Digital camera which detects a connection to an external device
First Claim
1. A method of communicating between an electronic camera and an external device, comprising the steps of:
- detecting, by the electronic camera, that the electronic camera is connected to the external device and the external device is in a state which permits communicating;
setting a switch on the electronic camera which indicates whether the electronic camera is to transmit or receive images; and
communicating between the electronic camera and the external device, when the electronic camera is detected to be connected to the external device and the external device is detected to be in a state which permits communicating,wherein the communicating step transmits the images to the external device when the switch indicates that the electronic camera is to transmit the images; and
wherein the communicating step receives the images from the external device when the switch indicates that the electronic camera is to receive the images,wherein the step of setting the switch includes;
setting the switch on the electronic camera which is further used to indicate whether the electronic camera is to record images captured through a lens of the electronic camera or to play images which are stored in the electronic camera, when the detecting step does not detect a connection of the electronic camera to the external device and the external device is in a state which permits communicating.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic camera and method of operating an electronic camera which detects whether an external device such as a personal computer is properly connected to the camera and in a state which permits communication. The camera monitors a data terminal ready (DTR) signal of an RS-232 connection in order to determine that the external device is properly connected and in a state which permits communication. Once the proper connection is detected, the camera can either transmit or receive images and/or audio from the external device. Accordingly, a specific switch which places the camera in a communication mode can be eliminated. Further, a single switch may be utilized for both controlling whether the camera records or plays images when there is no device connected, and which controls whether the camera transmits or receives images and/or audio when an external device is determined to be connected.
120 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of communicating between an electronic camera and an external device, comprising the steps of:
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detecting, by the electronic camera, that the electronic camera is connected to the external device and the external device is in a state which permits communicating; setting a switch on the electronic camera which indicates whether the electronic camera is to transmit or receive images; and communicating between the electronic camera and the external device, when the electronic camera is detected to be connected to the external device and the external device is detected to be in a state which permits communicating, wherein the communicating step transmits the images to the external device when the switch indicates that the electronic camera is to transmit the images; and wherein the communicating step receives the images from the external device when the switch indicates that the electronic camera is to receive the images, wherein the step of setting the switch includes; setting the switch on the electronic camera which is further used to indicate whether the electronic camera is to record images captured through a lens of the electronic camera or to play images which are stored in the electronic camera, when the detecting step does not detect a connection of the electronic camera to the external device and the external device is in a state which permits communicating. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of communicating between an electronic camera and an external device, comprising the steps of:
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detecting, by the electronic camera, that the electronic camera is connected to the external device and the external device is in a state which permits communicating; and communicating between the electronic camera and the external device, when the electronic camera is detected to be connected to the external device and the external device is detected to be in a state which permits communicating, wherein the detecting step monitors a signal output by the external device which indicates that the external device is ready to communicate, and wherein the detecting step monitors a signal output by the external device which indicates that a data terminal is ready. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. An electronic camera, comprising:
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a lens; a light sensor for capturing images through the lens; a memory connected to the light sensor, for storing the images captured through the lens; means for detecting that the electronic camera is connected to an external device and the external device is in a state which permits communicating; a switch which indicates whether the electronic camera is to transmit or receive images; and means for communicating between the electronic camera and the external device, when the electronic camera is detected to be connected to the external device and the external device is detected to be in a state which permits communicating, wherein the means for communicating transmits the images to the external device when the switch indicates that the electronic camera is to transmit the images, wherein the means for communicating receives the images from the external device when the switch indicates that the electronic camera is to receive the images, and wherein the switch further indicates whether the electronic camera is to store the images captured through the lens or to play images which are stored in the electronic camera, when the means for detecting does not detect a connection of the electronic camera to the external device and the external device is in a state which permits communicating. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. An electronic cameras, comprising:
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a lens; a light sensor for capturing images through the lens; a memory, connected to the light sensor for storing the images captured through the lens; means for detecting that the electronic camera is connected to an external device and the external device is in a state which permits communicating; and means for communicating between the electronic camera and the external device, when the electronic camera is detected to be connected to the external device and the external device is detected to be in a state which permits communicating, wherein the means for detecting monitors a signal output by the external device which indicates that the external device is ready to communicate, and wherein the means for detecting monitors a signal output by the external device which indicates that a data terminal is ready. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method of controlling an electronic camera, comprising the steps of:
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detecting, by the electronic camera, that the electronic camera is not connected to an external computer; operating the electronic camera in a mode which does not communicate with the external computer; detecting, by the electronic camera, that the electronic camera is connected to the external computer and the external computer is in a state which allows communication with the electronic camera by monitoring at least one signal which changes based on a connection state between the electronic camera and the external computer; switching a mode of the electronic camera to a communication mode, in direct response to a detecting that the electronic camera is connected to the external computer; and communication information between the electronic camera and the external computer, after the mode of the electronic camera is switched to the communication mode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for controlling an electronic camera, comprising:
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means for detecting, by the electronic camera, that the electronic camera is not connected to an external computer; means for operating the electronic camera in a mode which does not communicate with the external computer; means for detecting, by the electronic camera, that the electronic camera is connected to the external computer and the external computer is in a state which allows communication with the electronic camera by monitoring at least one signal which changes based on a connection state between the electronic camera and the external computer; means for switching a mode of the electronic camera to a communication mode, in direct response to a detecting that the electronic camera is connected to the external computer; and means for communication information between the electronic camera and the external computer, after the mode of the electronic camera is switched to the communication mode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification