Patent Publication Number: US-2003234878-A1

Title: Digital camera with voice interface

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates in general to a digital camera, in particular, the present invention relates to a digital camera with voice interface.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0004] Conventionally, a digital camera at least comprises a digital camera body, a plurality of control buttons, and a liquid crystal display. Furthermore, the plurality of control buttons at least comprises a select-button and an OK-button. Users operate the functions of the digital camera by manipulating the select-button and the OK-button and viewing the results on the liquid crystal display.  
       [0005] However, the liquid crystal displays are expensive and make up a significant part of the cost of the camera. In addition, manipulating two or more buttons to operate camera functions is sometimes difficult or confusing. A need therefore exists for an inexpensive digital camera that is more user-friendly then the conventional digital camera.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera that can control all the functions thereof with one on button and broadcast the states of the camera by a voice unit. Because the functions of the digital camera of the present invention can be controlled by a single button, the camera is user-friendly. In addition, because a voice unit is used to broadcast the state of the camera instead of a liquid crystal display, the size of the digital camera can be decreased and the cost reduced.  
       [0007] According to the object, a digital camera with voice interface of the present invention comprises a digital camera body having a plurality of functional options and corresponding functions, a one-button input unit coupled to the digital camera body for producing a group of control signals, a control unit coupled to the one-button input unit to select from the plurality of functional options and to perform the corresponding functions according to the group of control signals, and to output a corresponding audio signal according to each of the functional options and functions, and a voice output unit coupled to the control unit to indicate which the functional options is selected and which of the functions is performed.  
       [0008] The present invention also provides a method of controlling functions of a digital camera with a single button. In the method of the present invention, an input signal is determined one of a first control signal and a second control signal according to how long has the button been pressed. The functional option is selected and a first corresponding audio signal is outputted when the input signal is the first control signal, the function is performed and a second corresponding audio signal is outputted when the input signal is the second control signal. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the digital camera with voice interface of the present invention.  
     [0010]FIG. 2 shows a process flow according to the control method of the present invention.  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the digital camera according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the digital camera with voice interface of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a digital camera with voice interface  100  has a digital camera body  10 , a one-button input unit  20 , a control unit  30  and a voice output unit  40 . The control unit  30  further composes a timer  32  and a data unit  34 .  
     [0013] The digital camera body  10  has a plurality of functional options and corresponding functions. For example, the functional options may be, for example, acquiring image, erasing image, transferring image, voice speed adjustment, power on functional option and power off.  
     [0014] The one-button input unit  20  is coupled to the digital camera body  10  to produce a group of control signals ST. In this embodiment, the group of control signals ST comprises a first signal ST 1  and a second signal ST 2 .  
     [0015] The control unit  30  is coupled to the one-button input unit  20  to select the functional options of the digital camera  10  and to perform the corresponding functions according to the group of control signals ST. The control unit  30  outputs a corresponding audio signal according to each of the functional options and functions. For example, when the control unit  30  selects an “acquiring image” functional option according to the group of control signals, the control unit  30  further outputs an audio signal corresponding to the “acquiring image” function option. In another case, when the control unit  30  selects an “erasing image” functional option according to the group of control signals, the control unit  30  further outputs an audio signal corresponding to the “erasing image” function option.  
     [0016] Furthermore, the control unit  30  further comprises a timer  32  to count how long the one-button input unit  20  has been pressed. The control unit  30  determines an input signal is the first signal ST 1  if the one-button input unit  20  is pressed over a first determined time, and determines the input signal is the second signal ST 2  if the one-button input unit  20  is pressed over a second determined time, wherein the second determined time is longer than the first determined time. For example, the control unit  30  determines an input signal is the first signal ST 1  when the one-button input unit  20  is pressed less than one second, and the control unit  30  determines the input signal is the second signal ST 2  when the one-button input unit  20  is pressed over than one second. Moreover, the control unit  30  further has a data unit  34  coupled to the digital camera body  10  to store audio signal corresponding to the plurality of functional options and functions of the digital camera body  10 .  
     [0017] The voice output unit  40  is coupled to the control unit  30  to broadcast a first audio signal when a functional option is selected, and to broadcast a second audio signal when a function is performed. For example, the voice output unit  40  is a speaker. When the control unit  30  selects an “acquiring image” functional option according to the group of control signals ST and outputs an audio signal corresponding to the “acquiring image” functional option, the voice output unit  40  broadcasts the word “CAMERA” after receiving the audio signal to inform user that the “acquiring image” functional option is selected. In another case, when the control unit  30  performs an “erasing image” function according to the group of control signals ST and outputs a audio signal corresponding to the “erasing image” function, the voice output unit  40  broadcasts the word “ERASE” after receiving the audio signal to inform user that the “erasing image” functional is performed.  
     [0018]FIG. 2 shows a process flow according to the control method of the present invention. The present invention provides a method of controlling functions of a digital camera with a single button. In step  1  of the present invention, an input signal is determined one of a first control signal and a second control signal according to how long has the button been pressed. Next, in step  2 , a functional option is selected and a first corresponding audio signal is outputted when the input signal is the first control signal. In step  3 , a function is performed and a second corresponding audio signal is outputted when the input signal is the second control signal.  
     [0019]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the digital camera according to the present invention.  
     [0020] In this embodiment of the present invention, the control unit  30  determines an input signal is the first signal ST 1  when the one-button input unit  20  is pressed for less than one second, and the control unit  30  determines the input signal is the second signal ST 2  when the one-button input unit  20  is pressed for over one second. The plurality of functional options of the digital camera  100  may include, for example, power off, snapping image, erasing image, transferring image, voice speed adjustment and power off.  
     [0021] Initially, the digital camera  100  is assumed in power off state. Then steps  102  and  103  are performed when receiving a first signal ST 1 . In the step  102 , the digital camera  100  is turned on, and then the control unit  30  selects to the “acquiring image” functional option and broadcasts a corresponding voice, for example, “CAMERA” and “the number of picture that has been acquired”, in the step  103 .  
     [0022] Steps  1031  and  1032  are performed when receiving a second signal ST 2  after the step  103 . Alternately, step  104  is performed when receiving another first signal ST 1  after the step  103 . In the step  1031 , digital camera  100  acquires an image and the voice output unit  40  broadcasts a first corresponding voice, for example “snap” to inform user that which function is being performed. In the step  1032 , the voice output unit broadcasts a second corresponding voice, for example “four”, to inform user how many images have been acquired.  
     [0023] Then step  1031  is performed again when receiving another second signal ST 2  after the step  1032 . Alternately, the step  104  is performed when receiving a first signal ST 1  after the step  1032 . In the step  104 , the control unit  30  selects an “erasing image” functional option and broadcasts a corresponding voice, for example, “ERASE”.  
     [0024] Then step  1041  is performed when receiving one another second signal ST 2  after the step  104 . Alternately, the step  105  is performed when receiving another first signal ST 1  after the step  104 . In the step  1041 , the voice output unit  40  broadcasts a first corresponding voice, for example “ARE YOU SURE”? 
     [0025] Then step  1042  is performed when receiving another second signal ST 2  after the step  1041 . Alternately, the step  105  is performed when receiving another first signal ST 1  after the step  1041 . In the step  1042 , the digital camera  100  erases the pictures in the camera, and the voice output unit  40  broadcasts a second corresponding voice, for example “OK” or “FINISH”.  
     [0026] In the step  105 , control unit  30  selects a “transferring image” functional option and the voice output unit broadcasts a corresponding voice, for example “TRANSFER”. Then step  1051  is performed when receiving another second signal ST 2  after the step  105 . Alternately, the step  101  is performed when receiving another first signal ST 1  after the step  105 .  
     [0027] In the step  1051 , the digital camera  100  transfers pictures therein to a receiver (not shown) and the voice output unit broadcasts a corresponding voice, for example “DOWNLOAD”. Then step  1052  is performed when receiving another second signal ST 2  after the step  1051 . Alternately, the step  101  is performed when receiving one another first signal ST 1  after the step  1051 .  
     [0028] In the step  1052 , the digital camera adjusts the frequency of the voice output, for example from 50 Hz to 60 Hz or from 60 Hz to 50 Hz. The voice output unit  40  broadcasts a corresponding voice, for example 50 Hz, to inform user which speed is selected. Then step  1052  is performed again when receiving another second signal ST 2  after the step  1052 . Alternately, the step  101  is performed when receiving another first signal ST 1  after the step  1052 .  
     [0029] In the step  101 , the digital camera  100  turns off and the voice output unit  40  broadcasts a corresponding voice, for example “POWER OFF”.  
     [0030] The control of the digital camera of the present invention is user-friendly because all functions of the camera can be controlled by one button. In addition, the present invention replaces the liquid crystal display of the conventional with a voice unit to broadcast the state of the camera. This reduces the size of the digital camera and decreases the cost of the liquid crystal display.  
     [0031] Finally, while the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.