USRE41542E1 - Cellular telephone and electronic camera system with programmable transmission capability - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic camera system includes a programmable transmission capability for selectively transmitting electronic image data to a plurality of remote base units. In one embodiment, a camera module is detachably coupled to a portable computer including a display screen and a data entry device. The electronic image data generated by the camera module is supplied to the portable computer for display on the display screen. The data entry device is used by an operator to select which of the plurality of base units are to receive the digital image data. The digital image data is supplied by the portable computer to a radio-frequency transmitter module for transmission to the selected base units. The radio-frequency transmitter module is formed either integral with the portable computer or, like the camera module, is detachably coupled to the portable computer. In a further embodiment, a combined telephone/camera unit is provided that includes a camera module for generating electronic image data representative of a scene to be imaged, a memory unit for storing the electronic image data generated by the camera module, a display screen for displaying the electronic image data stored in the memory unit, a mechanism for selecting which of the plurality of base units is to receive the digital image data, and a cellular transceiver for transmitting the digital image data to the base units selected by the selection mechanism.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application Serial No. 08/842,458, filed Apr.24, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,603, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/426,993, filed Apr. 24, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,159.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to an electronic camera system. More specifically, the invention is directed to an electronic camera system that includes a transmission mechanism for sending image data to selected receiver units.

BACKGROUND

Motion video cameras and electronic still cameras have been utilized for several years in applications involving image data transmission. Electronic image data generated from a video camera, for example, can be transmitted by a conventional broadcast television station and received by any television in the broadcast area tuned to the appropriate channel. It is not possible, however, for the transmitter to select which receivers will obtain the image data, as selection is controlled at the receiver. Image data from electronic still cameras has been transmitted via conventional telephone lines to selected receivers through the use of a computer equipped with a modem. The image data must first be downloaded from the electronic still camera to the computer, which then transmits the image data to a second modem equipped computer via the telephone line where it can be viewed or printed. Unfortunately, the requirement for a telephone line to transmit image data does not allow images to be quickly and easily transmitted from remote field locations to receiver units. While systems have been proposed that utilize radio frequency transmission to transmit image data from an electronic camera to an individual base unit, none of these systems have the capability of selectively transmitting image data to a plurality of receiver units.

In view of the above, it is an object of the invention to provide an electronic camera system that includes a programmable transmission capability for selectively transmitting electronic image data to a plurality of remote receive units.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides an electronic camera system that includes a programmable transmission capability for selectively transmitting electronic image data to a plurality of remote receiver units. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, a camera module is detachably coupled to a portable computer including a display screen and a data entry device. The camera module includes an electronic image sensor for generating digital image data representative of a scene to be imaged. The electronic image data generated by the camera module is supplied to the portable computer for display on the display screen. The data entry device is used by an operator to select which of the plurality of base units are to receive the digital image data. The digital image data is supplied by the portable computer to a radio-frequency transmitter module for transmission to the selected receiver units. The radio-frequency transmitter module is formed either integral with the portable computer or, like the camera module, is detachably coupled to the portable computer. In a further preferred embodiment, a combined telephone/camera unit is provided that includes a camera module for generating electronic image data representative of a scene to be imaged, a memory unit for storing the electronic image data generated by the camera module, a display screen for displaying the electronic image data stored in the memory unit, a mechanism for selecting which of the plurality of receiver units is to receive the digital image data, and a cellular transceiver for transmitting the digital image data to the receiver units selected by the selection mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a camera system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of a camera module utilized in the camera system illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the camera module illustrated inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the components of the camera module illustrated inFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the camera system illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates the display of a captured image and a receiver unit menu selection on a display screen of the camera system illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of a combined telephone/camera unit in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the combined telephone/camera unit illustrated inFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of the combined telephone/camera unit illustrated inFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the combined unit illustrated inFIG. 7; and

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the transmission of image data to a base unit utilizing the combined unit illustrated in FIG.7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A diagram of a camera system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG.1. The camera system includes a “clip-on”electronic camera module10 coupled to a pen-basedcomputer12 that includes a radio frequency (RF)transmitter module14 including an antenna. Thecamera module10 can be of a form described in copending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/988,517 entitled “Electronic Camera with Memory Card Interface to a Computer”, which describes a removable camera module that fits into and interfaces with a standard PCMCIA card interface slot of a pen-based computer, or of a type described in copending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/988,560 entitled “Electronic Camera Incorporating a Computer-Compatible Bus Interface”, which describes a removable camera module that interfaces directly to a standard personal computer compatible bus. Thecamera module10 takes still images that can be displayed on aninteractive display screen16 of the pen-basedcomputer12. TheRF transmitter module14 can either be a clip-on unit, like thecamera module10, or constructed integrally with the pen-basedcomputer12. Theinteractive display screen16 acts as an input device to the pen-basedcomputer12, where a stylus or “pen” is used to select various icons or “buttons” displayed on thedisplay screen16 to enter data or commands into the pen-basedcomputer12. Still images captured by thecamera module10 are transmitted from the pen-basedcomputer12 to one or more receiver units, labeled A, B and C inFIG. 1, via theRF transmitter module14. The still images can be displayed, printed, manipulated or stored at the receiver units A-C.

Thecamera module10 is shown in greater detail inFIGS. 2 and 3 as preferably including a slide-outoptical veiwfinder18, acapture switch20 for initiating an image capture operation, alens22, a flip-outflash unit24 that protects thelens22 when thecamera module10 is not in use, and acomputer bus connector26 that connects thecamera module10 to either the internal bus of the pen-basedcomputer12 or to an interface port (such as a PCMCIA slot) of the pen-basedcomputer12.Mounting clips27 are provided to aid in securing thecamera module10 to the pen-basedcomputer12. As shown inFIG. 4, which illustrates a schematic block diagram of the internal components of thecamera module10, scene light passes through thelens22, anadjustable aperture28, ashutter mechanism30 and afilter32 to anelectronic imaging unit34. Theelectronic imaging unit34 includes a charge coupled device (CCD)electronic imaging sensor36, for example an Eastman Kodak KAF-400, driven by aCCD driver unit38. Theelectronic imaging unit34 is coupled to animage signal processor40 that processes an analog image signal generated by theelectronic imaging sensor36 into digital image data, and supplies the digital image data to thecomputer bus connector26. Specifically, the analog image signal is supplied to a gain stage, a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit and then an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter which are not specifically illustrated in the diagram. The digitized output signal from the A/D converter is processed via an EPROM lookup table which performs gamma correction and white balancing. The overall operation of thecamera module10 is controlled by acamera control processor42 that includes either a general purpose microprocessor or discrete circuit elements, which receives inputs from alight measuring unit44 and thecapture switch20, and controls the operation of theflash24, thesignal processor40, and adriver unit46 that controls the operation of theaperture28 andshutter30.

The operation of the camera system is illustrated in greater detail in the flow diagram illustrated in FIG.5. The user turns on the pen-basedcomputer12 using a power switch (not shown) to activate a camera application program stored in a memory unit of the pen-basedcomputer12, and then flips up theflash unit24 which causes power to be supplied to thecamera module10 by activating a power switch (not shown). The user frames the subject using theoptical viewfinder18 and presses thecapture switch20 to initiate a sequence where the scene light level is read by thecamera control processor42 using thelight measuring unit44, theaperture28 is adjusted, and theshutter30 is opened to expose theelectronic image sensor36 to scene light. Thecamera control processor42 also controls the firing of theflash unit24 if the light measurement taken by thelight measuring unit44 indicates insufficient scene illumination. The image captured by theelectronic image sensor36 is processed by theimage signal processor40 and supplied to the pen-basedcomputer12 via theconnector26, where it is stored in the memory unit of the pen-basedcomputer12.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the stored image is displayed on thedisplay screen16 of the pen-basedcomputer12 along with a transmission selection menu. The user has the option of transmitting the image to one or more of the receiver units A-C. The user selects the receiver units that are to receive the image by utilizing a pen or stylus to touch the appropriate icon displayed on thedisplay screen16. If appropriate, the image can be compressed, using for example JPEG compression, and converted to an appropriate format by the pen-basedcomputer12 prior to transmission to the receiver units A-C. After selection, the image is transmitted to the selected receiver units via theRF transmitter module14.

The RF transmission link between theRF transmitter module14 and the receiver units A-C may be a single frequency system including a cellular system, that uses the same frequency for all receivers, or a multiple frequency system, that uses different frequencies for each of the different receiver units A-C. In the latter case, the image is transmitted multiple times, once using the appropriate frequency band for each selected receiver unit. For single frequency systems, a header code is transmitted prior to transmitting the image. The header includes an ID for each receiver that is to receive the image. In a simple case, a three bit digital code is transmitted, where the first bit is 1 if receiver unit A should receive the image and 0 if it should not, the second bit is 1 if receiver unit B should receive the image and 0 if is should not, and the third bit is 1 if receiver unit C should receive the image and 0 if not. Alternatively, each receiver unit A-C could be assigned a specific address, and the header would contain the address of each receiver that should receive the image.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8. In this embodiment, a cellular telephone is provided with the components of an electronic image camera to form a combined telephone/camera unit48. The top of the combinedunit48 includes alens50, a flip-upflash unit52, and anantenna54. The front face of the combinedunit48 is provided with a liquidcrystal display screen56 and atelephone keypad58, both of which are coupled to aninternal bus60 along with acontrol processing unit62,memory unit64, andcellular transceiver66 as shown in FIG.9. Theinternal bus60 is also connected to acamera module68, which includes the same basic components as illustrated inFIG. 4, with the exception that the output from the image signal processor is supplied directly to theinternal bus60 instead of a connector.

In operation, as illustrated in greater detail by the flow diagram illustrated inFIG. 10, the user takes a picture by flipping up theflash unit52 and pressing an image capture switch (not shown). Alternatively, a key (for example the # key) on thekeypad58 can be utilized as the image capture switch in an image capture mode of operation. The digitize picture data generated by thecamera module68 is stored in thememory unit64 and displayed on thedisplay screen56. To transmit the image, the user dials the telephone number of a desired fax machine that is to receive the image using thekeypad58. The number is transmitted to the fax machine via thecellular transceiver66. The fax machine responds back to the combinedunit48 with the type of fax mode it is capable of receiving, for example group IV fax, color fax, etc. The stored image is then converted to the appropriate fax standard by thecontrol processing unit62, and is transmitted to the receiving fax machine using the normal cellular telephone system that includes an RF link from thecellular transceiver66 to a cellular base unit, which connects to the normal wire, fiber, and satellite telephone system as shown in FIG.11. Once the image transmission is complete, the image can be transmitted to other fax machines by entering the desired numbers using thekeypad58. Thememory unit64 can include prestored phone numbers, to reduce the number of keystrokes needed to dial frequently used numbers, and can include memory for multiple images, so that multiple images can be transmitted to the same receiving fax machine, one after the other. In addition, the combinedunit48 may be pre-programmed so that the complete image capture and telephone dialing sequence is performed each time the image capture switch is activated.

The invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof. It will be understood, however, that modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, although the first illustrated embodiment utilizes a pen-based computer, other types of portable computers with non-interactive displays can be utilized. In such a case, commands and data would be entered via a keyboard, mouse or other data entry devices.

INDUSTRIAL UTILITY

The invention provides an electronic camera system that includes a programmable transmission capability for selectively transmitting electronic image data to a plurality of remote base units. The camera system is particularly suited to applications, such as news gathering operations, in which it is desirable to capture images in remote field locations and transmit the images to a base station for subsequent review, distribution or publication.

Parts List

• 10 Camera Module
• 12 Pen-based Computer
• 14 RF Transmitter Module
• 16 Display Screen
• 18 Optical Viewfinder
• 20 Capture Switch
• 22 Lens
• 24 Flash Unit
• 26 Computer Bus Connector
• 27 Mounting Clips
• 28 Aperture
• 30 Shutter Mechanism
• 32 Filter
• 34 Electronic Imaging Unit
• 36 Electronic Imaging Sensor
• 38 CCD Driver Unit
• 40 Image Signal Processor
• 42 Camera Control Processor
• 44 Light Measuring Unit
• 46 Driver Unit
• 48 Telephone/Camera Unit
• 50 Lens
• 52 Flash Unit
• 54 Antenna
• 56 Display Screen
• 58 Keypad
• 60 Internal Bus
• 62 Control Processing Unit
• 64 Memory Unit Parts List (cont'd)
• 66 Cellular Transceiver
• 68 Camera Module

Claims (7)

1. A portable handheld telephone system for selectively communicating with at least one of a plurality of receiving units, comprising:

(a) a telephone keypad for selecting a particular receiving unit;

(b) an image sensor for capturing image data;

(c) a memory for storing the captured image data;

(d) a control processor responsive to an image transmission mode signal indicating a type of image transmission mode receivable by the selected receiving unit for converting the stored image data into data which can be received by the selected receiving unit; and

(e) a portable transceiver/receiver including an antenna for transmitting the converted image data to the selected receiving unit in a format corresponding to the image transmission mode receivable by the selected receiving unit.

2. The portable handheld telephone system ofclaim 1, further including an image display for displaying the stored captured image.

3. The portable handheld telephone system ofclaim 1, wherein the memory can store a plurality of captured image data.

4. The portable handheld telephone system ofclaim 1, further including flash unit.

5. The portable handheld telephone system ofclaim 1, wherein the memory stores phone numbers for the receiving unit.

6. The portable handheld telephone system ofclaim 1 wherein the image transmission uses facsimile modes.

7. The portable handheld telephone system ofclaim 6, wherein the facsimile modes include Group IV facsimile and color facsimile.

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