JPH04328966A - Camera and information recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To revise the compression expansion processing mode and to reduce the cost by adopting a compression expansion unit for the compression expansion circuit so as to be connected/removed to/from the recording and reproducing device selectively. CONSTITUTION:After an object image is converted into an electric signal at recording, an image pickup process circuit 3 and an A/D converter 4 apply prescribed processing and the result is stored in a RAM 6 and a read block data is fed to a compression expansion unit 8 via a selector 7, in which the data is subject to compression coding and the result is recorded on an IC card 11 via a selector 9. At reproduction, the picture data read from the IC 11 is given to the compression expansion unit, in which the code is subject to expansion processing via the selector 9 and the result is recorded in the RAM 6 via the selector 7 and prescribed reproduction is processed. The compression expansion unit 8 is removable from the main body and loaded to the camera at recording and to the reproduction device at the reproduction. The unit is used in common for the recording and reproduction in this way to reduce the cost.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera and an information recording/reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to a camera and an information recording/reproducing apparatus having a simplified configuration of a compression/expansion section.

0002

[Prior Art] Electronic still cameras and the like use IC card memory instead of silver halide film as a recording medium for recording optical images, convert the subject image into digital signals, and record, read out, and reproduce the digital signals through electrical processing. In recent years, the market is expected to expand due to advancements in image processing technology, the possibility of large memory capacities, and significant cost reductions. Conventional electronic still cameras capture multiple subject images on one IC.
Since a huge amount of data is recorded in the card memory, highly efficient image data compression processing is required. Normally, data compression is performed by performing orthogonal transformation such as discrete cosine transformation on image data corresponding to a subject image obtained through an image sensor such as a CCD, and the transformation coefficient is
C memory card. During image playback, the compressed image data read from the IC memory card is
The data is played back using decompression processing, which is the opposite of the compression processing used during recording.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As mentioned above, in conventional cameras, when recording image data on an IC memory card and when reproducing image data from an IC memory card,
Image data is compressed and expanded. Therefore, an image compression circuit is provided on the camera side, and an expansion circuit is provided on the playback device side. By the way, what is important in a camera using this type of IC memory card is miniaturization and cost reduction of the device. Significant progress has been made in miniaturizing devices due to recent advances in IC technology and the like. Furthermore, with regard to cost reduction, advances in IC technology have resulted in significant cost reductions for IC memory cards. However, image data compression/decompression circuits require complicated arithmetic processing and increase the scale of the device, so problems such as cost remain. Compression and decompression processing methods include using a hardware circuit using a dedicated arithmetic element, and processing using software processing using a high-speed arithmetic element such as a general-purpose microcomputer chip, but the former uses a dedicated gate array, etc. Although processing is possible, once it is created, the compression method cannot be changed at a later date. In addition, although the latter software processing makes it easy to change the compression method, it is difficult to perform high-speed processing because a general-purpose microcomputer chip is used.

As described above, conventional cameras have expensive compression/expansion circuits on the camera side and the playback side, respectively, in one system for camera shooting and playback, which only becomes an obstacle to reducing system costs. Not, but
The problem was that it could not handle high-speed processing or changes in compression/decompression processing methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera and an information recording/reproducing device that enable significant cost reduction. Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera and an information recording/reproducing device that are capable of changing compression/expansion processing modes.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the camera according to the present invention records the video signal formed by the video signal forming means on a recording medium through the signal compression/expansion means or externally. The camera is configured to output information, and the camera and information recording device are configured to function as part of the information processing means of an information recording/reproducing device to which the recording medium can be applied to the signal compression/expansion means. It is configured to be selectively connectable to a playback device. Further, the information recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is an information recording/reproducing apparatus that receives and/or supplies a signal to a loaded recording medium with signal compression/expansion processing performed by a signal compression/expansion means. , the signal compression/expansion means is configured to be selectively connectable to the information recording/reproducing device and the camera so that it can function as a part of the information processing means of the camera to which the recording medium is applied. ing.

[0007]

[Operation] In the present invention, a compression/expansion circuit for compressing/expanding image data is made into a unit, and this compression/expansion circuit unit can be selectively connected to a camera and an information recording/reproducing device. and the playback device,
By being removable and shared, system costs can be reduced and the best compression/expansion circuits can always be installed.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of a camera according to the present invention. The subject image formed on the CCD 2 via the lens 1 is converted into an electrical signal, then subjected to predetermined processing such as γ correction in the imaging process circuit 3, and then sent to the A/D
The converter 4 converts it into a digital signal. selector 5
At the time of recording, a path is set such that digital image data from the A/D converter 4 is recorded in the RAM 6. R.A.
The block data (data about each divided block when one screen is divided into a plurality of blocks) read from M6 is sent to the compression/expansion unit 8 via the selector 7.
supplied to DCT/IDC of compression/expansion unit 8
The T circuit 81 is the aforementioned discrete cosine transform/inverse discrete cosine transform circuit, and performs orthogonal transform processing on block data. The transform coefficients obtained by orthogonal transformation are quantized by a quantization/inverse quantization circuit 82 and then encoded by an encoding/decoding circuit 83. Processing such as encoding in the compression/expansion unit 8 is controlled by an encoding control circuit 13 based on instructions from a system control circuit 12. thus,
The image data compressed and encoded by the compression/expansion unit 8 is sent to the card interface (I/F) via the selector 9.
) 10 and recorded on the IC card 11. The system control circuit 12 controls the operations of the RAM 6, selectors 7 and 9, compression/expansion unit 8, and card I/F 10, and receives signals from the operation section 14 to perform various controls for the entire camera. Here, the compression/expansion unit 8 is removable (attached/removable) from the camera body, and can be attached to the camera during recording, removed from the camera and attached to the playback device during playback. Selectors 7 and 9 are used to connect the above-mentioned recording system (RAM 6 of compression/expansion unit 8 and card I/F 10
This is to separate the circuit system). During normal playback, image data read from the IC card 11 via the card I/F 10 passes through the selector 9, is decompressed by the compression/decompression unit 8, and is transferred to the RAM via the selector 7.
6 is recorded. The image data read out from the RAM 6 is sent to the reproduction process circuit 1 via the upper terminal of the selector 5.
After the predetermined reproduction processing is performed in step 5, the D/A converter 1
6, it is converted into an analog signal and output.

Now, when reproducing images by a reproducing device, the compression/expansion unit 8, which was attached to the camera body in FIG. 1 during recording, is removed and attached to a predetermined location of the reproducing device as shown in FIG. 2. Compressed image data recorded on the IC card 21 is supplied to the compression/expansion unit 8 via a card interface (I/F) 22 and also via a selector 23 which is in the illustrated state during playback. The compression/decompression unit 8 performs decompression processing that is the inverse of the compression processing related to FIG. That is, the image data is decoded by an encoding/decoding circuit 83, dequantized by a quantization/inverse quantization circuit 82, and then subjected to inverse orthogonal transformation in a DCT/IDCT circuit 81. The data decoded in this way is recorded in the RAM 25 via the selector 24, and image data in a predetermined format is read out from the RAM 25, and sent to the personal computer 27 via the personal computer interface (I/F) 26 for DTP processing. (disk top publishing) processing is performed, the playback process circuit 31 performs predetermined processing for monitor playback, the D/A converter 32 converts it into an analog signal, and the signal is sent to the monitor side or again to another recording system. will be sent to. The system control circuit 28 is
It performs the same control as the system control circuit 12 in FIG. 1, controls the selectors 23 and 24, and controls the compression/expansion unit 8.
When removing or installing, disconnect the card I/F 22 and RAM 25. Further, the operation section 30 performs desired operations of the playback machine via the system control circuit 28.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show simplified exploded perspective views of a camera and a player to which the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is applied. As shown in FIG. 3, the camera body 1
00 is an I for inserting and mounting an IC card 110.
A C card slot 101 and a compression/expansion card slot 102 for inserting and mounting a compression/expansion card 120 in which the compression/expansion unit 8 is converted into a card are provided. Selector 7 of
and 9 terminals. In the figure, 10
3 and 104 are eject buttons for respectively taking out the inserted IC card 110 and compression/expansion card 120, 105 is a lens section, and 106 is a strobe section. FIG. 4 shows a playback device 200, which, like a camera, has an IC card 110 and a compression/expansion card 12.
IC card slot 201 into which 0 is inserted and installed.
and a compression/expansion card slot 202, and an eject button 203 for ejecting each card.
and 204 are provided.

FIG. 5 shows an improved example of the mounting structure for an IC card and a compression/expansion card (unit). In this embodiment, an IC card can be mounted on a compression/expansion card, and operability is improved by allowing both cards to be inserted and mounted into a camera (or playback device) as one unit. In FIG. 5(A), a slot 301 is provided in the camera 300, and in this slot 301,
The compression/expansion unit card 320 with the IC card 310 attached thereto is inserted and attached. A step is provided on the surface of the compression/expansion unit card 320, and an I
C card 310 is installed. An IC card connector 311 is formed at the step portion of the compression/expansion unit card 320 that abuts against the IC card 310, and when the IC card 310 is installed, the terminal portion of the IC card 310 is electrically connected. It looks like this. Also, camera 300
is provided with an eject button 303 for ejecting the compression/expansion unit card 320, and the compression/expansion unit card 320 is provided with an eject button 302 for ejecting the IC card 310. As shown in FIG. 5(B), the IC card 310 inserted into and attached to the compression/expansion unit card 320 can be removed using a notch (grip) 31 provided at the end of the IC card 310.
This can also be done by manually pulling out 2. Here, the compression/expansion unit card 320 is locked on the main body (camera, playback device) side.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the camera according to the present invention, which allows photographing even when the compression/expansion unit 8 is removed from the camera body. In Figure 6, Figure 1
Components with the same reference numerals are components having similar functions. When the compression/expansion unit is removed, it is impossible to record image data on the IC card 11 according to the configuration shown in FIG. By providing this, it is possible to record image data. That is, when the compression/expansion unit 8 is removed, the selectors 7 and 9 are
Switch the card I/F10 and RAM6 as shown in the figure.
and are connected via bypass B1. In this embodiment, since it does not pass through the compression/expansion unit 8, compression processing is naturally not performed, and the IC memory 11
The image data recorded in the image data is recorded in a 1:1 (compression ratio of 1) correspondence.

Image data recorded on one IC card is recorded as compressed data using the circuit shown in FIG. 1, or as 1:1 correspondence image data using the circuit shown in FIG. It is possible to mix image data with different compression rates. At this time, if each screen image data includes data regarding this compression rate as internal data, image processing that is optimal for each compression rate can be easily performed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the configuration of the playback device corresponding to the embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, components denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 indicate components having similar functions. In this embodiment as well, when the compression/expansion unit 8 is removed, the selectors 23 and 24 are set to the illustrated state so as to connect the card interface 22 and the RAM 25 via the bypass B2. . Therefore, image data read from the IC card 21 via the card I/F 22 is directly recorded in the RAM 25 and output to the personal computer 27 via the personal computer I/F 26. Further, the image data read from the RAM 25 is output to the monitor side via the reproduction process circuit 31 and the D/A converter 32, similarly to FIG.

In the recording mode to the IC card, it is possible to switch between a compression mode in which the presence or absence of a compression/expansion unit is determined and automatic compression processing is performed, and a 1:1 mode in which no compression mode is performed. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart showing the processing procedure. In FIG. 8, in the recording mode, it is first determined whether or not a compression/expansion unit is installed (steps S81 and S81).
82). This judgment can be made, for example, by detecting the operation of a mechanical switch installed next to the IC card when it is inserted, or by installing a contact in the card slot and detecting the level change that occurs when the IC card is removed. It becomes possible to adopt. If it is determined that the compression/expansion unit is installed, it will be set to normal compression operation mode (
by selectors 7 and 9), bypass is not set (steps S83 and S84), and recording operation is started (step S85).
). On the other hand, if it is determined that the compression/expansion unit is not installed, selectors 7 and 9 are switched to bypass B1.
is formed and set to 1:1 mode (steps S86 and S87), and then the recording operation of step S85 begins.

As described above, when the compression/expansion unit is removed, image data is recorded in 1:1 mode by bypass B1.
It is also possible to reconvert image data recorded in 1:1 mode and convert it into compressed data. FIG. 9 shows a flowchart showing the processing procedure. This operation is called a compression conversion mode, and first, the recording state of the IC card is detected by checking the internal data recorded on the IC card (step S91).
, it is determined whether the data is compressed data (step S92
). If it is compressed data, compression processing is not necessary.
Display that it has already been compressed (step S97)
. If it is determined that the data is not compressed data, the compression conversion operation for compression processing is set (step S93), and the internal RA
Record the compressed image data in M (step S94),
The compression unit is set to be bypassed (step S95). Thereafter, the compressed data is read from the internal RAM and re-recorded on the IC card (step S96). still,
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a recording-only device, a reproduction-only device, and a recording/reproducing device.

[0017]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the camera and information recording/playback device according to the present invention, the compression/expansion circuit for compressing/expanding image data is integrated into a unit, and can be attached to and removed from both the camera and the playback device. Since the compression/expansion unit is shared between the recording device and the playback device, only one compression/decompression unit is required, and the system cost can be reduced. Furthermore, when compression/expansion circuits are improved due to advances in technology, the improved circuits can be applied as is, making it possible to always perform the latest compression/expansion processing, resulting in a highly efficient system.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of a playback device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a simplified perspective view of a camera according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a simplified perspective view of a playback device according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another example of the structure for mounting and removing an IC card and a compression/expansion card in the camera/playback device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration block diagram showing another embodiment of the camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram showing another embodiment of a playback device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operational processing procedure of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operational procedure for compressing and reconverting uncompressed image data recorded on an IC card.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 lens
2 CCD3 Imaging process circuit 4 A/D
Converter 5, 7, 9, 23, 24 Selector 6,
25 RAM 8 Compression/expansion circuit 1
0, 22 Card interface 11, 21 IC card 12,
28 System control circuit 13, 29 Encoding control circuit 14, 30
Operation unit 15, 31 Regeneration process circuit 16, 32
D/A converter 26 PC interface 27
PC 100,
300 Cameras 101, 201 IC card slots 102, 2
02, 301 Compression/expansion card slot 103
, 203, 302 IC card eject button 104, 204, 303 Compression/expansion card eject button 110, 310 IC card 120, 320
Compression/expansion card 200 Playback machine 311 IC card connector

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A camera configured to record a video signal formed by a video signal forming means on a recording medium or output it to the outside via a signal compression/expansion means, wherein the signal compression/expansion means is It is characterized by being configured to be selectively connectable to the camera and the information recording/reproducing device so that it can function as part of the information processing means of the information recording/reproducing device to which the recording medium can be applied. camera. 2. An information recording/reproducing device for receiving and/or supplying a signal to a loaded recording medium with signal compression/expansion processing performed by a signal compression/expansion means, wherein the signal compression/expansion means An information recording device configured to be selectively connectable to the information recording/reproducing device and camera so as to function as part of the information processing means of a camera to which the recording medium can be applied.・Reproduction device.