Digital camera and document photographing and transmitting method of the same

• US 7,027,171 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Watanabe, Yoshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Gabriel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Thierry L.
• Application Number:
  US09/537,405
• Time in Patent Office: 2,204 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/18, 358/488, 358/1.14, 355/18, 396/429, 396/55, 396/229, 396/266, 382/313, 382/317, 382/318, 382/321, 382/112, 382/164, 382/289, 382/488, 399/1, 399/38
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00212 Attaching image data to computer messages, e.g. to e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00291 with receiver circuitry television receiver circuitry per se H04N5/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2125 Display of information relating to the still picture recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/413 Systems or arrangements allowing the picture to be reproduced without loss or modification of picture-information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0065 Converting image data to a format usable by the connected apparatus or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

An image processing section provided in a digital camera converts the image photographed in a document photographing mode to any data format that a destination (a facsimile or a personal computer) selected by a user requires.

Claims

1. A digital camera having a normal photographing mode and a document photographing mode, said digital camera comprising:

an image pickup unit which captures an image of a subject and converts the image to image data;

an angle of photography detection unit which detects an angle of photography with respect to a surface of a document as the subject in the document photographing mode and prevents capturing the image until a suitable angle of photography is detected in order to minimize distortions in the image captured of the document;

a compression unit which compresses the image data and generates a compressed image data;

a storage unit which stores the compressed image data;

an expansion unit which expands the compressed image data;

a selection unit with which any of the normal photographing mode and the document photographing mode can be selected, and with which a destination to receive the image data can be selected; and

an image processing unit which subjects the image data to image processing depending on the selected photographing mode,

wherein said expansion unit expands the compressed image data acquired in the document photographing mode and stored in said storage unit, and then said image processing unit subjects this data to an image processing that a selected destination requires, prior to providing the image data to the destination.

2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein, in the document photographing mode, data related to the conditions during photography are stored in said storage unit in correlation with the compressed image data, and said image processing unit subjects the image data to image processing based on the data related to the conditions during photography.

3. The digital camera according to claim 1 further comprising a data communication unit which performs data communications with the outside.

4. The digital camera according to claim 3 further comprising:

a memory which stores the names of destinations, telephone numbers or addresses, and an image deletion flag that specifies whether the image data is to be deleted after its transmission in correlation with one another; and

a deletion unit which deletes the image data after the image data has been transmitted by said data communication unit based on the image deletion flag in said memory.

5. The digital camera according to claim 3 further comprising a deletion unit which deletes the image data after the image data has been transmitted by said data communication unit depending on the selected destination.

6. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein an operator can freely add or change the contents of said memory.

50. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said image processing unit recognizes a shape of said document to calculate a current angle of photography.

54. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein a user arranges the digital camera such that the angle of photography is substantially perpendicular with respect to the surface of the document, in order to obtain the suitable angle of photography in the document photography mode.

58. A digital camera according to claim 54, wherein the image processing unit does not correct distortions related to the angle of photography of the image of the subject.

7. A digital camera having a normal photographing mode and a document photographing mode, said digital camera comprising:

an image pickup unit which captures an image of a subject and converts the image to image data;

an angle of photography detection unit which detects an angle of photography with respect to a surface of a document as the subject in the document photographing mode and prevents capturing the image until a suitable angle of photography is detected in order to minimize distortions in the image captured of the document;

a selection unit with which any of the normal photographing mode and the document photographing mode can be selected, and with which a destination to receive the image data can be selected;

an image processing unit which subjects the image data acquired in the document photographing mode to an image processing that a selected destination requires, prior to providing the image data to the destination.

8. The digital camera according to claim 7 further comprising a data communication unit which performs data communications with the outside.

9. The digital camera according to claim 8 further comprising:

a memory which stores the names of destinations, telephone numbers or addresses, and an image deletion flag that specifies whether the image data is to be deleted after its transmission in correlation with one another; and

a deletion unit which deletes the image data after the image data has been transmitted by said data communication unit based on the image deletion flag in said memory.

10. The digital camera according to claim 8 further comprising a deletion unit which deletes the image data after the image data has been transmitted by said data communication unit depending on the selected destination.

11. The digital camera according to claim 9, wherein an operator can freely add or change the contents of said memory.

51. A digital camera according to claim 7, wherein said image processing unit recognizes a shape of said document to calculate a current angle of photography.

55. A digital camera according to claim 7, wherein a user arranges the digital camera such that the angle of photography is substantially perpendicular with respect to the surface of the document, in order to obtain the suitable angle of photography in the document photography mode.

59. A digital camera according to claim 55, wherein the image processing unit does not correct distortions related to the angle of photography of the image of the subject.

12. A digital camera having a normal photographing mode and a document photographing mode, said digital camera comprising:

an image pickup unit which captures an image of a subject and converts the image to image data;

an angle of photography detection unit which detects an angle of photography with respect to a surface of a document as the subject in the document photographing mode and prevents capturing the image until a suitable angle of photography is detected in order to minimize distortions in the image captured of the document;

a compression unit which compresses the image data and generates a compressed image data;

a storage unit which stores the compressed image data;

an expansion unit which expands the compressed image data;

a selection unit with which any of the normal photographing mode and the document photographing mode can be selected, and with which a destination to receive the image data can be selected; and

an image processing unit which subjects the expanded image data to image processing depending on the selected photographing mode,

wherein, based on a selected destination, said expansion unit expands the compressed image data acquired in the document photographing mode and stored in said storage unit, and then said image processing unit subjects the data to the processing for clipping, conversion to a smaller number of gray levels in achromatic color, and resolution conversion, and once more compresses the data, prior to providing the image data to the destination.

13. The digital camera according to claim 12, wherein, in the document photographing mode, data related to the conditions during photography are stored in said storage unit in correlation with the compressed image data, and said image processing unit subjects the image data to image processing based on the data related to the conditions during photography.

14. The digital camera according to claim 12 further comprising a data communication unit which performs data communications with the outside.

15. The digital camera according to claim 14 further comprising:

a memory which stores the names of destinations, telephone numbers or addresses, and an image deletion flag that specifies whether the image data is to be deleted after its transmission in correlation with one another; and

a deletion unit which deletes the image data after the image data has been transmitted by said data communication unit based on the image deletion flag in said memory.

16. The digital camera according to claim 14 further comprising a deletion unit which deletes the image data after the image data has been transmitted by said data communication unit depending on the selected destination.

17. The digital camera according to claim 15 wherein an operator can freely add or change the contents of said memory.

52. A digital camera according to claim 12, wherein said image processing unit recognizes a shape of said document to calculate a current angle of photography.

56. A digital camera according to claim 12, wherein a user arranges the digital camera such that the angle of photography is substantially perpendicular with respect to the surface of the document, in order to obtain the suitable angle of photography in the document photography mode.

60. A digital camera according to claim 56, wherein the image processing unit does not correct distortions related to the angle of photography of the image of the subject.

18. A digital camera having a normal photographing mode and a document photographing mode, said digital camera comprising:

an image pickup unit which captures an image of a subject and converts the image to image data;

an angle of photography detection unit which detects an angle of photography with respect to a surface of a document as the subject in the document photographing mode and prevents capturing the image until a suitable angle of photography is detected in order to minimize distortions in the image captured of the document;

a selection unit with which any of the normal photographing mode and the document photographing mode can be selected, and with which a destination to receive the image data can be selected; and

an image processing unit which, based on the selected destination, subjects the image data acquired in the document photographing mode to the processing for clipping, conversion to a smaller number of gray levels in achromatic color, and resolution conversion, and once more compresses the data, prior to providing the image data to the destination.

19. The digital camera according to claim 18 further comprising a data communication unit which performs data communications with the outside.

20. The digital camera according to claim 19 further comprising:

a memory which stores the names of destinations, telephone numbers or addresses, and an image deletion flag that specifies whether the image data is to be deleted after its transmission in correlation with one another; and

a deletion unit which deletes the image data after the image data has been transmitted by said data communication unit based on the image deletion flag in said memory.

21. The digital camera according to claim 19 further comprising a deletion unit which deletes the image data after the image data has been transmitted by said data communication unit depending on the selected destination.

22. The digital camera according to claim 20, wherein an operator can freely add or change the contents of said memory.

23. A digital camera having a normal photographing mode and a document photographing mode, said digital camera comprising:

an image pickup unit which captures an image of a subject and converts the image to image data;

an angle of photography detection unit which detects an angle of photography with respect to a surface of a document as the subject in the document photographing mode and prevents capturing the image until a suitable angle of photography is detected in order to minimize distortions in the image captured of the document;

a compression unit which compresses the image data and generates a compressed image data a storage unit which stores the compressed image data;

an expansion unit which expands the compressed image data;

a selection unit with which any of the normal photographing mode and the document photographing mode can be selected, and with which a destination to receive the image data can be selected; and

an image processing unit which subjects the image data to image processing depending on the selected photographing mode,

wherein, based on the selected destination, said expansion unit expands the compressed image data acquired in the document photographing mode and stored in said storage unit, and then said image processing unit subjects this data to the processing for clipping, conversion to a smaller number of gray levels in achromatic color, and once more compresses the data, prior to providing the image data to the destination.

24. The digital camera according to claim 23, wherein, in the document photographing mode, data related to the conditions during photography are stored in said storage unit in correlation with the compressed image data, and said image processing unit subjects the image data to image processing based on the data related to the conditions during photography.

25. The digital camera according to claim 23 further comprising a data communication unit which performs data communications with the outside.

26. The digital camera according to claim 25 further comprising:

a memory which stores the names of destinations, telephone numbers or addresses, and an image deletion flag that specifies whether the image data is to be deleted after its transmission in correlation with one another; and

a deletion unit which deletes the image data after the image data has been transmitted by said data communication unit based on the image deletion flag in said memory.

27. The digital camera according to claim 25 further comprising a deletion unit which deletes the image data after the image data has been transmitted by said data communication unit depending on the selected destination.

28. The digital camera according to claim 26, wherein an operator can freely add or change the contents of said memory.

29. A digital camera having a normal photographing mode and a document photographing mode, said digital camera comprising:

an image pickup unit which captures an image of a subject and converts the image to image data;

an angle of photography detection unit which detects an angle of photography with respect to a surface of a document as the subject in the document photographing mode and prevents capturing the image until a suitable angle of photography is detected in order to minimize distortions in the image captured of the document;

a selection unit with which any of the normal photographing mode and the document photographing mode can be selected, and with which a destination to receive the image data can be selected; and

an image processing unit which, based on the selected destination, subjects the image data acquired in the document photographing mode to the processing for clipping, conversion to a smaller number of gray levels in achromatic color, and character recognition, prior to providing the image data to the destination.

30. The digital camera according to claim 29 further comprising a data communication unit which performs data communications with the outside.

31. The digital camera according to claim 30 further comprising:

a memory which stores the names of destinations, telephone numbers or addresses, and an image deletion flag that specifies whether the image data is to be deleted after its transmission in correlation with one another; and

a deletion unit which deletes the image data after the image data has been transmitted by said data communication unit based on the image deletion flag in said memory.

32. The digital camera according to claim 30 further comprising a deletion unit which deletes the image data after the image data has been transmitted by said data communication unit depending on a destination.

33. The digital camera according to claim 31, wherein an operator can freely add or change the contents of said memory.

34. A digital camera having a normal photographing mode and a document photographing mode, said digital camera comprising:

an image pickup unit which captures an image of a subject and converts the image to image data;

an angle of photography detection unit which detects an angle of photography with respect to a surface of a document as the subject in the document photographing mode and prevents capturing the image until a suitable angle of photography is detected in order to minimize distortions in the image captured of the document;

a compression unit which compresses the image data and generates a compressed image data;

a storage unit which stores the compressed image data;

a selection unit with which any of the normal photographing mode and the document photographing mode can be selected, and with which a destination to receive the image data can be selected;

a display unit which displays the image of the subject on a monitor before the image is photographed; and

an image processing unit which subjects the image data to image processing depending on the selected photography mode and to image processing that a selected destination requires, prior to providing the image data to the destination;

wherein, in the document photographing mode, said display unit displays guidance to notify a user of the conditions during photography when the image of the subject is being displayed on the monitor.

35. The digital camera according to claim 34, wherein the guidance display is provided with a frame display with which the user recognizes the area of regular-size paper.

36. The digital camera according to claim 34 further comprising:

a memory which stores the names of destinations, telephone numbers or addresses, and frame display information that specifies whether the guidance is to be displayed on photographing in correlation with one another,

wherein said display unit displays or does not display the guidance based on the frame display information stored in said memory.

37. The digital camera according to claim 34, wherein said display unit displays or does not display the guidance depending on the selected destination.

38. The digital camera according to claim 36, wherein an operator can freely add or change the contents of said memory.

39. A digital camera having a normal photographing mode and a document photographing mode, said digital camera comprising:

an image pickup unit which captures an image of a subject and converts the image to image data;

an angle of photography detection unit which detects an angle of photography with respect to a surface of a document as the subject in the document photographing mode and prevents capturing the image until a suitable angle of photography is detected in order to minimize distortions in the image captured of the document;

a selection unit with which any of the normal photographing mode and the document photographing mode can be selected, and with which a destination to receive the image data can be selected;

a display unit which displays the image of the subject on a monitor before the image is photographed; and

an image processing unit which subjects the image data to image processing depending on the selected photography mode and to image processing that a selected destination requires, prior to providing the image data to the destination;

wherein, in the document photographing mode, said display unit displays guidance to notify a user of the conditions during photography when the image of the subject is being displayed on the monitor.

40. The digital camera according to claim 39, wherein the guidance display is provided with a frame display with which the user recognizes the area of regular-size paper.

41. The digital camera according to claim 39 further comprising:

a memory which stores the names of destinations, telephone numbers or addresses, and frame display information that specifies whether the guidance is to be displayed on photographing in correlation with one another,

wherein said display unit displays or does not display the guidance based on the frame display information stored in said memory.

42. The digital camera according to claim 39, wherein said display unit displays or does not display the guidance depending on a destination.

43. The digital camera according to claim 41, wherein an operator can freely add or change the contents of said memory.

44. A digital camera having a normal photographing mode and a document photographing mode, said digital camera comprising:

an image pickup unit which captures an image of a subject and converts the image to image data;

a compression unit which compresses the image data and generates a compressed image data;

a storage unit which stores the compressed image data;

a selection unit with which any of the normal photographing mode and the document photographing mode can be selected, and with which a destination to receive the image data can be selected; and

an angle of photography detection unit which detects an angle of photography with respect to a surface of the subject,

wherein, in the document photographing mode, photography is started only when the angle of photography is substantially vertical in order to minimize distortions in the image captured of the subject.

45. The digital camera according to claim 44, wherein said angle of photography detection unit detects the angle of photography from the shape of the photographed subject.

46. A digital camera having a normal photographing mode and a document photographing mode, said digital camera comprising:

an image pickup unit which captures an image of a subject and converts the image to image data;

a selection unit with which any of the normal photographing mode and the document photographing mode can be selected, and with which a destination to receive the image data can be selected;

an angle of photography detection unit which detects an angle of photography with respect to the surface of a subject; and

an image processing unit which subjects the image data to image processing depending on the selected photography mode and to image processing that a selected destination requires, prior to providing the image data to the destination;

wherein, in the document photographing mode, photography is started only when the angle of photography is substantially vertical in order to minimize distortions in the image captured of the subject.

47. The digital camera according to claim 46, wherein said angle of photography detection unit detects the angle of photography from the shape of the photographed subject.

48. A document photographing and transmitting method of a digital camera, said method comprising:

monitoring a subject on a display unit in response to instructions for monitoring;

displaying guidance on said display unit when the monitoring is performed;

capturing an image, converting the image to image data, and compressing the image data in response to instructions for photographing;

detecting an angle of photography before capturing the image and permitting image capture of a document only if the angle of photography has a predetermined value in order to minimize distortions in the image captured of the document;

storing the compressed image data in a storage unit;

selecting a destination to receive the image data;

reading the compressed image data stored in the storage unit and expanding the data in response to instructions for transmission;

subjecting the expanded image data to an image processing that the selected destination requires, prior to providing the image data to the destination; and

transmitting the image data, that has been subjected to image processing, to the selected destination.

53. A document photographing and transmitting method according to claim 48, wherein in said detecting an angle of photography, a shape of said document is recognized and a current angle of photography is detected based on the shape of said document.

57. A document photographing and transmitting method according to claim 48, said method further comprising:

arranging the digital camera by a user such that the angle of photography is substantially perpendicular with respect to a surface of the document.

61. A document photographing and transmitting method according to claim 57, wherein said subjecting the image processing does not correct the distortions related to the angle of photography of the image.

49. A document photographing and transmitting method of a digital camera, said method comprising:

monitoring a subject on a display unit in response to instructions for monitoring;

displaying guidance on said display unit when the monitoring is performed;

capturing an image and converting the image to image data in response to instructions for photographing;

detecting an angle of photography before capturing the image and permitting image capture of a document only if the angle of photography has a predetermined value in order to minimize distortions in the image captured of the document;

selecting a destination to receive the image data;

subjecting the image data to an image processing that the selected destination requires, prior to providing the image data to the destination; and

transmitting the image data, that has been subjected to image processing, to the selected destination.