JP3637082B2 - Information recording method and apparatus for electronic still camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for recording information such as image data on a recording medium such as a hard disk attached to an electronic still camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electronic still camera that can record image data in the form of a digital signal using a memory card, a hard disk, or the like as a recording medium is known (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-90423). Such image data can be image processed by a computer, and its application range is wide.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when recording digital image data, it is necessary to record on the recording medium file management information indicating in which area the image data is recorded after recording the image data on the recording medium. Therefore, there is a problem that the time for the recording operation becomes long. Also, during the image data recording operation, information indicating the area where the image data is recorded is stored in the RAM of the computer in the electronic still camera, and after this recording operation, this information is recorded on a recording medium for file management. The RAM needed to have a predetermined storage capacity.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to reduce the time required for digital image data recording operation and to reduce the storage capacity required for RAM file management in an electronic still camera.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An information recording apparatus for an electronic still camera according to the present invention is provided in an electronic still camera, and includes a recording medium having a management data area for storing file management information and an image data area for storing image data, and an image Formatting means for generating a FAT table in the FAT area in the management data area and writing information in the directory entry in the root directory area to indicate that fixed-length image data is recorded in the image data recording area in the data area When the file name in the directory entry, writes the time and date, and an image data recording means for recording image data on a predetermined image data recording area of the image data area, the image data recording means, the solid-state imaging device Image data recording area that can be recorded in the image data area before exposure Information indicating the recording start position of the image data recording area is stored in the storage unit, and after the exposure of the solid-state image sensor is completed, the image data acquired by the solid-state image sensor is stored in the storage unit. Recording is performed from the recording start position indicated by the information .
[0006]
Also, the information recording method of the electronic still camera according to the present invention is such that the fixed-length image data is recorded in the image data recording area in the image data area during the formatting operation of the recording medium. A FAT table is generated in the FAT area and information is written in the directory entry of the root directory area , and a recordable image data recording area is searched in the image data area before exposure of the solid-state imaging device. Information indicating the recording start position is stored in the storage means, and after the exposure of the solid-state image sensor , the file name, time and date are written to the directory entry and acquired by the solid-state image sensor at the time of recording the image data on the recording medium. the image data from the recording start position indicated by the above-described information stored in the storage unit serial It is characterized in that.
[0007]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on illustrated embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information recording apparatus for an electronic still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0008]
The system control circuit 11 is a microcomputer that controls the entire electronic still camera and has a memory (RAM) 12. Under the control of the system control circuit 11, image data is recorded as a digital signal on a hard disk in a hard disk device (HDD) 13. The hard disk device 13 is detachably attached to the electronic still camera, and can be attached to a computer (not shown). Control of writing and reading of image data and the like to and from the hard disk is performed in accordance with a computer operating system MS-DOS (trade name of Microsoft Corporation).
[0009]
A light beam incident through an optical system (not shown) forms an image on a light receiving surface of a solid-state image pickup device (CCD) 14, whereby an image signal corresponding to a subject image is generated on the CCD 14. This image signal is subjected to processing such as gamma correction in the process circuit 15 and converted into a digital signal in the A / D converter 16. The CCD 14, the process circuit 15, and the A / D converter 16 operate according to the clock signal output from the clock generation circuit 17, and this clock signal is generated based on the control of the system control circuit 11.
[0010]
Digital image data is stored in the memory 19 under the control of the memory control circuit 18. The memory control circuit 18 operates in accordance with the clock signal generated by the clock generation circuit 17 and performs address control of the memory 19 based on the command signal output from the system control circuit 11.
[0011]
The operation unit 21 includes a power switch, a shutter release switch, a hard disk operation switch, and the like, and in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 21, control such as shooting operation and recording of image data on the hard disk is performed.
[0012]
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an MS-DOS file system, that is, a recording area on a hard disk. The recording area includes a management data area for storing file management information and an image data area for storing image data.
[0013]
The file area R15 constituting the image data area is constituted by a large number of sectors, and for example, one cluster is constituted by four sectors. One image data is recorded in 100 clusters in this embodiment. As will be described later, the file area R15 is divided into 100 consecutive clusters in advance, and information indicating the amount of one image data is stored in a predetermined area in the first cluster of the 100 clusters. The header part is recorded.
[0014]
The management data area includes a boot sector R11, a first FAT area R12, a second FAT area R13, and a root directory area R14. The boot sector R11 is provided at the head of the recording area of the hard disk and includes BPB or the like in which information related to the hard disk is recorded. The first FAT area R12 stores a FAT table, and the FAT table is provided to indicate in which cluster one image data is recorded in what order in the file area R15. The second FAT area R13 stores the same FAT table as that of the first FAT area. The root directory region R14 has a large number of directory entries, and each directory entry stores a file name and the like as described below.
[0015]
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the directory entry.
The directory entry has a data length of 32 bytes and is composed of seven fields. The contents of each field include the file name, ie, the name of the image data, the attribute of the directory entry, the time when the image data was recorded, the date when the image data was recorded, the address of the first cluster where the image data is recorded (ie, the start cluster), The size (number of bytes) of one image data file.
[0016]
FIG. 4 shows an example of the correspondence between the FAT table stored in the FAT area R12 and the cluster in the file area R15.
[0017]
Each sector constituting the file area R15 has a data length of, for example, 512 bytes. In this embodiment, one cluster is composed of four sectors, has a data length of 2048 bytes, and one image data is recorded in 100 clusters.
[0018]
In the FAT area R12, an address is defined for each word (16 bits). Address 0 in the FAT area R12 indicates a media descriptor code, in which information “FFF8” indicating that the recording medium is a hard disk is stored. Address 1 stores a fixed code “FFFF”. Addresses 2 to 101 correspond to the clusters in the file area R15. That is, addresses 2, 3,... 101 correspond to cluster 2, cluster 3,. Further, “0003” indicating that the cluster 3 subsequent to the cluster 2 corresponds to the address 3 is stored in the address 2, and “0065” (101 in decimal number) is stored in the address 100 in the same manner. Stored. The address 101 stores information “FFFF” indicating that this is the last of one piece of image data.
[0019]
The second image data is recorded continuously with the first image data. That is, in the second image data, the start cluster number is 102 and this image data is recorded up to the cluster 201. That is, one image data is determined to be recorded in 100 clusters, and this data length is fixed. This data length is an example, and is set to an appropriate size according to the purpose.
[0020]
FIG. 5 shows the recorded contents of the directory entry after the formatting operation and after the image data recording operation.
As will be described later, in the formatting operation, the start cluster in which image data is recorded and the size of one image data file (in this embodiment, 2048 × 100 bytes) are written in the directory entry, and the other fields are displayed. Initial value 0 is written. On the other hand, at the time of image data recording operation, the file name corresponding to the image data, and the time and date when the recording operation was performed are written.
[0021]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a header portion and image data in the file region R15.
The header portion has fields G11 to G15 for storing information indicating the amount of one image data and a reserved area. In the field G11, information indicating the size of the file (for example, 2048 × 100 bytes) is stored as in the directory entry (FIG. 5). Information indicating the offset of the image data is stored in the field G12. This offset is a relative distance between the address (3AH) where the head of the image data is recorded and the head address (00H) of the header part. Information indicating the width and height of the image is stored in the fields G13 and G14, respectively. The width of the image is, for example, 640 pixels, and the height of the image is, for example, 480 pixels. The field G15 stores the number of color bits per pixel, that is, the number of bits assigned for the three primary colors R, G, and B (for example, 8 bits).
[0022]
As described above, the image data is recorded from the 3AH byte (decimal 58th byte) from the head address of the header part. Therefore, in one image data recording area composed of 100 clusters, the header and image data are recorded in the first sector, and only the image data is recorded in the other sectors.
[0023]
FIG. 7 shows the recording area of the hard disk as in FIG. 2, and particularly shows the relationship between the header portion and the image data in the image data area.
[0024]
The image data area (file area) is divided into 100 consecutive clusters in advance. That is, one image data is recorded in an image data recording area G21 composed of 100 clusters, and a header part G22 is provided at the head of each image data recording area G21. As will be described later, in the formatting operation, data as shown in FIG. 6 is written in each field G11 to G15 of the header part G22 of each image data recording area G21.
[0025]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the formatting operation of the hard disk.
In step 101, a boot record, that is, BPB or the like (see FIG. 2) is written in the boot sector R11 of the management data area. In step 102, the media descriptor code (“FFF8” in this embodiment) is written at address 0 of the FAT area R12, and the fixed code “FFFF” is written at address 1. In step 103, the parameters N, M, and L are set to 2, 1, and 1, respectively.
[0026]
In step 104, “N + 1” data is written to the address N in the FAT area R12. If it is determined in step 105 that the parameter M is smaller than 100, the parameters M and N are incremented by 1 in step 106, and step 104 is executed again. That is, step 104 is executed 100 times, thereby generating a FAT table in which 100 recording areas of one word are continuous.
[0027]
When it is determined in step 105 that the parameter M has reached 100, in step 107, information “FFFF” indicating the end of one image data is written in the address N of the FAT area R12. Next, at step 108, the parameter L is incremented by one. If it is determined in step 109 that the parameter L is smaller than 20, the parameter M is set to 1 in step 110, the parameter N is incremented by 1, and step 104 is executed again. That is, Steps 104 to 109 are executed 20 times, whereby 20 image data recording areas G21 are defined in the file area R15. In other words, 20 pieces of image data can be recorded on the hard disk.
[0028]
In step 111, the parameter L is set to 1 again. In step 112, the Lth directory entry in the root directory region R14 is written. In the information written at this time, the start cluster is (L−1) × 100 + 2, the file size is 2048 × 100 bytes, and the initial value 0 is written in the other fields of the directory entry.
[0029]
If it is determined in step 113 that the parameter L is smaller than 20, the parameter L is incremented by 1 in step 114, and step 112 is executed again. That is, step 112 is executed 20 times, whereby initial values are written in 20 directory entries.
[0030]
In step 115, the parameter L is set to 1 again, and in step 116, the Lth header portion G22 of the file area R15 is written. The information written in the header part G22 is always the same for one hard disk. In step 117, it is determined whether or not the parameter L is smaller than 20. When the parameter L is smaller than 20, the parameter L is incremented by 1 in step 118, and step 116 is executed again. That is, step 116 is executed 20 times. When the writing to the 20 header parts is completed, this routine ends.
[0031]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of writing image data to the hard disk.
In step 201, the file name of the directory entry recorded in the root directory area R14 is read. In step 202, it is determined whether or not the file name is “invalid”. That is, it is determined whether or not image data is recorded in the image data recording area G21 corresponding to the directory entry. Steps 201 and 202 are repeatedly executed until a directory entry whose file name is “invalid” is searched. When a directory entry whose file name is “invalid” is searched, that is, image data in which no image data is recorded. When the recording area G21 is searched, in step 203 and subsequent steps, a photographing operation and an operation for recording image data on the hard disk are performed.
[0032]
In step 203, the start cluster number stored in the directory entry is read and stored in the RAM 12 in the system control circuit 11.
[0033]
In step 204, it is determined whether or not a shutter release has been performed. When the shutter release is performed, in step 205, the CCD 14 is exposed for a predetermined shutter time. In step 206, an image signal is read from the CCD. This image signal is converted into a digital signal in step 207 and written in the memory 19 in step 208.
[0034]
In step 209, the image data is read from the memory 19, and the image data for one cluster is transferred to the hard disk and written to a predetermined cluster in the image data recording area G21. This cluster is the starting cluster stored in RAM 12 in step 203 when step 209 is executed for the first time. In step 210, it is determined whether transfer of image data for one screen, that is, image data for 100 clusters is completed. If this transfer operation has not been completed, the image data for the next one cluster is transferred to the hard disk and written to the next continuous cluster in step 211. If it is determined in step 210 that the transfer of image data for one screen has been completed, the file name, time, and date are written in the directory entry in step 212, and this routine ends.
[0035]
In step 202, it is determined whether or not the file name is “invalid”. However, the image data may be recorded based on data in fields other than the file name.
[0036]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is only necessary to record image data on the hard disk during the image data recording operation, and it is necessary to record file management information indicating a plurality of clusters in which the image data is recorded on the hard disk. Absent. Therefore, the recording operation time is shortened. Further, during this recording operation, only the start cluster need be stored in the RAM 12 of the computer, so that the storage capacity of the RAM necessary for file management can be reduced.
[0037]
The recording medium is not limited to a hard disk, and may be an IC memory card.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the recording operation time of image data can be shortened, and the storage capacity required for file management of the RAM in the electronic still camera can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information recording apparatus for an electronic still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a recording area on a hard disk.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a directory entry.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a correspondence relationship between a FAT table stored in a FAT area and a cluster in a file area.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the recorded contents of a directory entry after a formatting operation and after an image data recording operation.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a header portion and image data in a file area.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a header portion and image data in an image data area.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the formatting operation of the hard disk.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of writing image data to a hard disk.
[Explanation of symbols]
13 Hard disk drive (HDD)
14 Solid-state image sensor (CCD)
R11 Boot sector R12 First FAT area R13 Second FAT area R14 Root directory area R14
R15 file area

Claims (7)

A recording medium provided in the electronic still camera and having a management data area for storing file management information and an image data area for storing image data ;
A FAT table is generated in the FAT area in the management data area and information is stored in the directory entry in the root directory area to indicate that fixed-length image data is recorded in the image data recording area in the image data area. Formatting means for writing;
An image data recording unit that writes a file name, a time, and a date in the directory entry, and that records image data in a predetermined image data recording area in the image data area ,
The image data recording means
Before the exposure of the solid-state image sensor, the image data recording area that can be recorded in the image data area is searched, and information indicating the recording start position of the image data recording area is stored in the storage means,
After the exposure of the solid-state imaging device, the image data acquired by the solid-state imaging device is recorded from the recording start position indicated by the information stored in the storage means, and the information recording of the electronic still camera apparatus.   The information recording apparatus for an electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is detachable from the electronic still camera.   2. The information recording apparatus for an electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the image data recording area is composed of a plurality of continuous clusters.   2. The electronic still camera information recording according to claim 1, wherein the formatting means records a header portion including information indicating an amount of one image data in a predetermined area in the image data recording area. apparatus.   A recording status determining means for determining whether or not image data is recorded in an image data recording area of the recording medium by referring to information recorded in a directory entry of the recording medium. Item 4. An information recording apparatus for an electronic still camera according to Item 1. 4. The information recording apparatus for an electronic still camera according to claim 3, wherein the storage means stores start cluster numbers of the plurality of clusters. A method for recording information on a recording medium provided in an electronic still camera and having a management data area for storing file management information and an image data area for storing image data,
During the formatting operation of the recording medium, a FAT table is generated in the FAT area in the management data area and a route is generated so as to indicate that fixed-length image data is recorded in the image data recording area in the image data area. Write information to the directory entry in the directory area,
Before the exposure of the solid-state image sensor, the image data recording area that can be recorded in the image data area is searched, and information indicating the recording start position of the image data recording area is stored in the storage means,
After the exposure of the solid-state image sensor , the image data acquired by the solid-state image sensor is written in the directory entry, and the image data acquired by the solid-state image sensor is stored in the storage means during the recording operation of the image data on the recording medium. An information recording method for an electronic still camera, wherein recording is performed from the recording start position indicated by the information stored in the electronic still camera.

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