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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
The cradle is capable of supplementing convenience of a portable
information apparatus such as a digital camera of which functions
including an image display function and a removable medium are omitted.
If the camera is mounted on a camera mounting section of the cradle,
a camera connector is electrically connected to a cradle connector
in synchronization with a mounting operation thereof. The control
circuit contained in the cradle detects a connection of the camera,
and automatically starts communication between them. The image stored
in the internal memory of the camera is sent to the cradle side,
and is displayed on a liquid crystal display. The user can erase
unnecessary images while checking the images. In addition, a variation
is also desirable wherein a data storing device such as the removable
medium is provided on the cradle side to transfer the image in the
camera to the data storing device on the cradle side and then erase
the internal memory of the camera.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A cradle for an information apparatus, the cradle comprising:
an apparatus mounting section for removably receiving and surrounding
a portion of a body of the information apparatus; the cradle having
an electrical connector in the apparatus mounting section, so that
when the portion of the body of the information apparatus is within
the mounting section the electrical connector connects to an electrical
contact located on the portion of the body of the information apparatus;
a communication device which performs communication with the information
apparatus mounted on the apparatus mounting section; a media insertion
section which receives a removable medium; a media interface section
for performing at least one of a process of reading information
from the removable medium to said information apparatus mounted
on the media insertion section and a process of recording information
on the removable medium received from said information apparatus;
and a control device which controls delivery of the data by the
communication device and also controls at least one of the process
of reading the information from the removable medium and the process
of recording the information thereon.
2. The cradle according to claim 2, further comprising: a communication
device for an external apparatus which performs communication with
the external apparatus, wherein the control device controls the
delivery of data by the communication device for the external apparatus.
Digital Camera Patent Description
CROSS REFERENCE
[0001] This application is a Divisional of co-pending application
Ser. No. 10/118,909, filed on Apr. 10, 2002, the entire contents
of which are hereby incorporated by reference and for which priority
is claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120; and this application claims
priority of Application Nos. 2001-114313 and 2002-060183 filed in
Japan on Apr. 12, 2001 and Mar. 6, 2002, concurrently.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a cradle for an information
apparatus, a cradle for a digital camera and a camera system, and
in particular, to the cradle and the camera system suitable for
a low-priced digital camera of which image display function, removable
media and so on are omitted.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 644050
discloses a configuration wherein a first electron ic apparatus
such as a portable telephone and a second electronic apparatus equivalent
to a cradle thereof are connected. Not only in the field of the
portable telephone but also in the field of a digital still camera,
a system for charging a battery in the camera and/or exchanging
data between the camera and an external apparatus such as a personal
computer by using the cradle is known.
[0006] In addition, many models of a low-priced digital still camera
called a toy camera are released in recent years, and are broadly
accepted by consumers as handily image-capturable camera. In general,
this kind of digital still camera is manufactured by using an image-pickup
circuit (approximately in common among the manufacturers) which
has the number of pixels of a VGA or lower class and is almost general-purpose,
and boldly low pricing thereof is implemented by omitting functions.
For instance, it has a camera configuration wherein a removable
medium for storing an image and a liquid crystal monitor for image
display and so on are omitted.
[0007] In the case of the digital still camera of which removable
medium is omitted as described above, however, the number of image-capturable
frames (the number of capturable images) is limited since the images
are stored in a memory built into the camera (internal memory).
In addition, as a liquid crystal monitor for image display is omitted,
the user cannot confirm the recorded image with the camera itself,
so that convenience of the digital still camera is sacrificed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] As the present invention has been implemented in consideration
of these circumstances, an object thereof is to provide a cradle
and a camera system capable of supplementing the convenience of
a portable information apparatus such as a toy camera of which functions
are omitted.
[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
is directed to a cradle for an information apparatus, the cradle
comprising: an apparatus mounting section which removably receives
the information apparatus; a communication device which performs
communication with the information apparatus mounted on the apparatus
mounting section; a display device which displays information based
on data received from the information apparatus through the communication
device; and a control device which controls delivery of the data
by the communication device and also controls display of the display
device.
[0010] The present invention covers a cradle for various information
apparatuses such as a portable telephone, a personal digital assistant
(PDA) or a portable music player. The information apparatus can
be removably mounted on an apparatus mounting section of the cradle,
and when using it, it can be separated from the cradle and can be
used by itself. It is possible, by setting the information apparatus
on the cradle, to keep the information apparatus on the cradle and
connect them to be capable of communication through the communication
device (a first communication device) so as to allow delivery of
various data between them.
[0011] For instance, the image data stored in the information apparatus
is transferred to the cradle side through the communication device,
and the image thereof is displayed on a display device of the cradle.
In addition, the information stored in the information apparatus
such as titles and artist names of a music file is transferred to
the cradle side through the communication device, so that textual
information such as the titles are displayed on the display device
of the cradle. Accordingly, it is possible, even for the information
apparatus without a display function, to check the image and so
on by using the cradle of the present invention.
[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
cradle may further comprise: a signal processing device which converts
the data received from the information apparatus into a signal for
display; and a storing device for display which stores the data
for display generated by the signal processing device.
[0013] It is possible, by providing the signal processing device
which generates the signal for display inside the cradle and the
storing device which display which stores the data for display,
to omit these device on the information apparatus side.
[0014] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
is also directed to a cradle for an information apparatus, the cradle
comprising: an apparatus mounting section which removably receives
the information apparatus; a communication device which performs
communication with the information apparatus mounted on the apparatus
mounting section; a media insertion section which receives a removable
medium; a media interface section for performing at least one of
a process of reading information from the removable medium mounted
on the media insertion section and a process of recording information
on the removable medium; and a control device which controls delivery
of the data by the communication device and also controls at least
one of the process of reading the information from the removable
medium and the process of recording the information thereon.
[0015] According to the present invention, the data stored in the
information apparatus is transferred to the cradle side through
the communication device, and the data is stored on the removable
medium (external record medium) mounted on the cradle. In the case
where memory capacity on the information apparatus side is insufficient,
the data can be easily backed up by using the cradle of the present
invention. In addition, it is possible to read the data (images
and sound) recorded on the removable medium through the cradle and
output it to the display device and a sound output device provided
to the cradle. As for the removable medium, while it is desirable
to have a configuration to allow both reading and writing (recording)
processes, appropriate effects can be obtained if at least one of
the processes can be implemented.
[0016] Preferably, the cradle further comprises: a communication
device for an external apparatus which performs communication with
the external apparatus, wherein the control device controls the
delivery of data by the communication device for the external apparatus.
[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible, in the
cradle for the information apparatus of the present invention, to
transfer the data to and from an external apparatus such as a personal
computer by way of the cradle in a form wherein the communication
device which performs communication with such an external apparatus
(a second communication device) such as the personal computer is
added apart from the communication device which performs communication
with the information apparatus mounted on the cradle. Moreover,
various communication interfaces capable of mutual communication,
whether cable or radio, are applicable to the communication device
between the information apparatus and the cradle (a first communication
device) and the communication device which performs communication
with an external apparatus (a second communication device) such
as the personal computer.
[0018] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
is also directed to a cradle for a digital camera, the cradle comprising:
a camera mounting section which removably receives the digital camera;
a first communication device which performs communication with the
digital camera mounted on the camera mounting section; an image
display device which displays an image received through the first
communication device; and a control device which controls delivery
of data by the first communication device and also controls display
of the image display device.
[0019] According to the present invention, the digital camera can
be removably mounted on the camera mounting section of the cradle,
and when capturing an image, the digital camera is separated from
the cradle so as to capture an image with the camera by itself.
The digital camera has a device which converts a picked-up image
into digital image data and recording it on a record medium (an
internal memory or an external memory). If the digital camera is
mounted on the cradle, the camera is connected to the cradle through
the first communication device to be capable of communication, and
the delivery of data becomes possible between them. The image data
stored in the digital camera is transferred to the cradle side through
the first communication device, and the image is displayed on the
image display device of the cradle. Accordingly, even the digital
camera without an image display function can check the image by
using the cradle of the present invention.
[0020] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
is also directed to a cradle for a digital camera, the cradle comprising:
a camera mounting section which removably receives the digital camera;
a first communication device which performs communication with the
digital camera mounted on the camera mounting section; a data storing
device which stores data received through the first communication
device; and a control device which controls delivery of the data
by the first communication device and also controls reading and
writing from and to the data storing device.
[0021] According to the present invention, the image data stored
in the digital camera is transferred to the cradle side through
the first communication device, and the image thereof is stored
in the data storing device in the cradle. In the case where the
memory capacity on the camera side is insufficient, the image data
can be easily backed up by using the cradle of the present invention,
and so it is possible, after storing the image data in the cradle,
to erase the memory on the camera side so as to record a new image.
[0022] The data storing device may be either device which writes
data to a removable external record medium such as a memory card
or a device which writes data to an internal record medium such
as a large capacity fixed memory.
[0023] Preferably, the cradle further comprises: an image display
device which displays an image received through the first communication
device, wherein the control device controls display of the image
display device.
[0024] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the cradle may further comprise: a second communication device which
performs communication with an external apparatus, wherein the control
device controls the delivery of data by the second communication
device.
[0025] Preferably, the cradle further comprises a battery for a
power supply so as to be usable by battery driving. While the cradle
in the past was a type wherein power is supplied from an AC power
adapter or something similar on the assumption of a stationary usage
form, it is possible, according to the present invention, to use
the cradle irrespective of the place since the battery is mounted.
It is possible, by carrying the cradle together with the camera
and mounting the camera thereon as required, to check the image
and back up the image data so as to supplement the convenience of
the camera.
[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
digital camera may comprise: an image pickup device which converts
an optical image into an electric signal; an image-capturing instruction
device which instructs the image pickup device to perform image-capturing;
an internal storing device which stores the image obtained through
the image pickup device according to an instruction from the image-capturing
instruction device; and a third communication device which performs
delivery of information with the cradle, the third communication
device being connected to the first communication device in synchronization
with operation of mounting of the digital camera on the camera mounting
section, wherein the digital camera does not has: an image display
device which displays the image stored in the internal storing device;
and an external storing device which stores the image obtained through
the image pickup device on the removable medium.
[0027] The cradle of the present invention can supplement such
a fault of the digital camera by being used in combination with
the digital camera of which an image display device and removable
medium are omitted.
[0028] The present invention is also directed to a camera system,
comprising: the above-described cradle; and a digital camera mountable
on the cradle, the digital camera comprising: an image pickup device
which converts an optical image into an electric signal; an image-capturing
instruction device which instructs the image pickup device to perform
image-capturing; an internal storing device which stores the image
obtained through the image pickup device according to an instruction
from the image-capturing instruction device; and a third communication
device which performs delivery of information with the cradle, the
third communication device being connected to the first communication
device in synchronization with operation of mounting of the digital
camera on the camera mounting section, wherein the digital camera
does not has: an image display device which displays the image stored
in the internal storing device; and an external storing device which
stores the image obtained through the image pickup device on the
removable medium.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The nature of this invention, as well as other objects and
advantages thereof, will be explained in the following with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters
designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures and wherein:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera system according
to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration
of a camera and a cradle shown in FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing a connectivity
relationship among the camera, the cradle and a personal computer;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the camera system according
to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the camera system according
to a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration
of the camera and the cradle shown in FIG. 5;
[0036] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the camera system according
to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and
[0037] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration
of the camera and the cradle shown in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0038] Hereafter, preferred embodiments of a cradle for an information
apparatus, a cradle for a digital camera and a camera system according
to the present invention will be described by referring to the attached
drawings.
[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the camera system according
to a first embodiment of the present invention. A camera 10 is a
low-priced digital still camera of a limited function type classified
as a toy camera, and has a shutter-release button 12, an optical
finder 14, a power switch 16, a liquid crystal display 18 and a
mode switching button 20, and besides, a connector (hereafter, referred
to as a camera connector) 22 for electrically connecting to a cradle
100 is provided at a camera bottom.
[0040] The liquid crystal display 18 is a simplified display for
displaying the number of capturable images and a mode state with
characters and simple symbols, whereas the camera 10 does not have
an image display device (such as a liquid crystal monitor) for reproducing
and displaying a recorded image and so on. The mode switching button
20 is a mode switching device which switches an operation mode of
the camera 10, and each time the mode switching button 20 is pushed,
the modes can be switched in a circulating fashion in order of a
"high resolution image-capturing mode" .fwdarw. a "low
resolution image-capturing mode" .fwdarw. an "image erasure
mode" .fwdarw. a "self image-capturing mode" .fwdarw.
a "serial image-capturing mode," for instance. The contents
of the liquid crystal display 18 are changed according to a selected
mode.
[0041] If the "high resolution image-capturing mode"
or the "low resolution image-capturing mode" is selected,
the number of capturable images in the image-capturing mode is displayed
on the liquid crystal display 18. If the shutter-release button
12 is pushed at this time, the image-capturing is performed. The
image captured by the image-capturing operation is recorded in an
internal memory 48 (see FIG. 2) of the camera 10 after undergoing
predetermined signal processing, and if recording is completed,
the display of the number of capturable images on the liquid crystal
display 18 is changed. In addition, if the "image erasure mode"
is selected with the mode switching button 20, the characters "CL"
meaning "clear" is displayed on the liquid crystal display
18. At this time, all the images stored in the camera 10 are erased
at once by operating it according to a predetermined operating procedure.
[0042] A recess portion as a camera mounting section 102 is formed
on a top face of a cradle 100, and a cradle connector 104 for electrically
connecting with the camera 10 is provided at the bottom of this
recess portion. If the camera 10 is mounted on the camera mounting
section 102, the camera connector 22 is coupled to the cradle connector
104 in synchronization with the mounting operation so that they
are electrically connected.
[0043] For a communication interface between the camera 10 and
the cradle 100, various interfaces such as USB, IrDa, IEEE 1394
and other serial interfaces and parallel interfaces are applicable.
In the present embodiment, a USB interface is applied. Moreover,
in an embodiment wherein a rechargeable battery is used for the
power source of the camera 10, each of the cradle connector 104
and the camera connector 22 includes a composite terminal in which
a USB terminal, a power source terminal for charging and another
signal conveyance terminal, as required, are put together in a connector.
[0044] The cradle 100 has a liquid crystal display 106 as an image
display device and also has an operating section such as a cross
button 110, a menu button 112, an OK button 114 and an erasure button
116. The liquid crystal display 106 is a device which reproduces
and displays the images recorded in the camera 10, and also serves
as a device which displays various kinds of information such as
an operating menu and warning messages. The cross button 110 is
a multifunction button capable of inputting instructions of four
directions of up, down, right and left, also serves as an operating
button for providing an instruction for selecting various setting
items and changing setting contents on a menu screen, and also serves
as a device which provides an instruction for magnification adjustment
and frame forward/reverse of the images to be reproduced when reproducing
the images.
[0045] The menu button 112 is used when displaying the menu screen,
and display modes thereof such as a one frame reproduction mode,
an automatic reproduction (slide show) mode and multi-screen division
and reproduction (multi-reproduction) mode can be switched by the
button operation, and it is thereby possible to switch an erasure
method such as one frame erasure or all-frame erasure. The OK button
114 is used when providing an instruction for confirming the selected
contents and performing (checking) a process on the menu screen.
[0046] The erasure button 116 is used when providing an instruction
for erasing the image, canceling an item selected from the menu
and so on.
[0047] In addition, the cradle 100 has a communication terminal
(USB terminal in the present embodiment) 120 for or sending and
receiving the data to and from an external apparatus such as a personal
computer (not shown in FIG. 1), and allows two-way communication
with the external apparatus connected through the USB terminal 120.
Reference numeral 130 denotes a line cord plug, and 131 denotes
a power cable. An AC power supply inputted by inserting the line
cord plug 130 into an outlet of a commercial power supply (not shown)
is converted into a DC power supply, and is used as the power supply
of the cradle 100. Moreover, it is desirable that the power cable
131 and a USB cable 121 have a configuration detachably connectable
on the cradle 100.
[0048] A control circuit 140 is mounted inside the cradle 100.
The control circuit 140 performs the delivery of the data by controlling
the communication with the camera 10 connected through the cradle
connector 104, and also controls the display of the liquid crystal
display 106 and the communication with the external apparatus such
as the personal computer.
[0049] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration
of the camera 10 and the cradle 100 shown in FIG. 1. Light incident
through a taking lens 32 has an image formed on a light-receptive
surface of a CCD image sensor (hereafter referred to as CCD) 34
as an image pickup element. The light-receptive surface of the CCD
34 has photo-sensors equivalent to photosensitive pixels two-dimensionally
arranged thereon, and has a predetermined color filter arrangement
configuration such as a G stripe or a Bayer arrangement. In addition,
the CCD 34 has a so-called electronic shutter function of controlling
storage time (shutter speed) of charges stored on each photo-sensor
by a shutter gate pulse. It is also possible to use another image
pickup device such as a CMOS image sensor instead of the CCD 34.
[0050] A subject image formed on the light-receptive surface of
the CCD 34 through the taking 32 is converted by each photo-sensor
into a signal charge of an amount according to an incident light
amount. The signal charges thus stored are sequentially read as
voltage signals (image signals) according to the signal charges
according to the pulse added from a CCD driver (not shown). The
image signal outputted from the CCD 34 undergoes predetermined analog
signal processing such as a sampling hold process, a color separation
process and a gain adjustment process, so that it is converted into
a digital signal by an A/D converter 36 thereafter.
[0051] The digital image data outputted from the A/D converter
36 is sent to a signal processing section 38. The signal processing
section 38 functions as an image processing device including a luminance/color
difference signal generation circuit, a gamma control circuit, a
sharpness control circuit, a contrast control circuit, a white balance
control circuit and so on, and processes the image signals in compliance
with a command of a CPU 40. An operating section 42 is a block including
various control switches such as the shutter-release button 12,
power switch 16 and mode switching button 20 described in FIG. 1.
If the shutter-release button 12 is pushed, an image-capturing start
instruction (release-on) signal is issued, and the CPU 40 detects
the release-on signal so as to perform an image capturing operation
for recording.
[0052] To be more specific, the image data captured in response
to pushing of the shutter-release button 12 is converted into the
luminance signal (Y signal) and the color difference signal (Cr
Cb signal) in the signal processing section 38, and also has a predetermined
process such as gamma control performed. Thus, the image data processed
in the signal processing section 38 is sent to a compression processing
section 46 through a bus 44, and is compressed according to a JPEG
(Joint Photographic Experts Group) format or another predetermined
format in the compression processing section 46, and then is recorded
in an internal memory (unremovable memory built in the camera 10)
48. Although the camera 10 in the present embodiment uses the internal
memory 48 as the device which stores the image data, the device
which stores the image is not limited to the internal memory 48,
and a variation is also possible wherein a removable medium such
as a memory card is used.
[0053] The CPU 40 of the camera 10 is the control section for,
according to an input signal received from the operating section
42, controlling the operation of a corresponding circuit. The CPU
40 performs various computations such as a focus evaluation and
AE computations from the image data captured in response to half
pushing of the shutter-release button 12, and controls a lens driving
section (not shown) according to the computation results so as to
move the taking lens 32 to a focal position, and on the other hand,
it controls a diaphragm mechanism (not shown) and also controls
charge storage time of the CCD 34. Moreover, a variation is also
possible wherein a taking optical system of which depth of field
is deep such as a pan focus lens is adopted to omit an AF function.
Moreover, in addition to controlling the image-capturing operation,
the CPU 40 performs control of an image data recording process,
capacity management of the internal memory 48, display control of
the liquid crystal display 18, communication control using a USB
controller 50 and so on.
[0054] A battery 52 is used for the power supply of the camera
10. The power supplied from the battery 52 is converted into a required
voltage by a DC-DC converter 54, and is supplied thereafter to each
circuit block. A handily available commercial primary battery (AA
or AAA alkaline battery, etc.) is used for the battery 52. As a
matter of course, a variation using a rechargeable battery is also
possible.
[0055] On the other hand, the cradle 100 has the aforementioned
control circuit 140, liquid crystal display 106, USB terminal 120,
and an operating section 150 such as the cross button 110 provided
thereon, and besides, it has a signal processing section 152 for
performing signal processing required for image reproduction and
so on, a display memory 154, a character generator 156, an encoder
158, an LCD controller 160, and a bus 162 for having these circuits
connected provided thereon. The control circuit 140 includes a CPU
142 and peripheral circuits thereof, and according to the input
signal received from the operating section 150, controls the corresponding
circuit, and controls the display of the liquid crystal display
106, the communication between the camera and the cradle and the
communication with the external apparatus connected through the
USB terminal 120 and so on.
[0056] According to the camera system configured as above, when
the camera connector 22 is connected to the cradle connector 104,
the control circuit 140 in the cradle 100 detects it (automatic
detection using a plug & play function), and automatically starts
USB communication between the camera and the cradle. The image data
stored in the internal memory 48 of the camera 10 is sent to the
cradle 100 side through the USB controller 50. The image data captured
in the cradle 100 through the cradle connector 104 undergoes a predetermined
process in the signal processing section 152, and is stored thereafter
in the display memory 154 through the bus 162.
[0057] The data stored in the display memory 154 is sent to the
encoder 158, where it is converted into a signal in a predetermined
system for display (such as a color composite image signal in the
NTSC system) together with the data of characters and symbols provided
from the character generator 156. The signal processed by the encoder
158 is supplied to the liquid crystal display 106 through the LCD
controller 160. Thus, the image is displayed on the liquid crystal
display 106.
[0058] If the cross button 110 provided on the cradle 100 is operated,
an instruction signal thereof is conveyed to the CPU 40 on the camera
10 side, and the frame forward or reverse of a reproduced image
is possible. In addition, it is possible, by operating the erasure
button 116, to selectively delete unnecessary images in the internal
memory 48. Even if there is no image display device provided on
the camera 10 side, it is possible to delete unnecessary images
by easily determining them since the images can be checked on the
liquid crystal display 106 of the cradle 100. It is also feasible,
by mounting the camera 10 on the cradle 100 and selecting an "automatic
reproduction mode" in a reproduction menu thereof, to enjoy
a slide show automatically reproducing the images stored in the
camera 10 in sequence.
[0059] Moreover, although the camera 10 according to this embodiment
has the operating section 150 for reproducing operation on the cradle
100 side since the number of operating buttons is rendered minimum
due to the nature of the toy camera, a variation is also possible
wherein the operating section 42 provided on the camera 10 side
also serves as the operating section for reproducing operation (for
cradle operation), in which case the operating section on the cradle
100 side can be omitted.
[0060] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the cradle 100 according
to this embodiment is capable of the two-way communication with
the external apparatus such as a personal computer 200. If the cradle
100 is connected to the personal computer 200 in a state where the
camera 10 is mounted on the cradle 100, it becomes possible to send
and receive the data between the camera and the personal computer
by way of the cradle 100. It is thereby feasible to transfer the
image in the camera 10 to the personal computer 200 and provide
the image and other data to the camera 10 from the personal computer
200.
[0061] Even in the case where the camera 10 is removed from the
cradle 100, it is possible to perform the two-way communication
with the personal computer 200 with the cradle 100 by itself, and
the images and so on received from the personal computer 200 side
can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 106 of the cradle
100. In addition, it is also possible to store the images and so
on received from the personal computer 200 in the memory or the
removable medium in the cradle 100 in the case where the cradle
100 has a large capacity fixed memory for storing the images or
an interface for the removable medium in the cradle 100.
[0062] In the case where the cradle 100 is used by connecting it
to the personal computer 200, the display of the personal computer
200 can be used as that for a user interface. Hence, a variation
is also desirable wherein the control is exerted, when the personal
computer 200 is connected, to automatically turn off (render nondisplay)
the liquid crystal display 106 of the cradle 100.
[0063] While the above-mentioned cradle 100 has the configuration
to have the power supplied through the power cable 131, a variation
is also possible wherein the power cable 131 is omitted or a large-capacity
battery (not shown) is contained for concurrent use therewith. As
the cradle capable of battery driving is usable even in a place
where there is no outlet, it is possible, by carrying such a cradle
together with the camera, to check, erase or back up the image at
any time as required no matter where it may be.
[0064] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be
described.
[0065] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the camera system according
to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this drawing,
the portions which are the same as or similar to the example shown
in FIG. 1 are numbered likewise, and description thereof will be
omitted. The cradle 100 shown in FIG. 4 has a memory card slot (removable
medium mounting section) 172 for mounting and removing a memory
card 170. In the cradle 100, a card interface circuit (not shown
in FIG. 4) for reading and writing the data on the memory card 170
is provided, and the control circuit 140 controls the reading and
writing of the memory card 170. While FIG. 4 shows the cradle 100
having the liquid crystal display 106 omitted, a variation is also
possible wherein the memory card slot 172 is added to the cradle
having the liquid crystal display described in FIG. 1.
[0066] According to the camera system shown in FIG. 4, if the camera
10 is mounted on the camera mounting section 102 of the cradle 100,
the camera connector 22 is connected to the cradle connector 104
in synchronization with the mounting operation. The control circuit
140 of the cradle 100 automatically detects a connection of the
camera 10, and performs the process of writing the image data stored
in the camera 10 to the memory card 170.
[0067] After the image data stored in the camera 10 is written
to the memory card 170, it is possible to erase the image data in
the camera 10. It is feasible either to have it programmed to automatically
perform a series of processes of transferring the image data from
the camera 10 to the cradle 100.fwdarw. writing it to the memory
card 170.fwdarw. erasing the internal memory 48 by the control circuit
140, the CPU 40 in the camera or coordination thereof, or to have
the configuration wherein a user performs the predetermined operation
as required and the processes are performed according to such an
operation.
[0068] Furthermore, it is also possible to have the configuration
wherein the above-mentioned automatic backup function and an image
transfer processing function by a user operation can be selectively
switched. In addition, as a deformed example of the above embodiment,
it is also possible to contain a large capacity storage device (such
as a hard disk) in the cradle 100 instead of or in concurrent use
with the memory card 170.
[0069] As described above, if the image data in the camera 10 is
completely transferred to the memory card 170, it is possible to
prevent the same image data from being duplicatively written to
the memory card 170 (double backup) by automatically erasing the
image data from the internal memory 48 of the camera 10.
[0070] In addition, it is desirable to take measures to prevent
the double backup in a control form wherein the transferred image
data is not automatically deleted from the internal memory 48 of
the camera 10 (a variation wherein the image data is held in the
camera 10 even after the image transfer and the data is deleted
according to an erasure instruction by the user operation). For
instance, there is the control form wherein, on data transfer, a
file list of the internal memory 48 is compared to the file list
of the memory card 170 on the cradle side so as to transfer only
different image files. In addition, there is also a variation wherein
an identification symbol (such as flag information) indicating that
it was already transferred is recorded for the transferred image
(backed-up image), so that the transferred image can be distinguished
from the ones yet to be transferred (images yet to be backed up).
[0071] Next, a further embodiment of the present invention will
be described.
[0072] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the camera system according
to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a
block diagram thereof. In these drawings, the portions which are
the same as or similar to the examples shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
2 are numbered likewise, and description thereof will be omitted.
As shown in FIG. 5, the cradle 100 has a pair of speakers 180 capable
of outputting stereo sound and a sound output terminal (audio out)
182 provided thereon.
[0073] In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the cradle 100 has an audio
signal processing section 184 provided therein, and the audio signal
processing section 184 is connected to the bus 162. A digital sound
signal generated in the audio signal processing section 184 is converted
into an analog sound signal through D/A converters 186 and 188,
and is outputted thereafter to the pair of speakers 180 and the
sound output terminal 182.
[0074] On the other hand, the camera 10 has a microphone 70 as
a sound inputting device, an A/D converter 72 for converting a sound
signal obtained from the microphone 70 into a digital signal, a
sound signal processing section 74 for processing the sound signal,
a D/A converter 76 for converting sound data generated in the sound
signal processing section 74 into an analog signal and a sound output
terminal 78 provided, and a headphone 80 is removably connected
to the sound output terminal 78.
[0075] The sound signal processing section 74 is connected to the
bus 44, and the compression processing section 46 also serves as
a compression device of the image data and the sound data. In addition,
the compression processing section 46 also has the device which
functions as an expansion processing circuit.
[0076] The camera 10 has a function to record sound (sound recorder
function) and a function to reproduce a music file (audio playback
function) in addition to an image-capturing function. The camera
10 has an operating device (such as the mode switching button 20
or a mode switching dial (not shown)) for selectively switching
the operation modes of an image-capturing mode, a reproduction mode,
a sound recorder mode and an audio reproduction mode provided therein.
Moreover, it is also feasible to exert control so that it automatically
switches to the audio reproduction mode when it detects that the
headphone 80 is connected to the sound output terminal 78.
[0077] Sound recording is rendered possible by setting the camera
10 in the sound recorder mode. The shutter-release button 12 also
serves as a start/stop button of recording in the sound recorder
mode.
[0078] The sound inputted from the microphone 70 is converted into
an electric signal, and is converted into the digital signal by
the A/D converter 72 and inputted in the sound signal processing
section 74 thereafter. The sound signal processing section 74 converts
the inputted sound data into a predetermined signal format. The
sound data is converted into a predetermined file format (such as
a WAVE format) as required, and is stored in the internal memory
48 of the camera 10.
[0079] When reproducing the sound, the sound data is read from
the internal memory 48 and is sent to the sound signal processing
section 74. And it is decoded in the sound signal processing section
74, and is converted into the analog signal by the D/A converter
76 and outputted thereafter to the headphone 80 through the sound
output terminal 78. Thus, it is outputted as audible sound from
the headphone 80. As a matter of course, a variation is also possible
wherein a speaker (not shown) is provided on the camera 10 so as
to output the generated sound from the speaker of the camera 10.
[0080] Next, the audio playback function will be described.
[0081] The audio playback function of the camera 10 is the function
of reproducing the music file in an MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-III)
format and so on recorded in the internal memory 48. It is assumed
that the music files are downloaded to the internal memory 48 of
the camera 10 from the personal computer, a music distribution terminal
and so on. Moreover, the music file has attached information (data)
on the contents thereof such as titles and artist names recorded
therein. For instance, in the case of the MP3 file format, tune
information such as the titles are written on a tag of the MP3 file,
and the tag information is referred to when displaying the file
information.
[0082] If the camera 10 is set in the audio mode, audio reproduction
becomes possible. The operations such as play/stop and volume control
of the music file are performed by a remote control operating section
(not shown) provided to the headphone 80.
[0083] Compressed data of the music file read from the internal
memory 48 is expanded to uncompressed music data through the compression
processing section 46. This expanded music data is converted into
the sound signal in the sound signal processing section 74 and outputted
as the sound thereafter through the D/A converter 76 and the headphone
80. Moreover, the processing contents (recording/reproduction processing
in the sound recorder mode, music file reproduction processing and
so on) in the sound signal processing section 74 are switched according
to a switching signal from the CPU 40.
[0084] Workings of the camera system shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are
as follows. If the camera 10 is set on the cradle 100, the CPU 142
of the cradle 100 determines the file contents (data type) stored
in the internal memory 48 of the camera 10 and exerts control to
automatically switch a reproducing function and so on according
to the type thereof.
[0085] To be more specific, in the case where the music file is
recorded in the internal memory 48, the music file is transferred
to the cradle 100 side when the camera 10 is set on the cradle 100.
The music file transferred to the cradle 100 is decoded through
the audio signal processing section 184 and is converted into a
required sound signal, and is outputted thereafter to the pair of
speakers 180 through the D/A converters 186. In addition, it is
possible to output reproduced music by connecting an audio output
unit such as a headphone or an external speaker (not shown) to the
sound output terminal 182 of the cradle 100.
[0086] In this case, the user can easily grasp a subject of reproduction
by having at least one piece of the information on the title, artist
name and tune time on the music file (preferably, all such information)
displayed on the liquid crystal display 106 of the cradle 100. Furthermore,
it is also possible to display the image on the liquid crystal display
106 of the cradle 100 in the case where the image data (the data
equivalent to a jacket image or liner notes of a music CD album)
is stored by associating it with one music file or a plurality of
music files.
[0087] In addition, there is another form wherein a file list of
the internal memory 48 is displayed on the liquid crystal display
106 of the cradle 100 so as to have the user select a subject file
of reproduction. If the user selects a desired file, reproduction
functions (music reproduction, image reproduction and sound reproduction)
are automatically switched according to the file contents related
to that selection so that necessary reproduction processing is performed.
[0088] Furthermore, in the case where the music file, the image
file and a recorded sound file are mixedly recorded in the internal
memory 48, the reproduction menu is displayed on the liquid crystal
display 106 of the cradle 100 so that the user can select the processing
contents such as "image reproduction," "music reproduction,"
"sound reproduction" and "file transfer (backup)."
[0089] In the third embodiment described above, while the digital
camera concurrently having the sound recorder mode and the audio
reproduction mode in addition to a still image-capturing mode was
exemplified, the scope of application of the present invention is
not limited to the digital camera having all these functions. The
present invention is also applicable to the camera having the sound
recorder mode and no audio reproduction mode, the camera having
the audio reproduction mode and no sound recorder mode, and in addition,
the camera having a mode for recording moving image with sound (movie
filming mode) and so on.
[0090] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be
described.
[0091] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the camera system according
to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a
block diagram thereof. In these drawings, the portions which are
the same as or similar to the examples shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 are
numbered likewise, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0092] The cradle 100 of the camera system shown in FIGS. 7 and
8 has the pair of speakers 180 and the sound output terminal (audio
out) 182 provided thereon in addition to the memory card slot 172
for mounting and removing the memory card 170. And in the cradle
100, a card interface circuit 190 for reading and writing the data
on the memory card 170 and the audio signal processing section 184
are provided as shown in FIG. 8, and the control circuit 140 controls
the reading and writing of the memory card 170 and audio signal
processing.
[0093] According to the camera system shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it
is possible, as with the camera system described in FIG. 4, to transfer
an electronic file of the image, sound or music and so on stored
in the internal memory 48 of the camera 10 to the memory card 170
and store it thereon. As a matter of course, the function of automatically
erasing the transferred file and that of preventing the double backup
are also possible as with the example described in FIG. 4.
[0094] In addition, according to the camera system shown in FIGS.
7 and 8, it is possible, as with the camera system described in
FIGS. 5 and 6, to reproduce the music file and automatically switch
the reproduction functions according to the file contents. Furthermore,
it is possible to reproduce on the cradle 100 the image file, the
sound file or the music file recorded on the memory card 170, and
it is also possible to transfer the music file recorded on the memory
card 170 to the internal memory 48 of the camera 10.
[0095] While the memory card 170 was exemplified as the removable
medium in the above description, the form of the removable medium
is not especially limited in implementing the present invention,
and it is also possible to use various record media such as a magnetic
disk, an optical disk and a magneto-optical disk in addition to
a semiconductor memory represented by the memory card 170.
[0096] In addition, while the digital camera and the cradle thereof
are illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8, the scope of application of the
present invention is not limited thereto, but it is applicable to
various information apparatuses such as a portable telephone, an
MD player, an MP3 player and a PDA and the cradle thereof. For instance,
in the case where it is applied to a music reproduction apparatus
and the cradle thereof, it is possible, by mounting the music reproduction
apparatus on the cradle, to reproduce the music file from the speaker
of the cradle.
[0097] As described above, according to the cradle for the information
apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible, as
a display device which displays the information and a control device
which governs the communication control and the display control
are provided on the cradle proper for mounting and removing the
information apparatus, to check the contents of the information
stored in the information apparatus by the display device of the
cradle.
[0098] According to another form of the present invention, it is
possible, as the interface for the removable medium is provided
on the cradle, to transfer the data in the information apparatus
to the cradle side and store it on the removable media. In addition,
it is also possible to reproduce on the cradle the information stored
on the removable media or transfer it to the information apparatus
side.
[0099] According to the cradle for the digital camera according
to the present invention, it is possible, by providing the image
display device and the control device on the cradle for mounting
and removing the digital camera, to check the image stored in the
camera by the image display device of the cradle. It is thereby
possible to perform an erasing operation while checking the unnecessary
images. In particular, it is feasible, by applying the present invention
to the cradle of the camera of which image reproduction function
is omitted, to supplement a fault of the camera lacking immediacy
from the image-capturing operation to image erasure.
[0100] In addition, it is feasible, by providing a data storing
device on the cradle for the digital camera, to transfer the image
data in the camera to the cradle side so as to store it in the data
storing device. In the case where the memory for storing the images
on the camera side is insufficient, it can supplement the fault
of the camera of which number of capturable images is limited since
it can easily back up the image data by using the cradle of the
present invention.
[0101] Furthermore, it is possible, by constituting the cradle
to be capable of battery driving, to check the image and back up
the data irrespective of the place. While a notebook-sized personal
computer was carried in the past to check the image and back up
the data, it is no longer necessary to do so because it can be substituted
by the cradle of the present invention.
[0102] It should be understood, however, that there is no intention
to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the
contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternate
constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope
of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. |