Combination image-capturing apparatus and method for efficiently combining a digital still camera with a digital video camera

• US 7,394,485 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Yong-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): KHAN, USMAN A
• Application Number:
  US10/848,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20040246363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/220.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

Disclosed is a combination image-capturing apparatus and method. A combination image-capturing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a main body, a combination image-capturing unit installed on the main body to be location-changeable that include first and second signal processing units, and first and second recording media. The combination image-capturing apparatus further comprises a mode selection switch unit for generating an operation mode signal corresponding to a selected image-capturing unit according to position changes of the combination image-capturing unit, a photo switch for generating an image-capturing trigger signal, and a control unit for controlling storage of the first and second formatted signals in the first recording medium and the second recording medium if the image-capturing trigger signal is received. Accordingly, the present invention enables one photo-switch to store images in a recording medium corresponding to each of the image-capturing units independently driven to capture the images, thereby eliminating inconvenience arises from using separate photo-switches, as well as reducing the volume of the image-capturing apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for operating a combination image capturing apparatus, the combination image capturing apparatus having a combination image-capturing unit (CICU) and a main body, the method comprising:

determining whether a photo trigger command exists for instructing the capturing and storing of images by the combination image capturing apparatus;

determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus if the photo trigger command exists, and if the photo trigger command does not exist, continuing to determine whether the photo trigger command exists; and

storing digital still camera image information in a first memory if the operating mode corresponds to a digital still camera operating mode, otherwise, storing digital video camera image information in a second memory;

wherein in determining the operating mode, the digital still camera operating mode or the digital video camera operating mode is determined based on a rotational angle of the CICU with respect to the main body.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether a photo trigger command exists comprises:

monitoring a key input unit by a main control unit to determine if a user has selected an image to be captured.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus comprises:

rotating the combined image-capturing unit comprising a digital still camera and a digital video camera to a first or second region of operation;

generating an operating mode signal based on a position of the rotated combined image-capturing unit; and

determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus based on the operating mode signal.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of generating an operating mode signal comprises:

generating a first set of signals if the DSC is operating; and

generating a second set of signals if the DVC is operating; and

determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus based on the first and second set of signals.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first region corresponds to a DSC and the second region corresponds to the DVC.

6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

rotating the combined image-capturing unit comprising a digital still camera and a digital video camera to a third or fourth region of operation.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of rotating the combined image-capturing unit comprised of a digital still camera and a digital video camera to the first or second region of operation comprises:

rotating both a DSC and DVC mode switch units on a mode switch unit to either a first or second region wherein a first set of signals is generated if rotated to the first region and a second set of signals is generated if rotated to the second region.

8. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of generating an operating mode signal comprises:

generating a DSC signal corresponding to a DSC mode if the camera is in the first region of operation; and

generating a DVC signal corresponding to a DVC mode if the camera is in the second region of operation.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of generating a DSC signal comprises:

generating a first binary signal value of one and generating a second binary signal value of zero.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of generating a DVC signal comprises:

generating a first binary signal value of zero and generating a second binary signal value of one.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of storing digital still camera information in the memory if the operating mode corresponds to the digital still camera operating mode comprises:

notifying the user that the combination image-capturing apparatus is currently operating in the DSC operation mode;

converting photoelectrically an optical image focused through a DSC lens unit into an electric signal, and sending the electric signal to a DSC signal processing unit; and

compressing the electric signal into a JPEG-formatted signal by a DSC signal processing unit; and

storing the JPEG-formatted signal in a memory.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of notifying the user the combination image-capturing apparatus is currently operating in the DSC operation mode comprises:

displaying the notification of the operation mode of the combination image capturing apparatus to the user on a display, together with information on the DSC operation mode.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of storing digital video camera information in the second memory if the operating mode corresponds to the digital video camera operating mode comprises:

notifying the user that the combination image-capturing apparatus is currently operating in the DVC operation mode;

converting photoelectrically an optical image focused through a DVC lens unit into an electric signal, and sending the electric signal to a DVC signal processing unit;

compressing the electric signal into a DV-formatted signal by a DVC signal processing unit;

storing the DV-formatted signal on a magnetic tape through a VCR deck, wherein the magnetic tape is the second memory.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of notifying the user the combination image-capturing apparatus is currently operating in the DVC operation mode comprises:

displaying the notification of the operation mode of the combination image capturing apparatus to the user on a display, together with information on the DVC operation mode.

15. A method for operating a combination image capturing apparatus comprising:

determining whether a photo trigger command exists for instructing the capturing and storing of images by the combination image capturing apparatus;

determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus if the photo trigger command exists, and if the photo trigger command does not exist, continuing to determine whether the photo trigger command exists; and

storing digital still camera image information in a first memory if the operating mode corresponds to a digital still camera operating mode, otherwise, storing digital video camera image information in a second memory;

wherein the step of determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus comprises;

rotating a combined image-capturing unit comprising a digital still camera and a digital video camera to a first or second region of operation;

generating an operating mode signal based on a position of the rotated combined image-capturing unit; and

determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus based on the operating mode signal;

wherein the step of rotating the combined image-capturing unit comprising a digital still camera and a digital video camera to the first or second region of operation comprises;

contacting a contact terminal on the combination image capturing unit to a first contact pattern thereby generating the first set of signals indicating the DSC is operating; and

contacting the contact terminal on the combination image capturing unit to a second contact pattern thereby generating the second set of signals indicating the DVC is operating.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein:

the first contact pattern extends about the left side of a Y axis of the combination image capturing unit, wherein the Y axis is formed perpendicular to the image capturing direction that is defined as an X axis; and

the second contact pattern extends about the right side of a Y axis of the combination image capturing unit, wherein the Y axis is formed perpendicular to the image capturing direction that is defined as the X axis.

17. A method for operating a combination image capturing apparatus comprising:

determining whether a photo trigger command exists for instructing the capturing and storing of images by the combination image capturing apparatus;

determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus if the photo trigger command exists, and if the photo trigger command does not exist, continuing to determine whether the photo trigger command exists; and

storing digital still camera image information in a first memory if the operating mode corresponds to a digital still camera operating mode, otherwise, storing digital video camera image information in a second memory;

wherein the step of determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus comprises;

rotating a combined image-capturing unit comprising a digital still camera and a digital video camera to a first or second region of operation;

generating an operating mode signal based on a position of the rotated combined image-capturing unit; and

determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus based on the operating mode signal;

wherein the method further comprises;

rotating the combined image-capturing unit comprising a digital still camera and a digital video camera to a third or fourth region of operation;

wherein the step of rotating the combined image-capturing unit comprised of a digital still camera and a digital video camera to the first, second, third or fourth region of operation comprises;

contacting a contact terminal on the combination image capturing unit to a first contact pattern thereby generating the first set of signals indicating the DSC is operating;

contacting the contact terminal on the combination image capturing unit to a second contact pattern thereby generating the second set of signals indicating the DVC is operating; and

contacting the contact terminal on the combination image capturing unit to a third or fourth contact pattern to deactivate the combined image-capturing unit.

18. A method for operating a combination image capturing apparatus comprising:

determining whether a photo trigger command exists for instructing the capturing and storing of images by the combination image capturing apparatus;

determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus if the photo trigger command exists, and if the photo trigger command does not exist, continuing to determine whether the photo trigger command exists; and

storing digital still camera image information in a first memory if the operating mode corresponds to a digital still camera operating mode, otherwise, storing digital video camera image information in a second memory;

wherein the step of determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus comprises;

rotating a combined image-capturing unit comprising a digital still camera and a digital video camera to a first or second region of operation;

generating an operating mode signal based on a position of the rotated combined image-capturing unit; and

determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus based on the operating mode signal;

wherein the method further comprises;

rotating the combined image-capturing unit comprising a digital still camera and a digital video camera to a third or fourth region of operation;

wherein;

the first contact pattern extends above and below an X axis by about 45 degrees both above and below on the left side of a Y axis of the combination image capturing apparatus, wherein the Y axis is formed perpendicular to the image capturing direction that is defined as the X axis;

the second contact pattern extends above and below an X axis by about 45 degrees both above and below on the right side of the Y axis of the combination image capturing apparatus;

the third contact pattern extends to the left and right of the Y axis above the X axis by about 45 degrees both to the left and the right side of the Y axis; and

the fourth contact pattern extends to the left and right of the Y axis below the X axis by about 45 degrees both to the left and the right side of the Y axis.

19. A method for operating a combination image capturing apparatus comprising:

determining whether a photo trigger command exists for instructing the capturing and storing of images by the combination image capturing apparatus;

determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus if the photo trigger command exists, and if the photo trigger command does not exist, continuing to determine whether the photo trigger command exists; and

storing digital still camera image information in a first memory if the operating mode corresponds to a digital still camera operating mode, otherwise, storing digital video camera image information in a second memory;

wherein the step of determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus comprises;

rotating a combined image-capturing unit comprising a digital still camera and a digital video camera to a first or second region of operation;

generating an operating mode signal based on a position of the rotated combined image-capturing unit; and

determining the operating mode of the combination image capturing apparatus based on the operating mode signal;

wherein the step of rotating the combined image-capturing unit comprised of a digital still camera and a digital video camera to the first or second region of operation comprises;

rotating both a DSC and DVC mode switch units on a mode switch unit to either a first or second region wherein a first set of signals is generated if rotated to the first region and a second set of signals is generated if rotated to the second region;

wherein;

the first region of operation extends about the left side a Y axis by about 45 degrees and right side by about 45 degrees of the Y axis of the combination image capturing unit below an X axis, wherein the Y axis is formed perpendicular to the image capturing direction that is defined as the X axis; and

the second region of operation extends about the left side by about 90 degrees of the Y axis of the combination image capturing unit below the X axis.

20. A combination image-capturing apparatus comprising:

a main body;

a main control unit;

a key input unit adapted to send to the main control unit a photo trigger signal to cause a video image signal or a still image signal to be stored;

a combination image-capturing unit (CICU), comprised of a digital still camera (DSC) and a digital video camera (DVC); and

a mode selection switch unit adapted to determine an operating mode of the CICU based on a rotation angle of the CICU with respect to the main body;

wherein the mode selection switch unit is adapted to generate a first set of signals if the DSC is operating, and generating a second set of signals if the DVC is operating; and

wherein the mode selection switch unit comprises;

first and second contact patterns provided on the main body, and a contact terminal provided on the combination image-capturing unit adapted to be in contact with either the first or second contact patterns, wherein the contact terminal is in contact with the first contact pattern when the CICU is operating in a DSC mode and generates the first set of signals, and the contact terminal is in contact with the second contact pattern when the CICU is operating in the DVC mode and generates the second set of signals.

21. The combination image-capturing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the first set of signals comprises:

a first binary signal value of one generated from the first contact pattern and a second binary signal value of zero generated from the second contact pattern when the CICU is operating in the DSC mode.

22. The combination image-capturing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the second set of signals comprises:

a first binary signal value of zero generated from the first contact pattern and a second binary signal value of one generated from the second contact pattern when the CICU is operating in the DVC mode.

23. The combination image-capturing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:

the first contact pattern extends about the left side of a Y axis of the combination image capturing unit, wherein the Y axis is formed perpendicular to the image capturing direction that is defined as the X axis; and

the second contact pattern extends about the right side of a Y axis of the combination image capturing unit, wherein the Y axis is formed perpendicular to the image capturing direction that is defined as the X axis.

24. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the mode select switch unit further comprises:

a third and fourth contact pattern provided on the main body, and wherein the contact terminal is in contact with the third or fourth contact pattern when the CICU is deactivated.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein:

the first contact pattern extends above and below an X axis by about 45 degrees both above and below on the left side of a Y axis of the combination image capturing apparatus, wherein the Y axis is formed perpendicular to the image capturing direction that is defined as the X axis;

the second contact pattern extends above and below an X axis by about 45 degrees both above and below on the right side of the Y axis of the combination image capturing apparatus;

the third contact pattern extends to the left and right of the Y axis above the X axis by about 45 degrees both to the left and the right side of the Y axis; and

the fourth contact pattern extends to the left and right of the Y axis below the X axis by about 45 degrees both to the left and the right side of the Y axis.

26. A combination image-capturing apparatus comprising:

a main body;

a main control unit;

a key input unit adapted to send to the main control unit a photo trigger signal to cause a video image signal or a still image signal to be stored;

a combination image-capturing unit (CICU), comprised of a digital still camera (DSC) and a digital video camera (DVC);

a mode switch unit, provided on the CICU; and

a DSC mode switch unit and a DVC mode switch unit, both adapted to rotate along with the mode switch unit and the CICU with respect to the main body to either a first or second region of operation, wherein a first set of signals is generated if CICU is rotated to the first region, and a second set of signals is generated if CICU is rotated to the second region, and each of the first set of signals and the second set of signals corresponds to one of DSC operating mode of CICU and DVC operating mode of CICU.

27. The combination image-capturing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the first set of signals comprises:

a first binary signal value of one generated from a first contact pattern and a second binary signal value of zero generated from a second contact pattern when the CICU is operating in the DSC mode.

28. The combination image-capturing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the second set of signals comprises:

a first binary signal value of zero generated from the first contact pattern and a second binary signal value of one generated from the second contact pattern when the CICU is operating in the DVC mode.

29. The combination image-capturing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the main control unit is adapted to determine the operating mode of the CICA based on the first and second set of signals.

30. A combination image-capturing apparatus comprising:

a main body;

a main control unit;

a key input unit adapted to send to the main control unit a photo trigger signal to cause a video image signal or a still image signal to be stored;

a combination image-capturing unit (CICU), comprised of a digital still camera (DSC) and a digital video camera (DVC);

a mode switch unit, provided on the CICU; and

a DSC mode switch unit and a DVC mode switch unit, both adapted to rotate along with the mode switch unit to either a first or second region of operation, wherein a first set of signals is generated if rotated to the first region, and a second set of signals is generated if rotated to the second region;

wherein;

the first region of operation extends about the left side by about 45 degrees and right side by about 45 degrees of a Y axis of the combination image capturing unit below the X axis, wherein the Y axis is formed perpendicular to the image capturing direction that is defined as the X axis; and

the second region of operation extends about the left side by about 90 degrees of the Y axis of the combination image capturing unit below the X axis.