Digital camera and portable digital device which complement each other's function

• US 20040141066A1
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Published: 07/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Techwin Corporation (Hanwha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Techwin Corporation (Hanwha Corporation)
• Inventors: Takizawa, Junichi, Ohmori, Seishi, Park, Jong-Hum
• Application Number:
  US10/747,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20040141066A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0056 Using mechanical couplings, e.g. mating elements H04N2201/0049, H04N2201/0051, H04N2201/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus H04N2201/0013; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A digital camera and a portable digital device include communication interfaces, respectively, so that a digital image signal of the digital camera is displayed on a display device of the portable digital device, and a user input signal of the portable digital device is processed by the digital camera.

Claims

10. A digital camera and portable digital device system comprising:

an optical system which includes at least one lens to optically process light from a source;

an optoelectric converter which converts the light from the optical system into an analog image signal;

an analog-to-digital converter which converts the analog image signal of the optoelectric converter into a digital image signal;

a digital signal processor which processes the digital image signal from the analog-to-digital converter;

a communication interface for a portable digital device;

a user input unit;

a display device;

a controller; and

a communication interface for a digital camera,

wherein a digital image signal of the digital camera is displayed on the display device, and a user input signal input through the user input unit is processed by the digital camera.

1. A digital camera comprising:

an optical system which includes at least one lens to optically process light from a source;

an optoelectric converter which converts the light from the optical system into an analog image signal;

an analog-to-digital converter which converts the analog image signal of the optoelectric converter into a digital image signal;

a digital signal processor which processes the digital image signal from the analog-to-digital converter; and

a communication interface for a portable digital device, the portable digital device including a user input unit, a display device, and a controller,

wherein a digital image signal of the digital signal processor is displayed on the display device of the portable digital device, and

wherein a user input signal input through the user input unit of the portable digital device is processed by the digital signal processor.

2. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the digital image signal of the digital signal processor is input to the controller of the portable digital device through the communication interface and is controlled by the controller of the portable digital device to be input to and displayed on the display device of the portable digital device.

3. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the user input signal is input through the user input unit of the portable digital device to the controller of the portable digital device, transmitted to the digital signal processor through the communication interface, and processed by the digital signal processor.

4. The digital camera of claim 1, further comprising a slot into which the portable digital device is inserted such that the communication interface is connected to a communication interface of the portable digital device when the portable digital device is inserted into the slot.

5. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is a wireless communication interface.

6. The digital camera of claim 1, further comprising a means for storing digital data.

7. The digital camera of claim 6, wherein the digital camera stores an audio signal input through a microphone of the portable digital device.

8. The digital camera of claim 6, wherein the storing means is a memory card.

9. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the portable digital device is able to operate the digital camera.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital image signal of the digital camera is input to the controller through the communication interface and is controlled by the controller to be input to and displayed on the display device.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the user input signal is input through the user input unit to the controller and transmitted from the controller to the digital camera through the communication interface.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the portable digital device is inserted into a slot of the digital camera so that the communication interface is connected to a communication interface of the digital camera.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the communication interfaces are wireless communication interfaces.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the portable digital device reproduces an audio signal stored in the digital camera.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein a user can use the portable digital device to operate the digital camera.

15-1. The system of claim 10, wherein the portable digital device reproduces an audio signal detected by the digital camera.