JP2011061818A - Electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide electronic equipment in which image data to be transferred are not erased by mistake. <P>SOLUTION: When a transfer marking button is operated to add a transfer marking to an image file 45, a file name 48 of the image file 45, to which the transfer marking is added, is recorded in a list file 47 produced in a memory card of an electronic camera. The image file, the file name 48 of which is recorded in the list file 47, is prevented from being deleted. Accordingly, incorrect deletion of the image file 45, to which the transfer marking is added, can be prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device.

  In an electronic camera such as a digital still camera, captured image data is recorded in a recording medium such as a memory in the camera or a memory card attached to the camera. Image data after photographing can be transferred to a storage device such as a PC (personal computer) via a communication cable. Conventionally, when it is desired to save and retain an image, a technique is known in which transfer marking is added to an image at the time of shooting or image playback, and only the image with the transfer marking is collectively transferred to the PC side. ing. After the transfer, the image data recorded on the recording medium is erased, and the recording medium is ready for recording new image data. Also, since the recording medium attached to the electronic camera has a limited recording capacity, unnecessary image data, that is, image data without transfer marking is erased from the recording medium, and newly captured image data is stored. Recording is generally performed.

  However, in the conventional electronic camera, when unnecessary image data is erased, there is a possibility that image data to which transfer marking is added, that is, image data to be kept, may be mistakenly erased.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that can change processing depending on whether image data is data to be transferred, for example, can prevent image data to be transferred from being deleted.

An electronic apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an imaging unit that images a subject, a recording unit that records an image file of an image captured by the imaging unit on a recording medium, and a transfer image specification that specifies an image file to be transferred Specific information forming means for forming information on the recording medium separately from the image file, communication means for transferring the image file recorded on the recording medium to an external recording device, and the transfer image specifying information. Based on the instructions of the transfer instruction operation unit for instructing transfer of the specified image file by the communication means, the deletion instruction operation member for instructing deletion of the image file specified by the operation by the user, and the instruction for the deletion instruction operation member Processing means for deleting the specified image file, and the image file instructed by the deletion instruction operation member with reference to the transfer image specifying information; Comprises determining means for determining whether or not the image file is to be transferred, and prohibiting means for prohibiting the processing means from deleting the image file determined to be transferred by the determining means. It is characterized by that.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus comprising: an imaging unit that images a subject; a recording unit that records an image file of an image captured by the imaging unit on a recording medium; and a transfer image specification that specifies an image file to be transferred Specific information forming means for forming information as tag information in the image file, communication means for transferring the image file recorded on the recording medium to an external recording device, and the image file specified by the transfer image specifying information A transfer instruction operation unit for instructing transfer by the communication means, a deletion instruction operation member for instructing deletion of an image file specified by an operation by a user, and an image file specified based on an instruction of the deletion instruction operation member Referring to the transfer image specifying information, the image file instructed by the delete instruction operation member is transferred. A determination unit that determines whether the image file is to be transferred, and a prohibition unit that prohibits the processing unit from deleting the image file determined to be transferred by the determination unit. And

  According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the image file instructed to be deleted is an image file to be transferred, and it is prohibited to delete the image file determined to be transferred. Can be prevented from being deleted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the electronic device by this invention, (a) is the top view which looked at the electronic camera from upper direction, (b) is the rear view which looked at the camera from back. It is a circuit block diagram of the electronic camera shown in FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration when image data is transferred to a hard disk of a PC 20. FIG. It is a figure which shows the file structure in the memory card 424 qualitatively. It is a figure explaining the transfer marking setting method at the time of reproduction | regeneration, (a) shows the time of single frame reproduction, (b) shows the time of thumbnail reproduction. It is a figure which shows the transfer marking setting menu displayed on the display LCD3. It is a figure explaining the transfer marking setting during a freeze image display. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence from addition of transfer marking to completion of image transfer. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a warning mark 36. FIG. It is a figure which shows the folder structure in a modification. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence from the addition of transfer marking to completion of image transfer in a modification. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence from the addition of transfer marking to completion of image transfer in 2nd Embodiment.

-First embodiment-
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view of the electronic camera 1 viewed from above, and FIG. 1B is a rear view of the electronic camera 1 viewed from the rear. . As shown in FIG. 1A, on the upper surface of the electronic camera 1, a main switch 4 for turning on / off the power, a release button 5 for performing a photographing operation, and a display panel 7 for displaying camera information. Is provided. The electronic camera 1 has a recording mode in which image data obtained by photographing a subject is recorded in a memory card 424, which will be described later, and a display LCD 3 (see FIG. 3) provided on the back of the camera by reading out the image data recorded in the memory card 424. 1 (b)). The switching operation between the recording mode and the reproduction mode is performed with the dial 6.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, on the back side of the camera, in addition to the display LCD 3 for image display, a finder eyepiece window 8 and a zoom switching button 9 for performing zoom operation of the photographing optical system 2 and various operation buttons are provided. It has been. The zoom switching button 9 is driven to the wide-angle side when the W side is pushed, and is driven to the telephoto side when the T side is pushed. In the recording mode, a subject image picked up by a CCD 214 described later is sequentially displayed on the display LCD 3. On the other hand, in the playback mode, the display LCD 3 performs thumbnail display of images recorded on a memory card 424, which will be described later, and playback display of individual images.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a menu button for displaying a setting menu on the display LCD 3, and displays a setting menu when performing various settings, and selects an item to be set by the selection buttons 11a to 11d. In the present embodiment, setting and cancellation of transfer marking in the recording mode, which will be described later, setting and canceling of transfer marking in batch in the playback mode, setting of retransfer, and the like can be performed using the setting menu. Details of each setting will be described later. The transfer marking button 12 is a push-type operation button used when adding transfer marking to each image file. When image file transfer is started, the transfer button 13 is pushed. Reference numeral 14 denotes a delete button for deleting an image file recorded in the memory card 424 (see FIG. 2). As will be described later, the transfer marking button 12 is also used when canceling transfer marking.

  FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the electronic camera shown in FIG. The ROM 443 stores a control program for the electronic camera 1. When the main switch 4 is turned on, the power source of the electronic camera 1 is turned on, and this control program is activated by the CPU 439. When the recording mode is set by the dial 6, the electronic camera 1 can shoot. On the other hand, when the reproduction mode is set by the dial 6, an image based on the image data recorded on the memory card 424 as a recording medium can be reproduced and displayed on the display LCD 3. In the recording mode, an image based on the imaging signal from the CCD 214 is displayed on the display LCD 3.

  The photographing optical system 2 has a plurality of lenses 201 to 204, and the focus adjustment operation is performed by a lens driving circuit 430. The focus adjustment operation by the lens driving circuit 430 is normally performed according to a command from the CPU 439. However, the focus adjustment operation can also be performed by an operation signal output when the distance ring 462 is manually operated.

  A shutter plate 208 and a diaphragm 215 are provided between the lens 203 and the lens 204 of the photographing optical system 2. The subject light incident on the photographing optical system 2 passes through the lenses 201 to 204, the shutter plate 208 and the diaphragm plate 215, and forms an image on the imaging surface of the CCD 214. The diaphragm plate 215 and the shutter plate 208 are formed in a disc shape, and are driven by step motors 415 and 408 provided at the center of rotation of the disc. The aperture plate 215 is provided with a plurality of aperture openings (not shown) having different aperture areas, and the aperture plate 215 is rotated by the step motor 415 to arrange any one aperture opening on the optical axis. .

  The shutter plate 208 is provided with a complete light-shielding portion (not shown) that shields all light beams that have passed through the lens 203 and an opening (not shown) that allows all light beams to pass through. At the time of exposure, the opening of the shutter plate 208 is set on the optical path, and the complete light-shielding part is set on the optical path upon completion of exposure. A step motor 415 that rotates the diaphragm plate 215 is driven and controlled by a drive circuit 453. A step motor 408 that rotates the shutter plate 208 is driven and controlled by a shutter drive circuit 454.

  When photographing, first, the electric charge accumulated in the CCD 214 is discharged, and a predetermined opening of the diaphragm plate 215 is set on the optical path. Then, when the CCD 214 is exposed for a predetermined time, charges are accumulated again. The time from when the electric charge is discharged until the light path is blocked by the complete light blocking portion of the shutter plate 208 again corresponds to the exposure time.

  When the subject image is formed on the imaging surface of the CCD 214 by the photographing optical system 2, signal charges corresponding to the intensity of the light of the subject image are accumulated. The CCD 214 is supplied with a horizontal drive signal from a digital signal processor (hereinafter referred to as DSP) 433 and a vertical drive signal from a CCD drive circuit 434 controlled by the DSP 433. That is, the timing of the CCD 214 is controlled by the DSP 433 and the CCD driving circuit 434, and a signal from the CCD 214 is input to the image processing unit 431.

  The image processing unit 431 includes a noise removal circuit, a direct current reproduction circuit, and the like, and performs analog processing such as noise removal and gain control on the image signal output from the CCD 214. The analog image signal output from the image processing unit 431 is converted into a digital signal by an analog / digital conversion circuit (hereinafter referred to as an A / D conversion circuit) 432. The converted digital image data is input to the DSP 433 described above.

  In the DSP 433, image processing such as contour compensation, gamma correction, and white balance adjustment is performed on the image data output from the A / D conversion circuit 432. Further, the DSP 433 controls the data bus connected to the buffer memory 436 and the memory card 424 to temporarily store the image data subjected to various image processing in the buffer memory 436, and then receives the image data from the buffer memory 436. The data is read, compressed in a predetermined compression format (for example, JPEG method), and recorded on the memory card 424.

  Further, the DSP 433 stores in the frame memory 435 image data after being imaged by the CCD 214 and subjected to the above image processing, and image data read from the memory card 424 and decompressed, and an image based on the image data is electronically stored. The image is displayed on a display LCD 3 provided in the camera 1. Further, the DSP 433 also performs data input / output timing management in the above-described recording of image data in the memory card 424 and recording of the captured image data after decompression in the buffer memory 436.

  The buffer memory 436 in which image data based on the output of the CCD 214 is temporarily stored is used to alleviate the difference in the input / output speed of image data with respect to the memory card 424 and the processing speed in the CPU 439, DSP 433, and the like. The The timer 445 incorporates a clock circuit, outputs time data corresponding to the current time to the CPU 439, and is also used as a timer for monitor on / off control described later. This time data is recorded on the memory card 424 together with the image data described above.

  The color measuring element 417 detects the color temperature of the main subject and its surroundings, and outputs the detected color temperature data to the color measuring circuit 452. The color measurement circuit 452 performs predetermined processing on the analog signal output from the color measurement element 417 to convert it into a digital value, and outputs the converted digital signal to the CPU 439. The interface 448 is provided for transmitting / receiving data to / from a predetermined external device (not shown), and in this embodiment, a USB interface is provided. Reference numeral 23 denotes a USB connection terminal to which a USB communication cable can be connected. A display circuit 440 controls the display panel 7.

<Description of operation in recording mode>
Next, an outline of the operation in the recording mode will be described. In the recording mode, the subject image captured by the CCD 214 is sequentially displayed as a through image on the display LCD 3 even when the release button 5 is not operated. That is, the image signal output from the CCD 214 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 432 after being subjected to analog processing such as noise removal and gain control in the image processing unit 431. The digitally converted signal is guided to the above-described DSP 433, where image preprocessing such as contour compensation and gamma correction is performed and temporarily stored in the buffer memory 436.

  Thereafter, after white balance adjustment is performed, the image data to be displayed on the display LCD 3 is processed. The processed image data is written into the frame memory 435 and displayed on the display LCD 3 as a photographic monitor image called a through image. The through image is sequentially updated at predetermined intervals based on subject light incident on the photographing optical system 2 by repeating the above operation.

  When a half-push switch (not shown) is turned on by half-pressing the release button 5, the focus adjustment state of the photographing optical system 2 is detected based on the contrast of the image data, and a focused subject image is formed on the CCD 214. A focus adjustment operation is performed by the lens driving circuit 430 so as to be imaged. When the release button 5 is pressed halfway, the CPU 439 detects the luminance of the subject from the image data, and performs an exposure calculation based on the detected luminance.

  If the release button 5 is further fully pressed following the half-press of the release button 5, a full-press switch (not shown) is turned on. As a result, after the signal charge accumulated in the CCD 214 is once discharged, the shutter plate 208 and the diaphragm plate 215 are driven based on the result of the exposure calculation, and imaging by the CCD 214 is performed.

  The image signal output from the CCD 214 by this imaging is subjected to the above-described series of processing and stored in the buffer memory 436. The image data stored in the buffer memory 436 is processed into image data to be displayed on the display LCD 3 by the DSP 433 and then written into the frame memory 435, and a captured image called a freeze image is displayed on the display LCD 3. The image data subjected to such image preprocessing is further compressed by the DSP 433, given a predetermined data name by the CPU 439, and time information from the timer 445 and a recording medium (PC card) such as a flash memory , CF card, etc.).

  Next, transfer of image data recorded on the memory card 424 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a system configuration when image data is transferred to the hard disk of the PC 20. The electronic camera 1 is connected to the PC 20 by connecting the USB connection terminal 23 to the USB connection terminal 24 of the PC 20 with the USB cable 21. Reference numeral 22 denotes a monitor connected to the PC 20. Transfer processing software is preinstalled in the PC 20, and this software is activated. Next, when the transfer button 12 of the electronic camera 1 is pushed, image transfer to the PC 20 is started. In the electronic camera of this embodiment, transfer marking described later can be added to the image data recorded on the memory card 424, and only the image data with the transfer marking is transferred at the time of image transfer.

  In this embodiment, the transfer processing software is activated in advance. However, the configuration is such that the electronic camera 1 is automatically activated upon recognition that the electronic camera 1 is connected via the USB cable 21. Also good. In such a case, since the image file can be transferred simply by connecting the electronic camera 1 to the PC 20 and operating the transfer button 13 on the electronic camera 1 side, operations relating to the transfer become very simple.

  When the transfer button 13 of the electronic camera 1 is operated, a file 25 called “order.job” is generated in the memory card 424. The “order.job” file 25 is a file referred to by the PC 20. When the PC 20 reads the “transfer” command 25 a described in the “order.job” file 25, image file transfer by the PC 20 is started. When the PC 20 detects the “order.job” file 25 in the memory card 424, the PC 20 creates a file 26 called “reply.job” in the memory card 424. This “reply.job” file 26 is referred to by the electronic camera 1.

  When the transfer of the image file is completed, the PC 20 describes an instruction 26 a “finish” in the “reply.job” file 26. The electronic camera 1 deletes the “order.job” file 25 in the memory card 424 by the “finish” command 26 a of the “reply.job” file 26. When the PC 20 recognizes that the “order.job” file 25 has been deleted from the memory card 424, the PC 20 deletes the “reply.job” file 26 in the memory card 424. In this way, the processing on the camera side and the processing on the PC side are performed in association with the memory card 424, and the transfer operation of the image data to the PC 20 is performed.

<Description of transfer marking>
A directory called “DCIM” is created in the memory card 424, and FIG. 4 qualitatively shows the file structure in the directory. In the DCIM directory, an image folder 44 named “100NIKON” is formed in advance. An image file 45 of image data obtained by shooting is stored in the image folder 44. File names such as “DSCN0001.jpg”, “DSCN0002.jpg”, and “DSCN0003.jpg” are added to the image file 45 in the order of shooting. In the example of FIG. 4, ten image files 45 from “DSCN0001.jpg” to “DSCN0010.jpg” are stored.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, when a single frame image is reproduced and displayed on the display LCD 3 and the transfer marking button 12 is pushed, a list file 47 is generated, and the file name 48 of the displayed image is the list file. 47. A transfer mark 33 indicating that transfer marking has been added is displayed on the display LCD 3. In FIG. 4, 46 is a list showing the recorded contents of the list file 47. In the example shown in FIG. 4, file names 48 named “DSCN0002.jpg” and “DSCN0004.jpg” are recorded in the list 46. . “Transfer marking is added to image data (image file)” means that the image file name 48 is recorded in the list file 47 in this way. When the transfer marking is canceled, the file name 48 of the canceled image file 45 is deleted from the list file 47.

  The transfer software of the PC 20 controls the PC 20 so that the PC 20 refers to the list file 47 and only the image file 45 having the file name recorded in the list file 47 is transferred from the image folder 44 to the PC 20.

  By the way, in the playback mode, the delete button 14 in FIG. 1 is operated to delete the image files 45 recorded on the memory card 424 one by one, or all the image files 45 are deleted at once using the setting menu related to deletion. be able to. In this embodiment, when transfer marking is added to the image file 45, the image file 45 is prohibited from being deleted, and even if there is a deletion instruction, the instruction is ignored. When batch deletion is performed in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the image files 45 other than the image files 45 having the file names “DSCN0002.jpg” and “DSCN0004.jpg” are deleted from the image folder 44. Note that the image files 45 with the file names “DSCN0002.jpg” and “DSCN0004.jpg” can also be deleted by canceling the transfer marking. When all transfer markings are released, the list file 47 is deleted from the image folder 44.

《Transfer marking setting timing》
The transfer marking setting described above is set in advance before performing the transfer operation. The transfer marking can be set in either the recording mode or the reproduction mode. In the recording mode, there are (a) batch setting using the setting menu and (b) a method of setting while displaying a frozen image immediately after shooting. On the other hand, in the playback mode, (c) a method of displaying and setting one frame on the display LCD 3, (d) a method of displaying and setting a thumbnail on the display LCD 3, and (e) a case of the recording mode. Similarly, there is a method of setting / cancelling all at once using a setting menu.

(A) Method of batch setting using the setting menu When the batch setting is performed using the setting menu, the menu button 10 and the selection buttons 11a to 11d are pushed to display the transfer marking setting menu as shown in FIG. Let The menu displays “set” and “cancel” items, and the mark 32 indicates that the “set” item is selected. This selection state can be changed by pushing the selection buttons 11a and 11b.

  When the selection button 11d is pushed, the selection state is confirmed. That is, when “Setting” is selected and the selection button 11d is pushed as shown in FIG. 6, the electronic camera 1 enters the transfer marking setting state. In the transfer marking setting state, transfer marking is automatically added to all photographed image data. On the other hand, when the “cancel” item is selected and confirmed, the transfer marking is canceled, and transfer marking is not added to the captured image data. The batch setting / cancellation operation in the playback mode is the same as that in the recording mode, and transfer marking is added to all the image files 45 recorded on the memory card 424 by the batch setting. On the contrary, when the release is set, the transfer marking added to the image file 45 is released.

(B) Method for Setting Marking While Displaying Freeze Image As described in the above-described operation description, when the release button 5 is fully pressed and a shooting operation is performed and a shot image is being recorded on the memory card 424, a diagram is displayed. As shown in FIG. 7, the photographed image is displayed on the display LCD 3 as a freeze image for a predetermined time. The mark 34 is a mark indicating that an image is being recorded. When the transfer marking button 12 is pushed while the mark 34 is displayed, the transfer marking is added to the image data and the transfer mark 33 is displayed.

  If the above-described batch setting is performed before shooting, the transfer mark 33 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display LCD 3 without pushing the transfer marking button 12. Further, a quick delete mark 35 is displayed on the display LCD 3 during image recording, and if the delete button 14 is operated while the mark 35 is displayed, recording to the memory card 424 is canceled. However, as described above, after the transfer marking is added, the deletion command is ignored and recording to the memory card 424 is continued.

(C) Method of setting by one-frame playback display FIG. 5A is a diagram showing the display LCD 3 at the time of single-frame playback display, in which a shooting date and time 40, a file name 41 of image data, and the like are displayed. . When the transfer marking button 12 in FIG. 1 is pushed in the single frame playback display state, the transfer marking is added to the image data, and the transfer mark 33 is displayed on the display LCD 3. In addition, when the image data to which transfer marking is added in the recording mode is reproduced and displayed, a transfer mark 33 is displayed together with the image as shown in FIG.

(D) Method for Reproducing and Displaying Thumbnail Image FIG. 5B described above is a diagram showing the display LCD 3 on which a thumbnail image is displayed. The display LCD 3 displays three thumbnails in the vertical direction and three in the horizontal direction, and a total of nine thumbnail images are displayed. In FIG. 5B, the fifth thumbnail image displayed at the center is in a selected state, and a selection frame 42 is displayed. The selection frame 42 can be moved to the top / bottom / left / right thumbnail images by operating the selection switches 11a to 11d shown in FIG. When the transfer marking button 12 in FIG. 1 is pushed in the selected state shown in FIG. 5B, the transfer marking is added to the fifth image and the transfer mark 33 is displayed. When displaying thumbnail images, transfer markings can be added to a plurality of image data in order.

  If the transfer marking button 12 is pushed again while the transfer mark 33 is displayed as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the transfer marking is released and the display of the transfer mark 33 also disappears.

<Description of transfer operation>
Next, the transfer operation will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure from the addition of transfer marking to the completion of image transfer. Hereinafter, a case where the transfer marking operation is performed by operating the transfer marking button 12 and the image deletion is performed by the deletion button 14 will be described. In step S101, it is determined whether or not the transfer marking button 12 has been operated. If it is determined NO in step S101, the process proceeds to step S113, and a normal routine when there is no operation related to transfer marking is performed. On the other hand, if YES is determined in the step S101, the process proceeds to a step S102 so as to determine whether the setting of the dial 6 is the recording mode or the reproduction mode. If it is determined in step S102 that the recording mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S103, and if it is determined that the reproduction mode is selected, the process proceeds to step 105.

  In step S103, it is determined whether or not an image has been shot. If YES is determined, the process proceeds to step S104, and if NO is determined, the process proceeds to step S106. In step S104, the image file 45 of the photographed image is recorded in the image folder 44 of the memory card 424, and the file name 48 is recorded in the list file 47. On the other hand, if the playback mode is determined in step S102 and the process proceeds to step S105, the image file name displayed on the display LCD 3 as shown in FIG. 5A or the thumbnail as shown in FIG. 5B. The file name of the image displayed and having the selection frame 42 is recorded in the list file 47, and the transfer mark 33 is displayed on the display LCD 3. In step S106, it is determined whether or not the delete button 14 is operated. If YES is determined, the process proceeds to step S107, and if NO is determined, the process proceeds to step S110.

  In step S107, it is determined whether or not the file name 48 of the image file 45 instructed to be deleted is recorded in the list file 47. If NO is determined in step S107, the process proceeds to step S108, the image file 45 instructed to be deleted is deleted from the image folder 44, and the process proceeds to step S110. On the other hand, if “YES” is determined in the step S107, the process proceeds to a step S109, and a warning mark 36 indicating that the erasure is impossible is displayed on the display LCD 3 as shown in FIG.

  In step S110, it is determined whether or not the transfer button 13 has been operated. If YES is determined, the process proceeds to step S111. If NO is determined, the process returns to step S101. In step S 111, the image file 45 having the file name 48 recorded in the list file 47 is transferred to the PC 20 via the USB cable 21. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, image data with file names “0002.jpg” and “0004.jpg” are transferred to the PC 20. In step S112, the list file 47 is deleted.

<Modification>
In the modification shown below, when the transfer of the image data is completed, a transferred list file 49 is generated in the image folder 44 as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 50 denotes a transferred list showing the recorded contents of the transferred list file 49. The file name 48 of the image file 45 that has been transferred is deleted from the list file 47 and transferred to the transferred list file 49. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the image files 45 with the file names “DSCN0002.jpg” and “DSCN0004.jpg” have been transferred, and the image files 45 with the file names “DSCN0005.jpg” and “DSCN0007.jpg” Untransferred state.

  For example, when the image transfer is forcibly terminated in the state of FIG. 10, the image files 45 having the file names “DSCN0005.jpg” and “DSCN0007.jpg” are not transferred to the PC 20 side. In this state, when the transfer button 13 is pushed again to start the transfer operation, the PC 20 refers to the list file 47 and the image files 45 with the file names “DSCN0005.jpg” and “DSCN0007.jpg” recorded therein. Are transferred from the image folder 44 of the memory card 424 to the PC 20 side. When the retransfer is instructed from the setting menu, the file name 38 recorded in the transferred list file 49 is deleted and transferred to the file list 47. Thereafter, when the transfer button 13 is operated, the image files 45 having the file names “DSCN0002.jpg”, “DSCN0004.jpg”, “DSCN0005.jpg”, and “DSCN0007.jpg” recorded in the list file 47 are stored in the image folder 44. To the PC 20 side.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart in the case of a modified example, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same processes as those in FIG. Hereinafter, the processing procedure of FIG. 11 will be described with reference to FIG. The processing procedure from step S101 to step S111 in FIG. 11 is the same as that in the flowchart in FIG. 8, and the image file 45 for one frame is transferred in step S201. In step S202, the file name 48 of the transferred image file 45 is deleted from the file list 47. That is, if the image file 45 having the file name “DSCN0002.jpg” is transferred in step S201, the file name “DSCN0002.jpg” is deleted from the file list 47 in step S202.

  In step S203, the file name “DSCN0002.jpg” deleted in step S202 is recorded in the transferred list file 49. In step S204, it is determined whether or not the transfer of all the image files 45 having the file name 38 recorded in the list file 47 has been completed. If it is determined in step S204 that the transfer has not been completed, the process returns to step S201 to transfer the image file 45 having the file name “DSCN0004.jpg” recorded second in the list file 47. In steps S202 and S203, processing relating to the file name “DSCN0004.jpg” is performed. In this way, when the transfer of the image file 45 related to all the file names 38 recorded in the list file 47 is completed, the process returns from step S204 to step S101.

  Normally, when an image is taken with an electronic camera, the image file that is desired to remain until then is transferred from the recording medium of the camera (memory card 424 in the above embodiment) to a hard disk device of a PC and recorded. It is common to keep it. In the electronic camera 1 according to the first embodiment described above, by adding a transfer marking to the image file 45 to be transferred to the PC 20 or the like, only the image file 45 to which the transfer marking is added is transferred. Then, deletion of the image file 45 to which transfer marking is added is prohibited, and when the delete button 14 is operated, a warning mark 36 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display LCD 3. As a result, the user notices that transfer marking has been added to the image file 45 to be deleted, and can prevent the image file 45 to which transfer marking has been added from being accidentally deleted.

  Also, by creating the transferred list file 49, the retransfer operation is simplified when the same image file 45 is transferred again. For example, this is effective when the battery of the electronic camera 1 is consumed during the transfer and the transfer is interrupted.

-Second Embodiment-
In the first embodiment described above, transfer marking is set by recording the file name 48 of the list file 47. However, in the second embodiment described below, tag information related to transfer marking is added to the image file 45. Was added and recorded. The PC 20 recognizes whether or not each image file 45 has tag information, and reads only the image file 45 to which the tag information is added into the PC 20 side.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure from the addition of transfer marking to the completion of image transfer, similar to the flowchart of FIG. 8 described above. The same processes as those in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the flowchart of FIG. 12, if it is determined in step S103 that an image has been taken, the process proceeds to step S301. In step S301, tag information related to transfer marking is recorded in the image file 45. In the second embodiment, the list file 47 as shown in FIG. 4 is not generated.

  On the other hand, if the playback mode is determined in step S102, the process proceeds to step S302. In step S302, transfer marking is applied to the image file 45 displayed on the display LCD 3 as shown in FIG. 5A or the image file 45 displayed as a thumbnail and having a selection frame 42 as shown in FIG. 5B. Tag information is recorded, and a transfer mark 33 is displayed on the display LCD 3.

  If it is determined in step S106 that the delete button 14 has been operated, the process proceeds to step S303 to determine whether the image file 45 has tag information. If it is determined in step S303 that there is no tag information, the process proceeds to step S108, and the image file 45 is deleted from the image folder 44. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S303 that there is tag information, the process proceeds to step S109, and a warning mark 36 indicating that erasure is impossible is displayed on the display LCD 3 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, if it is determined in step S110 that the transfer button 13 has been operated and image transfer is performed in step 111, the tag information of the image file 45 transferred in step S304 is deleted, and the process returns to step S101.

  In the first embodiment described above, the transferred list file 49 is generated to cope with the transfer interruption. In the case of the second embodiment, the tag information relating to the transfer completion is recorded in each image file 45, so that the same handling as in the first embodiment is possible. Therefore, also in the electronic camera of the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

In the above-described embodiment, the deletion process is prohibited for the image file 45 to which transfer marking is added. As an example of control for the image file 45 to which such transfer marking is added, there is the following in addition to prohibition of deletion.
(1) Addition of Print Number Information to Image File 45 Although it is known that print number information can be added to the image file 45, it is normally set to 0 by default. Therefore, if transfer marking is added, the number of prints is set to one. In the case of the image file 45 in which the number of prints has already been set, the setting is not changed even if transfer marking is added.

(2) Adding transfer count information to the image file 45 When transfer marking is added to the image file 45 for the first time, 1 is recorded as transfer count information in the header of the image file 45, for example. Thereafter, when transfer marking is added again after transfer marking is canceled, 1 is added to the transfer count information and updated to 2. Thereafter, each time transfer marking is added, the transfer count information increases by one. Since the camera ID, user ID, and the like are also recorded in the header, it is easy to manage the history of the image file 45. In addition, secondary delivery of the image file 45 can be controlled using the transfer count information.

(3) Prohibition of Formatting Process of Memory Card 424 When there is an image file 45 with transfer marking added in the memory card 424, the formatting process of the memory card 424 is prohibited. As a result, it is possible to prevent erroneous deletion of the image file 45 due to the formatting process.

(4) The movement process between folders of the image file 45 is prohibited.
A plurality of image folders can be created in the memory card 424. In the case of the first embodiment described above, a list file 47 is created in each image folder. Therefore, when the image file 45 to which transfer marking is added is moved to another image folder, a folder in which the image file 45 is stored and a list file 47 in which the file name 48 of the image file 45 is recorded are stored. It will be different from the existing folder, and normal transfer will not be possible. Therefore, in the case of the first embodiment, movement between folders of the image file 45 to which transfer marking is added is prohibited.

(5) When the image file 45 is moved between folders, the file name is moved to the list file 47 of the transfer destination folder.
(6) The change of the file name of the image file 45 is prohibited.
(5) and (6) are also control examples for preventing a normal transfer operation from being hindered for the same reason as the above-described case of prohibition of movement between folders. Both are applied to the first embodiment in which the list file 47 is created. In the second embodiment in which tag information related to transfer marking is recorded in the image file 45, there is no inconvenience even if the controls (5) and (6) are not performed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image file 45 is transferred by USB communication. However, a wireless method such as Bluetooth may be used. Further, although the transfer button 13 and the transfer marking button 12 are provided separately, the same button may have both functions of transfer and marking. In this case, the function is switched to any one according to the operation status of the external data transfer means (wired communication such as USB or wireless communication such as Bluetooth). For example, in the case of USB communication, the transfer function may be switched when connected to a PC or the like by a USB cable, and the marking function may be switched when not connected. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied not only to an electronic camera but also to a PDA or a mobile phone that has an image sensor and can transfer data.

  In the correspondence between the embodiment described above and the elements of the claims, the CCD 214 is the imaging means, the memory card 424 is the recording medium, the list file 47 is the image specifying information, and the transfer marking button 12 and the CPU 439 are the specifying information. PC 20 is an external recording device, transfer button 13 is a transfer instruction operation unit, USB connection terminal 23 and interface 448 are communication means, delete button 14 and CPU 439 are processing means, CPU 439 is recording means, and control means. And specific information deleting means.

1 Electronic camera 3 Display LCD
10 Menu Buttons 11a to 11d Selection Button 12 Transfer Marking Button 13 Transfer Button 14 Delete Button 20 PC (Personal Computer)
21 USB communication cable 23 USB connection terminal 33 Transfer mark 36 Warning mark 44 Image folder 47 List file 49 Transferred list file 214 CCD
424 memory card 439 CPU
448 interface

Claims (4)

Imaging means for imaging a subject;
Recording means for recording an image file of an image captured by the imaging means on a recording medium;
Specific information forming means for forming transfer image specifying information for specifying an image file to be transferred on the recording medium separately from the image file;
Communication means for transferring an image file recorded on the recording medium to an external recording device;
A transfer instruction operation unit for instructing transfer of the image file specified by the transfer image specifying information by the communication unit;
A deletion instruction operation member for instructing deletion of an image file specified by an operation by a user;
Processing means for deleting the image file specified based on the instruction of the deletion instruction operation member;
A determination unit that refers to the transfer image specifying information and determines whether the image file instructed by the deletion instruction operation member is an image file to be transferred;
An electronic apparatus comprising: prohibiting means for prohibiting the processing means from deleting an image file determined to be transferred by the determining means. The electronic device according to claim 1,
An electronic apparatus comprising: specific information deleting means for deleting the transfer image specifying information from the recording medium after transfer of the image file specified by the transfer image specifying information by the communication means is completed. Imaging means for imaging a subject;
Recording means for recording an image file of an image captured by the imaging means on a recording medium;
Specific information forming means for forming transfer image specifying information for specifying an image file to be transferred in the image file as tag information;
Communication means for transferring an image file recorded on the recording medium to an external recording device;
A transfer instruction operation unit for instructing transfer of the image file specified by the transfer image specifying information by the communication unit;
A deletion instruction operation member for instructing deletion of an image file specified by an operation by a user;
Processing means for deleting the image file specified based on the instruction of the deletion instruction operation member;
A determination unit that refers to the transfer image specifying information and determines whether the image file instructed by the deletion instruction operation member is an image file to be transferred;
An electronic apparatus comprising: prohibiting means for prohibiting the processing means from deleting an image file determined to be transferred by the determining means. The electronic device according to claim 3,
An electronic apparatus comprising: specific information deleting means for deleting the tag information from the image file after transfer of the image file specified by the transfer image specifying information by the communication means is completed.

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