Image reproduction apparatus

• US 5,594,502 A
• Filed: 02/22/1995
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Elmo Co., Ltd. (TECHNO HORIZON Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Elmo Co., Ltd. (TECHNO HORIZON Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mizuno, Akio, Oda, Nobuyuki, Tuzuki, Tomio, Bito, Nobutsune
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan V.
• Application Number:
  US08/392,146
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207, 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/376, 348/231, 355/64, 355/21, 355/67, 355/70
• US Class Current: 348/373
• 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 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00405 Output means output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00435 arranged in a predetermined sequence, e.g. using next and previous buttons
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00437 Intelligent menus, e.g. anticipating user selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• 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 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19594 using a television camera or a still video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0077 Types of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0436 Scanning a picture-bearing surface lying face up on a support H04N2201/0434 takes precedence; using cylindrical picture bearing surfaces H04N1/06; with manual scanning H04N1/107
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/045 Mounting the scanning elements in a collapsible or foldable structure, e.g. for ease of transportation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof

Abstract

A presentation supporting system is constructed to be space-saving and to allow compact packing under a non-service condition. In the presentation supporting system, the presentation conditions are adjusted adequately without much labor and time. The presentation supporting system of the invention has a table on which a subject matter is placed, a camera head unit for taking a visual image of the subject matter, a camera supporting base member projecting upright from a rear side of the table, and a folding camera supporting arm member to which the camera head unit is fixed. The folding camera supporting arm member is stretched upward under a service condition and is folded under a non-service condition. The presentation supporting system includes a control circuit having an EEPROM which stores settings of control buttons on a front operation panel and a control panel when a key set button is activated. These settings include selection of auxiliary lighting units for reflecting light or a base light unit for transmitting light, a sound output volume, an iris opening, a focal position, a zoom range, settings of a white balance mode and a display mode. The control circuit reads an operating condition of the key set button immediately after power is supplied, and reproduces the settings stored in the EEPROM under an ON condition of the key set button. Under an OFF condition of the key set button the control circuit sets default values.

Claims

1. An image reproduction apparatus comprising camera means for taking a visual image of a material, a sample, or another subject matter placed on a table, an image signal representing the visual image of said subject matter taken by said camera means being transmitted to an external display unit to show a reproduction image of said subject matter,

said image reproduction apparatus further comprising

presentation condition adjustment means for adjusting a presentation condition for said subject matter,

memory means for storing a plurality of presentation condition groups including a plurality of predetermined presentation conditions adjusted by said presentation condition adjustment means,

presentation condition selection means for selecting one of said plurality of presentation condition groups stored in said memory means, and

presentation condition setting means for setting presentation conditions included in said one presentation condition group selected by said presentation condition selection means in said presentation supporting system.

2. An image production apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said apparatus further comprising sequence specification means for specifying a sequence of said plurality of presentation condition groups stored in said memory means,

wherein said presentation condition selection means selects each of said plurality of presentation condition groups according to the sequence specified by said sequence specification means.

3. A presentation supporting system comprising camera means for taking a visual image of a material, a sample, or another subject matter placed on a table, an image signal representing the visual image of said subject matter taken by said camera means being transmitted to an external display unit to show a reproduction image of said subject matter,

said presentation supporting system further comprising

presentation condition adjustment means for adjusting a presentation condition for said subject matter,

memory means for storing a plurality of presentation conditions adjusted by said presentation condition adjustment means,

presentation condition selection means for selecting one of said plurality of presentation conditions stored in said memory means, and

presentation condition setting means for setting said one presentation condition selected by said presentation condition selection means in said presentation supporting system,

said presentation condition adjustment means adjusting a first presentation condition concerning with a light source for irradiating said subject matter on said table, a second presentation condition concerning with settings of said camera means for taking the visual image of said subject matter on said table, and a third presentation condition concerning with a display mode for outputting the visual image of said subject matter,

said presentation condition selection means selecting one out of said first, second, and third presentation conditions.

4. A presentation supporting system comprising camera means for taking a visual image of a material, a sample, or another subject matter placed on a table, an image signal representing the visual image of said subject matter taken by said camera means being transmitted to an external display unit to show a reproduction image of said subject matter,

said presentation supporting system further comprising

presentation condition adjustment means for adjusting a presentation condition for said subject matter,

memory means for storing a plurality of presentation conditions adjusted by said presentation condition adjustment means,

presentation condition selection means for selecting one of said plurality of presentation conditions stored in said memory means, and

presentation condition setting means for setting said one presentation condition selected by said presentation condition selection means in said presentation supporting system,

said presentation condition adjustment means further comprising shooting range adjustment means for adjusting a shooting range of said camera means on said table.

5. A presentation supporting system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said shooting range adjustment means adjusts a shooting direction of said camera means for taking the visual image of said subject matter.

6. A presentation supporting system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said shooting range adjustment means sets the shooting direction of said camera means in an arbitrary area selected among a center area, a front area, a rear area, a right area, and a left area on a top face of said table.

7. A presentation supporting system comprising camera means for taking a visual image of a material, a sample, or another subject matter placed on a table, an image signal representing the visual image of said subject matter taken by said camera means being transmitted to an external display unit to show a reproduction image of said subject matter,

said presentation supporting system further comprising

presentation condition adjustment means for adjusting a presentation condition for said subject matter,

memory means for storing a plurality of presentation conditions adjusted by said presentation condition adjustment means,

presentation condition selection means for selecting one of said plurality of presentation conditions stored in said memory means, and

presentation condition setting means for setting said one presentation condition selected by said presentation condition selection means in said presentation supporting system,

sequence specification means for specifying a sequence of said plurality of presentation conditions stored in said memory means, and

presentation time specification means for specifying a presentation time period when one of said plurality of presentation conditions is set according to the sequence specified by said sequence specification means,

wherein said presentation condition selection means selects one of said plurality of presentation conditions according to the sequence specified by said sequence specification means every time when the presentation time period specified by said presentation time specification means has elapsed.

8. A controller device used for an image reproduction apparatus for taking a visual image of a material, a sample, or another subject matter placed on a table and outputting an image signal representing the visual image of said subject matter to an external display unit to show a reproduction image of said subject matter, said controller device comprising

memory means for storing a plurality of presentation condition groups including a plurality of presentation conditions for showing the reproduction image of said subject matter sent from said presentation supporting system;

presentation condition selection means for selecting a presentation condition group out of said plurality of presentation condition groups stored in said memory means, and

presentation condition control means for controlling said image reproduction apparatus based on the presentation conditions included in said presentation condition group selected by said presentation condition selection means.

9. A controller device used for a presentation supporting system for taking a visual image of a material, a sample, or another subject matter placed on a table and outputting an image signal representing the visual image of said subject matter to an external display unit to show a reproduction image of said subject matter, said controller device comprising

memory means for storing a plurality of presentation conditions for showing the reproduction image of said subject matter sent from said presentation supporting system;

presentation condition selection means for selecting a presentation condition out of said plurality of presentation conditions stored in said memory means, and

presentation condition control means for controlling said presentation supporting system based on said presentation condition selected by said presentation condition selection means,

said presentation condition selection means selecting one among a first presentation condition concerning with a light source for irradiating said subject matter on said table, a second presentation condition concerning with settings of said camera means for taking the visual image of said subject matter on said table, and a third presentation condition concerning with a display mode for outputting the visual image of said subject matter.