JP2006174099A - Electronic apparatus, method for recording date therein and photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To update the recording of a correct date when the date is set even when the previously recorded date is the incorrect one. <P>SOLUTION: The date is acquired from a built-in clock. When the acquired date is an initial state, an incorrect date state flag is set and recorded at each file together with the incorrect date (100-108). When the date is inputted, the correct date of the file is calculated, based on the inputted date, the incorrect date recorded in the file, and the existing incorrect date, so as to be updated in recording, concerning the file with the incorrect date state flag set therein (116-128). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, a photographing device, and a date and time recording method for the electronic device, and in particular, a digital camera, a mobile phone, a personal computer, an electronic device such as a PDA, a photographing device such as a digital camera, and the date and time of the electronic device. It relates to a recording method.

  In recent years, electronic devices such as digital cameras and portable information terminals that measure the date and time have become widespread. In such an electronic device, date and time information used as recording date and time when recording various information in a memory and the like and date and time information used as attached information related to captured image information are generated inside the device, It is recorded together with the main information as a time stamp and shooting information at the time of file recording. As such an electronic device, for example, techniques described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 have been proposed.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, it is proposed that time difference data based on a region name is held for shooting data at a point with a time difference, and the time is corrected based on the held time difference data. .

  In the technique described in Patent Document 2, a technique is proposed in which model information is read from a medium, a device release date is specified, and if the shooting date is before the release date, it is determined as an unauthorized date.

Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 3, when the replacement detection unit that detects the replacement of the battery and the replacement of the battery is detected, the recording of the recording date and time is prohibited, and the date and time of the clock are reset. It has been proposed to lift the prohibition of recording date and time.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-275494 JP 2002-16789 A JP-A-6-258709

  In an electronic device such as a digital camera, after the battery is depleted and the date / time of the built-in clock is reset, it is necessary to reset the clock when shooting starts. There is a problem of being recorded.

  In the prior art, it has been proposed to correct the time as described above, determine the incorrect date and time, and prohibit recording of the date and time when replacing the battery. No technology has been proposed for correcting when is set.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described facts, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to accurately update the date and time when the date and time is set even when the date and time already recorded is incorrect.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is characterized in that the clock means for measuring the date and time by measuring the elapsed time from the predetermined initial date and time, and the date and time measured by the clock means when the power is turned on. Determining means for determining whether or not is an invalid date, a recording means for recording the date and time counted by the clock means for each file, and an illegal date and time representing an illegal date and time when the date and time is determined by the determining means And a control means for controlling the recording means so as to record the date and time counted by the clock means together with the status flag for each file.

  According to the electronic device of the first aspect, the clock means measures the date and time by measuring the elapsed time from a predetermined initial state, and the determination means determines the date and time counted by the clock means when the power is turned on. It is determined whether the date is invalid. For example, the determination unit can determine whether or not the date and time counted by the clock unit is an incorrect date and time by determining whether or not the date and time is an initial state.

  The recording means records the date and time counted by the clock means for each file. At this time, in the control unit, when the determination unit determines that the date / time is invalid, the recording unit records the date / time (incorrect date / time) measured by the clock unit together with the incorrect date / time state flag indicating the illegal date / time. Is controlled.

  That is, even when an invalid date / time is recorded in the file, it can be determined whether the date / time recorded in the file is invalid by checking whether there is an invalid date / time status flag.

  In addition to the illegal date / time status flag, the illegal date / time counted by the clock means is recorded in the file in which the illegal date / time is recorded. Therefore, when the current date / time is newly set, the time is counted by the clock means. The correct date and time can be calculated and recorded based on the current date and time (illegal date and time), the date and time recorded in the file, and the new current date and time.

  Accordingly, even when the date and time already recorded is incorrect, the date and time can be accurately updated when the date and time is set.

  As in the second aspect of the present invention, the holding means further includes a holding means that holds the determination result of the determining means as a date / time state flag, and the control means stores the date / time state flag held in the holding means. Control may be performed based on this.

  For example, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the accurate date and time record update is performed by the input unit for the input unit for inputting the current date and time, and for the file in which the incorrect date and time status flag is recorded by the control of the control unit. Correction means for correcting the date and time recorded in the file based on the input current date and time, the date and time recorded in the file, and the current date and time (illegal date and time) timed by the clock means. This is possible.

  A photographing apparatus according to a fourth aspect includes the electronic device according to any one of the first to third aspects, obtains image data representing a subject image by photographing the subject, and stores the image data as a file. It is characterized by recording as.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the photographing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention provides a photographing apparatus that photographs a subject, acquires image data representing the subject image, and records the data in a file. Equipped with electronic devices.

  Therefore, as described above, even when the already recorded date and time are incorrect, it is possible to record and update the correct date and time when the date and time is set.

  The date and time recording method for an electronic device according to claim 5 is a clock step for measuring the date and time by counting an elapsed time from a predetermined initial state date and time, and the date and time measured by the clock step at power-on is an incorrect date and time. A determination step for determining whether or not, a recording step for recording the date and time counted in the clock step for each file, and an incorrect date and time status flag indicating an incorrect date and time when the determination step determines an incorrect date and time And a control step for controlling the recording step so as to record the date and time measured in the clock step for each file.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, in the clock step, the date and time is measured by measuring the elapsed time from a predetermined initial state, and in the determination step, the date and time counted in the clock step at power-on is an incorrect date and time. It is determined whether or not. For example, the determination step can determine whether or not the date and time measured at the clock step is an incorrect date and time by determining whether or not the date and time is an initial state.

  In the recording step, the date and time counted in the clock step is recorded for each file. At this time, the control step controls the recording step to record the date and time (illegal date and time) measured in the clock step together with the illegal date and time status flag indicating the illegal date and time when it is determined that the date and time is invalid.

  That is, even when an invalid date / time is recorded in the file, it can be determined whether the date / time recorded in the file is invalid by checking whether there is an invalid date / time status flag.

  In addition to the illegal date / time status flag, the illegal date / time counted in the clock step is recorded in the file in which the illegal date / time is recorded. Therefore, when a new date / time is set, the current time measured in the clock step is recorded. The correct date and time can be calculated and recorded based on the date and time (incorrect date and time), the date and time recorded in the file, and the new current date and time.

  Accordingly, even when the date and time already recorded is incorrect, the date and time can be accurately updated when the date and time is set.

  In addition, as in the invention described in claim 6, it further includes a holding step, the determination result of the determination step is held as a date / time state flag in the holding step, and the control step performs control based on the date / time state flag held in the holding step. May be performed.

  For example, as shown in the invention according to claim 7, the accurate date and time record update is performed in the input step for an input step for inputting the current date and time, and for a file in which an illegal date and time status flag is recorded by the control of the control step. A correction step for correcting the date and time recorded in the file based on the input current date and time, the date and time recorded in the file, and the current date and time (illegal date and time) measured in the clock step. It is feasible.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the date and time counted when the power is turned on is an illegal date and time. When a new date and time is set, the correct date and time can be calculated and recorded based on the current date and time, the date and time recorded in the file, and the new current date and time. Even when the recorded date and time are incorrect, there is an effect that the recording and updating of the accurate date and time can be performed when the date and time is set.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a digital camera will be described. However, the present invention may be applied to other electronic devices such as a mobile phone, a personal computer, and a PDA.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the digital camera 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a lens 14 on the front surface of the camera body 12 and a release button 16 on the upper surface.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, various switches such as a power button 18, an instruction key 20, and an input button 22 are provided on the back surface of the main body 12, and a liquid crystal display for displaying a photographed image. (Hereinafter referred to as LCD) 24 is provided.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electrical system of the digital camera 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The digital camera 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit 26, a media interface (I / F) 28, an imaging system 30, an LCD 24, a built-in memory 32, a built-in clock 34, a status recording device 36, an instruction key 20, and an input. A button 22, a power button 18, and a USB interface (I / F) 38 are provided, and are connected via a bus 40.

  The imaging system 30 captures image data, creates an image file based on the image data, and captures the image data into the digital camera 10. Note that the image file includes date and time data representing the shooting date and time and image data.

  Various programs executed by the control unit 26 are stored in the internal memory 32, and an image file is temporarily stored and used as a work area for operations performed by the control unit 26.

  The control unit 26 reads various programs stored in the internal memory 32 and executes the read programs to control the entire digital camera 10.

  The media I / F 28 writes an image file to the external memory 42 and reads an image file from the external memory 42. That is, the image data captured in the digital camera 10 by the imaging system 30 can be written in the external memory 42 as an image file.

  The LCD 24 displays an image based on the image data captured by the imaging system 30, displays various setting screens in the digital camera 10, and the like. Various setting screens can be operated using the instruction key 20 or the input button 22.

  The built-in clock 34 counts a value representing the date and time at a predetermined interval from the initial state, thereby counting the elapsed time and counting the date and time. Further, the built-in clock 34 is preset with a special value such as “0” in the initial state. The initial state is set when the power supply to the internal clock 34 is resumed after the battery has run out and no power is supplied to the internal clock 34, and as long as the power supply to the internal clock 34 continues. Count up the value representing the date and time.

  The USB interface 38 can be connected to an external device (for example, a personal computer, another digital camera, a PDA, a mobile phone, etc.) via a USB cable. In the present embodiment, information for setting the date and time of the internal clock 34 is input to the digital camera 10 from the external device via the USB interface 38. The date and time setting for the built-in clock 34 can also be input by operating the instruction key 20, the input button 22, or the like.

  The status recording device 36 records a date / time status flag indicating whether the date / time set in the internal clock 34 is correct or incorrect. Whether the date and time is correct or incorrect is determined by the control unit 26 determining whether or not the value of the internal clock 34 is in an initial state when the power is turned on.

  Specifically, the status recording device 36 includes a clock reference date / time storage ROM 44 and a status flag storage device 46 as shown in FIG. The clock reference date and time storage ROM 44 stores a value representing a specific date and time as a predetermined reference date and time, and by comparing the value representing the reference date and time with the current date and time counted by the built-in clock 34, The control unit 26 determines whether or not the built-in clock 34 is in the initial state (for example, when the current date and time is earlier than the reference date and time), the control unit 26 stores the status flag storage device 46 in the initial state. The determined determination result is stored as a date / time state flag.

  Next, an example of the operation of the digital camera 10 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an exemplary flow of processing performed by the control unit 26 of the digital camera 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  First, when the power of the digital camera 10 is turned on, in step 100, a built-in clock 34 activation process is performed. The internal clock activation process is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  That is, in step 200, the date and time is acquired from the built-in clock 34 by the control unit 26, and the process proceeds to step 202.

  In step 202, the control unit 26 determines whether the date and time acquired from the built-in clock 34 is in the initial state. The determination is made by acquiring a value representing the reference date and time stored in the clock reference date and time storage ROM 44 of the state recording device 36, and comparing the value of the acquired reference date and time with the date and time acquired from the built-in clock 34. When the value of the built-in clock is a value representing the date and time before the reference date and time, it is determined that the state has returned to the initial state, and when the determination is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 204, and when the determination is negative The process proceeds to step 206.

  In step 204, the date / time state flag stored in the state flag storage device 46 of the state recording device 36 is set normally, and the routine proceeds to step 208.

  In step 206, the date and time status flag stored in the status flag storage device 46 of the status recording device 36 is set to an incorrect date and time, and the process proceeds to step 208.

  When the date / time state flag is set in this way, in step 208, an operation start instruction is output from the control unit 26 to the built-in clock 34, and the process returns to step 102 in the flowchart of FIG. As a result, the operation of the built-in clock 34 is started, and the count-up of the date and time is started.

  Subsequently, in step 102 in FIG. 2, it is determined by the control unit 26 whether date / time input has been performed. The determination is made by, for example, determining whether or not date / time has been input by operating the input button 22 or the instruction key 20 provided on the digital camera 10, or an external device such as a personal computer capable of acquiring the date / time. Is connected through the USB interface 38 and the control unit 26 determines whether or not the date and time has been input. If the negative is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 104.

  In step 104, it is determined by the control unit 26 whether or not photographed image data has been input. The determination is made, for example, by the control unit 26 determining whether or not the captured image data has been acquired by capturing with the imaging system 30. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 106, and the determination is made. The control unit 26 determines whether or not the date / time state flag is set. The determination is made by the control unit 26 confirming the date / time state flag stored in the state flag storage device 46 of the state recording device 36. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 108 and denied. If YES, go to step 110.

  In step 108, the image data, the date and time, and the illegal date and time status flag are recorded as files in the external memory 42 or the like, and the process proceeds to step 132.

  In step 110, the image data and date / time are recorded as files in the external memory 42 or the like, and the process proceeds to step 132.

  On the other hand, if the determination in step 104 is negative, the process proceeds to step 112 where the control unit 26 determines whether or not to read image data. The determination is made, for example, when the control unit 26 determines whether or not the instruction key 20 or the input button 22 is operated to instruct display of the captured image on the LCD 24, and when the determination is affirmed. Shifts to step 114, and is controlled by the control unit 26 so that an image based on the image data is displayed on the LCD 24, and shifts to step 132. An example of the display image at this time is shown in FIG. For example, for image data in which the date / time state flag is stored together with the incorrect date / time state flag, as shown in FIG. 6A, a display such as “Date and time is invalid. Set: (1)” is displayed at the same time. You may do it. In this case, the date and time can be set by performing the operation corresponding to (1).

  If the determination at step 112 is negative, the process proceeds to step 132 as it is.

  On the other hand, when the determination in step 102 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 116, where the control unit 26 determines whether or not the illegal date / time state flag is set in the file stored in the external memory 42 or the like. The determination is made by the control unit 26 confirming whether or not the unauthorized date / time state flag is set in the state flag storage device 46 of the state recording device 36. If the determination is affirmative, the process goes to step 118. If the result of the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 130.

  In step 118, the control unit 26 resets the date / time state flag in the state flag storage device 46, that is, rewrites the normal flag, and the process proceeds to step 120.

  In step 120, the file recorded in the external memory 42 or the like is read to the built-in memory 32 or the like under the control of the control unit 26, and the process proceeds to step 122.

  In step 122, the control unit 26 determines whether or not the read file is an illegal date and time file. That is, in step 108, it is determined by the control unit 26 whether or not the illegal date / time status flag is recorded in the file as the date / time status flag. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 120 to read another file. If the determination at step 122 is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 124.

  In step 124, the exact date and time recorded in the file is calculated and the process proceeds to step 126. The date and time recorded in the file is recorded and updated at the calculated date and time, and the process proceeds to step 128. The date and time can be calculated as follows, for example. That is, Tc is a value representing the current date and time (incorrect date and time) of the internal clock 34, Tr is a value representing the input update date and time (new current date and time), and Te is a value representing the incorrect date and time recorded in the file. Then, the new date and time of the file can be calculated by Tr- (Tc-Te).

  In step 128, the control unit 26 determines whether date correction has been completed for all files. The determination is made by the control unit 26 determining whether or not the processing of steps 120 to 126 has been completed for all the files recorded in the external memory 42. If the determination is negative, Returning to 120, the above-described processing is repeated, and when the determination in step 128 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 130, and the date / time of the internal clock 34 is updated to the input date / time, and then the process proceeds to step 132.

  In step 132, it is determined whether or not the power is turned off by operating the power button 18 or the like. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 102 and the above-described processing is repeated. When affirmed, the series of processes is terminated.

  In the above embodiment, when the illegal date / time status flag is set in the status flag storage device 46 (when the determination in step 116 is affirmed), the date / time of the file is automatically corrected. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, a display for inquiring the user as to whether or not to update for each file is performed, and the date and time is updated and updated according to the user's instruction. You may make it perform. In the case of FIG. 6B, when correcting the image to be displayed, the operation corresponding to (1) is performed, and when correcting all the images, the user performs the operation corresponding to (2). By doing so, an example of a display image when correcting the date and time is shown.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the digital camera concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electric system of the digital camera concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of a state recording device. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process performed in the control part of the digital camera concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of an internal clock starting process. It is a figure which shows an example of the display image displayed on the digital camera concerning embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 20 Instruction key 22 Input button 26 Control part 34 Built-in clock 36 Status recording device 38 USB I / F
44 Status flag storage device 46 Clock reference date and time storage ROM

Claims (7)

Clock means for measuring the date and time by measuring the elapsed time from the predetermined initial state date and time,
Determination means for determining whether the date and time counted by the clock means at the time of power-on is an incorrect date and time;
Recording means for recording the date and time counted by the clock means for each file;
Control means for controlling the recording means to record, for each file, the date and time counted by the clock means together with an illegal date and time status flag indicating the illegal date and time when the determination means determines that the date and time is invalid;
An electronic device with   2. The storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a holding unit that holds a determination result of the determination unit as a date / time state flag, wherein the control unit performs control based on the date / time state flag held in the holding unit. Electronic devices.   With respect to the input means for inputting the current date and time, and the file in which the illegal date and time status flag is recorded, the current date and time input by the input means, the date and time recorded in the file, and the clock means are timed. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a correcting unit that corrects the date and time recorded in the file based on the current date and time.   An imaging device comprising the electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the imaging device captures image data representing a subject image by photographing the subject, and records the image data as a file. A clock step for measuring the date and time by counting the elapsed time from a predetermined initial state date and time,
A determination step of determining whether or not the date and time counted by the clock step at power-on is an incorrect date and time;
A recording step for recording the date and time counted in the clock step for each file;
A control step for controlling the recording step so as to record, for each file, the date and time counted in the clock step together with an illegal date and time state flag representing the illegal date and time when it is determined as an illegal date and time in the determination step;
A date and time recording method for an electronic device.   6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising a holding step of holding a determination result of the determination step as a date / time state flag, wherein the control step performs control based on the date / time state flag held in the holding step. Electronic device date and time recording method.   For the input step for inputting the current date and time and the file in which the illegal date and time status flag is recorded, the current date and time input in the input step, the date and time recorded in the file, and the clock step are counted. The date and time recording method for an electronic device according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a correction step of correcting the date and time recorded in the file based on the current date and time.

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