US 5,634,144 A · Light beam communication method and system for linking a camera and a computer

Abstract

A method and system for light beam communication between a camera and a computer is provided by adapting an existing light beam auto-focus system of a conventional automated camera, such as a conventional automated film-based camera or a conventional automated electronic camera, and by adapting a conventional computer to provide a light beam communication linkage with the adapted camera. The light beam auto-focus system of such automated cameras is modified to include a mode selector providing a selection of the conventional light beam auto-focus mode and alternatively for selection of a light beam communication mode. The camera has a microprocessor and an erasable electrically programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). In the light beam communication mode, a light beam emitter driver circuit and a light beam sensor timing circuit and signal processor are provided. A conventional computer, for example, a desktop computer or a laptop computer, is adapted to receive and to transmit optically encoded digital signals whereby a computer-based light beam sensor and light beam emitter have an optical spectrum overlapping with the optical spectrum of the camera-based light beam emitter and light beam sensor. Light beam communication is initiated by suitable commands provided by a camera user to the computer. The camera microprocessor is responsive to such commands, and that response is transmitted by the camera-based light beam emitter back to the computer-based light beam sensor.

A light beam communication method for linking a camera and a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an automated, electronic camera of the type having a charge-coupled device (CCD) area image sensor with associated image sensor clock driver, image sensor pixel signal processor and pixel signal storage, the camera further having a microprocessor and a non-volatile erasable electrically programmable read only memory (EEPROM) automatically controlling camera output functions in response to camera input functions, and having a microprocessor controlled light beam auto-focus system including a light beam emitter, a light beam sensor, and emitter light beam control circuit means and sensor light beam control circuit means associated therewith;
providing a mode selector selectably operable by a camera user to select a light beam communication mode for the light beam emitter and the light beam sensor;
adapting the emitter light beam control circuit means and the sensor light beam control circuit means of the light beam emitter and the light beam sensor to become enabled and operative in the light beam communication mode upon actuation of the microprocessor and EEPROM by an input signal applied thereto by the mode selector;
providing a computer of the type capable of interfacing with a user-supplied program, and having a keyboard and a display;
adapting the computer to provide a computer-based light beam emitter, a computer-based light beam sensor, and respectively associated control circuits, the computer-based light beam emitter capable of transmitting an information encoded light beam being spectrally matched to the camera light beam sensor, and the computer-based light beam sensor being spectrally responsive to an information encoded light beam transmitted by the camera light beam emitter;
positioning the camera and the computer so that the light beam transmitted by the computer is incident on at least a portion of the camera light beam sensor and the light beam transmitted by the camera is incident on at least a portion of the light beam sensor of the computer;
generating commands on the computer from the user-supplied program, including commands directing the camera to communicate to the computer image information related to information in the pixel signal storage and a status report about the camera's automatically controlling functions, and commands directing the camera's microprocessor and EEPROM to change selected ones of the camera's automatically controlling functions;
transmitting the commands via the computer light beam emitter as a coded light beam to the camera light beam sensor to actuate the microprocessor and EEPROM to respond to the commands;
receiving in the computer-based light beam sensor a coded light beam from the camera light beam emitter, the coded light beam including the response of the camera microprocessor to the commands;
displaying the camera response on the display for evaluation by the user;
and
selecting by the mode selector the light beam auto-focus mode of the automated camera prior to using the camera.

9 more elements

Facts

Application

08/268,691Filed 29 Jun 1994 · continuation in part

Priority

23 Feb 1993

Granted

27 May 1997

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H04N 1/2112
For one or a few pictures: using still video cameras
G03B 7/091
Control effected solely on the basis of the response, to the intensity of the light received by the camera, of a built-in light-sensitive device:…
H04N 23/66
Control of cameras or camera modules: remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
G03B 2206/00
Systems for exchange of information between different pieces of apparatus

Light beam communication method and system for linking a camera and a computer

Life of this patent

Light beam communication method and system for linking a camera and a computer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9