JP2004120303A - Information recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information recorder capable of confirming the free space of a recording medium without mounting the recording medium on the information recorder. <P>SOLUTION: A memory card 30 is provided with a recording area 70 for free space data for recording the data of the free space and an antenna coil 60, and the data of the free space recorded in the recording area 70 for the free space data are sent out to the outside by non-contact communication through the antenna coil 60. A digital camera 10 receives the free space data sent out from the memory card 30 by the non-contact communication by an antenna 54 and displays the received data of the free space on a liquid crystal display 28. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information recording apparatus, and more particularly to an information recording apparatus such as a digital camera, a mobile phone with a digital camera, and a notebook computer with a digital camera that records captured image data on a removable recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Currently, image data of a subject photographed by an imaging device such as a digital camera (hereinafter referred to as a digital camera) can be recorded not on the internal memory of the digital camera body but on a removable recording medium such as a smart media or a memory stick. Digital cameras that can be used are widely distributed.
[0003]
By the way, when recording image data of a photographed subject on a detachable recording medium, in order to avoid a situation where the capacity of the recording medium becomes insufficient during the photographing, an empty capacity of the recording medium used in advance by the operator Is often confirmed.
[0004]
Conventionally, a recording medium is mounted on a digital camera, the recording state of the recording medium mounted on the digital camera is read, and the free space is displayed on a liquid crystal display of the digital camera.
[0005]
In addition, as an apparatus for accurately grasping the shootable remaining capacity of an information recording medium such as a memory card, an unrecorded portion of the information recording medium is virtually treated as an area for one image, 2. Description of the Related Art An image data recording apparatus that knows a usage situation and a usable remaining capacity is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-103292 gazette
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described conventional technique has a problem that it takes time and effort because it is impossible to check the free space of the recording medium unless the recording medium is mounted on the digital camera. In particular, if you want to check the free space for multiple recording media, you have to install all the recording media in the digital camera one by one and check it, so it takes a lot of time and effort. There is also a problem that a photo opportunity is missed for this confirmation work.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information recording apparatus that can check the free capacity of a recording medium without mounting the recording medium on the information recording apparatus.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the information recording apparatus of the present invention is an information recording apparatus for recording captured image data on a removable recording medium that enables non-contact communication, and the recording medium is mounted. Calculating means for calculating the free capacity of the recording medium, recording means for recording data of the free capacity calculated by the calculating means on the recording medium in a state in which the recording medium is mounted, and the recording medium being removed. Reading means for reading the free capacity data of the recording medium recorded on the recording medium by non-contact communication in a state of being read, and notifying means for informing the free capacity data read by the reading means It consists of
[0010]
In the present invention, the free capacity of the recording medium is calculated by the calculating means while the recording medium is mounted on the information recording apparatus, and the data of the calculated free capacity is recorded on the recording medium by the recording means. The free space data recorded on the recording medium is read by non-contact communication by the reading means with the recording medium removed, and is notified by the notifying means. Therefore, it is possible to easily check the free space of the recording medium with the information recording apparatus without mounting the recording medium on the information recording apparatus. This reduces labor and time for the confirmation work and reduces the burden on the operator.
[0011]
The recording medium may be any recording medium such as smart media, memory stick, compact flash (R), etc., as long as it is removable and can record image data.
[0012]
In addition, the calculation process by the calculation means is performed when the photographed image data is recorded by the information recording device, when the photographed image data is deleted from the recording medium, or when the format processing of the recording medium is performed. It may be calculated when the recording status of the medium changes, or may be calculated every predetermined time since the recording medium is loaded.
[0013]
Further, the recording process by the recording unit may be performed every time the free space is calculated by the calculating unit, or may be performed immediately before the recording medium is removed from the information recording apparatus.
[0014]
Further, the non-contact communication in the reading unit may be communication using radio waves or communication using light (for example, infrared rays).
[0015]
Also, the free space data notified by the notification means may be the free space itself or the number of recordable image data records converted from the free space.
[0016]
Further, the notification by the notification means may be notification by screen display by a liquid crystal display or the like, or may be notification by voice display from a speaker built in the information recording apparatus.
[0017]
Furthermore, in the present invention, the recording medium includes a recording area for recording the free space data, and sending means for sending the free space data recorded in the recording area by non-contact communication. can do.
[0018]
Thereby, the recording unit of the information recording apparatus records the data of the free capacity of the recording medium in the recording area of the recording medium. Further, the free capacity data is sent out by non-contact communication by the sending means of the recording medium. Therefore, the free capacity data can be easily read by the reading means of the information recording apparatus. Accordingly, it is possible to easily grasp the data on the free capacity of the recording medium without mounting the recording medium on the information recording apparatus.
[0019]
Note that the recording area for recording free space data may be provided separately from the recording area for recording image data, or may be a predetermined area secured in the recording area for recording image data. Good.
[0020]
Further, the non-contact communication in the sending means may be communication using radio waves, or may be communication using light (for example, infrared rays), and is in the form of non-contact communication used by the reading means on the information recording apparatus side. Any communication form may be used as long as it is compatible. The sending means may send free capacity data in response to the radio wave transmitted from the information recording apparatus.
[0021]
Further, it is more preferable that the recording area for recording the free capacity data and the sending means for sending the free capacity data recorded in the recording area are integrated and added to the recording medium. For example, a recording area for recording free space data is mounted on an IC chip different from a memory for recording image data, and an antenna as a sending means is directly connected to a predetermined contact of the IC chip and integrated. Then, an IC chip integrated with the antenna (so-called wireless communication type IC memory chip) is embedded in a predetermined position of the recording medium. This makes it possible to easily manufacture a recording medium capable of sending free capacity data by non-contact communication, and to reduce the manufacturing cost of the recording medium.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
Hereinafter, a case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera will be described.
[0024]
FIG. 1 shows a relationship between a digital camera according to the present embodiment and a memory card such as a smart media that records image data of a subject photographed by the digital camera and can communicate with the digital camera wirelessly. It is a conceptual diagram. The memory card 30 is provided with an image data recording area for recording captured image data and a free capacity data recording area for recording free capacity data in the image data recording area. As described above, the digital camera 10 can wirelessly read the free space data from the free space data recording area of the memory card 30.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 2, the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment includes an optical lens 12, R indicating an object image by imaging the object based on incident light indicating an object image that has passed through the optical lens 12. A CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 16 is provided as an image sensor that outputs G and B color analog image signals.
[0026]
The CCD 16 includes an analog signal processing unit 18 that performs predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal input from the CCD 16, and an analog / digital conversion that converts the analog signal input from the analog signal processing unit 18 into a digital signal. A device (hereinafter referred to as “A / D converter”) 20 is connected in order.
[0027]
Digital signals (digital values of R, G, and B signals) output from the A / D converter 20 are input to the control circuit 40 (details will be described later) and to the digital signal processing circuit 26. The digital signal processing circuit 26 includes a synthesis processing circuit (not shown), a white balance adjustment processing circuit, and a gamma processing circuit, and performs various digital signal processing.
[0028]
The RGB signals output from the digital signal processing circuit 26 are recorded on the memory card 30 via the recording media interface (I / F) 34 and displayed on the liquid crystal display 28.
[0029]
Further, the digital camera 10 selects a drive unit 22 for driving the optical lens 12, a CCD control unit 24 for controlling timing at the time of shooting for the CCD 16, a shutter switch 50, and a shooting mode and a free space confirmation mode. A mode dial 52 is provided. The free space confirmation mode is a mode for confirming the free space of the image data recording area of the memory card 30. Further, the digital camera 10 also has a free capacity confirmation switch 58 that reads out the data of the free capacity of the memory card 30 close to the digital camera 10 and displays it on the liquid crystal display 28 when the free capacity confirmation mode is selected. Is provided.
[0030]
Further, the digital camera 10 is provided with an antenna 54 and a wireless interface (I / F) 56 for performing wireless communication.
[0031]
The control circuit 40 of the digital camera 10 is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 42, a ROM 44, and a RAM 46, and controls the operation of the entire digital camera 10. The ROM 44 stores a processing routine program for executing processing for recording and confirming data of the free capacity of the memory card 30.
[0032]
Next, the configuration of the memory card 30 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0033]
As shown in the figure, the memory card 30 is provided with a connector 72 which is a connection terminal for connecting to the recording medium I / F 34 of the digital camera 10. Furthermore, an image data recording area 74 for recording image data of a subject photographed by the digital camera 10 via the connector 72, and an empty capacity data area for recording free capacity data in the image data recording area 74. A memory 80 constituted by the recording area 70 is provided.
[0034]
Further, the memory card 30 includes an antenna coil 60 for performing wireless communication with the digital camera 10 and generating power by receiving radio waves, and a capacitor 62 charged by the electromotive force induced in the antenna coil 60. Is provided.
[0035]
Further, a memory controller 68 that controls reading / writing of data to / from the free capacity data recording area 70, and modulation / demodulation for modulating data read from the free capacity data recording area 70 and demodulating data received by the antenna coil 60. A circuit 66 and a power supply circuit 64 that supplies driving power to each part of the memory card 30 based on the electric charge charged in the capacitor 62 are provided.
[0036]
Note that the memory card 30 is not equipped with a battery, but when the memory card 30 is attached to the digital camera 10, power is supplied from the digital camera 10 via the electrical contacts of the connector 72. Further, when the digital camera 10 is not attached, an electromotive force is generated in the antenna coil 60 by receiving radio waves from the outside, so that driving power is supplied from the power supply circuit 64.
[0037]
The image data recording area 74 and the free space data recording area 70 are nonvolatile memories such as an EEPROM and a flash memory. Thereby, the recorded data is retained even when power is not supplied to the memory card 30.
[0038]
The details of the flow of recording and checking the free space data according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0039]
FIG. 4 shows the flow of processing by the CPU 42 of the digital camera 10.
[0040]
First, at step 100, it is determined whether or not the mode dial 52 has selected a free space confirmation mode for confirming the free space of the image data recording area 74 of the memory card 30. If it is determined that the free space confirmation mode is not selected, it is determined in step 102 whether or not the memory card 30 is attached to the digital camera 10.
[0041]
If it is determined that the memory card 30 is attached, it is determined in step 104 whether or not any of the photographing / recording process, the frame deletion process, and the formatting process has been executed for the memory card 30. Is done. If it is determined that one of the processes has been executed, the data of the free capacity of the memory card 30 is calculated in step 106 based on the processing content.
[0042]
As the free space data calculation, the number of recordable image data records (hereinafter, the number of recordable images) is calculated. The number of images that can be shot is calculated every time one of the above processes is executed.
[0043]
In other words, at the time of shooting / recording processing, the free space after shooting / recording is calculated, and the number of shots that can be shot is calculated in advance according to the compression ratio (eg, standard compression ratio, fine mode compression ratio, etc.). Based on the number of recorded pixels, the number of recordable image data (number of shootable images) is calculated. In the frame deletion process, the number of deleted frames is calculated by adding to the number of shootable images. Further, at the time of the formatting process, the number of shootable images with respect to the capacity of the image data recording area 74 is calculated in the same manner as at the time of the shooting and recording process.
[0044]
In step 108, with the memory card 30 attached to the digital camera 10, the number of shootable images calculated as described above for the memory card 30 is recorded in the free space data recording area 70 of the memory card 30. .
[0045]
Next, in step 110, it is determined whether or not the memory card 30 has been removed from the digital camera 10. If it is determined that it has not been removed, the processing from step 104 to step 108 is repeated.
[0046]
If it is determined in step 100 that the free space confirmation mode is selected, it is determined in step 112 whether or not the free space confirmation switch 58 is turned on. If it is determined that the free space confirmation switch 58 is turned on, a radio wave for generating an electromotive force is transmitted through the antenna 54 in step 114, and then a free space data request signal is transmitted. .
[0047]
When the transmitted radio wave is received by the antenna coil 60 of the memory card 30, an electromotive force is generated in the antenna coil 60, the capacitor 62 is charged, and power is supplied to each part via the power supply circuit 64. Then, under the control of the memory controller 68, free space data (number of shootable images) is sent from the memory card 30 via the antenna coil 60 (details of processing on the memory card 30 side will be described later).
[0048]
In step 116, it is determined whether or not free space data (number of shootable images) has been received from the memory card 30. If it is determined that it has been received, the number of shootable images received is displayed on the liquid crystal display 28 for each compression ratio (for example, XX sheets as standard, xx sheets in fine mode) at step 118.
[0049]
Next, processing on the memory card 30 side will be described.
[0050]
FIG. 5 shows the flow of processing by the memory controller 68 of the memory card 30.
[0051]
In step 200, it is determined whether a free space data request signal is received from the digital camera 10. When the free space data request signal is received, free space data is read from the free space data recording area 70 in step 202.
[0052]
Next, in step 204, the read free space data is modulated by the modulation / demodulation circuit 66 and sent to the outside via the antenna coil 60. The transmitted data is received by the antenna 54 of the digital camera 10, and the processing of steps 116 to 118 in FIG. 4 is performed.
[0053]
As described above, since the free space data sent from the memory card 30 is wirelessly received by the digital camera 10 and displayed on the liquid crystal display 28, the memory card 30 is not attached to the digital camera 10. Data of the free capacity of the card 30 can be easily grasped.
[0054]
Note that a collision prevention circuit (anti-collision circuit) may be provided in the digital camera 10 on the assumption that free space is confirmed for a plurality of memory cards 30. Thus, even if a plurality of memory cards 30 exist in the communication area of the digital camera 10, control is performed so that communication is not disabled. For example, control may be performed so that communication is preferentially established for the memory card 30 that has entered the communication area earliest, or communication is disabled when there are a plurality of memory cards 30 in the communication area. A message may be displayed on the liquid crystal display 28 or the like so that only one card exists in the communication area.
[0055]
Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above digital camera, and can be applied to various information recording apparatuses.
[0056]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in order to receive and report the free capacity data of the recording medium sent from the recording medium by non-contact communication by the information recording apparatus by non-contact communication. The present invention has an excellent effect that the free space of the recording medium can be easily confirmed without being mounted on the information recording apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a relationship between a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention and a memory card that can communicate with the digital camera wirelessly.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital camera.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a memory card.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the digital camera.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in the memory card.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Digital camera (information recording device)
28 Liquid crystal display (notification means)
30 Memory card 34 Recording media I / F
42 CPU (calculation means, recording means, reading means)
44 ROM
52 Mode dial 54 Antenna (reading means)
58 Free capacity confirmation switch 60 Antenna coil (transmission means)
70 Recording area for free space data (recording area)

Claims (2)

An information recording apparatus for recording captured image data on a removable recording medium that enables non-contact communication,
Calculating means for calculating a free capacity of the recording medium in a state where the recording medium is mounted;
Recording means for recording the data of the free capacity calculated by the calculation means in the state in which the recording medium is mounted on the recording medium;
Reading means for reading data of free space of the recording medium recorded on the recording medium by non-contact communication in a state where the recording medium is removed;
Informing means for informing the data of the free capacity read by the reading means;
An information recording device including: The recording medium is
A recording area for recording the free space data;
Sending means for sending free space data recorded in the recording area by non-contact communication;
The information recording apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

Images