Digital camera

• US 6,774,935 B1
• Filed: 10/25/1999
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Morimoto, Yasuhiro, Naruto, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Application Number:
  US09/426,586
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.01, 348/333.12, 348/207.1, 348/207.11, 348/211.1, 348/211.11, 348/211.5, 348/333.05, 348/211.4, 348/211.3, 710/110
• US Class Current: 348/211.5
• 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 2201/0013 Arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0036 Detecting or checking connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0074 Arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

A digital camera includes a connector for connecting another digital camera and an interface for exchanging data between the digital camera and another digital camera. When another digital camera is connected to the connector, another digital camera is be controlled by a controller via the interface.

Claims

1. A digital camera, comprising:

a connector for connecting said digital camera to another digital camera;

an interface for exchanging data between said digital camera and said another digital camera; and

a controller for controlling said another digital camera via said interface when said another digital camera is connected to said connector,

wherein said controller controls a display provided to said another digital camera so as to turn on/off the display when the data exchange between said digital camera and said another digital camera is executed.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying a controlling menu for said another digital camera.

3. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said digital camera displays a controlled result of said another digital camera on said display at a first display mode and does not display a controlled result of said another digital camera on said display at a second display mode.

4. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera transfers a photographed image data and its related data to said another digital camera at a first transfer mode, and transfers only the photographed image data at a second transfer mode.

5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said interface is an interface based on a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard.

6. The digital camera according to claim 5, wherein said digital camera is equipped with an upstream connector and a downstream connector for connecting an external equipment via said interface, and wherein said another digital camera is connected to said downstream connector.

7. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera has a function for selecting a first control mode in which said digital camera controls said another digital camera or a second control mode in which said digital camera is controlled by said another digital camera.

8. A digital camera, comprising:

an interface based on a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard;

first and second connectors for connecting a plurality of external equipment via said interface;

a detector for detecting whether or not any of the plurality of external equipment is connected to said first and second connectors; and

a controller for changing an operation of the digital camera based on the detected results of the detector, wherein

when the detector detects that external equipment is connected to both said first and second connectors, the controller sets the digital camera to operate as a hub of the external equipment connected to both said first and second connectors, and

when the detector detects that external equipment is connected to the second connector and not to the first connector, the controller sets the digital camera to operate as a master controller of the external equipment connected to the second connector.

9. The digital camera according to claim 8, wherein said first and second connectors are upstream and downstream connectors, respectively of said digital camera.

10. The digital camera according to claim 9, wherein the external equipment to be connected to said downstream connector is anyone of a digital camera, a modem and a printer.

11. The digital camera according to claim 9, wherein the external equipment to be connected to said upstream connector is a computer or a hub.

12. A digital camera, comprising:

a connector for connecting said digital camera to another digital camera, said another digital camera having a power supply configure to supply power to said another digital camera;

an interface for exchanging data between said digital camera and said another digital camera; and

a controller for controlling said another digital camera via said interface when said another digital camera is connected to said connector,

wherein said controller controls said another digital camera so as to turn on/off a display of said another digital camera and power continues to be supplied to said another digital camera from said power supply when the display is turned off by said controller.

13. The digital camera according to claim 12, further comprising a display for displaying a controlling menu for said another digital camera.

14. The digital camera according to claim 13, wherein said digital camera displays a controlled result of said another digital camera on said display at a first display mode and does not display a controlled result of said another digital camera on said display at a second display mode.

15. The digital camera according to claim 12, wherein said digital camera transfers a photographed image data and its related data to said another digital camera at a first transfer mode, and transfers only the photographed image data at a second transfer mode.

16. The digital camera according to claim 12, wherein said interface is an interface based on a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard.

17. The digital camera according to claim 16, wherein said digital camera is equipped with an upstream connector and a downstream connector for connecting an external equipment via said interface, and wherein said another digital camera is connected to said downstream connector.