JP4096131B2 - Portable electronic devices - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable electronic device that captures information and records it on a storage medium, such as a digital still camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, portable electronic devices, such as digital still cameras, which receive information from a battery and receive information from a battery and record the information in a storage medium such as a flash memory or a floppy disk have been widely used.
[0003]
In such portable electronic devices, the storage medium is detachable, and the storage medium can be exchanged as necessary. For example, when data is stored to the full storage capacity of a storage medium loaded in a portable electronic device, information can be recorded on a new storage medium by replacing the storage medium.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the case of a digital still camera which is one of portable electronic devices, in order to effectively use the storage medium, a compression mode for compressing the image data captured in the buffer and recording it on the storage medium, and a high-quality image May be provided with an uncompressed mode in which image data captured in a buffer is recorded on a storage medium without being compressed.
[0005]
Then, when storing uncompressed image data in the storage medium in the non-compression mode, the amount of data is large, so it takes more time to write the image data to the storage medium than when storing the compressed data in the storage medium. It takes. For this reason, during recording of uncompressed image data to the storage medium, the storage medium is extracted by a user who misunderstood that the captured data was normally recorded or held, or Battery replacement may be performed.
[0006]
In this case, the data recording process on the storage medium is suddenly and forcibly interrupted, so that the data recording cannot be terminated normally, and the information to be recorded on the storage medium disappears. The information recorded on the storage medium may be destroyed and cannot be read out. In the worst case, the video still camera itself may be broken and cannot be used again.
[0007]
Therefore, a storage medium loading port of the video still camera is provided with a lid, and when the lid is opened, image data in the middle of recording is immediately recorded to prepare for removal of the storage medium. Can be considered. By doing so, the storage medium and the portable electronic device can be protected when the storage medium is taken out.
[0008]
However, no action is taken when the battery that supplies the drive power is removed while data is being written to the storage medium, so if the battery is removed, the information to be recorded The above-mentioned troubles such as disappearance may occur.
[0009]
Therefore, a lid is also provided at the battery loading slot so that it is detected that the lid has been opened. Even when the lid of the battery loading slot is opened, information can be quickly recorded on the storage medium. It is possible to do so.
[0010]
However, if a lid is provided at both the storage medium loading port and the battery loading port and the lid is opened, this is detected to detect that the lid has been opened. The mechanism becomes complicated, for example, by requiring two mechanisms such as a detection switch, and this hinders the reduction in size and weight of portable electronic devices. It also leads to cost increase.
[0011]
In view of the above, the present invention eliminates the above problems and protects the storage medium, the information recorded on the storage medium, and the portable electronic device even when the storage medium or the battery is removed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic device that can be used.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, a portable electronic device according to claim 1 is provided.
A loading unit loaded with a storage medium and a battery ;
A loading port lid that covers the loading port for inserting and removing the storage medium and the battery into and from the loading unit and opens the loading port by being rotated after being slid with respect to the housing;
A battery lock mechanism for fixing the battery loaded in the loading unit;
Opening / closing detection means for detecting the opening / closing state of the loading lid ,
Recording control means for controlling data recording on the storage medium based on the detection result of the open / close detection means.
[0016]
A portable electronic device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the portable electronic device according to the first aspect,
It further has storage means for storing data,
When the recording control unit detects that the loading cap is opened by the open / close detection unit, the recording control unit quickly records data in the middle of recording on the recording medium temporarily stored in the storage unit. Then, the recording of the data is terminated.
[0019]
A portable electronic device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the portable electronic device according to the second aspect,
The power supply from the battery is maintained even when the loading port lid is opened.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a portable electronic device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, the portable electronic device according to the present invention includes a compression mode for storing and saving image data compressed in a storage medium, and a non-compression mode for recording and saving image data in a storage medium without compression. A case where the present invention is applied to a digital still camera equipped with
[0022]
FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a digital still camera to which the present invention is applied, and is a view when the inside is seen from the rear surface of the digital still camera. As will be described later, FIG. 1A shows a state in which the battery cover 4 provided in the housing 1 is closed, and FIG. 1B shows a state in which the battery cover 4 is opened.
[0023]
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the inside of the housing 1 of the digital still camera of this embodiment can be roughly divided into a loading unit 11 into which a removable storage medium 5 and a battery case 10 are loaded; The main board 2 is divided into a main board portion 12 in which the main board 2 is housed.
[0024]
In this embodiment, the storage medium 5 loaded in the loading unit 11 is a flash memory that can be easily attached to and detached from the digital still camera. Further, as will be described later, the battery case 10 is provided with a locking recess 10a used for preventing the battery case 10 from being taken out suddenly.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 1, a battery having a connector 6 to which the storage medium 5 is connected, a sub-substrate 7, and a battery terminal 9 formed by making the elastic body into a spring shape in the loading unit 11. A terminal board 8 is provided. The battery terminal plate 8 and the battery terminal 9 receive power from the battery case 10 and supply necessary electrical energy to each part of the digital still camera of this embodiment.
[0026]
The main board 2 accommodated in the main board 2 includes a buffer memory for temporarily storing captured image data (not shown), a main microcomputer for controlling each part of the digital switch camera, and other various circuits. It is installed. Then, the image data taken into the buffer memory of the main board 2 is supplied to the storage medium 5 and stored therein.
[0027]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a battery lock knob 1 c is provided inside the housing 1 so as to protrude inward from the upper portion of the housing 1. When the battery case 10 is loaded in the loading unit 11, the battery lock is placed on a portion of the surface of the battery lock unit 1 c that faces the battery case 10 at a position that matches the locking recess 10 a provided in the battery case 10. A claw 1d is provided.
[0028]
The battery lock claw 1d is fitted into the locking recess of the battery case 10, and the battery case 10 is sandwiched between the battery lock claw 1d and the battery terminal 9 formed in a spring shape by an elastic body, and the loading portion 11, the battery case 10 is prevented from changing its position. Thereby, when the battery case 10 is in a normal position in the loading unit, the position is supported, and the power supply state can be always maintained.
[0029]
The battery lock knob 1c is formed of an elastic body. By pushing the end of the battery lock knob 1c toward the main board 2, the battery lock knob 1c provided with the battery lock claw 1d is forced. It can be moved in the added direction. Thus, the battery lock claw 1d is removed from the battery lock recess 10a, and the battery case 10 can be taken out from the loading portion 11 as will be described later. When the application of force is stopped, the battery lock knob 1c returns to the original position.
[0030]
In the case of the digital still camera according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, there is a loading port for loading and unloading the storage medium 5 and the battery case 10 below the loading unit 11, and covers this loading port. A battery lid 4 that can be freely opened and closed is provided. The battery lid 4 is formed in a bowl shape, has a claw portion 4b, and is provided with a long hole 4a.
[0031]
Then, the battery lid 4 is attached to the casing 1 so that the battery lid rotation fulcrum 1a provided in the casing 1 is inserted into the long hole 4a of the battery lid. In this case, the battery lid 4 can be slid in the longitudinal direction of the long hole 4a, and can be rotated and opened / closed with the battery lid rotation fulcrum 1a as a fulcrum.
[0032]
Further, when the battery cover 4 is in a state of covering the loading port (closed state), the battery cover lock part 1b of the housing 1 and the tip part of the battery cover 4 having the claw part 4b are fitted. Thus, the battery cover 4 is not easily opened.
[0033]
Further, in the digital still camera of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an open / close switch 3 for detecting the opening / closing of the battery cover 4 is provided in the vicinity of the battery cover 1. The open / close switch 3 has a switch convex portion 3 a that changes its position in accordance with the opening / closing of the battery cover 4.
[0034]
That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, when the battery lid 4 is in a state of covering the loading port, the switch convex portion 3 a is pushed back toward the inside of the open / close switch 3 by the end of the battery lid 4. It is. As a result, the open / close switch 3 is turned on. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the battery cover 4 is in an open state, the switch protrusion 3a is released from being pressed by the end of the battery cover 4 and protrudes. Thereby, the open / close switch 3 is turned off.
[0035]
Thus, in this embodiment, when the open / close switch 3 is in the on state, the battery lid 4 is in a closed state covering the loading port, and the open / close switch 3 is in the off state, It can be detected that the battery cover 4 is opened.
[0036]
When the battery lid 4 that is closed with respect to the housing 1 is opened and the storage medium 5 or the battery case 10 loaded in the loading unit 11 is taken out, the digital of this embodiment is used. As will be described below, the still camera detects that the battery cover 4 has been opened, and records data that is being recorded, such as image data being recorded on the storage medium 5 in the uncompressed mode. As soon as possible. This rapid recording is performed by changing the recording data write clock to a clock having a higher frequency than in the normal case.
[0037]
First, the battery lid 4 is slid in the direction indicated by the arrow Y1 in FIG. 1A, the claw portion 4b of the battery lid 4 is separated from the battery lid lock portion 1b of the housing 1, and the battery lid rotation fulcrum 1a of the housing 1 is a fulcrum. The battery lid 4a can be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow Y2.
[0038]
Then, the battery lid 4 is rotated to open the loading port, and the storage medium 5 and the battery case 10 loaded in the loading unit 11 can be taken out. In this case, as described above, the battery case 10 loaded in the loading unit 11 is sandwiched between the battery lock claw 1d provided on the battery lock knob 1c and the battery terminal 9, so that the position in the loading unit does not change. In addition, the power supply state is maintained.
[0039]
When the battery cover 4a is opened, the protrusion 3a of the open / close switch 3 provided in the vicinity of the battery cover 4 is released from being pressed by the end of the battery cover 4 and protrudes as shown in FIG. 1B. . Thereby, the open / close switch 3 is turned off, and it is detected that the battery cover 4 is opened.
[0040]
In this embodiment, the state of the open / close switch 3 is monitored by, for example, a main microcomputer provided on the main board 2. When the open / close switch 3 is turned off, the main microcomputer of the main board 2 increases the writing speed of the data writing clock to the storage medium, thereby increasing the writing speed and the buffer memory of the main board 2. The image data being recorded on the storage medium 5 temporarily stored in is stored and saved immediately. As a result, the recording of the image data on the storage medium 5 is completed quickly, and the storage medium 5 can be removed to prepare for the removal of the storage medium 5.
[0041]
As described above, in the digital still camera according to this embodiment, the power supply from the battery case 10 is not stopped even when the battery cover 4 is opened. Therefore, the main board 2 and the sub board 7 are operating, and the storage medium 5 The data can be recorded and saved immediately. Then, before the operation of taking out the storage medium 5 by the user is started, the recording of the image data being recorded on the storage medium 5 is quickly ended, and the storage medium 5 is moved to a removable state. Can do. Then, even if the storage medium 5 is pulled out in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1B, no trouble is caused.
[0042]
Further, when the battery case 10 is taken out from the loading unit 11, as described above, the battery lock claw 1d is locked to the battery case 10 by pushing the battery lock knob 1c in the direction indicated by the arrow Y3 in FIG. 1B. Remove from the recess 10a. Thereby, the battery case 10 is pushed out toward the loading port by the spring force of the battery terminal 9 formed in a spring shape as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1B , and the battery case 10 can be taken out from the loading unit 11. it can.
[0043]
That is, in the case of the digital still camera of this embodiment, the battery case 10 cannot be removed simply by opening the battery cover 4, and the battery lock knob 1c must be moved. The battery case can be taken out after the recording of data on the storage medium 5 is completed.
[0044]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the data storage process in the storage medium 5 when the battery cover 4 is opened, which is executed by the main microcomputer provided on the main board 2 in this embodiment. is there. In this embodiment, the process shown in FIG. 2 is executed at predetermined intervals by, for example, a microcomputer provided on the main board 2.
[0045]
That is, the main microcomputer provided on the main board 2 detects the state of the open / close switch 3 at predetermined time intervals (step 101). Then, based on the detection result of step 101, it is determined whether or not the battery cover 4 has been opened (step 102). When it is determined that the battery cover 4 has been opened, the recording clock signal is a clock signal that is faster than usual. The data is immediately recorded on the storage medium 5 (step 103). As a result, the recording of data on the storage medium 5 is quickly terminated, the storage medium 5 is made removable from the loading unit 11, and the process returns to the main routine.
[0046]
If it is determined in step 102 that the battery cover 4 is not opened, the process shown in FIG. 2 is terminated without any action and the process returns to the main routine.
[0047]
Thus, in the case of the digital still camera of this embodiment, since the storage medium 5 and the battery case 10 are both loaded in the loading unit 11, the storage medium 5 and the battery case 10 loaded in the loading unit 11. The battery cover 4 is also opened when removing any of these.
[0048]
As described above, when the battery cover 4 is opened, it is detected by the open / close switch 3 that the battery cover 4 is opened, and the microcomputer of the main board 2 works to quickly transfer data to the storage medium 5. Memory storage is performed.
[0049]
Thereby, it is possible to quickly shift to a state in which the storage medium 5 can be taken out, and to prevent the storage medium 5 from being taken out from the loading unit 11 during data writing.
[0050]
The battery case 10 is sandwiched between the lock claw 1c of the battery lock knob 1d provided on the housing 1 and the battery terminal 9 formed in a spring shape by an elastic body, and the battery cover 4 is simply opened. It cannot be taken out, and the power supply state is also maintained.
[0051]
For this reason, unless the battery lock knob 1c is moved and the battery lock claw 1d is removed from the locking recess 10a of the battery case 10, the battery case 10 cannot be taken out, and power supply can be stopped. Therefore, sudden removal of the battery case 10 is prevented, and the battery case 10 can be removed after the data storage and storage of the storage medium 5 immediately after the battery cover 4 is opened. can do.
[0052]
Further, the quick recording of the image data on the storage medium 5 is performed only when the battery cover is opened as described above. Therefore, normally, since a clock signal having a frequency higher than necessary is not used, the power consumption is not increased and the life of the battery is not shortened.
[0053]
In the embodiment described above, the battery case is sandwiched between the battery lock claw 1d of the battery lock knob 1c and the battery terminal 9, and the battery cover 4 is opened by supporting the position. The power supply is not stopped even if there is, but it is not limited to this.
[0054]
For example, if the battery cover 4 is opened, such as holding the battery case from its periphery, supporting its position, and preventing power supply from being stopped, the power supply terminal portion of the battery case and the portable electronic device What is necessary is just to be able to prevent the connection with the power supply terminal from being released.
[0055]
Therefore, the shape of the battery is not limited to the battery having the recess for locking as in the above-described embodiment, and the power supply maintaining means for preventing the power supply from the battery from being stopped only by opening the battery cover. Various shapes of batteries can be used depending on the situation.
[0056]
The storage medium is not limited to the flash memory, and various storage media such as a floppy disk and a small magneto-optical disk called MD (mini disk) can be used.
[0057]
In the above-described embodiment, the portable electronic device according to the present invention has been described as being applied to a digital still camera. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a portable electronic device such as a portable recording device that receives drive power from a battery and records the captured information on a removable storage medium.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the portable electronic device of the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent sudden removal of the battery loaded in the loading unit, so that the storage medium is recorded on the storage medium. Data and portable electronic devices can be reliably prevented from being destroyed.
[0059]
In addition, the storage medium and the battery are loaded in the same loading unit, and the storage medium and the battery can be attached to and detached from the loading unit by opening the loading port lid. Therefore, the configuration is complicated, downsized, and lightweight. There is no inhibition of conversion.
[0060]
According to the portable electronic device of the second aspect of the present invention, when the loading opening lid is opened, data is quickly recorded on the storage medium, so that either the storage medium or the battery is taken out. Even so, it is possible to protect both the storage medium, the data recorded on the storage medium, and the portable electronic device itself, thereby preventing troubles.
[0061]
According to the portable electronic device of the invention described in claim 5 , the writing clock frequency to the recording medium is set to be higher than normal only when it is detected that the loading lid is opened. Yes, it is possible to prevent the power consumption from becoming larger than necessary.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a view for explaining an embodiment of a portable electronic device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a rapid recording process of data to a storage medium performed when it is detected that the battery cover is opened in the embodiment of the portable electronic terminal according to the present invention;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Case, 1a ... Battery lid rotation fulcrum, 1b ... Battery lid lock part, 1c ... Battery lock knob, 1d ... Battery lock claw, 2 ... Main board, 3 ... Open / close switch, 3a ... Switch convex part, 4 ... Battery Lid, 4a ... long hole, 4b ... claw part, 5 ... storage medium, 6 ... connector, 7 ... sub-board, 8 ... battery terminal plate, 9 ... battery terminal, 10 ... battery case, 10a ... recess for locking

Claims (5)

A loading unit loaded with a storage medium and a battery ;
A loading port lid that covers the loading port for inserting and removing the storage medium and the battery into and from the loading unit and opens the loading port by being rotated after being slid with respect to the housing;
A battery lock mechanism for fixing the battery loaded in the loading unit;
Opening / closing detection means for detecting the opening / closing state of the loading lid ,
A portable electronic device comprising: a recording control unit that controls recording of data on the storage medium based on a detection result of the open / close detection unit. It further has storage means for storing data,
When the recording control means detects that the loading cap is opened by the open / close detection means, the data in the middle of recording on the recording medium temporarily stored in the storage means is immediately recorded on the recording medium. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein recording of the data is terminated. The portable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein power supply from the battery is maintained even when the loading port lid is opened. The portable electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the battery has a recess, and the lock mechanism is a claw that fits into the recess. When the open / close detection means detects that the loading lid is in the open state, the writing clock frequency to the recording medium is changed to a high frequency, and data is quickly written to the storage medium. The portable electronic device according to claim 2 .

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