JPH09116778A - Electronic camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small sized electronic camera system with excellent operability and portability which allows high speed image data transmission. SOLUTION: A transmission signal generating circuit 2 in an image pickup device 100 adds a control signal to control a telephone set 101 to a control signal generated by an image pickup section 1 and a transmission reception circuit 3 sends the sum signal. On the other hand, the transmission reception circuit 8 of the telephone set 101 receives the transmission signal, and a transmission signal separate circuit 9 separates the received reception signal into an image signal and a control signal. An ID signal addition circuit 10 adds an ID signal to identify the sender to the image signal separated by the transmission signal separate circuit 9, a modulation circuit 11 modulates the image signal into the transmission signal suitable for a telephone line. Then the telephone circuit 11 sends the transmission signal modulated by the modulation circuit 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera system with a telephone function capable of transmitting and receiving between an image pickup device and a telephone device and automatically transmitting an image through a telephone line. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a technique of transmitting image data photographed by an electronic camera using a telephone line or the like has been used, taking advantage of immediacy. In order to transmit image data as described above, a modem and a telephone device that modulate the image data into a signal suitable for a telephone line are required. On the other hand, JP-A-5
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 167965 discloses a technique relating to an imaging device with a transmission function in which the imaging device is equipped with a modem function and a telephone function.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, an electronic camera and a modem are used every time an image is transmitted.
Also, it was troublesome because a connection between a modem and a telephone was required.
Further, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 167965/1993, the connection between the image pickup device, the modem, and the telephone device is unnecessary, but the device itself becomes large, which poses a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a small electronic camera system capable of high-speed image data transmission and having good operability and portability. Especially.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the electronic camera system according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises:
A photographing lens, an image pickup means for photoelectrically converting an object image passing through the photographing lens into an image signal, and a control signal for controlling the telephone device added to the image signal from the image pickup means to generate a transmission signal Transmission An image pickup apparatus having a signal generation section and a transmission / reception section that transmits the transmission signal and receives the transmission signal from the telephone apparatus; and receives the transmission signal transmitted from the image pickup apparatus to the image pickup apparatus. A transmitting / receiving means for transmitting a signal for notifying the communication state,
Transmission signal separating means for separating a transmission signal from the image pickup device into an image signal and a control signal, a modulating means for modulating the image signal into a modulated image signal suitable for a telephone line, and a telephone means for transmitting the image modulated signal. And a telephone device arranged within a predetermined range from the image pickup device.

In the electronic camera system according to the second aspect, the telephone device further includes ID signal adding means for adding an ID signal for identifying the sender to the image signal separated by the transmission signal separating means. It is characterized by having.

Further, in the electronic camera system according to the third aspect, the telephone device includes a call charge calculating means for calculating a call charge based on at least a destination telephone number and a call time included in the control signal. It is characterized by further comprising display means for displaying the call charge.

The first to third modes as described above have the following effects. That is, in the electronic camera system according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the image pickup device, the image of the subject that has passed through the image pickup lens is photoelectrically converted into an image signal by the image pickup means, and the control signal for controlling the telephone device is sent by the transmission signal generation means. A transmission signal is added to the image signal from the image pickup means to generate a transmission signal, and the transmission / reception means transmits the transmission signal and receives a transmission signal from the telephone device. Then, in the telephone device arranged within a predetermined range from the image pickup device, the transmission / reception means receives the transmission signal transmitted from the image pickup device, and the signal for notifying the communication state to the image pickup device is transmitted. The signal separating means separates the transmission signal from the image pickup device into an image signal and a control signal, the modulating means modulates the image signal into a modulated image signal suitable for a telephone line, and the telephone means transmits the image modulated signal. To be done. As a result, the imaging device, the modem, and the telephone device can be separated, and the portability is improved.

In the electronic camera system according to the second aspect, in the telephone device, the ID signal adding means adds an ID signal for identifying the sender to the image signal separated by the transmission signal separating means. It As a result, it is possible to easily identify the sender of the transmitted image signal.

Further, in the electronic camera system according to the third aspect, in the telephone device, the call charge calculating means calculates the call charge based on the telephone number of the destination and the call time included in at least the control signal, The call charge is displayed by the display means. This allows the sender to recognize the call charge for the transmission.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an electronic camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which will be described. As shown in the figure, the image pickup apparatus 100 and the telephone apparatus 101 constitute an electronic camera system according to the present embodiment.

First, in the image pickup apparatus 100, the image pickup section 1
Is connected to the input of the transmission signal generation circuit 2 and the image memory 4, and the output of the transmission signal generation circuit 2 is connected to the input of the transmission / reception circuit 3. In detail, the image pickup unit 1 is composed of a photographing lens, a CCD as an image pickup element, and an image pickup circuit that forms an image signal. The transmission signal generation circuit 2 adds a control signal for controlling the telephone device 101 to the image signal formed by the image pickup unit 1. The transmission / reception circuit 3 transmits the transmission signal from the transmission signal generation circuit 2 and receives the transmission signal from the telephone device 101. Then, the CU 5 stores the image captured by the image capturing unit 1 in the image memory 4 when the transmission / reception circuit 3 is transmitting a transmission signal.

In addition, the CPU 5 is connected to the image pickup section 1, the transmission signal generation circuit 2, the transmission / reception circuit 3, the image memory 4, the display section 7, and the operation switch 6. This display section 7
Is for displaying "capable of photographing", "transmission failure", "during image transmission", etc. The operation switch group 6 includes a main power switch and a photometric switch. The control signal from the CPU 5 is used to turn ON / OFF the main power source of the telephone device 101.
The signal of F and the signal for operating the telephone device 101 are included.

On the other hand, in the telephone device 101, the output of the transmission / reception circuit 8 is connected to the input of the transmission signal separation circuit 9, and the output of the transmission signal separation circuit 9 is connected to the inputs of the ID signal addition circuit 10 and the image memory 13, respectively. Has been done. The output of the ID signal adding circuit 10 is connected to the input of the modulation circuit 11, and the output of the modulation circuit 11 is connected to the input of the telephone circuit 12.

The transmission / reception circuit 8 is provided in the image pickup device 100.
And transmits a transmission signal for notifying the imaging device 100 of the transmission state. The transmission signal separation circuit 9 separates the reception signal received by the transmission / reception circuit 8 into an image signal and a control signal for controlling the telephone device 101. The ID signal addition circuit 10 adds an ID signal for identifying the sender to the image signal separated by the transmission signal separation circuit 9, and the modulation circuit 11 applies the image signal to a telephone line. Modulate to transmit signal. Then, the telephone circuit 11 transmits the transmission signal modulated by the modulation circuit 10. When the telephone circuit 12 is transmitting an image signal, the CPU 16 causes the image memory 13
The image signal sent next to is stored.

In addition to this, the output of the CPU 16 is the transmission / reception circuit 8, the transmission signal separation circuit 9, the ID signal addition circuit 10,
It is connected to the modulation circuit 11, the telephone circuit 12, the image memory 13, the call charge calculation circuit 14, and the display unit 15. The call charge calculation circuit 14 calculates the call charge from the destination telephone number and the transmission time, and the display unit 15 displays the call charge calculated by the call charge calculation circuit 14 and the image memory 13 described above.
If there is no free space, "Immediate image transmission" is displayed. The modulation circuit 10 functions as a modem, and in this embodiment, a RISC microcomputer is used as an example. The operation of each unit is controlled by the CPU 16.

Here, an external perspective view of the electronic camera system according to the above embodiment is shown in FIG. 2 and will be described. FIG.
As shown in (b), the imaging device 100 and the telephone device 1
01 and 01 constitute an electronic camera system capable of image transmission.

The imaging device 100 and the telephone device 101 are provided with wireless antennas 21 and 26, respectively. The wireless antenna 21 of the imaging device 100 is the imaging device 1
00 and the telephone device 101, the wireless antenna 26 of the telephone device 101 is connected to the imaging device 1
00 and the telephone device 101, and between the telephone device 101 and another telephone device.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, the main power switch 22 is provided at a predetermined position of the image pickup device 100.
Further, a transmission destination selection switch 23 for designating a transmission destination, a photometric switch 24, and a liquid crystal monitor 25 which is a display unit for displaying a captured image and an image transmission state and an operation state of the image pickup apparatus are provided.

In this embodiment, the image pickup apparatus 100
Has a shape similar to that of a normal camera, and the telephone device 1
01 has a shape similar to that of a mobile phone, but needless to say, is not limited to this. In addition, the imaging device 100
In order to perform image transmission, the telephone device 101 and the telephone device 101 are assumed to be placed within a predetermined distance, and this embodiment shows an example in which the photographer carries the telephone device 101.

Hereinafter, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of the image pickup apparatus 100 will be described. When the operator operates the operation switch 6 to turn on the main power, the CPU 5 detects that the main power is turned on and sends an instruction to turn on the main power of the telephone device 101 to the transmission signal generation circuit 2. Then, the transmission signal generation circuit 2 turns on the main power source of the telephone device 101.
A control signal for N is generated, and the transmission / reception circuit 3 is used for the telephone device 1.
The control signal is transmitted to 01 (step S1).

Subsequently, the CPU 5 confirms whether or not the transmission state with the telephone device 101 is good (step S2). Here, if it is determined that the transmission state is poor, the CPU 5 sends an instruction to display the poor transmission to the display unit 7, the display unit 7 displays "transmission failure", and the CPU does not operate even if the photometric switch 24 is pressed. Then, it will not be accepted (step S3).
After this process, the process proceeds to step 11 described later.

On the other hand, in step S2, when the transmission state is good, the telephone device 101 which has received the control signal is received.
Transmits a signal indicating that the reception is good to the image pickup apparatus 100.
In the imaging device 100, the transmission / reception circuit 3 receives the signal, and the CPU 5 determines the transmission state based on the level of the signal.

Subsequently, the CPU 5 confirms whether or not the image memory 13 of the telephone device 101 has a free space (step S).
4). Regarding the vacant information of the image memory 13, when the capacity of the image memory 13 is full from the telephone device 101, the information is transmitted to the imaging device 100 side.

In step 4, if the image memory of the telephone device is full, the CPU 5 outputs an instruction to display the image transmission to the display unit 7, and the display unit 7 displays "image transmission" to perform photometry. Even if the switch 24 is pressed, the microcomputer does not accept it (step S5). After this process, the process proceeds to step 11 described later.

On the other hand, in step S4, if the image memory 13 has a vacant space, the CPU 5 outputs a command of photographing possible to the display portion 7, and the display portion 7 displays "Captureable" (step S6). ). Subsequently, the CPU 5 detects whether or not the photometric switch 24 included in the operation switch 6 has been pressed (step S7). If the photometric switch 24 has not been pressed, the process proceeds to step S11, which will be described later, and the switch 24 When is pressed, the CCD of the image pickup unit 1 captures an image, the image pickup circuit forms an image signal, and the image signal is stored in the image memory 4 (step S8). In addition, between step 6 and step S7, the operator selects the transmission destination from the transmission destination list stored in advance by the transmission destination selection switch 23.

Next, the CPU 5 is currently in charge of the telephone device 10.
1 detects whether the image is being transmitted (step S
9) If the image is being transmitted, the image signal is stored in the image memory 4 (step S12), the CPU 5 confirms the transmission status, and when it confirms that the transmission signal being transmitted is completed, The image in the image memory 4 is read and transmitted to the telephone device 101 side (step S13). The CPU 5 confirms the number of images in the image memory 4 (step S14), A
If it is the following, the process proceeds to step 11 to be described later, and if it is A (the memory is full), "in image transmission" is displayed on the display unit 7, and the process returns to step 14. At this time, the photometric switch 24
Even if is pressed, the CPU does not accept it.

On the other hand, when the image is not transmitted in step S9, the CPU 5 reads the image signal stored in the image memory 4. The image signal is transmitted from the transmission / reception circuit 3 to the telephone device 101 via the transmission signal generation circuit 2. At this time, the transmission signal generation circuit 2 adds the control signal designating the transmission destination to the image signal (step S10).

Subsequently, the CPU 5 confirms whether or not the main power source is turned off (step S11), and when the main power source is turned off, all the image signals remaining in the image memory 4 are transmitted to the telephone device 101. , Telephone device 1 for the last image signal
A control signal for turning OFF 01 is added (step S1
6) After the transmission of the last image is completed, the main power source of the image pickup apparatus 100 is turned off, and a series of sequences is completed (step S1
7).

Next, the operation of the telephone device 101 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Imaging device 1
When the transmission / reception circuit 8 receives the transmission signal transmitted to the telephone device 101 from 00, the main power of the telephone device 101 is turned on by the control signal for turning on the main power. Then CP
U16 transmits a transmission / reception signal for detecting the transmission state to the imaging device 100 (step S21).

Subsequently, the CPU 16 detects whether or not the transmission signal from the image pickup apparatus 100 is received (step S2).
2) If the transmission signal is not received, the process proceeds to step S29 described later, and if the transmission signal is received, the transmission signal separation circuit 9 separates the transmission signal into an image signal and a control signal, The signal is stored in the image memory 13, and the line is connected in the telephone circuit 101 based on the control signal (step S23).

Next, the CPU 16 detects the connection of the telephone line (step S24), and if the connection is good, subsequently detects whether or not the image signal is being transmitted (step S2).
5) If it is not being transmitted, the CPU 16 reads the image signal in the image memory 13, adds the ID signal, performs modulation suitable for the telephone circuit 12 in the modulation circuit 11, and transmits the signal via the telephone circuit 12. Is transmitted (step S26).

Then, an instruction to turn off the main power source is detected from the control signal from the image pickup apparatus 100 (step S2).
9) If there is an OFF command, transmission of all the images remaining in the image memory 13 is completed (step S30), the telephone line is cut off, the main power supply is cut off, and a series of sequences is completed (step S31).

On the other hand, in the case of connection NG in step 24, the CPU 16 counts the number of images in the image memory 13 (step S27). If it is A or less, the process proceeds to step 29, and if A, the transmission / reception is performed. A signal indicating that the image memory 13 is full is transmitted from the circuit 8 to the image pickup apparatus 100, "in image transmission" is displayed on the display unit 15, and the process returns to step 27 (step S28). Thus, step 2
In step 7, the image memory is waited to become A or less, and when it becomes A or less, the process proceeds to step 29, and thereafter, the same processing as described above is repeated to end the series of sequences (step S31).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image pickup device may have a circuit configuration that enables transmission / reception for transmission to a telephone device arranged within a predetermined distance. Enable Further, since the modem function and the telephone device may be separately provided and arranged within a predetermined distance, they may be worn on a belt, carried in a pocket, or placed nearby. In other words, since it is not necessary to hold it with the imaging device by hand at the time of shooting, it is not a burden on the shooter.

Furthermore, since the ID signal is added to the transmitted image signal, the sender can be easily identified. For example, it is possible to have a system that directly sends captured images to a laboratory. Further, since the usage fee of the telephone line based on the transmitted image is displayed, the photographer can know the usage amount. Then, since transmission / reception is possible between the imaging device and the telephone device, it is possible to know the transmission state.

Since the image pickup device is provided with the image memory, it is possible to take a picture even while the image signal is being transmitted to the telephone device. Further, since the telephone device is provided with the image memory, the image pickup device can transmit the image signal within the image memory to the telephone device even when the telephone device is transmitting an image signal or the line cannot be connected. it can. Furthermore, since the RISC microcomputer is used for the modulation circuit of the telephone device, high speed processing is possible.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the flow chart of FIG. 3, the control signal of the transmission destination is transmitted together with the image signal, but after the main power is turned on, the operator supports the transmission destination, and in step 2, the control of the transmission destination is performed. You may send the information. According to this, since the connection can be made before photographing, the image signal can be efficiently transmitted.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiments of the present invention include the following inventions. (1) A telephone device which is arranged within a predetermined range from an image pickup device, receives a transmission signal transmitted from the image pickup device, and automatically transmits an image signal to a desired place, the image pickup device A transmission / reception means for receiving a transmission signal transmitted from the image pickup apparatus and transmitting a transmission for notifying the image pickup apparatus of a communication state; and a transmission signal separation section for separating the transmission signal from the image pickup apparatus into an image signal and a control signal. A telephone device comprising: a modulating means for modulating the image signal into a modulated image signal suitable for a telephone line; and a telephone means for transmitting the image modulated signal. (2) In the above (1), the telephone device further comprises ID signal adding means for adding an ID signal for identifying a sender to the image signal separated by the transmission signal separating means. The telephone device described. (3) The telephone device further includes a call charge calculation unit that calculates a call charge based on the telephone number of the transmission destination from the control signal and the call time, and a display unit that displays the call charge. The telephone device according to (1) above.

[0040]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a small electronic camera system capable of high-speed image data transmission and having good operability and portability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the electronic camera system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image pickup apparatus 100.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the telephone device 101.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Imaging unit, 2 ... Transmission signal generation circuit, 3 ... Transmission / reception circuit,
4 ... Image memory, 5 ... CPU, 6 ... Operation switch, 7 ...
Display unit, 8 ... Transceiver circuit, 9 ... Transmit signal separation circuit, 10
... ID signal addition circuit, 11 ... Modulation circuit, 12 ... Telephone circuit, 13 ... Image memory, 14 ... Call charge calculation circuit, 15 ...
Display unit, 16 ... CPU, 100 ... Imaging device, 101 ... Telephone device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photographing lens, image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image passing through the photographing lens into an image signal, and a control signal for controlling a telephone device is added to the image signal from the image pickup means and transmitted. An image pickup device having a transmission signal generation means for generating a signal and a transmission / reception means for transmitting the transmission signal and receiving a transmission signal from the telephone device; and a transmission signal transmitted from the image pickup device. A transmitting / receiving means for transmitting a signal for notifying the imaging device of the communication state, a transmission signal separating means for separating the transmission signal from the imaging device into an image signal and a control signal, and the image signal suitable for a telephone line. It is characterized by comprising a telephone device having a modulating means for modulating the modulated image signal and a telephone means for transmitting the image modulating signal and arranged within a predetermined range from the imaging device. Electronic camera system that. 2. The telephone device includes an I signal for identifying a sender in the image signal separated by the transmission signal separating means.
The electronic camera system according to claim 1, further comprising ID signal adding means for adding a D signal. 3. The telephone device comprises a call charge calculating means for calculating a call charge based on a destination telephone number and a call time included in at least the control signal, and a display means for displaying the call charge. The electronic camera system according to claim 1, further comprising: