JPH0497665A - Picture recording and processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the carrying of a camera and to reduce time from the image pickup of the camera to the picture processing by connecting directly the camera and a picture processing unit and controlling the operation of the camera from the picture processor in the connecting state. CONSTITUTION:System controllers 1, 13 are provided independently in the inside of a camera and a picture processor and each operation is controlled usually. An IC memory card slot 7 of the camera and an IC memory card slot 11 of the picture processor are connected directly to attain direct data communication between the camera and the picture processor and a system controller 13 of the picture processor controls the operation of the camera as an external control means. Thus, when the picture processor is separated, the picture processor is used as a single digital still video camera, and the camera is connected directly for the use of the input terminal equipment of the picture processor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an image recording/processing device that has a system configuration including a camera and an image processing device, and uses an external memory module such as an IC memory card.

<Prior Art> Devices that use an external memory module such as an IC memory card as a recording medium for image data include the digital still video camera shown in FIG. 2 and the image processing device shown in FIG. 3.

In the digital still video camera shown in FIG. 2, under the control of a system controller 1 via a timing circuit 2, an image signal obtained by an image sensor 3 such as a CCD is sent to each pixel after passing through a pre-processing circuit 4. Correspondingly, the image data is A/D converted by the A/D converter 5 and written as digital image data to the IC memory card 10 removably inserted into the IC memory card slot 7 via the interface logic circuit 6. This records the information.

Furthermore, the data written to the IC memory card 10 is
C memory card slot 7, interface logic circuit 6, and D/A converter 8.
The signal is converted, passed through the post-processing circuit 9, and output as a video signal. This allows playback.

In the image processing device shown in FIG.
0 is used to process the image data.

This image processing device has at least one IC memory card slot 11 into which an IC memory card 10 is inserted, and can read data from the IC memory card 10 or write data to the IC memory card 10 via an interface logic circuit 2. You can also write data.

It also has a system controller 13 including a CPU, a programmable ROM, etc., a main memory 14, and input/output circuits 15 to 19 typified by a keyboard, a CRT, a magnetic disk, a communication function with other devices, and the like.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> Incidentally, in the system configuration of the camera shown in FIG. 2 and the image processing device shown in FIG. 3, since the image processing device tends to be larger than the camera, it is difficult to input image data. The camera is an independent system.

However, with this kind of system configuration, the camera is easy to carry and the image processing device does not need to be near the camera at all times, but image data cannot be exchanged between the camera and the image processing device. , since it has to be done via an IC memory card, from shooting with a camera,
It takes some time to actually perform image processing.

In view of these circumstances, the present invention is based on the premise that the camera and the image processing device can be moved independently, and instead of having enough space to keep the camera and the image processing device nearby, It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording/processing device that is effective even in applications where it is not desirable to spend time receiving or passing data.

<Means for Solving the Problems> For this reason, the present invention provides a camera that A/D converts an image signal obtained by an image sensor and records it in an external memory module such as an IC memory card that can be freely attached and detached. , an image recording/processing device that is configured separately from the camera and consists of an image processing device that reads data from an external memory module that is freely connected to the camera and performs processing such as arithmetic processing on the data. In this embodiment, the camera and the image processing device can be directly connected, and an external control means is provided to control the operation of the camera from the image processing device in the connected state.

<Function> Normally, the camera and image processing device operate independently under the control of their respective internal controllers, but by directly connecting the camera and the image processing device, the image processing device can control the operation of the camera. controllable.

Therefore, it is possible to import image data taken with a camera into an image processing device without going through an external memory module such as an IC memory card, and it is also possible to import images processed by the image processing device without going through an external memory module. It becomes possible to play back on the camera.

<Example> An example of the present invention will be described below based on FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a system consisting of the camera shown in FIG. 2 and the image processing device shown in FIG. 3.

Inside the camera and inside the image processing device, system controllers 1 and 13 are provided independently, and usually control the operation of each, or the IC memory card slot 7 of the camera and the IC of the image processing device. Memory card slot 1
1, it is possible to directly exchange data between the camera and the image processing device, and also to use the system controller 13 of the image processing device as an external control means, which allows the camera to The operation of the system can be controlled.

Here, the IC memory card slot 7 of the camera and the IC memory card slot 11 of the image processing device are connected by a dedicated connection cable 20, thereby making it possible to receive and transfer data.

In addition, some bin connectors of the IC memory card slot 7 of the camera and the IC memory card slot 11 of the image processing device are equipped with a remote controller (REM) for external control.
A signal called OTE) is assigned as a remote terminal, and the camera can be controlled externally using this signal.

The remote signal becomes valid when a certain operation is performed on each interface logic circuit 12.6 by the system controller 13 of the image processing apparatus and the system controller 1 of the camera.

Examples of the operation method/discrimination method for validating the remote signal include the following (1) to (2).

■ If you select remote as the command for the image processing device, the remote will be enabled.

■ When specific data is sent from the camera side, the data is determined by the image processing device's system controller and the remote is enabled. Or the reverse is also possible.

■ Assign the remote terminal to a terminal that is not used as an IC memory card, configure the circuit as shown in Figure 4, detect the connection, and place it in the remote enabled state.

In the example in Figure 4, i) When the remote terminal is connected, Oc = Low, when Op = High, Bc = L
owOc = High, Op: LOW (7),
Bp=Lowii) When the remote terminal is not connected When Oc=Low, Be=High When Op=LOW, 13p=High.

Therefore, during startup, keep ○C (or 0p) = LOW for a certain period of time, and during that time Op (or Oc) = High.
At this time, if Be (or Bp)=Low is detected, the remote is enabled.

When the camera is set to the remote enabled state, instead of releasing the camera, the system controller 13 of the image processing device sends command data via the data line, and the camera system controller l receives the sent data. Interpret it and perform actions such as taking pictures.

Note that the terminal for remote signals is I for receiving and passing data.
It may be provided separately from the C memory card slot. Or
External control signals may be supplied by serial communication on the data bus between the IC memory card slots without providing a dedicated terminal.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 5, there is an image memory 2 inside the camera.
2, when recording to an IC memory card, adjust the data transfer speed to the access time of the IC memory card, and when transferring data directly to the image processing device in remote mode, adjust the data transfer speed to the access time of the image processing device. It is a good idea to switch the data transfer speed to match the time.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, according to the present invention, when the image processing device is separated, it can be used alone as a digital still video camera, but when connected directly, the camera can be used as an input terminal of the image processing device. This has the effect of creating a system to do this.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a connection state between a digital still video camera and an image processing device as an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the digital still video camera, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the image processing device. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of connection of remote terminals, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a digital still video camera showing another embodiment.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A camera that A/D converts an image signal obtained by an image sensor and records it in an external memory module that is detachably connected; and a camera that is configured separately from the camera and that is detachably connected. In an image recording/processing device consisting of an image processing device that reads data from an external memory module and processes the data, the camera and the image processing device can be directly connected, and in this connection state, the image processing device An image recording/processing device comprising an external control means for controlling the operation of a camera from the processing device.