JP3223120B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a digital camera for storing photographed image data in a movable external memory such as a floppy disk or a flash memory card.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital still camera is a still image photographing device that obtains one image data by using an image pickup device such as a video camera or a CCD, digitizes the image data, and records / holds it in a memory.

FIG. 4 shows a conventional digital still camera 40.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining No. 1; Referring to FIG. 4, if a digital still camera 401 is used, unlike a normal silver halide camera, captured image data is reproduced on a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer) 2 and further processed. be able to. At this time, PC 2
Needs to store in advance application software for reproducing and processing image data (hereinafter referred to as application software).

[0004] Usually, this application software is recorded on a floppy disk 402 or the like, and sold together with the digital still camera 401. The user who has purchased the digital still camera 401 first installs the application software stored on the floppy disk 402 in the personal computer 2 on hand. In this manner, the image data captured by the digital still camera 401 can be reproduced and processed on the personal computer 2.

[0005]

However, even if a user tries to play back an image taken with a digital still camera while on the go, application software for playing back and processing image data is installed in advance on a personal computer located there. Otherwise, there is a problem that the image cannot be reproduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. Even if software for reproducing an image on a computer based on image data is not installed in a personal computer in advance, a photograph is taken. It is an object to provide a digital camera capable of reproducing an image.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital camera comprising: a removable external memory; an image capturing means for storing image data obtained by photographing in the movable external memory; Storage means for storing software for reproducing an image on a computer, and determination means for determining whether the movable external memory stores the software when a movable external memory is attached. And a transfer means for transferring the software from the storage means to the movable external memory when the determination means determines that the software is not stored in the movable external memory.

A digital camera according to a second aspect is the digital camera according to the first aspect, wherein the movable external memory is a floppy disk.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera of the first aspect, the movable external memory is a flash memory card.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to any one of the first to third aspects, the software further includes a software for processing an image reproduced by a computer based on the image data. It is.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital still camera 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
, The digital still camera 1 performs a signal processing on the removable movable external memory 11, an image pickup device CCD 13 for performing photographing, and image data obtained from the CCD 13, and stores the processed data in the movable external memory 11. A signal processing circuit 14, an application software memory 15 storing application software for reproducing and processing an image on a computer based on the image data stored in the movable external memory 11, and an application software memory. Switch 16 for connecting to movable external memory 11
And a CP for controlling the signal processing circuit 14 and the switch 16
U12. The movable external memory 11 reproduces an image with a computer based on the image data area 101 for storing the image data sent from the signal processing circuit 14 and the image data sent from the application software memory 15. Application software area 10 for storing application software for processing
And 2.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU 12 shown in FIG. When the movable external memory 11 is attached to the digital still camera 1, the CPU 12
Is a step S201 (hereinafter, step is abbreviated), and C
The PU 12 determines whether the application software is already installed (stored) in the application software area 101 of the movable external memory 11. If S201
When it is determined that the application software is not loaded (stored) in the application software area 101 of the movable external memory 11, the CPU 12 turns on the switch 16 in S202. When the switch 16 is turned on, the application software memory 15
The application software is transferred to the application software area 102 of the movable external memory 11 and stored. On the other hand, when the CPU 12 determines that the application software is loaded (stored) in the application software area 101 of the movable external memory 11 in S201,
The operation of S202 is not performed.

Thereafter, when photographing is performed, the image data taken from the CCD 13 is subjected to signal processing by the signal processing circuit 14 and stored in the movable external memory 11 as digital image data.

FIG. 3 shows the movable external memory 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which 1 is mounted on a personal computer 2. Referring to FIG. 3, when photographing is completed, movable external memory 1
1 is detached from the digital still camera 1 and the personal computer 2
Attached to the dedicated slot. Therefore, when the user attempts to reproduce the image data obtained by shooting, even if the application software for reproducing and processing the image is not installed in the personal computer 2, the movable external memory 1
Depending on the application software stored in 1,
It is possible to reproduce and process the captured image.

As described above, according to the digital still camera 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, if the application software for reproducing and processing the image data is not installed in the personal computer 2 in advance, the movable external memory 11 When the movable external memory 11 is attached, the image data can be reproduced and processed by the personal computer 2.

As the movable external memory, for example, a floppy disk or a flash memory card can be applied. Further, the application software may have a function of only reproducing an image.

[0018]

According to the digital camera of the first aspect, when a movable external memory is attached to the digital camera, the movable external memory stores software for reproducing an image on a computer based on image data. If the software is not stored in the movable external memory, the software is transferred from the storage unit to the movable external memory by the transfer unit. Even if is not installed in the personal computer in advance, it is possible to reproduce an image taken by a digital camera.

According to the digital camera of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, it is possible to reproduce an image stored on a floppy disk.

According to the digital camera of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, it is possible to reproduce an image stored in the flash memory card.

According to the digital camera of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effects of any one of the first to third aspects, it is possible to process an image photographed by the digital camera.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of a CPU shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the movable external memory shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a personal computer.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a conventional digital still camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 digital still camera 11 movable external memory 12 CPU 13 CCD 14 signal processing circuit 15 application software memory 16 switch 101 image data area 102 application software area

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A removable movable external memory; an image capturing means for storing image data obtained by photographing in the movable external memory; and a computer for reproducing an image based on the image data. Storage means for storing software; determination means for determining whether or not the movable external memory stores the software when the movable external memory is attached; and A digital camera, comprising: transfer means for transferring the software from the storage means to the movable external memory when it is determined that the software is not stored in the movable external memory. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said movable external memory is a floppy disk. 3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said movable external memory is a flash memory card. 4. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said software is software for processing an image reproduced by a computer based on image data.