JP2002330374A - Digital camera and its control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera that has a function for a user to confirm the recording propriety before recording digital image data onto a write once recording medium so as to effectively utilize the capacity of the recording medium and to provide its control method. SOLUTION: In the digital still camera 11 where an optical image of a photographed object is converted into digital image data and the data are recorded on a small-sized write once disk 17a, when the digital image data are recorded on the small-sized write once disk 17a, the user can confirm the propriety of recording of the digital image data to the small-sized write once disk 17a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera for converting a still image or a moving image of a photographed subject into digital image data and recording the digital image data on a portable recording medium mounted on a main body, and a control method therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in a conventional digital camera as shown in the head, for example, a memory card having a built-in semiconductor memory or the like is mounted in a memory card slot portion provided in a main body thereof, and digital image data is stored. It is configured to record.

[0003] In recent years, about 500 MB (Mega Byt
es) Techniques for optically recording and reproducing digital data have been developed.

For this reason, digital cameras have also been constructed so that a disk drive unit for driving a small disk is mounted on the main body of the digital camera so that digital image data can be recorded on the small disk.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned small disc cannot erase data once recorded.
It is a so-called write-once recording medium.

[0006] In other words, in this kind of small disk,
Even if the recorded data can be erased by the operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus, it is apparently erased so that it cannot be accessed, and the free space of the small disk is not restored.

For this reason, when a write-once type small disc is used as a recording medium of a digital camera, if all digital image data obtained every time a picture is taken is unconditionally recorded, it is later deleted. As a result, the free space cannot be increased, so that there is a problem that the effective use of the recording capacity cannot be achieved.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a function of allowing a user to confirm whether or not recording is possible before recording digital image data on a write-once recording medium. It is an object of the present invention to provide a very good digital camera and a control method for the digital camera which can effectively use the capacity.

[0009]

A digital camera according to the present invention is intended for converting an optical image of a photographed subject into digital image data and recording the digital image data on a write-once recording medium. Then, when the digital image data is recorded on the recording medium, a confirmation means for confirming whether or not the digital image data can be recorded on the recording medium is provided.

A method of controlling a digital camera according to the present invention is directed to a method of controlling a digital camera so that a captured optical image of a subject is converted into digital image data and recorded on a write-once recording medium. I have. And
When the digital image data is recorded on the recording medium, the method includes a confirmation step of confirming whether the digital image data can be recorded on the recording medium.

According to the above configuration and method, when recording digital image data obtained by photographing on a write-once recording medium, the user can confirm whether or not recording is possible. Thus, it is possible to effectively use the recording capacity of the recording medium a.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a digital still camera 11 described in this embodiment as viewed from the front.

That is, the digital still camera 11
, An imaging lens 12, a finder 13, a shutter switch 14, a built-in flash 15, and the like are arranged at predetermined positions.

The digital still camera 11 is provided with a disk drive 16 on one side. A portable disk cartridge 17 is mounted on the disk drive unit 16.

The disk cartridge 17 is formed of a write-once type small disk 17a having a diameter of, for example, about 1 inch and capable of optically recording and reproducing digital data.
7b so as to be rotatable.

The digital still camera 11
The digital image data obtained by shooting is stored in a disk cartridge 17 mounted on a disk drive unit 16.
It is possible to record and reproduce on and from the small disk 17a.

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the digital still camera 11 as viewed from the rear side. That is, the power switch 18, the viewfinder 19, and the liquid crystal display
0, selection decision switch 21, confirmation mode changeover switch 2
2, an image recording switch 23, an image erasing switch 24, etc., are respectively arranged at predetermined positions.

The liquid crystal display unit 20 is used to display a menu screen for selecting and setting the operation state of the digital still camera 11 and various modes and parameters.

The selection and decision switch 21 includes a direction key 21a and a decision key 21b. The direction key 21a has a function of moving a selection index, which is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 20 and indicating one of a plurality of selection targets, in the vertical and horizontal directions. Enter key 21b
Has a function of determining the target selected by the direction key 21a.

Further, the confirmation mode switch 22 is
An unconditional recording mode in which digital image data obtained by shooting is unconditionally recorded on the small disk 17a as it is,
It has a function of selectively switching between a confirmation recording mode in which digital image data obtained by photographing is once displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 and the user is asked whether to record the digital image data on the small disk 17a.

The image recording switch 23 has a function of recording digital image data displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 for confirmation in the confirmation recording mode on the small disk 17a.

Further, the image erase switch 24 erases the digital image data displayed on the liquid crystal display section 20 for confirmation in the confirmation recording mode and deletes the digital image data from the small disk 17a.
It has a function to prevent recording.

The disk drive section 16 provided on one side of the digital still camera 11 has an opening into which the disk cartridge 17 is inserted.
It is opened and closed by.

FIG. 3 shows a signal processing system of the digital still camera 11. That is, the optical image of the subject incident through the imaging lens 12 is CC
An image is formed on a D (Charge Coupled Device) 25 and photoelectrically converted.

The analog image signal output from the CCD 25 is supplied to an A / D (analog / Digital) conversion circuit 26 to be converted into digital image data, and then to a CCD signal processing circuit 27. .

The CCD signal processing circuit 27 converts the input digital image data into a luminance signal component and a color difference signal component by performing predetermined signal processing on the input digital image data.

The digital image data of the luminance signal component and the color difference signal component obtained from the CCD signal processing circuit 27 is written to the work memory 29 via the memory controller 28.

Here, the digital image data recorded in the work memory 29 is read out to the image display processing circuit 30 via the memory controller 28, and is subjected to a predetermined image display processing, thereby obtaining an analog image. It is converted to an image signal. Thereafter, the analog image signal output from the image display processing circuit 30 is
0 and the image is displayed.

The digital image data output from the CCD signal processing circuit 27 is guided to an image compression / decompression processing circuit 31 via a memory controller 28.
Predetermined compression processing can also be performed.

The digital image data subjected to the compression processing by the image compression / decompression processing circuit 31 can be written into the work memory 29 via the memory controller 28.

In this case, the digital image data recorded in the work memory 29 is guided to an image compression / decompression processing circuit 31 via a memory controller 28, subjected to a predetermined decompression process, and returned to the original digital image data. .

The digital image data subjected to the expansion processing by the image compression / expansion processing circuit 31 can be guided to the liquid crystal display section 20 via the memory controller 28 and the image display processing circuit 30 and displayed.

The above-described series of processing operations is performed by the operation unit 3 including the various switches 14, 18, 21 to 24 described above.
CPU (Central Pr
Ocessing Unit) 33.

Then, the above-described disk cartridge 1
The recording / reproducing operation of digital image data to / from the 7 small disks 17a is also totally controlled by the CPU 33.

That is, the digital image data output from the CCD signal processing circuit 27 is supplied to an image compression / decompression processing circuit 31 via a memory controller 28 and subjected to compression processing.

The compressed digital image data is temporarily recorded in the work memory 29 via the memory controller 28. Thereafter, the digital image data read from the work memory 29 is transferred to the disk drive unit 1 via the memory controller 28 and the CPU 33.
6 and recorded on the small disk 17a of the disk cartridge 17.

The digital image data recorded on the small disk 17a of the disk cartridge 17 is read out by the disk drive section 16, and is temporarily recorded in the work memory 29 after passing through the CPU 33 and the memory controller 28.

Thereafter, the digital image data read from the work memory 29 is guided to an image compression / decompression processing circuit 31 via a memory controller 28 and subjected to decompression processing, thereby being returned to the original digital image data. It is.

The digital image data expanded by the image compression / expansion processing circuit 31 is guided to the liquid crystal display unit 20 via the memory controller 28 and the image display processing circuit 30 and displayed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation from the confirmation of the digital image data obtained by the photographing by the user to the recording of the digital image data on the small disk 17a.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the compression processing and decompression processing for digital image data are omitted to facilitate understanding of the main operation.

First, the CPU 33 operates the power switch 1
8 is set to the ON state, the digital image data obtained by shooting is unconditionally copied to the small disk 17a.
And the operation is started (step S11).

Then, the CPU 33 proceeds to step S12
Then, a state of waiting for photographing, that is, a monitoring display state in which the optical image incident from the imaging lens 12 is converted into digital image data and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 is established.

Then, the CPU 33 proceeds to step S13.
Then, it is determined whether or not the shirt switch 14 has been operated, and if it is determined that the shirt switch 14 has not been operated (NO), it is determined in step S14 whether or not the confirmation mode switch 22 has been operated, and the operation has been performed. If it is determined that there is not (NO), the process returns to step S12.

If it is determined in step S14 that the confirmation mode switch 22 has been operated (YE
S), in step S15, the CPU 33 is switched to the confirmation recording mode in which the user confirms whether or not to record the digital image data obtained by shooting on the small disk 17a, and returns to the processing in step S12. It is.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S13 that the shirt switch 14 has been operated (YES),
At the time when the shutter switch 14 is operated in step S16, the CPU 33
7 so as to continuously read out digital image data recorded in the work memory 29.

Then, the CPU 33 proceeds to step S17.
Then, the digital image data read from the work memory 29 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 as an image, and a so-called preview display is executed.

In this state, the CPU 33 proceeds to step S1
At step S8, it is determined whether or not the confirmation recording mode is set. If it is determined that the confirmation recording mode is not set (NO), the digital image data read from the work memory 29 is read at step S19. Small disk 1
7a, and the process returns to step S12.

If it is determined in step S18 that the confirmation recording mode has been set (YES), the CPU 3
In step S20, the digital image data preview-displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 is transferred to the small disc 1 in step S20.
A message is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 20 so that the user can confirm whether or not to record the image on the preview screen.

The message includes, for example, "Do you want to record the currently displayed image on the disc? Press the image recording switch to record the image, or press the image erase switch to cancel the recording." become.

Thereafter, the CPU 33 proceeds to step S21.
To determine which of the image recording switch 23 and the image deletion switch 24 has been operated,
If it is determined that has been operated, the process proceeds to step S19, and if it is determined that the image erase switch 24 has been operated, the process returns to step S12.

According to the above-described embodiment, the digital image data obtained by photographing is written in the
Since the user can confirm whether or not recording is possible before recording on the 7a, it is possible to effectively use the recording capacity of the small disk 17a.

Further, since the unconditional recording mode and the confirmation recording mode can be selected by the confirmation mode changeover switch 22, the user can freely switch the mode according to the photographing conditions such as continuous photographing. Can be handled conveniently.

Conversely, even if the mode is switched to the confirmation recording mode, if a shooting condition requiring quick shooting such as a continuous shooting mode is set, the mode is automatically switched to the unconditional recording mode. Can also be controlled.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0056]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Before recording digital image data on a write-once recording medium,
Since the user has a function of confirming whether or not recording is possible, it is possible to provide an extremely good digital camera and a control method therefor that can effectively use the capacity of the recording medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a front view for explaining the appearance of a digital still camera.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary rear view illustrating the appearance of the digital still camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a signal processing system of the digital still camera according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart shown to explain the operation of the embodiment for recording digital image data on a small disc after confirmation by a user;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11: digital still camera, 12: imaging lens, 13: finder, 14: shutter switch, 15: built-in flash, 16: disk drive, 17: disk cartridge, 18: power switch, 19: viewfinder, 20: liquid crystal display 21, selection switch 22: confirmation mode switch 23: image recording switch 24: image erase switch 25: CCD, 26: A / D conversion circuit 27: CCD signal processing circuit 28: memory controller 29, a work memory; 30, an image display processing circuit; 31, an image compression / decompression processing circuit; 32, an operation unit;

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 F 5/85 Z 5/781 101: 00 5/85 5/781 510J / / H04N 101: 00 F term (reference) 5B017 AA03 AA06 BA07 CA15 CA16 5B082 EA11 GA11 HA05 5C022 AA13 AB00 AC03 AC13 AC32 AC42 AC69 5C052 AA02 AB08 CC01 DD02 EE03 5D044 AB07 BC05 CC08 DE22 DE49 DE72 EF03 GK12 HL03

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera that converts an optical image of a photographed subject into digital image data and records the digital image data on a write-once recording medium, wherein the digital image data is recorded when the digital image data is recorded on the recording medium. A digital camera comprising a confirmation unit for confirming whether or not recording on the recording medium is possible. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said confirmation means includes a display means for displaying a message prompting confirmation of whether or not the digital image data can be recorded on the recording medium. 3. A digital camera for converting an optical image of a photographed subject into digital image data and recording the digital image data on a write-once recording medium, wherein the digital image data is recorded when the digital image data is recorded on the recording medium. Operating means for switching between an unconditional recording mode for unconditionally recording on the recording medium and a confirmation recording mode for confirming whether or not the digital image data can be recorded on the recording medium. Digital camera. 4. A digital camera that converts an optical image of a photographed subject into digital image data and records the digital image data on a write-once recording medium, wherein the digital image data is recorded on the recording medium according to photographing conditions. Switching means for automatically switching between an unconditional recording mode for unconditionally recording the digital image data on the recording medium and a confirmation recording mode for confirming whether or not the digital image data can be recorded on the recording medium. A digital camera, comprising: 5. A display device for displaying a message prompting confirmation of whether or not the digital image data can be recorded on the recording medium in a state where the confirmation recording mode is set. The digital camera according to 3 or 4. 6. A digital camera control method for controlling a digital camera so as to convert an optical image of a photographed subject into digital image data and record the digital image data on a write-once recording medium, wherein the digital image data is recorded on the recording medium. A recording step of confirming whether the digital image data can be recorded on the recording medium when recording the digital image data on the recording medium. 7. The digital camera control method according to claim 6, wherein the confirmation step includes a display step of displaying a message prompting confirmation of whether or not the digital image data can be recorded on the recording medium. . 8. A digital camera control method for controlling a digital camera to convert an optical image of a photographed subject into digital image data and record the digital image data on a write-once recording medium, wherein the digital image data is recorded on the recording medium. An operation step of switching between an unconditional recording mode for unconditionally recording the digital image data on the recording medium and a confirmation recording mode for confirming whether or not the digital image data can be recorded on the recording medium. A method for controlling a digital camera, comprising: 9. A digital camera control method for controlling a digital camera so as to convert a captured optical image of a subject into digital image data and record the digital image data on a write-once recording medium, wherein the digital image data is stored in the recording medium. When recording on the recording medium, an unconditional recording mode for recording the digital image data on the recording medium unconditionally, and a confirmation recording for confirming whether or not the digital image data can be recorded on the recording medium. A method for controlling a digital camera, comprising a switching step of automatically switching between modes. 10. A display step for displaying a message prompting confirmation of whether or not recording of the digital image data on the recording medium is possible in a state where the confirmation recording mode is set. 10. The control method for a digital camera according to item 9.