JP3524934B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to electronic cameras, and more particularly
The present invention relates to an electronic camera to which a recording medium can be attached.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an electronic still camera, various data such as image data, audio data and control data are recorded as files on a recording medium such as a memory card, a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium. When data is recorded in a file format on a recording medium such as a memory card, it is desirable that memory management be performed in a standard DOS format in a personal computer or the like in terms of data compatibility. In an electronic still camera, DOS is used. The format manages memory. This also applies to other information recording devices. Such electronic still cameras recognize data
File name is necessary for this
There is a restriction not to allow duplicate names. This file name
To prevent duplicate names, the date and time are added to the file name.
A method of generating a file name using information such as
Is being proposed. On the other hand, the electronic still camera has a recording medium
It is detachable, and the recording medium that has already been recorded can be reattached.
To record or easily change to another recording medium
It is more convenient than a film-based silver halide camera.
It has excellent properties.

[0003]

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] Conventional file name generation
In the method, as a file name regardless of exchange of the recording medium
For example, a different record
After changing the medium and taking a picture, change the original recording medium again.
When shooting with the
Only the number corresponding to the shaded image data is missing, and the recording medium
The continuity of the image data in the
It was inconvenient to manage image data .

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to record a recorded image.
Data continuity can be secured, and image data can be
It is to provide an electronic camera that can be easily managed.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electronic camera according to the present invention comprises an image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed by an optical system to obtain image data, and an image pickup means for obtaining the image data. Mounting means for mounting a recording medium capable of recording the obtained image data, recording means for recording the image data on the recording medium mounted on the mounting means, and recording mounted on the mounting means by the recording means. When recording the image data on the medium, a file name having a fixed portion and a serial number portion, and a portion replaced by an ASCII code based on the calculation result calculated based on the date and time data to be recorded is generated. The file name generating means and the determining means for determining whether or not the image data can be recorded on the recording medium mounted in the mounting means. The file name generating means generates a serial number counter when a recording medium is mounted on the mounting means, and when image data is recorded in the recording medium mounted on the mounting means. The serial number part of the file name to be generated is incremented so that the serial number part of the file name is different from the serial number part of the file name of the image data recorded on the recording medium. It is configured to generate. This
Here, the file name of the file name generated by the above file name generation means
The name is visually approved by the display means provided on the electronic camera.
Noh.

[0006]

In the present invention, when the recording medium is loaded, the
No. counter can be initialized, and the installed recording medium
Generate when image data is recorded in the body
The serial number part of the file name is recorded on the recording medium.
Different from the serial number part of the file name of the image data
Increment the serial number part of the file name to be generated.
Configured to generate a file name
It

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of an electronic still camera which is an embodiment of an information recording apparatus according to the present invention. A subject image is formed on the image pickup element of the image pickup circuit 2 via the optical system 1 and converted into an electric image signal. This video signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 3 and stored in the frame memory 4. The video data read from the frame memory 4 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A conversion circuit 5, then converted into a video signal by the video encoder 6, and displayed on a monitor by a viewfinder 7 composed of liquid crystal or the like. And is supplied to the output terminal OUT.

The video data read from the frame memory 4 is compressed by the compression / expansion circuit 8 and recorded on the memory card 16 via the bus 10 and the card interface (I / F) circuit 9.

At the time of reproduction, the video data read from the memory card 16 via the card I / F circuit 9 is expanded by the compression / expansion circuit 8 and then stored in the frame memory 4. The image data read from the frame memory 4 is converted into a video signal through the processing of the D / A conversion circuit 5 and the video encoder 6, and is output to the viewfinder 7 and the output terminal OUT.

The system controller 12 controls the entire camera device. The clock module 11 supplies the system controller 12 with information such as date and time for performing processing unique to this embodiment as described later. The non-volatile memory 13 records information necessary for the operation of the system controller 12. The display panel 14 displays the operating state of the camera device. The operation switch 15 is composed of various tact switches for instructing a camera operation. Buzzer 17
As will be described later, an alarm is issued when an inappropriate state occurs in the camera operation.

In the present embodiment, the conventional inconvenience is solved by setting a file name defined by a combination of predetermined calculation results of fixed patterns, serial numbers, date and time data as a file name. FIG. 2 shows an example of area arrangement in the memory card according to the DOS standard. The memory card recording area includes a boot sector area, a FAT area, a root directory area, and a data file recording area. The root directory area has consecutive directory entries 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, as shown in FIG. ... with a region. In the electronic still camera, each entry area 0, 1,
Frame numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ... Are assigned to 2, 3, 4 ,.

As shown in FIG. 4, the directory entry is divided into a file name, an attribute, a reservation, a time, a date, a start cluster, and an area indicating the size of the file. The file name is composed of 11 bytes. The main file name is 8 bytes and the sub file name is 3 bytes. The following description will be given for the root directory, but the same applies to subdirectories.

As for the file name, as shown in FIG. 5, 3 bytes "DSC" of 8 bytes of the main file name are fixed and 3 bytes "J6I" of the sub file are fixed. Of the remaining 6 bytes of the main file name, 3 bytes (~) are assigned to the operation result of the date and time described later, and 2 bytes (
And) are assigned serial numbers. The number of digits and position can be freely selected within the standard. The serial number may be a serial number from the time when the part other than the serial number of the name is determined. Further, it may be processed data such as an entry number. Bytes to are determined by performing a calculation as described below using date and time data at the time when the memory card is mounted. The data is retained until the memory card is removed. This calculation may be recalculated at the time of power-on, or may be calculated each time photographing is performed.

The above calculation is performed as shown in FIG. 6 using a hash function, for example. The example of FIG. 6 is '92 .09.
26:13:19 (September 26, 1992, 13:19)
Minutes), arrange each number in a vertical column, express each number in binary, and shift by 1 bit,
EX-OR (exclusive OR) is performed on each binary value in the vertical direction. The EX-OR operation in this case is set to "1" when the sum of "1" of each digit is odd, and set to "0" when it is even. The result is displayed at the bottom, and is read from the upper side by dividing into 4 bits, read as 0 to 9, A to F (hexadecimal number), and read as ASCII code. At this time, the last byte is not used. The result is “93
7 ".

Therefore, the recorded file name is
The names are as shown in FIG. 7, and the determined file names can be displayed on the viewfinder or the external monitor screen.

In the above file name determination method, the name may be read as an alphabetic code, and the number of delimiter bits can be set arbitrarily. Further, the calculation for determining the file name may be performed by any method other than the hash function method, and a random number or the like may be used.

Next, an embodiment for solving and avoiding the problem when the file names are duplicated will be described. When data compatibility with an external device such as a personal computer is performed, it is not possible to predict what name the data file in the medium will have, and there is always the possibility of duplication. The present embodiment avoids such a problem.

In this embodiment, first, the file name determined as described above is held and displayed if possible. Next, search the file name in the directory to see if there is a matching file name.If there is no match, use that file name as it is, and if there is a match, increment the serial number part. Then, the processing for returning to the above-mentioned file name search processing is performed again.

For example, if the contents of the directory of the attached memory card are as shown in FIG.
When the image data of the first image is recorded, the data of the first image is recorded in the area A of FIG. When the data of the second sheet is recorded, the file name of the second sheet is "DSC93702.J6".
Since I ″ already exists (C in FIG. 9), the serial number part is incremented and recorded in the B area.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of the processing procedure of this embodiment. When the memory card is installed, the card management area is first read (step S
1) It is determined whether the card format is appropriate, the recording capacity is sufficient, etc., and it is determined whether recording is possible (step S
2). If it is determined that recording is not possible, warning processing is executed (step S11). If recording is possible, a recording start address is calculated from the data in the management area (step S11).
3). Next, initialize the serial number counter (step S4),
Date and time data from the clock module 11 (in this example, '
92.09.26 13:19) is read (step S5), converted into a file name by the above-mentioned calculation (“937”), and held (step S6). continue,
A file name (“DSC93701.J6I”) is generated (step S7), this file name is compared with the file name in the directory (step S8), and it is determined whether there is the same name (step S9). If there is no same name, the process is terminated (the file name is used). If there is the same name, the serial number part is incremented (step S10) and the process returns to step S8.

The warning process of step S11 is a process of blinking a frame number portion on the monitor screen and sounding a buzzer as shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, the process of avoiding duplication of file names is step S8.
It is a process of S10.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the processing procedure at the time of recording.
2 is shown. At the time of recording, first, a recording start address is set from the data in the management area (step S2
1), after performing image pickup processing (step S22), compression and transmission processing (step S23), directory, F
The AT is written (step S24). When the next recording process is started, the recording start address is calculated (step S2
5) It is determined whether or not the remaining recording capacity is sufficient and whether recording is possible (step S26). If it is determined that recording is not possible, warning processing is performed as in the above (step S30), and if recording is possible, the serial number is incremented (step S27) and a file name is generated (step S28). . Then, the duplication avoidance process shown in FIG. 11 is performed (step S29), and the process ends.

Next, as another embodiment of the present invention, an electronic still camera in which a part of the file name can be manually set and a fixed pattern set by the user and a serial number are added will be described. As shown in FIG. 13, 6 bytes (characters) of the main file name constituting the file name can be manually set, 2 bytes are set as a serial number, and the remaining 3 bytes are set as a fixed pattern "J6I" as in the above embodiment. To do.

At the time of manual setting, when the manual setting instruction switch is operated, the display of the first digit corresponding to the first byte displayed on the monitor blinks as shown in FIG. Encourage. U of operation switch 15
When the P / DOWN switch is pressed, alphabets are sequentially displayed in blinking as shown in FIG. When the alphabet desired by the user is displayed, it is confirmed by pressing the setting switch, and the blinking display moves to the next digit as shown in FIG. The display when the setting of each digit is completed is shown in Fig. 14.
It is shown in (D). In this example, the character set as the file name by the user is "BIRTH". After that, the display on the monitor shows the directory entry position ("0" in this example) which is the normal display, as shown in FIG.
1 ").

In this way, the file name is set and recording is performed. FIG. 15 shows a state in which recording of three sheets has been completed. When the file names are duplicated, the duplication is avoided by incrementing the serial number as described above. Of course, this embodiment can be applied to a subdirectory, and the setting of the subdirectory name is performed in the same manner.

The embodiment described below is an example in which the position of the recording area on the medium is changed when the size of a data file such as an image is changed. For example, the compression rate when compressing video data, monochrome / color, field /
When the operation mode or system data is changed as in the case of changing the frame, single shooting / continuous shooting, or a combination thereof, the memory capacity required for recording (target file size) changes. In this embodiment, an unrecorded block is re-searched in response to the change in the target file size,
The position of the recording area on the medium is changed appropriately.

FIG. 16A shows a recording area of the memory card, and has a management area which is a unit of memory management and a recorded area shown by a shaded area. One of the recording file sizes corresponds to the file size A as shown in FIG. 7B, and the file size B shown in FIG.
Is twice the file size A.

If the file size of the video data to be recorded is A, the unrecorded area is searched again and recorded in the unrecorded area # 1 where the recording start position is designated by the pointer A in FIG. Although it is possible, when the file size is B, the recording capacity in the unrecorded area # 1 is insufficient, so the pointer B is set to record in the unrecorded area # 2. In the case of continuous shooting, a large unrecorded area is desirable, so the pointer B is set.

When the unrecorded area has only the file size A as shown in FIG. 17, the pointer A is set for recording the file size A, and the unrecorded area is insufficient when recording the file size B. Therefore, give a warning.

FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of the processing procedure in the embodiment for switching the file size. When the file size is switched, the file size is determined by referring to the data table of the file size according to the setting conditions (step S41), the unrecorded area is searched by the FAT search (step S42), and the presence or absence of the unrecorded area is checked. The determination is made (step S43). If there is no unrecorded area, a warning process is executed (step S4
6) If there is an unrecorded area, it is determined whether the area is a continuous area having a size equal to or larger than the file size (step S44). If it is determined in step S44 that the continuous area is not sufficient, the process returns to step S42. If it is determined that the continuous area is sufficient, the pointer of the recording start area is set (step S45), and the processing ends. . The pointer is used when setting the recording start address in FIG.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, a name including processed data of date and time is generated as the file name, and the file name duplication avoidance function is provided. In addition, the user can specify a part of the file name, and the camera can supplement the remaining part to generate a name that avoids duplication,
When an operation of changing the data size is performed, the recordable area of the medium is searched again to improve usability.

[0032]

As described above, according to the electronic camera of the present invention, the continuity of the image data recorded in the recording medium can be ensured, and, for example, the number of the serial number portion is omitted by exchanging the recording medium. There is no misunderstanding that the image data has been erased and the management of the image data for each recording medium becomes easy. The effect of facilitating the management of the image data for each recording medium regardless of the replacement of the recording medium is particularly remarkable for the electronic camera in which the recording medium can be easily replaced. In addition, the file name
The performance calculated based on the date and time data of the recording.
Based on the calculation result, replace the part that was replaced with ASCII code
Since it has, you can reduce the risk of duplicate file names.
On the other hand, the ASCII code facilitates the processing, which is convenient for the electronic camera.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic still camera showing an embodiment of an information recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an area layout diagram in the memory card in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a structure of a root directory of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structure of a directory entry of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a file name in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a file name generation process according to the embodiment of this invention.

7 is a diagram showing a file name generated by the processing of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a directory of an installed memory card in the embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a diagram showing a directory after recording two images on the card of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when a memory card is mounted in the embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a diagram showing a display example on a monitor at the time of warning processing in the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of recording in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a file name that allows manual setting of a file name in another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a change in display example on the monitor at the time of operation instruction and setting in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a directory at the end of recording in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining processing when the target file size is changed in still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining a state in which there is not enough unrecorded area in still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure at the time of file size switching in still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Optical System 2 Imaging Circuit 3 A / D Conversion Circuit 4 Frame Memory 5 D / A Conversion Circuit 6 Video Encoder 7 Viewfinder 8 Compression / Expansion Circuit 9 Card Interface (I / F) Circuit 10 Bus 11 Clock Module 12 System Controller 13 Nonvolatile Memory 14 Display panel 15 Operation switch 16 Memory card 17 Buzzer

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image pickup means for photoelectrically converting a subject image formed by an optical system to obtain image data; a mounting means for mounting a recording medium capable of recording the image data obtained by the image pickup means; Recording means for recording the image data on a recording medium mounted on the mounting means; a fixed portion and a serial number portion for recording the image data on the recording medium mounted on the mounting means by the recording means ; Based on the date and time data to be recorded
Read in ASCII code based on the calculated result
A file name generating means for generating a file name having a changed portion; and a judging means for judging whether or not the image data can be recorded on the recording medium mounted on the mounting means. The name generation means attempts to generate the serial number counter when the recording medium is mounted on the mounting means, and when the image data is recorded in the recording medium mounted on the mounting means. Generate a file name by incrementing the serial number part of the file name to be generated so that the serial number part of the file name to be different from the serial number part of the file name of the image data recorded on the recording medium. An electronic camera characterized by being adapted to do so. 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the name of the file name generated by the file name generating means is visible on a display means provided in the electronic camera.