Image capturing apparatus capable of receiving identification from base stations

• US 6,181,878 B1
• Filed: 02/20/1998
• Issued: 01/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Honda, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M
• Application Number:
  US09/026,672
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 396/310, 396/319, 396/429, 348/116, 348/222, 348/232, 342/357, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 358/906, 358/909.1, 455/66, 455/456, 340/539, 340/568.6, 340/996, 340/990-995
• US Class Current: 396/310
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/06 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/24 with means for separately producing marks on the film, e.g. title, time of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/243 Optical devices

Abstract

A camera includes a place information generator which receives identification information concerning an identification of a radio base station having a predetermined radio transmission zone, and generates place information concerning a place of picking up an image of an object based on received identification information. Generated place information is recorded on a record medium, or is displayed on a display unit. The camera has smaller size and power consumption and excellent portability in addition to recording of photographing place information.

Claims

1. An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image pickup device which picks up an optical image of an object; and

a place information generator which receives identification information concerning identification of each of a plurality of radio base stations having different radio transmission zones, and which generates place information respectively corresponding to the plurality of identification information, wherein the place information generator discriminates whether receivers of the plurality of identification information have a satisfactory signal, and generates the place information based on the identification information of the receiver that has been discriminated to have the satisfactory signal.

2. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base station sends electromagnetic waves for radio communications, the electromagnetic waves including a signal indicative of identification information of the base station, and the place information generator includes a receiver which receives the electromagnetic waves.

3. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the receiver includes a radio telephone.

4. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recorder which records on a record medium place information generated by the place information generator.

5. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display device which displays place information generated by the place information generator.

6. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said radio base station is a radio communication base station.

7. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display device which displays the plurality of place information.

8. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the place information generator includes a receiver which receives identification information, further comprising:

a discriminator which discriminates whether reception of identification information by the receiver is satisfactory; and

a display device which displays a reception state of the receiver.

9. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1 which is an electronic camera.

10. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the place information generator includes:

a first receiver which receives first identification information concerning identification of a first radio base station having a first predetermined radio transmission zone; and

a second receiver which receives second identification information concerning identification of a second radio base station having a second predetermined radio transmission zone smaller than the first predetermined radio transmission zone.

11. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the place information generator further includes:

a discriminator which discriminates whether reception of first identification information by the first receiver and reception of second identification information by the second receiver are respectively satisfactory; and

a controller which controls generation of first place information based on first identification information and generation of second place information based on second identification information in accordance with respective reception states of the first and second receivers.

12. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a display device which displays a reception state of the first and second receivers.

13. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a recorder which records on a record medium first and/or second place information generated by the place information generator.

14. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a display device which displays first and/or second place information generated by the place information generator.

15. An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image pickup device which picks up an optical image of an object;

a receiver unit which receives electromagnetic waves including signals representative of identification information concerning an identification of a each of a plurality of radio base stations having different predetermined radio transmission zones;

a detector which detects identification information from received electromagnetic waves;

a storage unit which stores place data and identification information of the radio base stations; and

an output unit which outputs place information concerning a place of picking up an optical image of an object based on detected identification information and place data stored in the storage unit.

16. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the receiver unit includes:

a first receiver which receives first identification information concerning an identification of a first radio base station having a first predetermined radio transmission zone; and

a second receiver which receives second identification information concerning an identification of a second radio base station having a second predetermined radio transmission zone smaller than the first predetermined radio transmission zone.

17. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a discriminator which discriminates whether reception of first identification information by the first receiver and reception of second identification information by the second receiver are respectively satisfactory; and

a controller which controls the output unit to output first place information based on first identification information and second place information based on second identification information in accordance with respective reception states of the first and second receivers.

18. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a recorder which records outputted place information on a record medium.

19. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a display unit which displays outputted place information.

20. An image capturing apparatus connectable with a receiver unit which receives electromagnetic waves including a receiver unit which receives signals concerning an identification of each of a plurality of radio base stations having different transmission zones, the image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image pickup device which picks up an optical image of an object;

a detector which detects identification information from received signals;

a storage unit which stores place data and identification information of the radio base station; and

an output unit which outputs place information concerning a place of picking up an optical image of an object based on detected identification information and place data stored in the storage unit.

21. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the receiver unit includes:

a first receiver which receives first identification information concerning an identification of a first radio base station having a first predetermined radio transmission zone; and

a second receiver which receives second identification information concerning an identification of a second radio base station having a second predetermined radio transmission zone smaller than the first predetermined radio transmission zone.

22. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising:

a discriminator which discriminates whether reception of first identification information by the first receiver and reception of second identification information by the second receiver are respectively satisfactory; and

a controller which controls the output unit to output first place information based on first identification information and second place information based on second identification information in accordance with respective reception states of the first and second receivers.

23. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a recorder which records outputted place information on a record medium.

24. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a display unit which displays outputted place information.

25. A method for generating information concerning a place of picking up an image of an object, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving identification information concerning an identification of each of a plurality of radio base stations having different radio transmission zones;

discriminating whether a satisfactory signal is received; and

generating place information concerning a place of picking up an image of an object based on received identification information which has been discriminated to have the satisfactory signal.

26. An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an image pickup device which picks up an optical image of an object;

a place information generator which receives identification information concerning identification of each of a plurality of radio base stations having different radio transmission zones, and which generates place information respectively corresponding to the plurality of identification information; and

a display device which displays the plurality of place information based on the plurality of identification information.

27. A method for generating information concerning a place of picking up an image of an object, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving identification information concerning an identification of each of a plurality of radio base stations having different radio transmission zones;

generating place information concerning a place of picking up an image of an object based on received identification information; and

displaying the plurality of place information based upon the plurality of identification information.