JP2002330386A - Digital still camera capable of setting preparative recording capacity - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital still camera that can avoid secondary utilization of image or other data from being disabled due to deficiency in a recording capacity even when a user utilizes the image and the data secondarily and this requires appending of the data. SOLUTION: A preparative recording capacity assumed for a user for its secondary use is estimated in advance, and when the remaining recording capacity reaches the preparative recording capacity or below, the regular recording such as photographing and recording is limited. That is, part of the recording capacity of a recording medium is preset as the preparative recording capacity Ma1 (step S3), the preparative recording capacity Ma1 is subtracted from the remaining capacity Mr of the recording medium to calculate a photographing available remaining capacity Mp1 (step S4). The photographing is limited depending on the photographing available remaining capacity Mp1 (steps S6, S7).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital still camera for imaging a subject and recording and reproducing image data on a removable recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Existing digital still cameras permit recording of images or other data as much as possible on a recording medium or recording device. That is, the user performs photographing with the digital still camera until there is no more unused area on the recording medium.

For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-150738, an image can be reproduced from a recording medium by an arbitrary reproducing machine even if an electronic camera (digital still camera) is different, and recording is performed due to a lack of capacity of the recording medium. There is disclosed an electronic camera that can prevent a failure that cannot be performed beforehand. In this publication, when the number of unused blocks in the memory card is insufficient, the image data is kept stored in the buffer memory of the camera, and the next imaging is prohibited unless a new memory card is inserted. Also in the case of this publication, images are recorded on the recording medium until the capacity of the unused area becomes equal to or less than one still image.

In recent years, in addition to recording photographed image data on a recording medium or a recording device, the recorded image or other data is processed and recorded.
The situation of secondary use, such as recording of a print information file set by a user, is increasing. This print information file refers to the number of copies of each image, the size of each image, etc., when the recorded media is taken to a dealer and the recorded images are printed. This is a file in which information is recorded, and printing is performed by a printing machine based on the print information file.

[0005]

If the recording medium or recording apparatus permits recording of an image or other data as long as it can be recorded as in the prior art, the above-described data processing and print information file Even if it is desired to use a function such as creation, there is a possibility that the data cannot be used because the capacity for additionally writing such data cannot be secured. In such a case, a print information file is conventionally created by verbally telling the number of copies or size of each image to a clerk at a dealer or by deleting image data recorded on a recording medium.

In addition, in a recording medium such as a CD-R or a recording apparatus that can only be additionally recorded, a recording capacity is consumed because recording by overwriting is impossible even in an act of renaming, deleting, or moving a file. If there is no remaining recording capacity, these actions may not be possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a digital still camera capable of performing photographing using the entire storage capacity of a recording medium and avoiding a problem that subsequent setting of recorded data becomes impossible. .

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a digital still camera according to the present invention estimates in advance a preliminary recording capacity which is assumed to be used by a user for secondary use, and reduces the remaining recording capacity. If it falls below that,
Restrict specified recording operations such as shooting and recording. In addition, the user estimates in advance the preliminary recording capacity that is assumed to be used for secondary use, calculates the number of recordable images, the recording time, and the like based on the capacity obtained by subtracting that capacity from the total recording capacity, and displays it on the display unit. indicate.

Further, the digital still camera of the present invention is provided with means for setting the preliminary recording capacity by the user himself according to the usage mode. If the recording capacity becomes equal to or less than the reserved capacity reserved by the user in advance, the prescribed recording operation such as photographing and sound recording is restricted. Further, based on the capacity obtained by subtracting the reserved capacity reserved by the user in advance from the total recording capacity, the number of recordable images, the recording time, and the like are calculated and displayed on the display unit.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a digital still camera to which the present invention is applied. 1 is a viewfinder, 2 is an LCD monitor for displaying an image, 3 is an LCD for displaying the remaining capacity of the recording medium, 4 is a shutter button, 5 is a mode dial for selecting a shooting mode, Reference numeral 6 denotes a media slot, 7 denotes a recording medium, and 8 denotes a card cover.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the digital still camera shown in FIG.

First, the processing operation of each block at the time of photographing will be described below. The CPU 20 monitors the shutter button 4 of the operation unit 21 and starts the photographing operation when the shutter button 4 is pressed. The operation unit 21 includes a shutter button 4, a mode dial 5, various setting buttons 9, and the like.

The image incident on the lens 11 is formed on the CCD 12 and photoelectrically converted. The analog signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 12 is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 13. The digitized CCD data is C
The signal processing is performed by the CD signal processing unit 14 and converted into luminance and color difference signals of the image, and the data is written to the work memory 16 by the memory controller 15.

The image display processing unit 17 reads the photographed image data through the memory controller 15 and displays the image on the image display device 2. The photographed image data is subjected to data compression by an image compression / decompression processing unit 19, and the compressed data is written to a work memory 16 through a memory controller 15. CP
U20 writes the compressed data to the recording medium 7 through the media interface 22.

Next, the processing operation of each block during reproduction will be described. The CPU 20 reads out the compressed image data recorded on the recording medium 7 through the media interface 22 and writes it into the work memory 16 through the memory controller 15.

The compressed image data written in the work memory 16 is sent to the image compression / decompression processing unit 19 through the memory controller 15 and decompressed, and restored as luminance and color difference image data.

The restored luminance and color difference data are written to the work memory 16 through the memory controller 15. The image display processing unit 17 reads the restored image data through the memory controller 15 and
An image is displayed on the image display device 2.

Next, the setting of the spare recording capacity of the digital still camera according to the present invention will be described. In the present invention, a considerable amount of remaining capacity is secured as a spare recording capacity in anticipation of the capacity of information to be recorded after the print setting file or the like.
FIG. 3 shows a conceptual diagram of the memory map. FIG. 3A shows an example of using a conventional recording medium, and FIG. 3B shows an example of using a recording medium according to the present invention. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 3A, recording of an image or other data as much as possible on a recording medium is permitted. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3B, a part of the recording area of the recording medium is reserved as a spare recording area, and when the remaining recordable capacity of the recording medium approaches the spare recording area, image data or other data is recorded. Limit data recording. This spare recording capacity is secured according to the total recording capacity of the recording medium or by a user setting.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the remaining photographable capacity is calculated based on the specified preliminary recording capacity,
The photographing is permitted or prohibited according to the remaining photographable capacity.

First, the CPU 20 obtains information including the total recording capacity Mt and the used capacity Mu of the recording medium 7 (a memory card capable of repeatedly recording and reproducing in this embodiment) via the media interface 22 (step S1). ). In step S2, the CPU 20 calculates the remaining capacity Mr of the recording medium as “Mt−Mu”.

Next, the CPU 20 calculates a prescribed spare recording capacity Ma1 from the total recording capacity Mt of the recording medium 7 (step S3). The spare recording capacity Ma1 is calculated as, for example, 5% of the total recording capacity Mt. That is, when the total recording capacity Mt of the medium 7 is 128 Mbytes, the spare recording capacity Ma1 is 6.4 Mbytes.

In step S4, the CPU 20 calculates the remaining photographable capacity Mp1. This photographable remaining amount Mp1 is
It is calculated as “the remaining capacity Mr of the recording medium−the spare recording capacity Ma1”. In step S5, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the remaining photographable capacity Mp1 is larger than the prescribed photographed data capacity Md. The imaging data prescribed capacity Md corresponds to the data amount of one still image, and is, for example, 100 Kbytes.

When the remaining photographable capacity Mp1 is larger than the prescribed photographing data capacity Md (in the case of YES in step S5), the CPU 20 calculates the photographable number Np1 and displays the photographable number Np1 on the remaining amount display LCD3. Then, imaging is permitted (step S6). This recordable number Np
1 indicates “the available remaining capacity Mp” as shown in step S6.
1 ÷ Captured data stipulated capacity Md.

If the remaining photographable capacity Mp is equal to or smaller than the prescribed photographing data capacity Md (NO in step S5), the CPU
Numeral 20 displays "0" on the remaining amount display LCD 3, and prohibits recording operation such as photographing or recording (step S7).

As described above, according to the present invention, when a user uses an image or other data on a secondary basis, even if additional data is required, the user may not be able to use the image or other data due to insufficient recording capacity. Lower. In addition, the user can perform photographing without being aware of the remaining recording capacity for secondary use of images or other data.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the preliminary recording capacity is calculated based on the number of images (the number of still images) recorded on the recording medium 7 and the number of images that can be recorded. The remaining photographable capacity is calculated from the spare recording capacity, and photographing is permitted or prohibited according to the remaining photographable capacity.

First, the CPU 20 acquires information including the total recording capacity Mt and the used capacity Mu of the recording medium 7 via the media interface 22 as in the above-described embodiment (step S11). In step S12, the CPU 20 sets the remaining capacity Mr of the recording medium to “Mt”.
−Mu ”. Further, the CPU 20 determines in step S
At 13, the maximum number of images (the number of still images) Nc that can be recorded in the remaining capacity Mr is calculated. This maximum number of images Nc
Is calculated as (Mr / Md) by dividing the remaining capacity Mr by the specified imaging data capacity Md. As described above, the imaging data prescribed capacity Md corresponds to the data amount of one still image.

In step S14, the CPU 20 obtains the number of images already recorded on the recording medium 7. The number of recorded images is stored in a specific file set in the recording medium 7.

In step S15, the CPU 20 sets the maximum number of recorded images Nmax (Nmax = Nu +
Nc), the preliminary recording capacity Ma2 is calculated. The spare recording capacity Ma2 is calculated as, for example, 5% of a value obtained by multiplying the maximum recording image number Nmax by the above-described imaging data prescribed capacity Md. That is, the spare recording capacity Ma2 is “Nmax *
Md * 0.05 ".

In step S16, the CPU 20 calculates the remaining photographable capacity Mp2. This photographable remaining amount Mp2 is
It is calculated as “the remaining capacity Mr of the recording medium−the spare recording capacity Ma2”. In step S17, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the remaining photographable capacity Mp2 is larger than the prescribed photographed data capacity Md.

When the remaining photographable capacity Mp2 is larger than the prescribed photographing data capacity Md (in the case of YES in step S17), the CPU 20 calculates the photographable number Np2 and displays the photographable number Np2 on the remaining amount display LCD3. Then, imaging is permitted (step S18). This recordable number N
As shown in step S18, p2 is “the remaining photographable capacity Mp2 ÷ the prescribed photographing data capacity Md”.

If the remaining photographable capacity Mp2 is equal to or less than the prescribed photographing data capacity Md (NO in step S17), C
The PU 20 displays “0” on the remaining amount display LCD 3 and prohibits shooting (step S19).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, the maximum capacity that can be set as a print information file or the like after an image is recorded on the recording medium 7 is used as the spare recording capacity. However, some users require little or no secondary use. You may not. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the remaining photographable capacity is calculated based on the preliminary recording capacity arbitrarily set by the user, and the photographing is permitted or prohibited according to the remaining photographable capacity.

First, the CPU 20 acquires information including the total recording capacity Mt and the used capacity Mu of the recording medium 7 via the media interface 22 as in the above-described embodiment (step S31). In step S2, the CPU 20 sets the remaining capacity Mr of the recording medium to “Mt−
Mu ”(step S32).

Next, the CPU 20 designates
The spare recording capacity Ma3 is calculated (step S33). FIG. 7 shows a screen displayed on the image display LCD 2 when the user designates the spare recording capacity Ma3. This example shows a case where the total media capacity Mt is 100 Mbytes and the remaining media capacity Mr is 30 Mbytes, and the user sets 5% of the total media capacity Mt as the reserved capacity. As a result, the CPU 20 calculates the spare recording capacity Ma3 as 5 Mbytes, and displays 5 Mbytes as the reserved capacity as shown in FIG.

In step S34, the CPU 20 calculates the remaining photographable capacity Mp3. This remaining photographable amount Mp3 is
It is calculated as “remaining capacity Mr of recording medium−preliminary recording capacity Ma3”. In step S35, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the remaining photographable capacity Mp3 is larger than the prescribed photographing data capacity Md. As described above, the imaging data prescribed capacity Md corresponds to the data amount of one still image.

When the remaining photographable capacity Mp3 is larger than the prescribed photographing data capacity Md (in the case of YES in step S35), the CPU 20 calculates the photographable number Np3 and displays the photographable number Np3 on the remaining amount display LCD3. Then, imaging is permitted (step S36). This recordable number N
As shown in step S36, p3 is “the remaining photographable capacity Mp3 ÷ the photographed data prescribed capacity Md.

If the remaining photographable capacity Mp3 is equal to or smaller than the prescribed photographed data capacity Md (NO in step S35), C
The PU 20 displays “0” on the remaining amount display LCD 3 and prohibits shooting (step S37).

In the above embodiment, a case is described in which a memory card that can be repeatedly recorded and reproduced is used as a recording medium. However, even in a recording medium such as a CD-R or the like which allows only additional recording, the total capacity of the recording medium is The maximum number of images that can be recorded can be calculated. From the calculated maximum number of images, the maximum capacity of data that can be additionally recorded in secondary use such as a print information file is calculated.

FIG. 8 shows a small optical disk 10 that can only be written on.
1 is a perspective view showing a case in which the present invention is applied to a digital still camera of the present invention. As such a small optical disk 10, a disk capable of recording 250 Mbytes on one side and 500 Mbytes on both sides has been proposed. The capacity of 250 Mbytes is a capacity corresponding to 1000 still images, depending on the compression ratio. With such a large storage capacity, the print information file is created many times before the storage area of the disk is used up, and the capacity used for operating or processing the image file is far greater than that of a conventional memory card. Expected to grow.

In such a recording medium in which only additional recording is possible, an additional recording capacity for updating such information is required even in file operation and data correction. For example, if a print information file is created, an image recorded on a recording medium is printed, and then a photograph is taken and a print file is created again, the previously created file can be deleted, but the previously created file can be deleted. You cannot overwrite a file with a new print file. Therefore, in such a case, the capacity of the recording medium decreases each time a print file is created. This is not the case for recording media that can be repeatedly recorded. Therefore, in the case of a recording medium in which only additional recording is possible, a capacity obtained by estimating the usage form and the number of times of use by the user is set as the spare recording capacity. That is,
A recording medium that allows only additional recording has a larger spare recording capacity per unit recording capacity than a recording medium that can repeatedly record.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when the user needs to additionally write data when the image or other data is used secondarily, the recording capacity is insufficient. It is possible to avoid becoming unavailable.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a digital still camera to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the digital still camera shown in FIG.

3A is a conceptual diagram of a memory map of a conventional recording medium, and FIG. 3B is a conceptual diagram of a memory map of the recording medium according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen displayed on an image display LCD when a user designates a spare recording capacity.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a case in which a small-size optical disc that can be added only is applied to the digital still camera of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 finder, 2 image display LCD, 3 remaining amount LCD, 4 shutter button, 5 mode dial,
6 media slot, 7 recording medium, 8 card cover, 9 various setting buttons, 10 small optical disk.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A setting unit for setting a part of a recording capacity of a recording medium for recording a photographed image as a spare recording capacity; an acquiring unit for acquiring a remaining capacity of the recording medium; Calculating means for subtracting the spare recording capacity set by the setting means from the set remaining capacity to calculate a remaining shootable capacity; and performing shooting in accordance with the remaining shootable capacity calculated by the calculating means. A digital still camera, comprising: a restricting unit that restricts the digital still camera. 2. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein said setting means further comprises means for setting the size of said spare recording capacity according to a value input by a user. 3. A digital still camera for photographing a subject and recording an image of the subject on a recording medium, wherein the acquiring means acquires a total recording capacity and a used capacity of the recording medium; First calculating means for subtracting the used capacity from the total recording capacity to calculate the remaining capacity of the recording medium; and second calculating for calculating a spare recording capacity corresponding to the total recording capacity of the recording medium. Means, from the remaining capacity calculated by the first calculating means,
A third calculating means for subtracting the spare recording capacity calculated by the second calculating means to calculate a remaining photographable capacity; and calculating the remaining photographable remaining capacity calculated by the third calculating means as photographic data. A determination unit configured to determine whether the remaining capacity is larger than a prescribed capacity; and a prohibition unit configured to prohibit photographing when the determination unit determines that the remaining photographable capacity is smaller than the prescribed data capacity. Digital still camera. 4. A digital still camera for photographing a subject and recording an image of the subject on a recording medium, wherein a total recording capacity, a used capacity, and the number of recorded images of the recording medium are obtained from the recording medium. Obtaining means, first calculating means for subtracting the used capacity from the total recording capacity obtained by the obtaining means to calculate the remaining capacity of the recording medium, and calculating by the first calculating means. Second calculating means for calculating the number of images recordable in the remaining capacity; and adding the number of recordable images calculated by the second calculating means to the number of recorded images obtained by the obtaining means. A third calculating means for calculating a preliminary recording capacity from the maximum number of recorded images of the recording medium obtained by the above, and the remaining capacity calculated by the first calculating means,
A fourth calculating means for subtracting the spare recording capacity calculated by the third calculating means to calculate a remaining photographable capacity; and the remaining photographable remaining capacity calculated by the fourth calculating means is a photographing data. Determining means for determining whether the remaining capacity is larger than a specified capacity; and prohibiting means for prohibiting shooting when the determining means determines that the remaining photographable capacity is smaller than the specified data capacity. Digital still camera. 5. A setting means for setting a second spare recording capacity according to a user input, and a remaining capacity calculated by the first calculating means.
Calculating means for subtracting the second spare recording capacity set by the setting means to calculate a second remaining photographable capacity, wherein the determining means calculates the second remaining capacity which is calculated by the calculating means.
Means for determining whether or not the remaining photographic data capacity is larger than the photographic data prescribed capacity. The prohibiting means determines, by the determining means, that the second photographic available capacity is smaller than the photographic data prescribed capacity. 5. The digital still camera according to claim 3, further comprising a unit for prohibiting photographing when the photographing is performed. 6. A recording remaining amount management method in a digital still camera for photographing a subject and recording an image of the subject on a recording medium, comprising: acquiring a total recording capacity and a used capacity of the recording medium; Subtracting the used capacity from the capacity, calculating the remaining capacity of the recording medium, calculating the spare recording capacity corresponding to the total recording capacity of the recording medium, subtracting the spare recording capacity from the remaining capacity, and photographing Calculating a possible remaining capacity; determining whether or not the remaining photographic capacity is greater than a prescribed capacity of photographic data; and prohibiting photography when the remaining capacity of photographic data is smaller than a prescribed capacity of photographic data. Recording remaining amount management method. 7. A recording remaining amount management method in a digital still camera for photographing a subject and recording an image of the subject on a recording medium, comprising: a total recording capacity, a used capacity, and recording of the recording medium from the recording medium. Obtain the number of recorded images, subtract the used capacity from the total recording capacity, calculate the remaining capacity of the recording medium, calculate the number of images that can be recorded in the remaining capacity, calculate the number of recorded images and Calculating a spare recording capacity from the maximum number of recorded images of the recording medium obtained by adding the number of recordable images, subtracting the spare recording capacity from the remaining capacity, calculating a remaining photographable capacity, Determining whether the available remaining capacity is larger than a specified data capacity; and, if the remaining available capacity is smaller than a specified data capacity, prohibiting shooting. Remaining recording capacity management method for. 8. A second spare recording capacity is set in accordance with a user input, and the second spare recording capacity is subtracted from the remaining capacity.
Calculating whether or not the second remaining photographable capacity is greater than the prescribed capacity of the photographing data; if the second remaining photographable capacity is smaller than the prescribed capacity of the photographing data, 8. The recording remaining amount management method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of prohibiting the recording.