JP3441441B2 - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic still camera capable of recording image data and audio data of a photographed subject image on a recording medium and reproducing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-280484, a camera capable of recording / reproducing video and audio, a voice is stored in a voice memory during continuous shooting by setting a continuous shooting mode. It is possible to reproduce the atmosphere at the time of playback by playing back and recording the recorded sound on the recording medium in correspondence with the continuously shot video and playing back the continuously shot video and the sound during continuous shooting. An electronic still camera is known.

In the electronic still camera, a reproduced image such as a moving image can be obtained by continuously shooting at high speed. For example, in the case of NTSC signal, the field image is 1/60
If recording and reproducing every second, an NTSC signal can be obtained. When recording an image in this way, it is necessary to take measures to record audio data and image data on a recording medium at high speed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 3-265287 discloses an empty unit recording by providing an area in a semiconductor memory in which information indicating an empty unit recording area to be recorded first when image data is recorded is provided. An electronic still camera device for searching a region in a short time is shown.

[0005]

However, in the above electronic still camera device, when recording data, the CPU needs to write the header information by software, the processing time becomes long, and the moving image is recorded on the recording medium in real time. There is a problem that it cannot be recorded.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera capable of recording / reproducing image data and audio data on / from a recording medium in real time.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention takes an image of a subject and outputs image data.
Image capturing means and image data encoding for encoding image data
Means and recording the encoded image data on a recording medium
In an electronic still camera equipped with a means,
A means to store the file header information in memory beforehand
Recording medium interface having direct memory transfer means
Image data is recorded on the recording medium interface.
The file header information
It is characterized in that information is added and recorded in a recording medium. Well
A photographing means for photographing the subject and outputting the image data,
Image data encoding means for encoding image data, means for recording encoded image data on a recording medium, means for converting audio into an electrical signal, and encoding audio data converted into an electrical signal. And a means for recording coded audio data on a recording medium, the electronic still camera having means for pre-storing file header information of image data or audio data in a memory and direct memory transfer means. Equipped with a recording medium interface,
When image data or audio data is input to the recording medium interface, the file header information is added to the data and recorded on the recording medium.

Further, the file header information includes a Huffman table used at the time of encoding.

Further, there is provided means for creating a management information file in which the related information of the image file and the audio file or the character information file is recorded on the recording medium, and a directory entry number is used for file management in the management information file. It is characterized by being used.

Further, a photographing means for picking up an image of a subject and outputting the image data, an image data coding means for coding the image data, a means for recording the coded image data on a recording medium, and a sound as an electric signal. Means for converting the voice data converted into an electric signal, and a means for recording the encoded voice data in a recording medium, which is unused in the recording medium as a work area for file management work. In an electronic still camera using an area, when a recording mode is set or when a release switch is pressed, a recording medium empty continuous cluster for the continuous image / audio data capacity to be recorded in the work area for file management. If the recording medium cannot be secured, the internal data of the recording medium is rearranged so that the required clusters can be secured continuously, and If you can not relocate internal data, characterized by comprising means for warning to that effect.

[0011]

In the electronic still camera having the above structure, the file header information of image data and audio data is stored in the RAM or R.
The file header information is stored in advance in a memory composed of an OM, and the file header information is recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card by the direct memory transfer means to shorten the processing time.

Further, the Huffman table is used to convert the image data into a JPEG file, which enables high-speed recording of a moving image on a recording medium.

Further, by using the directory entry number instead of the file name for the file management of the image file, the audio file and the character information file, high speed retrieval becomes possible.

Further, the unused area of the recording medium is used as a work area for file management work, and the internal data of the recording medium is rearranged so as to secure a necessary continuous cluster, thereby improving the execution efficiency of the system. In addition, since the internal data of the recording medium cannot be rearranged and recording on the recording medium may become impossible when there are no continuous clusters, a warning is given to the user to make a false recognition. Misuse can be prevented.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a digital electronic still camera which is an embodiment of the present invention. An image of a subject is formed on a CCD 2 which is an image pickup means by an image pickup lens 1 and is picked up by the CCD 2. Image data is output by photoelectric conversion based on the captured image. The output image data is gain-controlled by the CDS 3 and the process processing circuit 4, and converted into digital image data by the A / D converter 5. The digital image data is subjected to gamma correction and aperture correction in the digital signal processing circuit 6 and sent to the image data compression / expansion circuit 7 which is an image data encoding means and an image decoding means to be encoded. The encoded image data enters the FIFO circuit 8 and the memory card I /
Data is sequentially recorded on the memory card 10 as a recording medium by a known data writing / reading device (not shown) through the F (interface) 9. It should be noted that each of the above parts is the CPU 11
Controlled by.

The sound at the time of image pickup is captured by the microphone (sound converting means) 12 and converted into an electric signal. This electric signal is amplified by the amplifier 13, and the A / D converter 14
Is converted into digital data, and is sent to the audio data compression / expansion circuit 15 which is an audio data encoding means and an audio decoding means to be encoded. The encoded voice data is C
The data is sequentially recorded in the memory card 10 by the recording means through the memory card I / F 9 via the PU 11.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 16 is an image pickup lens 1.
A lens driver for controlling the diaphragm, the amount of extension, etc., 17 is a signal generating section for sending a timing signal to the CCD 2, CDS 3, and process processing circuit 4, 18 is a strobe which is an object illuminating means, and 19 is various mode setting states. And a display unit for displaying the operating state, etc., 20 is various inputs,
It is an operation unit for setting.

When the data recorded in the memory card 10 is reproduced, the image / sound data is stored in the memory card 10.
Read from the memory card I / F9,
It is sent to the FO circuit 8 or the CPU 11. The image data is decompressed (decoded) by the image data compression / expansion circuit 7, and the digital signal processing circuit 6 and D / A
It is output as a video signal through the converter 21.

On the other hand, the audio data is sent from the CPU 11 to the audio data compression / expansion circuit 15, is decompressed, and is output as an audio signal through the D / A converter 22 and the amplifier 23.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the memory card I / F 9 of FIG. 1, and 30 is a RAM (or R) in which header information 32 including a Huffman table 31 is recorded.
OM), 33 is a direct memory transfer means DMA
(Direct memory access) Control unit.

The RAM 30 incorporates header information to be recorded in the file header, and the CPU 11 sets up in the RAM 30 header information 32 including a Huffman table 31 to be recorded in the image file header when the power is turned on. The memory card I / F 9 records the header information in the RAM 30 on the memory card 10 by using the DMA control unit 33 built in the memory card I / F 9 during image recording.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal detailed area of the memory card 10.
Area 35 for cluster management and area 36 for file recording
There is. When the system continuously records image data and audio data, the work area 38 is necessary, and a part of the unused area 37 inside the memory card 10 is used as the work area. In this work area 38, when the operation mode is designated or when the release switch is pressed, free cluster information corresponding to the image / audio data capacity necessary for recording is retrieved and stored. At the time of recording, these work area information is used to continuously record images and sounds at high speed.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the rearrangement of the internal area of the memory card. When recording the image / sound in the flash memory type memory card 10, it is faster to record in the continuous recording area. This operation is performed as shown in FIG. 4 when the continuous area for the image / audio data capacity necessary for recording cannot be secured when the operation mode is designated or the release switch is pressed. Edit the recording area and secure it.

However, if the recording area cannot be edited (rearranged), recording on the memory card 10 may not be possible, and the user can be notified by using the display unit 19 or the like shown in FIG. Warning.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the control (management information) file structure. As shown in this control file structure, the directory entry number is used to carry out file management in the management information file. Each area will be described below.

(1) Control file header area option code addition-Control internal file No. by file name Management: 0 ・ Control internal file No. by directory entry. Management: 1 (If there is no control file, use the same method as a personal computer.)

(2) File information management area 00h: Final image file No. 0 to 65535 Final image file No. recorded in the drive. When it is "0", it means that there is no image file in the directory. (By recording this, it is not necessary to search for the same file name in the directory.)

02h: Final audio file No. 0-65535 The final audio file No. recorded in the drive. When it is "0", it means that there is no audio file in the directory. (By recording this, it is not necessary to search for the same file name in the directory.)

(3) Group management information 00h: Group management information start mark Indicates the start of the group management information block. "5555
Record h ".

02h: Group management information block size 28 to 65535 (Byte) From the block start mark to the image file No. Size until the end. (Simplifies variable length block search.)

04h: Group management information No. 1-65535 Group management information No. Add from 1 in order.

06h: Group type Set the group type as follows. Still image ... 01h Voice ... 02h Still image + audio ... 03h Continuous image ... 04h Continuous image + audio ... 05h

Content of still image file There are the following three types of still image files. Still image 1 ... Frame (non-interlaced) Still image 2.1 ... First field (interlaced) Still image 2.2 ... Second field (interlaced) These files are distinguished by the image file header.

Regarding continuous image reproduction In the case of still image 1 In the case of frame reproduction still image 2.1 In the case of the next image is still image 2.2 Interlace reproduction When the next image is still image 2.1 Field Playback Still image 2.2 ... Previous image is still image 2.1 Interlaced playback Next image is still image 2.2 Field playback

.08h: number of image files 0-65535 The number of image files included in the group.

0ah: number of audio files 0-65535 The number of audio files included in the group.

0ch to 0fh: Interval time Image file playback interval time (hour / minute / second / 1 /
60 seconds) 0ch: hour (0 to 99) 0dh: minutes (0 to 59) 0eh: seconds (0 to 59) 0fh: 1/60 seconds (0 to 59)

10h to 18h: Subdirectory number in which the image / sound files included in the subdirectory number group are recorded.

10h: 2 steps 12h: 3 steps 14h: 4 steps 16h: 5 steps (speed of file search in sub-directories can be achieved. Files in a group are assumed to be in the same directory.)

Next, a method of assigning subdirectory numbers will be described.

[0042]

[Table 1]

In the case of the group (A) in (Table 1), the following settings are made.

10h: 5 12h: 3 14h: 0 16h: 0 In the case of the root directory, all are "0".

1a-h: image / audio file No. Image file No. "Number of image files" in order of playing
Set for the number of image files set in.

After setting the image file, the audio file No.
Set the number of audio files set in "Number of audio files" in the order of playing.

File No. Subdirectory No.
The entry number in the directory set in. No file name search is required and the data storage start cluster number can be confirmed quickly.

The above is summarized as shown in (Table 2).

[0049]

[Table 2]

(4) Group management information area final code Indicates the end of the group management information area. Record "ffffh".

A specific configuration example will be described below. ・ Memory card directory contents

[0052]

[Table 3]

[0053]

[Table 4]

Note that the Huffman table is stored in the file header in the image file, but the Huffman table recorded in the image file is not the Huffman tree itself, but rather the number of bits used as information for generating this tree. It is only a table of how many pieces of information and coding elements arranged in order of frequency of occurrence.

Therefore, at the time of image reproduction, it is necessary to expand the Huffman table tree from the Huffman table. If this Huffman table is different for each image file, it takes time to develop and cannot be played back at high speed. In this case, a warning is issued using the display unit 19 shown in FIG. It is also conceivable to use the unused area in the memory card 10 to create the expanded Huffman table before reproduction.

[0056]

As described above, according to the electronic still camera of the present invention, according to the structure of claim 1 or 2 , image data or image data as a file is recorded on the recording medium.
When recording data and audio data, file header information is stored in advance in a memory and recorded using a direct memory transfer means. Therefore, the processing time is shorter than that of writing by software by a CPU, and a moving image of a moving image is recorded in real time. You can record.

According to the third aspect of the invention, even if the image data is a JPEG file, the Huffman table can be used to record a moving image in real time.

According to the configuration of claim 4 , the image file is
Information related to audio and audio files or text information files.
It is equipped with a means to create a recorded management information file
By performing the file management in the information file by using the directory entry number instead of the file name, the search time is short and the image / voice / character information can be reproduced in real time.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, by using the unused area of the recording medium as the work area for file management work, it is not necessary to mount a large-capacity memory in the camera and the size of the camera can be reduced. ， Can reduce costs,
Since the data inside the recording medium can be relocated to secure the continuous clusters, the system execution efficiency is improved, and if there are no continuous clusters, a warning is given to the user to prevent misrecognition and misuse. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic still camera of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a memory card I / F of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal detailed area of the memory card.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of rearrangement of a memory card internal area.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a control file structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... CCD (imaging means), 6 ... Digital signal processing circuit, 7 ... Image data compression / expansion circuit, 9 ... Memory card I / F (interface), 10 ... Memory card (recording medium), 11 ... CPU, 12 ... Microphone, 15 ... Audio data compression / expansion circuit, 19 ... Display section, 30 ... RAM (memory), 31 ... Huffman table, 32 ... Header information, 33 ... DMA control section (direct memory transfer means), 35 ... File management area , 36 ... Used area, 37 ... Unused area,
38 ... Working area.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-2-122784 (JP, A) JP-A-4-354482 (JP, A) JP-A-5-145888 (JP, A) JP-A-2- 280484 (JP, A) JP-A-3-265287 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/76-5/956 H04N 5/225-5/243 H04N 101: 00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A subject is imaged and image data is output.
Image capturing means and image data encoding for encoding image data
Means and recording the encoded image data on a recording medium
In an electronic still camera equipped with a means,
A means to store the file header information in memory beforehand
Recording medium interface having direct memory transfer means
Image data is recorded on the recording medium interface.
The file header information
Electronically characterized by recording information on a recording medium
Still camera. 2. A photographing means for photographing a subject and outputting image data, an image data coding means for coding the image data, a means for recording the coded image data on a recording medium, and an electric sound. A file of image data or audio data in an electronic still camera having means for converting into a signal, means for encoding audio data converted into an electric signal, and means for recording the encoded audio data in a recording medium. A recording medium interface having means for preliminarily storing header information in a memory and direct memory transfer means is provided, and when image data or audio data is input to the recording medium interface, the file header information is added to the data. An electronic still camera characterized by recording on a recording medium. 3. The file header information includes a Huffman table used at the time of encoding.
Alternatively, the electronic still camera described in 2 . 4. A means for creating a management information file in which related information of an image file and an audio file or a character information file is recorded on the recording medium, and a directory entry number is used for file management in the management information file. 3. The electronic still camera according to claim 2, wherein: 5. A photographing means for picking up an image of a subject and outputting image data, an image data coding means for coding the image data, a means for recording the coded image data on a recording medium, and an electric sound. A unit for converting the signal into a signal, a unit for encoding the voice data converted into an electric signal, and a unit for recording the encoded voice data on a recording medium are provided. In the electronic still camera that uses the used area, when the recording mode is set or the release switch is pressed, the recording medium empty continuous for the continuous image / audio data capacity to be recorded in the file management work area. If clusters cannot be secured, relocate the internal data of the recording medium so that the required clusters can be secured in succession. If data cannot be relocated,
An electronic still camera comprising means for issuing a warning to that effect.