Camera, camera system, information recording system, timepiece, and link system for camera and timepiece

• US 6,359,837 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Tsukamoto, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): MISKA, VIT W
• Application Number:
  US09/593,100
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/46, 368/47, 368/82-84, 396/56, 396/310, 396/318
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/24 with means for separately producing marks on the film, e.g. title, time of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00129 with a display device, e.g. CRT or LCD monitor with a television apparatus H04N1/00283; arrangements for control of display devices G09G
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

A combination of a camera and wristwatch, and a new application of a wristwatch that comprises a display device. The camera has recording means for electronically recording an image of an object, and transmission means for transmitting the recorded image on a radio wave. The wristwatch has display means that can display the current time and image, reproduction means for receiving the radio wave from the camera located at a nearby position, and reproducing the image, and display control means for controlling the display means to display the reproduced image. The image sensed by the camera is transmitted to the wristwatch located at a nearby position by radio, and can be displayed on the display means of the wristwatch.

Claims

1. A link system for a camera and wristwatch, comprising:

a camera which comprises recording means for electronically recording an image of an object, and transmission means for transmitting the recorded image on a radio wave; and

a wristwatch which comprises display means that can display a current time and image, reproduction means for receiving the radio wave from said camera located at a nearby position, and reproducing the image, and display control means for controlling said display means to display the reproduced image.

2. A camera system comprising:

a camera which comprises image sensing means, recording control means for recording an image sensed by said image sensing means on a memory, and transmission means for transmitting the sensed image by a radio wave, said camera comprising a shutter, said recording control means recording the image sensed by said image sensing means on said memory in response to operation of said shutter, and said camera having transmission control means for controlling said transmission means to transmit the sensed image in response to operation of said shutter; and

a timepiece which comprises display means that can display a current time and image, reception means for receiving the radio wave from said camera located at a nearby position, and display control means for controlling said display means to display the received image.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said recording control means of said camera executes an image process of the image sensed by said image sensing means, and records the processed image on said memory, and said transmission control means transmits the image processed by said recording control means to said timepiece.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein said recording control means of said camera executes an image process of the image sensed by said image sensing means, and records the processed image on said memory, and said transmission control means reads out the image recorded on said memory and transmits the readout image to said timepiece.

5. A camera system comprising:

a camera which comprises image sensing means, recording control means for recording an image sensed by said image sensing means on a memory, and transmission means for transmitting the sensed image by a radio wave, said camera comprising a shutter and transfer switch, said recording control means recording the image sensed by said image sensing means on said memory in response to operation of said shutter, and said camera having transmission control means for controlling said transmission means to transmit the sensed image in response to operation of said transfer switch; and

a timepiece which comprises display means that can display a current time and image, reception means for receiving the radio wave from said camera located at a nearby position, and display control means for controlling said display means to display the received image.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said recording control means of said camera executes an image process of the image sensed by said image sensing means, and records the processed image on said memory, and said transmission control means transmits the image processed by said recording control means to said timepiece.

7. A system according to claim 5, wherein said recording control means of said camera executes an image process of the image sensed by said image sensing means, and records the processed image on said memory, and said transmission control means reads out the image recorded on said memory and transmits the readout image to said timepiece.

8. A camera system comprising:

a camera which comprises image sensing means, and transmission means for transmitting a sensed image by a radio wave; and

a timepiece which comprises display means that can display a current time and image, reception means for receiving the radio wave from said camera located at a nearby position, and display control means for controlling said display means to display the received image,

wherein said camera comprises a shutter and transmission control means for controlling said transmission means to transmit the sensed image in response to operation of said shutter, does not comprise any memory for saving the sensed image, and said transmission control means transmits the image sensed by said image sensing means directly or via an image process to said timepiece in response to operation of said shutter.

9. A camera system comprising:

a camera which comprises image sensing means, image processing means for processing an image sensed by said image sensing means into a predetermined format, transmission means for modulating and transmitting the image processed by said image processing means, and time measurement means; and

a timepiece which comprises reception means for receiving and demodulating the incoming image, and display means for displaying the image received by said reception means,

wherein said transmission means of said camera transmits the image at a predetermined timing based on a time measured by said time measurement means of said camera.

10. A camera system comprising:

a camera which comprises image sensing means, image processing means for processing an image sensed by said image sensing means into a predetermined format, transmission means for modulating and transmitting the image processed by said image processing means, and time measurement means; and

a timepiece which comprises time measurement means, request means for transmitting a request signal to said camera, reception means for receiving and demodulating the incoming image, and display means for displaying the image received by said reception means,

wherein said transmission means of said camera transmits the image at a predetermined timing based on a time measured by said time measurement means of said timepiece.

11. A camera system comprising:

a camera which comprises image sensing means, image processing means for processing an image sensed by said image sensing means into a predetermined format, transmission means for modulating and transmitting the image processed by said image processing means, and time measurement means; and

a timepiece which comprises time measurement means, request means for transmitting a request signal to said camera, reception means for receiving and demodulating the incoming image, and display means for displaying the image received by said reception means,

wherein said transmission means of said camera transmits the image upon receiving the request signal from said request means of said timepiece.

12. A camera system comprising:

a camera which comprises image sensing means, recording control means for recording an image sensed by said image sensing means on a memory, and generating a thumbnail of the image, and transmission means for transmitting the sensed image by a radio wave; and

a timepiece which comprises display means that can display a current time and image, reception means for receiving the radio wave from said camera located at a nearby position, and display control means for controlling said display means to display the received image,

wherein said transmission means of said camera transmits the thumbnail of the sensed image.

13. A camera system comprising:

a camera which comprises image sensing means, recording control means for recording an image sensed by said image sensing means on a memory, and transmission means for transmitting the sensed image by a radio wave; and

a timepiece which comprises display means that can display a current time and image, reception means for receiving the radio wave from said camera located at a nearby position, and display control means for controlling said display means to display the received image,

wherein said recording control means of said camera comprises means for compressing the image sensed by said image sensing means, and said transmission means transmits the image compressed by said recording control means.

14. A camera system comprising:

a camera which comprises image sensing means, recording control means for recording an image sensed by said image sensing means on a memory, and transmission means for transmitting the sensed image by a radio wave; and

a timepiece which comprises display means that can display a current time and image, reception means for receiving the radio wave from said camera located at a nearby position, and display control means for controlling said display means to display the received image,

wherein said recording control means of said camera comprises segmentation means for segmenting the image sensed by said image sensing means or the image stored in said memory into a plurality of segmented images, and said transmission means transmits the segmented images a plurality of number of times, and

said reception means of said timepiece comprises reproduction means for reproducing a single image from the plurality of segmented images transmitted in turn from said camera.

15. A camera system comprising:

a camera which comprises image sensing means, recording control means for recording an image sensed by said image sensing means on a memory, and transmission means for transmitting the sensed image by a radio wave; and

a timepiece which comprises display means that can display a current time and image, reception means for receiving the radio wave from said camera located at a nearby position, and display control means for controlling said display means to display the received image,

wherein said image sensing means and said recording control means of said camera sequentially capture an object image in cooperation with each other as a finder, and the captured image is displayed on said display means of said timepiece as a video through image via said transmission means of said camera and said reception means of said timepiece.

16. A camera system comprising:

a camera which comprises image sensing means, recording control means for recording an image sensed by said image sensing means on a memory, and transmission means for transmitting the sensed image by a radio wave; and

a timepiece which comprises display means that can display a current time and image, reception means for receiving the radio wave from said camera located at a nearby position, and display control means for controlling said display means to display the received image,

wherein said image sensing means and said recording control means of said camera intermittently capture an object image in cooperation with each other as a still image, and the captured image is intermittently transmitted to said timepiece via said transmission means of said camera and said reception means of said timepiece, and is displayed as an intermittent still image on said display means of said timepiece.

17. A camera system comprising:

a camera including

image sensing means,

processing means for executing an image process of an image sensed by said image sensing means into a data format suitable for storage or transmission,

a memory for storing the image which has undergone the image process of said processing means,

a date circuit for storing a time or date, and

transmission means for transmitting the image, and the time or date stored in said date circuit; and

a timepiece including

time measurement means for measuring a time or date,

reception means for receiving the incoming image and time or date,

display means for simultaneously or independently displaying the time or date measured by said time measurement means, and the image received by said reception means, and

associating means for associating the image received by said reception means with the time or date received by said reception means.

18. A camera system comprising:

a camera including

image sensing means,

processing means for executing an image process of an image sensed by said image sensing means into a data format suitable for storage or transmission,

a memory for storing the image which has undergone the image process of said processing means, and

transmission means for transmitting the image; and

a timepiece including

time measurement means for measuring a time or date,

reception means for receiving the incoming image,

display means for simultaneously or independently displaying the time or date measured by said time measurement means, and the image received by said reception means, and

associating means for associating the image received by said reception means with the time or date measured by said time measurement means.

19. A camera system comprising:

a wristwatch having time measurement means, including

first storage means for storing data of time or date information measured by said time measurement means, and

transmission means for modulating and transmitting the data of the time or date information stored in said first storage means; and

a camera apparatus having image sensing means, including

reception means for receiving and demodulating the data transmitted from said transmission means of said wristwatch,

second storage means for storing the data of the time or date information demodulated by said reception means,

third storage means for executing an image process of image data sensed by said image sensing means, and storing the processed image data, and

control means for associating the image data stored in said third storage means with the data of the time or date information stored in said second storage means.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein said wristwatch further includes

sensor means for acquiring or generating predetermined measurement information, and

fourth storage means for storing the measurement information acquired or generated by said sensor means,

said wristwatch modulates and transmits the measurement information stored in said fourth storage means using said transmission means,

said camera apparatus further includes

fifth storage means,

said camera apparatus receives and demodulates the measurement information transmitted from said transmission means of said wristwatch using said reception means,

stores the demodulated measurement information in said fifth storage means, and

associates the measurement information stored in said fifth storage means with the image data stored in said third storage means using said control means.

21. A camera system comprising:

a timepiece apparatus which has time measurement means for measuring a current time, and is housed in a first housing, including

transmission means for transmitting data of measured time or date information to a camera apparatus; and

a camera apparatus which has image sensing means and is housed in a second housing independent from said first housing, including

reception means for receiving the data transmitted from said transmission means.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein said timepiece apparatus is a wristwatch type timepiece apparatus,

said camera apparatus is a portable camera apparatus carried by a person who wears said wristwatch type timepiece apparatus on his or her wrist, and

said transmission means has weak transmitting power for a near-distance range.

23. A system according to claim 21, wherein said camera apparatus further has

a memory for storing time or date information,

setting means for setting the time or date information received by said reception means in said memory, and

adding means for adding the time or date information set in said memory to the sensed image.

24. A system according to claim 21, wherein said transmission means transmits the data in response to a predetermined operation.

25. A system according to claim 21, wherein said transmission means automatically transmits the data at a predetermined timing.

26. A system according to claim 21, wherein said transmission means transmits the data in response to a request signal from said camera apparatus.

27. A system according to claim 21, wherein said camera apparatus has time measurement means for measuring a current time, and

said time measurement means corrects the current time, which is being measured, on the basis of the time or date information transmitted from said timepiece apparatus.

28. A system according to claim 21, wherein said camera apparatus does not have any time measurement means, and

said camera apparatus receives the time or date information transmitted from said timepiece apparatus and displays the received information or adds the received information to the sensed image.

29. A camera system comprising:

a timepiece apparatus which has time measurement means for measuring a current time, and is housed in a first housing, including

sensor means for acquiring or generating predetermined measurement information,

transmission means for transmitting the measurement information acquired or generated by said sensor means to a camera apparatus; and

a camera apparatus which has image sensing means and is housed in a second housing independent from said first housing, including

reception means for receiving the measurement information transmitted from said transmission means.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein said timepiece apparatus is a wristwatch type timepiece apparatus,

said camera apparatus is a portable camera apparatus carried by a person who wears said wristwatch type timepiece apparatus on his or her wrist, and

said transmission means has weak transmitting power for a near-distance range.

31. A system according to claim 29, wherein said transmission means transmits the information in response to a predetermined operation.

32. A system according to claim 29, wherein said transmission means automatically transmits the information at a predetermined timing.

33. A system according to claim 29, wherein said camera apparatus has time measurement means for measuring a current time, and

said time measurement means corrects the current time, which is being measured, on the basis of the time or date information transmitted from said timepiece apparatus.

34. A system according to claim 29, wherein said camera apparatus does not have any time measurement means, and

said camera apparatus receives the time or date information transmitted from said timepiece apparatus and displays the received information or adds the received information to the sensed image.

35. A system according to claim 29, wherein said transmission means transmits the information in response to a request signal from said camera apparatus.

36. A system according to claim 35, wherein the request signal is transmitted upon setting time or date information of said camera apparatus.

37. An information recording system which includes information acquisition means for acquiring or generating information required for a daily life or specific action, and image recording means for recording an image,

wherein said information acquisition means and image recording means respectively have a portable shape and comprise wireless data transmission/reception means,

said information acquisition means comprises transfer control means for transferring the acquired or generated information to said image recording means via said data transmission/reception means, and

said image recording means comprises recording control means for recording the information transferred via said data transmission/reception means together with an image.

38. A system according to claim 37, wherein said information acquisition means acquires or generates information corresponding to one of date information, navigation information, and weather information.

39. A system according to claim 37, wherein said data transmission/reception means uses infrared rays as a communication medium.

40. A system according to claim 37, wherein said data transmission/reception means uses a radio wave as a communication medium.

41. An information recording system comprising:

a timepiece apparatus which has time measurement means for measuring a current time and is housed in a first housing;

a camera apparatus which has image sensing means and is housed in a second housing independent from said first housing; and

a printer apparatus which has print means and is housed in a third housing independent from said first and second housings,

wherein each of said timepiece apparatus, camera apparatus, and printer apparatus has at least one of wireless transmission means and wireless reception means, and

said printer apparatus receives data acquired or generated by said timepiece apparatus, and data sensed by said camera apparatus, and prints based on the received data.

42. A wristwatch used in a camera system including a wristwatch having time measurement means, and a camera apparatus having image sensing means, comprising:

transmission means for transmitting data of time or date information measured by said time measurement means to said camera apparatus.

43. A camera apparatus used in a camera system including a wristwatch having time measurement means, and a camera apparatus having image sensing means, comprising:

reception means for receiving data of time or date information transmitted from said wristwatch.

44. A link system for a camera and timepiece, comprising:

a camera which comprises image recording means for electronically recording an image of an object, audio recording means for electronically recording voice input in association with an operation of said image recording means, and transmitting means for transmitting audio data recorded by said audio recording means on a radio wave; and

a timepiece which comprises display means that can display a current time, and audio reproduction means for receiving the radio wave from said camera located at a nearby position, and reproducing the audio data.

45. A system according to claim 44, wherein said transmission means transmits the audio data in response to operation of a shutter key provided to said camera.

46. A system according to claim 44, wherein said camera further comprises time measurement means for measuring a current time, and said transmission means transmits the audio data when the current time measured by said time measurement means has reached a preset time.

47. A system according to claim 46, wherein said audio recording means can record a plurality of audio data, and said transmission means transmits at least a latest one of the plurality of recorded audio data.

48. A system according to claim 44, wherein said timepiece further comprises means for transmitting a transmission request of the audio data,

said camera further comprises reception means for receiving the transmission request, and said transmission means transmits the audio data in response to the transmission request.

49. A system according to claim 48, wherein said audio recording means can record a plurality of audio data, and said transmission means transmits at least a latest one of the plurality of recorded audio data.

50. A link system for a camera and timepiece, which includes a timepiece and camera, and can transfer data from said timepiece to said camera via communication means,

wherein said timepiece comprises audio input means, audio encoding means for encoding audio data input by said audio input means, and transmission means for transmitting the audio data encoded by said audio encoding means by a radio wave, and

said camera comprises reception means for receiving the radio wave transmitted from said transmission means, audio data storage means for storing the audio data received by said reception means, and means for associating sensed image data and the received audio data.

51. A system according to claim 50, wherein said camera further comprises means for transmitting the associated audio and image data.