Abstract:
The “Universal Digital Camera Remote Control” (“UDCRC”) allows users to add a remote control to any camera having an interface port. The UDCRC comprises an adapter unit that connects to the interface port of the digital camera, and a remote unit that communicates with the adapter unit. Controls on the remote unit correspond to various functions of the digital camera so that when a user selects and activates one of the controls on the remote unit, a signal corresponding to the control selected is sent to the adapter unit. The adapter unit detects the signal and sends a corresponding command to the digital camera via the interface port so that the digital camera performs the function corresponding to the control selected by the user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to digital cameras and relates specifically to remotely controlling a digital camera. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Since the invention of the camera, users have looked for ways to remotely activate a camera&#39;s shutter. One innovation involved mechanical shutter cables. Mechanical shutter cables allow a user to reduce shaking of a camera while activating the shutter. While mechanical shutter cables allow users to step away from the camera and still take a picture, the length of the cable limits the standoff distance from the camera. Although some contemporary cameras still use mechanical shutter cables, most modern cameras are compact models not adapted to use shutter cables. Another innovation involved mechanical and electronic timers. Mechanical and electronic timers allow users to set a time interval for the camera shutters so that the user can step away and be in the picture. 
         [0003]    Electronic timers are a common feature on modern compact film and digital cameras. Additionally, most modern compact digital cameras employ one or more interface ports to facilitate communication with an outside device such as a computer or printer. Common standards for interface ports are USB, MINI USB, and FIREWIRE. Computers and printers can download saved content from a digital camera via an interface port, and can control functions of the digital camera such as resizing, cropping, adjusting image settings, and taking a picture. Methods for communicating with and controlling a digital camera via an interface port are known in the art. 
         [0004]    Some camera manufacturers integrate remote controls into one or more of their digital camera models. Integrated remote controls are also commonly supplied with compact digital video cameras. The digital camera models with integrated remote controls allow users to manipulate the camera&#39;s controls from a distance using a separate remote control unit. U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,767, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,795 disclose compact digital cameras with integrated remote controls. Remotely controlled cameras generally have an integrated infrared (IR) receiver built into the main body of the camera. A separate remote control unit has actuators so that the user can control various functions of the camera by selecting and activating one of the actuators to cause the remote control unit to send an IR signal to the IR receiver. The IR receiver then causes the camera to perform the desired function. 
         [0005]    Remote controls for cameras work much like the remote controls used for controlling televisions, VCRs, and DVD players. In addition to IR signals, remote controls sometimes use radio waves from the FM, UHF, and other frequency bands. Remote controls provide the user flexibility in digital camera placement, because the user does not have to physically touch the camera to perform functions such as zooming, adjusting focus, or activating the shutter. Remote controls also allow users to avoid time constraints inherent to using an automatic timer. 
         [0006]    Remote controls are not, however, commonly found on compact digital cameras. If a digital camera comes with a remote control, the remote control mechanism is integrated with the digital camera, and cannot be removed or used on a different digital camera. All digital camera, whether with an integrated remote control or without an integrated remote control, have an interface port. A need exists for a remote control that can be added to a digital camera using the interface port. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The “Universal Digital Camera Remote Control” (“UDCRC”) allows users to add remote control functionality to any digital camera that has an interface port. The UDCRC comprises an adapter unit and a remote unit. The adapter unit connects to the interface port of a digital camera and receives signals from the remote unit. The remote unit has actuators, corresponding to various functions of the digital camera, and a transmitter. When a user selects and activates an actuator on the remote unit, the remote unit sends a signal to the adapter unit. The adapter unit detects the signal and sends a corresponding command to the digital camera via the interface port. 
         [0008]    The UDCRC further comprises one or more programs that may be described as an initialization component, a transmission component and a reception component. The initialization component resides in the memory of the adapter unit and identifies the attached camera model to ensure the proper instruction set is used to control the camera&#39;s functions. The transmission component resides in the memory of the remote unit and sends a signal corresponding to the actuator of the remote unit selected and activated by a user. The reception component resides in the memory of the adapter unit and detects signals from the remote unit and sends a corresponding command to the camera via the interface port. 
         [0009]    In an alternate embodiment of the UDCRC, the remote is connected by a cable to the digital camera&#39;s interface port. In the alternate embodiment of the UDCRC, the initialization component and the reception component reside in the memory of the remote unit. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be understood best by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  is an exemplary camera and Universal Digital Camera Remote Control; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  shows an adapter unit mated to a camera; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1C  shows a connector of the first adapter unit in a closed position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1D  shows a connector of the first adapter unit in an open position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1E  shows a first alternate adapter unit; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1F  shows a second alternate adapter unit; 
           [0017]      FIG. 1G  shows a third alternate adapter unit; 
           [0018]      FIG. 1H  shows three alternate connector configurations; 
           [0019]      FIG. 1I  shows functional elements of the adapter unit and the remote unit; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows programs and files in a representation of a memory containing components of the adapter unit and the remote unit; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  depicts a flowchart of the initialization component process; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart of the transmission component process; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  depicts a flowchart of the reception component process; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  depicts an alternate remote unit; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  depicts functional elements of the alternate remote unit; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  depicts programs and files in a representation of a camera memory and an alternate remote unit memory. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0027]    The principles of the UDCRC are applicable to a variety of digital camera hardware and software configurations used to control the functions of digital cameras. The term digital camera means any machine or apparatus that is capable of recording photographic images on an electronic medium as data, and that is also capable of accepting data, performing logic operations on data, storing data, or displaying data, and includes without limitation a housing, a lens, a power supply, a motor, a processor, and a memory. The term memory means any physical, optical, electromagnetic, or other medium through which electronic data (including instructions) can be stored. The term program means any set of logical instructions in a memory operable to cause a digital camera, an adapter unit, or a remote unit to perform an operation or function, and a program may be software running on a programmable processor, such as a general purpose processor or a digital signal processor (DSP), or it may be hard-wired instructions that are part of the hardware in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or it may be an integrated circuit that can be reprogrammed by burning a new program onto a rewritable persistent memory or floating gate, transistor array to reconfigure the integrated circuit hardware, or it may be another embodiment of a program known in the art. 
         [0028]    Additionally, the UDCRC is described below with reference to an exemplary combination of hardware devices, as depicted in  FIG. 1A , comprising digital camera  10 , adapter unit  30 A and remote unit  50 . Digital camera  10  is shown with shutter actuator  12 , flash  14 , lens  18  and interface port  16 . Adapter unit  30 A is shown with detector  32 , indentation  34  and interface connector  36 . Interface connecter  36  on adapter unit  30 A is configured to engage interface port  16  on camera  10 . Remote unit  50  is shown with a plurality of actuators  54  and emitter  52 . In a preferred embodiment, emitter  52  and detector  32  use infrared (IR) signals, but other signals known in the art can be used, such as radio waves or optical waves at wavelengths other than IR. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1B  shows adapter unit  30 A mated to digital camera  10  with interface connector  36  inserted into interface port  16 . In one embodiment of the UDCRC, interface connector  36  is mounted to adapter unit  30 A on a hinge so that interface connector  36  closes into indention  34  for storage in adapter unit  30 A as shown by  FIG. 1C . When needed, interface connector  36  rotates outward from indention  34  as shown in  FIG. 1D  to allow adapter  30 A to engage with interface port  16  on digital camera  10 . 
         [0030]    Digital camera  10 , adapter unit  30 A, and remote unit  50  are not limited to the shapes and configurations shown in  FIG. 1A  through  FIG. 1D . For example,  FIG. 1E  shows first alternate adapter unit  30 B which is a compact version of adapter unit  30 A.  FIG. 1F  shows second alternate adapter unit  30 C which is a miniature version of adapter unit  30 A.  FIG. 1G  shows third alternate adapter unit  30 D that attaches underneath digital camera  10 . In the embodiment of third alternate adapter unit  30 D, interface connector  36  is located at a first end of cable  38 , and is adapted to engage interface port  16  while third alternate adapter unit  30 D is connected to the bottom of digital camera  10 . Further, in the embodiment of third alternate adapter unit  30 D, the second end of cable  38  can be permanently affixed to third alternate adapter unit  30 D or the second end of cable  38  can be removably engaged to an interface port on third alternate adapter  30 D (not shown). 
         [0031]    Because interface port  16  on digital camera  10  may be positioned in other locations than the side, other configurations of adapter  30 A, first alternate adapter  30 B, second alternate adapter  30 C, and third alternate adapter  30 D, known to persons skilled in the art, can be adapted for mating with digital camera  10  at any location at which an interface port such as interface port  16  may be situated on a digital camera such as digital camera  10 , and an interface connector such as interface connector  36  may be situated on adapter unit configurations  30 A through  30 D, or any other such configuration known to persons skilled in the art, to accommodate such alternate configurations of digital camera  10  (not shown). An embodiment of adapter unit  30 A using a removable embodiment of cable  38  can be used to change interface connecter  36  to a different type of interface connector. For example, interface connector  36  may be configured for connection to an interface port that provides a USB connection and the configuration of interface connector  36  may be changed to a FIREWIRE connection.  FIG. 1H  shows three possible embodiments of interface connector  36 . First connector  37 A is a standard USB-A connector. Second connector  37 B is a MIN-USB connector. Third connector  37 C is a MINI-FIREWIRE connector. A further embodiment of adapter unit  30 A (not shown) has more than one interface connector, each adapted to fit different interface port types. 
         [0032]    Although in the preferred embodiment, adapter unit  30 A is sufficiently small and lightweight to be supported solely by the interface connector  36  engaged with port  16 , alternate embodiments may employ additional attachments to secure adapter  30 A to digital camera  10 . Alternate attachments include, but are not limited, to hook and loop fasteners affixed to the body of digital camera  10  and adapter unit  30  by adhesive. Other attachment methods include elastic loops and adjustable straps or clips affixed to adapter unit  30  and adapted to fit around or over the edges of digital camera  10 . An alternate embodiment of adapter unit  30  attaches to a tripod mount on the bottom of camera  10  (not shown), and has an additional tripod mount underneath adapter unit  30  (not shown) for mounting the entire assembly of adapter unit  30  and digital camera  10  to a tripod (not shown). Further, adapter unit  30  and remote unit  50  may have lanyards or belt clips to facilitate transportation. In an alternate embodiment, adapter unit  30  may be contained within a camera case (not shown), and remote unit  50  may be attached to the camera case when remote unit  50  is not in use, and remote unit  50  may be detached from the camera case for use when needed. In addition, adapter units such as adapter units  30 A-D may be attached to an additional lens or additional optics and affixed to camera  10  by affixing the additional lens or optics to the camera (not shown). 
         [0033]    Remote unit  50  requires a power source (not shown), such as a replaceable or rechargeable battery. Adapter unit  30  may have an internal power source, or adapter unit  30  can draw power from digital camera  10  through interface connector  36  or by connection to a power outlet on digital camera  10  (not shown).  FIG. 1I  shows the functional elements of adapter unit  30  and remote unit  50 . Adapter logic  66  comprises a processor and other hardware necessary to manage and facilitate communication with the other functional elements of adapter units  30 A-D. Signals received by detector  32  are transmitted to adapter logic  66  via connection  61 . Memory  62  can be accessed by adapter logic  66  via connection  63 . Internal power source  64  supplies power to adapter logic  66  via connector  65 . Connector  67  links adapter logic  66  to interface connector  36  to facilitate communication with digital camera  10 . Remote logic  86  comprises a processor and other hardware necessary to manage and facilitate communication with the other functional elements of remote unit  50 . Actuator  54  interfaces with remote logic  86  via connector  83 . Internal power source  84  supplies power to remote logic  86  via connector  85 . Connector  81  links remote logic  86  with emitter  52  for sending signals to adapter unit  30 . Moreover, adapter unit  30  and remote unit  50  may be solar powered, or may contain batteries that can be recharged by solar cells or photoelectric cells affixed to or built into adapter unit  30  and built into remote unit  50  so that each has a self-charging capability. In one embodiment, power is supplied by two AAA batteries and the battery compartment is approximately two and one-half inches by one and one-half inches. Further embodiments of adapter unit  30  and remote unit  50  have power on and power off switches (not shown). In an alternate embodiment of the UDCRC, remote unit  50  has an LCD display and controls that allows a user to navigate the menu system of digital camera  10 , and in this embodiment adapter unit  30  and remote unit  50  each have both transmission and reception capability. 
         [0034]    UDCRC  200  typically is stored in a memory, represented schematically as memory  220  in  FIG. 2 . Memory  220  may encompass and be distributed across a plurality of media. Further, UDCRC  200  may reside in more than one memory distributed across different electronic components. The components depicted in memory  220  may be located in or distributed across separate memories in any combination, and UDCRC  200  may be adapted to identify, locate, and access any of the components and coordinate actions, if any, by the distributed components. Thus,  FIG. 2  is included merely as a descriptive expedient and does not necessarily reflect any particular physical embodiment of memory  220 . As depicted in  FIG. 2 , though, memory  220  may include additional data and programs. Of particular import to UDCRC  200 , memory  220  may include camera controller  230 , a program that controls the functions of digital camera  10  with which UDCRC  200  interacts. Camera controller  230  may be a camera specific protocol provided by the manufacturer of camera  10 , or it may be a program specially created for a particular model of digital camera  10  by the manufacturer of UDCRC  200 . Camera controller  230  may include additional protocols for connection protocols for port  16 . For example, RS232 may be used as a serial connection protocol. UDCRC  200  has initialization component  300 , transmission component  400  and reception component  500 . Initialization component  300  and reception component  500  are part of adapter unit  30 . Command library  250  and settings file  260  are data files on adapter unit  30  with which initialization component  300  and reception component  500  interact. Transmission component  400  is part of remote unit  50 . The functions of the logical components of UDCRC  200  are described in further detail below. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  depicts initialization component  300 . Initialization component  300  starts whenever adapter unit  30  mates with digital camera  10 , and digital camera  10  is turned on ( 310 ). Initialization component  300  identifies the manufacturer and model of digital camera  10 , and identifies the current adapter settings in settings file  260  ( 312 ). If the current settings in settings file  260  do not match the particular model of digital camera  10  ( 314 ), initialization component  300  locates the proper instruction set for controlling digital camera  10  in command library  250  ( 316 ). Initialization component  300  saves the proper instruction set and model of digital camera  10  to settings file  260  ( 318 ). Initialization component  300  initiates adapter component  500  ( 320 ) and stops ( 322 ). Other functions of initialization component  300 , not shown here, include communication with a general purpose computer via interface connector  36  to update command library  250 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  depicts transmission component  400 . Transmission component  400  starts whenever an actuator on remote unit  50  is selected and activated by a user ( 410 ). Transmission component  400  identifies the selected actuator ( 412 ), transmits a signal with a code corresponding to the selected actuator ( 414 ) and stops ( 416 ). Remote unit  50  has at least one actuator to cause digital camera  10  to activate the shutter. Remote unit  50  may have additional actuators corresponding to additional functions such as adjusting image magnification (zoom) and adjusting flash settings. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  depicts reception component  500 . Reception component  500  starts when initialized by initialization component  300  ( 510 ). Reception component  500  waits for a signal containing a code from remote  50  ( 512 ). Whenever reception component  500  receives a signal ( 514 ), reception component  500  interprets the received code ( 516 ) and sends the corresponding instruction from settings file  260  to camera  10  ( 518 ). For as long as camera  10  remains on, reception component  500  repeats steps  512 - 518  ( 520 ). Whenever camera  10  turns of, reception component  500  turns off ( 522 ). 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  depicts alternate remote unit  90  connected by cable  38  to digital camera  10  via interface port  16 . As will be discussed below, alternate remote unit  90  contains components of adapter units  30 A-D so that all that is necessary for remote operation is to insert interface connector  36  into interface port  16 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  depicts alternate remote unit  90 . Alternate remote unit  90  has remote logic  96 , actuator  54 , and connector  83 . Remote logic  96  comprises a processor and other hardware necessary to manage and facilitate communication with the other functional elements of alternate remote control  90 . Actuator  54  interfaces with remote logic  96  via connector  83 . Internal power source  84  supplies power to remote logic  96  via connector  85 . Connector  87  links remote logic  96  with cable  38 , and in turn, cable  38  is connected to interface connector  36 . Interface connector  36  is adapted for connection to adapter unit  30  for sending commands to digital camera  10  (not shown). 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  depicts memory  220  configured for alternate remote unit  90 . UDCRC  200  typically is stored in a memory, represented schematically as memory  220  in  FIG. 8 . The components depicted in memory  220  may be located in or distributed across separate memories in any combination, and UDCRC  200  may be adapted to identify, locate and access any of the components and coordinate actions, if any, by the distributed components. Thus,  FIG. 8  is included merely as a descriptive expedient and does not necessarily reflect any particular physical embodiment of memory  220 . Alternate remote unit  90  has initialization component  300 , transmission component  400 , reception component  500 , command library  250 . settings file  260  (data files with which initialization component  300  and reception component  500  interact), and transmission component  400 . In other words, the necessary functions of the adapter unit and of the remote unit have been combined in alternate remote unit  90 . 
         [0041]    In alternate embodiments of UDCRC  200  (not shown), adapter unit  30 A- 30 D, remote unit  50 , and alternate remote unit  90  may be modified to add additional functionality so that remote unit  50  or alternate remote unit  90  may be operated without user selection of an actuator. In such embodiments actuators may be activated by one or more automatic triggering devices based upon sound, light, or pressure activation. For example, a laser signal may be aimed from remote unit  50  or alternate remote unit  90  so that digital camera  10  will take a picture when an object moves into the path of the laser. In the same manner, sensors located at remote unit  50  or alternate remote unit  90  could cause digital camera  10  to take a picture when light intensity reached a user selected level. In like manner, pressure sensors could be used to cause digital camera  10  to take a picture when activated by a pressure sensitive pad placed on the ground (not shown) and connected to remote unit  50  or alternate remote unit  90 , or changes in atmospheric pressure could be used to cause digital camera  10  to take a picture with an atmospheric pressure trigger (not shown). Such sensors could be built into remote unit  50  or alternate remote unit  90 , or such sensors could be attached to remote unit  50  or to alternate remote unit  90  by connection to an interface port on remote unit  50  or alternate remote unit  90 . Persons skilled in the art will realize the advantages for wildlife and nature photographers of such a capability and also for security applications. 
         [0042]    A preferred form of the invention has been shown in the drawings and described above, but variations in the preferred form will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The preceding description is for illustration purposes only, and the invention should not be construed as limited to the specific form shown and described. The scope of the invention should be limited only by the language of the following claims.