Transmitting digital images to a plurality of selected receivers over a radio frequency link
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.
This is a continuation of application Serial No. 09/626,881, filed Oct. 9, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe 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.
BACKGROUNDMotion 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 INVENTIONThe 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 DRAWINGSThe invention will be described in greater detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
A diagram of a camera system in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
The camera module 10 is shown in greater detail in
The operation of the camera system is illustrated in greater detail in the flow diagram illustrated in
As illustrated in
The RF transmission link between the RF transmitter module 14 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 in
In operation, as illustrated in greater detail by the flow diagram illustrated in
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 UTILITYThe 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) - Cellular Transceiver
- Camera Module
Claims
1. A method for transmitting a digital image from a handheld telephone/camera to a selected receiver unit over a radio frequency link, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing said handheld telephone/camera including: (i) an image sensor for capturing at least one image; (ii) an A/D converter for producing digital image data from each captured image; (iii) a display screen for displaying each captured image; (iv) a memory for storing the digital image data for at least one captured image; and (v) a cellular telephone transceiver for transmitting the stored digital image data via radio frequency transmission;
- (b) capturing an image using the image sensor;
- (c) storing digital image data corresponding to the captured image in the memory;
- (d) selecting a receiver unit;
- (e) responsive to an image transmission mode signal indicating a type of image transmission mode receivable by the selected receiver unit, converting the stored digital image data into data which can be received by the selected receiver unit; and
- (f) using the transceiver to transmit the converted digital image data to the selected receiver unit.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further including the step of receiving the image transmission mode signal from the selected receiver unit.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the receiver unit is selected from a plurality of receiver units displayed on the display screen.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of receiver units is selected.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4 further including the step of transmitting information identifying each of the selected receiver units along with the converted digital image data.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5 further including the step of receiving the converted digital image data and the information identifying each of the selected receiver units by a cellular telephone receiver, and providing the transmitted digital image data to each of the selected receiver units.
7. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the transmitted information includes an address for each of the selected receiver units.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the converted digital image data is JPEG compressed image data.
Type: Application
Filed: May 20, 2003
Publication Date: May 6, 2010
Patent Grant number: 7952616
Inventors: Kenneth Parulski (Rochester, NY), James Schueckler (Leroy, NY)
Application Number: 10/441,548
International Classification: H04N 5/232 (20060101);