JPH08237623A - Video phone - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To simplify the control condition setting operation when a videophone device is constructed by connecting a transceiver unit, a display and a camera-integrated magnetic recording / reproducing device unit in a separable manner. [Structure] The display switch 82 detects the contact / separation state of a transceiver unit 1 and a display / camera integrated magnetic recording / reproducing device unit 2, and when both units are connected, the camera microcomputer 3 controls the camera unit 3. The conditions are automatically set to the operating conditions suitable for shooting the caller under indoor lighting, and the setting operation by the user is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a videophone device constituted by a transmitter / receiver unit (telephone) and a display / camera integrated magnetic recording / reproducing device unit (video camera) which are separably combined. The present invention relates to optimum control of a camera unit in a video camera in a connected state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A video camera (display and camera-integrated magnetic recording / reproducing device unit) which converts an optical image into an electric signal and stores it in a magnetic recording / reproducing device such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk and displays it on a display telephone ( The videophone device configured by combining with the transceiver unit) can reduce the cost of the device by utilizing the camera unit and the display unit of the video camera.

A communication terminal device of this type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-10.
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 4394.

[0004]

Generally, a video camera has a shutter speed control function and a white balance in order to photograph (convert into an electric signal) and record (store) various subjects under various conditions. It is equipped with a control function, an autofocus control function, a zoom control function, and a camera shake image correction control function.

Therefore, when such a video camera is combined with a telephone to construct a videophone device, it is necessary to perform a control condition setting operation necessary to make these control functions effectively, which is troublesome. There is a problem that is.

An object of the present invention is to provide a videophone device comprising a transceiver unit, a display and a camera-integrated magnetic recording / reproducing device unit which are separably connected to each other. It is to simplify the control condition setting operation at the time of configuration.

Specifically, as described above, the purpose is to simplify the setting of control conditions for effectively causing the various control functions of the video camera to function as a videophone device.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a videophone device in which a transceiver unit and a display / camera integrated magnetic recording / reproducing device unit are detachably connected to each other. A camera operation condition automatic setting means for detecting a connection state with the transceiver unit and automatically setting an operation control condition of the camera section as a videophone to a desirable condition for photographing a caller at the time of connection is provided. .

Specifically, the camera operation condition automatic setting means sets the focus control condition of the camera unit to a preset value and sets the white balance control condition to the room light illumination when connecting with the transceiver unit. Then, the shutter speed control condition is set to the standard shooting speed for indoor lighting, the zoom control condition is set to the wide end point, and the camera shake image correction control function is stopped.

[0010]

When the display and the camera-integrated magnetic recording / reproducing unit are connected to the transceiver unit to form a videophone device, the camera operating condition automatic setting means detects this state and sets the control condition of the camera section. As the videophone device is automatically set to the control condition desirable for photographing the caller, the operator can easily operate the videophone device.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a videophone device according to the present invention.
~ It demonstrates with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a telephone as a transceiver unit, and 2 is a video camera with a display unit for a monitor as a magnetic recording / reproducing device unit with a display and a camera.

As in the conventional device, the telephone 1 processes the video signal in order to display the video signal received from the call destination on the monitor display device of the video camera 2 and the line connection processing with the telephone of the call destination. It is provided with processing means for transferring the video signal to the video camera 2 and processing for transmitting the video signal of the caller captured and transferred by the camera unit of the video camera 2 to the call destination.

The television camera 2 includes a camera section 3, a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus section 4, a monitor display 5, a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a system microcomputer) for comprehensively controlling the system of the video camera 2, the camera. A microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a camera microcomputer) 7 for controlling the unit 3 and a telephone connection unit 8 are provided.

The camera unit 3 has a focus control function, a shutter speed control function, a white balance control function, a zoom control function, and a camera shake image control function, and these control functions are controlled by the camera microcomputer 7 to operate effectively. . The camera microcomputer 7 operates in cooperation with the system microcomputer 6 by exchanging information through serial communication, and when operation control as a videophone device is requested, the function control condition for the camera unit 3 is set as a videophone device. Set to the preset standard value for videophone. In this embodiment, the standard value of the videophone is 1 m for the camera focus (generally in the range of 1 m to 2 m), the shutter speed control condition is 1/100 seconds which is the standard shooting speed for indoor lighting, and the white balance is indoors. Electric light (fluorescent light)
The illumination and zoom are set in the videophone standard value table so that the wide-angle end point, which is suitable for shooting a wide range in a short distance, and the camera shake image correction control function are stopped. Regarding the camera shake image correction control function, the videophone device is generally installed on a table so that the camera shake phenomenon does not occur, and the signal processing load of the control means increases by keeping the function in the operating state, and the mechanical operation unit. It is desirable to put it in the stopped state to prevent the occurrence of troubles due to shortened service life and malfunction.

The telephone connecting section 8 includes a connecting terminal 81 for connecting the connecting line 9 to the telephone 1 in a separable manner, and the connecting terminal 8
There is provided a contact / separation state display switch 82 which becomes conductive when 1 is in a connected state. The contact / separation state display switch 82 may be manually operated.

The system microcomputer 6 cooperates with the camera microcomputer 7 and controls the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus section 4 and the display 5 to record the video signal obtained by the camera section 3 in the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus section 4. Then, the video signal or the video signal reproduced by the magnetic recording / reproducing device section 4 is displayed on the display 5. Further, the system microcomputer 6 determines the connection state of the telephone connection unit 8 from the state of the contact / separation state display switch 82, and when it is in the state of the video telephone device connected to the telephone 1, the magnetic recording / reproducing device unit 4
The recording / reproducing function is stopped and the camera microcomputer 7 is requested to set the function control condition of the camera unit 3 to the telephone connection standard value as described above, and the video signal received by the telephone 1 is displayed on the display 5. A control process of transmitting a video signal captured by the camera unit 3 to a call destination is executed.
Magnetic recording / reproducing device 4 when in the videophone state
If the control conditions can be changed so as to function, the magnetic recording / reproducing device unit 4 can be used for storing the call contents.

Next, the control processing as described above executed by the system microcomputer 6 and the camera microcomputer 7 in such a videophone device will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the system microcomputer 6 determines in step 201 from the contact / separation state display switch 82 whether or not the telephone 1 is connected.
If the contact / separation state display switch 82 is in the conductive state, the video camera 2 is in the connected state with the telephone 1.
Proceed to 2 and set the information during connection (connection flag is "1")
To). If the contact / separation state display switch 82 is in the non-conducting state, the video camera 2 is in a state of being separated from the telephone 1, so that the process proceeds to step 203 to cancel the connection information (set the connection flag to "0"). Then, step 204
In step 3, the communication data to the camera microcomputer 7 is created with reference to the connection information, and the process proceeds to step 205 to transmit the communication data to the camera microcomputer 7. In a state where the video camera 2 is connected to the telephone 1 to form a videophone device, the communication data includes a request to set the function control condition of the camera unit 3 to the videophone standard value as described above. included. After that, the routine proceeds to step 206, where the connection status of the telephone line is monitored, and if the telephone line is connected, the routine proceeds to step 207 to perform the call control processing.

On the other hand, the camera microcomputer 7 is shown in FIG.
As shown in step 302, when communication data from the system microcomputer 6 is received in step 301, step 302
It is determined whether or not the operation as a videophone device connected to the telephone 1 is requested, and if requested, the process proceeds to step 303 and saves the control status data up to that point from the control table to the control status save table. .
Next, in step 304, the videophone standard value is read from the videophone standard value table and set in the control table as the function control condition of the camera section 3. Since the camera microcomputer 7 has a function of controlling the camera unit 3 so as to match the environmental conditions in which the video camera 2 is placed, when the videophone device is installed near a window where sunlight enters, white Change the balance and shutter speed under sunlight.

When the operation request as the videophone device is released, the process proceeds from step 302 to step 305, and it is confirmed whether there is control state data saved in the control state save table, and the saved control state If there is data, the process proceeds to step 306, the control state data is read out and set in the control table, and the process proceeds to step 307 to delete the control state data in the control state save table.

In this way, when the videophone device is constructed and the function control conditions are set, the videophone device enters the communication standby state in the optimum control function state, and step 308
Monitor phone line connections with. When the telephone line is connected, the process proceeds to step 309, the operating power is turned on, and the photographing control process is executed under the control condition set in the control table based on the standard value of the videophone.

[0023]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention detects the connection state of a transceiver unit, a display and a camera-integrated magnetic recording / reproducing device unit, and when the two units are connected, the operation control condition of the camera section is desirable as a videophone for photographing a caller. Since the conditions are automatically set, it is possible to simplify the control condition setting operation when the video telephone device is configured by combining the display / camera integrated magnetic recording / reproducing device unit with the transceiver unit.

Further, by setting the zoom of the camera section to the wide end point and setting the control condition so as to stop the camera shake image correction control function, the control processing load of the control means is reduced and the life of the mechanical operation section is shortened. Also, it is possible to prevent troubles caused by malfunctions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a videophone device according to the present invention.

2 is a control processing flowchart of a system microcomputer in the video camera of the videophone device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of a camera microcomputer in the video camera of the videophone device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Telephone, 2 ... Video camera, 3 ... Camera section,
4 ... Magnetic recording / reproducing device section, 5 ... Display, 6 ...
System microcomputer, 7 ... Camera microcomputer, 8 ... Telephone connection part, 82 ... Contact / separation state display switch.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A videophone device in which a transceiver unit and a display / camera integrated magnetic recording / reproducing device unit are separably connected to each other, wherein the display / camera integrated magnetic recording / reproducing unit is connected to the transceiver unit. A videophone device, which is provided with a camera operating condition automatic setting means for automatically detecting the operation control condition of the camera section as a videophone and connecting it to the transceiver unit. . 2. The videophone apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera operation condition automatic setting means sets the focus control condition of the camera unit to a preset value when connecting with the transceiver unit. 3. The videophone apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera operation condition automatic setting means sets the white balance control condition of the camera section to the room lighting when connecting with the transceiver unit. 4. The automatic camera operation condition setting means according to claim 1, wherein the shutter speed control condition of the camera section is set to a standard shooting speed for indoor lighting when connecting with a transceiver unit. Videophone device. 5. The videophone device according to claim 1, wherein the camera operation condition automatic setting means sets the zoom control condition of the camera unit to the wide end point when the camera unit is connected to the transceiver unit. 6. The videophone according to claim 1, wherein the camera operating condition automatic setting means sets a control condition for stopping the camera shake image correction control function of the camera unit when connected to the transceiver unit. apparatus. 7. A display / camera integrated magnetic recording / reproducing device unit that is connected to a transceiver unit to form a videophone device, wherein the display / camera integrated magnetic recording / reproducing unit is connected to the transceiver unit. A display and a camera, which are provided with a connection detecting means for detecting a state and a camera operation condition automatic setting means for automatically setting the operation control condition of the camera section to a desirable condition for a videophone when connecting to the transceiver unit. Integrated magnetic recording / reproducing device unit. 8. The display and the camera according to claim 7, wherein the camera operation condition automatic setting means sets the focus control condition of the camera unit to a preset value at the time of connection with the transceiver unit. Body type magnetic recording / reproducing device unit. 9. The display and camera according to claim 7, wherein the camera operating condition automatic setting means sets the white balance control condition of the camera unit to a preset value when connecting with the transceiver unit. Integrated magnetic recording / reproducing device unit. 10. The automatic camera operation condition setting means according to claim 7, wherein the shutter speed control condition of the camera unit is set to a standard photographing speed for indoor lighting when connecting with a transceiver unit. Magnetic recording / reproducing device unit with integrated display and camera. 11. The display-camera integrated magnetic device according to claim 7, wherein the camera operation condition automatic setting means sets the zoom control condition of the camera unit to the wide end point when the camera unit is connected to the transceiver unit. Recording / playback device unit. 12. The display according to claim 7, wherein the camera operating condition automatic setting means sets a control condition for stopping the camera shake image correction control function of the camera unit when connected to the transceiver unit. Magnetic recording / reproducing device unit with integrated camera.