Abstract:
In the conventional technology, the PC camera can operate only when it is connected to the PC, and it only has a function for transmitting a photographed image to the PC. Accordingly, the conventional PC camera can not be used as a camera after it is separated from the PC.  
     The present invention provides a PC camera with various application which is capable of being used as a digital camera independently after separating from the PC.  
     In addition, the present invention is capable of listening digital audio data by storing the digital audio data.  
     And, the present invention is capable of adjusting focus and brightness of the PC camera when it is independently used as the digital camera.  
     In addition, the present invention is capable of transmitting the image photographed by the PC camera or compressed the photographed image by a wireless communication method.  
     Accordingly, the present invention can satisfy a user by adding the digital camera function and MP3 reproducing function to the PC camera.  
     In addition, the present invention can improve capability of a product by comprising a video conference function and making possible editing and storing of the image photographed by the digital camera function by adapting a USB standard.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a PC (Personal Computer) camera, in particular to a PC camera with various application which is capable of operating as a digital camera and a digital audio reproducing apparatus independently by separating from a PC.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    In the present times, a PC (Personal Computer) camera is used for a video conference. The PC camera adopts a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard in order to interface with a PC directly.  
           [0005]    However, in the conventional technology, the PC camera can operate only when it is connected to the PC, and it only has a function for transmitting a photographed image to the PC.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, the conventional PC camera can not be used as a camera after it is separated from the PC.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide PC camera with various application which can be used a digital camera and a digital audio reproducing apparatus independently by separating from a PC.  
           [0008]    In addition, the present invention is capable of listening digital audio data by storing the digital audio data.  
           [0009]    And, the present invention is capable of adjusting focus and brightness of the PC camera when it is independently used as the digital camera.  
           [0010]    In addition, the present invention is capable of transmitting the image photographed by the PC camera or compressed the photographed image by a wireless communication method.  
           [0011]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a PC camera for transmitting a photographed image to a PC by converting the photographed image into a USB standard signal.  
           [0012]    The PC camera comprises a view finder for recognizing direction and range of a photographing object, a memory for storing a photographed image and digital audio data, an image processing unit for transmitting a picture-processed photographing image signal to the PC in a video conference mode, storing the picture-processed photographing image signal on the memory after compressing it in a digital camera mode, transmitting the compressed image signal stored on the memory to the PC in a still image transmission mode, a digital audio decoder for restoring the digital audio data stored on the memory into an original signal in a digital audio reproducing mode, a control unit for judging the video conference mode, digital camera mode, still image transmission mode or digital audio reproducing mode in accordance with open/close of a lens cap and combination/separation with/from the PC and controlling the pertinent operation, and a backup battery unit for charging voltage provided from the outside in the video conference mode or still image transmission mode, and providing the charged voltage as an operating voltage in the digital camera mode or digital audio reproducing mode.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a PC camera with various application according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an open/close state of a lens cap.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 3A through 3C illustrate a combination/separation state of the PC camera.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating a backup battery unit of FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a partial construction of the PC camera with various application according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a PC camera with various application according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a construction profile illustrating a focus adjustment switch unit of FIG. 6.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a focus adjustment reading unit of FIG. 6.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a wave gram illustrating an edge element value in focus adjustment reading of FIG. 6.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a PC camera with various application according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a brightness adjustment reading unit of FIG. 10.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a PC camera with various application according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS.13A through 13C illustrate an earphone combination state of FIG. 12.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]    Hereinafter, the present invention will now be described with reference to accompanying drawings in detail.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a PC camera with various application according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in FIG. 1, PC camera with various application according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises a view finder  106  for recognizing direction and range of an photographing object, a lens unit  101  for concentrating light from a subject, a photographing unit  102  for converting the light about the concentrated image by the lens unit  101  into an electric signal, an image processing unit  103  for converting the electric signal of the photographing unit  102  into a digital signal and image-processing it in order to output the image-processed digital signal as it is in a video conference mode, and compress and store the image-processed digital signal at the press time point when a shutter  109  is pressed in the digital camera mode, a memory  107  for storing the digital image data compressed on the image processing unit  103  in the digital camera mode, a PC interface unit  104  for transmitting the image-processed digital signal to a host computer  105  in the video conference mode, transmitting the compressed image data stored on the memory  107  to the host computer  105  in the still image transmission mode, a first switch  110  for opening/closing a lens cap, a second switch  11  for detecting combination/separation with/from the host computer  105 , a control unit  108  for controlling the operation of the image processing unit  103  in order to perform the digital signal processing about the concentrated image in the video conference mode or digital camera mode, judging it as the video conference mode when the first and second switches are on state, judging it as the still image transmission mode for transmitting the concentrated still image to the host computer  105  when the first switch  110  is OFF and the second switch  111  is ON, and judging it as the digital camera mode for photographing the still image when the first switch  110  is ON and the second switch  111  is OFF, and a backup battery unit  112  for charging voltage provided through the PC interface unit  104  in the video conference mode or still image transmission mode and providing the charged voltage as operation voltage in the digital camera mode.  
         [0028]    The PC interface unit  104  is constructed so as to input/output USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard data.  
         [0029]    The first switch  110  is constructed so as to be ON when the lens cap is open as depicted in FIG. 2A and so as to be OFF when the lens cap is closed as depicted in FIG. 2B.  
         [0030]    The second switch  111  is installed inside of a groove  132  formed on the lower end portion of the PC camera as depicted in FIGS. 3B and 3C so as to be ON when it is combined to a holder  131  in order to fix the PC camera as depicted in FIG.3A.  
         [0031]    The operation and effect of the PC camera with various application according to the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described.  
         [0032]    In the first embodiment of the present invention, the lens unit  101  concentrates the light from the subject, the photographing unit  102  converts it into the electric signal, the image processing unit  103  converts the electric signal into the digital signal, accordingly image processing about the subject is performed as a frame unit.  
         [0033]    First, in the video conference mode, the PC camera is combined to the holder  131 , the second switch  111  is ON, and the first switch  110  is ON by opening the lens cap in order to photograph the subject.  
         [0034]    Herein, the control unit  108  judges it as the video conference mode, and controls the image processing unit  103  so as to transmit the image-processed signal to the host computer  105  as the frame unit through the PC interface unit  104 .  
         [0035]    Accordingly, the host computer  105  processes the image transmitted from the PC camera, displays the image on a screen of a display unit (not shown) such as a monitor, and transmits the image to remote place by using a communication unit (not shown) such as a modem in case of need.  
         [0036]    And, the focus and brightness of the captured image can be adjusted by using a program installed on the host computer  105 .  
         [0037]    For example, in the focus adjustment, when the subject image displayed on the screen of the display unit (not shown) is too far, the focus about the subject can be adjusted by decreasing the range of the image for converting into the electric signal on the photographing unit  102 , in addition, in the brightness adjustment, when the subject image is to dark, the brightness of the subject image can be adjusted by adjusting the brightness on the image processing unit  103 .  
         [0038]    In addition, when the PC camera is separated from the holder and the second switch  111  is OFF, the control unit  108  judges it as a standby state for the digital camera mode.  
         [0039]    Herein, when the user opens the lens cap, the first switch  110  is ON, the control unit  108  judges it as the digital camera mode, the image data image-processed orderly through the lens unit  101 , photographing unit  102 , image processing unit  103  is temporarily stored on the memory  107 .  
         [0040]    According to this, when a user presses the shutter  109  while watching the subject through the view finder  106  after determining the range of the photographing subject, the control unit  108  informs it to the image processing unit  103 , the image processing unit  103  reads image information in the press time point of the shutter  109  from the memory  107  and compresses it, and stores it on the memory  107 .  
         [0041]    The operation for storing the compressed image information is performed repeatedly whenever the user presses the shutter  109 .  
         [0042]    After that, when the user combines the PC camera to the holder in a state which lens cap is closed in order to edit or print the photographed still image, the first switch  110  is OFF, the second switch  111  is ON, accordingly the still image transmission mode is set.  
         [0043]    Herein, the user operates the program installed on the host computer  105  for image-processing, and transmits the control signal for the still image transmission to the PC camera.  
         [0044]    According to this, the control unit  108  controls the image processing unit  103  so as to transmit the still image, the image processing unit  103  reads the compressed image information stored on the memory  107 , and transmits it to the host computer  105  through the PC interface unit  104 .  
         [0045]    The operation for judging the combination/separation between the PC camera and host computer  105  by the ON/OFF state of the second switch  111  is described above, however it is also possible to judge the combination/separation between the PC camera and host computer  105  by detecting a reception signal (for example, USB standard signal) through the PC interface unit  104 .  
         [0046]    Herein, the present invention can be constructed so as to judge the digital camera mode switch by using the method for detecting the reception signal (for example, USB standard signal) from the PC and the other method for judging the ON/OFF state of the second switch  111  at the same time.  
         [0047]    In other words, when the PC camera is separated from the host computer  105 , the PC camera is automatically switched into the digital camera mode.  
         [0048]    In the present invention, the video conference mode or digital camera mode or digital audio reproducing mode is selected in accordance with the ON/OFF of the first switch  110  operated by the open/close state of the lens cap and ON/OFF of the second switch  111  operated by the combination/separation state of the camera from the holder  131 , in addition a plurality of operating buttons for a mode switch and a certain function select etc can be additionally constructed in the present invention.  
         [0049]    For example, a mode select switch for selecting the one mode among the video conference mode, digital camera mode, digital audio reproducing mode is comprised, and function buttons for a music select, audio volume adjustment, reproducing start etc. in the digital audio reproducing mode are comprised.  
         [0050]    And, the video conference mode does not require the operation power, but the operation power is required for operating as the digital camera mode.  
         [0051]    Accordingly, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the backup battery unit  112  performs the charge operation in the combination state with the host computer  105 , and provides the charge voltage as the operation voltage in the separation state from the host computer  105 .  
         [0052]    Herein, the backup voltage is provided to the host computer  105  through the PC interface unit  104 .  
         [0053]    As depicted in FIG. 4, the backup battery unit  112  comprises two switching diodes D 1 , D 2  and a battery, in the video conference mode or still image transmission mode, the switching diode D 2  is OFF and switching diode D 1  is ON, the backup power is provided to a battery, accordingly it is charged. In the digital camera mode, the switching diode D 1  is OFF and switching diode D 2  is ON, the charge voltage of the battery is provided as the operation voltage through the switching diode D 2 .  
         [0054]    An additional power port for providing backup voltage from the outside can be comprised or an additional battery can be installed in the present invention.  
         [0055]    In the present invention, the memory  107  for storing the photographed image information is described in the first embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 5, in addition, an additional memory card  151  can be comprised in the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0056]    In other words, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the additional memory card  151  for storing the compressed image information temporarily stored on the memory  107  and a gate array  152  for inputting/outputting the image information between the image processing unit  103  or the memory  107  and the memory card  151  are comprised.  
         [0057]    The operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will now be described.  
         [0058]    Although the memory card  151  installed, the operation about the video conference mode, still image transmission mode, digital camera mode is same with the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0059]    Accordingly, when the digital camera mode is set and the user records the subject, the image information compressed on the image processing unit  103  is stored on the memory  107 .  
         [0060]    After that, the compressed image information stored on the memory  107  is stored on the memory card  151  through the gate array  152 .  
         [0061]    Herein, the storing of the compressed image information on the memory card  151  can be performed automatically when a certain key is selected or memory card  151  is installed.  
         [0062]    And, in the third embodiment of the present invention, when the PC camera is used as the digital camera, the focus can be adjusted with manual operation.  
         [0063]    In other words, as depicted in FIG. 6, the third embodiment of the present invention having the same construction with the first embodiment comprises a focus adjustment unit  161  for adjusting a focus of the lens unit  101 , a focus adjustment reading unit  162  for extracting the edge element of the subject from the image frame of the image processing unit  103 , reading the focus adjustment, and transmitting the reading result of the control unit  108 , and a display unit  163  for displaying the focus adjustment result transmitted from the image processing unit  103  by the control of the control unit  108 .  
         [0064]    As depicted in FIG. 7, the focus adjustment unit  161  comprises a switch  171  having a saw tooth shape for moving the position of the lens unit  101 , a switch  172  having a saw tooth shape rotated by the rotation of the switch  171 , a screw  173  installed on the center of the switch  172  for moving the lens unit  101  back and forth by rotating interlocked with the rotation of the switch  172 , and a detector  174  for detecting the rotation of the switches  171 ,  172  or screw  173  and transmitting the detect result to the control unit  103 .  
         [0065]    Herein, the detector  174  can be constructed as a rotary encoder.  
         [0066]    When the control unit  108  detects the focus adjustment of the focus adjustment unit  161 , it transmits the image frame after the focus adjustment to the focus adjustment reading unit  162 , and at the same time it controls the image processing unit  103  in order to display the reading result of the focus adjustment reading unit  162  on the display unit  163 .  
         [0067]    As depicted in FIG. 8, the focus adjustment reading unit  162  comprises a high-band filter  181  for extracting the edge element of the subject by performing the high-band filtering of the image frame from the image processing unit  103 , an adder  182  for adding the edge element value on the high-band filter  181 , and a comparator  183  for comparing the result value of the adder  182  with a certain set value and transmitting the comparing result (for example, a high signal is transmitted when the result value is bigger than a certain set value) is transmitted to the control unit  108 .  
         [0068]    The display unit  163  is constructed as a 7-segment LED or LCD.  
         [0069]    The operation and effect of the third embodiment according to the present invention will now be described.  
         [0070]    When the user rotates the switch  171 , the lens unit  101  moves back or forth by the rotation of the switch  172  having the screw  173 , the detector  174  detects the rotation of the switches  171 ,  172  or screw  173  and transmits it to the control unit  108 .  
         [0071]    Herein, when the image concentrated on the lens unit  101  is converted into the electric signal on the photographing unit  102 , the image processing unit  103  performs the image processing by converting it into the digital signal.  
         [0072]    According to this, the high-band filter  181  of the focus adjustment reading unit  162  performs the high-band filtering of the image frame from the image processing unit  103 , and extracts the edge element of the subject, the adder  182  adds the all edge element values, the comparator  183  compares the added value with a certain set value, and the comparing result is transmitted to the control unit  108 .  
         [0073]    Herein, when a low signal is inputted from the focus adjustment reading unit  162 , the control unit  108  judges it the focus is not adjusted, and the control unit  108  the image processing unit  103  in order to display it.  
         [0074]    According to this, the image processing unit  103  transmits the information for displaying a focus non-adjustment state to the display unit  163 .  
         [0075]    On the contrary, when the high signal is inputted from the focus adjustment reading unit  162 , the control unit  108  judges it the focus is adjusted, and the control unit  108  controls the image processing unit  103  in order to display it.  
         [0076]    According to this, the image processing unit  103  transmits the information for displaying the focus adjustment state to the display unit  163 .  
         [0077]    Fog example, the output vale of the adder  182  can be displayed as the waveform diagram of FIG. 9 in accordance with the focus adjustment, when the focus is adjusted, the output value of the adder  182  can be the highest.  
         [0078]    Herein, the display unit  163  displays the focus adjustment result with a number or character.  
         [0079]    Accordingly, the user adjusts the focus while watching the number or character displayed on the display unit  163 .  
         [0080]    Until now the technology for adjusting the focus with manual operation is described. Meanwhile, in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the brightness can be adjusted with manual operation.  
         [0081]    In other words, as depicted in FIG. 10, the fourth embodiment of the present invention having same construction with the first embodiment comprises a brightness adjustment unit  190  for adjusting the brightness of the image in photographing, and a brightness adjustment reading unit  200  for finding the difference of the consecutive image frame inputted from the image processing unit  103  before and after the brightness adjustment When the brightness adjustment unit  190  operates and transmitting the result value to the control unit  108 .  
         [0082]    The brightness adjustment unit  190  can be constructed as a slide switch.  
         [0083]    When the brightness control unit  190  operates, the control unit  108  judges it as a brightness adjustment mode, transmits the image frame before and after of the brightness adjustment to the brightness adjustment reading unit  200 , and at the same time controls the image processing unit  103  in order to display the result value from the brightness adjustment reading unit  200  on the display unit  163 .  
         [0084]    As depicted in FIG. 11, the brightness adjustment unit  200  comprises registers  201 ,  202  for storing the consecutive two frames, and the comparator  203  for comparing the image frames stored on the registers  201 ,  202  and transmitting the differences to the control unit  108 .  
         [0085]    The operation of the fourth embodiment according to the present invention will now be described.  
         [0086]    When the user adjusts the position of the slide switch comprised in the brightness adjustment unit  190 , the control unit  108  judges it as the brightness adjustment mode, and controls the image processing unit  103  in order to transmit the image frames before and after the brightness adjustment to the brightness adjustment reading unit  200 .  
         [0087]    Herein, when the image frame before the brightness adjustment is transmitted, it is stored on the register  201 , again when the image frame after the brightness adjustment is transmitted, the image frame stored on the register  201  is stored on the register  202 , and the newly transmitted image frame is stored on the register  201 .  
         [0088]    According to this, the comparator  203  compares the image frames stored on the registers  201 ,  202 , and transmits the differences to the control unit  108 .  
         [0089]    Herein, the control unit  108  controls the image processing unit  103  in order to display the differences transmitted from the brightness adjustment reading unit  200  on the display unit  163 .  
         [0090]    Accordingly, the user adjusts the image brightness in photographing by adjusting the slide switch comprised in the brightness adjustment unit  190  while watching the number displayed on the display unit  163 .  
         [0091]    Herein, comparing between the two image frames is performed about a certain same region corresponding to each other.  
         [0092]    Until now, the method for comparing the consecutive two image frames is described, the brightness of the image can be adjusted by storing a certain set brightness value in advance and comparing the brightness value of the image frame with the certain set value in photographing.  
         [0093]    In addition, in the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention, the focus adjustment reading unit  162  and brightness adjustment reading unit  200  are comprised additionally, but it is also possible to construct the focus adjustment reading unit  162  and brightness adjustment reading unit  200  inside of the image processing unit  103 , in this case the control unit  107  receiving the reading result judges the focus and brightness adjustment, and controls the image processing unit  103  in order to display it on the display unit  163 .  
         [0094]    In this case, the focus and brightness can be adjusted automatically by the control of the control unit  107 .  
         [0095]    And, in the fifth embodiment of the present invention, digital audio data can be reproduced.  
         [0096]    Herein, the digital audio data will now be described with an example of MP3 data.  
         [0097]    In other words, as depicted in FIG. 12, the fifth embodiment of the present invention having the same construction with the first embodiment comprises an image processing unit  103  for storing temporarily the MP3 data transmitted from the host computer  105  on the memory  107 , a switch  213  for switching ON/OFF the MP3 mode, a MP3 decoder  211  for restoring the MP3 data transmitted through the gate array  152  into the original signal when the lens cap is closed and the switch  213  is ON, and a digital/analog converter  212  for converting the digital signal from the MP3 decoder  211  into the analog signal and outputting it to an earphone.  
         [0098]    The operation of the fifth embodiment of the present invention will now be described.  
         [0099]    First, when the PC camera is combined to the host computer  105 , the user transmits the MP3 data downloaded from the internet to the PC camera.  
         [0100]    After that, when the user closes the lens caps after using the digital camera, the PC camera is in the switch standby state for the MP3 mode or still image transmission mode, when the MP3 mode switch  213  is OFF. As depicted in FIG. 1, the operation voltage from the backup battery unit  112  is cut off.  
         [0101]    After that, when the MP3 mode switch  213  is ON. The gate array  152  reads the MP3 data stored on the memory  107  and transmits it to the MP3 decoder  211 .  
         [0102]    Herein, the MP3 decoder  211  decodes the MP3 data and outputs the original digital signal.  
         [0103]    According to this, the digital/analog converter  212  converts the digital signal into the analog signal, outputs it to the earphone, accordingly the user can listen the MP3 music.  
         [0104]    Herein, when the MP3 mode switch  213  is ON, the decoding operation is performed, and it is also possible to listen request music with select volume by pressing buttons for selecting music, starting the reproducing, adjusting the volume etc.  
         [0105]    In the present invention, the MP3 data is stored on the memory  107 , it is also possible to comprise an additional memory card  151  for expanding the storage capacity.  
         [0106]    In addition, when the switch  213  is ON in the lens cap closed state, the present invention is switched into the MP3 mode, and it is also possible to switch into the MP3 mode automatically when the earphone is connected.  
         [0107]    For example, as depicted in FIGS. 13A through 13C, when the earphone is inserted into a jack  220  installed on the side surface of the PC camera, the switch  221  installed inside the jack  220  is ON, and the control unit  108  switches into the MP3 mode automatically.  
         [0108]    Meanwhile, until now the method for operating the digital camera mode and MP3 mode by turns is described, it is also possible to listen MP3 music while photographing.  
         [0109]    In this case, when the MP mode switch is ON and the earphone is connected, the digital camera mode and MP3 mode can be performed at the same time.  
         [0110]    In addition, the present invention can comprises an additional wireless communication unit for transmitting the image photographed with the above-mentioned method and the compressed image stored on the memory unit to the host computer.  
         [0111]    In other words, the present invention can be constructed to transmit the image photographed in the video conference mode or digital camera mode to the host computer  105  by comprising the wireless communication unit and converting the photographed image into the wireless signal.  
         [0112]    In this case, it is possible to reproduce the MP3 data by receiving it by the wireless communication.  
         [0113]    And, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the display unit  163  is constructed so as to display simple character or number in order to reduce the manufacture cost, but it is also possible to comprise an additional LCD for watching the photographed image.  
         [0114]    In this case, the focus and brightness can be adjusted by using the additional LCD.