Digital camera system

• US 20040004671A1
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Kimihide
• Granted Patent: US 7,538,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/375
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32496 Changing the task performed, e.g. reading and transmitting, receiving and reproducing, copying facsimile mode changing H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

A digital camera is mounted on a camera mounting unit of a cradle, and supported as swayable. When the digital camera is tilted forward, a front switch is turned on, and a command to change into a storage mode is issued from a switch determination circuit to the digital camera. When the digital camera is tilted backward, a back switch is turned on, and a command to change into a PC camera mode is issued from the switch determination circuit to the digital camera.

Claims

1. A digital camera system comprising a digital camera and a cradle on which the digital camera is mounted, wherein:

the cradle comprises;

a movable portion;

a signal generating device which generates a command signal for changing functions of the digital camera according to a position of the movable portion; and

a signal transmitting device which transmits the command signal generated by the signal generating device to the digital camera; and

the digital camera comprises;

a signal receiving device which receives the command signal generated according to the position of the movable portion of the cradle; and

a mode control device which changes operation modes of the digital camera according to the command signal transmitted from the cradle.

2. A cradle on which a digital camera is mounted, the cradle comprising:

a movable portion;

a signal generating device which generates a command signal for changing functions of the digital camera according to a position of the movable portion; and

a signal transmitting device which transmits the command signal generated by the signal generating device to the digital camera.

3. The cradle as defined in claim 2, wherein the movable portion comprises a camera mounting unit on which the digital camera is mounted.

4. The cradle as defined in claim 3, further comprising:

a leg portion which supports the camera mounting unit,

wherein the camera mounting unit is coupled to the leg portion through a movable system.

5. The cradle as defined in claim 4, wherein:

the movable system enables the camera mounting unit to move relatively to the leg portion, and

a moving style of the camera mounting unit includes at least one of tilting, sliding, rotating, and vertical moving with respect to the leg portion.

6. The cradle as defined in claim 5, wherein the movable system enables the movable portion to move in a predetermined moving range.

7. The cradle as defined in claim 2, further comprising:

a communications interface for connection and communications with external equipment,

wherein the digital camera is connected to communicate with the external equipment through the cradle by mounting the digital camera on the cradle.

8. The cradle as defined in claim 7, wherein the signal generating device generates a signal for switching functions of the digital camera for the external equipment connected for communications through the cradle.

9. A digital camera capable of being mounted on a cradle, the digital camera comprising:

a signal receiving device which receives a command signal generated according to a position of a movable portion of the cradle; and

a mode control device which changes operation modes according to the command signal obtained through the signal receiving device.

10. The digital camera as defined in claim 9, wherein the operation modes are changed according to the command signal while the digital camera is mounted on the cradle and powered up.

11. The digital camera as defined in claim 9, further comprising a charge control device which, when the digital camera is mounted on the cradle with the digital camera being powered down, automatically sets a charge mode where a battery in the digital camera is charged by power supplied through the cradle.

12. A digital camera system in which a digital camera is connected to communicate with external equipment when the camera is mounted on a cradle, wherein the cradle comprises:

a tilt angle changing device which changes a tilt angle of the digital camera mounted on the cradle;

a determination device which determines a change in the tilt angle of the digital camera by the tilt angle changing device; and

a command device which outputs a function change signal to the digital camera according to a determination result of the determination device,

wherein the digital camera changes functions for the external equipment according to the function change signal received from the command device.