GB2305508A - Camera with sound recording and playback means - Google Patents

2305508

A CAMERA WITH SOUND RECORDING AND PLAYBACK MEANS AND ITS CONTROL METHOD BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a camera with sound recording and playback =cans and its control method, and more particularly, to a camera in which cautionary suggestions, instructions on the use of the camera, and words to ready the subject(s) such an lone, two, throom can be recorded and automatically played 10 back so that the taking of pictures is made any.

Generally when taking pictures, the photographer holds the c--era In his/her hands and aims the camera at the subj act (a). Af tor f Inding an agreeable shot, one.

is two, three" or wcheesO, ate. in spoken so that it is known that the picture in about to be taken.

When the picture-taker speaks the words or phrase to prepare the subject(&) for the picture, the camera shakes and, as a result, a good picture can not be taken. In addition, it in inconvenient for the photographer to say wcheesom, etc. to ready the subject(a). Also, although cameras come wi th instruction manuals on the use of the installed operational functions, the manual in often forgotten and left behind. Finally, there in the drawback that if instructions for the camera are forgotten, exactly wha: functions the camera has can not be known, and full, efficient use of the camera is not possible.

i URIGINAL S-UNKUY The present invention has been made in an off ort to solve the above problems.

it in an object of the present invention to provide a camera with sound recording and playback =cans and a control method therefore. Sucha. camera allows for the recording and playback of precautionary suggestions and Instructions on the use of the camera, and of words spoken to prepare the subject(O. Through this =cans, the taking of pictures in simplified and made =or efficient.

in this regard, the invention provides a camera as set out in claims 1 to 6 and a method of controlling a camera as set out in claim 7.

kdcording to on aspect of the present invention, a camera with sound recording and playback =cans comprises a release switch, which, according to a selection of a user, changes from a first stop release to a second stop release; a sound recording switch; a playback switch; and a =snag input switch. The camera also comprises automatic distance measuring =cans, which measures a distance between a subjct(s) and the camera and outputs a corresponding electronic signal; brightness photometric =cans, which measures a level of brightness of the subjects and outputs a corresponding electronic signal; and photographing control means, which 1) acts the sound recording and playback mode when the recording switch and playback switch in turned on and outputs the corresponding selection signal, 2) controls an operation of sound recording and playback, 2 BAD ORIGINAL of which a driving signal is outputted and inputted according to the message input switch, and 3) calculates an amount of exposure according the distance and brightness of the subject(s) which are measures when the release switch is turned on, and outputs a photographing signal.

The camera further comprises sound recording/playback handling means, which, after the sound recording and playback operation in selected according to the selection signal outputted from the photographing control means, either records the inputted sound according to the drive signal in a sphere of a fixed address, or playbacks and outputs the recorded sound; and is shutter drive =cans, which, according to the outputted photographing signal from the photographing control means, controls an opening and closing operation of a shutter.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a camera with sound recording and playback means comprises a first step in which, when receiving electrical power, all operation circuits and usage variables are initialized, then whether the recording switch is turned on and what sound recording operations were selected by the photographer are determined; a second step where, if the recording switch is turned on and the sound recording operation in 3 BAD ORIGINAL selected, the camera is changed to a recording mode, the message storage area is specified; and a third step in which, If the message switch in turned on, the inputted message is recorded in the fixed sphere. The method further comprises a fourth step in which, if the message Input switch turned off, the recording operation in discontinued and the camera in changed to a playback bode; a fifth step where it in determined whether the playback switch is turned on, and if it is, the aessage corresponding to the fixed playback sphere is played back and outputted; and a sixth step in which, if the release switch is turned on, the photographing operation is performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Then and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a camera with sound recording and playback means in accordance with a preferred emb odiment of the present invention; Fig. 2a is a f low chart of the control operation of a camera with sound recording and playback means in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 2b is a flow chart continued from Fig. 2a. DESCRIPTION

4 BAD ORiGINAL Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanving drawings.

An in illustrated in Fig. 1, a camera with sound recording and playback means in accordance With a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a release switch S1, a sound recording switch S2, a playback switch S3, an instruction playback switch S4, a message input switch SS, address selection switches Al-A3, an automatic distance measuring part 10, a brightness photometric part 20, and a photographing control part 30. The part 30 is connected to all the switches (S1-SS, Al-A3) and to output ends of the measurement parts (10,20). Depending on the state of is the switches, the part 30 outputs a measurement signal for the measurement of sound recording or playback operations, or a photographing signal. The camera further includes a shutter driving part 40 connected to the photographing control part 30. Depending on a relayed photographing signal, the shutter during part 40 either opens or closes the camera shutter. The camera also includes a sound recording/playback part 50, which, according to the signal relayed to the photographing control part 30, initiates either a sound recording or playback operation.

The above sound recording/playback part 50 is comprised of a sound input part 51 and a sound BAD ORIGINAL __---1 recording/playback handling part 53. The sound recording/playback handling part 53 handles the inputted sound recording and playback according to the measurement signal that is outputted from the photographing control part 30. A sound output part 55 In connected to an output end of the sound recording/playback part 53 and outputs the playback mounds.

According to a preferred ezabodizent of the present invention, the sound recording/playback handling part 53 comprises an IC used for sound recording and playback in normal tape recorders, the sound output part 55 comprises a speaker, and the sound input part 51 comprises a microphone. The photographing control part is 30 preferably comprises types of 07C2416 microprocessor made by Samoung Electron and ND 78064 microprocessor made by NEC.

A motor driving part 60 is also connected to the photographing control part 30. The motor driving part 60 In provided for activating a motor to advance the film after each exposure.

The following is the application of the camera (having the above structure) with sound recording and playback means in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, by operation of photographing control part 30, according to software stored therein and illustrated in Figs. 2A and 2B.

6 13AD OgIGINAL When electricity is applied to the camera from a power supply (not shown), the photographing control part 30, after initializing all the operation circuits and usage variables, determines, at step S110 of Fig. 2A, the input state of the switches S1-SS and Al-A3, which are operated according to the selection of the user, that is, the person taking the picture. When the user wants to record a message, he/she activates the sound recording switch (S2). For example, In order to record a message to ready the subject(&) for the picture like Oone, two, three,, or wchessem, the sound recording switch (S2) in activated. When this in done, the photographing control part 30 changes whatever mode the camera úa In at that time to a recording mode, and, is according to a routine illustrated in Fig. 2, the recording operation In performed (S120-S130).

After the photographing control part 30 outputs and fixes (through the sound recording/playback handling part 53) the addresses corresponding to the message storage area specified by the status of the address selection switches (Al-A3), and then determines the status of the message input switch SS (S140-S150). 1 f the message input switch (SS) in turned on, the photographing control part 30 acts a recording/playback selection signal (R/P) to a low level "L" state through the sound recording/playback handling part 51, and initiates a recording operation (S160).

7 BAD ORIGINAL After the sound recording operation is initiated, the photographing control part 30 outputs the driving signal, Enable shown as in Fig. 1, at a low level and records the message Inputted through the sound input part 51.

in the operation described above, the user maintains the message Input switch (SS) at an ON state and user speaks Oone, two, threew, wcheeseO, or whatever message he/she desires, into the sound input part 51.

The sound input part 51 changes the inputted voice signal to a corresponding electronic signal and outputs this to the sound recording/playback handling part 53.

If the driving signal Enable in inputted at a low level, the sound recording/playback handling part 53 then transforms the outputted electronic signal corresponding to the inputted voice signal to its corresponding pulse signal, and encodes the pulse signal according to a PCX (Pulse Code Modulation) method. The encoded signal in then stored in the message storage area an specified by address selections switches (A1-A3) (S170).

At this time, if the user turns of f the message input switch (S5), the photographing control part 30 outputs a drive signal Enable at a high level "En, and discontinues the recording operation (S180-S190).

If the user turns the sound recording switch (S5) back on, the photographing control part 30 outputs the a BAD ORIGINAL recording/playback selection signal (RIP) at a high level "R" and changes the present mode to a playback mode. Moreover, according to the above operation, though the camera in in the playback mode, the recorded sound signal in not played back and outputted until the playback switch (S3) in turned on by the user.

If desired, In the above, the status of one or wore of the address switches (AI-A3) can he changed to specify a different message storage area, and the sound recording operation in repeated. Messages preparing the subject for picture taking, precautionary suggestions of the camera, and instructions can be recorded. After the sound recording operation in completed, the person taking the picture turns the playback switch (S3) on and is the recorded message to ready the subject In played back (S220).

The photographing control part 30 outputs addreses, specified by the status of the address switches (AI-A3), to the sound recording/playback handling part 53, thus specifying the desired message for playback. If the playback switch (S3) in turned on, the photographic control part 30 outputs the driving signal Enable at a low level "L" to initiate the sound playback operation (S240).

For sound playback, the sound recording/playback handling part 53 must be in the state where the recording/playback selection signal (R/P) is outputted 9 BAD ORIGINAL at a high level nHn and the playback mode in selected. Af ter receipt of the addresses outputted f rom the photographing control part 30, if the drive signal Enable in outputted at a low level OW, the sound recording/handling part 53 changes the PCM-encoded signal saved in the specified message storage area sphere into an electronic pulse signal and outputs the corresponding electronic signal to the sound output part 55. The sound output part 55 (the speaker) then outputs the sound corresponding to the changed electronic signal, thus providing playback of the desired recorded voice message.

A separate usage instruction switch (S4) in installed and used if the user needs to hear a certain is message often, for example, instructions on the use of the camera (S200-S210).

In other words, after needed instructions are recorded, if the usage instruction switch (S4) is turned on, the message is played back for the user.

Thus, when taking pictures, after a message to ready the subjects wone, two, threen, or OcheencO, etc.

is played back, the user turns the release switch (S1) on. Preferrably, switch S1 is two-stage pressure-operated switch in which slight pressure actuates a first stage and heavier pressure activates a second stage. if the first stage of the release switch is turned on, the photographing control part 30 drives BAD ORIGINAL 1 the automatic distance measuring part 10. This causes the distance between the camera and the subject to be measured. Also, the brightness photometric part 20 measures the amount of brightness of the subject (S250 5260).

If the second stage of the release switch is turned on, the photographing control part 30 calculates the amount of shutter exposure time, based on the measured distance between the subject and the camera and the amount of brightness. By using this exposure time calculation, the photographing control outputs a photographing signal which causes activation of the camera shutter.

After opening the shutter and taking a picture is according to the photographing signal outputted from the photographing control part 30, the shutter driving part turns the motor driving part 60 on. This winds the portion of film used for the picture and discontinues the photographing operation (S270-S300).

The preferred embodiment of the invention uses a separate recording and playback chip with a normal camera. This allows for the recording and playback of precautionary suggestions and camera operating instructions. In addition, a message that readies the subject for taking pictures prevents the shaking of the camera immediately prior to taking a picture which can result in an inability to get the desired shot.

11 BAD ORIGINAL The inconvenience of the photographer having to speak the words to prepare the subject for picture taking is eliminated. Further re, because Instructions on the use of the camera can be recorded and played back when needed, the camera's functions can be completely used, leading to better pictures and a more efficient utilization of the camera.

Finally, when using the self-timer for taking automatic pictures, a voice recording in used rather than using a time display LED for informing the subject of when the picture will be taken. This allows the subjects to know the exact time of picture taking so as to better ready themselves and get in a desired pose.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to the skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered an exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

12 13AD ORIGNAL