Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A charger of a digital camera with data transmission function is
disclosed. A charging circuit is provided for charging a chargeable
battery of the digital camera with the transformed power via a power
contact. A TV connecting port and a computer connecting port are
provided for connecting to a TV and a computer. A detection circuit
automatically detects if the charger is connected to the TV device
or to the computer. When a data transmission key is pressed, the
charger is connected to a central processing unit of the digital
camera via a signal contact, and data transmission between the digital
camera and the computer is executed. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A charger of a digital camera with data transmission function,
the charger comprising: a power supplying device for transforming
inputted AC or DC power into a predetermined voltage to supply power
to the digital camera via a power contact; a charging circuit for
charging a chargeable battery of the digital camera with the transformed
power via the power contact; a TV connecting port for connecting
to a TV; an image/sound amplifier for connecting to a digital signal
processor of the digital camera via a signal contact, so as to amplify
image/sound signal from the digital camera and output the amplified
signal to the TV via the TV connecting port; a computer connecting
port for connecting to a computer, the computer connecting port
connecting to the digital signal processor of the digital camera
via the signal contact, so as to input the image/sound signal from
the digital camera to the computer or input instructions from the
computer to the digital camera; a computer/TV connection detection
circuit connected to the TV connecting port and the computer connecting
port for automatically detecting whether the charger is connected
to a TV or a computer, and for connecting to the digital signal
processor of the digital camera via the signal contact, so as to
send a detection report to the digital camera; and a data transmission
key for connecting to a central processing unit of the digital camera
via the signal contact, and when the data transmission key is pressed,
data transmission between the digital camera and the computer or
TV being executed.
2. The charger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the TV connecting
port is a standard A.V. (audio-visual) terminal.
3. The charger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer connecting
port is USB (universal serial bus) interface.
4. The charger as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power contact
and the signal contact constitute a connector of the charger.
5. The charger as claimed in claim 4, wherein the digital camera
has a power contact and a signal contact corresponding to the connector
of the charger.
6. The charger as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a remote
control sensing device connected to a central processing unit of
the digital camera via the signal contact, for receiving signals
from a remote control to control the digital camera control.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital camera charger and,
more particularly, to a charger of a digital camera with data transmission
function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current photographic technologies include various digital camera
devices which capture image data by electronically scanning selected
target objects. Digital camera devices typically process and compress
the captured image data before storing the processed image data
into internal or external memory devices. Furthermore, these digital
camera devices may utilize multiple software routines running within
a multi-threading environment to perform the various steps of capturing,
processing, compressing and storing the image data. a new generation
of cameras has become available that form images using digital technology.
After a picture-taking session, a user of the camera connects the
camera to a personal computer. Alternatively, the user removes the
removable storage device that contains stored images from the camera,
and connects the removable storage device to the personal computer.
The personal computer executes a program that can read the stored
images, either from the camera or the removable storage device,
and display the images on a display of the personal computer. Under
software control, the personal computer can also send one or more
images to a printer, store the images as files on the personal computer,
and carry out other functions.
The common digital camera utilizes a special battery or a normal
battery as power supply. Therefore, when the battery has not enough
power to supply the digital camera, the battery needs to be recharged
or replaced, which causes inconvenient operation.
For the foregoing reasons, an improved apparatus is needed for
managing power conditions within a digital camera device, according
to the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a charger for
a digital camera with an data transmission function to promote the
convenience of the digital camera.
To achieve the object, the charger of the present invention includes:
a power supplying device for transforming inputted AC or DC power
into a predetermined voltage to supply power to the digital camera
via a power contact; a charging circuit for charging a chargeable
battery of the digital camera with the transformed power via the
power contact; a TV connecting port for connecting to a TV; an image/sound
amplifier for connecting to a digital signal processor of the digital
camera via a signal contact, so as to amplify image/sound signal
from the digital camera and output the amplified signal to the TV
via the TV connecting port; a computer connecting port for connecting
to a computer, the computer connecting port connecting to the digital
signal processor of the digital camera via the signal contact, so
as to input the image/sound signal from the digital camera to a
computer or input instructions from the computer to the digital
camera; a computer/TV connection detection circuit connected to
the TV connecting port and the computer connecting port for automatically
detecting whether the charger is connected to a TV or a computer,
and for connecting to the digital signal processor of the digital
camera via the signal contact, so as to send a detection report
to the digital camera; and a data transmission key for connecting
to a central processing unit of the digital camera via the signal
contact, and when the data transmission key is pressed, data transmission
between the digital camera and the computer or TV being executed.
Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a charger of a digital
camera with data transmission function in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of appearance of the charger of a digital
camera with data transmission function in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a back view of appearance of the charger of a digital
camera with data transmission function in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the charger of a digital camera with
data transmission function in accordance with the present invention
and a cooperated digital camera.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram
of a charger of a digital camera of the present invention. The charger
11 of the present invention is able to convert input power to charge
a digital camera 12, and to connect to a personal computer 13 or
a television 14 to transmit image and sound data stored in the digital
camera 12 to the personal computer 13 or the television 14 for viewing,
editing or storing. Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is
a front view of appearance of the charger of a digital camera of
the present invention. FIG. 3 is a back view of appearance of the
charger of a digital camera of the present invention. The body 20
of the charger has a power/signal connector 21, data transmission
key 22, a computer/TV interface 23 and a power input terminal 24,
etc. The power/signal connector 21 is used for being inserted with
a corresponding plug 26 on the digital camera 12 so as to convert
the power inputted from the power input terminal 24 into DC (direct
current) power to charge or supply power to the digital camera 12.
The computer/TV interface 23 is connected to the personal computer
13 or the television 14 via a standard interface. When the data
transmission key 22 is pressed, data transmission between the digital
camera and the computer will be executed.
Please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is block diagram of the charger
11 of a digital camera of the present invention and a cooperated
digital camera 12. The digital camera 12 transmits the image data
to a digital signal processor 405 via a lens module 401, a photoelectric
sensing module 402, and an, analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 403,
so as to process and store the image data in a storage device 404,
or transmits the image data to a digital signal processor 405 via
a microphone 406, so as to process and store the sound data in the
storage device 404. Furthermore, a central processing unit 407 of
the digital camera 12 controls the operation and setup of the digital
camera 12. In addition, power of all the members of the digital
camera 12 are supplied by a chargeable battery 409 or an exterior
direct power via a DC/DC adapter 408.
The digital camera 12 has a power contact 421 and a signal contact
422. The power contact 421 is used for connecting the chargeable
battery 409 and the DC/DC adapter 408 of the digital camera 12 to
the charger 11 to perform charging or power-supply operation. The
signal contact 422 is used for connecting the digital signal processor
405 and the central processing unit 407 of the digital camera 12
to the charger 11 to transmit data. As shown in FIG. 2, the power
contact 421 and a signal contact 422 constitute the plug 26 of the
digital camera 12.
Referring to FIG. 4 again, the charger 11 has power supplying devices
including an AC/DC adapter (or a DC/DC adapter) 415, a protection
circuit 414 and a charging circuit 413, etc, for transforming inputted
AC or DC power into a predetermined voltage to supply power to the
digital camera via the power contact 431 of the charger 11. And
the power contact 421 of the digital camera 12 is electrically connected
to the chargeable battery 409 and the DC/DC adapter 408 of the digital
camera 12 to charge or supply power to the digital camera 12.
In order to transmit data, the charger 11 has an image/sound amplifier
410, the data transmission key 22, a remote control sensing device
412, a computer/TV connection detection circuit 416, a TV connecting
port 417, and a computer connecting port 418. The TV connecting
port 417and the computer connecting port 418 are used for connecting
a TV or a computer, respectively. Preferably, the TV connecting
port 417 is a standard A.V. (audio-visual) terminal, and the computer
connecting port 418 is USB (universal serial bus) interface. The
data transmission key 22, the remote control sensing device 412,
and the computer/TV connection detection circuit 416 are connected
to the central processing unit 407 of the digital camera 12 to control
the digital camera 12 via the signal contact 432 of the charger
11 and the signal contact 422 of the digital camera 12.
The image/sound amplifier 410 is connected to the digital signal
processor 405 of the digital camera 12 via the signal contact 432
of the charger 11 and the signal contact 422 of the digital camera
12, for amplifying image/sound signal from the digital camera 12
and outputting the amplified signal to the TV via the TV connecting
port 417. The computer connecting port 418 is connected to the digital
signal processor 15 of the digital camera 12 via the signal contact
432 of the charger 11 and the signal contact 422 of the digital
camera 12, for inputting the image/sound signal from the digital
camera to a computer or inputting instruction from the computer
to the digital camera 12.
The TV/computer detection circuit 416 is connected to the TV connecting
port 417 and the computer connecting port 418 to automatically detect
if the charger 11 is connected to the TV device or to the computer.
The detection circuit is also connected to the digital signal processor
15 of the digital camera 12 via the signal contact 432 of the charger
11 and the signal contact 422 of the digital camera 12 for sending
a detection report to the digital camera 12. As shown in FIG. 2
and FIG. 3, the power contact 431 and the signal contact 432 constitute
a power/signal connector 21 of the charger 11. The TV connecting
port 417and the computer connecting port 418 constitute a TV/computer
interface 23 of the charger 11.
According to the design of the charger 11 of present invention,
when power is inputted to the charger 11, if the digital camera
12 is off and positioned in the charger 11, the digital camera 12
will be turned on and be charged. If the digital camera 12 is on
and positioned in the charger 11, the digital camera 12 will be
charged. The charger 11 supplies power to the chargeable battery
409 of the digital camera 12, and only the central processing unit
407 of the digital camera 12 is turned on while the other members
are all turned off. When the user presses the data transmission
key 22, the digital camera 12 will be stopped from charging, and
the other members are turned on. The central processing unit 407
of the digital camera 12 determines whether a computer or a TV is
connected via the computer/TV connection detection circuit 416 of
the charger 11, and performs data transmission.
When the digital camera 12 is connected to the TV, a remote control
(not shown) sends a signal to the remote control sensing device
412 to forward the signal to the central processing unit 407. The
central processing unit 407 controls the digital signal processor
405 to play the image/video data stored in the digital camera 12
to the TV.
When the digital camera 12 is connected to the computer, a application
program in the computer will be executed to provide the user with
the options of storing the image/video data, downloading data and
video camera setup, etc. The user can choose one of the options
to process the data transmission between the computer and the digital
camera 12.
From the above-mentioned description, the charger 11 of the present
invention not only provides charging function without taking out
the battery, but also detects whether the charger is connected to
the TV or the computer. Therefore, the digital camera can transmit
data to the computer or play the image/video data on the TV, which
greatly increases the convenience of the digital camera.
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to
its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other
possible modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
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