JPH05158887A - Electronic system notebook device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Objective] The precision of fixed-point imaging of an electronic still camera is improved by electrically connecting and incorporating a GPS receiver and an electronic still camera in a palmtop computer. [Structure] A GPS receiver 2 and an electronic still camera 3 are pivotally mounted on a binder mechanism 5. These are electrically connected to the electronic system notebook section. When shooting at the same position, the current position information acquired from the GPS receiving device 2 is compared with the position information recorded together with the images captured in the past, and the result is displayed according to the instruction of the photographer. If they match, the release can be performed. If they do not match, the direction and distance to be moved are displayed as a vector. It is possible to take an image at this point, or the position information after the movement can be compared again by giving an instruction to move according to the display.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic system notebook device capable of processing data, recording and holding data, sending and receiving processed data, and more particularly, an electronic still camera and position for recording a subject as an image on the device. The present invention relates to an electronic system notebook device capable of highly accurate fixed-point imaging by adding a GPS receiving device capable of obtaining information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the recent remarkable development of IC and LSI technologies, personal computers have been miniaturized to disc-top type, notebook type, palm-top type, etc., and downsized to the size of a notebook.
It is very convenient to carry. A notebook-type computer has a certain limit to the functions that can be realized because it is small, but it has the performance equivalent to that of the desktop type. For example, the function of fetching data and performing arithmetic processing is usually one that can sufficiently satisfy the requirements of the user, and the processed data can be displayed, recorded and transmitted. By the way, in many fields, there is a demand for capturing the same image from a predetermined position. For example, this is a case where data or a photograph at a certain point is regularly collected such as daily or weekly.

[0003]

Conventionally, in such a case, a mark is provided at a position for taking a photograph or collecting data. Therefore, there is a drawback that it is difficult for a specific person to continuously take a picture or the like, and it becomes difficult to find the same position when the mark disappears. Therefore, the inventor of the present invention receives GPS data from a plurality of satellites, calculates the GPS data to output position data (longitude, latitude, altitude), and the position data (latitude, longitude) output by a GPS receiver already proposed. , We combined an electronic still camera (Japanese Patent Application No. 3-149852) capable of simultaneously recording altitude) with a palmtop type computer, and wondered if it would be possible to always set the shooting position to the same position. The present invention has been made in view of the above consideration, and an object thereof is to improve the precision of fixed-point imaging of an electronic still camera by electrically connecting and incorporating a GPS receiver and an electronic still camera in a palmtop computer. It is to provide an electronic system notebook device capable of performing

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an electronic system notebook device according to the present invention receives an electronic notebook unit including a CPU, a storage unit, an input unit and a display unit, and data from a plurality of satellites. A GPS receiver that can output its own position data by performing arithmetic processing and an electronic still camera that records a captured image together with the position data on a recording medium are connected by an electromagnetic coupling method or by wire. When the image captured by the electronic still camera is designated by the input unit, the positional information recorded together with the captured image is read out and the read image and the positional information are displayed on the display. When the input unit instructs the GPS receiving device to output the current position information, the position information corresponding to the captured image and the current position information are displayed. Comparing the location information, the result of comparison, and displays whether a match, or not match the display unit,
Again, when an instruction is given from the input unit, the same comparison as described above is performed and the result is displayed.

[0005]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an electronic system notebook device according to the present invention. A liquid crystal display input section 7 is arranged in the center of the left leaf, and an operation section 6 is arranged in the lower part.
A main circuit portion such as a CPU (not shown) is built in this left leaf. On the other hand, the right leaf has an IC card 13
a, 13b (see FIG. 2) for storing the card storage portion 12
a and 12b are provided. Signals between circuits built in left and right leaves (signal lines such as data and address buses)
The transmission is performed by a flexible cable (not shown).

A binder mechanism 5 is mounted at the joint between the left and right leaves, and a GPS receiving device 2 for calculating position information by arithmetically processing data from a plurality of satellites on a retaining ring 9a in the upper half, An electronic still camera 3 capable of recording a subject as an image is pivotally mounted on the lower half stop ring 9b. When the left and right leaves of the electronic system notebook device 1 are closed, the GPS receiving device 2 and the electronic still camera 3 are sandwiched between them and have a thin shape that does not become bulky. Further, the electronic still camera 3 is attached to the binder mechanism 5 so that the upper side surface is located at the photographing lens 10 and the lower side surface is located at the finder 11 in the figure. The circuits of the GPS receiver 2 and the electronic still camera 3 are connected to the circuit of the electronic notebook unit by an electromagnetic coupling method. Note that it is also possible to couple by a signal line instead of the electromagnetic coupling method. The radio waves used in GPS are ultra-high frequency waves (1.5 GHz, 1.2 GHz), and the antenna 4 is a circular antenna that incorporates a large number of wires, and is inserted into the upper end of the binder mechanism 5. There is. The GPS antenna 4 can be removed in consideration of the convenience of storing the electronic system notebook device 1.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a photographing posture of an electronic still camera attached to an electronic system notebook. The electronic still camera 3 is raised to a position substantially vertical to each leaf, the photographing lens is pointed at the subject, and the release operation is performed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a circuit of the electronic system notebook device according to the present invention. A part 21 surrounded by a dotted line is a circuit part incorporated in the electronic notebook part.
The electronic notebook unit includes a CPU 15, an external storage unit 16 (IC card), a ROM 17, a RAM 18, an input unit (comprising the liquid crystal display input unit 7 and the operation unit 6) 19, and a display unit (liquid crystal display input unit 7) 20. ing. Further, the GPS receiver 2 and the electronic still camera 3 are connected.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the routine A of the present apparatus when first photographing a certain subject, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining each operation when photographing again at the same position. The circuit configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 4, first, the electronic still camera 3 is aimed at the subject to be photographed, the composition is determined, and then the release operation is performed (step 1). The electronic still camera 3 temporarily stores the captured image in the video RAM (built-in) (step 2). At the same time, the position (GPS) information (longitude, latitude and altitude data) calculated and output by the GPS receiving device 2 is fetched via the signal line (step 3). When the power switch of the electronic still camera 3 is turned on, the GPS receiver 2 is turned on via a signal line, which allows data from each satellite to be sent to the GPS antenna at regular time intervals. Received at 4 and calculated. When the electronic still camera 3 is operated for release, the position information described above is output in conjunction with this. The electronic still camera 3 is a video RAM
The image data of is subjected to certain compression processing and stored in an IC card (IC card of an electronic still camera), and the acquired GPS information (longitude, latitude, altitude, year, month, day, hour, minute, second) is associated with the captured image. And memorize (step 4). Further, the CPU 15 of the electronic notebook unit takes in the photographing number (frame number) and its GPS information, stores the information in the RAM 18, and then stores it in the external storage unit 16. In this way, the position information can be stored and the electronic still camera 3 can sequentially photograph arbitrary subjects.

Next, the operation when the same subject is photographed again from the same position as the already photographed image will be described with reference to FIG. Information (frame number) for designating a photographed image is input from the input section 19 of the electronic notebook section (step 1). The CPU 15 accesses the RAM 18 in which the frame number and GPS information are expanded from the external storage unit 16 by using the frame number as a key, and reads the photographing position information of the image (step 2). Then, the electronic still camera 3 outputs an instruction to send the image of the designated frame number. The electronic still camera 3 is set to I
Read the image of the specified address from the C card, and
Send to U15. The CPU 15 displays the sent image and position information on the display unit 20 (step 3). The photographer looks at this display and confirms that it is the intended image, and then operates the input unit 19 to operate the GPS receiver 2
The position information of this time is fetched from (steps 4 and 5). C
The PU 15 compares the position information of the designated image with the position information captured this time (step 6), and if the position information matches, displays that fact on the display unit 20 (step 7). When the photographing positions are coincident with each other, the photographer holds the electronic still camera 3 as shown in FIG. 2 and photographs the subject (step 12).

On the other hand, if the position information does not match, the difference amount is calculated to calculate in which direction and how much distance should be moved, and the indication is displayed as a vector on the display unit 2.
It is displayed at 0 (steps 8 and 9). The photographer sees this display and selects whether to photograph at this position or move according to the instruction and confirm the position again (steps 10 and 1).
1). When the input unit 19 gives an instruction to shoot at this position, the process proceeds to step 12 and the release operation is performed. Further, when the instruction to move as instructed is given, the operation returns to step 4.

Regarding the coincidence of the position information, since a certain error occurs in the position information, it is set to judge that the two pieces of position information are close to each other within a predetermined range. In this embodiment, after the direction and distance to be moved are displayed as a vector in step 9, the photographer is made to judge whether to move further and compare again or photograph at this position. Until step 4 automatically
It can also be operated to return to. In addition, after determining the match in step 6, the photographed image is developed on the display unit, and the image to be photographed or the photographed image is superimposed on the developed image, and the matching is confirmed by the contour of the image. By inserting the step to perform, the reliability of the photographing position becomes higher. Although the example in which the position information and the image are recorded in the IC card of the electronic still camera has been described, it is also possible to record the position information and the image in the external storage unit (IC card) 16 of the electronic notebook.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the electronic notebook section having the arithmetic function, the GPS receiving device for outputting the position data by the data received from the satellite, and the captured image are recorded on the recording medium together with the position data. When the electronic still camera is connected to the electronic still camera by a signal line, and the input unit specifies an image captured by the electronic still camera, the electronic notebook unit displays the position information recorded together with the captured image. The read image and the position information thereof are displayed on the display unit, and when the input unit gives an instruction to output the current position information to the GPS receiving device, the image corresponding to the captured image is displayed. The position information and the current position information are compared, and as a result of comparison, if they match, that fact is indicated.
If they do not match, data indicating the direction and distance to be moved is displayed on the display unit, and when the input unit again gives an instruction, the same comparison as above is performed and the result is displayed. ing. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to always collect the observation data (imaging) at the correct position. Further, since the image is taken in this way, it is possible to create more accurate data. Specifically, when the electronic system notebook device according to the present invention is used in the following cases, its effect is great. For example, when it is desired to photograph the changes of mountains, lakes, trees, etc. according to the four seasons, the photographing locations must be photographed from the same position for each season. In such a case, since it will be taken to the place where the image was taken last time several months later, even if a mark or the like is attached, there is no guarantee that the position can be found again. In particular, it is difficult to find because the overall impression changes with the changes of the four seasons. Even in such a situation, it is possible to reliably capture images at the same position, and therefore it is possible to provide accurate image data of the degree of change in the four seasons at that place. Also, when taking a record of river pollution caused by pollution, similar accurate data can be collected. Furthermore, when observing a specific object in a snowfield where there is no way to mark it or when performing work on a sunken ship at sea, it is difficult to make a mark on the snowfield and at sea.
On the sea where the surrounding landscape and land can be seen, it is very effective to confirm the coincidence of the captured images to confirm whether or not the position is the same as the previous position.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an electronic system notebook device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a shooting posture of an electronic still camera attached to the electronic system notebook device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a circuit of an electronic system notebook device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation when first taking a picture with the electronic system notebook device of FIG. 1.

5 is a flow chart for explaining an operation when performing fixed-point photography with the electronic system notebook device of FIG. 1. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic system notebook device 2 ... GPS receiving device 3 ... Electronic still camera 4 ... GPS antenna 5 ... Binder mechanism 6 ... Operation part 7 ... Liquid crystal display input part 9 ... Stop ring 10 ... Photographing lens 11 ... Finder 15 ... CPU 16 ... External storage unit 17 ... ROM 18 ... RAM 19 ... Input unit 20 ... Output unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An electronic notebook unit including a CPU, a storage unit, an input unit and a display unit, a GPS receiving device capable of outputting its own position data by receiving data from a plurality of satellites and processing the data, and an image pickup device. When an electronic still camera that records the recorded image together with position data on a recording medium is coupled by an electromagnetic coupling method or a wire, the electronic notebook unit, when the image captured by the electronic still camera is designated by the input unit, An instruction to read the position information recorded together with the captured image, display the read image and the position information on the display unit, and output the current position information to the GPS receiving device by the input unit. When the position information is displayed, the position information corresponding to the captured image and the current position information are compared, and as a result of the comparison, whether they match or not match is displayed on the display unit. The electronic system notebook device is configured to perform the same comparison as above and display the result when an instruction is given from the input unit again.