Digital camera with projector and digital camera system

• US 8,498,532 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Nozaki, Hirotake, Fujinawa, Nobuhiro, Ohmura, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Linda B
• Application Number:
  US12/585,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20100002123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 396/430, 348/744, 353/31
• US Class Current: 396/430
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/54 with projector
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3176 wherein the projection device is incorporated in a camera details of cameras adapted for combination with a projector not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B17/54

Abstract

A digital camera equipped with a projector, includes a photographing device; a projector device that projects an optical image; a mode switching operation member that outputs a switching operation signal indicating a changeover to one of a photographing operation mode in which image data photographed by the photographing device are saved as a photographic image file in a recording medium and a projection operation mode in which a reproduced image is projected by the projector device; a top surface operation member disposed at an upper surface of a casing; and a projection control device that controls the projector device based upon an operation signal provided by the top surface operation member upon receiving a switching operation signal indicating a changeover to the projection operation mode from the mode switching operation member.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

a photographing device comprising a photographing optical system;

a projector device comprising one of an optical system functioning as a projection optical system, that is different from the photographing optical system and a projection optical system that is different from the photographing optical system;

a switching member to switch the digital camera between a photographing operation mode in which image data photographed by the photographing device is captured through the photographic optical system and a projection operation mode in which an image is projected by the projector device through the projection optical system;

an operation member disposed at a casing of the digital camera;

a function adjustment device that controls a function of the operation member to function as (a) an operation member for a photographing operation when the digital camera is in the photographing operation mode and (b) an operation member for a projection operation when the digital camera is in the projection operation mode;

a projection control device that controls the projector device based upon operation of the operation member when the digital camera is in the projection operation mode; and

a photographing control device controlling the photographing device based upon operation of the operation member when the digital camera is in the photographing operation mode, wherein

the operation member includes a shutter release operation member that outputs operation signals each corresponding to a halfway press operation mode or a full press operation mode,

the photographing control device controls the photographing device so as to execute photographing processing in correspondence to a signal indicating one of the halfway press operation mode and the full press operation mode provided by the shutter release operation member, and

the projection control device issues one of a focus adjustment start instruction, a reproduced image projection instruction, a projection image rotation instruction and a projection pause instruction for the projector device based upon a signal indicating one of the halfway press operation mode and the full press operation mode provided by the shutter release operation member and a length of time over which the signal is sustained.

2. A digital camera system, comprising:

the digital camera according to claim 1; and

a digital camera auxiliary device that comprises an interface device used to at least either communicate with the digital camera or supply power to the digital camera.

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

upon detecting that the digital camera is in communication with the digital camera auxiliary device, the projection control device issues an instruction for the projector device to start projection.

4. A digital camera comprising:

a photographing device comprising a photographing optical system;

a projector device comprising one of an optical system functioning as a projection optical system, that is different from the photographing optical system and a projection optical system that is different from the photographing optical system;

a switching member to switch the digital camera between a photographing operation mode in which image data photographed by the photographing device is captured through the photographic optical system and a projection operation mode in which an image is projected by the projector device through the projection optical system;

an operation member disposed at a casing of the digital camera;

a function adjustment device that controls a function of the operation member to function as (a) an operation member for a photographing operation when the digital camera is in the photographing operation mode and (b) an operation member for a projection operation when the digital camera is in the projection operation mode;

a projection control device that controls the projector device based upon operation of the operation member when the digital camera is in the projection operation mode; and

a photographing control device controlling the photographing device based upon operation of the operation member when the digital camera is in the photographing operation mode, wherein

the operation member includes a shutter release operation member that outputs operation signals each corresponding to a halfway press operation mode or a full press operation mode,

the photographing control device controls the photographing device so as to execute photographing processing in correspondence to a signal indicating one of the halfway press operation mode and the full press operation mode provided by the shutter release operation member, and

the projection control device issues an instruction indicating one of a plurality of projection operations based on a signal indicating one of the halfway press operation mode and the full press operation mode provided by the shutter release operation member and a length of time over which the signal is sustained.