JP2007279873A - Data recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that there is possibility that the recording speed of data deteriorates in writing data whose size is small in a memory card or the like using a flash memory, and that it is not possible to perform data recording at high speed in recording a static image having a large number of pixels. <P>SOLUTION: A continuous region detection means 10 detects the layout of the continuous empty clusters of a memory card 9 on the basis of file management information in the memory card 9. A system control means 11 selectively records data in a region where two or more empty clusters detected by using a continuous region detection means 10 continuously present in recording data. Furthermore, the number of the continuous empty clusters to record the data is variable according to the size of the data or the presence of the compression processing of the data. Thus, it is possible to reduce the deterioration of a data writing speed to a flash memory. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for recording still image data on a recording medium using a nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as a flash EEPROM.

  In recent years, various data such as text data, video data, and audio data created and edited by a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as “PC”), video data and audio data such as moving images and still images recorded with a digital camera, are flashed. Electronic devices that record on a memory card with a built-in memory (flash EEPROM) have become widespread. The flash memory is a non-volatile block erasable recording medium that is composed of a plurality of blocks and is capable of electrically erasing data recorded therein only in units of blocks. And in the electronic devices as mentioned above, in order to facilitate data compatibility between devices and easy handling of data on the PC, a proposal to record data in the flash memory with the same format specifications as the data recording device of the PC (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Specifically, in the example of Patent Document 1, when a captured image is recorded in a flash memory in a digital still camera, it is managed with the same format specification as the data file recording format specification of the PC. Therefore, if a memory card, which is a data recording medium of the digital still camera, is set in an auxiliary recording device of a PC, data can be directly accessed from the PC. When data is managed in accordance with the data file recording format specification of the PC, the data is stored in file management information such as a file allocation table (hereinafter referred to as FAT), data recording start address or data in the logical memory space. Since it is managed by information such as the size, the recorded data can be easily searched, reproduced, copied, erased and the like, similar to the data file operation on the PC. At this time, the recorded data is naturally recorded and managed in logical recording units called clusters.

  Here, data management on the flash memory is performed using file management information such as FAT, but the file management information is logical management information to the last, and has a one-to-one correspondence with the physical configuration of the flash memory. There is no guarantee that it corresponds.

For example, as shown in paragraphs [0004] to [0010] of Patent Document 2 and FIGS. 21 and 22, a logical recording unit (cluster) of data defined by a data file recording format specification, and flash memory There may be cases where the positions of electrical erasure units (blocks) do not match. In such a case, Patent Document 2 points out that the data recording speed decreases due to the necessity of saving even irrelevant data when updating or recording data.
And when the data recording speed to the flash memory decreases, for example, in recent years, devices that record large-capacity still image data such as digital still cameras with an increased number of shooting pixels, the data writing speed becomes slow, There is a high possibility that the convenience of the device user will be impaired.
JP-A-4-212582 (page 1-5, Fig. 1-4) JP 11-53248 A (page 3, FIG. 21, FIG. 22)

  Patent Document 2 points out the problem of a decrease in data recording speed by paying attention to the positions of logical recording units (clusters) of data and electrical erasing units (blocks) of flash memory. Another factor can be considered for the decrease in the data recording speed pointed out in paragraphs [0004] to [0010] and FIGS. In the example shown in FIG. 21 of Patent Document 2, data of a relatively small size close to the block size is recorded in the flash memory, and a part of the data is rewritten. Therefore, the data recording speed is decreasing.

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 22 of Patent Document 2, when data for one cluster is updated, data is read twice (once each in the Sa area and Sd area) and written four times (Sa, Occurs once in each of the Sb, Sc, and Sd regions. Of these reading and writing, reading and writing in the Sa and Sd areas are processes that are not directly related to data updating in the Sb and Sc areas, and are completely useless for updating the data in the Sb and Sc areas. It can be said processing. As the number of useless processes for such data writing increases, the data recording speed decreases. In the example of Patent Document 2, the size of data to be written is one cluster, and for the data writing of one cluster, reading and writing of the Sa and Sd areas occur once each, which is the cause of the decrease in data recording speed. It has become.

However, if the data size to be updated is not a single cluster but a plurality of clusters, the decrease in data recording speed is alleviated. For example, in FIG. 21 of Patent Document 2, if it is assumed that areas corresponding to Sb and Sc to be updated exist across 10 clusters, reading and writing of the Sa and Sd areas are performed for 10 clusters of data updates. It will occur once. In other words, when data is recorded for 10 clusters, useless processing is performed once for reading and writing of the Sa and Sd areas. In the example of Patent Document 2 mentioned above, since the wasteful processing for data recording of one cluster is one time for reading and writing of the Sa and Sd areas, the larger the data size to be updated, the relatively It can be said that useless processing converted per data writing for one cluster is reduced, that is, a decrease in data recording speed is alleviated.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a device for recording still image data using a recording device such as a flash memory as a recording medium, when writing data to the flash memory in order to avoid a decrease in the data writing speed to the flash memory. Another object of the present invention is to provide a data recording apparatus capable of selectively recording data in a continuous area and reducing a decrease in writing speed.

  In order to solve the problems described above, a data recording apparatus of the present invention is a data recording apparatus for recording data in a semiconductor memory in a logical recording unit, and recording data for writing an input signal to the semiconductor memory. A signal processing means for converting the recording data, an interface means for writing the recording data into the semiconductor memory, a detecting means for detecting an arrangement of the logical recording units for writing the recording data, and the logical units that are consecutive by the detecting means. And a control unit that records data by selecting a recording unit.

  In the data recording apparatus of the present invention, the control means selects a continuous number of the logical recording units according to the data size of the recording data.

  In the data recording apparatus of the present invention, the control means increases the continuous number as the data size of the recording data increases.

  In the data recording apparatus of the present invention, the signal processing unit further includes a compression unit that performs a compression process, and when the compression process is performed, the continuous number is smaller than when the compression process is not performed. It is characterized by doing.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, in a device that records video data that is a still image using a recording device such as a flash memory as a recording medium, the flash memory is used to avoid a decrease in the data writing speed to the flash memory. When writing data, it is possible to selectively record data in a continuous area, thereby reducing the writing speed.

  The data recording apparatus of the present invention is a data recording apparatus for recording data in a semiconductor memory in a logical recording unit, wherein a signal processing means for converting an input signal into recording data to be written in the semiconductor memory, and the recording data Interface means for writing data to the semiconductor memory, detection means for detecting the arrangement of the logical recording units for writing the recording data, and control for recording data by selecting the continuous logical recording units by the detecting means By means of this, in a device for recording still image data using a recording device such as a flash memory as a recording medium, when data is written to the flash memory, data is selectively stored in a continuous area. Can reduce the decrease in writing speed.

  In the data recording apparatus according to the above configuration, the control unit may select a continuous number of the logical recording units according to a data size of the recording data. This enables data to be recorded selectively in a continuous area when writing data to the flash memory in a device that records still image data using a recording device such as a flash memory as a recording medium. It is possible to reduce the decrease in speed and to change the continuous area to be selected according to the size of still image data to be recorded.

In the data recording apparatus according to the above configuration, the control unit may increase the continuous number as the data size of the recording data increases. As a result, the larger the data size, the more the speed reduction can be mitigated by taking a larger continuous area.
In the data recording apparatus according to the above configuration, the signal processing unit further includes a compression unit that performs a compression process, and when the compression process is performed, the continuous number is smaller than when the compression process is not performed. You may do that. Thereby, when the still image signal is not subjected to compression processing, it is possible to further reduce the speed reduction by taking a large continuous area.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a data recording apparatus using a semiconductor memory medium according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, an optical system 1 is an optical system composed of a plurality of lens groups for forming a subject image on a solid-state image pickup device 2, and the solid-state image pickup device 2 is an object image formed by the optical system 1. Is an image pickup device that converts the signal into an electric signal (video signal), for example, a CCD (charge coupled device). The camera signal processing means 3 is means for performing known camera signal processing such as gain adjustment, noise removal, gamma correction, aperture processing, knee processing, and the like on the video signal obtained from the solid-state imaging device 2. Note that the video signal obtained via the solid-state imaging device 2 may be both a moving image and a still image. However, in the following description, the video signal is described as being taken, but the present invention is not limited to this. Further, the solid-state imaging device 2 and the camera signal processing means 3 can take (record) images of two different numbers of pixels, and switch them by user interface means such as menu display or switch operation (not shown). Suppose that it is possible. It is assumed that the number of recording pixels can be switched between, for example, a low pixel mode of 640 pixels × 480 pixels and a high pixel mode of 1280 pixels × 960 pixels. Here, it is assumed that the high pixel mode is selected as the recording mode by user interface means such as menu display and switch operation (not shown). Reference numeral 4 denotes a microphone for converting sound into an electric signal (sound signal). The sound signal is subjected to known sound signal processing such as removal of unnecessary noise and wind noise in the sound signal processing means 5. The digital signal processing means 6 is means for converting the video signal passed through the camera signal processing means 3 into a specific format. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the digital signal processing means 6 converts a video signal, which is still image data, into a specific format determined when recording on a recording medium. The card I / F means 7 is means for writing and reading data to and from a memory card 9 electrically connected via a socket 8, and the data converted into a specific format by the digital signal processing means 6 is Data is written to the memory card 9 via the card I / F means 7. The memory card 9 is a detachable recording medium containing a semiconductor memory, for example, a flash memory (flash EEPROM), and is logically formatted with the FAT file system of MSDOS. The continuous area detecting means 10 is means for detecting information related to an area where data can be continuously written in the memory card 9 from the data of the memory card 9 read out via the card I / F means 7. The system control unit 11 integrates execution and stop of processing for converting a video signal into a specific format in the digital signal processing unit 6 and start and stop of data writing to the memory card 9 by the card I / F unit 7. Further, data is recorded in a specific area on the memory card 9 in accordance with the detection result of the continuous area detecting means 10.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a logical format specification previously applied to the memory card 9. In the first embodiment, as described above, only the necessary part of the format specification of the memory card 9 will be described below as the FAT file system generally used as the data file recording format specification of the PC.

  In FIG. 2, the blocks built in the memory card 9 are divided into MBR (Master Boot Record) 21, boot sector 22, FATI 23, FATII 24, directory 25, and data area 26 in order from the top area. These are collectively referred to as a management area 27. The MBR 21 stores a bootstrap loader for reading an OS program and information about each partition that can be provided in the memory card 9, and the boot sector 22 stores information about the partition. The FATI 23 is an area for storing a management table indicating the usage status of each cluster in the data area, and the FAT II 24 is a backup of the FATI 23. The directory 25 stores information such as the file name, extension, and creation date / time of data existing under the root directory. The data area 26 is an area where the main body of various data such as text data, video data, and audio data is recorded on the memory card 9.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cluster arrangement of the data area 26 of the memory card 9. In FIG. 3, each cluster is a unit for recording data in the flash memory, and data exceeding the cluster size is recorded across a plurality of clusters. In FIG. 3, the shaded clusters (clusters c to d, m to p) are clusters in which valid data has already been recorded, while other clusters have data recorded on the flash memory. These are assumed to be logically invalid (unnecessary) clusters (empty clusters). Whether the data of each cluster is valid or invalid is stored in the FATI 23 and FATII 24.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the cluster arrangement of the data area 26 of the memory card 9 and the block arrangement of the flash memory. When the cluster boundary and the block boundary do not match as shown in FIG. 4, as detailed in the cited document 2, when updating the cluster data, it is recorded in the flash memory block corresponding to the preceding and succeeding clusters. Data must be moved (saved). In such a case, as described in the cited document 2, a decrease in data recording speed may occur.

  In the data recording apparatus using the semiconductor memory medium configured as described above, the memory card 9 has a format specification as shown in FIG. 3 and valid data has already been recorded in the clusters cd and mp. The case will be explained. First, it is assumed that the device user inserts the memory card 9 into the socket 8 shown in FIG. When the card I / F means 7 detects the attachment of the memory card 9, it notifies the continuous area detection means 10 and the system control means 11 of this. Upon receiving this notification, the continuous area detecting means 10 reads the information of the management area 27 recorded on the memory card 9 via the card I / F means 7 and uses the information in the management area 27 to identify the free cluster on the memory card 9. Ask for placement. Then, an area where data can be continuously recorded is detected based on the arrangement of free clusters. For example, in this embodiment, if it is determined that an area in which four clusters are continuously vacant is an area where data can be recorded, clusters e to h and clusters i to l can be recorded in FIG. It is judged as an area.

  When the continuous area detection unit 10 makes the above determination, the result is notified to the system control unit 11.

  When the device user instructs the recording start of the video signal and the audio signal by the recording ON / OFF means (not shown), the video signal obtained through the optical system 1, the solid-state imaging device 2, and the camera signal processing means 3 is The digital signal processing means 6 converts the data into a specific format and records it on the memory card 9 via the card I / F means 7. Data is recorded in clusters e to h and clusters i to l of the memory card 9 in which the clusters are continuously vacant.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when still image data is recorded, a decrease in data recording speed can be reduced by selectively recording data in a certain number of consecutive free clusters. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a decrease in convenience for the device user, which may occur due to a decrease in the data recording speed.

  In this embodiment, the number of consecutive free clusters on which data recording is performed has been described as four. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of consecutive free clusters on which data recording is performed is based on the recording speed of the memory card itself. Needless to say, the number may be appropriately set to 1 or more.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a data recording apparatus using a semiconductor memory medium according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is different from the data recording apparatus using the semiconductor memory medium shown in FIG. 1 in that a region control unit 12 is newly added. Only the points different from the first embodiment will be described below.

  In FIG. 5, the area control means 12 detects the data size after the video signal is converted into a specific format in the digital signal processing means 6, and the continuous space detection means 10 detects according to the data size. This is a means for changing the number of clusters.

  The operation of the data recording apparatus using the semiconductor memory medium configured as described above will be described below.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the solid-state imaging device 2 and the camera signal processing means 3 are capable of capturing (recording) images of two different numbers of pixels, such as menu display and switch operation (not shown). It is possible to switch it by user interface means. It is assumed that the number of recording pixels can be switched between, for example, a low pixel mode of 640 pixels × 480 pixels and a high pixel mode of 1280 pixels × 960 pixels. Here, it is assumed that the high pixel mode is selected as the recording mode by user interface means such as menu display and switch operation (not shown).

  In this case, considering the data size after being converted into a specific format by the digital signal processing means 6, the number of pixels to be imaged in the high pixel mode is four times that in the low pixel mode. Then, the data size of the video signal after being converted into a specific format is about four times larger than in the low pixel mode. Therefore, since the data size to be recorded becomes large in the high pixel mode, the time for writing data to the memory card 9 increases accordingly. Therefore, when data is recorded on the memory card 9, the area control means 12 detects the size of the data recorded on the memory card 9 in order to realize faster data recording, and based on this, the data is recorded. The number of continuous free clusters to be recorded is determined, and this is notified to the continuous area detecting means 10. Next, in the continuous area detection means 10, if the continuous free clusters notified from the area control means 12 are 8 clusters, for example, 8 continuous free clusters (clusters e to l in FIG. 3) are detected, The system control unit 11 is notified. If the low pixel mode is selected as the number of recording pixels by user interface means such as menu display or switch operation (not shown), the area control means 12 detects the size of data recorded on the memory card 9. Based on this, the number of continuous free clusters for recording data is determined, and this is notified to the continuous area detecting means 10. For example, in this case, since the data size to be recorded is smaller than that in the high pixel mode because of the low pixel mode, it is considered that the convenience of the device user is not impaired without using many continuous free clusters. The number of free clusters is notified to the continuous area detecting means 10 as 2 clusters. The continuous area detecting means 10 detects, for example, two consecutive free clusters (clusters a to b, e to f, g to h, i to j, and k to l in FIG. 3), and sends them to the system control means 11. Shall be notified.

  As a result, the video signal is converted into a specific format by the digital signal processing means 6 and recorded in the memory card 9 via the card I / F means 7, but the system control means 11 notifies the continuous area detection means 10. For example, when the number of recording pixels is the high pixel mode, data is recorded in the clusters e to l of the memory card 9. When the recording pixel number is in the low pixel mode, data is recorded in the clusters a to b, ef, g to h, i to j, and k to l of the memory card 9.

  As described above, by changing the number of free clusters for data recording according to the data size, for example, when the number of recording pixels is large and the data size is large, data recording can be performed by taking many continuous free clusters. Speed can be improved. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the convenience of the device user is deteriorated due to a decrease in the data recording speed.

  In the present embodiment, the number of consecutive free clusters for data recording has been described as 2 and 8. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the size of data to be recorded on the memory card 9 and the recording speed of the memory card itself are described. Needless to say, the number of consecutive free clusters on which data recording is performed may be appropriately set to 1 or more. Of course, the number of continuous free clusters may be one.

  In the present embodiment, two modes of recording pixel number have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also effective for devices having a larger number of recording pixel modes.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the number of continuous free clusters is determined based on the size of data recorded on the memory card 9 is disclosed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the number of recorded pixels itself or the number of recorded pixels A configuration is also conceivable in which the number of consecutive free clusters for data recording is set according to the mode.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a data recording apparatus using a semiconductor memory medium according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is the same as that used in the description of the second embodiment. However, as shown in FIG. 6, a compression means 13 for compressing a video signal is added inside the digital signal processing means 6, and further, The difference is that the presence or absence of compression processing can be switched by the switch 14. Only differences from the second embodiment will be described below.

  In FIG. 6, the compression means 13 is a means for compressing the data capacity of the video signal obtained through the solid-state imaging device 2 and the camera signal processing means 3. At this time, a compression method such as the JPEG method can be considered as a method for compressing the video signal. The user of the device selects whether or not to compress the captured video signal by user interface means such as menu display and switch operation (not shown). If it is selected that data compression is performed on the captured video signal, the captured video signal is subjected to data compression processing by the compression unit 13 to reduce its data capacity. In this case, the data size of the captured video signal is greatly reduced as compared with the case where the compression processing is not performed. As a result, since the data size of the data recorded on the memory card 9 is reduced, the time recorded on the memory card 9 is naturally short even if no special measures are taken. Therefore, the possibility that the convenience of the device user is impaired is small. However, if the device user selects not to perform data compression of the captured video signal, the captured video signal is recorded in the memory card 9 without reducing the data amount. In that case, the size of the data recorded on the memory card 9 becomes larger than when data compression is selected. This immediately increases the size of the data recorded on the memory card 9, and the data writing time to the memory card 9 increases accordingly.

  Therefore, when data that has not been subjected to compression processing is recorded in the memory card 9, in order to realize faster data recording, the area control means 12 confirms that the recorded video signal has not been subjected to compression processing. As a basis, the number of continuous free clusters for recording data is determined, and this is notified to the continuous area detecting means 10. Next, in the continuous area detection means 10, if the continuous free clusters notified from the area control means 12 are 8 clusters, for example, 8 continuous free clusters (clusters e to l in FIG. 3) are detected, The system control unit 11 is notified. If the switch 14 is switched via a user interface means such as a menu display or switch operation (not shown), and it is selected that the captured video signal is recorded after being compressed, the area control means 12 Based on the fact that the video signal is recorded on the memory card 9 after being subjected to compression processing, the number of continuous free clusters for recording data is determined, and this is notified to the continuous area detecting means 10. For example, in this case, since the size of data to be recorded is smaller than when there is no compression processing, it is considered that the convenience of the device user is not impaired without using many continuous free clusters. For example, the continuous area detecting means 10 is notified of the number of continuous free clusters as 2 clusters. The continuous area detecting means 10 detects, for example, two consecutive free clusters (clusters a to b, e to f, g to h, i to j, and k to l in FIG. 3), and sends them to the system control means 11. Shall be notified.

  As a result, the video signal is converted into a specific format after being subjected to compression processing by the digital signal processing means 6 or without being subjected to compression processing, and is recorded on the memory card 9 via the card I / F means 7. However, the system control unit 11 records data in the clusters e to l of the memory card 9 based on the notification from the continuous area detection unit 10 when recording is performed without performing compression processing, for example. Further, when recording is performed after compression processing, data is recorded in the clusters a to b, e to f, g to h, i to j, and k to l of the memory card 9.

  As described above, by changing the number of empty clusters for data recording depending on whether data of the captured video signal is compressed, for example, when compression processing is not performed and the data size is large, continuous empty clusters are changed. By taking a large amount, the data recording speed can be improved. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the convenience of the device user is deteriorated due to a decrease in the data recording speed.

  In the present embodiment, the number of consecutive free clusters for data recording has been described as 2 and 8. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the size of data to be recorded on the memory card 9 and the recording speed of the memory card itself are described. Needless to say, the number of consecutive free clusters on which data recording is performed may be appropriately set to 1 or more. Of course, the number of continuous free clusters may be one.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the JPEG method has been described as the data compression method, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is clear that the embodiment of the present application is effective even in a configuration employing another compression method. .

  Further, in the present embodiment, the digital signal processing means 6 is provided with a means for compressing the video signal. For example, this is applied to the digital signal processing means 6 in the second embodiment of the present invention. It is apparent that the present invention is effective even if a configuration is adopted in which the data compression processing of the video signal is introduced and the number of continuous free areas is determined according to the data size after the compression processing. In that case, the number of continuous free areas may be determined based on the data size of the video signal after the compression processing.

  In all the embodiments of the present invention, the configuration in which the video signal and the audio signal are obtained using the solid-state imaging device 2 and the microphone 4 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a TV tuner or an external video input unit is used. It is apparent that the present invention is effective even in a configuration in which a video signal input via TV broadcasting or other equipment is recorded on the memory card 9.

  Further, in all the embodiments of the present invention, the description has been made based on a device that records still image data as a video signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only a still image video signal or a still image video is described. It goes without saying that the present invention is also effective in devices that record signals and audio signals.

  Moreover, although all the embodiments of the present invention have described the method of improving the speed of recording a still image on the memory card 9, this is also effective when performing continuous shooting (continuous shooting) of still images. Needless to say, in that case, in addition to the configuration in which still images are recorded on the memory card 9 for each shooting, a buffer memory for temporarily recording data is prepared in the device, and a plurality of still images are temporarily stored therein. Therefore, it goes without saying that the present invention is effective even in a configuration in which recording is performed on the memory card 9 at a time. At this time, as described in the second embodiment of the present invention, the number of continuous free areas is determined based on the size of a plurality of still image data recorded on the memory card 9, and the memory card Needless to say, the data recording speed to 9 can be improved.

  In all the embodiments of the present invention, the logical format specification of the memory card 9 has been described as the FAT file system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the data recording area is not limited to this. It goes without saying that the present invention is effective as long as the format specification is such that a logical basic unit is provided to manage data.

  In all the embodiments of the present invention, the memory card 9 has been described as a detachable recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Needless to say, the invention is effective.

  In order to avoid a decrease in data writing speed to the semiconductor memory medium, the data recording apparatus for the semiconductor memory medium according to the present invention detects the arrangement of consecutive free clusters in the semiconductor memory medium, and a plurality of data recording is performed. It is possible to selectively record data in an area where the above empty clusters are continuously present, thereby reducing a decrease in writing speed. As a result, it has the effect that it is possible to avoid a decrease in the convenience of the device user that may occur due to a decrease in the data recording speed, and is useful for various devices, devices, and systems that handle various information and record data. It is.

1 is a block diagram of a data recording apparatus using a semiconductor memory medium in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Explanatory drawing of the format specification of the memory card in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of cluster arrangement of memory cards in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Explanatory drawing of the format specification of the memory card and the block configuration of the flash memory in the first embodiment of the present invention Block diagram of a data recording apparatus using a semiconductor memory medium in Embodiment 2 of the present invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the digital signal processing means in Embodiment 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical system 2 Solid-state image sensor 3 Camera signal processing means 4 Microphone 5 Audio | voice signal processing means 6 Digital signal processing means 7 Card I / F means 8 Socket 9 Memory card 10 Continuous area detection means 11 System control means 12 Area control means 13 Compression Means 14 Switch

Claims (4)

A data recording apparatus for recording data in a semiconductor memory in a logical recording unit,
A signal processing means for converting an input signal into recording data to be written to the semiconductor memory;
Interface means for writing the recording data into the semiconductor memory;
Detecting means for detecting an arrangement of the logical recording units for writing the recording data;
A data recording apparatus comprising: control means for selecting the successive logical recording units by the detecting means and recording data. The data recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit selects a continuous number of the logical recording units according to a data size of the recording data. 3. The data recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means increases the continuous number as the data size of the recording data increases. The signal processing means further comprises compression means for performing compression processing,
The data recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the compression process is performed, the continuous number is made smaller than when the compression process is not performed.