Recording/playback apparatus with telephone and its control method, video camera with telephone and its control method, image communication apparatus, and storage medium

• US 20040218738A1
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hideyuki Arai, Kazuhiro Takahashi
• Original Assignee: Hideyuki Arai, Kazuhiro Takahashi
• Inventors: Takahashi, Kazuhiro, Arai, Hideyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,317,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/93.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• 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 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0049 providing a visual indication to the user, e.g. using a lamp H04N1/00408 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3276 Ring suppression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 : Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 : Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

This invention has as its object to appropriately inform the user of reception of an incoming call in accordance with the operation mode of a video camera upon arrival of call. To achieve this object, an apparatus has a telephone and video camera in a single housing, and comprises a device for muting a ringing tone during image sensing by the video camera.

Claims

1. A recording/playback apparatus with telephone, which has a telephone and recorder/player in a single housing, comprising means for muting a ringing tone upon reception of a call during recording by the recorder/player.

2. A video camera with telephone, which has a telephone and video camera in a single housing, comprising means for muting a ringing tone upon reception of a call during image sensing by the video camera.

3. A method of controlling a recording/playback apparatus with telephone, comprising the step of muting a ringing tone upon reception of a call during recording by the recording/playback apparatus.

5. A storage medium storing a program for implementing a method of controlling a recording/playback apparatus with telephone of claim 3.

4. A method of controlling a video camera with telephone, comprising the step of muting a ringing tone upon reception of a call during image sensing by the video camera.

6. A storage medium storing a program for implementing a method of controlling a video camera with telephone of claim 4.

7. An image communication apparatus comprising:

an image sensing element adapted to photoelectrically convert light coming from an object, and output an image signal;

a focusing device adapted to focus the light coming from the object on said image sensing element;

a focus adjustment device adapted to adjust a focus position of said focusing device;

a display device adapted to display at least an image sensed by said image sensing element;

an area setting device adapted to set an area including an object image to be focused on said image sensing element on a screen of said display device;

a driving device adapted to drive said focus adjustment device to focus the object image in the area set by said area setting device on said image sensing element;

a transmission device adapted to transmit data including an image signal sensed by said image sensing element by wireless transmission; and

reception device adapted to receive data from another apparatus by wireless transmission,

wherein said area setting device comprises an input key for setting an area, and said input key also serves as an operation key for inputting a telephone number.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said display device further displays an image signal in the data received from the other apparatus.

9. An image communication apparatus comprising:

an image sensing element adapted to photoelectrically convert light coming from an object, and output an image signal;

a focusing device adapted to focus the light coming from the object on said image sensing element;

an exposure adjustment device adapted to adjust an exposure on said image sensing element;

a display device adapted to display at least an image sensed by said image sensing element;

an area setting device adapted to set an area including an object image, which is to have an appropriate exposure level on said image sensing element on a screen of said display device;

a driving device adapted to drive said exposure adjustment device to obtain an appropriate exposure level of the object image in the area set by said area setting device on said image sensing element;

a transmission device adapted to transmit data including an image signal sensed by said image sensing element by wireless transmission; and

reception device adapted to receive data from another apparatus by wireless transmission,

wherein said area setting device comprises an input key for setting an area, and said input key also serves as an operation key for inputting a telephone number.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said display device further displays an image signal in the data received from the other apparatus.

11. An image communication apparatus comprising:

an image sensing element adapted to photoelectrically convert light coming from an object, and output an image signal;

a display device adapted to display at least an image sensed by said image sensing element;

an image enlargement/reduction device adapted to enlarge or reduce an image on said display device;

an area setting device adapted to set an area including an object image to be enlarged or reduced on a screen of said display device;

a control device adapted to control said image enlargement/reduction device to enlarge or reduce the object image in the area set by said area setting device;

a transmission device adapted to transmit data including an image signal sensed by said image sensing element by wireless transmission; and

a reception device adapted to receive data from another apparatus by wireless transmission,

wherein said area setting device comprises an input key for setting an area, and said input key also serves as an operation key for inputting a telephone number.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said display device further displays an image signal in the data received from the other apparatus.

13. An image communication apparatus comprising:

an image sensing element adapted to photoelectrically convert light coming from an object, and output an image signal;

a display device adapted to display at least an image sensed by said image sensing element and/or a character;

a selection device adapted to display a menu used for selecting or executing one of a plurality of functions on said display device, and select a predetermined function from the displayed menu;

a transmission device adapted to transmit data including an image signal sensed by said image sensing element by wireless transmission; and

a reception device adapted to receive data from another apparatus by wireless transmission,

wherein said area setting device comprises an input key for setting an area, and said input key also serves as an operation key for inputting a telephone number.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said display device further displays an image signal in the data received from the other apparatus.

15. An image communication apparatus comprising:

a camera adapted to sense an object image

a transmission/reception device adapted to transmit/receive data;

an operation device adapted to operate said camera and said transmission/reception device; and

a switching device adapted to switch said operation device between a state for operating said camera, and a state for operating said transmission/reception device.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising selection device adapted to select a transmission/reception mode by said transmission/reception device, and wherein when said selection device selects the transmission/reception mode, said switching device automatically switches said operation device to the state for operating said transmission/reception device.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said selection device comprises a single button, and the transmission/reception mode and a camera mode are alternately selected every time said button is depressed once.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said switching device automatically switches said operation device to the state for operating said camera upon completion of operation pertaining to transmission/reception using said operation device.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a display adapted to display an image sensed by said camera.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said display further displays information which pertains to transmission/reception.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein in the state which allows said operation device to operate said camera, said display displays an image sensed by said camera, and in the state which allows said operation device to operate said transmission/reception device, said display displays the information that pertains to transmission/reception.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said operation device can select an object to be focused from an image on said display in the state for operating said camera.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein an area of the object to be focused is displayed on said display.

24. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said operation device comprises a ten-key pad.

25. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said operation device comprises a rotary switch.

26. An image communication apparatus comprising:

a camera for photoelectrically converting an image of an object, and outputting an image signal;

display device for displaying at least an image sensed by the camera;

area setting device for setting and displaying some area of the image, displayed on the display device, on a screen of the display device;

transmission device for transmitting data including an image signal sensed by the camera outward; and

switching device for switching the area setting device to a condition capable of entering a telephone number when a telephone communication is carried out by using the transmission device.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising a focus adjusting device for adjusting a focusing condition of incident light to the camera on the basis of an image signal of the some area which is set by the area setting device.

28. An apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising an exposure control device for controlling exposure amount on the basis of an image signal of the same area which is set by the area setting device.

29. An apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising expansion control device for expanding an image of the some area to overall area of the screen of the display device.

30. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said area setting device includes ten key.

34. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the display device displays the control status of the camera in response to the detection of the establishment of communication by the detection device.

36. An apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising switching device for switching modes of the operating device between a mode for designating the external unit and another mode for controlling the camera according to the detection of the establishment of the communication.

31. An image communication apparatus comprising:

an image sensing element for photoelectrically converting an image of an object, and outputting an image signal;

display device for displaying at least an image sensed by the image sensing element;

a rotary switch for changing a zooming condition of the image sensing element with displaying the zooming condition on the display device;

transmission device for transmitting data including an image signal sensed by the image sensing element outward; and

switching device for switching the rotary switch to a condition capable of selecting a telephone number when a telephone communication is carried out by using the transmission device.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said switching device changes the condition of the rotary switch from a telephone number entering condition to a zoom controlling condition on the basis of a detection where the transmission device is on the line.

33. A communication apparatus comprising:

camera photoelectrically converting light coming from an object, and outputting an image signal;

display device for displaying at least the image picked up by the camera;

a manual member for controlling the camera;

communication device for communicating with an external unit;

detecting device for detecting an establishment of communication between the communication device and the external unit; and

switching device for switching function of the manual member between first function for selecting the external unit and second function for controlling the camera according to the establishment status of the communication detected by the detection device.

35. A communication apparatus comprising:

camera for photoelectrically converting light coming from an object, and outputting an image signal;

operating device for controlling an operation of the camera;

communication device for communicating with an external unit;

detecting device for detecting an establishment of communication between the communication device and the external unit; and

display device for displaying a controlling condition of the camera in response to the detection of the establishment of the communication by the detection device.

37. A communication apparatus comprising:

camera for photoelectrically converting light coming from an object, and outputting an image signal;

operating device for controlling an operation of the camera;

communication device for communicating with an external unit;

detecting device for detecting an establishment of communication between the communication device and the external unit; and

switching device for switching modes of the operating device from a first mode for selecting the external unit to a second mode for controlling the operation of the camera in response to the detection of the establishment of the communication by the detection device.

38. An apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising display device for displaying at least the image sensed by the camera.

39. An apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the display device displays a controlling condition of the camera in response to the establishment of the communication.