JP2006121621A - Imaging system, imaging apparatus and connection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging system storing or backing up data on a picked-up image in a storage device separated from an imaging apparatus, and to provide the imaging apparatus and a connection device, which are components of the imaging system. <P>SOLUTION: This imaging system 1 is provided with: a digital camera 2 for storing data related to a capture image in a built-in HDD 30; an external HDD 4 provided in a body different from the digital camera 2; and a connection IF card 6 for connecting the digital camera 2 and the external HDD 4. A male parallel ATA connector 61 of the connection IF card 6 is connected to a female parallel ATA connector 31 of the digital camera 2 or a CF connector 62 is inserted to a CF slot 32, and a female serial ATA connector 63 of the connection IF card 6 is connected to a male serial ATA connector 41 of the external HDD 4. A data transfer scheme is then converted inside the connection IF card 6 to attain consistency of data transfer between connectors. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes an image pickup apparatus having an image pickup means for picking up an image and capable of mounting a storage medium for storing data (image data) related to the image picked up by the image pickup means, and a serial transfer system The present invention relates to an imaging system that transfers data to and from a storage device having a connection terminal via the connection device, and an imaging device and a connection device as its components.

  In recent years, digital cameras such as digital still cameras and digital video cameras equipped with an image sensor such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor have become widespread. The digital camera converts an analog image signal photoelectrically converted by an image sensor into a digital format, and stores the converted signal as image data in a storage medium. In recent years, the performance of an image sensor, the storage capacity of a storage medium, and the access speed have been improved, and a digital camera capable of continuous shooting and moving image shooting has been put to practical use, similar to a so-called silver salt camera. In addition, a small-sized (about 1 inch) hard disk device has been put into practical use. If such a small hard disk device is mounted on a digital camera as a storage medium, a large-capacity image can be stored. A digital camera (video camera) equipped with a hard disk drive has been developed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Unlike a conventional sequential access type tape-shaped storage medium, the hard disk device can store data (files) at random and can erase unnecessary files sequentially. Further, the advantage is great that a predetermined file can be instantly selected and reproduced.
JP 2003-309797 A

  However, when image data is stored in the digital camera, the free space of the hard disk device decreases, and the user has to transfer from the hard disk device to another storage medium. As a storage medium for that purpose, a DVD or the like can be mentioned. However, since the capacity of the DVD is at most 4.7 Gbytes, there is a problem that the capacity is too small to store a high-definition class image.

  In recent years, digital cameras have been devised that allow insertion of small memory cards such as CompactFlash (registered trademark) (hereinafter referred to as CF), memory stick (hereinafter referred to as MS), and SD memory card (hereinafter referred to as SD). However, the fact is that they are not compatible with each other, and the user must prepare a small memory card suitable for the digital camera they own. Therefore, when a digital camera is replaced, there is a problem that a small memory card that has been used so far cannot be used with a newly purchased digital camera.

  Also, it is known that a digital camera is connected to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC), and image data stored in the hard disk device on the digital camera side is transferred to the hard disk device on the PC side by operation from the PC. However, in this case, there is a problem that it is necessary to start up the PC and the processing procedure is increased, which places a burden on the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an imaging apparatus provided with a plurality of parallel connection terminals corresponding to different parallel transfer systems and a memory provided with a serial connection terminal compatible with the serial transfer system. Connect the device to each of the parallel connection terminals via a connection device that has multiple parallel connections and a serial connection to connect to the serial connection terminals, and transfer data with the connection device By converting the method and transferring the data between the connection device and the storage device, it is extremely possible to store the data relating to the captured image directly in the storage device or to take a backup. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging system that can be simplified, and an imaging apparatus and a connection apparatus as its components.

  Further, in the present invention, when transferring data relating to a captured image and / or data relating to an image stored on the imaging device side to the storage device, the imaging device side accepts the data to be transferred, By adopting a configuration in which data is transferred directly from the parallel connection terminal connected to the storage device via the connection device to the storage device via the connection device, in accordance with an instruction from the imaging device side. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging system that can be stored in a storage device or backed up extremely easily.

  In addition, according to the present invention, when data relating to an image is stored in the storage device, any one of the plurality of parallel connection terminals provided in the imaging device is connected to the storage device via the connection device. Is connected to the storage device, receives the acquisition of the data related to the image stored in the storage device, and determines that the received data is connected to the storage device via the connection device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging system that can extremely easily transfer data stored in a storage device to an imaging device side according to an instruction from the imaging device side. .

  An imaging system according to the present invention includes an imaging device having an imaging unit that captures an image, a storage device having a serial connection terminal corresponding to a serial transfer method, and a connection device that connects the imaging device and the storage device. In the imaging system, the imaging device includes a plurality of parallel connection terminals corresponding to different parallel transfer methods, and the connection device is connected to each of the plurality of parallel connection terminals. Parallel connection unit, serial connection unit for connection to the serial connection terminal, conversion of data input to the serial connection unit to the parallel transfer system, and / or data input to the parallel connection unit Conversion means for performing conversion to the serial transfer system.

  In the image pickup system according to the present invention, in the above-described invention, the image pickup apparatus can be equipped with a storage medium that stores data relating to an image picked up by the image pickup means, and is picked up by the image pickup means. Accepting means for accepting transfer of data relating to an image and / or data relating to an image stored in the storage medium to the storage device, and parallel receiving data received by the accepting means connected to the storage device Means for transferring data from a connection terminal to the storage device via the connection device.

  In each of the above-described imaging systems according to the present invention, the storage device stores data relating to an image, and the imaging device includes any one of the plurality of parallel connection terminals. A determination unit that determines whether or not the storage device is connected via a connection device; a unit that receives data related to an image stored in the storage device; and the data received by the unit is It is characterized by comprising acquisition means for acquiring via the connection device from a parallel connection terminal determined to be connected to the storage device by the determination means.

  The imaging system according to the present invention is characterized in that, in each of the above-described inventions, the serial transfer method is a transfer method compliant with serial ATA.

  The imaging system according to the present invention is characterized in that, in each of the above-described inventions, the parallel transfer method includes a transfer method compliant with parallel ATA and a transfer method compliant with compact flash.

  An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an image pickup unit that picks up an image, and in each of the image pickup apparatuses that can be mounted with a storage medium that stores data related to the image picked up by the image pickup unit, parallel transfer is different from each other. A plurality of parallel connection terminals corresponding to a method, and a means for outputting data relating to an image captured by the imaging means and / or data relating to an image stored in the storage medium to the outside from the plurality of parallel connection terminals It is characterized by providing.

  The connection device according to the present invention includes a plurality of parallel connection units corresponding to different parallel transfer methods, a serial connection unit corresponding to a predetermined serial transfer method, and the parallel of data input to the serial connection unit Conversion means for converting to a transfer system and / or converting the data input to the parallel connection unit to the serial transfer system.

  In the present invention, an image pickup apparatus having an image pickup means for picking up an image and a storage device having a serial connection terminal corresponding to the serial transfer method are connected by the connection device. The imaging device is provided with a plurality of parallel connection terminals corresponding to different parallel transfer systems, and the connection device has a plurality of parallel connections for individually connecting to the plurality of parallel connection terminals on the imaging device side. And a serial connection unit for connecting to a serial connection terminal on the storage device side. Then, in the connection device, the data input to the serial connection unit is converted to the parallel transfer method, or the data input to the parallel connection unit is converted to the serial transfer method, so that each connection unit can change to the respective transfer method. Output the corresponding data. In other words, when transferring data from the imaging device to the storage device, it is converted from the parallel transfer method to the serial transfer method, and when transferring data from the storage device to the imaging device, it is converted from the serial transfer method to the parallel transfer method. Is done. In this way, data related to the captured image can be directly stored in the storage device.

  In the present invention, it is possible to attach a storage medium that stores data related to an image captured by the imaging device, and the data related to the captured image and / or the image stored in the storage medium on the imaging device side When transferring data related to the storage device to the storage device, the imaging device side receives the data to be transferred, and receives the received data from the parallel connection terminal connected to the storage device via the connection device via the connection device. Forward to. In this way, it is extremely easy to store data relating to the captured image directly in the storage device or take a backup in accordance with an instruction from the imaging device side.

  In the present invention, when data relating to an image is stored in the storage device, any one of the plurality of parallel connection terminals provided in the imaging device is connected to the imaging device via the connection device. A parallel determination in which it is determined whether or not the storage device is connected, acquisition of data relating to an image stored in the storage device is received, and the received data is determined to be connected to the storage device via the connection device; Obtained from the connection terminal through the connection device. In this way, it is very easy to transfer the data stored in the storage device to the imaging device side according to an instruction from the imaging device side.

  In the present invention, since the serial transfer method is a transfer method compliant with serial ATA, a large-capacity hard disk device can be used as a storage device. The amount of image data is generally large, but the storage capacity of the storage device is added to the storage capacity of the imaging device by connecting a large-capacity hard disk device to the imaging device. When the data cannot be stored because the capacity is insufficient, the data can be directly stored in the storage device.

  In the present invention, the parallel transfer method includes a transfer method compliant with the parallel ATA and a transfer method compliant with the compact flash, so that, for example, the configuration of the conversion means for converting from parallel ATA to serial ATA is simplified. Similarly, for the transfer method compliant with the compact flash, the configuration of the conversion means for converting to serial ATA is simplified.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to transfer data between the imaging device and the storage device by connecting the imaging device and the storage device with the connection device and converting the data transfer method at the connection device. Since the storage device is provided separately from the imaging device, there is no limitation on the external dimensions, and for example, a large-capacity (for example, 250 GB) serial ATA compatible hard disk device can be used. Therefore, when a storage medium is attached to the imaging apparatus, it is possible to reliably store a high-definition class image in the storage apparatus, not in the storage medium on the imaging apparatus side. In addition, data stored on the imaging device side can be transferred to the storage device, that is, backed up.

  According to the present invention, when transferring data relating to a captured image and / or data relating to an image stored on the imaging device side to the storage device, the imaging device side accepts the data to be transferred, Since the configuration is such that the parallel connection terminal connected to the storage device via the connection device is transferred to the storage device via the connection device, the data relating to the captured image is directly transmitted according to the instruction from the imaging device side. It can be very easily stored in a storage device or backed up.

  According to the present invention, when data relating to an image is stored in the storage device, the imaging device stores any of the parallel connection terminals of the plurality of parallel connection terminals provided in the imaging device via the connection device. Parallel connection in which it is determined whether or not the device is connected, the acquisition of data relating to the image stored in the storage device is accepted, and the received data is determined to be connected to the storage device via the connection device Since the configuration is such that the data is acquired from the terminal via the connection device, an excellent effect is obtained, for example, it is very easy to transfer the data stored in the storage device to the imaging device side by an instruction from the imaging device side.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an imaging system according to the present invention.
An imaging system 1 according to the present invention includes a digital camera 2 as an imaging device, and an external hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as an external HDD) 4 compatible with serial ATA. The digital camera 2 has a built-in hard disk device (hereinafter referred to as a built-in HDD) 30, a digital parallel ATA connector (here, female) 31 on the side of the digital camera 2, and a CF slot 32 on the back. A male serial ATA connector (here, male) 41 is provided on the back surface of the external HDD 4. A CF connector 62 of a connection interface card (hereinafter referred to as a connection IF card) 6 is inserted into the CF slot 32 of the digital camera 2 or a male parallel ATA connector (here, male type) 61 of the connection IF card 6 is a digital camera. 2 is connected to the female parallel ATA connector 31 and the female serial ATA connector 63 of the connection IF card 6 is connected to the male serial ATA connector 41 of the external HDD 4. The imaging system 1 in the invention is constructed.

2 and 3 are block diagrams showing the configuration of the imaging system according to the present invention.
The digital camera 2 includes a control unit 20 configured with a CPU. The control unit 20 is connected to the ROM 21, the RAM 22, the imaging unit 23, the signal processing unit 24, the operation unit 25, the display unit 26, the output unit 27, the ATA interface 28, and the CF interface 29 via the bus, and controls these units. Various functions are executed in accordance with computer programs stored in the ROM 21 in advance.

  The RAM 22 stores temporary data generated when the control unit 20 executes the computer program, and is configured by, for example, a DRAM, an SDRAM, or the like. The imaging unit 23 includes a zoom lens, a focus lens, a diaphragm (iris), a lens unit including a motor that drives each mechanism that controls the state of the zoom lens, the focus lens, and the iris, and an imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS. And photoelectrically converts incident light to generate an analog image signal.

  The signal processing unit 24 includes an ADC (analog / digital converter) 24a, an encoder 24b, a decoder 24c, and a DAC (digital / analog converter) 24d. The ADC 24a digitizes the analog image signal generated by the imaging unit 23 at a predetermined sampling frequency and outputs the digitized image signal to the encoder 24b. The encoder 24b encodes the digitized image signal into image data in a predetermined format (hereinafter referred to as motion JPEG format). The encoded image data is stored in the internal HDD 30 and the external HDD 4. The encoding format may be MPEG format, DV compression format, etc., and the image compression standard is not limited.

  A built-in HDD 30 and a female parallel ATA connector 31 are connected to the ATA interface 28 by bus, and the built-in HDD 30 is set to be identified as a master device by the control unit 20. When various ATA compatible devices are connected to the female parallel ATA connector 31, the control unit 20 is configured to identify the ATA compatible device connected to the female parallel ATA connector 31 as a slave device. . FIG. 2 shows a case where the male parallel ATA connector 61 of the connection IF card 6 is connected to the female parallel ATA connector 31.

  The built-in HDD 30 is a storage medium mounted on the digital camera 2 and stores motion JPEG format image data. The image data in the motion JPEG format is decoded into an image signal by the decoder 24c and output to the DAC 24d. The DAC 24d converts the image signal into an analog signal and outputs it to the display unit 26. The display unit 26 displays an image related to the image signal. Further, the DAC 24 d can output an analog image signal to the output unit 27 and display an image related to the image signal on a display device 50 such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT display connected to the output unit 27.

  A CF slot 32 is connected to the CF interface 29, and various CF cards inserted into the CF slot 32 are identified. FIG. 3 shows a case where the CF connector 62 of the connection IF card 6 is inserted into the CF slot 32.

  The external HDD 4 is a serial ATA compatible storage device provided separately from the digital camera 2, and is appropriately prepared by a user for backup of image data captured by the digital camera 2. Serial ATA is a communication protocol capable of transferring 750 Mbps serial data, and various compatible devices are commercially available. The external HDD 4 includes a male serial ATA connector 41, a serial / parallel converter 42, and a storage medium 43. Inside the external HDD 4, data is processed in a parallel system, and the serial / parallel converter 42 converts the serial data input to the male serial ATA connector 41 into a parallel system and stores it in a storage medium. 43. On the other hand, when data is output from the male serial ATA connector 41, the serial / parallel converter 42 converts the data from the parallel system to the serial system and outputs the data.

  The connection IF card 6 is an intermediate connection device for connecting the digital camera 2 and the external HDD 4, and is connected between the male parallel ATA connector 61, the CF connector 62, the female serial ATA connector 63, and each connector. And a parallel / serial converter 64 for converting the data transfer method. The male serial ATA connector 63 is connected to the parallel / serial conversion unit 64 with a cable conforming to the corresponding data transfer standard. The male parallel ATA connector 61 and the CF connector 62 can be connected to each of the female parallel ATA connector 31 and the CF slot 32 of the digital camera 2, and the data converted into the parallel system by the parallel / serial conversion unit 64 is transmitted. The data is transferred to the digital camera 2 through the male parallel ATA connector 61 and the CF connector 62. On the other hand, the female serial ATA connector 63 can be connected to the male serial ATA connector 41 of the external HDD 4, and the data converted into the serial system by the parallel / serial converter 64 passes through the female serial ATA connector 63. Are transferred to the external HDD 4.

  That is, the data transfer method is converted inside the connection IF card 6 so as to achieve consistency of data transfer between the connectors. Since the serial ATA performs serial data transfer, the number of pins is as small as four, the configuration of the connection IF card 6 can be simplified, and the cost can be reduced. For example, when the digital camera 2 and the external HDD 4 are connected with the parallel ATA standard, the number of pins is 40, so it is difficult to route the wiring. However, with the serial ATA standard, the connection IF card 6 is used. If the digital camera 2 and the external HDD 4 are connected, the wiring can be routed very easily.

  The digital camera 2 has a function of determining which one of the female parallel ATA connector 31 and the CF slot 32 is connected to the external HDD 4 via the connection IF card 6, and the connection IF card 6 The external HDD 4 connected via the connection IF card 6 can be recognized and handled in the same way as the built-in HDD 30. . In this case, it is set as appropriate so that the built-in HDD 30 is identified as a master and the external HDD 4 is identified as a slave by a switching device such as a jumper switch in each HDD.

  The operation unit 25 operates the digital camera 2 and includes a mode designation key 25a for designating which of image capturing, image data reproduction, and image data copying is to be performed. In addition, the operation unit 25 accepts transfer of image data captured by the imaging unit 23 and / or image data stored in the internal HDD 30 to the external HDD 4, and obtains image data stored in the external HDD 4. It functions as a means to receive. The on-screen display (OSD) may be displayed on the display device 50 to operate the digital camera 2, or the operation unit 25 may be substituted by using the display unit 26 as a touch panel system. Is possible.

  When the image designation is designated by the mode designation key 25a, the control unit 20 accepts designation of which image data is stored in the internal HDD 30 or the external HDD 4 from the user, and accepts the designation. To store the image data in the corresponding HDD. When storing motion JPEG image data equivalent to high-definition image quality, if the storage capacity of the internal HDD 30 is 4 Gbytes, only 20 minutes of image data can be stored, but the external HDD 4 has a large capacity (for example, 250 Gbytes). 1250 image data can be stored.

  Further, when the reproduction of the image data is designated by the mode designation key 25a, the control unit 20 accesses the internal HDD 30 and the external HDD 4 to generate a thumbnail image from the image data stored in each HDD. The thumbnail image is displayed on the display unit 26. When the user selects a thumbnail image to be reproduced while viewing the displayed thumbnail image, the control unit 20 outputs an instruction signal to each unit, and reproduces the image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail image. I do. Of course, the designation of any of the internal HDD 30 and the external HDD 4 may be accepted, and only the image data stored in the accepted HDD may be the reproduction target.

  In addition, when copying of image data is designated by the mode designation key 25a, the control unit 20 copies the image data stored in the internal HDD 30 to the external HDD 4, or conversely, is stored in the external HDD 4. A copy process for copying the stored image data to the built-in HDD 30 is performed. First, the control unit 20 identifies each HDD constituting the imaging system 1 and displays a list of storage media on the display unit 26. Then, the copy source and the copy destination are accepted, the image data stored in the copy source is displayed as a list, and the operation unit 25 accepts designation of image data to be copied. Then, the control unit copies the received image data to the copy destination.

  When the external HDD 4 is not connected, the digital camera 2 stores image data in the built-in HDD 30. However, when the external HDD 4 is connected, the digital camera 2 stores image data in the built-in HDD 30 or the external HDD 4. be able to. Since the digital camera 2 is desired to be small and light, the built-in HDD 30 generally has a small storage capacity because a small disk size is used. Therefore, when the free space of the built-in HDD 30 is decreasing, the image data can be stored in the external HDD 4 by connecting the external HDD 4 to the digital camera 2. When reproducing and copying image data, not only the image data stored in the internal HDD 30 but also the image data stored in the connected external HDD 4 can be reproduced and copied.

  Next, an operation procedure performed by the digital camera 2 will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the digital camera 2 as the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. Note that the operation procedure is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. Such an operation procedure can be performed by incorporating a computer program in the ROM 21 in advance.

  The control unit 20 determines whether or not the connection IF card 6 is connected to the female parallel ATA connector 31 (step S1), and when the connection IF card 6 is connected to the female parallel ATA connector 31 (S1). : YES), the device (external HDD 4 in FIG. 2) connected to the connection IF card 6 is identified (step S2). On the other hand, if the connection IF card 6 is not connected to the female parallel ATA connector 31 (S1: NO), it is determined whether or not the connection IF card 6 is inserted into the CF slot 32 (step S3). When the card 6 is inserted into the CF slot 32 (S3: YES), the device (external HDD 4 in FIG. 3) connected to the connection IF card 6 is identified (step S4). Thus, the control unit 2 can handle the external HDD 4 in the same manner as the internal HDD 30 by identifying the external HDD 4.

  Then, the control unit 20 accepts designation of which of the image capturing, image data reproduction, and image data copying is to be performed by the operation unit 25 (step S5), and according to the accepted designation. Any one of image capturing, image data reproduction, and image data copying is executed (step S6).

  In the image capturing process, as shown in FIG. 5, first, designation of which of the internal HDD 30 and the external HDD 4 stores image data is accepted (step S11). And the control part 20 memorize | stores the image data obtained by imaging in HDD designated at S11 (step S12).

  Therefore, the amount of image data is generally large, but by connecting the external HDD 4 to the digital camera 2, the storage capacity of the external HDD 4 is added to the storage capacity of the internal HDD 30 installed in the digital camera 2. Therefore, when the built-in HDD 30 cannot store image data due to insufficient capacity, the image data can be stored in the external HDD 4.

  In the image data reproduction process, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 20 first accesses the internal HDD 30 and the external HDD 4 to generate thumbnail images from the image data stored in each HDD (step S21). ). The generated thumbnail image is displayed on the display unit 26 (step S22), and the user is informed of what image data is stored in the internal HDD 30 and the external HDD 4. Then, the selection of the thumbnail image by the user is accepted (step S23), and the control unit 20 reproduces the image data corresponding to the thumbnail image selected in S23 (step S24).

  Therefore, by connecting the external HDD 4 to the digital camera 2, the storage capacity of the external HDD 4 is added to the storage capacity of the internal HDD 30 mounted on the digital camera 2. Possible image data can be stored in the external HDD 4, and the digital camera 2 can access the image data stored in the external HDD 4 and reproduce the image data.

  In the image data copy process, as shown in FIG. 7, first, the control unit 20 identifies each HDD constituting the imaging system 1 and displays a list of storage media (here, HDDs) on the display unit 26 ( Step S31). In this example, the internal HDD 30 and the external HDD 4 are identified as storage media. Then, designation of the copy source HDD and the copy destination HDD is accepted (step S32), and a list of image data stored in the copy source HDD is displayed on the display unit 26 (step S33). The operation unit 25 receives selection of image data to be copied (step S34), and the control unit 20 copies the image data selected in S34 to the copy destination HDD (step S35).

  Accordingly, when the free space of the internal HDD 30 becomes small, the image data stored in the internal HDD 30 can be copied to the external HDD 4 so that the image data can be backed up. Can be deleted from the built-in HDD 30 to increase the free space. Conversely, by copying the image data stored as a backup in the external HDD 4 to the internal HDD 30, the image data can be returned to the digital camera side.

  As described above, the image capturing process, the image data reproducing process, and the image data copying process can be easily performed by an instruction from the digital camera 2 side, and the conventional one in which the digital camera is connected to the PC. In comparison, the burden on the user can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, parallel type data input to the male type parallel ATA connector 61 and the CF connector 62 is converted into a serial type and transferred from the female type serial ATA connector 63, and the female type serial ATA connector 63. The parallel / serial conversion unit 64 is provided in the connection IF card 6 so that the serial type data input to can be converted into the parallel type and transferred from the male parallel ATA connector 61 and the CF connector 62. The connection IF card 6 may be provided with either a conversion unit that converts system data into a serial system or a conversion unit that converts serial data into a parallel system.

  In the present embodiment, the digital camera 2 is provided with a female parallel ATA connector 31 and a CF slot 32 as parallel connection terminals. Correspondingly, the connection IF card 6 has a male parallel as a parallel connection portion. Although the ATA connector 61 and the CF connector 62 are provided, the standards and number of each connection terminal and connection part are not limited to these, and standards for small memory cards such as MS and SD, PCMCIA Such standards as for PC cards are not limited.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the built-in HDD 30 is built in the digital camera 2, but the storage medium on the digital camera 2 may be any storage medium that can be mounted, and may be a removable hard disk device, for example. Of course.

  Furthermore, when the external HDD 4 is connected to the female parallel ATA connector 31 via the connection IF card 6 and a CF memory card is inserted into the CF slot 32, the connection between the external HDD 4 and the CF memory card is reduced. Needless to say, data can be transferred.

  While specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to these. A person skilled in the art can add various changes or improvements to the configurations and functions of the invention according to the above-described embodiments without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the imaging system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the imaging system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the imaging system which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the digital camera as an imaging device which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the imaging process of the digital camera as an imaging device which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the reproduction | regeneration processing of the digital camera as an imaging device which concerns on this invention. 3 is a flowchart showing copy processing of a digital camera as an imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Imaging System 2 Digital Camera 4 External Hard Disk Device (External HDD)
6 Connection interface card (connection IF card)
20 Control unit 21 ROM
22 RAM
23 Imaging unit 24 Signal processing unit 28 ATA interface 29 CF interface 30 Built-in hard disk device (built-in HDD)
31 Female parallel ATA connector 32 CF slot 41 Male serial ATA connector 42 Serial / parallel converter 61 Male parallel ATA connector 62 CF connector 63 Female serial ATA connector 64 Parallel / serial converter

Claims (7)

An imaging system comprising an imaging device having an imaging means for capturing an image, a storage device having a serial connection terminal corresponding to a serial transfer method, and a connection device for connecting the imaging device and the storage device,
The imaging device
Equipped with multiple parallel connection terminals corresponding to different parallel transfer methods,
The connecting device is
A plurality of parallel connection portions for individually connecting to each of the plurality of parallel connection terminals;
A serial connection for connecting to the serial connection terminal;
Conversion means for converting the data input to the serial connection unit into the parallel transfer system and / or converting the data input to the parallel connection unit into the serial transfer system. Imaging system. The imaging device
It is possible to attach a storage medium for storing data relating to an image captured by the imaging means,
Accepting means for accepting transfer of data relating to an image captured by the imaging means and / or data relating to an image stored in the storage medium to the storage device;
The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit configured to transfer data received by the receiving unit from the parallel connection terminal connected to the storage device to the storage device via the connection device. system. The storage device
Stores data related to images,
The imaging device
Determining means for determining whether any of the plurality of parallel connection terminals is connected to the storage device via the connection device;
Means for accepting acquisition of data relating to an image stored in the storage device;
An acquisition means for acquiring, via the connection device, data received by the means from a parallel connection terminal determined by the determination means to be connected to the storage device. The imaging system according to claim 1 or 2.   The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the serial transfer method is a transfer method compliant with serial ATA.   The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the parallel transfer method includes a transfer method compliant with parallel ATA and a transfer method compliant with compact flash. In an imaging apparatus having an imaging unit for imaging an image and capable of mounting a storage medium for storing data relating to the image captured by the imaging unit,
A plurality of parallel connection terminals corresponding to different parallel transfer methods,
An image pickup apparatus comprising: means for outputting data relating to an image picked up by the image pickup means and / or data relating to an image stored in the storage medium to the outside from the plurality of parallel connection terminals. A plurality of parallel connections corresponding to different parallel transfer methods,
A serial connection corresponding to a predetermined serial transfer method;
Conversion means for converting the data input to the serial connection unit into the parallel transfer system and / or converting the data input to the parallel connection unit into the serial transfer system. Connected device.

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