off of the light source unit 212, and the like. As a button switch, a micro switch, or the like.

The data communication unit 232 is a communication module for performing USB data communication with the mobile device 100 connected through the USB connector 220.

The USB communication controller 233 controls the USB data to be transmitted to the mobile device 100 using the USB protocol when the endoscope camera 200 is connected to the mobile device 100 to perform data communication using the USB. do.

In addition, the USB communication control unit 233 outputs the USB connection signal to the connected mobile device, and when the mobile device outputs the USB host signal to function as a USB client, the connected mobile device outputs the USB client signal If so, it functions as a USB host to allow USB communication with the mobile device.

When the user inputs an operation signal through the switch unit 231, the camera controller 234 may control an operation control signal for controlling on / off of the camera, zoom in / out, and on / off of the light source unit 212. Outputs

In addition, when the camera controller 234 is connected to the mobile device 100 through the USB connector 220, the camera controller 234 provides preset plug and play information to the mobile device 100 to provide the mobile device 100 with the endoscope camera. Allows the application 120 installed for operation to run.

In addition, the camera controller 234 controls the image data captured by the camera module 210 to be transmitted to the mobile device 100 through the data communication unit 232.

The battery 235 is configured to supply power to the endoscope camera 200, and to be charged when power is supplied from the USB connector 220, and the charged power is supplied to the endoscope camera 200 to take a picture. And preferably a secondary battery.

The cable 240 is installed between the camera module 210 and the USB connector 220 and the control unit 230 to transmit and receive the power, the USB data signal, and the image data. A corrugated coating is installed to be bent in an arbitrary direction so that the camera module 210 can be maintained by bending the camera module 210 in a desired direction.

(Second Embodiment)

4 is a perspective view illustrating an endoscope camera using a cradle in the endoscope camera using the mobile device according to FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the present invention includes a mobile device 100 and an endoscope camera 200 ′ equipped with a cradle.

The cradle-mounted endoscope camera 200 ′ mounts the cradle 250 having the docking unit 252 mounted thereon so that the mobile device 100 is mounted on one side thereof and the mounted mobile device 100 is detachable. It is characterized by including.

In the second embodiment, repetitive descriptions of the same components as those in the first embodiment are omitted, and the same reference numerals are used for the same components.

The cradle-mounted endoscope camera 200 ′ is provided with a camera module 210 installed at one side to provide photographed image data, and controls to output the photographed image data to the mobile device 100 connected to the other side. It operates as a USB host for USB data communication with the mobile device 100, the camera module 210, the USB connector 220 (see FIG. 2), the controller 230 (see FIG. 2), the cable 240, It is configured to include a cradle 250.

The cradle 250 effectively mounts the mobile device 100 as a docking station so that the user can use the endoscope camera 200 'in a comfortable state.

The cradle 250 has a docking portion 252 is installed in the cradle body portion 251, the handle is formed, the camera module 210 is bent (or bent) on one side of the cradle body portion 251 Possible cables are connected via 240.

The docking unit 252 is provided with a USB connector 220 (see FIG. 2) to be electrically connected to the USB connector 101 of the mobile device 100.

Therefore, the mobile device 100 coupled with the cradle 250 maintains a stable posture, and is connected to the USB terminal 101 of the mobile device 100 through the docking unit 252 to endoscope and the mobile device 100. By transmitting and receiving data between the camera 200 ', the user can use the endoscope camera 200' in a convenient posture.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It can be understood that

In the course of the description of the embodiments of the present invention, the thicknesses of the lines and the sizes of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation, , Which may vary depending on the intentions or customs of the user, the operator, and the definitions of these terms should be based on the contents throughout this specification.

100: mobile device 101: USB terminal
110: display unit 120: application
200, 200 ': endoscope camera 210: camera module
211: camera 212: light source
220: USB connector 230: control unit
231: switch unit 232: data communication unit
233: USB communication control unit 234: camera control unit
235 battery 240 cable
250: cradle 251: cradle body
252: docking unit

Claims (7)

When the endoscope cameras 200 and 200 'are connected through the USB terminal 101, the driving information provided by the endoscope cameras 200 and 200' is analyzed to search for and execute the executable application 120, or to display the display unit. When the application icon displayed on the 110 is selected and executed, the image data transmitted by the endoscope cameras 200 and 200 ′ is received and controlled to be displayed or stored on the display 110, and the communication network is controlled. A mobile device 100 for sharing the image data with one or more mobile devices connected through the same or transmitting the image data to a remote server for storage; And
A camera module 210 installed at one side and outputting captured image data, a USB connector 220 installed at the other side and connected to the mobile device 100, and a power and operation control signal to the camera module 210 The controller may be connected to the mobile device 100 through the USB connector 220, operate as a USB host-client, perform USB data communication with the mobile device 100, and output by the camera module 210. The controller 230 is configured to receive and transmit image data to the mobile device 100. The controller 230 is installed between the camera module 210, the USB connector 220, and the controller 230. The endoscope camera 20 includes a cable 240 to allow the image data to be transmitted and received and to be bent in an arbitrary direction so that the camera module 210 is bent and maintained in a direction desired by the user. 0, 200 '),
The controller 230 may include a switch unit 231 for receiving an operation signal from a user, a data communication unit 232 for performing USB data communication with the mobile device 100, and the mobile device 100 using a USB protocol. USB communication control unit 233 for controlling USB data to be transmitted to the camera, camera control unit 234 for outputting an on / off and operation control signal of the camera when an operation signal is input from the user, and the USB connector 220 Endoscopy camera using a mobile device, characterized in that the battery to be charged when the power is supplied, supplying power for driving the endoscope camera 200.
delete The method of claim 1,
The camera module 210 includes a camera 211 for outputting an image as an electric signal; And
An endoscope camera using a mobile device, characterized in that it comprises a light source unit (212) for providing illumination to the photographing area of the camera (211).
The method of claim 3, wherein
The camera (211) is an endoscope camera using a mobile device, characterized in that any one of the three-lens camera or two single-lens camera installed camera.
delete delete The method of claim 1,
The endoscope camera 200 ′ includes a cradle 250 that mounts the docking unit 252 so that the mounted mobile device 100 can be attached to and detached from the mobile device 100. Endoscope camera using a mobile device.

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