Digital camera system

• US 7,414,668 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2003
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Kimihide
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Tuan H
• Application Number:
  US10/720,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20040105024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,729 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/333.01, 348272-276, 348373-376
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00291 with receiver circuitry television receiver circuitry per se H04N5/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0013 Arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus H04N2201/0074; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A digital camera system comprises a digital camera and a cradle unit, which are electrically connected via a connector and a connection terminal. The cradle unit is provided with an operation-code generator and a light emitter. When an external display mode is selected by operating an operational section of the digital camera, the operation-code generator generates an operation code as an analog signal. This analog signal is sent to the light emitter. Upon receiving the analog signal, the light emitter emits an infrared signal of the operation code toward a TV monitor to change the TV monitor into an external input condition.

Claims

1. A digital camera system comprising a digital camera and a cradle unit, said digital camera being capable of selecting one of modes including a data transfer mode for transferring image data to an external apparatus and an external display mode for displaying the image data on external display means;

said cradle unit comprising a receiving portion on which said digital camera is received, a connection terminal to be connected to said digital camera upon receiving said digital camera, a power-supply portion for supplying an electric power to said digital camera, a data output port for transferring said image data to said external apparatus, and an external-display output port for outputting said image data to said external display means, said digital camera system comprising;

an operation-code generator provided in said cradle unit, said operation-code generator generating an operation code for operating said external display means; and

a transmitter provided in said cradle unit, said transmitter sending said operation code to said external display means in a wireless manner, and said operation code being sent so as to put said external display means in an external input condition, under which the image is able to be displayed, when said digital camera placed in said cradle unit selects said external display modes, wherein

when the external display means receives the operation code, the external display means selects to receive data from an external input apparatus.

2. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein said operation-code generator generates said operation code as an analog signal.

3. A digital camera system according to claim 2, wherein said transmitter comprises:

a transparent cover fitted to said cradle unit; and

a light emitting element disposed inside said transparent cover, said light emitting element being connected to said operation-code generator to emit an infrared signal in accordance with the analog signal of said operation code.

4. A digital camera system according to claim 3, wherein said light emitting element is an infrared light emitting diode.

5. A digital camera system according to claim 4, wherein said external display means is one of a TV monitor, a projector and a liquid crystal display.

7. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein an input side of the operation code generator is connected to the connection terminal.

8. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein

when said digital camera placed in said cradle unit selects said external display mode, an operation signal for activating the operation code generator is sent through the connection terminal.

9. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein when the external display means receives the operation code, the external display means selects to receive the image data from the digital camera through a video output connector of the cradle unit, wherein the video output connector is connected to the external display means.

10. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein the external display means selects receive National Television System Committee (NTSC) composite signals from the external input apparatus.

11. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein the cradle unit transmits the operation code through a light emitter and transmits that image data through a video connector, wherein the light emitter and the video connector are different.

12. A digital camera system according to claim 1, wherein the operation code turns on power supply of the external display means.

6. A cradle unit for a digital camera, said digital camera being capable of selecting one of modes including a data transfer mode for transferring image data to an external apparatus and an external-display mode for displaying the image data on external display means, said cradle unit comprising:

a receiving portion for receiving said digital camera;

a connection terminal to be connected to said digital camera;

a power-supply portion for supplying an electric power to said digital camera;

a data output port for transferring said image data to said external apparatus;

an external-display output port for outputting said image data to said external display means;

an operation-code generator for generating an operation code for operating said external display means;

a transmitter for sending said operation code to said external display means in a wireless manner, said operation code being sent so as to put said external display means in an external input condition, under which the image is able to be displayed, when said digital camera placed in said receiving portion is set to the external display mode, wherein

when the external display means receives the operation code, the external display means selects to receive data from an external input apparatus.