JP2000090530A - Data handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent that a recording medium becomes unejectable due to the run-down of a battery. SOLUTION: In the data handling device provided with an automatic ejecting mechanism 33a performing the ejecting operation of the recording medium by the electrical control, while the read-out or write-in of data is performed from/to the recording medium capable of inserting and ejecting, a functional part 41c for discriminating the existence of medium for detecting whether the recording medium is inserted or not when the power source is turned off, a functional part 41e for discriminating the remaining amount of battery for detecting the remaining capacity of the battery 61 used for the power source, and a control part 41b for controlling so that the recording medium is automatically ejected by the automatic ejecting mechanism 33a, when the inserted recording medium is detected by the functional part 41c for discriminating the existence of medium and also the remaining capacity of battery detected by the functional part 41e for discriminating the remaining amount of battery is less than the specified value, are provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data handling device, and more particularly, to a motorized automatic ejection mechanism for a recording medium.
The present invention relates to a portable device mainly using a battery as a power supply.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a portable image recording / reproducing apparatus such as an electronic camera, a battery is mainly used as a power source in view of the portable type. On the other hand, since it is necessary to store captured images and the like, the recording medium is a memory card, a CDRO.
An exchangeable recording medium such as M or DVD is used. The operation of discharging these recording media from the apparatus main body is often performed by an electric automatic discharge mechanism. However, if the remaining capacity of the battery falls below a certain value in a state where the recording medium is inserted into the apparatus main body, there is a problem that the recording medium cannot be discharged in the case of an electric automatic discharge mechanism.

In order to solve such a problem, there is a method in which the recording medium is automatically ejected when the power is turned off while the recording medium is inserted. However, if the recording medium is always automatically ejected when the power is turned off, there is a possibility that the recording medium is lost in a portable device, for example. In this way, depending on the application, there may be a case where it is desired to keep the recording medium inserted even after the power is turned off, and if the recording medium is automatically ejected whenever the power is turned off, it is rather inconvenient to use. Will occur.

[0004]

As described above, in the apparatus provided with the electric recording medium automatic discharge mechanism, the problem that the recording medium cannot be discharged due to battery exhaustion, and the recording medium is not recorded when the power is turned off. There has been a problem that the medium is always ejected, which causes inconvenience in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of solving a problem that a recording medium cannot be discharged and a problem that a problem occurs in use. The purpose is.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for reading and / or writing data from / to a recording medium which can be inserted and ejected, wherein the operation of ejecting the recording medium is performed by electrical control. In a data handling apparatus having an automatic ejection mechanism, a mode in which the recording medium is automatically ejected when the power is turned off with the recording medium inserted, or the power is turned on in a state in which the recording medium is inserted. It is characterized by having a selection means for selecting a mode in which the recording medium is not automatically ejected even when the recording medium is turned off.

According to the invention, the mode in which the recording medium is automatically ejected when the power is turned off is selected in advance, so that when the battery is used as the power source, the remaining capacity of the battery is reduced. It is possible to solve the problem that the battery voltage decreases and the battery voltage decreases and the recording medium cannot be discharged. In some applications, it is desirable to keep the recording medium inserted even after the power is turned off.In such a case, a mode in which the recording medium is not automatically ejected may be selected in advance. Good. Therefore, by allowing the two modes to be selected, the user can select a desired usage according to the situation in advance,
Usability as an apparatus can be improved.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for reading and / or writing data from / to a recording medium which can be inserted and ejected, and an automatic ejecting mechanism for ejecting the recording medium by electrical control. A data processing apparatus provided with: a first detection unit for detecting whether or not the recording medium is inserted when the power is turned off;
Second detection means for detecting the remaining capacity of a battery used as a power supply; and detection of the insertion of the recording medium by the first detection means, and detection of the battery detected by the second detection means. Control means for controlling the automatic ejection mechanism to automatically eject the recording medium when the remaining capacity is smaller than a predetermined value.

According to the invention, the recording medium is automatically discharged when the remaining capacity of the battery becomes smaller than a predetermined value (predetermined voltage) with the battery inserted, so that the predetermined voltage is By setting a voltage equal to or higher than the minimum voltage at which the recording medium can be automatically ejected by the automatic ejection mechanism, it is possible to solve the problem that the recording medium cannot be ejected due to a decrease in the remaining capacity of the battery. .

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for reading and / or writing data from / to a recording medium which can be inserted and ejected, and an automatic ejection mechanism for performing an ejection operation of the recording medium by electrical control. A data processing apparatus provided with: a first detection unit for detecting whether or not the recording medium is inserted when the power is turned off;
Second detection means for detecting the remaining capacity of a battery used as a power source; and remaining power of the battery detected by the first detection means to be inserted with the recording medium and detected by the second detection means. A mode in which the recording medium is automatically ejected by the automatic ejection mechanism when the capacity is smaller than a predetermined value, or the insertion of the recording medium is detected by the first detection means and the second Selecting means for selecting a mode in which the recording medium is not automatically discharged even when the remaining capacity of the battery detected by the detecting means is smaller than a predetermined value.

According to the invention, the recording medium is automatically discharged when the remaining capacity of the battery becomes smaller than a predetermined value by previously selecting the mode for automatically discharging the recording medium. Therefore, similarly to the above invention, it is possible to solve the problem that the recording medium cannot be discharged due to the decrease in the remaining capacity of the battery. If it is desired to keep the recording medium inserted even after the power is turned off, a mode in which the recording medium is not automatically ejected may be selected in advance, and the two modes can be selected. This allows the user to select a desired usage according to the situation in advance, thereby improving the usability of the device.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the device configuration of the present invention, in which the present invention is applied to a portable image recording / reproducing device such as an electronic camera.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is roughly divided into an imaging section 10, an image data processing section 20, an image data recording and displaying section 3,
0, a control unit 40, an operation unit 50, and a power supply unit 60.

The image pickup unit 10 includes an image pickup lens 11, a CCD image pickup device 12, an image pickup circuit 13, an A / D conversion circuit 14, a correction circuit 15 for performing white balance and gamma correction, a frame memory 16, and the like. An image captured via an optical system including a CCD is formed on a CCD image pickup device 12, and data of the formed image is converted into an A / D conversion circuit 1.
4, the digital signal is converted into a digital signal, and the correction circuit 15 performs white balance and gamma correction.
6 is stored for each image.

The image data processing unit 20 includes an image compression function unit 21a, an image expansion function unit 21b, a frame memory control function unit 21c, and a recording medium access function unit 21d.
And the like, and compresses a plurality of image data stored in the frame memory 16 one by one to compress the image data one by one.
1 or decompresses the image data stored in the recording buffer 31 and sends it to the FIFO memory 34 of the image data recording / display unit 30, or is held in the recording medium holding unit 33 of the image data recording / display unit 30. Or access the recording media.

The image data recording / display unit 30 includes a recording buffer 31, a recording medium interface 32, and a recording medium (a fixed recording medium such as a memory card, a CDROM, a DVD, etc. Holding section (insertion / ejection section) 3
3. Motorized automatic ejection mechanism for recording media (auto-ejection mechanism) 33a, FIFO memory 34 for display, on-screen circuit 35, TFT liquid crystal drive circuit 36, TFT panel 37, video output circuit 38, video output terminal 39, etc. It reads out the image data recorded in the recording buffer 31 and records it on the recording medium, or reads out the image data recorded on the recording medium and sends it to the display system.

The image data sent to the display system is a display FI.
The image data temporarily stored in the FO memory 34 and read out from the display FIFO memory 34 is converted into a video signal by an on-screen circuit 35, and characters and the like are added as necessary. The video signal is supplied to the TFT panel 37 via the TFT liquid crystal drive circuit 36, and is output to the outside from the video output terminal 39 via the video signal output circuit 38 as a video signal.

The control section 40 includes a system control function section 41a, a medium discharge control function section 41b for controlling discharge of a recording medium via an automatic discharge mechanism 33a, and whether or not a recording medium is inserted into the recording medium holding section 33. , A mode determining function unit 41d for determining whether or not the automatic ejection mode for the recording medium is selected, a battery remaining amount determining function unit 41e for determining the remaining capacity of a battery used as a power supply, and the like. , And is mainly configured by a CPU 1 that comprehensively controls the entire system.

The control unit 40 includes an actuator 43 including a zooming motor and an AF motor.
Drive circuit 42 for driving the camera, and initialization of the apparatus (such as initialization of the zoom level) is performed to store information.
An EPROM 44, an external data interface 45 for exchanging with a personal computer and the like, an LCD display circuit 46 for performing a predetermined display on an LCD panel 47, and the like are additionally provided.

The operation unit 50 is connected to the control unit 40 and has a keyboard matrix for performing a predetermined operation as a main component.
, A predetermined control operation is performed.

The power supply section 60 uses a battery held in the battery holding section 61 as a power supply, and supplies a predetermined voltage to each circuit via a power supply circuit 62. The remaining battery capacity and the like of the battery held in the battery holding unit 61 are detected by the battery state detection circuit 63, and the detected battery state is sent to the CPU 1 of the control unit 40.

Next, various operations using the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to flowcharts. (Operation Example 1) FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a first operation example according to the present embodiment. In this example, when the power is turned off while the recording medium is still inserted, a mode in which the recording medium is automatically ejected by the automatic ejection mechanism is selected in advance.

First, the user sets the key matrix 50 in advance.
For example, a mode for automatically ejecting the recording medium at power-off or not is selected. After the power-off operation is performed (S11), the medium presence / absence determination function section 41c of the control section 40 determines whether or not a recording medium is inserted into the recording medium holding section 33 (S12, S1).
3). When it is determined that the recording medium has not been inserted, the process proceeds to a predetermined power-off processing operation (S16).

When it is determined that a recording medium is inserted, it is determined whether or not the automatic discharge mode is selected by the mode determination function unit of the control unit 40 (S14). When the automatic ejection mode is selected, the recording medium inserted into the recording medium holding unit 33 is automatically ejected by the automatic ejection mechanism 33a based on an instruction from the medium ejection control function unit 41b of the control unit 40. Is performed (S15). Subsequently, a predetermined power-off process is performed (S16).

(Operation Example 2) FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a second operation example according to the present embodiment. In this example, the recording medium is automatically ejected by the automatic ejection mechanism when the recording medium is inserted when the power is off, and when the remaining capacity of the battery used as the power supply becomes smaller than a predetermined value. Things.

During the power-off period (S21), the medium presence / absence determination function section 41c of the control section 40 determines whether or not a recording medium is inserted into the recording medium holding section 33 (S22). If it is determined that the recording medium has not been inserted, the process proceeds to S27 without performing any particular process.

When it is determined that the recording medium is inserted, after waiting for a predetermined time, for example, one minute (S2
3), the remaining capacity of the battery held in the battery holding unit 61 is detected by the battery state detection circuit 63 (S24).
The detected remaining capacity of the battery is determined by the battery remaining amount determining function unit 41e of the control unit 40 as to whether it is larger or smaller than a predetermined value. The predetermined value (predetermined voltage) is set to a voltage higher than the minimum voltage at which the recording medium can be automatically discharged by the automatic discharge mechanism 33a (S25). If it is determined that the remaining battery charge is larger than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to S27.
Processing proceeds to

When it is determined that the remaining capacity of the battery is smaller than the predetermined value, the battery is inserted into the recording medium holding unit 33 by the automatic ejection mechanism 33a based on an instruction from the medium ejection control function unit 41b of the control unit 40. The recording medium is automatically ejected (S26). Thereafter, when the power-on operation is performed (S27), a predetermined power-on process is performed (S28).

(Example 3 of Operation) FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a third example of operation according to the present embodiment. In this embodiment, a mode in which the automatic discharge operation is performed as shown in the operation example 2 and a mode in which the automatic discharge operation is not performed are selected in advance.

First, the user sets the key matrix 50 in advance.
For example, whether or not to set the automatic discharge mode is selected. Thereafter, during the power-off period (S3
1) It is determined whether or not the automatic discharge mode is selected by the mode determination function unit 41d of the control unit 40 (S32). If the automatic ejection mode has not been selected, the process proceeds to S38 without performing any particular process. When the automatic ejection mode is selected, the medium presence / absence determination function section 41c of the control section 40 determines whether or not a recording medium is inserted into the recording medium holding section 33 (S33). When it is determined that the recording medium has not been inserted, the process proceeds to S38.

When it is determined that the recording medium has been inserted, after waiting for a predetermined time, for example, one minute (S3
4) The remaining capacity of the battery held in the battery holding unit 61 is detected by the battery state detection circuit 63 (S35).
The detected remaining capacity of the battery is determined by the battery remaining amount determination function unit 41e of the control unit 40 as to whether it is larger or smaller than a predetermined value (S36). This predetermined value is the same as in the above-described operation example 2.
When it is determined that the remaining capacity of the battery is larger than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to S38.

When it is determined that the remaining capacity of the battery is smaller than the predetermined value, the battery is inserted into the recording medium holding unit 33 by the automatic ejection mechanism 33a based on an instruction from the medium ejection control function unit 41b of the control unit 40. The recording medium is automatically ejected (S37). Thereafter, when the power-on operation is performed (S38), a predetermined power-on process is performed (S39).

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a portable image recording / reproducing device such as an electronic camera, but other devices may be used as long as they have a motorized automatic ejection mechanism. In addition, the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the spirit thereof.

[0034]

According to the present invention, there is a problem that the recording medium cannot be ejected due to a decrease in battery voltage, and a problem that the recording medium is always ejected when the power is turned off, resulting in inconvenience in use. Can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a first operation example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a second operation example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a third operation example of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image pick-up part 20 ... Image data processing part 30 ... Image data recording / display part 33 ... Recording medium holding part 33a ... Automatic discharge mechanism 40 ... Control part 41a ... System control function part 41b ... Medium discharge control function part 41c ... Medium presence / absence discrimination Function part 41d Mode discrimination function part 41e Battery remaining amount discrimination function part 50 Operation part (key matrix) 60 Power supply part 61 Battery 62 Power supply circuit 63 Battery state detection circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] An apparatus for reading and / or writing data from / to a recording medium capable of being inserted and ejected, comprising:
In a data handling apparatus having an automatic ejection mechanism for performing an ejection operation of a recording medium by electrical control, the recording medium is automatically ejected by the automatic ejection mechanism when the power is turned off with the recording medium inserted. A data handling apparatus comprising a selection means for selecting a mode or a mode in which a recording medium is not automatically ejected even when the power is turned off with the recording medium inserted. 2. An apparatus for reading and / or writing data from / to a recording medium capable of being inserted and ejected, comprising:
In a data handling apparatus having an automatic ejection mechanism for performing an ejection operation of a recording medium by electrical control, a first detection means for detecting whether or not the recording medium is inserted when power is turned off; A second detecting means for detecting a remaining capacity of a battery used as a power supply, and a battery having the first detecting means detecting that the recording medium is inserted, and being detected by the second detecting means. Control means for controlling the automatic ejection mechanism to automatically eject the recording medium when the remaining capacity is smaller than a predetermined value. 3. An apparatus for reading and / or writing data from / to a recording medium that can be inserted and ejected,
In a data handling apparatus having an automatic ejection mechanism for performing an ejection operation of a recording medium by electrical control, a first detection means for detecting whether or not the recording medium is inserted when power is turned off; A second detecting means for detecting a remaining capacity of a battery used as a power supply; and a detecting means for detecting that the recording medium is inserted by the first detecting means and for detecting a remaining capacity of the battery detected by the second detecting means. A mode in which the recording medium is automatically ejected by the automatic ejection mechanism when the remaining capacity is smaller than a predetermined value, or a state in which the recording medium is inserted is detected by the first detecting means, and the second Selecting means for selecting a mode in which the recording medium is not automatically discharged even when the remaining capacity of the battery detected by the detecting means is smaller than a predetermined value. Data handling equipment.