JP2002165171A - Copying machine for small card contents - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain a copying machine for small card contents, capable of and easy to copy/transfer the contents of small cards. SOLUTION: In the copying machine to copy/transfer the contents of the small card, a reading means to read data from the cards, an input means, a storage means, an interface means for communicating to external devices and a control means to copy data read, by controlling the reading means according to outputs from the inputting means into the storage means and to transfer the contents in the storage means, according to the requests from the external devices via the interface means are equipped.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for copying the contents of various small cards, which are memory cards used in digital cameras and digital video cameras. The present invention relates to a card copying device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional digital camera or digital video camera (hereinafter simply referred to as a digital camera or the like), image data such as photographed still images and moving images are sequentially stored in a small card inserted in the digital camera or the like. At a later date, the image data is read from the small card using a personal computer or the like, edited as appropriate, and stored or printed as needed.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional image data processing method. In FIG. 5, 1 is a digital camera, 2 is a small card in which image data is stored, and 3 is a computer having means for reading the small card.

Here, a conventional processing method shown in FIG. 5 will be described. Image data captured by the digital camera 1 is sequentially stored in a small card 2 inserted in the digital camera 1.

The small card 2 is taken out of the digital camera 1 after photographing as shown by "CR01" in FIG.
It is inserted into the reading means of the computer 3. In this state, the computer 3 reads image data from the small card 2 and performs processing such as editing and printing.

[0006]

However, when it is necessary to bring a digital camera as in the conventional example shown in FIG. 5 for traveling or to photograph a large amount of images, the photographed image data is small. The storage capacity of the card may be exceeded.

In this case, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of small cards or provide a computer (such as a portable notebook computer) for taking out the contents of the small cards.

[0008] Since the small card itself is relatively expensive, it is costly to prepare a plurality of small cards by an individual, and carrying a computer separately has a problem in cost and deteriorates mobility. There was a problem. Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is:
An object of the present invention is to realize a small card content copying apparatus which is portable and can easily copy and transfer the contents of a small card.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a small card contents copying apparatus for copying and transferring contents of a small card, wherein Reading means for reading data from the input means, input means, storage means, interface means for communicating with external equipment, and storing the data read by controlling the reading means based on the output of the input means. Control means for copying the contents of the storage means via the interface means based on a request from the external device, so that the contents of the small card can be copied easily and easily to the storage means.・ Transfer becomes possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the small card contents copying apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the storage means is a hard disk, a magnetic tape, or an optical disk. The contents can be copied and transferred to the storage means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the small card contents copying apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the interface means includes an infrared communication interface,
By using a serial communication interface, a parallel communication interface, or a wireless communication interface, it is possible to copy and transfer the contents of the small card to the storage means easily and easily.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the small card contents copying apparatus according to the first aspect, the control means creates a directory for each of the small cards when copying the data to the storage means. By copying the data, the management of the data copied to the storage means becomes easy.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the small card contents copying apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the display means is provided, so that the user can check the contents displayed on the display means while inputting. Operability can be improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the small card contents copying apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the display means is an LED display or a liquid crystal display, so that the user can display on the display means. Since the input means can be operated while confirming the contents to be performed, the operability is improved.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the small card contents copying apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the storage means is detachable, the detachable storage means can be directly transferred to a host computer or the like. Since connection can be made and interface means is not required, cost can be reduced, and the circuit configuration and the like can be reduced.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the small card content copying apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 4 is a small card reading means such as a card reader, 5 is an input means such as a switch,
Reference numeral 6 denotes control means, 7 denotes storage means such as a hard disk, 8 denotes interface means such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, and 9 denotes a small card. Reference numerals 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 constitute a small card contents copying apparatus 50.

The outputs of the reading means 4 and the input means 5 are respectively connected to the control means 6, and the input and output of the storage means 7 are mutually connected to the control means 6. The output of the control means 6 is connected to the interface means 8.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will now be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the control unit 6 at the time of copying, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the control unit 6 at the time of transfer.

At the time of copying, the control means scans the input means 5 at "S001" in FIG. 2 to determine whether or not there is a copy instruction. Specifically, for example, it is detected whether or not a switch as an input means has been pressed.

If there is a copy instruction in "S001" in FIG. 2, the control means 6 in "S002" in FIG.
Determines whether the reading means 4 is ready.
For example, it is determined whether or not the small card 9 has been inserted into the reading unit 4.

If the reading means 4 is ready in "S002" in FIG. 2, the control means 6 reads out the image data stored in the small card 9 via the reading means 4 in "S003" in FIG. "S0" in FIG.
04 ", the read image data is copied to the storage means 7.

As a result, by inserting the small card 9 into the reading means 4 of the small card content copying device 50 and operating the input means 5, the small card 9 can be easily read.
Can be copied to the storage means 7. In addition, since the circuit configuration is simple, miniaturization is possible and the device can be easily carried.

On the other hand, at the time of transfer, "S101" in FIG.
, The control means 6 determines whether or not the interface means 8 is ready. For example, it is determined whether or not the interface unit 8 is connected to a higher-level computer or the like as an external device by a connection cable or the like and can communicate.

If the preparation of the interface means 8 is completed in "S101" in FIG. 3, "S102" in FIG.
, The control means 6 waits for a transfer request from a host computer, which is an external device connected to the interface means 8, and waits.

When a transfer request for the copied image data is made from an external device such as a host computer in "S102" in FIG. 3, the control means 6 stores the data from the storage means 7 in "S103" in FIG. The read image data is read, and the read image data is transferred to the external device, such as a computer, through the interface means 8 in “S104” in FIG.

As a result, the image data copied from the small card 9 to the storage means 7 can be easily transferred from the small card 9 to the host computer or the like which is an external device in response to a transfer request from the host computer or the like. Processing such as editing and printing of image data can be performed.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the appearance of the small card contents copying apparatus according to the present invention. For example, "CR" in FIG.
11 "is provided with a small card insertion slot of the reading means 4, and a connector of the interface means 8 is provided as shown by" IF11 "in FIG.

Further, as shown by "HD11" in FIG. 4, a storage means 7 such as a hard disk is incorporated, and "S11" in FIG.
Input means 5 such as a switch as shown in W11 ″ is provided.

As described above, since it is composed of the minimum necessary parts and the like, it is possible to reduce the size and easily carry it.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the storage means 7 is exemplified by a hard disk. However, the storage means is not limited to this, and may be a storage means having a large storage capacity such as a magnetic tape or an optical disk. It does not matter.

Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, a USB interface which is a kind of serial communication is illustrated as the interface means 8, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and infrared communication, serial communication, parallel communication, IEEE (Institute of
Various interfaces such as Electrical and Electronic Engineers (1394) and Bluetooth, which is one type of wireless communication, may be used.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the control means 6 simply copies the contents of the small card 9 to the storage means 7, but there is a copy instruction for each inserted small card, in other words, there is a copy instruction. A separate directory may be created for each and the contents of the small card may be copied to this directory. In this case, management of the image data copied to the storage unit 7 becomes easy.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4, no display means is provided in the small card contents copying apparatus 50. However, display means such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display and a liquid crystal display are provided. It does not matter. In this case, the user can operate the input unit 5 while checking the content displayed on the display unit, so that the operability is improved.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4, the driving power supply of the small card contents copying apparatus 50 is not mentioned, but it is possible to use either a battery such as a battery or a commercial power supply. It does not matter.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4, the storage means 7 is incorporated in the small card content copying apparatus 50, but it may be a removable storage means. In this case, the detachable storage means can be directly connected to a host computer or the like, and the interface means 8 becomes unnecessary, so that the cost can be reduced and the circuit configuration and the like can be further reduced.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description,
According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the contents of the small card can be easily copied to the storage means by inserting the small card into the reading means of the small card content copying device and operating the input means. This makes it possible to easily transfer the image data copied from the small card to the storage means to the host computer or the like in response to a transfer request from the host computer or the like. In addition, the device can be miniaturized and easily carried.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when data is copied to the storage means, a directory is created and copied for each small card, thereby facilitating management of the data copied to the storage means. .

According to the fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, by providing the display means, the user can operate the input means while confirming the contents displayed on the display means. The performance is improved.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, by using the removable storage means, the removable storage means can be directly connected to a host computer or the like, and the interface means becomes unnecessary. Therefore, the cost can be reduced, and the circuit configuration and the like can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a small card contents copying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a control unit during copying.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a control unit at the time of transfer.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the appearance of the small card content copying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram showing an example of a conventional image data processing method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 2, 9 Small card 3 Computer 4 Reading means 5 Input means 6 Control means 7 Storage means 8 Interface means 50 Small card contents copying device

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A small card contents copying apparatus for copying and transferring contents of a small card, comprising: reading means for reading data from the small card; input means; storage means; Means for controlling the reading means based on the output of the input means to copy the data read into the storage means, and transferring the contents of the storage means via the interface means based on a request from the external device A small card content copying apparatus, comprising: 2. The small card contents copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is a hard disk, a magnetic tape, or an optical disk. 3. The small card contents copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said interface means is an infrared communication interface, a serial communication interface, a parallel communication interface, or a wireless communication interface. 4. The small card contents copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means creates and copies a directory for each of said small cards when copying said data to said storage means. 5. The small card contents copying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means. 6. The small card contents copying apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said display means is an LED display or a liquid crystal display. 7. A small card contents copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is detachable.