Television – Camera – system and detail – Remote control
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-16
2001-07-03
Ho, Tuan (Department: 2612)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Remote control
C348S374000, C348S375000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256060
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a still video camera system including a still video camera and a remote controller.
Conventionally, a still video camera system, including a still video camera and a remote controller for controlling the still video camera to perform a photographing operation, has been known.
Generally, in such a still video camera, a built-in rewritable non-volatile memory is provided, and the image data of photographed objects is stored in the memory.
The number of frames recordable in such a non-volatile memory is limited. Accordingly, if there is not enough room for storing a new data, at least a part of the data which has already been stored in the memory should be deleted in order to perform another photographing.
To deal with this problem, the data stored in the memory of the camera is transferred to an external device, such as a personal computer or the like. However, in order to transfer the data, conventionally, an extra transmission device should be incorporated in the camera, or should be attached to the camera, which complicates the structure of the camera and/or increases the cost of the camera system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a still video camera system which allows the data stored in the memory of the camera to be transmitted without complicating the structure thereof.
For the above object, according to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an image data processing system including an image data processing apparatus and a remote controller for controlling operations of the image processing apparatus. The remote controller is detached from or coupled to the image data processing apparatus. The image data processing apparatus comprises a signal receiving device which receives a control signal transmitted from the remote controller; and a data storage, which stores image data. The remote controller comprises a signal transmitting device, which transmits the control signal. The image data processing apparatus further comprises a controller which controls the signal transmitting device, based on the image data stored in the data storage, to transmit a signal carrying the image data to an external apparatus when the remote controller is coupled to the image data processing apparatus.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an image data processing system including an image data processing apparatus and a remote controller for controlling operation of the image data processing apparatus, said remote controller being detached from or coupled to said image data processing apparatus. The image data processing apparatus comprises a signal receiving device which receives a control signal transmitted from the remote controller; a controller which controls operations of the image data processing apparatus in accordance with signal received by the signal receiving device; a data storage, which stores an image data; data output terminals, through which the image data stored in the data storage can be output. The remote controller comprises data input terminals; a signal transmitting device, the signal transmitting device transmitting signal carrying the image data stored in the data storage to an external apparatus when the data input terminals and the data output terminals are electrically connected and the image data is transmitted from the data output terminals through the data input terminals when the remote controller is coupled to the image data processing apparatus.
Optionally, the image data processing apparatus may include a still video camera which captures an image of an object and stores an image data of the object in the data storage.
Preferably, the signal transmitting device is capable of transmitting the control signal.
Optionally, the remote controller may include a second signal receiving device, which receives signal transmitted from the external device.
Further, the external device may transmit a signal indicative of received status of the signal transmitted from the signal transmitting device.
Alternatively, the signal receiving device may receive a signal indicative of received signal status that is transmitted from the external device.
Further optionally, the still video camera is operable in either one of a recording mode, a reproducing mode, or a data transmission mode in which the image data is to be transmitted to the external device, and wherein the still video camera is provided with a manually operable member which is used to select one of the operation modes.
Optionally, the still video camera is provided with a sensor which detects whether the remote controller is coupled to the still video camera, and wherein the controller selects the transmission mode when the sensor detects that the remote controller is coupled to the still video camera.
Alternatively, the still video camera is provided with a sensor which detects whether the remote controller is coupled to the still video camera, and wherein the controller inhibits selection of the transmission mode if the sensor detects that the remote controller is not coupled to the still video camera.
Further optionally, the still video camera comprises a body, an insertion slot for receiving the remote controller being formed on the body.
Preferably, a direction in which the receiving element is directed and a direction in which the signal transmitting device is directed when the remote controller is inserted in the insertion slot of the body are substantially the same.
Optionally, the signal receiving device receives an infrared light signal.
Still optionally, the signal transmitting device transmits an infrared light signal.
According to further aspect of the invention, there is provided a still video camera system, comprising: a still video camera and a remote controller. The remote controller includes a signal transmitting device, the signal transmitting device being used for transmitting signal to control operation of the still video camera, and a connector for connecting the remote controller to the still video camera. The still video camera has a memory for storing image data, and a receptor connector to which the connector of the remote controller is connected. The still video camera system further comprises data transmitting system which transmits data stored in the memory to an external device by way of the signal transmitting device of the remote controller when the connector of the remote controller and the receptor connector of the still video camera are connected.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4837817 (1989-06-01), Maemori
patent: 5146353 (1992-09-01), Isoguchi et al.
patent: 5179446 (1993-01-01), Hong
patent: 5231501 (1993-07-01), Sakai
patent: 5325143 (1994-06-01), Kawano
patent: 5438359 (1995-08-01), Aoki
patent: 5530473 (1996-06-01), Sakai et al.
patent: 5748238 (1998-05-01), Wakabayashi et al.
patent: 5815205 (1998-09-01), Hashimoto et al.
Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Ho Tuan
LandOfFree
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