JP3782794B2 - Image recording / playback device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an image recording / reproducing apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A digital still camera (DSC) that records image data, audio data, and control data as files on a recording medium such as a memory card, magnetic medium (hard disk or floppy disk), and magneto-optical medium has been put into practical use. In such a digital still camera, when data is recorded on a recording medium in a file format, memory management is preferably performed in a standard DOS format by a personal computer or the like in terms of data compatibility, for example, and an electronic still camera. In the camera , the memory is managed in the DOS format. The same applies to other image recording / reproducing apparatuses.
In addition, recording of control information for controlling the operation of the recording medium as a control file is also under study.
[0003]
However, the use of the control file recorded on the recording medium, in particular, For a transmission of the image files recorded on the recording medium, not being yet fully utilized.
[0004]
An object of the present invention utilizes a control file recorded on the recording medium effectively, is to provide an image recording and reproducing apparatus capable of easily transmitting the image file recorded in the recording medium.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention includes a photographing lens,
Imaging means for photoelectrically converting a subject image via the photographing lens, image file recording means for recording image data obtained by the imaging means as an image file on a recording medium, and the recorded image file Information relating to the transmission of the image file is described using an ASCII code, and a control file to which an extension different from the extension attached to the image file is given as a file different from the recorded image file is created. Control file recording means for recording on a recording medium, and the information relating to the transmission is information on a transmission destination of the recorded image file.
[0006]
[Action]
In the present invention, the image data obtained by the image pickup means is recorded as an image file on a recording medium, and information relating to transmission of the recorded image file is described using ASCII code as a file different from the recorded image file. And a control file having an extension different from the extension attached to the image file is created and recorded on the recording medium.
[0007]
【Example】
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital still camera (electronic camera) which is an example of an image recording / reproducing apparatus related to the present invention. In the camera housing 100, a lens 101, a trigger switch 102 for instructing photographing, a display panel 103 including an LCD, an operation switch 104 for instructing operation, an insertion slot 105 into which a memory card 106 is inserted and mounted, a photographing A video signal output terminal 107 for outputting the received video signal and an external interface (I / F) 108 for exchanging data with an external device are provided.
[0008]
As shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, the operation switch 104 has a power switch 104A for controlling ON / OFF of the camera power supply, a recording / playback switch 104B for switching a recording / playback mode, and an UP switch 104C for selecting a playback frame. DOWN switch 104D, and control file operation control switch 104E.
[0009]
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the display panel 103 includes a “CONTROL” 103A representing a control file, a “PROG PLAY” 103B representing program reproduction, and a numeric display unit 103C displaying 7 segments and two digits, and “PROG PLAY”. Illumination indicates playback, and extinction indicates recording.
[0010]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital still camera. A subject has an imaging element such as a CCD as photoelectric conversion means via a lens 1 and is input to an imaging circuit 2 having a circuit that performs a predetermined imaging process on the converted electric signal. The video signal from the imaging circuit 2 is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 3 and written into the frame memory 4. Video data read from the frame memory 4 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 5, encoded by the video encoder 6, and then supplied to the external terminal 7 and the viewfinder 8. At the time of data recording, the video data read from the frame memory 4 is subjected to compression processing by a compression / decompression circuit 9 using a compression method compliant with the JPEG method or the like, and the memory card 17 is connected via a card interface (I / F) 16. To be recorded. At the time of reproduction, video data read from the memory card 17 via the card interface 16 is decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 9 and written to the frame memory 4. The video data read from the frame memory 4 is output to the external terminal 7 and the viewfinder 8 through the processing of the D / A converter 5 and the video encoder 6.
[0011]
The system control circuit 10 controls the entire camera operation. For example, display of the display unit 12 (corresponding to 103 in FIG. 1) is controlled via the display / switch control circuit 11, and camera operation is performed based on operation information from the operation switch 13 (corresponding to 104 in FIG. 1). To control. The system control circuit 10 also superimposes character information on the video signal via the character generator 14 and controls communication with the outside via the RS interface (I / F) 15.
[0012]
The power supply 18 supplies power to a card interface 16 to be described later. When the interrupt detection signal INT of the system control circuit 10 receives a memory card 17 attachment detection signal from the card interface 16, the power supply operation is started. It is controlled.
[0013]
When audio data is recorded in the memory card 17, the audio data read out via the card interface 16 is processed by the audio circuit 19 and output from the speaker 20. Recording of audio data in the memory card 17 is performed via the microphone 21, the audio circuit 19, and the card interface 16.
[0014]
FIG. 5 shows an example of data arrangement in the memory card. Management information parameter data is recorded in the boot sector, which is the first area, and a table indicating the memory usage status is recorded in the FAT, followed by an image file, a control file, an audio file (not shown), and the like. The data recording area is arranged. Image files and audio files are composed of a header and an image data area. This image data is data in a format compliant with JPEG.
[0015]
Now, an example of using a control file of a file recorded on a recording medium will be described. The files are distinguished by the file name extension. In the DOS system, the file name is composed of an 8-character main file name and a 3-character extension. The extension “J6I” is an image file, “J6S” is an audio file, and “J6C” is a control file. To express.
[0016]
The control file is described in ASCII code, and control information is defined by the following keywords (TABLE, PROGRAM, MODEM, CONDITION, PROCESS, etc.).
## TABLE Frame number (NO.) Management ## PROGRAM Program playback ## MODEM Modem control ## CONDITION Imaging condition setting ## PROCESS calculation processing
In the frame number management state according to the entry position, the control file is displayed when a directory in which the control file is registered is specified at the time of frame advance. FIG. 6 shows an example of files sequentially registered in the directory entry. In this example, the frame number indicates position information, and an image file and a control file are registered for each position.
[0018]
In FIG. 7, as an example of the control file, the file CTL00003. Registered as the frame number 3 in FIG. An example of information defined in J6C is shown. In FIG. 7, program playback is instructed, and DSC00001. Instruction to play (project) a J6I image file for 10 seconds, DSC00004. After an instruction to play a J6I image file for 15 seconds, it is defined that the program ends with #END. The program can be set using a personal computer or by projecting a control file on a monitor.
[0019]
Referring to the monitor display example of FIG. 8, FIG. 8A shows the playback state of the image file for the second frame. When the frame number is incremented by operating the UP switch, the frame number “ 03 "is displayed and" PROG PLAY "is flashed. At this time, a mute screen is displayed on the monitor. Here, when the trigger switch is operated, the program reproduction operation is started, and when the control file shown in FIG. 7 is executed, “PROG PLAY” is lit and displayed as shown in FIG. The file is played for 10 seconds. Subsequently, as shown in (D), the image file of the fourth frame is played back for 15 seconds, the program playback ends at #END, and the display state returns to the display state of (E), which is the same display state as (B). .
[0020]
A processing procedure related to the frame number designation UP switch and DOWN switch will be described with reference to FIG. In the UP switch process, it is first determined whether or not the playback mode is set (step S1). If the playback mode is not set, the process is terminated. If the playback mode is set, the frame number is incremented by 1 (incremented) (step S2). ), The frame number is displayed (step S3), and the directory specified by the frame number is read (step S4). Next, it is determined whether or not recorded (step S5), and if not recorded executes the mute playback process (step S6), and checks the extension if recorded (step S7), and image files Is determined (step S8). If it is an image file , an image (video) reproduction process is executed (step S9), and if it is not an image file , it is determined whether it is a control file (step S10). If it is not the control file, the mute playback process is executed (step S11). If it is the control file, the mute playback process is executed (step S12), and then the “PROG PLAY” segment blinks on the monitor ( Step S13), the processing procedure ends. Similarly, in the DOWN switch process, it is determined whether or not the playback mode is selected (step S14). If the playback mode is not selected, the process ends. If the playback mode is selected, the frame number is decremented by 1 (decremented). (Step S15), the process proceeds to Step S3.
[0021]
A processing procedure in response to a trigger switch operation when executing program reproduction will be described with reference to FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the playback mode is selected (step S21). If the playback mode is not selected, the recording mode trigger process is executed (step S22). If the playback mode is selected, it is determined whether or not "PROG PLAY" is blinking. (Step S23). If not blinking, date data is displayed on the EVF and the monitor (step S24). If blinking, the “PROG PLAY” segment is lit (step S25) and the control file name is read (step S26). ). Next, the reproduction time (for example, 10 seconds or 15 seconds in FIG. 7) is read (step S27), the presence / absence of a file in the directory is determined (step S28), and if not, the process proceeds to step S34. After the frame number is displayed (step S29) and the reproduction process is executed (step S30), the process waits for the designated reproduction time to elapse (step S31). When the playback time elapses, the next control file name is read (step S32), and it is determined whether or not the process is ended by #END (step S33). If not, the process returns to step S27. If completed, the mute reproduction process is executed (step S34), "PROG PLAY" is displayed blinking (step S35), and the process procedure is terminated.
[0022]
In the above example, the position number of the entry in the directory is used as the frame number. However, the frame number can be managed by the control file, and these can be switched and used. That is, the file name in the directory is checked, and if there is no file with J6C extension (control file), the position information of the entry is used as the frame number. If there is a J6C file, the flag in the file is checked. If frame number management by the control file is specified, frame number management by the control file is performed.
[0023]
The content of the frame number management control file is, for example, the control file CTL1. An example of J6C is shown in FIG. 11, frame number management is designated by ## TABLE, and as shown in FIG.
[0024]
Referring to FIG. 13, the switching process procedure of the frame number management will be described. After the card mounting process, it is determined whether or not the memory card format is OK (step S41), and the camera can handle the DOS format. If not, a warning is issued. If OK, the control file ("J6C") is searched (step S42), and then the presence or absence of the control file is determined (step S43). If there is a control file, the character string “## TABLE” is searched for the presence or absence of a flag for managing the frame number in the control file (step S44 and step S45), and if there is a control file, the frame number is managed in the control file. If not (step S46), a frame number is generated from the directory entry position (step S47), and this processing procedure ends. If it is determined in step S43 that there is no control file, the process proceeds to step S47.
[0025]
Next, an example of sequentially displaying the control file and the contents of the control file will be described. FIG. 14 shows the registration status of a file in the directory of the memory card, and the file is selected and displayed by the control switch. FIG. 15 shows the control file: CTL1. The contents of J6C are displayed. FIG. 15 shows a MODEM control file as a keyword represented by ## MODEM, and comment information is described next to the keyword. TEL NO indicates the telephone number of the transmission destination, the file name of the frame to be transmitted is designated as FiLE, the processing of this block is completed with #END, and then the next transmission destination telephone number and transmission file name are similarly performed. Is specified.
[0026]
FIG. 16 shows a control file CTL2... For the keyword “PROCESS” in FIG. The contents of J6C are displayed. This control file defines contour enhancement, blurring processing, visual screen processing, and the like, and FiLTER-1, FiLTER-2 processing, and the like. As this processing, the processing program itself can be described.
[0027]
FIG. 17 shows a control file CTL3... For the keyword “CONDITION” that defines the operating conditions of the camera of FIG. The contents of J6C are displayed. In this example, the use state of strobe (STROBO) and white balance (WB) is defined, but it can be arbitrarily set as a program diagram such as aperture and shutter speed, and shooting conditions such as sports and portraits, Optimal conditions can be set according to the conditions.
[0028]
FIG. 18 shows an example of searching and displaying a desired block file by the control switch. In this state, “CONTROL” blinks on the screen, a frame number is displayed in the upper right part, and a keyword and a comment are displayed in the central part. 14A shows the control file for frame number 2 in FIG. 14 (shown in FIG. 15), and the control file for frame number 2 as shown in FIG. The second content of is displayed. By the further operation of the control switch, the contents of the fourth frame file (FIG. 16) as shown in (C) and (D) are displayed. When the control switch is operated so as to select the frame number 5, the contents of the file shown in FIG. 17 are displayed as (E) and (F). By doing so, it is possible to quickly search and display only the control file from among the many blocks existing in the directory using the control switch.
[0029]
The above processing procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 19. When the control switch process is performed, it is determined whether or not the control file is currently being displayed (step S51). Are searched for a file with an extension of J6C (step S52), and the presence or absence of the extension of J6C is determined (step S53). If there is, the keyword and comment of the control file are displayed on the EVF and monitor (step S55). Then, the control segment is displayed blinking (step S56), and this processing procedure is terminated. If it is determined in step S53 that there is no error, an error display is performed as shown in FIG. 20, for example (step S54).
[0030]
If the control file is being displayed in step S51, the next keyword in the file is searched (step S57), the presence / absence of the keyword is determined (step S58), and if it is determined, the process proceeds to step S55. If it is determined that there is no such file, next, a file having the extension J6C is searched from the directory entry (step S59). Next, it is determined whether or not the file exists (step S60). If it is determined that the file exists, the process proceeds to step S55. If it is determined that the file does not exist, an end display is performed as shown in FIG.
[0031]
Next, an image recording / reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing an image file and an audio file recorded on a memory card in combination will be described. For example, a recorded file as shown in FIG. 22 has the same main file name or part of the main file name and a different extension at the time of reproduction (as is well known, J6I indicates an image file and J6S indicates an audio file). Can be selected (searched), read and executed. By doing so, since it can be handled as one file, handling becomes simple, special information indicating the relation is unnecessary, and memory management becomes easy.
[0032]
The processing procedure of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 23. First, a file specified by a frame number is searched (step S71), and it is determined whether or not it is a video file (step S72). A mute reproduction process is executed (step S77), and if it is a video file, the video file is reproduced (step S73). Next, a search is made for a J6S file with the same main file name (part of the main file name) (step S74), the presence or absence of the extension is determined (step S75), and if it is determined, the audio file is reproduced. In step S76, the processing procedure is terminated, and when it is determined that there is none, the processing is terminated as it is.
[0033]
In the above processing, if it is desired to repeatedly play back an audio file, the trigger switch may be operated again. If the device cannot play back an audio file (data), a message indicating that there is an audio file is displayed. To notify the operator.
[0034]
The control file is described and created in ASCII code, but this creation can also be performed directly. When creating a control file for program playback with the camera, press the control button to enter the creation mode, select a playback frame with the UP / DOWN switch, press the trigger switch, and press the trigger switch at each playback specified time. After the processing after selecting the playback frame is repeated and a necessary file is created, the control button is pressed to finish the file creation. It should be noted that the time scale can be accelerated while the playback designated time is set by pressing the trigger switch, or the playback designated time can be set with the UP / DOWN switch after digital display.
[0035]
Next, an example will be described in which stable operation is ensured when a recording medium such as an IC memory card is attached to or detached from an image recording / reproducing apparatus such as a camera. Here, “attachment” means a state where electrical contact of the power supply conductor segment is obtained, and “detachment” means a state where the electrical contact of the power supply conductor segment is released. In the recording / reproducing apparatus as described above, the access operation is ensured only after the reliable electrical connection of the memory card to the apparatus is performed. For example, if the card is removed during access (during electrical connection), erroneous writing to the card may occur, and malfunction may occur if access is performed in an unstable state where the card is not fully inserted. . Therefore, in the past, the predetermined pin length of the pins of the card is set to be shorter than the other pins, and access is permitted when the connection completion detection signal of both pins is received. Sometimes detection is uncertain. In addition, such a configuration complicates the card mounting unit, increases the cost, and has a problem in terms of operability.
[0036]
Therefore, in this example, by changing the operation time of the means for recognizing card insertion / removal, data destruction of the medium is prevented and stable mounting is guaranteed. That is, when the card is removed, the power supply from the power source 18 to the card interface 16 is turned off at high speed by the interrupt process to the system control circuit 10 in FIG. 4, and erroneous writing to the card is prohibited.
[0037]
In addition, when the card is mounted, it is confirmed that the card is stably mounted for a predetermined time or longer (0.5 seconds in this example). Since the camera confirms the stability of the memory card mounting for a certain time or more, the operator will continue the mounting operation for a certain time, so that the memory card is sufficiently stably mounted.
[0038]
Referring to FIG. 24, the card insertion interrupt process will be described. When a detection signal CD at the time of card insertion is received from the card interface 16, a timer is initialized (step S81), and then whether or not the card is still in the card insertion state is determined. A determination is made (step S82), and if the card is not inserted, the process is terminated, and if the card is in an attached state, it is determined whether 0.5 second has elapsed (step S83). If 0.5 seconds have not elapsed, the process returns to step S82. If it is determined in step S83 that 0.5 second has elapsed, the card presence flag is set (step S84), the power supply to the card interface 16 is turned on (step S85), and the card mounting process is executed (step S85). Step S86). This processing procedure ends.
[0039]
Next, card withdrawal interrupt processing will be described with reference to FIG. When the card insertion signal CD disappears from the card interface 16 and is removed, the power supply to the card interface 16 is immediately turned off (step S91), the card presence flag is cleared (step S92), and the card removal process is executed. (Step S93).
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since an extension different from that of an image file is given to a control file, it can be easily determined that the file is a control file. In addition, since the information regarding the transmission of the image file is described in the control file using the ASCII code, the transmission control of the image file can be easily performed, and the control file can be effectively used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an application example to a digital still camera (electronic camera) which is an example of an image recording / reproducing apparatus related to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of the operation switch 104 of FIG.
3 is a diagram showing a display example of the display panel 103 of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a digital still camera.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of data arrangement in a memory card.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of files that are sequentially registered in a directory entry.
7 shows a file CTL00003. Registered as frame number 3 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of information prescribed | regulated by J6C.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a monitor display example in the above example.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure regarding an UP switch and a DOWN switch for designating a frame number.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in response to a trigger switch operation when executing program reproduction.
FIG. 11 shows the contents of a control file for frame number management, for example, control files CTL1. It is a figure which shows the example about J6C.
12 is a diagram illustrating an example of recording in a directory in which management of a frame number is designated by ## TABLE in the example of FIG.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a frame number management switching process procedure in the present example;
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a registration status of a file in a directory of a memory card.
15 is a control file of FIG. 14: CTL1. It is a figure which shows the content of J6C.
16 is a control file CTL2.. For the keyword “PROCESS” in FIG. 14; It is a figure which shows the content of J6C.
FIG. 17 is a control file CTL3.. It is a figure which shows the content of J6C.
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of searching and displaying a file of a desired block by a control switch.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the example shown in FIG. 18;
20 is a diagram showing an error display example in FIG.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of end display in FIG. 19;
FIG. 22 illustrates an example in which an image recording / playback apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention selects (searches), reads, and plays back a main file name or a part of the main file name that has the same extension but a different extension. It is a figure for doing.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the embodiment shown in FIG. 22;
FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of preventing card data destruction at the time of card insertion in another example related to the present invention and guaranteeing stable installation;
FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of preventing card data destruction at the time of card removal and guaranteeing stable mounting in still another example related to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lens 2 Imaging circuit 3 A / D converter 4 Frame memory 5 D / A converter 6 Video encoder 7 External terminal 8 Viewfinder 9 Compression / decompression circuit 10 System control circuit 11 Display / switch control circuit 12 Display circuit 13 Operation switch 14 Character Generator 15 RS interface 16 Card interface 17, 106 Memory card 18 Power supply 19 Audio circuit 20 Speaker 21 Microphone 100 Camera housing 101 Lens 102 Trigger switch 103 Display panel 104 Operation switch 105 Slot 107 Video signal output terminal 108 External interface

Claims (2)

A taking lens,
Imaging means for photoelectrically converting a subject image via the photographing lens;
Image file recording means for recording image data obtained by the imaging means as an image file on a recording medium;
Control in which information relating to transmission of the recorded image file is described using an ASCII code, and an extension different from the extension attached to the image file is given as a file different from the recorded image file Control file recording means for creating a file and recording the file on the recording medium;
An image recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: The image recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information regarding the transmission is information on a transmission destination of the recorded image file.

Images