Recording/playback apparatus with telephone and its control method, video camera with telephone and its control method, image communication apparatus, and storage medium

• US 7,317,475 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Arai, Hideyuki, Takahashi, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bemben; Richard M
• Application Number:
  US10/861,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20040218738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/376, 348/14.02, 348/14.03, 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• 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 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• 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 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3276 Ring suppression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 : Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 : Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

This invention has as its object to appropriately inform the user of reception of an incoming call in accordance with the operation mode of a video camera upon arrival of call. To achieve this object, an apparatus has a telephone and video camera in a single housing, and comprises a device for muting a ringing tone during image sensing by the video camera.

Claims

1. An image communication apparatus comprising:

a camera unit adapted to pickup an object image;

a display device adapted to display at least an image picked up by said camera unit and/or a character;

a selection device adapted to select a predetermined function from a menu which is displayed on said display device and is used for selecting or executing one of a plurality of camera control functions;

a transmission device adapted to transmit data including an image signal picked up by said camera unit by wireless transmission; and

a reception device adapted to receive data from another apparatus by wireless transmission,

wherein said selection device comprises an input key for selecting or executing one of a plurality of camera control functions comprising an optical zoom function, a focus adjustment function or an exposure control function, and said input key also serves as an operation key for inputting a telephone number, and

wherein said camera unit picks up the object image based on the camera control function selected by said selection device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display device further displays an image signal in the data received from the other apparatus.

28. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said camera unit includes an image sensing element photoelectrically converting light coming from an object, and outputting an image signal.

35. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the telephone number is input by inputting a numeral by the operation key for inputting a telephone number.

36. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of camera control functions is a signal processing function.

37. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one of the plurality of camera control functions is a zooming function of an optical lens.

3. An image communication apparatus comprising:

a camera unit adapted to pickup an object image;

a transmission/reception device adapted to transmit/receive data;

an operation device adapted to control an optical zoom function, a focus adjustment function or an exposure control function of said camera unit and said transmission/reception device;

a switching device adapted to switch said operation device between a state for controlling said camera unit, and a state for operating said transmission/reception device; and

an input device adapted to be used as an input key for inputting an instruction for a control of one of an optical zoom function, a focus adjustment function or an exposure control function of said camera unit executed by said operation device and also adapted to be used as an input key for inputting an instruction for a control of said transmission/reception device executed by said operation device,

wherein said camera unit picks up the object image based on the control of said operation device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising selection device adapted to select a transmission/reception mode by said transmission/reception device, and wherein when said selection device selects the transmission/reception mode, said switching device automatically switches said operation device to the state for operating said transmission/reception device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said selection device comprises a single button, and the transmission/reception mode and a camera mode are alternately selected every time said button is depressed once.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said switching device automatically switches said operation device to the state for operating said camera unit upon completion of operation pertaining to transmission/reception using said operation device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a display adapted to display an image sensed by said camera unit.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said display further displays information which pertains to transmission/reception.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein in the state which allows said operation device to operate said camera unit, said display displays an image sensed by said camera unit, and in the state which allows said operation device to operate said transmission/reception device, said display displays the information that pertains to transmission/reception.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said operation device can select an object to be focused from an image on said display in the state for operating said camera unit.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an area of the object to be focused is displayed on said display.

12. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said input device comprises a ten-key pad.

13. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said input device comprises a rotary switch.

29. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said camera unit includes an image sensing element photoelectrically converting light coming from an object, and outputting an image signal.

38. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said operation device controls a signal processing operation.

39. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said operation device controls a zooming operation of an optical lens.

40. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said input device inputs a numeral for inputting a telephone number.

14. An image communication apparatus comprising:

a camera unit adapted to pickup an object image;

display device adapted to display at least an image picked up by said camera unit;

camera control area setting device adapted to set and display camera control area for controlling an optical zoom function, a focus adjustment function or an exposure control function on the image, displayed on said display device, on a screen of said display device;

transmission device adapted to transmit data including an image signal picked up by said camera unit outward; and

switching device adapted to switch said camera control area setting device to a condition capable of entering a telephone number when a telephone communication is carried out by using said transmission device,

wherein said camera unit picks up the object image after said camera unit executes an adjustment relating an image pick-up operation with respect to the camera control area set by said camera control area setting device.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a focus adjusting device for adjusting a focusing condition of incident light to said camera unit on the basis of an image signal of the some area which is set by the area setting device.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising an exposure control device for controlling exposure amount on the basis of an image signal of the same area which is set by the area setting device.

17. An apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising expansion control device for expanding an image of the some area to overall area of the screen of the display device.

18. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said area setting device includes ten key.

30. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said camera unit includes an image sensing element photoelectrically converting light coming from an object, and outputting an image signal.

41. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the adjustment relating an image pick-up operation is a signal processing operation.

42. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the adjustment relating an image pick-up operation is a zooming operation of an optical lens.

19. An image communication apparatus comprising:

a camera unit adapted to pickup an object image;

display device adapted to display at least an image picked up by said camera unit;

an operation device adapted to change a camera optical zooming condition of said camera unit with displaying the camera zooming condition on said display device;

transmission device adapted to transmit data including an image signal picked up by said camera unit outward; and

switching device adapted to switch said operation device to a condition capable of selecting a telephone number when a telephone communication is carried out by using said transmission device,

wherein said camera unit picks up the object image based on the camera optical zooming condition changed by said operation device.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said switching device changes the condition of said operation device from a telephone number entering condition to a zoom controlling condition on the basis of a detection where said transmission device is on the line.

31. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said camera unit includes an image sensing element photoelectrically converting light coming from an object, and outputting an image signal.

43. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said operation device is a rotary switch.

44. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein an optical lens is driven when the camera zooming condition is changed.

21. A communication apparatus comprising:

a camera unit adapted to pickup an object image;

display device adapted to display at least an image picked up by said camera unit;

a manual member adapted to control a camera function;

communication device adapted to communicate with an external unit;

detecting device adapted to detect an establishment of communication between said the communication device and the external unit;

and switching device adapted to switch function of said manual member between first function for selecting the external unit and second function for controlling an optical zoom function, a focus adjustment function or an exposure control function of said camera unit according to the establishment status of the communication detected by said detecting device,

wherein said camera unit picks up the object image based on the control of the second function.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said display device displays the control status of the camera in response to the detection of the establishment of communication by said detecting device.

32. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said camera unit includes an image sensing element photoelectrically converting light coming from an object, and outputting an image signal.

45. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said switching device automatically switches function of said manual member between the first function and the second function in accordance with a detecting result of said detecting device.

46. The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said switching device switches function of said manual member from the first function to the second function when said detecting device detects the establishment of the communication.

23. A communication apparatus comprising:

a camera unit adapted to pickup an object image;

operating device adapted to control an operation of said camera unit;

communication device adapted to communicate with an external unit;

detecting device adapted to detect an establishment of communication between said communication device and the external unit; and

display device adapted to automatically display a controlling condition of said camera unit in response to the detection of the establishment of the communication by said detecting device,

wherein said display device automatically changes a display from a display for selecting the external unit or for indicating the external unit to a display for controlling said camera unit in response to the detection of the establishment of the communication,

wherein said display device automatically changes a display to a display for controlling said camera unit in response to the detection of the establishment of at least one of a wireless communication and a telephone communication.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising switching device for switching modes of the operating device between a mode for designating the external unit and another mode for controlling said camera unit according to the detection of the establishment of the communication.

33. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said camera unit includes an image sensing element photoelectrically converting light coming from an object, and outputting an image signal.

25. A communication apparatus comprising:

a camera unit adapted to pick up an object image;

operating device adapted to control an operation of said camera unit;

communication device adapted to communicate with an external unit;

detecting device adapted to detect an establishment of communication between said communication device and the external unit; and

switching device adapted to automatically switch modes of said operating device from a first mode for selecting the external unit to a second mode for controlling the operation of said camera unit in response to the detection of the establishment of the communication by said detecting device

wherein said camera unit picks up the object image based on the control of the second mode of said operating device,

wherein said switching device switches mode of said operating device to the second mode in response to the detection of the establishment of at least one of a wireless communication and a telephone communication.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising display device for displaying at least the image sensed by said camera unit.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said display device displays a controlling condition of said camera unit in response to the establishment of the communication.

34. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said camera unit includes an image sensing element photoelectrically converting light coming from an object, and outputting an image signal.