JP2005130272A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the image information of own external memory to be watched by other user and image information of other user is stored in the own external memory, when attachable external memories are held by each user and when one camera is used by a plurality of users. <P>SOLUTION: In the camera, capable of photographing an image by an imaging device and recording the image information in the attachable memory, it has a user information input means for inputting information regarding a user of the memory, a first control means for storing user information inputted by the user information input means in the memory, a display means for displaying the user information and a power switch and displays the user information stored in the memory on the display means, in response to turning on of the power switch. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera to which an external memory can be attached and detached.

  Conventionally, a technique in which one camera is used by a plurality of people has been disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). According to Patent Literature 1, when a password is input by the input means for specifying a photographer and when the password is input by the input means, the recorded image information is recorded with a password added to the recording medium. .

  With this technology, only the photographer who registered the password at the time of shooting can reproduce and transfer the image with the password added. The publication also discloses a technique for registering a password in a non-volatile memory different from the image storage memory of the camera in association with photographer information. In this technique, it is assumed that the capacity of the image storage memory is very large and there is no problem even if it is used by a plurality of photographers.

  However, the number of pixels of recent image sensors has increased dramatically, and a large-capacity memory is required to store a large amount of image data with a low compression rate. Although the publication states that it is wasteful if the user possesses each memory card, at present, when one camera is used by a plurality of people, each shooter has a memory capacity required for each detacher. It is more reasonable to have an external memory for image recording possible.

In addition, a technique is disclosed in which a password is set in the password setting unit of the camera and the camera is set in an operating state only when the input password matches the set password (see, for example, Patent Document 2). This technique is intended to prevent the camera itself from being used by other users, and is different from using a single camera, which is the object of the present invention, by a plurality of people. Also, the configuration is different from the present invention.
JP 2002-218389 A JP 2001-16497 A

  When the technology described in Patent Document 1 is applied to a removable image storage external memory, when another user uses the image external memory that he / she owns by mistake, There is a disadvantage that an image with another user's password is stored in the external memory. As a result, there is a drawback that a part or all of the memory is occupied by other users regardless of the image recording external memory.

  Further, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a drawback that it does not know the user information of the attached external memory and does not know whether it is necessary to replace the external memory.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a camera that eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a user information input for inputting information about a user of a memory in a camera capable of taking an image with an image sensor and recording the image information in a removable memory. And a first control means for storing the user information input by the user information input means in the memory, a display means for displaying the user information, and a power switch, in response to turning on of the power switch. The user information stored in the memory is displayed on the display means.

  The invention of claim 2 is a password setting means, a second control means for storing the password input by the password setting means in the memory, a password input means, the password input by the password input means, and the First comparison means for comparing the password stored in the memory, and as a result of the comparison by the first comparison means, the password stored in the memory and the password input by the password input means do not match. In this case, the operation related to photographing is prohibited.

  The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that a password input request instruction display is displayed on the display means for displaying the user information in response to the power switch being turned on.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided user information / password changing means for changing the stored user information or password.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an erasing unit for erasing the stored user information or password.

  The invention according to claim 6 is a camera for storing a password input by the password input means when a password input by the password input means matches a password of the memory as a result of the comparison by the first comparison means. And a second comparison means for comparing the password stored in the nonvolatile memory and the input password, and if the two passwords match, an operation related to photographing is permitted. It is characterized by doing.

  The invention of claim 7 is a camera to which at least a recording medium on which user information is recorded is detachably mounted, and has a display means for displaying specific information and a control means for controlling driving of the display means. The control means reads the user information from a recording medium attached to the camera body, and displays the user information on the display means.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided input means for inputting user information, and the control means records the user information input by the input means on a recording medium attached to the camera body.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the user information in the external memory is displayed on the display means in response to the power switch being turned on, so that the user can easily confirm the user information. For example, when an external memory of another user is inserted by looking at the display, it can be easily recognized that it must be replaced with its own memory.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since a password can be set in the external memory and an operation related to photographing cannot be performed unless the password is correctly input, the external memory can be used without permission from another person. Will never be used.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, since the password input instruction display is displayed in response to the power switch being turned on, other dedicated operation switches can be dispensed with.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, since the electronic camera has the user information / password changing means for changing the user information or password stored in the external memory, the password can be easily changed.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, since the electronic camera has an erasing unit for erasing the user information or password stored in the external memory, the stored password can be erased. This can be done when a person wants to use an external memory. It is also possible for other people to browse the image file stored in the external memory.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the power is turned on, the password is input and the photographing / playback state is enabled, the power is turned off without removing the external memory, and the power switch is turned on again. This operation can be performed immediately, and there is no need to enter the password again.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below.

An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. FIG. 1 shows a circuit block diagram of the camera.

  In FIG. 1, the portion surrounded by a dotted line is the electronic camera body. Reference numeral 1 denotes a known photographic lens. Reference numeral 2 denotes a known aperture and shutter means. Reference numeral 3 denotes an image pickup device composed of a CCD or the like, and a subject image is formed on the image pickup surface via the photographing lens 1 at the time of photographing, an aperture, and shutter means.

  An image processing unit 4 processes a signal corresponding to the subject image from the image sensor 3 according to an instruction from the system control unit 10 and sends the processed signal to a buffer memory 5 described later. A buffer memory 5 temporarily stores a signal processed by the image processing unit 4 according to an instruction from a system control unit 10 described later, and outputs the signal to a memory control unit 6 described later as a signal according to an instruction from the system control unit 10. To do.

  A memory control unit 6 compresses a signal from the buffer memory 5 and outputs the compressed signal to an external memory 8 (to be described later) and stores the compressed content in the external memory 8. The memory control unit 6 can also read out image information stored in the external memory 8 according to an instruction from the system control unit 10 and display an image on the display unit 14 described later. Further, the memory control unit 6 stores user information and a password input by an input unit 15 to be described later in the external memory 8 according to an instruction from the system control unit 10 and reads out the user information and password according to the instruction from the system control 10. it can.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a connection portion with the external memory 8. Reference numeral 8 denotes a rewritable external memory such as a flash memory (in the present embodiment, a card-like memory is used). Reference numeral 9 denotes an aperture / shutter controller that is controlled by the system controller 10 in accordance with the output of a photometric means (not shown). A system control unit 10 controls the system. In addition, the system control unit 10 also includes a comparison unit described later and a rewritable nonvolatile memory.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes an external signal output unit which can output image data in the external memory 8 to a personal computer (not shown) or the like via a terminal 12 which will be described later. Reference numeral 12 denotes a connection terminal. Reference numeral 13 denotes an operation unit, which includes a plurality of switches. It includes at least a power switch, a release switch, various shooting mode switching switches, and the like.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a display unit composed of a TFT or the like, which can display display information related to user information and a password. Further, when the camera is in a reproducible state, an image based on the image information written in the external memory 8 that has been photographed can be displayed. In addition, the shooting mode set by the operation unit 13 can be displayed. An input unit 15 is a known character information input unit for setting and inputting user information, and includes a plurality of switches. Reference numeral 16 denotes a strobe with a built-in camera, which performs charging control or light emission control of a main capacitor (not shown) according to instructions from the system control unit 10.

  Next, the operation of the camera relating to the setting and input of the user name and password in the external memory 8 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  Step 101: Insert a power supply battery (not shown).

Step 102: It is determined whether a power switch (not shown) of the operation unit 13 is turned on.
When it is on, the process proceeds to step 103, and when it is off, the process returns to step 102.

  Step 103: It is determined whether the user name and password are already registered (stored) in the external memory 8. When it is registered, the process proceeds to step 104. When it is not registered, the process proceeds to step 113.

  Step 104: A message as shown in FIG. In this case, the memory user name is Taro Yamada. A message prompting the input of a password is displayed on the display unit 14.

  Step 105: A password is input by the input unit 15. A 6-digit alphabet or number already stored in the external memory 8 is input. * Is displayed in order in the six squares shown in FIG.

  Step 106: The input password and the password stored in the external memory 8 are compared, and the system control unit 10 determines whether they are correct. If the password is correct, the process proceeds to step 107. If not correct, go to step 108.

  Step 107: The display on the display unit 14 is changed to a mode in which photographing or reproduction of an image file stored in the external memory 8 is possible. In addition, the image file stored in the memory 8 can be transferred to the personal computer or the like via the connection terminal 12. Therefore, it is possible to take a picture with the camera in this state.

  For example, when the photographing mode is set, an aperture is turned on based on a photometric result of the light metering means when a release switch (not shown) is turned on, the shutter 2 is stopped, and is driven by the shutter means control section 9 and is driven by the photographing lens 1 and the image sensor 3. To expose. A signal from the imaging device 3 is processed by the image processing unit 4 and stored in the buffer memory 4, and an image signal from the buffer memory 4 is compressed by the memory control unit 6 and stored in the external memory 8. When the external light luminance is less than a predetermined value, it has a function of automatically using the flash 16 and can perform flash photography. The above operations are performed according to instructions from the system control unit 10.

  When the reproduction mode is set, the image file stored in the external memory 8 designated by the operation unit 13 is read by the memory control unit 6 and the image is displayed on the display unit 14. The above operation is also performed by an instruction from the system control unit 10.

  This state is the same as the power-on state of a general electronic camera.

  When the power switch is turned off in this state, the above mode ends and the process returns to the start state of step 101.

  Step 108: A display diagram 3-2 prompting the user to re-enter the password is displayed on the display unit 14.

  Step 109: Re-enter the password using the input unit 15.

  Step 110: The input password and the password stored in the external memory 8 are compared, and the system control unit 10 determines whether or not they are correct. If the password is correct, the process proceeds to step 107. If not correct, go to step 111.

  Step 111: A warning message “The password is incorrect and will be terminated” is displayed on the display unit 14 for a predetermined time, and then disappears.

  Step 112: Return to the start of Step 101.

  Step 113: The display content of FIG. 3-3 is displayed on the display unit 14. This display is a display for prompting the user to set whether or not to set a user name and password.

  Step 114: When the user name and password are set in the external memory 8 by the input unit 15, y is input by the input unit 15, otherwise n is input. After the input, the input characters are displayed for a predetermined time in a square frame of display.

  Step 115: The state input by the user in step 114 is determined. If the user name / password setting mode is selected, the process proceeds to step 116. If the user name and password are not set, the process proceeds to step 107.

  Step 116: The display shown in FIG. 3-4 is displayed on the display unit 14. This display is a display prompting the user name and password of the external memory 8 to be set.

  Step 117: The user name of the external memory 8 is input by the input unit 15. The user name is displayed in the square frame of the display shown in FIG.

  Step 118: The user name is stored in the external memory 8 by the memory control unit 6.

  Step 119: A password is input by the input unit 15. The password is displayed for a predetermined time in the six square frames of the display shown in FIG.

  Step 120: The password is stored in the external memory 8 by the memory control unit 6.

  Next, the operation of the camera related to the change and deletion of the user name and password in the external memory 8 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  Step 201: The camera is in the state of step 107 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 (in the case of another embodiment shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 described later, step 309 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 6).

  Step 202: It is determined whether or not a user name / password change switch (not shown) provided in the operation unit 13 is on. If it is on, the process proceeds to step 203, and if it is off, the process returns to step 202.

  Step 203: A display prompting the decision to change or delete the user name and password shown in FIG.

  Step 204: 0 or 1 is input through the input unit 15. The entered number is displayed for a predetermined time.

  Step 205: Based on the result input in step 204, it is determined whether the user name / password change mode is set. When the change mode is selected, the process proceeds to step 206. When the change mode is not selected, the erase mode is set and the process proceeds to step 212.

  Step 206: A display for prompting the input of the memory user name and password as shown in FIG.

  Step 207: A new user name is input by the input unit 15. The new user name is displayed on the display unit 14.

  Step 208: In response to an instruction from the system control unit 10, the memory control means 6 deletes the old user name in the external memory 8 and stores the new user name in the external memory 8.

  Step 209: A new password is input by the input unit 15. The passwords entered in the six square frames shown in FIG. 5-2 are displayed for a predetermined time.

  Step 210: The old password in the external memory 8 is erased by the memory control means 6 according to an instruction from the system control unit 10, and the new password is stored in the external memory 8.

  Step 211: Return to step 201.

  Step 212: The user name and password stored in the external memory 8 are erased by the memory control means 6 in accordance with an instruction from the system control unit 10.

  Next, another modification of the flowchart of FIG. 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, when the power switch is turned on, the password is input and the photographing / playback state is enabled, the power switch is turned off without removing the external memory, and the power switch is turned on again. There is annoyance that must be entered. The flowchart of FIG. 6 of this modification is intended to solve this annoyance.

  Step 301: Insert a power supply battery (not shown).

Step 302: Determine whether a power switch (not shown) of the operation unit 13 is turned on.
When it is on, the process proceeds to step 303, and when it is off, the process returns to step 302.

  Step 303: It is determined whether the user name and password are already registered (stored) in the external memory 8. When it is registered, the process proceeds to step 304. When it is not registered, the process proceeds to step 315.

  Step 304: Compare the password stored in the non-illustrated non-volatile memory in the system control unit 10 with the password in the external memory, and determine in the system control unit. At the same time, that is, when the external memory 8 has not been changed since the previous power-on, the process proceeds to step 309, and when different, that is, the external memory 8 has been changed, the process proceeds to step 305.

  Step 305: A message as shown in FIG. In this case, the memory user name is Taro Yamada. A message prompting the input of a password is displayed on the display unit 14.

  Step 306: The password is input by the input unit 15. A 6-digit alphabet or number already set in the external memory 8 is input. * Is displayed in order in the six squares shown in FIG.

  Step 307: The input password and the password stored in the external memory 8 are compared, and the system control unit 10 determines whether they are correct. If the password is correct, the process proceeds to step 308. If not correct, go to step 310.

  Step 308: Store the password in the nonvolatile memory in the system control unit 10.

  Step 309: The display on the display unit 14 is changed to a mode in which shooting or reproduction of an image file stored in the external memory 8 is possible. In addition, the image file stored in the memory 8 can be transferred to the personal computer or the like via the connection terminal 12. Therefore, the camera is photographed in this state. That is, since it becomes the same as the state of step 107 in the flowchart in FIG.

  When the power switch is turned off in this state, the above mode ends and the process returns to the start state in step 301.

  Step 310: A display diagram 3-2 prompting the user to re-enter the password is displayed on the display unit 14.

  Step 311: Re-enter the password by the input unit 15.

  Step 312: The input password and the password stored in the external memory 8 are compared, and the system control unit 10 determines whether they are correct. If the password is correct, the process proceeds to step 308. If not correct, go to step 313.

  Step 313: A warning message “The password will be terminated because it is incorrect” is displayed on the display unit 14 for a predetermined time, and then disappears.

  Step 314: Return to the start of Step 301.

  Step 315: The display content of FIG. 3-3 is displayed on the display unit 14. This display is a display for prompting the user to set whether or not to set a user name and password.

  Step 316: Enter y when setting the user name and password in the external memory 8 by the input unit 15; otherwise, enter n. When input, the input characters are displayed for a predetermined time in a square frame of the display.

  Step 317: The state input by the user in step 316 is determined. If the mode is the user name / password setting mode, the process proceeds to step 318. If the user name / password is not set, the process proceeds to step 309.

  Step 318: The display shown in FIG. 3-4 is displayed on the display unit 14. This display is a display prompting the user name and password of the external memory 8 to be set.

  Step 319: The user name of the external memory 8 is input by the input unit 15. The user name is displayed in the square frame of the display shown in FIG.

  Step 320: The user name is stored in the external memory 8 by the memory control unit 6.

  Step 321: A password is input by the input unit 15. The password is displayed for a predetermined time in the six square frames of the display shown in FIG.

Step 322: The password is stored in the external memory 8 by the memory control unit 6.
The above is the operation of the modified example.

  In the above modification, the same content as the password stored in the external memory 8 is stored in the non-volatile memory in the system control unit in response to the password input, and when the power switch is turned on again, the external content is stored. When the password in the memory 8 matches the password in the nonvolatile memory, the mode can be shifted to the photographing / playback mode without inputting the password.

  In the above description, the user information input means described in the claims is the input section 15, the first control means is the memory control section 6, the display means is the display section 14, and the password setting means is The input unit 15, the second control unit is the memory control unit 6, the first and second comparison units are the system control unit 10, and the change unit is the system control unit 10 and the memory control unit 6, The erasing means is the system control unit 10 and the memory control unit 6.

  In this embodiment, the user name is used as the user information. However, when one user has a plurality of external memories, the user information may be set for each photographing purpose. In this case, it is preferable to use the same password.

It is a block diagram of the camera in Example 1 of this invention. 3 is a flowchart of the camera according to the first embodiment. This is the display content of the display unit 14. It is a flowchart of a camera. This is the display content of the display unit 14. It is another Example of the flowchart of a camera.

Explanation of symbols

3 Image sensor 4 Image processing unit 5 Buffer memory 6 Memory control unit 8 External memory 10 System control unit 13 Operation unit 14 Display unit 15 Input unit

Claims (8)

In a camera that can take an image with an image sensor and record image information in a removable memory,
User information input means for inputting information relating to the user of the memory;
First control means for storing the user information input by the user information input means in the memory;
Display means for displaying the user information;
A power switch,
A camera characterized in that the display unit displays the user information stored in the memory in response to a power switch being turned on. Password setting means;
Second control means for storing the password input by the password setting means in the memory;
Password input means;
First comparing means for comparing the password input by the password input means and the password stored in the memory;
2. The operation related to photographing is prohibited when the password stored in the memory and the password input by the password input unit do not match as a result of the comparison by the first comparison unit. Camera.   3. The camera according to claim 2, wherein a password input request instruction display is displayed on a display means for displaying the user information in response to turning on of the power switch.   4. The camera according to claim 2, further comprising user information / password changing means for changing the stored user information or password.   The camera according to claim 2, further comprising an erasing unit that erases the stored user information or password. As a result of the comparison by the first comparison means, when the password input by the password input means matches the password of the memory, a nonvolatile memory for storing the password input by the password input means;
Second comparing means for comparing the password stored in the non-volatile memory and the input password;
6. The camera according to claim 2, wherein when the two passwords match, an operation related to photographing is permitted. A camera to which a recording medium on which at least user information is recorded is detachably mounted;
Display means for displaying specific information;
Control means for controlling the drive of the display means,
The control means reads the user information from a recording medium attached to the camera body, and causes the display means to display the user information. Having input means for inputting the user information;
The camera according to claim 7, wherein the control unit causes the user information input by the input unit to be recorded on a recording medium attached to the camera body.

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