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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera with a detachable display panel that is usable
as a remote controller and a method of operating the digital camera
are provided. The digital camera includes (1) a camera body to photograph
a subject, generate and process a photographed image of the subject;
(2) a display panel that is detachable from the camera body and
capable of remotely operating the camera body and displaying the
photographed image; and (3) a coupling means to combine or separate
the camera body and the display panel, wherein the camera body and
the display panel communicate wirelessly to each other when separated.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A digital camera, the digital camera comprising: a body portion
for capturing and processing an image of a subject, the body portion
comprising a lens unit that receives light from the subject to be
photographed by the camera, an optical-to-electrical conversion
unit that converts the received light into electrical signals, and
a digital processor that receives the signals generated by the optical-to-electrical
conversion unit and processes the signals to generate an image of
the signal; and a display panel, coupled to and detachable from
the body portion, wherein the display panel performs steps comprising:
when the display panel is detached from the body portion, wirelessly
communicating with the body portion; receiving the image from the
body portion; displaying the received image on the display panel;
and in response to a user input at the display panel, transmitting
a command to the body portion.
2. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the display panel includes
a touch screen capable of receiving a user's command.
3. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises
means for indicating whether a wireless communication link between
the body portion and the display panel is operating normally.
4. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises
means for a user to enter a command for the body portion to photograph
the subject.
5. The digital camera of claim 2, wherein the display panel comprises:
a first display area to display the image of the subject photographed
by the body portion; and a second display area to display menu buttons
for operating the body portion and for manipulating the photographed
image displayed on the first display area; and a plurality of terminals
to transmit or receive power or data between the display panel and
the body portion when the display panel is attached to the body
portion.
6. The digital camera of claim 5, wherein the display panel further
comprises: a sensor unit to detect a user's touch on the display
panel; a power unit for providing power to the display panel; a
digital processor for controlling operations of the display panel
and the body portion in response to an input detected by the sensor
unit; and a memory.
7. The digital camera of claim 6, wherein the digital processor
enables the power unit if the display panel and the body portion
are detached from one another and disables the power unit if the
display panel and the body portion are attached to one another.
8. The digital camera of claim 6, wherein the memory stores images
which were captured by the body portion and transmitted to the display
panel.
9. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the body portion receives
the display panel when the display panel is coupled to the body
portion.
10. The digital camera of claim 9, wherein the body portion further
comprises at least one groove for receiving a corresponding ridge
on the display panel and a lock for fixing the position of the display
panel relative to the body portion.
11. A display panel for a digital camera, the display panel comprising:
a display screen for displaying images captured by the photographing
apparatus; means for wirelessly exchanging data with the photographing
apparatus from a location remote from the photographing apparatus;
a user input unit for receiving user instructions for the operation
of the display panel and the photographing apparatus; and a digital
processor for directing the operation of the display panel and controlling
the operation of the means for exchanging data with the photographing
apparatus.
12. The display panel of claim 11, further comprising a plurality
of terminals to transmit or receive power or data between the display
panel and the camera body when the display panel is attached to
the camera body.
13. The display panel of claim 11, wherein the display screen is
a touch screen.
14. The display panel of claim 13, further comprising a sensor
unit to detect a user's touch on the display screen.
15. The display panel of claim 14, wherein a first display area
of the display screen displays an image of a subject photographed
by a photographing apparatus and a second display area of the display
screen displays a plurality of buttons capable of generating command
signals when a user touches any of the plurality of buttons.
16. The display panel of claim 15, wherein the plurality of buttons
comprises buttons selected from the group consisting of a shutter
release button, a wide-angle zoom button, a telephoto zoom button,
a menu button, a direction button, a focusing method button, a display
screen control button, a playback control button, and a photographing
settings adjustment button.
17. A method of operating a digital camera comprising a camera
body that photographs a subject and processes the photographed image
of the subject and a display panel that is coupled to and detachable
from the camera body for remotely instructing the camera body's
operation and displaying the images of subjects photographed by
the camera body, the method comprising: detecting whether the display
panel is detached from the camera body; determining whether the
display panel and camera body are communicating with each other
normally; if the display panel and camera body are not communicating
normally, displaying a warning message; if the display panel and
camera body are communicating normally, determining whether the
camera body has received a command signal from the display panel;
and if the camera body has received a command signal from the display
panel, performing an operation corresponding to the command signal.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: if the display
panel is detached from the camera body, supplying power to the display
panel via a display panel power unit.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein the display panel includes
a touch screen capable of receiving a user's command.
20. The method of claim 17, wherein the display panel and the camera
body communicate wirelessly when the display panel is detached from
the camera body.
Digital Camera Patent Description
[0001] This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application
No. 10-2004-0075076, filed on Sep. 20, 2004, in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein
in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a digital camera and a
method of operating the digital camera. More particularly, it relates
to a digital camera with a detachable touch screen display panel
that is usable as a remote controller and to a method of operating
the digital camera.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional digital camera.
[0006] Referring to FIG. 1, the digital camera includes a microphone
MIC, a self-timer lamp 11, a flash 12, a shutter release button
13, a mode dial 14, a function select button 15, a photograph information
display 16, a viewfinder 17a, a function block button 18, a flash-intensity
sensor 19, a lens 20, and an external interface 21.
[0007] The self-timer lamp 11 operates during a time period from
when the shutter release button 13 is pressed until a shutter starts
operating. The mode dial 14 is used by a user to select various
modes, such as, a still picture photography mode, a night view photography
mode, a motion picture photography mode, a replay mode, a computer
connection mode, and a system setup mode. The function select button
15 can also be used by the user to select one of the modes of the
digital camera 1, such as, the still picture photography mode, the
night view photography mode, the motion picture photography mode,
and the replay mode. The photography information display 16 displays
information of photographic functions. The function block button
18 is used by the user to select any of the functions displayed
on the photography information display 16.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the conventional digital camera
of FIG. 1.
[0009] Referring to FIG. 2, the digital camera includes a speaker
SP, a power button 31, a monitor button 32, an automatic focus lamp
33, a viewfinder 17b, a flash standby lamp 34, a display panel 35,
an exposure correct/delete button 36, an enter/replay button 37,
a menu/OK button 38, a wide angle zoom button 39w, a telephoto zoom
button 39t, an up shift button 40up, a right shift button 40ri,
a down shift button 40lo, and a left shift button 40le on the backside.
[0010] The monitor button 32 is used by the user to adjust operations
of the display panel 35. For example, if the user presses the monitor
button 32 a first time, a photographed image of a subject and corresponding
photography information are displayed on the display panel 35. If
the monitor button 32 is pressed a second time, only the photographed
image is displayed on the display panel 35. And if the monitor button
32 is pressed a third time, the power supplied to the display panel
35 is cut off. The monitor button 32 is also used to select the
image in parts for a resolution change.
[0011] The automatic focus lamp 33 operates right after an automatic
focusing is complete.
[0012] The flash standby lamp 34 operates when a flash 12 of FIG.
1 is on standby.
[0013] The exposure correct/delete button 36 is used to adjust
light intensity, or used as a delete button while the user establishes
any modes. The exposure correct/delete button 36 is also used to
consecutively select the image for a resolution change.
[0014] The enter/replay button 37 is used for receiving data entered
by the user, or used to instruct to pause or play in the replay
mode.
[0015] The menu/OK button 38 is used to display and select a menu
of a mode selected by the mode dial 14.
[0016] The up, right, down, and/or left shift buttons 40up, 40ri,
40lo, and/or 40le are also used while the user establishes modes.
[0017] Recently, a digital camera with a detachable LCD panel usable
as a remote controller has been developed. However, this disclosed
digital camera comprises a camera body to capture images and a separate
receiver to receive and display the captured images. These components
are separated from each other and are restricted in function in
that unidirectional communication is used to send captured images
to the receiver. In addition, such a digital camera is bulky and
difficult to operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The present invention provides a digital camera with a touch
screen display panel that is detachable from a camera body and usable
as a remote controller. A method of operating the digital camera
is also provided.
[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there
is provided a digital camera comprising: a camera body to photograph
a subject and to generate and process a photographed image of the
subject; a display panel that is detachable from the camera body
and is used to remotely operate the camera body and display the
photographed image; and a coupling means to combine or separate
the camera body and the display panel, wherein the camera body and
the display panel communicate to each other via wire or wirelessly
when separated.
[0020] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
display panel is a touch screen that receives a user's command.
[0021] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
display panel comprises: a display to indicate whether a wireless
communication is being normally performed between the camera body
and the display panel; and a shutter release button to enter a command
for the camera body to photograph the subject.
[0022] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a front
view of the display panel comprises: a first display area to display
an image of a subject photographed by the camera body; and a second
display area to display menu buttons which a user touches in order
to manipulate the photographed image displayed on the first display
area or to input a command to operate the camera body.
[0023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a backside
of the display panel comprises: a plurality of terminals to transmit
or receive power or data to or from the camera body when the display
panel is attached to the camera body.
[0024] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
camera body comprises: a photography unit to photograph the subject
and convert the result to an electrical photographed image; a image
processor to process the photographed image according to a user's
command; a data transmitting/receiving unit to transmit or receive
data (including the image) to or from the display panel by a wire
or wirelessly; and a micro-controller to perform functions such
as checking whether the display panel is detached from the camera
body, determining a data communication state with the display panel,
controlling the camera body to transmit the photographed image to
the display panel, and controlling the camera body to perform an
operation according to a command received from the display panel.
[0025] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
display panel comprises: a data transmitting/receiving unit to communicate
data with the camera body by a wire or wirelessly; a display to
display a menu for adjusting the photographed image received from
the camera body or for remotely instructing the camera body's operation;
a sensor unit to detect a touch on the menu displayed on the display;
and a micro-controller to perform functions such as checking whether
the display panel is detached from the camera body and controlling
the display panel to transmit a signal generated by the touch on
the menu to the camera body if the display panel is detached.
[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
digital camera further comprises a memory to store the image photographed
by the camera body.
[0027] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
digital camera further comprises a power unit to supply power to
the detached display panel.
[0028] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
micro-controller enables a display panel power unit if the display
panel is detached from the camera body and disables the display
panel power unit if the display panel is attached to the camera
body.
[0029] According to another embodiment of the invention, there
is provided a method of operating a digital camera comprising a
camera body that photographs a subject and processes the photographed
image of the subject, and a display panel that is detachable from
the camera body and is capable of remotely instructing the camera
body's operation and displaying the photographed image received
from the camera body, the method comprising: determining whether
the display panel is detached from the camera body; determining
a communication state between the camera body and the display panel;
and performing an operation according to a command received through
the display panel, if the display panel is detached and the communication
state is normal.
[0030] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
display panel is a touch screen that can receive a user's command.
[0031] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
method further comprises supplying power to the display panel with
a display panel power unit if it is determined that the display
panel is detached from the camera body.
[0032] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
method further comprises displaying the communication state on the
display panel to indicate whether the communication state is normal
or abnormal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] The above and other aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred
embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:
[0034] FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional digital camera;
[0035] FIG. 2 is a rear view of a conventional digital camera;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a rear view of a digital camera with a touch screen
display panel usable as a remote controller, according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 4 shows a digital camera with a touch screen display
panel detached from the camera body, according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0038] FIGS. 5A and 5B are front and rear views of the touch screen
display panel of FIG. 4;
[0039] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a digital camera
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0040] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating
a digital camera with a touch screen display panel that is usable
as a remote controller.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now
be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a rear view of a digital camera with a touch screen
display panel that is usable as a remote controller, according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 3, the digital camera consists of a camera
body 300 including a shutter release button 300-1, a power key 300-2,
and a viewfinder 300-3, and a touch screen display panel 400 that
is detachable from the camera body 300.
[0044] The camera body 300 does not include all of the buttons
required by a user to operate the camera, since buttons are also
displayed on the touch screen display panel 400.
[0045] Displaying the manipulation buttons on the touch screen
display panel 400 possibly causes the display panel 400 to be larger
in size than it would be if such buttons were not displayed, but
the size of the camera body 300 may be reduced because it does not
have to include manipulation buttons.
[0046] FIG. 4 shows a digital camera with the touch screen display
panel 400 detached from the camera body 300, according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0047] While in a detached state, the camera body 300 and the touch
screen display panel 400 perform wireless data communication with
each other.
[0048] The camera body 300 has a sliding groove 300-4 through which
the touch screen display panel 400 is attached to or detached from
the camera body 300, a lock 300-5 that is used for the touch screen
display panel 400 to be fixed in the sliding groove 300-4, and a
terminal 300-6 for transmitting/receiving power and data to/from
the display panel when the touch screen display panel 400 is attached
to the camera body 300.
[0049] FIGS. 5A and 5B are front and rear views of the detached
touch screen display panel 400 of FIG. 4, respectively.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 5A, the detached touch screen display panel
400 comprises a sliding groove 400-1 through which the display panel
400 can be attached to or detached from the camera body 300, a display
400-2 to display a communication state between the detached touch
screen display panel 400 and the camera body 300, and a shutter
release button 400-3 to remotely instruct the camera body 300 to
photograph a subject.
[0051] The touch screen display panel 400 is divided into two display
areas: a first display area 400-4, and a second display area 400-5.
The first display area 400-4 displays the image photographed and
processed by the camera body 300. The second display area 400-5
displays a menu which enables a user to adjust the image displayed
on the first display area 400-4 or remotely instruct the camera
body 300 to operate when menu buttons are touched by the user.
[0052] An enlarged version of the photographed image can be displayed
by setting the menu to enable the display panel 400 to display the
image on an enlarged display area comprised of the first display
area 400-4 and the second display area 400-5. When an image is displayed
on both the first display area 400-4 and the second display area
400-5, the menu does not appear on the second display area 400-5.
[0053] The menu displayed on the second display area 400-5 comprises
a plurality of buttons: a zoom W/T button 400-5a, an M (menu) button
400-5b, a direction button 400-5c, an Adj button 400-5d, an MF button
400-5e, an LCD button 400-5f, and a Play button 400-5g.
[0054] The zoom W/T button is used as an optical zoom button or
a digital zoom button. If a T button of the zoom W/T is pressed,
the subject being photographed appears to come closer to the camera
body 300, and if a W button is pressed, the subject appears further
from the camera body 300.
[0055] If the M button 400-5b is touched once, a menu of an operational
mode of the digital camera is displayed, and if it is touched one
more time, the display returns to a previous display state.
[0056] The direction button 400-5c is used to move across the menu
for operating the digital camera.
[0057] The Adj button 400-5d is used to select an exposure correction
button, a white balance button, an ISO button, an RGB button, an
A/S/M button, or an extended shutter time button for the photography
mode. If the user touches the Adj button 400-5d and then touches
the exposure correction button, the extent of the exposure appropriate
for a corresponding photography situation can be manually adjusted.
If the user touches the Adj button 400-5d and next touches the white
balance button, white balance can be adjusted to obtain a natural
tone of images. If the user touches the Adj button 400-5d and next
the ISO (a unit of film sensitivity) button, sensitivity in photographing
an image can be selected. If the user touches the Adj button 400-5d
and next the RGB button, R, G, B values of the image to be photographed
are adjusted. If the user touches the Adj button 400-5d and next
the A/S/M button, a speed of the shutter or a value of an iris can
be set up, as planned by the user. If the user touches the Adj button
400-5d and next the extended shutter time button, the speed of the
shutter or the value of the iris in night view mode can be set up.
[0058] The MF button 400-5e is for setting a focusing method. Whenever
the MF button 400-5e is touched, the focusing method sequentially
changes between manual focusing, consecutive automatic focusing,
and automatic focusing.
[0059] The LCD button 400-5f is a button for turning the display
panel 400 on or off; if it is touched once, the display panel 400
is turned on, and then if it is touched one more time, the display
panel 400 is turned off.
[0060] The play button 400-5g is a button for starting or stopping
motion picture reproduction.
[0061] On the backside of the touch screen display panel, as shown
in FIG. 5B, there is a terminal 400-6 for transmitting/receiving
power and data to/from the camera body 300 when the touch screen
display panel 400 is attached to the camera body 300.
[0062] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration
of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention,
the digital camera comprising the camera body 300 and the touch
screen display panel 400 that is detachable from the camera body
300.
[0063] The digital camera body 300 will now be described with reference
to FIGS. 3-4 and 6.
[0064] An optical system (OPS) comprising lens and filter units
(not shown) optically processes light reflected from a subject being
photographed. The lens unit of the OPS includes a zoom lens (ZL),
a focus lens (FL), and a correction lens (CL).
[0065] When a wide-angle zoom command or a telephoto zoom command
is received from the display panel 400, wherein the command is generated
according to a user's manipulation on the display panel 400, a corresponding
command signal is input to a micro-controller 600. Accordingly,
the micro-controller 600 controls the lens driver 602 to drive a
zoom motor (M.sub.Z) to move the ZL. Specifically, when the wide-angle
zoom button W of the zoom W/T button 400-5a of the display panel
400 shown in FIG. 5A is pressed by the user, and a corresponding
wide-angle zoom command is generated and transmitted to the micro-controller
600 of the camera body 300, the micro-controller 600 controls a
focal length of the ZL to be shorter and the angle of view to be
wider. If the telephoto zoom button T of the zoom W/T button 400-5a
of the display panel 400 shown in FIG. 5A is pressed by the user
and a corresponding telephoto zoom command is generated and transmitted
to the micro-controller 600 of the camera body 300, the micro-controller
600 controls the focal length of the ZL to be longer and the angle
of view to be narrower. Afterwards, the micro-controller 600 transmits
the resulting image to the touch screen display panel 400. The micro-controller
600 transmits the resulting image to the touch screen display panel
400 wirelessly if the touch screen display panel 400 is detached
from the camera body 300.
[0066] The micro-controller 600 obtains the angle of view .theta.
with respect to a position of ZL from the design specification of
OPS. Here, since the position of the focal lens is adjusted after
the position of ZL is set, the angle of view .theta. is hardly affected
by the position of FL. The correction lens CL corrects a refractive
index and does not operate independently.
[0067] M.sub.A is a motor to drive an aperture (not shown). The
rotating angle of M.sub.A depends on whether the digital camera
is in a designated exposure mode. The designated exposure mode is
a mode in which, if a certain range of a photography area selected
by the user corresponds to a designated detection range displayed
on the display panel 400, the intensity of the exposure of the digital
camera is set up with respect to an average brightness of the designated
detection range.
[0068] In the filter unit of the OPS, an optical low-pass filter
OLPF eliminates optical noise with high frequency components. In
addition, an infrared cut filter IRF cuts off infrared components
of incident light.
[0069] An Optical-to-Electrical conversion unit (OEC) including
a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor
(CMOS) converts the light received from the OPS to an electrical
analog signal. For this, a digital signal processor (DSP) 604 controls
a timing circuit 606 to control operations of OEC and an analog-to-digital
converter 608. The analog-to-digital converter 608, referred to
as a correlation double sampler and analog-to-digital converter
CDS-ADC, handles an analog signal received from OEC to eliminate
high frequency noise therefrom, adjust an amplitude thereof, and
then converts it to a digital signal. The digital signal processor
604 processes the digital signal received from the CDS-ADC 608 to
generate a digital image signal divided into luminance and chroma
signals.
[0070] A light emitting unit 610 driven by the micro-controller
600 includes a self-timer lamp, an automatic-focus lamp, and a flash-standby
lamp.
[0071] A Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAM) 612 temporarily stores
the digital image signal received from the digital signal processor
604.
[0072] An Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)
614 stores algorithms and data settings which are required for the
operation of the digital signal processor 604.
[0073] A memory card interface (MCI) 616 accepts a detachable user
memory card (not shown).
[0074] The digital image signal from the digital signal processor
604 is transmitted to the display panel 400 via the data transmitting/receiving
unit 632 of the camera body 300. The digital image signal from the
digital signal processor 604 may also be transmitted as serial communications
through a universal serial bus USB connector 618a or through an
RS232C interface 620 using a connector 618b. The digital image signal
may also be output to the display panel 400 as a video signal via
a video filter 622 and a video output 618c.
[0075] An audio processor 624 is capable of relaying an audio signal
received from a microphone MIC to the digital signal processor 604
or to a speaker SP. The audio processor 624 is also used to output
an audio signal received from the digital signal processor 604 to
the speaker SP.
[0076] A flash 626 is controlled by both the micro-controller 600
and a flash controller 630 in response to a signal generated by
a flash intensity sensor FS 628.
[0077] When the display panel 400 is detached from the camera body
300, a data transmitting/receiving unit 632 wirelessly receives
a command to perform an operation from the detached display panel
400, performs a corresponding operation according to the command,
and wirelessly transmits the result back to the display panel 400.
If the display panel 400 is attached to the camera body 300, the
data transmitting/receiving unit 632 communicates with the display
panel 400 by a wire, via the terminal 300-6 as shown in FIG. 4.
[0078] When power for operating the camera body 300 is supplied
from a power unit 634, the camera body 300 starts operating, executes
operations according to commands received from the detached display
panel 400, and returns the result to the display panel 400.
[0079] The display panel 400, which is now assumed to be detached
from the camera body 300, will now be described. The display panel
400 is also used as a remote controller to remotely control operations
of the camera body 300.
[0080] A data transmitting/receiving unit 702 receives or transmits
signals from the camera body 300, under the control of a micro-controller
700 in the display panel 400.
[0081] A memory 704 stores menu data for the operation of the camera
body 300 and/or the photographed image signals transmitted by the
camera body 300 and through the display panel's data transmitting/receiving
unit 702.
[0082] A touch screen sensor unit 706 detects a touch on the menu
displayed on the second display area 400-5 (see FIG. 5A) of the
display 708. The detection result is output to the micro-controller
700, which generates a corresponding command to transmit to the
camera body 300 via the data transmitting/receiving unit 702.
[0083] An LCD driver 710 drives the LCD display unit 708 by a control
of the micro-controller 700.
[0084] A power unit 712 in the display panel 400 operates to supply
power to the display panel 400 only when the display panel 400 is
detached from the camera body 300. The micro-controller 700 detects
whether the display panel 400 is detached, and if so, enables the
operation of the power unit 712. If the display panel 400 is attached
to the camera body 300, the micro-controller 700 disables the operation
of the power unit 712.
[0085] When the user enters a command by touching one of menu buttons
400-5a to 400-5g (see FIG. 5A) to adjust the photographed image
displayed on the first display area 400-4 (see FIG. 5A) of the display
708, the command is wirelessly transmitted to the camera body 300
through the data transmitting/receiving unit 702. Then, the camera
body 300 performs a corresponding operation under the control of
the micro-controller 600 and transmits the result of the operation
back to the display panel 400 through the transmitting/receiving
unit 632 of the camera body 300. The user can also manipulate any
menu displayed on the second display area 400-5 to instruct the
camera body 300 to photograph a subject as desired.
[0086] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating
a digital camera with a touch screen display panel that is usable
as a remote controller. The method of FIG. 7 will now be described
with reference to FIGS. 4, 5B, 6 and 7.
[0087] First, in operation 70, the micro-controller 600 checks
whether the display panel 400 is attached to or detached from the
camera body 300. To do this, the micro-controller 600 checks whether
the terminal 300-6 of the camera body shown in FIG. 4 and the terminal
400-6 of the display panel 400 shown in FIG. 5B are coupled with
each other. If they are coupled to each other, the micro-controller
600 determines that the display panel 400 is attached to the camera
body 300; otherwise, it determines that the display panel 400 is
detached from the camera body 300.
[0088] When the micro-controller 600 determines that the display
panel 400 is attached to the camera body 300 in operation 71, the
power unit 634 of the camera body 300 supplies power to the display
panel 400 in operation 72.
[0089] When the micro-controller 600 determines that the display
panel 400 is detached from the camera body 300 in operation 71,
the power unit 712 of the display panel 400 supplies power to the
display panel 400 in operation 73.
[0090] Next, the micro-controller 600 checks a data communication
state between the camera body 300 and the display panel 400 in operation
74. The micro-controller 600 may perform test communication between
the data transmitting/receiving unit 632 of the camera body 300
and the corresponding data transmitting/receiving unit 702 of the
display panel 400 to determine whether data communication is available
therebetween.
[0091] If, in operation 75, the micro-controller 600 determines
that the data communication between the camera body 300 and the
display panel 400 was abnormally performed during operation 74,
the micro-controller 600 causes the display of a warning notice
in operation 76. The micro-controller 700 of the display panel 400
also checks the data communication state between the camera body
300 and the display panel 400. If the micro-controller 700 of the
display panel 400 determines that the data communication is abnormally
performed, it also causes a warning notice to be displayed on the
first display area 400-4 and/or activates a red light on the communication
state display 400-2.
[0092] In the case where the data communication is abnormally performed
between the camera body 300 and the display panel 400, each micro-controller
600 or 700 may take certain measures to find a cause and recover
normal data communication between them in operation 77. The camera
body 300 and the display panel 400 are on standby until the data
communication between them is normally performed.
[0093] If the micro-controller 600 determines that the data communication
between the camera body 300 and the display panel 400 is normally
performed in operation 75, it turns on a green light on the communication
state display 400-2.
[0094] Next, in operation 78, the micro-controller 600 checks whether
a command has been received from the display panel 400, and if so,
the micro-controller 600, in operation 79, then performs an operation
corresponding to the received command.
[0095] In addition, when a user touches one of menu buttons 400-5a
to 400-5g displayed on the second display area 400-5 of FIG. 5B
to enter a command to operate on the photographed image displayed
on the first display area 400-4 of the touch screen display panel
400, the command is wirelessly transmitted to the camera body 300
via a data transmitting/receiving unit 702 on the display panel
400. Then, the camera body 300 receives the command through its
data transmitting/receiving unit 632, and the micro-controller 600
performs a corresponding operation according to the command. The
operation result is wirelessly transmitted back to the display panel
through the camera body's data transmitting/receiving unit 632.
The user may also remotely photograph images as desired, by manipulating
menu buttons displayed on the second display area 400-5 of the display
panel 400.
[0096] According to the present invention, as described above,
various conventional hardware operational buttons of a digital camera
can be eliminated by using a touch screen display panel also used
as a remote controller. With the display panel, not only images
can be monitored, but also the digital camera can be controlled
through bi-directional communication between the display panel and
the camera body. Furthermore, since the display panel of a touch
screen can be attached to or detached from the camera body by sliding
the display panel into or out of the camera body and operational
buttons are implemented on the touch screen display panel, the size
of the entire digital camera can be smaller and more compact. With
the display panel used as the remote controller and equipped with
various functions to meet the user's demands, the user can efficiently
manipulate the digital camera from a remote location.
[0097] While this invention has been particularly shown and described
with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details
may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention as defined by the appended claims. |