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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera system for transmitting and
receiving data to and from a camera by obtaining information on the camera
or a photograph and communicating with the camera by using a commercially
available pocket computer or electronic organizer and a camera IC card
compatible therewith.
2. Related Background Art
In the past, data is exchanged with a camera to control various operations
based on the data. A personal computer or a controller is used as a unit
to receive and transmit such data.
However, since such a unit is of large size or needs an AC power supply, it
is inconvenient to carry it with the camera. Further, it is expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a camera system which is ready to carry and economic.
The camera system of the present invention comprises a terminal device
including an IC card for storing information on a camera, display means
for reading and displaying the information of the IC card and
communication means for transmitting those information of the read
information which are necessary to set an operation condition of the
camera, a camera having a connector for receiving the information
necessary to set the operation condition of the camera through the
connector, and connecting means for connecting the communication means of
the terminal device with the connector of the camera.
In the present camera system, the terminal device reads and displays the
information of an IC card which stores the information on the camera and
transmits the information to the camera when required to set the operation
condition of the camera. Normally, information on a photograph is obtained
from a display content of the terminal device, and a user takes a
necessary action in accordance with the information. When a complex camera
operation condition is to be set, necessary data is transmitted from the
terminal device to the camera so that the camera operation condition is
set in accordance with the data.
In accordance with the camera system of the present invention, the
explanation on the manipulation of the camera and the information on the
location of a service station are displayed by the portable terminal
device and the IC card, and necessary information is always available
where they are carried with the camera. Further, it can be readily
customized by interactive communication with the camera, and the setting
of a data pack which has heretofore been complex is facilitated. In the
past, a separate remote controller is needed to remotely control various
functions of the camera, and it is necessary to design such a remote
controller. By the use of the terminal device, only software need be
designed and the number of development steps is reduced. Thus, an
inexpensive system which has easy-to-use functions is provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A shows a system configuration of one embodiment of the present
invention,
FIG. 1B shows a keyboard 7 of a terminal device 2,
FIG. 2 shows an example of a displayed image,
FIGS. 3A to 3C show examples of displayed images,
FIGS. 4A to 4C show examples of displayed images,
FIGS. 5A to 5C show examples of the displayed images,
FIGS. 6A to 6C show examples of displayed images,
FIG. 7 shows an example of a displayed image,
FIGS. 8A to 8E show examples of displayed images,
FIGS. 9A to 9C show examples of displayed images,
FIG. 10 shows a sequence of transmitting and receiving signals,
FIG. 11 shows a detailed block diagram of a terminal device and an IC card,
FIG. 12 shows a detailed block diagram of a camera, and
FIG. 13 shows a flow chart of a signal transmission and reception process.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.
Numeral 1 denotes a camera, numeral 2 denotes a terminal device, numeral 3
denotes an IC card which is loadable to the terminal device 2 and which
stores a program for driving the terminal device 2, numeral 4 denotes a
cable for connecting the camera and the terminal device, numeral 5 denotes
a connector of the camera which includes a signal line terminal for
communicating with the terminal device 2, numeral 6 denotes a display of
the terminal device and numeral 7 denotes a keyboard (see FIG. 1B) of the
terminal device. A connector which engages with the connector 5 of the
camera 1 is provided at one end of the connection cable 4, and a connector
which engages with a communication connector (not shown) of the terminal
device 2 is provided at the other end.
The electrical connection between the camera 1 and the terminal device 2
includes at least three signal lines, a ground line, a signal line (TX)
for transmitting a stepping synchronous communication system signal (UART
signal) and a receiving signal line (RX). The ground lines of the camera 1
and the terminal device 2, the TX terminal of the camera 1 and the RX
terminal of the terminal device 2, and the RX terminal of the camera 1 and
the TX terminal of the terminal device 2 are connected together,
respectively.
FIG. 2 shows a menu display screen of the display 6 when the terminal
device 2 is driven by the camera IC card 3. Four items, "ELECTRONIC
MANUAL", "CAMERA DICTIONARY", "INFORMATION" and "COMMUNICATION WITH
CAMERA" are displayed, and only "ELECTRONIC MANUAL" is invertedly
displayed. It indicates that "ELECTRONIC MANUAL" is selected as default.
The inverted display is shifted to other item by depressing up/down keys
7a and 7b of the terminal device 2 shown in FIG. 1B. A desired item is
selected by the up/down keys 7a and 7b and an execution key or an
equivalent key is depressed to display the next image.
FIGS. 3A to 3C show displays of the display 6 which appear when the
execution key 7c is depressed while "ELECTRONIC MANUAL" of FIG. 2 is
selected. They display description equivalent to that of an operation
manual of the camera.
When the execution key 7c is depressed while "ELECTRONIC MANUAL" is
selected, the display shown in FIG. 3A appears. Form items, "BASIC
OPERATION", "ADVANCED OPERATION", "HOW TO USE FLASH LIGHT" and "HOW TO USE
DATA BACK" are displayed. When "BASIC OPERATION" is selected by depressing
the up/down keys 7a and 7b and the execution key 7c is depressed, four
items, "HOW TO CORRECT EXPOSURE", "HOW TO MULTIPLE-EXPOSE",
"AUTO-BRACKETING" and "PROGRAM SHIFT" appear. When "HOW TO EXPOSE" is
selected by depressing the up/down keys 7a and 7b and depressing the
execution key 7c, a manner to correct the exposure is displayed by a text,
as shown in FIG. 3C. In a similar manner, description on "ADVANCED
OPERATION", "HOW TO USE FLASH LIGHT" and "HOW TO USE DATA BACK" are
displayed by texts.
FIGS. 4A to 4C show displays of the display 6 when "CAMERA DICTIONARY" in
FIG. 2 is selected and the execution key 7c is depressed. FIG. 4A shows
terminologies relating to the camera. Four items "LENS", "FILM", "FLASH
LIGHT" and "LIGHTING" are displayed. When "LENS" is selected by depressing
the up/down keys 7a and 7b and the execution key 7c is depressed, the
display shown in FIG. 4B appears. Four items relating to the lens, "FOCAL
LENGTH", "F NUMBER AT OPEN APERTURE", "DEPTH OF FIELD" and "MAGNIFICATION"
are displayed as shown in FIG. 4B. When "F NUMBER AT OPEN APERTURE" is
selected by depressing the up/down keys 7a and 7b and the execution key 7c
is depressed, the description on the F number at the open aperture is
displayed as shown in FIG. 4C.
When "INFORMATION" of FIG. 2 is selected by depressing the up/down keys 7a
and 7b and the execution key 7c is depressed, the display shown in FIG. 5A
appears. Two items, "SERVICE STATION" and "SHOWROOM" are displayed as
shown in FIG. 5A. When "SERVICE STATION" is selected by the up/down keys
7a and 7b and the execution key 7c is depressed, the display shown in FIG.
5B appears. Four local areas of the service stations in Japan, "TOHOKU,
HOKKAIDO", "KANTO, CHUBU", "KINKI, CHUGOKU" and "SHIKOKU, KYUSHU" are
displayed. When "KANTO, CHUBU" is selected by depressing the up/down keys
7a and 7b and the execution key 7c is depressed, location, phone number
and closed day of one of the service stations are displayed as shown in
FIG. 5C. When there are other service stations in the "KANTO, CHUBU" area,
other function key of the display device 2 is depressed so that they are
sequentially displayed.
When "COMMUNICATION WITH CAMERA" of FIG. 2 is selected by depressing the
up/down keys 7a and 7b, the camera 1 and the terminal device 2 may be
connected by the cable 4 as shown in FIG. 1 to transmit or receive data
between the camera 1 and the terminal device 2 or send a command. When
"COMMUNICATION WITH CAMERA" of FIG. 2 is selected and the execution key 7c
is depressed, the display shown in FIG. 6A appears. Three items, "REMOTE
CONTROL", "USER CUSTOMIZATION" and "SETTING OF DATA BACK" are displayed.
When "REMOTE CONTROL" is selected, the camera 1 may be operated from the
terminal device 2. For example, a shutter speed may be changed or a
shutter may be released. When "USER CUSTOMIZATION" is selected, the
function of the camera may be set as the user desires. When "SETTING OF
DATA BACK" is selected, the data back of the camera may be set from the
terminal device 2.
When "USER CUSTOMIZATION" of FIG. 6A is selected by depressing the up/down
keys 7a and 7b and the execution key 7c is depressed, the display shown in
FIG. 6B appears. Four items, "SETTING OF ALARM FOR CAMERA SHAKE", "SETTING
OF FILM SENSITIVITY", "SETTING OF PROCESS FOR END OF FILM" and "SETTING OF
EASY LOAD" are displayed. When "SETTING OF ALARM FOR CAMERA SHAKE" is
selected by depressing the up/down keys 7a and 7c and depressing the
execution key 7c, the display of FIG. 6C appears. When an alarm by sound
is required for a limit to the camera shake, "YES" is selected by
depressing the up/down keys 7a and 7b, and when it is not required, "NO"
is selected, and the execution key is depressed so that a signal is sent
from the terminal device 2 to the camera 1 to allow the setting of the
selected alarm in the camera 1.
Where a plurality of IC cards 3 of the terminal device 2 are provided one
for each of the types of cameras 1, it cause a problem if the terminal
device IC card B is used for the communication with the camera A, because
the function and the data format vary from type to type of the camera.
Accordingly, when the communication is to be made between the camera 1 and
the terminal device 2, it is necessary to first identify the type. To this
end, a command which requests a type code of the camera 1 is sent from the
terminal device 2 to the camera 1, and the type data sent back from the
camera is compared with the type code stored in the IC card. When the type
codes match, the communication is permitted, and when they do not match,
an error message is displayed on the display 6 of the terminal device 2
and further communication is inhibited.
FIG. 7 shows an example of the error message displayed on the display 6. By
using a character code of the type of camera as the type code, the error
message as shown in FIG. 7 may be displayed.
When "REMOTE CONTROL" of FIG. 6A is selected by depressing the up/down keys
7a and 7b and the execution key 7c is depressed, the display shown in FIG.
8A appears. Six items, "REMOTE DISPLAY", "SETTING OF METERING MODE",
"SETTING OF SHUTTER SPEED", "SETTING OF APERTURE" and "SETTING OF FILM
SENSITIVITY" are displayed.
In FIG. 8A, a mark "*" is put on "SETTING OF SHUTTER SPEED". It indicates
that the selection of "SETTING OF SHUTTER SPEED" is not permitted because
a programmed auto-exposure control mode or an aperture priority
auto-exposure control mode is currently set as the auto-exposure control
mode of the camera 1. The mark "*" indicates the item which cannot be
selected depending on the setting of the photographing control condition
of the camera 1.
When "REMOTE DISPLAY" is selected by depressing the up/down keys 7a and 7b
and the execution key 7c is depressed, the display as shown in FIG. 8B
appears.
The display of FIG. 8B shows the current setting of the photographing
control condition of the camera 1. In the example of FIG. 8B, the
auto-exposure control mode is set to "P" or a programmed auto-exposure
control mode, the shutter speed to attain a proper exposure is set to
"125" or 1/125 second in accordance with a program diagram, the aperture
is set to "F 5.6", the metering mode is set to a fine-split multi-pattern
metering mode, a film having an ISO sensitivity of "DX" is not loaded, and
an in-focus state is attained by AF or auto-focusing detection.
When a HELP key 7f of the keyboard 7 in FIG. 1B is depressed in accordance
with the display of "HELP" in FIG. 8B, an error message shown in FIG. 8D
is displayed in text to inform to the user that a DX film is not loaded
and the ISO sensitivity should be manually set. When an ESC key 7g of the
keyboard 7 is thereafter depressed in accordance with the display of "ESC"
in FIG. 8D the display of FIG. 8B appears again. When the execution key 7c
is depressed while the display of FIG. 8B appears, the display of FIG. 6A
appears again.
FIG. 8C shows the display which appears when "SETTING OF EXPOSURE MODE" in
FIG. 8A is selected. It includes four exposure control modes, "P:
PROGRAMMED AUTO", "S: SHUTTER PRIORITY AUTO", "A: APERTURE PRIORITY AUTO"
and "M: MANUAL". When "P: PROGRAMMED AUTO" or the programmed auto-exposure
control mode is selected by depressing the up/down keys 7a and 7b and the
execution key 7c is depressed, a signal is sent from the terminal device 2
to the camera 1 to set the programmed auto-exposure control mode.
When "SETTING OF SHUTTER SPEED" is selected by depressing the up/down keys
7a and 7b and the execution key 7c is depressed, an error message as shown
by the text in FIG. 8B, that is, "PROGRAMMED AUTO MODE IS CURRENTLY
SELECTED. YOU CANNOT SET SHUTTER SPEED." is displayed because the camera 1
is now in the programmed auto-exposure control mode.
When "SETTING OF DATA BACK" of FIG. 6A is selected by depressing the
up/down keys 7a and 7b and the execution key 7c is depressed, the display
as shown in FIG. 9A appears. Three items, "SETTING OF TIME", "SETTING OF
DATA TO BE IMPRINTED" and "SETTING OF INTERVAL TIMER" are displayed.
When "SETTING OF TIME" in FIG. 9A is selected by depressing the up/down
keys 7a and 7b and the execution key 7c is depressed, the display as shown
in FIG. 9B appears. It displays the current year, month, day, hour and
minute by a clock built in the terminal device 2. The displayed time is
sent to the camera 1 asking whether it is to be set in the camera 1. When
the Y key of the keyboard 7 is depressed, it is sent to the camera 1 and
set therein, and when the N key is depressed, the time is not set.
When "INTERVAL TIMER" in FIG. 9A is selected by the up/down keys 7a and 7b
and the execution key 7c is depressed, the display as shown in FIG. 9C
appears. It displays the information on the interval timer which was
previously set, and the setting may be changed sequentially. A cursor is
moved to the numeric areas of "START AT", "INTERVAL" and "THE NUMBER OF
TIMES" in FIG. 9C so that the contents may be changed by depressing
numerical keys of the keyboard 7. After the numeric value is entered, the
execution key 7c is depressed so that the content set by the terminal
device 2 is sent to the camera 1 and set therein.
Usually, a power supply of the camera is automatically turned off a
predetermined time after certain operation. Usually, the time interval is
between 8-16 seconds. However, there is a problem if the power supply of
the camera 1 is turned off in such a short time after the communication
with the terminal device 2 has been established, because when a command is
to be sent to the camera 1 by manipulating the keyboard 7 of the terminal
device 7, the manipulation of the keyboard 7 may not be completed in 8-16
seconds. To avoid such a problem, the turn-off of the power supply of the
camera 1 is prevented by extending the timer interval when the
communication is established, inhibiting the timer operation, or sending a
specific command to the camera even if no transmission of the command or
data to the camera is required while the terminal device 2 is not operated
or the keyboard is manipulated.
In FIG. 10, the terminal device 2 requests the type code data to the camera
1, and the camera 1 responds thereto to transmit the camera type code. The
terminal device 2 compares the code with the code stored in the IC card 3,
and if they match, it sends a timer prolongation command to the camera 1.
If the type code of the camera 1 and the type code of the IC card 3 of the
terminal device 2 do not match, the terminal device 2 displays an error
message. An example thereof is shown in FIG. 7. When the character code
which represents the type of camera is used as the type code, the error
message is easy to recognize as shown in FIG. 7.
The timer prolongation command in FIG. 10 may be a command to inhibit the
power-off by the timer for the camera 1, or a command to set a longer
timer interval than a normal one. A command may be continuously sent at an
interval shorter than the timer interval of the camera 1 during the
operation of the terminal device 2 in order to prevent the power-off of
the camera 1. In this manner, inadvertent power-off of the camera during
the operation of the terminal device 2 is prevented.
FIG. 11 shows a detailed internal configuration of the terminal device 2
and the IC card 3 shown in FIG. 1A. Numeral 11 corresponds to the terminal
device 2 in FIG. 1A, numeral 12 denotes a CPU for carrying out an
arithmetic operation and controlling the terminal device 2, numeral 13
denotes a ROM which stores a program for controlling the CPU, numeral 14
denotes a RAM for storing data, numeral 15 denotes a display control
circuit such as an LCD driver, numeral 16 denotes a display such as an
LCD, numeral 17 denotes an input device such as a keyboard for entering a
command and data to the CPU, numeral 18 denotes a serial communication
control device for serially communicating with the camera and numeral 19
denotes a serial communication terminal. The ROM 13, the RAM 14 and the
display control circuit 15 are connected to the CPU 12 through an address
bus and a data bus. Numeral 21 corresponds to the IC card 3 in FIG. 1A,
numeral 22 denotes a ROM and numeral 23 denotes a RAM.
The terminal device 11 is usually operated by the program stored in the ROM
13. When the IC card 21 is connected and the operation thereby is
selected, the terminal device 11 is operated by the program stored in the
ROM 22 of the IC card 21.
FIG. 12 shows a portion of the configuration of the camera in the present
invention. Numeral 31 corresponds to the camera 1 in FIG. 1A, numeral 32
denotes a battery, and numeral 33 denotes a DC-DC converter for converting
the battery voltage to a stabilized voltage, which has a power input
terminal connected to the battery 32 and a CI terminal which is an input
terminal for controlling an output. When the CI terminal is grounded, a
stabilized voltage is produced at an output terminal Vout. Numeral 34
denotes a CPU which comprises arithmetic operation means, comparison
means, a ROM and a RAM. If further comprises memory means, timer means and
input/output means and controls the camera. Numeral 35 denotes an EEPROM
which is electrically writable and erasable memory means, numeral 36
denotes an FET, numerals 37 and 38 denote diodes, numeral 39 denotes a
switch and numeral 40 denotes a communication terminal.
The switch 39 serves to start the camera. It may be turned on at a first
stroke of a release button of the camera. When it is turned on, a signal
is applied to the CI terminal of the DC-DC converter 33 through the diode
37 so that the DC-DC converter 33 starts the operation and produces a
voltage at the output terminal Vout. Thus, the power is supplied to the
microcomputer 34, the EEROM 35 and other electronic circuits (not shown).
Thus, the microcomputer 34 starts the operation.
As the microcomputer 34 starts the operation, it produces a "1" level
output at an output port PO2. It is applied to a gate terminal of the FET
36 so that the FET 36 is turned on and a drain terminal thereof assumes a
"0" level. Thus, the CI terminal of the DC-DC converter 33 is "0" level
and the DC-DC converter 33 continues the operation.
A predetermined time after the end of the manipulation of the camera, the
output port PO2 of the microcomputer 34 produces the "0" level signal.
Thus, the CI terminal of the DC-DC converter 33 is "1" level and the
operation of the camera is terminated. The input port PO1 of the
microcomputer 34 reads the status of the switch 39. It is connected to one
end of the switch 39 through the diode 37.
The operation when "COMMUNICATION WITH CAMERA" in FIG. 2 is selected is now
explained. When "COMMUNICATION WITH CAMERA" is selected by the terminal
device 2, the terminal device 2 produces the serial signal at the serial
terminal 19 of FIG. 9. In order to identify the IC card loaded to the
terminal device and the type of camera to be communicated with, a command
requesting the camera type code is transmitted. The camera responds to the
command by producing the type code at the serial terminal (40 in FIG. 10).
The terminal device compares the code with the information of the IC card,
and if they match, it permits further communication and sends a command to
the camera not to time out the power-off timer of the camera.
A flow chart of the above process is shown in FIG. 13. When the
communication is started, the terminal device 2 sends the type code
request command to the camera 1 in a step 1. In a step 2, it receives data
from the camera 1. In a step 3, it compares the received data with the
code in the IC card, and if they match, it sends the timer prolongation
command to the camera in a step 4.
If data is not received from the camera within a predetermined time or if
the code does not match to the code in the IC card in the step 3, an error
message is displayed in the terminal device in a step 5 and the
communication is terminated. In the step 4, a timer-off inhibit command
may be sent to the camera. In a step 6, a command is sent to the camera
and the information of the camera is received. In a step 7, an end of
communication command is sent to the camera, and the camera resumes the
normal timer prolongation operation.
Alternatively, the communication may be repeatedly made at an interval
shorter than the timer interval of the camera. In this manner, the
power-off of the camera during the operation of the terminal device and
the disconnection of data communication between the terminal device and
the camera are prevented.
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