Television set capable of controlling external device and image storage controlled by television set

• US 20060133773A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation, Nikon Technologies Inc. (Nikon Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohmura, Akira, Tanaka, Masahide
• Application Number:
  US11/334,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20060133773A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/224
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00901 Using different supplies or connection to an external supply H04N1/00893, H04N1/00896 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• 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 2201/0044 Connecting to a plurality of different apparatus; Using a plurality of different connectors connection via a network H04N2201/0039
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• 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 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 : for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 : Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 : the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 : using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 : using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 : the additional signal being at least another television signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8233 : the additional signal being a character code signal

Abstract

An image storage for storing digital still image data is connected to a television set for selectively watching a broadcast program in a first mode or a still image transmitted from the image storage in a second mode. The image storage has an input circuit for receiving a control signal form the television set and an output circuit for transmitting a still image signal to the television set on the basis of the digital still image data, the output circuit being responsive to the control signal. The television set, on the other hand, has an output circuit for transmitting the control signal to the image storage. By means of the control signal, the image storage is automatically turned on or off when the television set is turned on or off, respectively. The control signal makes image storage operative or inoperative when the television set is in the second mode or in the first mode, respectively, to save power consumption with the television set in the first mode. The image storage may be further connected to a printer, wherein the image storage further has an output circuit for transmitting an output signal to the printer in response to the control signal from the television set, the output signal being an image signal to be printed or a control signal for the printer function.

Claims

1. A system including an image storage placed separately from a television set,

wherein the image storage is to be connected to the television set and comprises:

a main memory for storing a plurality of digital still image data;

a digital circuit for retrieving desired one of the plurality of digital still image data from the main memory;

an input circuit for receiving a control signal from the television set; and

a first output circuit for transmitting a still image signal to the television set on the basis of the digital still image data retrieved by the digital circuit;

and wherein the television set comprises;

a television circuit including a tuner for receiving a broadcast program;

a monitor for selectively displaying one of the broadcast program from the television circuit and the still image on the basis of the still image signal transmitted from the image storage by the output circuit; and

a second output circuit for transmitting the control signal to the input circuit of the image storage.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the television set further comprising a remote controller, and wherein the second output circuit is designed to transmit the control signal in response to the remote controller.

59. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first output includes an encoder for encoding the digital still image signal into the television signal.

3. An image storage to be separately connected to a television set comprising:

a main memory for storing a plurality of digital still image data;

a digital circuit for retrieving desired one of the plurality of digital still image data from the main memory;

an input circuit for receiving a control signal from the television set; and

an output circuit for transmitting a still image signal on the basis of the digital still image data retrieved by the digital circuit.

4. The image storage according to claim 3, wherein the output circuit includes an encoder for encoding the digital still image signal into the television signal which is transmitted to the television set.

5. The image storage according to claim 3, wherein the main memory is of a built-in type with a large capacity for forming a united data base of the digital still image data.

6. The image storage according to claim 3, wherein the image storage is further connectable to a printer, and wherein the output circuit is designed to transmit the still image signal to the printer.

7. The image storage according to claim 3, wherein the image storage is further connectable to a modulator-demodulator for data communication, and wherein the output circuit is designed to transmit the still image signal to the modulator-demodulator.

8. The image storage according to claim 3, wherein the digital circuit retrieves the desired one of the plurality of digital still image data in response to the control signal received by the input circuit.

9. The image storage according to claim 3, wherein the input circuit is designed to receive the control signal formed as a digital signal, and wherein the output circuit includes a digital-to-analog converter for converting the digital still image to an analog still image signal which is transmitted to the television set.

10. The image storage according to claim 3, further comprising an integrated digital connector connectable to the television set, the input circuit and the output circuit being connected to the digital connector.

11. The image storage according to claim 3, further comprising a control circuit for controlling the digital circuit and the output circuit in response to the input circuit which receives the control signal.

12. The image storage according to claim 3, wherein the main memory has a rested condition and an active condition both with a main power supplied, wherein the main memory is changed between the rested condition and the active condition in response to the input circuit which receives the control signal.

13. The image storage according to claim 3, further comprising a temporary memory for storing the digital still image data retrieved from the main memory, the output circuit transmitting the still image signal on the basis of the digital still image data stored in the temporary memory, wherein the digital circuit replaces the digital still image data in the temporary memory by a new digital still image data retrieved from the main memory in response to the input circuit which receives the control signal.

14. The image storage according to claim 3, wherein the output circuit is capable of selectively transmitting a first type of still image signal including information of a single digital still image data and a second type of still image signal including information of a plurality of digital still image data, the output circuit being designed to select one of the first and second types of still image signal in response to the control signal received by the input circuit.

15. The image storage according to claim 14, wherein the output circuit is designed to replace the second type of still image signal by the first type of still image signal in response to the control signal received by the input circuit with the second type of image signal transmitted for a selection among the plurality of digital still image data included therein.

16. The image storage according to claim 3, wherein image storage is capable of being connected to a television set having a remote controller, and wherein the input circuit is designed to receiving the control signal which is originated by the remote controller of the television set.

17. The image storage according to claim 3, further comprising a main switch, and wherein the image storage is designed to be turned on or off in response to the control signal.

18. A television set to be connected to an image storage comprising:

a television circuit including a tuner for receiving a broadcast program;

an input circuit for receiving a still image signal transmitted from the image storage;

a monitor for selectively displaying one of the broadcast program from the television circuit and the still image on the basis of the still image signal received by the input circuit; and

an output circuit for transmitting a control signal to the image storage.

19. The television set according to claim 18, further comprising a remote controller, wherein the output circuit is designed to transmit the control signal in response to the remote controller.

20. The television set according to claim 18, further comprising a mode selector for selecting between a first mode for the monitor to display the broadcast program and a second mode for the monitor to display the still image, and a manually operable member for controlling the television circuit in the first mode and for controlling the output circuit in the second mode.

21. The television set according to claim 20, further comprising a main switch, and wherein the television set is turned on in the first mode in response to the main switch.

22. The television set according to claim 20, further comprising a remote controller, wherein the manually operable member is located at the remote controller.

23. A television set to be connected to an external device comprising:

a television circuit including a tuner for receiving a broadcast program;

an input circuit for receiving an image transmitted from the external device;

a monitor for selectively displaying one of the broadcast program from the television circuit and the image on the basis of the image signal received by the input circuit;

a mode selector for selecting between a first mode for the monitor to display the broadcast program and a second mode for the monitor to display the image from the external device, and

an output circuit for transmitting a control signal to make the external device operative when the mode selector selects the second mode.

24. A television set to be connected to an external device comprising:

a television circuit including a tuner for receiving a broadcast program;

an input circuit for receiving an image transmitted from the external device;

a monitor for selectively displaying one of the broadcast program from the television circuit and the image on the basis of the image signal received by the input circuit;

a main switch; and

an output circuit for transmitting a control signal to turn on the external device when the main switch is turned on.

25. The television set according to claim 24, wherein the output circuit is designed to further transmit a control signal to turn off the external device when the main switch is turned off.

26. A television set to be connected to an external device comprising:

a television circuit including a tuner for receiving a broadcast program;

an input circuit for receiving an image transmitted from the external device;

a monitor for selectively displaying one of the broadcast program from the television circuit and the image on the basis of the image signal received by the input circuit;

a main switch; and

an output circuit for transmitting a control signal to turn off the external device when the main switch is turned off.

27. A television set to be connected to an external device comprising:

a television circuit including a tuner for receiving a broadcast program;

an input circuit for receiving an image signal transmitted from the external device;

a monitor for selectively displaying one of the broadcast program from the television circuit and the image on the basis of the image signal received by the input circuit;

a remote controller; and

an output circuit for transmitting a control signal to the external device in response to the remote controller.

28. A television set comprising:

a television circuit including a tuner for receiving a broadcast program;

a monitor for selectively displaying a single image and a set of a plurality of divided images;

a mode selector for selecting between a first mode for the monitor to display the single image and a second mode for the monitor to display the set of images;

a remote controller for controlling the television circuit in the first mode and for selecting one of the plurality of divided images in the second mode;

wherein the remote controller includes a set of the plurality of manually operable members to be commonly used in the first and second modes, and wherein an arrangement of a set of the plurality of divided images corresponds to the arrangement of the manually operable members.

29. The television set according to claim 28, wherein the remote controller includes a set of s plurality of manually operable members to be commonly used in the first and second modes, and wherein the set of a plurality of divided images are arranged in a similar pattern to that of the manually operable members.

30. An image storage to be connected to a television set and to an external device comprising:

an input circuit for receiving a control signal form the television set; and

an output circuit for transmitting an output signal to the external device in response to the control signal received by the input circuit.

31. The image storage according to claim 30, further comprising:

a main memory for storing a plurality of digital still image data; and

a digital circuit for retrieving desired one of the plurality of digital still image data from the main memory;

wherein the output signal includes a still image signal on the basis of the digital still image data retrieved by the digital circuit.

32. The image storage according to claim 31, wherein the main memory is of a removable type from the image storage.

33. The image storage according to claim 31, further comprising:

a second output circuit for transmitting an image signal to the television set for display in response to the control signal received by the input circuit, the image signal being on the basis of the digital still image data retrieved by the digital circuit.

34. The image storage according to claim 33, wherein the external device is a printer, and wherein the control signal includes a selection signal for selecting at least one of the plurality of digital still image data to be printed by the printer, the selection being facilitated by the image signal transmitted to and displayed on the television set.

35. The image storage according to claim 30, wherein the output circuit includes a generator for generating the output signal in response to the control signal received by the input circuit.

36. The image storage according to claim 30, wherein the external device is a printer, and wherein the output circuit is designed to transmit the output signal to the printer.

37. The image storage according to claim 36, further comprising:

a main memory for storing a plurality of digital still image data; and

a digital circuit for retrieving desired one of the plurality of digital still image data from the main memory;

wherein the output signal includes a printer control signal for the printer to carry out the printing of a still image on the basis of the digital still image data retrieved by the digital circuit.

38. The image storage according to claim 37, wherein the digital circuit is designed to retrieve one of the plurality of digital still image data from the main memory in response to the control signal from the television set,

and wherein the output signal includes a still image signal on the basis of the digital still image data retrieved by the digital circuit.

39. The image storage according to claim 37, wherein the control signal includes a selection signal for selecting at least one of the plurality of digital still image data to be printed by the printer.

40. The image storage according to claim 36, wherein the output signal includes a power control signal for turning on or off the printer.

41. The image storage according to claim 36, further comprising:

a main switch; and

a communication circuit with the printer for the main switch to be made off in response to the communication with the printer.

42. The image storage according to claim 41, wherein the main switch is made off when the image storage is informed by the printer of the completion of its function by means of the communication circuit.

43. The image storage according to claim 30, further comprising:

a second output circuit for transmitting an image signal to the television set in response to the control signal received by the input circuit, whereby the change in the control signal is capable of being monitored by the television set.

44. The image storage according to claim 37, wherein the printer control signal is a command to start the printing, the command being transmitted to the printer when the control signal is received from the television set.

45. The image storage according to claim 37, wherein the printer control signal is a command to inhibit the printer from starting the printing, the command being transmitted to the printer when the control signal is received from the television set.

46. The image storage according to claim 37, wherein the printer control signal is a command to interrupt the printing, the command being transmitted to the printer when the control signal is received from the television set.

47. The image storage according to claim 46, wherein the printer control signal is a command to restart the printing, the command being transmitted to the printer when the control signal is received from the television set.

48. The image storage according to claim 37, wherein the control signal includes a first signal and a second signal, and wherein the input circuit is responsive to the first signal for changing between a first mode sensible to the second signal and a second mode insensible to the second signal.

49. The image storage according to claim 37, wherein the control signal includes a first signal and a second signal, and wherein the output circuit is responsive to the first signal for changing between a first mode to transmit the output signal in response to the second signal and a second mode not to transmit the output signal in response to the second signal.

50. The image storage according to claim 37, wherein the control signal from the television set is representative of a condition for printing.

51. The image storage according to claim 56, wherein the condition is a number of prints to be printed by the printer.

52. The image storage according to claim 30, wherein the image storage is capable of being connected to a television set having a manually operable member, and wherein the input circuit is designed to receiving the control signal which is originated by the manually operable member.

53. The image storage according to claim 52, wherein the image storage is capable of being connected to a television set having a remote, and wherein the manually operable member is located at the remote controller.

54. The image storage according to claim 36, wherein the output signal includes a power control signal for turning on or off the printer in response to the control signal from the television set.

55. The image storage according to claim 54, further comprising a second input circuit for receiving a printer status signal, wherein the output circuit is designed to be responsive to the status signal to transmit the power control signal for turning off the printer on condition that the printer is not in operation.

56. The image storage according to claim 36, wherein the output signal includes a command to start the printing, the command being transmitted to the printer when the television set is turned off.

57. The image storage according to claim 36, wherein the image storage is capable of being connected to a television set changeable between a normal mode and a printer control mode, and wherein the image storage further comprises a second output circuit for transmitting a mode changing signal to the television set to change the television set from the printer control mode to the normal mode in response to a completion of preparing the printing.

58. An image storage to be connected to a television set, the image storage comprising:

an integrated digital connector connectable to the television set; and

an input circuit for receiving a control signal from the television set, the input circuit and an output circuit being connected to the digital connector.