JP2001268508A - Image pickup device, its data recording method and computer readable recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically select a suitable medium loading part from plural medium loading parts so as to write data in it. SOLUTION: Card slots A, B are prepared as plural medium loading parts. A card selection part 75 selects a slot for executing data writing, namely a write execution slot, from these card slots A, B. The selection is controlled by an automatic selection control part 206 in a selection control part 200. The control part 206 selects the write execution slot in accordance with a prescribed automatic selection standard. The automatic selection standard is set up based on a card loading order, for example.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus in which a plurality of memory media can be mounted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital camera, which is one form of an image pickup apparatus, has been widely used as one of convenient electronic devices. One of the features of a digital camera is that a captured image can be recorded on a memory medium. The memory medium can be freely removed from the camera body, set in a personal computer, or brought to a development service store. A typical memory medium and its mounting portion are a memory card and a card slot.

[0003]

It has been proposed to mount a plurality of card slots on a digital camera so that a plurality of the above memory cards can be simultaneously installed.
The photographed images can be recorded on a plurality of memory cards, and advantages such as an increase in the number of photographed images can be obtained. However, it is necessary for the user to specify in which card slot the data is to be recorded. If there is no memory card in the designated card slot, no data is recorded as it is, and the user must perform an operation such as selecting the card slot again. Thus, simply increasing the number of card slots causes complicated user operations.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-91455, two memory cards are mounted on an electronic camera. The memory card to be recorded is switched according to the remaining capacity of these memory cards. Thereby, the complexity of the user operation is partially reduced. However, when the user manually selects a card slot, the remaining capacity is generally considered after the remaining capacity is reduced. In the normal state where the remaining capacity is sufficient, it is usual to consider whether or not the recorded data can be easily managed by the user, rather than the remaining capacity. Nevertheless, if the card slot is switched according to the remaining capacity, data is recorded on a memory card that is contrary to the user's intention, and subsequent data management becomes inconvenient. As a result, the usability of the digital camera may be reduced. is there. The above problem is not limited to the memory card and the card slot. Similar problems can arise with any memory media and its mounting.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a main object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus technology capable of automatically selecting an appropriate medium mounting section from a plurality of medium mounting sections. is there. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define specific and useful aspects of the present invention.

[0006]

One embodiment of the present invention is an image pickup apparatus. In this image pickup apparatus, a plurality of medium mounting units to each of which a memory medium is removably mounted, and a write execution mounting unit that is a medium mounting unit to execute data writing is selected from the plurality of medium mounting units. A medium selection unit; and a selection control unit for controlling the medium selection unit, wherein the selection control unit selects the writing execution mounting unit according to a predetermined automatic selection criterion reflecting a medium selection characteristic of a user. Having a part.

The selection control section may select another medium mounting section when the memory capacity of the writing execution mounting section selected according to the predetermined automatic selection criterion is insufficient. The selection control unit may automatically select another medium mounting unit when the remaining memory capacity runs short while using the selected write execution mounting unit. The predetermined automatic selection criterion may be determined based on an order of mounting media on the plurality of media mounting units. The predetermined automatic selection criterion may be determined based on a resolution of image data to be written. The predetermined automatic selection criterion may be determined based on a type of data to be written. The data types are, for example, image data and non-image data, and the non-image data is, for example, sound data.

[0008] The plurality of medium mounting units are adapted to different types of memory media, and according to the predetermined automatic selection criterion,
The type of the data to be written may correspond to the type of the memory medium. The image capturing apparatus of the present invention may further include a selection criterion setting unit that can selectively set a plurality of automatic selection criteria. The plurality of automatic selection criteria are, for example, the criteria exemplified above. One or more automatic selection criteria may be selected according to a user's instruction.

According to the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, a manual selection mode in which a user manually selects the writing execution mounting section in response to a user operation, and an automatic selection mode in which the automatic selection control section selects the writing execution mounting section. A mode switching unit for switching between the selection mode and the selection mode may be included. The selection control unit,
When the memory medium is not mounted on the writing execution mounting section selected by the user in the manual selection mode, another medium mounting section may be selected.

The selection control section, when the memory medium is not mounted on the write execution mounting section selected by the user in the manual selection mode, notifies that the memory medium is not mounted, A notification may be issued to prompt the user to mount the memory medium on the medium mounting section where no medium is mounted. The notification may be audio. Depending on whether the memory medium is mounted, when the memory medium is not mounted, and when the medium mounting section in which the memory medium is mounted is selected, the method of notifying the medium mounting section is different. Some notification means may be further included. The image capturing apparatus of the present invention may include a power control unit that restricts power supply to a medium mounting unit that is not selected as the writing execution mounting unit.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a data recording method for an image pickup device. In this method, from a plurality of medium mounting units each having a memory medium mounted thereon, according to a predetermined automatic selection criterion reflecting the user's medium selection characteristics,
Select the medium mounting unit where data writing is to be performed.

The method for controlling the selection of the medium mounting unit may further include a method for controlling the selection of the medium mounting unit, wherein the method for controlling the selection includes selecting the data to be written according to a predetermined automatic selection criterion reflecting a medium selection characteristic of a user. A medium mounting unit may be selected. The method for controlling the selection may select another medium mounting unit when the remaining memory capacity of the medium mounting unit to which the data writing selected according to the predetermined automatic selection criterion is to be performed is insufficient.

[0013] In the method of controlling the selection, when the remaining memory capacity becomes insufficient while using the medium mounting unit to which the selected data writing is to be performed, another medium mounting unit may be automatically selected. .

[0014] The predetermined automatic selection criterion may be determined based on an order of mounting media on the plurality of media mounting units. Further, the predetermined automatic selection criterion may be determined based on a resolution of image data to be written. Further, the predetermined automatic selection criterion may be determined based on a type of data to be written.

The data to be written may be classified into image data and non-image data. The non-image data may be sound data.

[0016] The plurality of media mounting units may be adapted to different types of memory media, and according to the predetermined automatic selection criterion,
The type of the data to be written may correspond to the type of the memory medium. The apparatus may further include a selection criterion setting unit capable of selectively setting at least one selection criterion from a plurality of automatic selection criteria prepared in advance.

A manual selection method in which the user manually selects the data writing medium mounting unit in response to a user operation;
The method may further include a mode switching method of switching between an automatic selection method of selecting the data writing medium mounting unit by the method of controlling the selection.

The selection control section may select another medium mounting section when the memory medium is not mounted on the write execution mounting section selected by the user in the manual selection mode. The method for controlling the selection includes, when the memory medium is not mounted on the data writing medium mounting unit selected by the user in the manual selection method, notifying that the memory medium is not mounted, A notification may be issued to prompt the user to mount the memory medium on the medium mounting section where no medium is mounted. The notification method may be an audio notification method.

Depending on whether the memory medium is mounted, when the memory medium is not mounted, and when the medium mounting section on which the memory medium is mounted is selected, a method of notifying the medium mounting section is provided. May be further included.

The method may further include a power control method for restricting power supply to a medium mounting unit not selected as the writing execution mounting unit.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a recording medium storing a program. This program causes a computer to perform a process of selecting a medium mounting unit to which data is to be written from a plurality of medium mounting units each having a memory medium mounted thereon, according to a predetermined automatic selection criterion reflecting a medium selection characteristic of a user. Let it run.

The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the features necessary for the present invention. Naturally, a sub-combination of these features can also be an invention.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following embodiments do not limit the invention described in the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are solutions of the invention. It is not always necessary for the means.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a digital camera 10 according to the embodiment. A configuration characteristic of the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The digital camera according to the present embodiment includes a card slot for a memory card as an example of a medium mounting unit for a memory medium.

The digital camera 10 shown in FIG. 1 mainly includes an imaging unit 20, an imaging control unit 40, and a processing unit 6.
0, a display unit 100, and an operation unit 110.

The imaging unit 20 includes a mechanism member and an electric member related to photographing and image formation. Imaging unit 20
First, a photographing lens 22 for capturing and processing images,
An aperture 24, a shutter 26, an optical LPF (low-pass filter) 28, a CCD 30, and an image signal processing unit 32 are included. The taking lens 22 includes a focus lens, a zoom lens, and the like. With this configuration, the subject image is
Image on the light receiving surface of. Charges are accumulated in each sensor element (not shown) of the CCD 30 according to the amount of light of the formed subject image (hereinafter, the charges are referred to as “accumulated charges”). The accumulated charge is read out to a shift register (not shown) by a read gate pulse, and is sequentially read out as a voltage signal by a register transfer pulse.

Since the digital camera 10 generally has an electronic shutter function, a mechanical shutter such as the shutter 26 is not essential. In order to realize the electronic shutter function, the CCD 30 is provided with a shutter drain via a shutter gate. When the shutter gate is driven, accumulated charges are swept out to the shutter drain. By controlling the shutter gate, the time for accumulating the electric charges in each sensor element, that is, the shutter speed can be controlled.

A voltage signal output from the CCD 30, that is, an analog signal is color-separated into R, G, and B components by an image signal processing unit 32, and the white balance is adjusted first.
Subsequently, the imaging signal processing unit 32 performs gamma correction, sequentially A / D converts the R, G, and B signals at necessary timing, and obtains digital image data (hereinafter, simply referred to as “digital image data”) obtained as a result. ) Is output to the processing unit 60.

The imaging unit 20 further includes a finder 3
4 and a strobe 36. The finder 34 may be equipped with an LCD (not shown). In this case, various information from the main CPU 62 and the like described later can be displayed in the finder 34. The strobe 36 functions by emitting light when energy stored in a capacitor (not shown) is supplied to the discharge tube 36a.

The imaging control unit 40 includes a zoom drive unit 4
2. It has a focus drive unit 44, an aperture drive unit 46, a shutter drive unit 48, an imaging system CPU 50 that controls them, a distance measurement sensor 52, and a photometry sensor 54. The driving units such as the zoom driving unit 42 each have a driving unit such as a stepping motor. When a release switch 114 described later is pressed, the distance measurement sensor 52 measures the distance to the subject, and the photometry sensor 54 measures the brightness of the subject. The measured distance data (hereinafter simply referred to as “distance measurement data”) and the subject luminance data (hereinafter simply referred to as “photometry data”) are sent to the imaging system CPU 50. Imaging system CPU 50
Controls the zoom drive unit 42 and the focus drive unit 44 to adjust the zoom magnification and focus of the photographing lens 22 based on the photographing information such as the zoom magnification designated by the user.

The image pickup system CPU 50 controls the R of one image frame.
The aperture value and the shutter speed are determined based on the integrated value of the digital signal of GB, that is, the AE information. According to the determined values, the aperture driving unit 46 and the shutter driving unit 48 adjust the aperture amount and open and close the shutter 26, respectively.

The imaging system CPU 50 controls the light emission of the strobe 36 based on the photometric data, and at the same time adjusts the aperture of the aperture 24. When the user instructs the capture of an image, the CCD 30 starts to accumulate electric charges, and the accumulated electric charges are output to the imaging signal processing unit 32 after a lapse of a shutter time calculated from the photometric data.

The processing unit 60 includes the digital camera 10
The main C that controls the whole, especially the processing unit 60 itself
PU 62 and memory control unit 6 controlled by PU 62
4, a YC processing unit 70, a card control unit 74, a compression / decompression processing unit 78, and a communication I / F unit 80. Main CPU 62
Exchanges necessary information with the imaging system CPU 50 through serial communication or the like. The operation clock of the main CPU 62 is provided from a clock generator 88. The clock generator 88 includes the imaging system CPU 50 and the display unit 1
00 are provided with clocks of different frequencies.

The main CPU 62 is provided with a character generator 84 and a timer 86. The timer 86 is backed up by a battery and always counts the date and time.
From this count value, information about the shooting date and time and other time information are given to the main CPU 62. The character generation unit 84 generates character information such as a shooting date and time and a title, and the character information is appropriately combined with the captured image.

The memory controller 64 includes a nonvolatile memory 66
And the main memory 68. Non-volatile memory 66
The digital camera 1 includes an EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable ROM), a flash memory, and the like, and stores setting information by a user and adjustment values at the time of shipment.
The data to be held even while the power supply of 0 is off is stored. The non-volatile memory 66 may have a main CPU
62, a boot program and a system program may be stored. On the other hand, the main memory 68 generally has a DR
It is composed of a relatively inexpensive and large-capacity memory like an AM. The main memory 68 functions as a frame memory for storing data output from the imaging unit 20,
It has a function as a system memory for loading various programs and a function as a work area. The nonvolatile memory 66 and the main memory 68 exchange data with each unit inside and outside the processing unit 60 via the main bus 82.

The YC processing section 70 performs YC conversion on the digital image data, and outputs a luminance signal Y and a color difference (chroma) signal B-
Generate Y, RY. The luminance signal and the color difference signal are temporarily stored in the main memory 68 by the memory control unit 64.
The compression / decompression processing unit 78 sequentially reads out the luminance signal and the color difference signal from the main memory 68 and compresses them. The data thus compressed (hereinafter, simply referred to as “compressed data”) is written to a memory card inserted in the card slot A or the card slot B under the control of the card controller 74. Which of the card slot A and the card slot B is written is switched by the card selection unit 75. The card selection unit 75 is controlled by the main CPU 62.

The processing unit 60 further includes an encoder 72
With. The encoder 72 receives a luminance signal and a color difference signal, converts them into a video signal (NTSC or PAL signal), and outputs the video signal from a video output terminal 90. When a video signal is generated from data recorded on a memory card, the data is first supplied to a compression / decompression processing unit 78 under the control of a card control unit 74. Subsequently, the compression / decompression processing unit 78
The data subjected to the necessary decompression processing is converted by the encoder 72 into a video signal.

The card controller 74 generates necessary signals, converts logic, or converts voltages between the main bus 82 and the memory card (slot) in accordance with the signal specifications recognized by the memory card and the bus specifications of the main bus 82. And so on. The digital camera 10 may include optional devices other than the memory card, and may be configured to support, for example, a PCMCIA-compliant standard I / O card. In that case, a PCMCIA bus control LSI may be provided.

The communication I / F section 80 is provided for the digital camera 10
Communication specifications supported by, for example, USB, RS-23
It performs control such as protocol conversion according to specifications such as 2C and Ethernet (registered trademark). The communication I / F unit 80 includes a driver IC as necessary, and communicates with an external device including a network via a connector 92. In addition to such standard specifications, for example, data may be exchanged with an external device such as a printer by using a unique I / F.

The display unit 100 includes an LCD monitor 10
2 and an LCD panel 104. These are the LCD driver monitor driver 106, panel driver 10
8 respectively. LCD monitor 102
Is provided on the back of the camera with a size of, for example, about 2 inches, and displays a current shooting and playback mode, a zoom ratio for shooting and playback, a remaining battery level, a date and time, a screen for mode setting, a subject image, and the like. . The LCD panel 104 is, for example, a small black-and-white LCD provided on the upper surface of the camera and has an image quality (FINE).
/ NORMAL / BASIC etc.), information such as strobe light emission / non-light emission, standard number of recordable images, number of pixels, battery capacity, etc. are simply displayed.

The operation unit 110 includes mechanisms and electrical members necessary for the user to set or instruct the operation and the mode of the digital camera 10. The power switch 112 determines whether the power of the digital camera 10 is turned on or off. The release switch 114 has a two-stage pressing structure of half pressing and full pressing. As an example, AF and AE are locked by half-press, captured images are captured by full-press, and are recorded in the main memory 68, a memory card, etc. after necessary signal processing, data compression, and the like. The operation unit 110 may receive a setting using a rotary mode dial, a cross key, or the like in addition to these switches, and these are collectively referred to as a function setting unit 116 in FIG. Examples of operations or functions that can be specified by the operation unit 110 include “file format”, “special effects”,
There are “printing”, “decision / save”, “display switching”, and the like. The operation unit 110 is also used for selecting a memory card. The zoom switch 118 determines a zoom magnification.

The main operation of the above configuration is as follows. First, the power switch 11 of the digital camera 10
2 is turned on, and power is supplied to each part of the camera. The main CPU 62 determines whether the digital camera 10 is in the shooting mode or the playback mode by reading the state of the function setting unit 116.

When the camera is in the shooting mode, the main C
The PU 62 monitors the half-pressed state of the release switch 114. When the half-pressed state is detected, the main CPU 62
Obtains photometry data and distance measurement data from the photometry sensor 54 and the distance measurement sensor 52, respectively. The imaging control unit 40 operates based on the obtained data, and the focus, aperture, and the like of the photographing lens 22 are adjusted. Once the adjustment is complete,
Characters such as "standby" are displayed on the LCD monitor 102 to inform the user of the fact, and then the release switch 114 is fully pressed. Release switch 11
When the button 4 is fully pressed, the shutter 26 is closed after a predetermined shutter time, and the accumulated charges of the CCD 30 are swept out to the image signal processing unit 32. The digital image data generated as a result of the processing by the imaging signal processing unit 32 is output to the main bus 82. The digital image data is temporarily stored in the main memory 68, then processed by the YC processing unit 70 and the compression / decompression processing unit 78, and recorded on the memory card via the card control unit 74. The recorded image is displayed on the LCD monitor 102 in a frozen state for a while, so that the user can know the captured image. Thus, a series of photographing operations is completed.

On the other hand, when the digital camera 10 is in the playback mode, the main CPU 62 reads out the last shot image from the main memory 68 via the memory control unit 64,
This is displayed on the LCD monitor 102 of the display unit 100.

In this state, when the user instructs “forward” or “reverse” in the function setting section 116, images taken before and after the currently displayed image are read out and displayed on the LCD monitor 102. You.

The above is the general configuration of the digital camera 10 and the outline of its operation. Next, a characteristic configuration of the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 2 shows a characteristic configuration of this embodiment, that is, a configuration relating to two card slots and their control. As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera according to the present embodiment includes a card slot A, a card slot B,
It has a card selection unit 75 and a selection control unit 200.

Card slot A and card slot B
, A memory card is detachably mounted. Each of the card slots A and B writes data to or reads data from the memory card.
Both card slots A and B may be adapted to memory cards of different specifications. For example, one memory card is SmartMedia (trademark) and the other memory card is CompactFlash (trademark).

Card detection switches 76 and 77 are attached to the card slots A and B, respectively. Each of the switches 76 and 77 is opened and closed according to the attachment and detachment of the memory card. The signal indicating the opening and closing of the switch is transmitted to the selection control unit 2
Sent to 00.

The card selector 75 is provided between the card slots A and B and the main bus 82. The card selection unit 75 selects one of the two card slots A and B as a “write execution slot” according to an instruction from the card control unit 74. The “write execution slot” is a card slot in which data is to be written, and is one form of the write execution mounting unit of the present invention (the same applies hereinafter).

In the present embodiment, the card selector 75 implements a selection function by switching connections. That is, the card selection unit 75 connects the main bus 82 to only the write execution slot. Further, the card selection unit 75 connects the card control unit 74 to only the write execution slot. As described above, the card control unit 74 performs necessary signal conversion processing between the main bus 82 and the memory card. This configuration has an advantage that a plurality of card slots can be selectively used only by adding the card selection unit 75 without changing the card control unit 74 and the like. A general-purpose LSI or the like can be used for the card control unit 74.

As a modification, the main bus 82 is directly connected to the card slots A and B. Data is supplied from the main bus 82 to both card slots A and B. The card selection unit 75 realizes a selection function by supplying a selection signal. That is, the card selecting section 75 sets one of the card slots A and B (write execution slot).
Send selection signal to The card slot receiving the selection signal writes data supplied from the main bus to the memory card. Conversely, data writing is not performed unless a selection signal is received. In this modification, the card selection unit 75 can be provided in the card control unit 74, for example. The advantage is that the configuration and control of the entire apparatus are simple.

The selection control section 200 controls the card selection section 75. As an example, the selection control unit 200 includes the main CPU 62 of FIG.
It can be realized by cooperation of programs stored or loaded in the. FIG. 2 describes each function of the selection control unit 200 as a unitary configuration.
The actual functions are not always physically unitary, nor are they necessary. For example, the mounting order storage unit 2 shown in FIG.
14 may be provided in the nonvolatile memory 66. Further, the selection control section 200 and the card selection section 75 may be integrated in some form. In any case, digital camera 1
The degree of freedom of design for implementing the function of the selection control unit 200 at 0 is understood by those skilled in the art.

The selection control unit 200 includes the mode switching unit 20
2. Manual selection control unit 204 and automatic selection control unit 206
Having.

The mode switching unit 202 includes the operation unit 11
The mode is switched between a manual selection mode and an automatic selection mode according to a user operation signal input from 0. The user operates the operation unit 110 to select one of “slot A”, “slot B”, and “automatic”. "Slot A"
Alternatively, when “slot B” is selected, the manual selection mode is set. When "Auto" is selected, the automatic selection mode is set.

The manual selection control section 204 functions when the manual selection mode is set. In the manual selection mode, the user manually selects a writing execution slot. That is,
When the user selects “slot A”, the manual selection control unit 204 sets the card slot A as a writing execution slot. When the user selects “slot B”, the manual selection control unit 204 sets the card slot B as a writing execution slot.

The presence / absence of a memory card in each of the slots A and B is transmitted from the card presence / absence determination unit 208 to the manual selection control unit 204. The card presence / absence determination unit 208 includes card detection switches 76 and 77 for both card slots A and B.
The presence / absence of a card is determined based on the switch opening / closing signal input from the PC.

The manual selection control unit 204 changes the write execution slot according to the presence or absence of a card. That is, when no memory card is inserted in the slot selected by the user, the manual selection control unit 204 selects the other card slot. At this time, the user may be notified that the memory card is not mounted in the slot selected by the user, and may be notified to prompt the user to mount the memory card in the slot selected by the user.
As a result, when the user thinks that the target memory card is installed in the slot selected by the user and the memory card is not actually installed, a memory card that is not intended to be used is automatically selected. Can be prevented. The notification is made by voice, displayed by text or image data, or by other methods, and a plurality of notification methods may be used.

The selection control unit 200 includes a manual selection control unit 20
A signal indicating the write execution slot set by 4 is supplied to the card selector 75. Thus, data is written to the selected write execution slot. On the other hand, the automatic selection control unit 206 functions when the automatic selection mode is set. The automatic selection control unit 206 automatically selects a writing execution slot according to a predetermined automatic selection criterion reflecting the user's medium selection characteristics.

The automatic selection criterion of this embodiment will be described below. In the prior art, it has been proposed to select a card slot according to the remaining capacity of a memory card. However, when it is assumed that the user selects the card slot by himself, the remaining capacity is considered mainly when the remaining capacity is small. In the normal case, ie when the remaining capacity is still sufficient, the remaining capacity is not taken into account much. Nevertheless, if a slot is simply selected based on the remaining capacity, data may be recorded on a card that does not meet the user's intention. For example, data may be alternately recorded on both cards, and as a result, a situation may arise in which it is not possible to later know what was recorded on which card.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, "when a user selects a slot, what is usually mainly considered is whether or not the management of data after recording is easy rather than the remaining capacity." Focus on that. That is, a general user has a characteristic (medium selection characteristic) of selecting a card slot or a recording target card so that data management becomes easy. In the present embodiment, an automatic selection criterion that reflects such medium selection characteristics of a general user is set.

Referring to FIG. 3, specifically, in this embodiment, three automatic selection criteria can be selectively set.

(1) Mounting order: The card slot in which the memory card has been mounted first is selected as the writing execution slot. When this criterion is adopted, as a result, the data is written to the next card after the first card loaded becomes full of data, and the subsequent data management is easy.

If the difference between the two card slots is small, it may be considered that the card slots are mounted simultaneously. For example, the time difference between card insertion is monitored, and if the time difference is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value, it is determined that cards are simultaneously inserted in both slots. Then, one of the slots set as default is selected as the write execution slot. Alternatively, the previous write execution slot is used as it is. By such processing, when the user inserts two cards in succession, an appropriate slot is selected.

(2) Data resolution: Here, a camera capable of switching between two levels of resolution is assumed. The write execution slot is changed according to the resolution. Management of high-resolution data and low-resolution data becomes easy. Note that three or more levels of resolution may be set. Their resolution is divided into two groups. The designation of the group may be automatic or according to a user's instruction.

(3) Data type: A write execution slot is set according to the data type. The data types are, for example, image data and non-image data. The non-image data is, for example, sound data. It has been proposed to record sound (music or the like) associated with an image in a digital camera. The sound data can be effectively used for grasping a shooting situation and the like. The sound data and the image data are recorded on different memory cards. Alternatively, image data with sound data,
The image data without sound data is distributed to different memory cards.

As described above, the card slots A and B
May be adapted for different types of memory cards. In this case, the selection criterion can be determined so that the data type corresponds to the card type. The user can know the type of the written data according to the type of the memory card, and thus can easily manage the data.

Which of the above-mentioned plurality of criteria is optimal is
It depends on the user or the situation. Therefore, the digital camera 10 is configured so that the user can select one of the three selection criteria.

Returning to FIG. 2, the user operates the operation unit 1
By operating 10, an automatic selection criterion is selected. According to the user's instruction, the selection criterion setting unit 210 selectively sets a plurality of automatic selection criteria. "Installation order""Resolution"
One of "data type" is set. The automatic selection control unit 206 determines a write execution slot with reference to the set reference. For this processing, the card mounting order determination unit 212, the mounting order storage unit 214, the resolution determination unit 216
And a data type determination unit 218.

The card mounting order judging section 212 uses the judgment result of the card existence by the card existence judging section 208,
Judge the card mounting order. Of course, the card mounting order determination unit 212 may determine the mounting order directly from the detection signals of the card detection switches 76 and 77 or by some other method. The mounting order is stored in the mounting order storage unit 214. Since it is desirable that the mounting order storage unit 214 can back up data even when the power is turned off, it is preferably provided in a nonvolatile memory. The information on the mounting order is transmitted to the automatic selection control unit 206 as required.

The resolution determining section 216 determines the resolution of the data to be recorded. This information
It can be obtained from the operation unit 110. That is,
When the user sets the shooting resolution using the operation unit 110, the information is sent to the resolution determination unit 216.
The data type determining unit 218 determines the type of data to be recorded. In the embodiment,
It is determined whether the data is an image or a sound.

The automatic selection control unit 206 refers to these determination results and determines a write execution slot according to the automatic selection criteria. A necessary determination result is referred to according to the set selection criterion. The selection control unit 200 supplies a signal indicating the write execution slot set by the automatic selection control unit 206 to the card selection unit 75. Thus, data is written to the selected write execution slot.

Further, the selection control section 200 has a card remaining capacity determination section 220. This card remaining capacity determination unit 2
20 functions effectively when the remaining capacity of the card becomes small. The card remaining capacity determination unit 220 determines whether the remaining capacity of the card is sufficient, for example, whether the remaining capacity is less than a predetermined value, and transmits the determination result to the automatic selection control unit 206. Further, for example, the card remaining capacity determination unit 220 may determine whether or not one photo image or the like can be recorded. When the remaining capacity is insufficient, the automatic selection control unit 206 changes the write execution slot.

Further, the selection control unit 200
22. The power control unit 222 controls the card slot power supply circuit 224 to limit power supply to a slot that is not selected as a write execution slot. Preferably, the power supply is cut off. This saves power.

When a card slot suitable for a memory card of a type requiring continuous supply of electric power is provided, power consumption is restricted by non-use (that is, when a write execution slot is not selected). The effect of (1) is remarkably obtained.

Further, the selection control section 200 uses the display unit 100 to transmit various information to the user. The information displayed includes "Setting mode" (manual or automatic),
“Used slot” (a slot selected in the manual selection mode or a write execution slot selected in the automatic selection mode). In the automatic selection mode, the set automatic selection criterion is also displayed. Further, which data is recorded on which card may be displayed using a list or an index image. In addition, an LED may be used to display such information. In this case, depending on whether a memory card is mounted, not mounted, and when a slot in which the memory card is mounted is selected, It may be displayed separately. For example, the color is green when a memory card is mounted, no light when the memory card is not mounted, and red when the mounted memory card is selected. Further, such information may be displayed in the viewfinder.

In this embodiment, two card slots are provided. However, three or more card slots may be provided. In this case, the slot priority in the automatic selection mode (for example, A, C, B) may be displayed.

FIG. 4 shows a control process performed by the selection control section 200 described above. First, a mode is selected based on a user operation on the operation unit 110 (S
10). When the user designates "slot A", the manual selection mode is set, and it is determined whether or not a memory card is inserted in card slot A (S12). If a memory card is inserted, the card slot A is selected (S22). On the other hand, if the memory card is not mounted, it is notified that no memory card is mounted (S13). According to this notification, if the user inserts the memory card into the card slot A (S17, Y), the card slot A is selected (S22). If the user does not insert the memory card into the card slot A (S1
7, N), the card slot B is selected (S24).

If the user designates "slot B", the process proceeds from S10 to S14. The manual selection mode is set, and it is determined whether a memory card is inserted in the card slot B (S14). If a memory card is inserted, the card slot B is selected (S2
4). On the other hand, if no memory card is inserted, it is notified that no memory card is inserted (S1).
5). According to this notification, if the user inserts the memory card into the card slot B (S19, Y), the card slot B is selected (S24). If the user does not insert the memory card into the card slot B (S19, N), the card slot A is selected (S22).

When the user specifies “automatic”,
The process proceeds from S10 to S16. Automatic selection mode is set,
The slot is selected by the automatic selection control unit 206 according to the automatic selection criteria. The automatic selection criterion is set by the selection criterion setting unit 210. Here, it is assumed that “card mounting order” is set as an automatic selection criterion. In S16, the determination result of the card mounting order determination unit 212 is referred to. When the card is to be inserted into the card slot A first, it is determined whether the remaining capacity of the memory card in the slot A is sufficient (S18). Remaining capacity OK (S18,
If Y), the card slot A is selected (S22),
If the remaining capacity is NG (S18, N), the card slot B is selected (S24).

On the other hand, if it is determined in S16 that the card is to be inserted into the card slot B first, it is determined whether the remaining capacity of the memory card in the slot B is sufficient (S2).
0). If the remaining capacity is OK (S20, Y), the card slot B is selected (S24), and the remaining capacity NG (S20, N).
If so, the card slot A is selected (S22).

The selection control unit 200 includes the display unit 100
Alternatively, information on the selected slot or the like is displayed using another display means (S26). Further, the power control unit 222
Functions to limit, preferably stop, the power supply to the non-selected slots (S28).

Further, the selection control section 200 sends a selection control signal indicating the write execution slot selected in S22 or S24 to the card selection section 75 (S30). The card selecting section 75 operates according to the control signal, whereby data is written to the memory card in the selected slot.

In the process shown in FIG. 4, "mounting order" is set as the automatic selection criterion. If another automatic selection criterion has been set, processing according to that criterion is performed. That is, when “resolution” is set as the automatic selection criterion, a card slot is selected according to the resolution of data to be written. When “data type (image / sound)” is set as the automatic selection criterion, a card slot is selected according to the data type. The criterion for selection is the corresponding deciding unit 212, 21
6, 218.

FIG. 5 shows a control process by the selection control unit 200 when one of the card slots is selected and the remaining card capacity is reduced during use. here,
As an example, a process when the card slot A is selected first will be described. First, a mode selection is performed based on a user operation on the operation unit 110, and the card slot A is selected by manual or automatic selection (S
40).

While the card slot A is being used (S42),
When it is detected that the remaining card capacity is not sufficient (S44,
N), it is notified that the remaining card capacity is small (S4).
6). When the remaining card capacity is sufficient (N in S44), the card slot A is continuously used as it is (S42).
When notified that the remaining card capacity is not sufficient, it is detected whether another card is inserted in the card slot A (S48).

When it is detected that another card is inserted in the card slot A (S48, Y), the card slot A is continuously selected (S52). When the installation of another card is not detected in the card slot A (S4
8, N), it is detected whether or not a card is inserted in the card slot B (S50). When a card is inserted in the card slot B (S50, Y), the card slot B is automatically selected (S54). Card slot B
If no card is loaded in (S50, N), this control process ends.

The selection control unit 200 includes the display unit 100
Alternatively, information of the selected slot or the like is displayed using another display means (S56). Further, the power control unit 222
Functions to limit, preferably stop, the power supply to the unselected slots (S58).

Further, the selection control section 200 sends a selection control signal indicating the write execution slot selected in S52 or S54 to the card selection section 75 (S60). The card selecting section 75 operates according to the control signal, whereby data is written to the memory card in the selected slot.

The characteristic configuration and operation of the digital camera according to the present embodiment have been described above. According to the present embodiment,
The write execution slot is selected according to the automatic selection criteria. Since the automatic selection criterion reflects the user's medium selection characteristics, data can be written to an appropriate memory card.
Further, by switching between the automatic selection mode and the manual selection mode, data can be written to an appropriate memory card according to the user's desire. Further, data can be written to an appropriate memory card by using the determination result of the remaining capacity in addition to the automatic selection criterion. Further, by displaying the selection result of the card slot, the user can easily grasp which card slot is used for writing. In addition, power can be saved by restricting power supply to card slots other than the write execution slot. In other words, it is possible to increase the number of mounted media while suppressing an increase in power consumption.

The embodiments have been described above, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these descriptions. It is understood by those skilled in the art that various changes or improvements can be made to these embodiments.

As a first modified example, it goes without saying that the type of the memory card is not limited. In addition, it goes without saying that the memory medium and the medium mounting section are not limited to the memory card and the card slot. The memory medium is
Any medium can be used as long as the recording data (mainly photographic images) of the digital camera can be recorded. The medium mounting unit is configured to be compatible with such an arbitrary medium. The medium mounting section may be, for example, a slot for an I / O card. In this case, connect to the I / O card and its destination (wired or wireless)
The storage device of the electronic device (such as a personal computer) functions as a memory medium.

As a second modification, the number of the medium mounting portions may be three or more. They may be compatible with the same or different types of memory cards. The automatic selection criteria described above are equally applicable.

For example, three medium mounting units (A, B, C)
And When the “mounting order” is used as a reference, the mounting unit on which the medium is mounted first is selected. When using “data resolution” as a reference, three types of resolutions are used for the mounting unit A,
Assigned to B and C respectively. Alternatively, two types of resolutions are set, and one resolution is allocated to one mounting unit, and the other resolution is allocated to the remaining two mounting units. Which of the remaining two mounting parts is selected depends on another standard. The same applies to the case where “data type” is used as a reference. Similar modifications can be applied to a case where there are four or more medium mounting portions.

As a third modification, the automatic selection criterion is not limited to the above “mounting order”, “data resolution” and “data type”. Other criteria reflecting the user's media selection characteristics may be applied, as defined above.

For example, in the present embodiment, the “mounting order”
Is used as a reference, the mounting unit on which the medium is mounted earlier is selected as the writing execution mounting unit. But, conversely,
A mounting unit on which the medium is mounted later may be selected as the writing execution mounting unit. The user may select which criterion to use.

As a fourth modification, the selection frequency in the manual selection mode by the user is suitably used for automatic selection.
The selection control unit 200 monitors and records the manual selection of the medium mounting unit by the user. When the automatic selection mode is set, the medium mounting unit frequently selected manually is selected as the writing execution mounting unit. That is, the automatic selection criterion is set based on the frequency of the manual selection, and the mounting portion with the higher frequency is preferentially selected. This automatic selection criterion is advantageous in that it can reflect the media selection characteristics of individual users. In addition, the configuration may be such that the user can freely set his / her own automatic selection criteria.

As a fifth modification, a plurality of automatic selection criteria can be simultaneously applied. For example, two of the three automatic selection criteria in the above embodiment are applied simultaneously. As a specific example, “mounting order” and “resolution” are used together. Basically, the writing execution mounting section is selected according to the mounting order. When the two media are mounted almost simultaneously, the writing execution mounting unit is selected according to the resolution. Alternatively, in a case where three or more mounting units are installed, two mounting units are selected in accordance with “resolution” as the first stage, and narrowed down to one mounting unit in accordance with the mounting order as the second stage. .

As a sixth modification, it goes without saying that a plurality of automatic selection criteria may not be selectively set. That is, the digital camera may be configured such that only one automatic selection criterion can be set. An automatic selection criterion that is considered to be most appropriate according to the specifications of the camera and the like is adopted.

Further, as a seventh modification, an electronic device having a function of a digital camera (for example, a computer equipped with a CCD camera) may be provided with the configuration of the present invention. Included in the range.

It is easily understood by those skilled in the art that various other modifications and changes can be made, and these can be included in the concept of the present invention.

[0102]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a digital camera which automatically selects an appropriate medium mounting section from a plurality of medium mounting sections and writes data therein.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a digital camera according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of a portion related to two memory card slots in the digital camera of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an automatic selection criterion used in a selection control unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a selection control unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a selection control unit in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

10 digital camera, 20 imaging unit, 40 imaging control unit, 60 processing unit, 62 main CP
U, 64 memory controller, 75 card selector, 76
Card detection switch, 77 Card detection switch, 82
Main bus, 100 display unit, 110 operation unit, 200 selection control unit, 202 mode switching unit, 2
04 manual selection control unit, 206 automatic selection control unit, 20
8 card presence / absence determination section, 210 selection criterion setting section, 212
Card mounting order determination unit, 214 mounting order storage unit, 216
Resolution determining section, 218 data type determining section, 220
Card remaining capacity determination unit, 222 power control unit, A, B card slots.

Claims (34)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus to which a plurality of memory media can be mounted, wherein a plurality of media mounting sections each having a memory medium removably mounted thereon, and data writing from the plurality of medium mounting sections. A medium selection unit that selects a write execution mounting unit that is a medium mounting unit to be provided; and a selection control unit that controls the medium selection unit. The selection control unit performs a predetermined automatic operation that reflects a medium selection characteristic of a user. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an automatic selection control unit that selects the writing execution mounting unit according to a selection criterion. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the selection control unit selects another medium mounting unit when the remaining memory capacity of the writing execution mounting unit selected according to the predetermined automatic selection criterion is insufficient. Item 2. The image pickup device according to Item 1. 3. The selection control unit, when the remaining memory capacity runs short while using the selected write execution mounting unit,
The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein another medium mounting unit is automatically selected. 4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined automatic selection criterion is determined based on an order of mounting media on the plurality of media mounting units. 5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined automatic selection criterion is determined based on a resolution of image data to be written. 6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined automatic selection criterion is determined based on a type of data to be written. 7. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the data to be written is classified into image data and non-image data. 8. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the non-image data is sound data. 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of medium mounting units are adapted to different types of memory media, and the predetermined automatic selection criterion indicates that the type of the data to be written corresponds to the type of the memory medium. 9. The image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein 10. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection criterion setting unit capable of selectively setting at least one selection criterion from the plurality of predetermined automatic selection criteria. 11. A manual selection mode in which a user manually selects the writing execution mounting unit in response to a user operation,
The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mode switching unit configured to switch between an automatic selection mode in which the writing execution mounting unit is selected by the automatic selection control unit. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the selection control section selects another medium mounting section when the memory medium is not mounted on the writing execution mounting section selected by the user in the manual selection mode. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 11. 13. When the memory medium is not mounted on the writing execution mounting unit selected by the user in the manual selection mode, the selection control unit notifies that the memory medium is not mounted, The image capturing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a notification is issued to prompt the user to mount the memory medium on the medium mounting unit on which the memory medium is not mounted. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the notification is a voice. 15. A notification to the medium mounting unit depending on whether the memory medium is mounted, not mounted, and when the medium mounting unit on which the memory medium is mounted is selected. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit having a different method. 16. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a power control unit configured to limit power supply to a medium mounting unit not selected as the writing execution mounting unit. . 17. A method of recording data on a memory medium detachable from an image pickup apparatus, comprising: a plurality of medium mounting sections each having a memory medium mounted therein; A data recording method for an image pickup apparatus, comprising: selecting a medium mounting section to which data is to be written according to a selection criterion. 18. The method according to claim 18, further comprising controlling the selection of the medium mounting unit, wherein the method of controlling the selection includes performing the data writing according to a predetermined automatic selection criterion reflecting a medium selection characteristic of a user. 18. The data recording method for an image pickup apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a medium mounting unit is selected. 19. The method for controlling selection includes selecting another medium mounting unit when the remaining memory capacity of the medium mounting unit to which the data is to be written selected according to the predetermined automatic selection criterion is insufficient. 18. The data recording method for an image pickup device according to claim 17, wherein: 20. The method of controlling the selection, wherein when the remaining memory capacity becomes insufficient while using the medium mounting unit to which the selected data writing is to be performed, another medium mounting unit is automatically selected. The data recording method for an image pickup device according to claim 17, wherein: 21. The data recording method according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined automatic selection criterion is determined based on an order of mounting media on the plurality of media mounting units. . 22. The data recording method according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined automatic selection criterion is determined based on a resolution of image data to be written. 23. The data recording method according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined automatic selection criterion is determined based on a type of data to be written. 24. The data recording method according to claim 17, wherein the data to be written is classified into image data and non-image data. 25. The data recording method according to claim 17, wherein the non-image data is sound data. 26. The method according to claim 26, wherein the plurality of medium mounting sections are adapted to different types of memory media, and the predetermined automatic selection criterion indicates that the type of the data to be written corresponds to the type of the memory medium. 27. The method according to claim 22, wherein
The data recording method of the image pickup device according to any one of the above. 27. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a selection criterion setting method capable of selectively setting at least one selection criterion from a plurality of automatic selection criteria prepared in advance. Data recording method. 28. A manual selection method in which a user manually selects the data writing medium mounting unit in response to a user operation, and an automatic selection method in which the data writing medium mounting unit is selected by a method of controlling the selection. 27. The data recording method for an image pickup device according to claim 17, further comprising a mode switching method for switching between the two modes. 29. The selection control section, when the memory medium is not mounted on the writing execution mounting section selected by the user in the manual selection mode, selects another medium mounting section. The image pickup device according to claim 27. 30. The method of controlling the selection, wherein when the memory medium is not mounted on the data writing medium mounting section selected by the user in the manual selection method, the memory medium is not mounted. 29. The data recording method for an image capturing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the notification is issued to prompt the user to mount the memory medium on the medium mounting section where the memory medium is not mounted. 31. The data recording method according to claim 30, wherein the notification method is a voice notification method. 32. Notification of a notification to the medium mounting unit depending on whether the memory medium is mounted, when it is not mounted, and when the medium mounting unit on which the memory medium is mounted is selected. 18. The data recording method for an image capturing apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a notification method having a different method. 33. The method according to claim 17, further comprising a power control method for restricting power supply to a medium mounting unit not selected as the writing execution mounting unit.
The data recording method of the image pickup device according to any one of the above. 34. A recording medium storing a computer-executable program for a computer of an image pickup apparatus, wherein the program reads a user's medium selection characteristic from a plurality of medium mounting units each having a memory medium mounted thereon. A computer-readable recording medium characterized by causing the computer to execute a process of selecting a medium mounting unit to which data is to be written according to a predetermined automatic selection criterion reflected.