JPH09265127A - Data recording device for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output various kinds of information obtained with a photographic image to an external equipment by providing a data output means for outputting all of or a part of recorded data to the external equipment. SOLUTION: When a CPU 11 receives the information that all the GPS data have been provided, it drives a film feeding part 14 to perform film winding operation, and imprints the data interlocked with feeding of the film. The CPU 11 controls a time lag till photographing by instantaneously performing photographing operation despite of whether all the GPS data have been provided or not. Interlocked with the film winding operation, the GPS data stored in a storage means 39 inside the CPU 31 and surrounding data are imprinted. After finishing the feeding, the CPU 31 allows a data output means 40 to externally output imprinted data. Thus, various kinds of information obtained with the photographic image are outputted to the external equipment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera data recording device capable of recording various kinds of information together with a photographed image, and more particularly to GPS (Global Positioni).
Information recording that can be recorded on a recording medium such as a film together with the captured image, by using a satellite positioning system typified by ng System) and various sensors Regarding cameras with functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various cameras have been increasingly used by individuals, travelers, photographers and the like. Further, the development of car navigation has promoted the development of devices that handle GPS data (positional information). At the same time, in recent years, as the shooting-related information of the camera, the GPS that has been adopted as a car navigation system for automobiles is used.
There has been proposed a camera which obtains information such as latitude, longitude, altitude, time, etc. by utilizing the above, and records this information on a film together with an image.

For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-247081, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-247081 calculates an absolute position of a shooting location from positioning data such as latitude, longitude, and altitude obtained from a GPS receiver, and determines the absolute position based on the absolute position. A camera that selects a plurality of stored place names is described. In addition, JP-A-4-70724
The publication describes a camera that automatically records positioning data obtained from a GPS receiver on a recording medium such as a film or a memory together with a captured image.

[0004]

However, the amount of information that can be recorded on the film is very small, and there is a limit even if it is recorded on the recording medium of the memory built in the camera.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. First, data obtained from a GPS receiver and / or other sensor is recorded in a recording medium of a camera, and the recorded data is recorded. To output data to an external device, thereby providing a data recording device of a camera capable of capturing data by an external device.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a data recording device for a camera that can determine the recording state of data by providing the external output data with information for determining the recording state of the data.

[0006]

The present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems provides a camera provided with a data recording device for recording, in a recording medium, data obtained from a GPS receiver and / or other sensor together with a captured image, It is characterized by comprising a data output means for outputting all or part of the recorded data to an external device.

According to the structure of the present invention, it is possible to output various information obtained together with the photographed image to the external device. In this case, the data from the data output means has information for determining whether or not the data is normally recorded in the data recording device.

According to the structure of the present invention, the data from the data output means is provided with information for discriminating whether or not the obtained information is normally recorded. Thus, it becomes easy to determine whether or not the information is normally recorded.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external configuration example of the present invention. In FIG. 2, (a) is a front view,
(B) shows a rear view. In this embodiment,
It shows a case where the present invention is applied to a camera using a film as a recording medium. Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and other recording media, for example, one that uses magnetism,
It can also be applied to a camera using an optical disc, a fixed memory, or the like as a recording medium.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a camera section for shooting and recording, 2 is a GPS receiver and other sensor section, and 3 is G.
It is a processing circuit unit that processes the position and time information obtained from the PS receiver. Reference numeral 4 denotes a back cover which incorporates a film movement detection unit and a data imprinting unit, 5 a display unit for displaying various information, 6 an operation unit for giving various instructions to the apparatus, and 7 a battery compartment. is there. Reference numeral 8 denotes an external output terminal for outputting the data acquired by the camera to an external device, and the external output terminal is arranged on the side surface of the processing circuit unit 3.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a camera side CPU 1 is provided.
1 (hereinafter abbreviated as CPU 1) to be controlled and those that are controlled by input / output to / from the data recording device side CPU 31 (hereinafter abbreviated as CPU 2). On the camera side, 12 is a photometric circuit for measuring the amount of light, 13 is a distance measuring circuit for measuring the distance to the object to be photographed, and an ILED (infrared light emitting LED) that emits light toward the object to be photographed,
It includes a PSD that receives the reflected light from the subject.

Reference numeral 14 denotes various driving units, which have a lens driving function,
It has a shutter drive function and a film feeding function. L
M is a lens motor driven by the lens driving function, S
M is a shutter motor driven by the shutter driving function, and FM is a film motor driven by the film feeding function.

Numeral 15 is a first film feed signal detection section for detecting the feed amount of one frame of film, and detects one frame of the film by counting the perforations of the film to detect the film feed signal 1. It is what is output. Reference numeral 16 is a flash unit, 17 is an E ² PROM in which data for autofocus, automatic exposure adjustment and the like is stored, 18 is an LED display unit for displaying a focused state and the like inside a finder (F), and 19 is a shutter speed and squeezing. LCD displaying values etc.
A display unit, 20 is a main switch (SW), 21 is a back cover switch (SW) for detecting that the back cover is closed, 22 is a release switch (SW), 23 is a key input unit for inputting a photographing mode, and 24 is A reset circuit that resets the circuit to the initial state, and 25 is a power supply holding circuit that holds power supplied to the circuit. The external LCD display unit 19 displays the number of shots and the like, and is provided on the upper surface of the camera unit 1 (see FIG. 2), for example. The back cover switch 21 automatically loads the film when it detects that the back cover is closed.
These components are connected to the CPU 1. The camera operation sequence program is stored in the memory provided in the CPU 1. The camera-side CPU 1 and various components connected to the CPU 1 are used for normal camera operation and are realized by the conventional technology, and therefore the description of the operation is omitted here.

Next, the configuration of the data recording device side CPU 31 (hereinafter abbreviated as CPU 2) side will be described. CPU2
Are connected to the camera side CPU 1 and exchange information with each other. On the data recording device side, 32 is GP
In the S reception unit, the CPU 2 receives the reception data from the GPS reception unit 32, that is, the time data and the position data from the GPS. Reference numeral 33 denotes various other sensor units that measure an azimuth angle, an elevation angle, and the like. The CPU 2 receives data from these various sensor units 33. The GPS receiving section 32 and the various sensor sections 33 correspond to the GPS receiver / sensor section 2 in FIG.

Reference numeral 34 is an external LC for displaying these information.
It is a D display portion (corresponding to the display portion 5 in FIG. 2). Reference numeral 35 is a key input unit for inputting various operation information. A second film feed signal detection unit 36 detects a film feed signal, and outputs a film feed signal 2 by detecting a subtle movement amount of the film being fed. Reference numeral 37 denotes an imprinting LED drive unit which drives the imprinting LED 37a. Imprint LED
Reference numeral 37a is composed of seven LED elements which are one-dimensionally arranged orthogonally to the film feeding direction. Then, in accordance with the detection output of the film feeding signal detection unit 36, light is selectively emitted to record characters or symbols in a dot matrix in the recording area of the film.

Reference numeral 38 is a power supply holding circuit which holds the power supply voltage. Each of these constituent elements is connected to the CPU 2. Reference numeral 39 is a storage means for storing data from the GPS receiver and / or other sensors. Reference numeral 40 is a data output means for outputting the data stored in the storage means 39 or the recording state of the data on the film to an external device. As the data output means 40, for example, a serial I / O (input / output) port is used. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the film feed signal detection unit and the imprinting LED, and the second film feed signal detection unit 3
6 and an outline of the imprinting LED 37a. The film is fed from the cartridge 51 to the take-up shaft 53 for each photographing. Reference numeral 52 is a photographing screen section, and the film feed signal detection section 36 is as follows.

A sprocket 54 which rotates with the movement of the perforation, and a gear 55 which rotates coaxially therewith,
It is composed of a gear 56 that rotates following the gear 55, an encoder 57 that rotates coaxially with the gear 56, and a photo interrupter 58 that detects the rotation of the encoder 57. Here, the encoder 57 has a transmission and a non-transmission portion repeatedly, but it may have a reflection and a non-reflection repeatedly, and in this case, the photo interrupter 58 may be a photo reflector. Also, the sprocket 54
May be a roller that rotates by moving the film. The output of the photo interrupter 58 becomes the output (film feed signal 2) of the second film feed signal detector 36.

The imprinting LED 37a is an LED drive array which is one-dimensionally arranged in a direction orthogonal to the film moving direction, and is adapted to record an LED image on the film via the imprinting lens 59. In this embodiment, the film feed signal detection unit 36 and the imprinting LED 37a are both arranged on the back side of the film, but either one or both may be arranged on the front side of the film. Of course. The operation of the apparatus thus configured will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.

The CPU 1 constantly checks the state (K0) of the main switch 20 (S1). When the main switch 20 (K0) is off, it is checked whether the main switch signal has risen (S2),
If it has not been started up, it means that the power supply has been turned off all the time, so the process returns to step S1. If you get up,
Since the case where the camera has been used until then and the main switch 20 is turned off (turned off), after the processing for turning off the power supply of the camera section and the GPS section is performed (S
3) Return to step S1.

When the main switch 20 is on, it is checked whether the main switch signal K0 has fallen (S4). Since the case of the fall is the case where the power is turned on from the power off, the CPU 1 supplies the power of each unit on the camera side, and at the same time, transmits the information to the CPU 2. The CPU 2 supplies power to the GPS receiving section 32 and waits for data from the GPS receiving section 32 (S5).

In step S4, the main switch 2
If 0 does not fall, the power is on all the time, so step S5 is skipped and step S6 is entered. Next, in the CPU 1, the release switch 22 is pressed halfway (K1 is set as the half-pressed state of the release switch 22 is set to K1.
Waits until the switch is turned on (S6), but C
PU2 continues receiving the data from the GPS receiving part 32 in the meantime.

From the GPS receiving section 32, time, latitude, longitude, altitude, and DOP value (Diluti) are set at predetermined time intervals.
Abbreviation for on of Precision, which indicates the degree of error due to satellite placement), positioning calculation mode (representing two-dimensional positioning or three-dimensional positioning), and other data are output. Necessary data is temporarily stored in the internal storage means 39. Hereinafter, these stored data will be referred to as GPS data. The internal memory is saved by rewriting the GPS data each time new data arrives from the GPS receiving unit 32.

While the release switch 22 is not pressed halfway down, the CPU 2 checks whether or not the GPS data is complete (S7). If the GPS data is not complete, the CPU 2 returns to step S1 to fully press the release switch 22 (release). The GPS data is taken in until the switch 22 is fully pressed and K2 is turned on. G
When PS data is available, GPS data is stored in the storage means 3
9 and returns to step S1 to release switch 2
Wait for halfway press of 2.

When it is detected that the release switch 22 is half-pressed (S6), the CPU 1 performs photometry by the photometry circuit section 12 and distance measurement by the distance measurement circuit 13 (S10), and C
PU2 is notified of that information. The CPU 2 takes in the data of the azimuth angle being photographed (hereinafter referred to as azimuth data) from the geomagnetic sensor 33, which is another sensor, and stores it in the storage means 39 together with the GPS data (S11).

The CPU 1 checks whether or not the release switch 22 has been half-pushed (S12). If the release switch 22 has been half-pushed (K1 on), it checks whether or not the release switch 22 has been fully pressed (K2 on). S1
3). If the release switch 22 is not half pressed, the process returns to step S1.

When the release switch 22 is fully pressed (K2 is turned on), the CPU 1 performs focusing (S17) and performs photographing by the shutter operation (S1).
Along with 8), the CPU 2 is notified of the information. In step S13, the CPU 2 stores the GPS data in the storage unit 39 when the release switch 22 is not fully pressed.
(S14), and if so, the process returns to step S12 to wait for the half-pressed state of the release 22. If the GPS data is not available, wait until the GPS data is available (S15). If the GPS data is available, the GPS data is stored in the storage means 39 (S16), and then the process returns to step S12 to release the release switch 22 to half. Wait for the push.

After the shutter operation, when the CPU 1 notifies the CPU 2 of that fact, if the CPU 2 does not have all the GPS data, the CPU 1 is notified of the information, and the CPU 1 starts the timer (S19). , The winding operation is delayed by a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds). C
PU1 constantly checks whether or not the timer has expired (S20), and when it has exceeded, it judges that all GPS data are complete, and moves to step S21 to feed the film (winding the film). In conjunction with this, the imprinting LED 37a imprints data on the film (S21).

In step S20, while the timer does not expire, the CPU 2 constantly checks whether the GPS data is stored in the storage means 39 (S25).
If they are aligned, the process proceeds to step S21, and the imprinting LE is linked with the film feeding (film winding).
Data is imprinted on the film by D37a (S21). If GPS data is not available, G
Check whether the PS data is complete (S2
6) If they do not match, the process returns to step S20 to start checking the timer monitoring state. If all are available, CPU2
Records GPS data in the storage means 39 (S27), and C
PU1 is notified of that fact, and the check of the timer monitoring state is started in step S20.

When the CPU 1 receives the information that all the GPS data are gathered, it drives the film feeding section 14 to wind the film and imprint the data in association with the film feeding (S21). .

The CPU 1 suppresses the time lag until photographing by immediately performing the photographing operation regardless of whether or not all the GPS data are available. Also, in conjunction with the film winding operation, the GPS data and the azimuth data previously stored in the storage means 39 inside the CPU 2 are imprinted. The data is imprinted by a feeding interlocking method in which the imprint LED 37a is caused to emit light in synchronism with the film feeding to imprint a dot matrix character.

After the feeding is completed, the CPU 2 outputs the external data of the imprint data by the data output means 40 (S22). As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to output various kinds of information obtained together with a captured image to an external device. After that, the CPU 1 checks the fully-pressed state K2 of the release switch 22 (S23), checks the half-pressed state K1 of the release switch 22 if the fully-pressed state is no longer present (S24), and if the half-pressed state is not the step S1. Return to the sequence from the beginning.

The G output from the data output means 40
Various processes can be performed by importing PS data with an external device. The RS232C format is preferable as the external data output format in consideration of easy connection with a personal computer, miniaturization of the size of the connecting portion (small number of connecting lines), and the like. With this format, GND
It is possible to configure a signal transmission line with one (ground) line and one signal line. Further, the output terminal portion of the data output means 40 can be considerably miniaturized by using a mini jack such as used in a television or an audio device.

In addition to the imprinting data, the external output data includes information for determining whether the imprinting LED 37a is operating normally, and whether the imprinting is normally performed. By adding information, the state at the time of imprinting can be confirmed with an external device. Moreover, by adding a checksum to the data, the reliability of the data can be improved. Although a film is used as an example of the recording medium and an LED is used as an example of the recording method in the description, other recording mediums and recording methods are also included in the present invention. In this case, needless to say, the information for determining the recording state of the data may be output accordingly. As described above, according to the present invention, the data from the data output means is provided with the information for determining whether or not the obtained information is normally recorded, so that the external device side receiving the information can receive the information. It becomes easy to determine whether or not the information was recorded normally.

The external output data is output in the following format, for example. $ KONICA, 10,001, J960301123456 3D N3540512 E1392210
1 125 * 24 $ is a header that indicates the beginning of data, and * indicates a footer that indicates the end of data. Following the header, the company name (KONI
CA), imprinting information (10) is output, and imprinting data is output. Finally, the checksum is calculated by taking the exclusive OR (XOR) of the data from $ to * with an 8-bit width, and the checksum is added to the data. The imprinted data in this example is camera number (001), time (J9603011123456: Japan time March 1, 1996 1
12:34:56 on the day), positioning data (3D: three-dimensional positioning, DOP value D), latitude (N3540512: north latitude 35)
40.512 minutes), longitude (E13922101: 139 degrees east 22.101 minutes east longitude), and azimuth (125: 125 degrees clockwise from north).

The imprinting information is represented by a two-digit number. The first digit represents the software version number, and the second digit represents the imprinting information. In this example (10), “1” in the first digit indicates that the software version is 1, and “0” in the second digit indicates that the data is normally recorded. For example, when the imprinting LED does not light normally, the imprinting information is set to “11”, and when imprinting is not normally completed,
The information is changed such that the imprinting information is set to "12". By doing so, it becomes possible to judge what kind of information is sent, whether data is correctly recorded, and the like.

In this embodiment, all of the imprinted data is output as a part of the external output data, but a part of the imprinted data may be used as the external output data. Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the imprinting data is output after the film is fed, but it goes without saying that it may be output before or during the feeding of the film. In the case of a medium that does not require, the timing may be any time as long as it can be stored in association with the shooting screen.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the data imprinting on the film and the external data output to the external device are
Since the operations are performed at different timings, it is possible to extract only the external output data without recording it on the film.

Furthermore, if another measuring device is operated in synchronization with the output timing of the external output data and the data obtained by the other measuring device is also stored in the storage device of the external device at the same time, later Image data and data obtained by an external device can be recorded in association with each other.

[0039]

As described in detail above, claim 1 is as follows.
According to the invention described above, in a camera equipped with a data recording device for recording data obtained from a GPS receiver and / or other sensor together with a captured image in a recording medium, all or part of the recorded data is externally recorded. By providing the data output means for outputting to the device, it becomes possible to output various information obtained with the captured image to the external device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the data from the data output means has information for discriminating whether or not the data is normally recorded in the data recording device. It is possible to determine whether or not the obtained information is normal information by providing the data from the above with information for determining whether or not the obtained information is normally recorded. It will be easier.

Thus, according to the present invention, firstly, the GP
Data recording of a camera capable of capturing data by an external device by recording data obtained from the S receiver and / or other sensor in a recording medium of the camera and outputting the recorded data to the outside. Secondly, it is possible to provide an apparatus, and secondly to provide a data recording apparatus of a camera capable of determining the recording state of data by providing external output data with information for determining the recording state of data. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an external configuration example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configurational arrangement example of a film feed signal detection unit and an imprinting LED.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 CPU Side CPU 12 Photometry Circuit 13 Distance Measuring Circuit 14 Various Driving Sections 15 Film Conveying Signal Detection Section 16 Flash Section 17 E ² PROM 18 Finder LED Display Section 19 External LCD Display Section 20 Main Switch 21 Back Cover Switch 22 Release Switch 23 Key input unit 24 Reset circuit 31 Data recording device side CPU 32 GPS receiving unit 33 Other various sensor unit 34 External LCD display unit 35 Key input unit 36 Film feeding signal detecting unit 37 Copy LED driving unit 37a Copy LED 38 Power source Holding circuit 39 Storage means 40 Data output means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A camera provided with a data recording device for recording, in a recording medium, data obtained from a GPS receiver and / or other sensor together with a captured image, wherein all or part of the recorded data is stored in an external device. A data recording device for a camera, comprising a data output means for outputting. 2. The data from the data output means includes:
2. The data recording device for a camera according to claim 1, further comprising information for determining whether or not the data is normally recorded in the data recording device.