Handy computer with built-in digital camera and spot state recording method using the same

• US 5,488,558 A
• Filed: 07/14/1994
• Issued: 01/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Openbet Technologies Limited (Vitruvian Partners LLP)
• Original Assignee: Daishin Instrument Company Limited
• Inventors: Ohki, Sinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US08/274,753
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 364/443, 364/444, 364/449, 364/188, 364/189, 382/1, 382/44, 382/48, 358/350
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0233 with printing provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0283 for data storage and retrieval
• 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 1/00204 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 1/00323 with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0051 Card-type connector, e.g. PCMCIA card interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data

Abstract

In a handy computer having an image pickup unit, a drawing or map information of a large area which including a prearranged portion to be inspected is stored, the prearranged portion to be inspected is specified on the drawing or the map information to thereby calculate positional data. The positional data is associated with photographed image data of an inspected portion which has been photographed by the image pickup unit.

Claims

1. A computer with a built-in digital camera in which an image pickup unit including a charge coupled device and an imaging lens is coupled with a computer body including a portable interior power source and a bus coupling terminal for connection of a peripheral equipment, said computer comprising:

memory means for storing map information which includes a location to be inspected;

display means for selectively displaying one of said map information and an image photographed by said image pickup unit;

a microprocessor for executing internal processing of said computer body and for processing an image output signal transmitted from said image pickup unit;

input operating means for providing instructions to said computer body and for inputting data;

means for selectively calling said map information of a small area which includes said location to be inspected from said map information stored in said memory means to be inspected for graphic display;

display means for specifying and indicating said location to be inspected in said map information which is graphically displayed on said display means;

means for calculating positional data on said location from said map information specified and indicated on said display means; and

means for causing image data to be taken by said image pickup unit at an actual site corresponding to said location in said map information and for storing photographed image data transmitted from said image pickup unit in association with said positional data of said location.

2. A computer with a built-in digital camera as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transportable memory medium having a memory capacity for storing the map information of the large area including the prearranged spot to be inspected, said transportable memory medium being detachably attached to said computer and a computer located in a fixed base, said transportable memory medium constituting data medium between said computer and said computer.

3. A computer with a built-in digital camera as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a GPS adaptor using a communication satellite for measuring an absolute position.

4. A computer with a built-in digital camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image pickup unit is detachably attached to said handy computer body.

5. A method of recording a spot state, comprising the steps of:

transferring map information of a large area which includes a spot to be inspected from a library for the map stored in a computer located in a fixed base to a computer with a built-in digital camera directly or through a portable memory medium;

Carrying said computer with said built-in digital camera which stores map information of a large area which includes the spot to be inspected, and selectively calling, on a display means, the map information of a small area which includes an actual spot to be inspected from the whole information of the map of a large area stored in said memory means for graphic display;

specifying and displaying the actual spot to be inspected in the map information of a small area graphically displayed on said display means, and calculating positional data of the portion on the map information;

adjusting a pose of said computer with said built-in digital camera so that the actual spot to be inspected falls within a view field of an image pickup unit to photograph the portion to be inspected;

storing the photographed image data transmitted from said image pickup unit and said positional data in association with each other in a memory means; and

transferring the photographed image data and the positional data stored in association with each other in said memory means of said computer body to said computer located in said fixed base directly or through a portable memory medium.

6. A computer with a built-in digital camera in which an image pickup unit including a charge coupled device and an imaging lens is coupled with a computer body including a portable interior power source and a bus coupling terminal for connection of a peripheral equipment, said computer comprising:

memory means for storing drawing information which includes a location to be inspected;

display means for selectively displaying said drawing information and an image photographed by said image pickup unit;

a microprocessor for executing internal processing of said computer body and for processing an image output signal transmitted from said image pickup unit;

input operating means for providing instructions to said computer body and for inputting data;

means for selectively calling said drawing information of a small area which includes said location to be inspected from said drawing information stored in said memory means to be inspected for graphic display;

display means for specifying and indicating said location to be inspected in said drawing information which is graphically displayed on said display means;

means for calculating positional data on said location from said drawing information specified and indicated on said display means; and

means for causing image data to be taken by said image pickup unit at an actual site corresponding to said location in said drawing information and for storing photographed image data transmitted from said image pickup unit in association with said positional data of said location.