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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a still video camera, a remote controller, and a camera system which is composed of a still video camera and a remote controller.
2. Description of the Related Art
A camera system consisting of a still video camera and a remote controller is well known. A releasing operation is carried out by a remote control operation using the remote controller to take a picture of an object to be photographed.
In a still video camera, an image signal (image data) of an image taken by the camera is recorded (stored) in a non-volatile memory incorporated therein, in which data can be rewritten.
However, since the number of frames which can be recorded in the non-volatile memory is limited, if there is no room for recording the image data in the recording area of the non-volatile memory, it is necessary to erase a part or the whole of
the recorded image data in order to record new image data in the non-volatile memory, even if there is no unnecessary image data recorded in the non-volatile memory.
To solve this, it is possible to transmit image data to a personal computer, etc., through a wire or wireless transmission system to thereby record the image data in the memory of the personal computer. However, in this solution it is impossible
to record the image data in the absence of a personal computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a still video camera in which image data of an image taken by the camera can be transmitted using a wireless system to a remote controller, a remote controller in which image data can be
recorded, and a camera system consisting of a still video camera and a remote controller.
To achieve the object mentioned above, according to the present invention, there is provided a still video camera which receives a command signal from a remote controller through a radio communication, so that at least an image pickup operation
of the camera can be controlled in accordance with the command signal, having an image pickup device, a recording medium provided in the camera on which image data of an object image picked-up by the image pickup device is recorded, a recording means
provided in the camera for recording the image data on the recording medium, a signal receiving means provided in the camera for receiving the command signal from the remote controller, and a signal transmitting means provided in the camera for
radio-transmitting the image data to the remote controller.
The remote controller has a signal transmitting means provided in the remote controller for radio-transmitting the command signal to the still video camera, a signal receiving means provided in the remote controller for receiving image data of an
object image picked-up by the still video camera, a recording medium loading portion provided in the remote controller in which an external recording medium can be detachably loaded, and a recording means provided in the remote controller for recording
the image data received by the signal receiving means onto the recording medium loaded in the recording medium loading portion.
The remote controller includes a recording medium loading portion in which an external recording medium can be detachably loaded.
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 08-180047 (filed on Jun. 20, 1996) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a camera system according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a remote controller of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the remote controller shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a the remote controller shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing circuitry in a still video camera shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the remote controller shown in FIG. 2;
FIGS. 7a and 7b are side elevational views of a remote controller before and after being attached to a still video camera;
FIGS. 8a and 8b are timing charts showing the structure of an asynchronous serial signal (UART frame) and a signal according to an IrDA system (Ir frame);
FIGS. 9 through 11 are flow charts of a control operation of a system control circuit of a still video camera according to the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a control operation of a system control circuit of a remote controller according to the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of a remote controller in a camera system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and,
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing circuitry of the remote controller shown in FIG. 13.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A still video camera, a remote controller and a camera system according to the present invention will be discussed below.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a camera system 1. The camera system 1 consists of a still video camera (digital still camera, digital camera) 2 and a remote controller 3 which is adapted to remotely control various functions of the still
video camera 2.
The still video camera 2 includes a body 20 which is provided on a front surface 81 thereof with a photographing optical system (photographing lens) 5. A release switch 291, a mode selection switch 292, and a display portion 31 are provided on
an upper surface of the body 20. The camera body 20 is also provided therein with a view finder system 35 which extends between the front surface 81 and a rear surface of the camera body 20.
A remote controller mounting portion 36 to which the remote controller 3 can be mounted, is provided on the front surface 81 of the still video camera 2.
The controller mounting portion 36 is provided with four magnets (permanent magnets) 37 which oppose four corresponding magnets 64 (FIG. 3) of the remote controller 3 when the remote controller 3 is mounted to the controller mounting portion 36.
The polarity of the four magnets 37 is opposite to the polarity of the corresponding magnets 64 of the remote controller 3.
As can be seen in FIGS. 7a and 7b, the controller mounting portion 36 is provided with a hole (controller slot) 361 in which a projection 62 (FIG. 4) of the controller 3 is inserted when the controller 3 is mounted to the controller mounting
portion 36. The controller slot 361 is provided on the bottom (innermost portion) thereof with a connector 34 which can be connected to a power source connector 63 of the controller 3.
As shown in FIG. 1, a connector portion is provided in the vicinity of the slot 361. The connector portion consists of an infrared ray emitting diode (signal emitter) 23, a photo diode (signal receiver) 24, and a support member 38 which supports
the emitter 23 and the receiver 24. The support member 38 is rotatable about a shaft 39 with respect to the camera body 20 in forward and reverse directions.
The support member 38 is substantially in the form of a semi-cylinder having a plane 381 on which the axis of the shaft 39, about which the support member 38 rotates, lies. The support member 38 is biased by a biasing means (not shown), such as
a spring, so that the plane 381 of the support member 38 is substantially flush with the front surface 81 of the camera body 20. Namely, the support member 38 is normally maintained in the position shown in FIG. 1.
The infrared ray emitting diode 23 and the photo diode 24 are located on the upper portion of the front surface of the support member 38 (in FIG. 1) and are exposed to the front surface 81 of the camera body 20.
The support member 38, the infrared ray emitting diode 23 and the photo diode 24 are arranged such that the infrared ray emitting diode 23 and the photo diode 24 are respectively opposed to a photo diode 52 and an infrared ray emitting diode 49
(FIG. 2) of the remote controller 3, when the remote controller 3 is mounted to the camera body 2.
With this arrangement, the infrared ray communication (radio communication) between the still video camera 2 and the remote controller 3 can be carried out not only when the remote controller 3 is mounted to the camera, but also when the remote
controller 3 is detached from the camera 2.
As can be seen in FIG. 2, the remote controller 3 has a casing 30 which is provided on the front surface thereof with a release switch 561, a mode selection switch 562, a CR mode reset switch 563, and a display portion 57, and on the upper
surface thereof with the infrared ray emitting diode (signal emitter) 49 and the photo diode (signal receiver) 52.
As can be seen in FIG. 3, the casing 30 is provided on the rear surface thereof with the magnets (permanent magnets) 64.
Looking at FIGS. 3 and 4, the projection 62 is provided on the upper portion of the rear surface of the casing 30 and projects in the left direction (in FIG. 4) to constitute a posture changing means. The width "a" of the projection 62 in the
vertical direction in FIG. 4 gradually decreases in the leftward direction. The power source connector 63 is provided on the front end (left end in FIG. 4) of the projection 62.
The projection 62 functions as a guide member to guide the connector 63 so as to connect the latter to the connector 34 of the still video camera 2 when the remote controller 3 is attached to the controller mounting portion 36 of the still video
camera 2.
The remote controller 3 is provided with a card loading portion (card slot) 42 in which a PC card (IC memory card) 71 is inserted, and an ejector button (lever) 44 which is adapted to eject the PC card 71. The card loading portion 42 is provided
on the innermost portion thereof with a connector 43.
The card loading portion 42 has an insertion opening 421 which opens in the downward direction in FIG. 2. The ejector lever 44 is located on the lower end surface of the casing 30 in FIG. 2. Thus, the insertion of the PC card 71 in the card
loading portion 42 and the removal thereof from the card loading portion 42 can be carried out not only when the remote controller 3 is detached from the camera body but also when the remote controller 3 is attached to the camera body 20.
The PC card 71 is provided with an IC (Integrated Circuit) memory incorporated therein to record (store) image signals (image data). The PC memory is an external card memory which can be detachably attached to the remote controller 3. The
external card memory 71 has an area in which the image data is recorded and an area in which data inherent to the card (inherent card data) is recorded. The inherent card data includes, for example, the type of memory (e.g., static RAM, flash memory,
etc.), the storage capacity of the memory, or access speed, etc.
When the PC card 71 is to be loaded in the card loading portion 42, the PC card 71, which is held by an operator's hand, is inserted in the insertion opening 421 until the PC card 71 reaches the innermost portion of the card loading portion 42
and thereafter, the PC card is further depressed to connect the connector terminal of the PC card to the connector terminal of the connector 43.
The remote controller 3 is provided with a card conveyance mechanism (not shown) which is actuated by an operation of the ejector lever 44 to discharge the PC card 71 from the card loading portion 42.
The still video camera 2 includes an image pickup portion having a CCD (image pickup device) 6 and an image pickup circuit 7, as shown in FIG. 5. The CCD 6 consists of a large number of pixels in a matrix arrangement. Each pixel accumulates
therein electric charges corresponding to the amount of light received thereby and the accumulated charges are successively transferred at a predetermined time. The CCD 6 is disposed on an image pickup surface located behind the photographing lens
system 5.
The image pickup circuit 7 controls the CCD 6 to read and process the signals recorded in the CCD 6. The input terminal of the image pickup circuit 7 is connected to the output terminal of the CCD 6.
In the illustrated embodiment which is applied to a still video camera 2 for photographing a color image, a CCD of complementary color filter type is used as the CCD 6. Each pixel (smallest unit) of the CCD 6 is provided with filters which
separate magenta (Mg), yellow (Ye), cyan (Cy) and green (G). An image of an object is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 6 by the photographing lens system 5.
The still video camera 2 includes a system control circuit (control means) 4. The system control circuit 4 can be made of, for example, a micro computer which controls various functions of the still video camera, such as a sequence control or an
infrared ray communication, etc.
The system control circuit 4 is connected to an operating portion 29 and a display portion 31.
The operating portion 29 is provided with the power switch (main switch), the release switch 291, and the mode selection switch 292 which is actuated to select one of the modes consisting of record mode/reproduction mode/erase mode/CR mode (i.e.,
transmission mode in which a signal is transmitted from the still video camera to the remote controller)/RC mode (i.e., transmission mode in which a signal is transmitted from the remote controller to the still video camera).
For instance, necessary information regarding the ON/OFF state of the power switch, etc., the selected mode (record mode, reproduction mode, erase mode, CR mode, RC mode), year-month-day on which the object image is taken, current time, etc., is
indicated in the display portion 31 using a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a light emitting element, etc.
The power of a power source 32 is supplied to predetermined circuits (elements) of the still video camera 2 through a power circuit 33. A terminal of a power source connector 34 is connected to the power source 32.
As shown in FIG. 6, the remote controller 3 has a system control circuit (control means) 41 which can be made of a micro computer to control various functions of the remote controller 3, such as the sequence control or the infrared ray
communication, etc.
The system control circuit 41 is connected to an operating portion 56, a display 57, a remote controller control circuit (microcomputer) 51, and a PC card control circuit 45 which perform general control functions, such as recording or reading
data in or from the memory of the PC card 71. The PC card control circuit 45 is connected to the connector 43.
The operating portion 56 is provided with a power switch (main switch), the release switch 561, the mode selection switch 562 which is actuated to select the CR mode or the RC mode, and the CR mode reset switch 563, etc.
For instance, necessary information regarding the ON/OFF state of the power switch, etc., the selected mode (CR mode or RC mode), and the presence or absence of the PC card 71 is indicated in the display portion 57 using a liquid crystal display
(LCD) or a light emitter, etc. The terminal of the power source connector 63 is connected to a relay circuit 59.
As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, when the remote controller 3 is attached, that is, when the terminal of the connector 34 is connected to the terminal of the connector 63, the power of the power source 32 is supplied to the relay circuit 59, so
that the relay circuit 59 turns the power source 58 OFF. The power of the power source 32 is supplied to predetermined circuits (elements) of the remote controller 3 through the power source circuit 61.
When the remote controller 3 is detached from the still video camera, that is, when no terminal of the connector 34 is connected to the terminal of the connector 63, the relay circuit 59 turns the power source 58 ON. Consequently, the power of
the power source 58 is supplied to predetermined circuits (elements) of the remote controller 3 through the power source circuit 61.
The operation of the camera system 1 will be explained following a synopsis of the camera system 1.
In the camera system 1, not only can an object image be picked-up in accordance with a remote control operation by the remote controller 3, but also the image signal (image data) of the picked-up object image can be transmitted from the still
video camera 2 to the remote controller 3 through an infrared ray communication (radio communication), so that the image data can be recorded in the memory of the PC card 71 on the remote controller side.
The image data recorded in the memory of the PC card 71 is transmitted from the remote controller 3 to the still video camera 2 through the infrared ray communication, so that the image data can be reproduced or recorded in the flash memory 15 in
the still video camera 2.
The infrared ray communication can be carried out between the still video camera 2 and the remote controller 3 not only when the remote controller 3 is attached to the still video camera 2 but also when the remote controller 3 is detached
therefrom.
The operation when the remote controller 3 is mounted to the controller mounting portion 36 of the still video camera 2 will be discussed below with reference to FIGS. 7a and 7b.
When the remote controller 3 is not attached to the still video camera 2, the support member 38 is held in a first position shown as in FIG. 7a by a biasing means (not shown). Upon attachment of the remote controller 3 to the controller mounting
portion 36, the remote controller 3 is held by an operator's hand and is disposed in place to be opposed to the still video camera 2. The remote controller 3 is moved in the right direction as viewed in FIG. 7b to press the support member 38 by the
projection 62, so that the support member 38 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction against the biasing means. Consequently, the projection 62 is inserted in the hole 361, and the terminal of the connector 63 is connected to the terminal of the
connector 34.
The remote controller 3 is firmly connected to the controller mounting portion 36 due to the magnetic attraction produced between the magnets 64 and the magnets 37. The end of the support member 38 abuts against the upper surface of the
projection 62, so that the support member 38 is held in a second position shown in FIG. 7b.
When the remote controller 3 is attached to the still video camera 2, the infrared ray emitting diode 49 and the photo diode 52 of the remote controller 3 are respectively opposed to the photo diode 24 and the infrared ray emitting diode 23 of
the still video camera 2. Thus, the infrared emitted from the infrared ray emitting diode 23 are received by the photo diode 52, and the infrared emitted from the infrared ray emitting diode 49 are received by the photo diode 24.
To detach the remote controller 3 from the controller mounting portion 36 of the still video camera 3, the remote controller 3 is moved in the left direction as viewed in FIG. 7b against the magnetic attraction of the magnets 64 and 37, so that
the projection 62 is withdrawn from the hole 361. The support member 38 is rotated in the clockwise direction by the biasing force of the biasing means and is returned to and held in the first position shown in FIG. 7a.
The controller of the camera system 1 operates as follows.
In the still video camera 2, the mode set commands, i.e., the record mode set command, the reproduction mode set command, the erase mode set command, the CR mode set command, and the RC mode set command, are cyclically input to the system control
circuit 4 each time the mode selection switch 292 is actuated.
The system control circuit 4 sets the "record mode", "reproduction mode", "erase mode", "CR mode", or "RC mode" in accordance with the mode set command.
The CR mode refers to a transmission mode of the still video camera 2 in which the signal is transmitted from the still video camera 2 to the remote controller 3 (i.e., the receipt mode of the remote controller 3), and the RC mode refers to a
transmission mode of the remote controller 3 in which the signal is transmitted from the remote controller 3 to the still video camera 2 (i.e., the receipt mode of the still video camera 2), as mentioned before.
In the still video camera 2, when the release switch 29 of the camera body is turned ON in the record mode, reproduction mode, erase mode, CR mode, and RC mode, an image pickup/record trigger, a reproduction trigger, an erase trigger, a
transmission trigger, a receipt trigger, and a record trigger, are input to the system control circuit 4, respectively. In response to the detection of the image pickup/record trigger, the reproduction trigger, the erase trigger, the transmission
trigger, the receipt trigger, and the record trigger, the recording operation (image pickup and record), the playing operation (commencement or stop of the playing operation), the erase, the transmission and the recording operation are carried out.
In the remote controller 3, when the mode selection switch 562 is actuated in the neutral position (i.e., in neither the CR mode nor the RC mode), the RC mode set command is input to the system control circuit 41. If the mode selection switch
562 is actuated in the RC mode, the CR mode set command is input to the system control circuit 41. If the CR mode reset switch 563 is turned ON in the CR mode, the CR mode reset command is input to the system control circuit 41.
The system control circuit 41 sets the "CR mode" or the "RC mode" in response to the mode set command. The system control circuit 41 releases the CR mode when the CR mode reset command is detected. Consequently, the neutral position is
obtained.
In the remote controller 3, when the release switch 561 is actuated in the neutral position, the image pickup/record command is input to the system control circuit 41. If the release switch 561 is actuated in the RC mode, the transmission
trigger is input to the system control circuit 41. In accordance with the detection of the image pickup/record command and the transmission trigger, the transmission of the image pickup/record trigger and the image data is carried out.
The operation of the camera system 1 in each mode will be described below.
1) <Still Video Camera 2: Record Mode>
As mentioned above, when the record mode set command is input to the system control circuit 4 in accordance with the operation of the mode selection switch 292 by an operator, the record mode is set by the system control circuit 4.
If the release switch 291 of the camera body is turned ON, the image pickup/record trigger is input to the system control circuit 4, and in synchronization with this, the exposure operation for the CCD 6 is carried out under predetermined
conditions. Consequently, electric charges depending on the amount of light corresponding to the object image are accumulated in each pixel of the CCD 6. The accumulated charges are successively transferred to the image pickup circuit 7.
The signal output from the CCD 6 is subject to a predetermined signal processing operation in the image pickup circuit 7 to obtain an analog image signal of the object image photographed, i.e., an analog brightness signal (Y) and an analog
chromatic signal (C).
The analog image signal is converted into a digital image signal (image data), i.e., a digital brightness signal (Y) and a digital chromatic signal (C), by an A/D converter 8. The digital signals are written at a predetermined address of the
image memory 11 through a data selector 9 which selects a receiver. The selection in the data selector 9 is controlled by the system controller 4.
Thereafter, the digital image signal is read from the predetermined address of the image memory 11.
The digital image signal thus read is compressed by an image compression circuit 12 and is input to the flash memory control circuit 14 through the system control circuit 4. Consequently, the image signal is recorded (stored) in the flash memory
(non-volatile memory in which data is erasable and rewritable) 15 at a predetermined address. Note that in the illustrated embodiment, the image data for one image (image plane) is stored in the flash memory 15.
In the case that the image pickup is carried out in accordance with a remote control operation by the remote controller 3, the upper surface of the remote controller 3 is opposed to the front surface of the still video camera 2.
As shown in FIG. 6, if the release switch 561 of the remote controller 3 is turned ON, the LED driver 48 is activated by the remote controller control circuit 51 to drive the infrared LED 49 to thereby emit infrared. Consequently, the signal
which represents the image pickup/record trigger is transmitted.
This signal, i.e., the infrared received by the photo diode 24 of the still video camera 2, is amplified by a preamplifier 25, and is then shaped by a wave shaping circuit 26, before being input to an infrared ray receiving decoder 27 and a micro
computer 28 for the remote controller. Note that the infrared ray receiving decoder 27 does not operate even if the signal is input thereto from the wave shaping circuit 26 (no demodulation of the signals is effected).
The image pickup/record trigger is produced in the micro computer for the remote controller, in accordance with the signal input from the wave shaping circuit 26.
The image pickup/record trigger is input to the system control circuit 4 and, in synchronization therewith, the exposure for the CCD 6 is carried out under predetermined exposure conditions. Consequently, electric charges depending on the
quantity of light depending on the object image are accumulated in each pixel of the CCD 6. The subsequent operations are the same as those mentioned above, and hence no explanation thereof will be given hereinafter.
2) <Still Video Camera 2: Reproduction Mode>
As mentioned before, when the reproduction mode set command is i | | |
