JP4499901B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a control device capable of data communication with an external device, and an electronic camera that electronically captures and records or reproduces a subject image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, in an electronic camera, a card-like and small recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a memory card) is used to record captured images and the like. As long as the interface standard and the format method adopted by the electronic camera are the same, an arbitrary medium can be used for the memory card, and the memory card is inserted into a card slot provided in the electronic camera body. The attached memory card can be removed from the card slot, and after it has been installed in another device and subjected to necessary processing, it can be used by being attached to the electronic camera again. For example, a memory card on which a photographed image is recorded is inserted into a card slot of a personal computer (PC) or a video printer, and image data is copied, image processing such as photo retouching, and printing processing are performed. This is a very common usage.
[0003]
In addition to image data, programs and parameters may be recorded on the memory card. These consist of a program that controls the control operation of the electronic camera body and parameters used for various adjustments of the optical lens system.By reading and executing these parameters from the memory card side to the electronic camera body side, the functional configuration of the electronic camera Settings can be changed. In the electronic camera, for example, a program is stored and held in a flash memory, and parameters such as lens adjustment values are recorded and held in an EEPROM.
[0004]
As described above, the conventional electronic camera that handles data such as programs via the memory card has the following problems. For example, as in the case of a silver halide camera, there is an instantaneous interruption due to “swing” (vibration) of an electronic camera body that is held and used by an operator. As an occurrence location of the instantaneous interruption, for example, a contact between the (female) connector portion in the card slot and the (male) connector portion of the memory card, and various other locations are assumed.
[0005]
When an instantaneous interruption occurs, for example, a problem occurs in data communication between the electronic camera body and the memory card. If this occurs when receiving a program, parameter, etc., the received program, parameter, etc. will be illegal.
[0006]
Such a problem of occurrence of instantaneous interruption applies not only to an electronic camera, but also to various control devices in which a problem of data communication due to device shake is a problem.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to enable highly reliable data communication that can appropriately cope with an unstable communication state with an external device caused by the fluctuation of the apparatus. to provide a name electronic camera.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention is configured as follows.
[0009]
(1) An electronic camera according to the present invention includes a connection unit for connecting an external device, a communication unit for performing data communication with the external device connected via the connection unit, and a detection for detecting a shake amount of the apparatus main body. And the communication to interrupt the data communication when the fluctuation amount detected by the detection means exceeds a predetermined amount, and to resume the interrupted data communication when the fluctuation amount falls below the predetermined amount. comprising a communication operation control means for controlling data communication operation by the unit, the said communication means, characterized that you receive programs and parameters from an external device by the data communication.
[0011]
(2) electronic camera of the present invention is an electronic camera according to the above (1), and the amount of the shaking further comprising notification means for notifying to the outside that has exceeded a predetermined amount.
[0014]
(3) an electronic camera of the present invention is an electronic camera according to the above (1) or (2), and shake amount detected by the detecting means during the data communication by the communication means exceeds a predetermined amount In this case, a verification unit is provided for verifying the correctness of the data received from the external device after the end of the data communication.
[0015]
(4) electronic camera of the present invention, the above (1) to (3) The electronic camera according to any one of the data to be received based on prior Symbol data communications, imaging, and recording, or reproducing it is a program and parameters according to you characterized.
[0016]
( 5 ) An electronic camera according to the present invention is an electronic camera that electronically captures a subject image captured from an optical system, and communicates with a storage unit that stores data used for operation control of the electronic camera and an external device. Communication means, rewriting data received by communication with an external device by the communication means, rewriting processing means for rewriting data stored in the storage means, detection means for detecting a shake of the electronic camera body, When the fluctuation amount detected by the detection means is within a predetermined amount, rewrite processing is performed until the end, and when the fluctuation amount detected by the detection means exceeds a predetermined amount, the rewrite processing is stopped. Processing control means for controlling the rewrite processing means .
[0017]
( 6 ) The electronic camera of the present invention is the electronic camera according to ( 5 ) above, and the data is executed in the electronic camera body, and an operation program relating to photographing, recording, or reproduction of the subject image It is characterized by including.
[0018]
( 7 ) The electronic camera of the present invention is the electronic camera according to the above ( 5 ) or ( 6) , and the data includes a parameter used for adjustment of the optical system.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment, an invention related to dealing with an unstable communication state with an external device due to a device shake is applied to an electronic camera. In particular, in this embodiment, when a program and parameters recorded on a memory card are read and the program and parameters stored in the electronic camera body are rewritten, processing control based on the detection of fluctuation is performed.
[0021]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
In accordance with the photographing operation controlled by the system controller 70, the image of the subject captured via the photographing lens system 11 is converted into an electric signal by the image sensor 12. The converted electric signal is converted into an analog image signal by the imaging circuit 13, and then converted into a digital image signal by the A / D converter 14, and temporarily stored and held in the buffer memory 15. While this digital image signal is used for monitor display by the image display LCD 50, various image processing is performed by the DSP (digital signal processor) 16, the RISC-CPU 24, the compression / decompression circuit 40, etc. F) is recorded in the memory card 20 via 21. The compression / decompression circuit 40 is for compressing the digital image data or decompressing the compressed image data. The detachable memory card 20 is made of a small recording medium and is inserted into the card slot 22. The LCD (liquid crystal display device) 50 is used for displaying a monitor image at the time of shooting and reproducing and displaying a recorded image in the memory card 20. When displaying an image on the LCD 50, the image data read from the video memory 51 is converted into video image data by the video output circuit 52. Note that the video image data output from the video output circuit 52 can be output to an external display device (not shown) via the external terminal 53 for video output.
[0022]
The operation unit 73 includes a switch or the like for an operator to perform a release operation or to set various modes. The mode LCD 72 displays information such as the mode set by the operation of the operation unit 73.
[0023]
The external interface (external I / F) 61 is an interface for performing data input / output with an external device connected via the external input / output terminal 60. For example, a personal computer or the like is connected to the external input / output terminal 60, and an image in the memory card 20 is transferred to the personal computer or the like, or image data is input from the personal computer or the like.
[0024]
The system controller 70 performs overall control of each device of the electronic camera, and includes a CISC type processor. When the amount of light at the time of imaging of the subject is insufficient, the system controller 70 requests the strobe light emitting unit 71 to perform control with the strobe turned on.
[0025]
The system controller 70 also includes a photometric circuit 74 for automatic exposure control, and a contrast detection unit for detecting a contrast value based on the image data in the buffer memory 15 and performing automatic focus control based on the contrast value. 17 is connected.
[0026]
The electronic camera main body is configured on the basis of battery driving, and the power output from the camera battery 81 is supplied to each part (camera circuit, etc.) of the electronic camera main body via the power supply unit 80.
[0027]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing storage areas of the flash memory and the EEPROM. As shown in FIG. 2A, the storage area of the flash memory 23 provided in the electronic camera body has a rewrite program unit, a basic program unit, a DSP program unit, and an adjustment value (parameter) unit. Yes. The basic program section, the DSP program section, and the adjustment value section store parameters such as operation programs and adjustment values supplied to the system controller 70, the RISC-CPU 24, and the DSP 16, which will be described below. This is the target part of the rewrite process. The rewriting program section stores a monitor program used for rewriting the program. As shown in FIG. 2B, the EEPROM 25 provided in the electronic camera body has various adjustment values such as a lens adjustment value of the photographing lens system 11 and a shutter speed for exposure control in a table format. It is remembered. The adjustment value recorded by the EEPROM 25 is also a target part of the rewriting process.
[0028]
Here, with reference to FIG. 3, a data rewriting process such as a program in the electronic camera body based on the rewriting data read from the memory card will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration for realizing the rewriting process.
[0029]
The rewrite processing unit 30 shown in FIG. 1 includes an interface (I / F) 21 and a buffer memory 15 . The interface 21 is electrically connected to the memory card 20 attached to the connector of the card slot 22 and performs data communication with the memory card 20. Data received by the interface 21 from the memory card 20 by this data communication is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 15.
[0030]
The rewrite processing unit 30 accesses the flash memory 23 and the EEPROM 25 through the internal bus 31 and rewrites the data stored in these memories based on the received data stored in the buffer memory 15.
[0031]
The system controller 70, RISC-CPU 24, DSP 16 and the like connected via the internal bus 31 automatically read out the program and parameters rewritten in the flash memory 23 and the EEPROM 25, for example, when the electronic camera is turned on. By using the function, it is possible to add functions or change the configuration of the camera body.
[0032]
The rewrite processing unit 30 is connected to a processing control unit 19 that controls the rewrite processing by the rewrite processing unit 30. The process control unit 19 determines whether or not the shake detected by the shake detection unit 18 exceeds the allowable amount, and controls the rewrite processing unit 30 accordingly. For example, an acceleration sensor, a vertical / horizontal sensor, or the like is employed as the shake detection unit 18. The acceleration sensor detects the movement (blur) acceleration of the electronic camera body, and the vertical / horizontal sensor detects the posture change of the electronic camera body. If these exceed the allowable value, it is determined that the shake of the electronic camera body exceeds the allowable value. Alternatively, the shake detection unit 18 may be configured to detect shake by data calculation processing based on measurement data used in automatic exposure control, automatic focus control, or the like, or captured image data. In this case, when the electronic camera body and the subject are moving relatively, it is difficult to determine the shake.
[0033]
Now, when the electronic camera of this embodiment receives rewrite data such as a program and parameters from the memory card 20, the rewrite processing control according to the shake of the apparatus main body is described below as a first or second control. The operation is performed in any one of the operation modes.
[0034]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a first operation mode related to the rewriting process.
In the first operation mode, the process control unit 19 stops the rewriting process when the shake detected by the shake detection unit 18 exceeds the allowable value.
[0035]
First, the shake detection operation by the shake detection unit 18 is turned on (step S1), and then the process by the rewrite processing unit 30 is started (step S2).
Then, the process control unit 19 determines whether or not the shake amount of the electronic camera body detected by the shake detection unit 18 is within an allowable value (step S3). If the shake amount is within the allowable value, the end of the rewriting process is determined (step S4). If YES, the operation of the shake detection unit 18 is turned off (step S5), and the first operation mode is ended. On the other hand, when the rewriting process has not been completed yet (step S4 = No), the processes after step S3 are repeated.
[0036]
If it is determined in step S3 that the amount of vibration exceeds the allowable value, an alarm (warning) is displayed on the image display LCD 50 (step S6). And the process control part 19 stops the rewriting process by the rewriting process part 30 (step 7). Further, the program and parameters rewritten in the flash memory 23 and the EEPROM 25 are restored to the original data before the rewriting process (step S8).
[0037]
According to such a first operation mode, due to the shaking of the electronic camera body, for example, at the connection point C between the connector of the memory card 20 and the connector of the card slot 22 or at the connector connection point on the internal bus (not shown) Even when a momentary interruption occurs and a problem occurs in the data communication between the memory card 20 and the electronic camera body, the detection unit 18 detects the shake, and the processing control unit 19 responds accordingly. Since the rewriting process by 30 is stopped, there is no possibility that the flash memory 23 and the EEPROM 25 are rewritten by illegal data such as programs and parameters.
[0038]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a second operation mode related to the rewriting process.
In the second operation mode, the processing control unit 19 interrupts the rewriting process when the fluctuation detected by the fluctuation detection unit 18 exceeds the allowable value, and if the fluctuation falls within the allowable value within a predetermined time, The interrupted rewriting process is resumed.
[0039]
First, the shake detection operation by the shake detection unit 18 is turned on (step S11), and then the process by the rewrite processing unit 30 is started (step S12).
Then, the process control unit 19 determines whether or not the shake amount of the electronic camera body detected by the shake detection unit 18 is within an allowable value (step S13). If the amount of shake is within the allowable value, the end of the rewriting process is determined (step S14). If YES, the operation of the shake detector 18 is turned off (step S15), and the second operation mode is finished. On the other hand, when the rewriting process has not been completed yet (step S4 = No), the processes after step S13 are repeated.
[0040]
If it is determined in step S13 that the amount of shake exceeds the allowable value, an alarm is first displayed on the image display LCD 50 (step S16). Next, the process control unit 19 interrupts the rewrite process by the rewrite process unit 30 (step 17). Next, a timer (not shown) that times out when a predetermined time elapses is activated (step S17). Subsequently, until the timer times out in step S20, the determination of the shake amount in step S19 is repeated. If a time-out occurs in step S20, the rewriting process is stopped in step S21. Further, the program and parameters rewritten in the flash memory 23 and the EEPROM 25 are restored to the original data before the rewriting process (step S22). On the other hand, when the amount of fluctuation falls below the allowable value before the time-out in step S20, the rewriting process is resumed after step S13.
[0041]
According to such a second operation mode, the processing control unit 19 interrupts the rewrite processing by the rewrite processing unit 30 for a predetermined time in accordance with the shake detected by the detection unit 18, and if the shake falls during that time, the process is interrupted. The rewriting process that has been performed can be resumed.
[0042]
According to the electronic camera of the first embodiment described above, even if the electronic camera body is swayed, the rewriting process of the program and parameters to the electronic camera body based on the rewriting data from the memory card 20 is performed. It can be done safely.
[0043]
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the control device 200 and the external device 100 are connected via a communication cable 300. The control device 200 includes a power supply unit 201, a communication unit 202, a shake detection unit 203, a control unit 204, a storage unit 205, a main control unit 206, and a controlled unit 207. The power supply unit 201 is connected to the main body of the control device 200 via the connector 204 and supplies power to the main body of the control device 200.
[0044]
The external device 100 provides various data to the control device 200 by data communication via the communication path 300. In the case where the external device 100 is constituted by a memory card, for example, the communication path 300 is constituted by a card slot and a connector. When the external device 100 is configured by a personal computer and a USB interface, for example, the communication path 300 is configured by a USB cable.
[0045]
The communication unit 202 is a part that performs data communication with the external device 100 via the communication path 300. The communication unit 202 is controlled by the communication control unit 204 to control the communication operation according to the amount of shake detection of the apparatus main body. In addition, the communication unit 202 outputs data received from the external device 100 through data communication to the storage unit 205. A storage unit 205 is a buffer for temporarily storing data received by the communication unit 202 from the external device 100. The main control unit 206 controls the controlled unit 207 based on the data stored in the storage unit 205.
[0046]
In particular, in the present embodiment, the communication unit 202 receives programs and parameters from the external device 100. These programs and parameters are used for control operations by the main control unit 206.
[0047]
The shake detection unit 203 is a part that detects the amount of shake of the main body of the control device 200. For example, an acceleration sensor or a vertical / horizontal sensor is used.
[0048]
The communication operation control unit 204 controls the data communication operation performed by the communication unit 202 according to the amount of shake detected by the shake detection unit 203. More specifically, it controls communication control as described below.
[0049]
The control device 200 of the present embodiment has first and second operation modes related to communication control according to shake detection. First, in the first operation mode, the communication control unit 204 interrupts data communication when the fluctuation amount detected by the fluctuation detection unit 203 exceeds a predetermined amount, and stops when the fluctuation amount falls below the predetermined amount. The operation of the communication unit 202 is controlled to resume data communication. When a fluctuation amount exceeding a predetermined amount is detected, the fact is displayed on a display device (not shown) or a warning sound is emitted to notify the outside.
[0050]
In a more preferred embodiment, the shake amount detection operation by the shake detection unit 203 is configured to be linked to the data communication operation by the communication unit 202. Specifically, the shake detection unit 203 is activated upon the start of data communication, and the operation of detecting the shake amount is also ended in accordance with the end of data communication. Then, the operation burden on the control device 200 for the operation of detecting the amount of vibration is somewhat reduced.
[0051]
According to such a first operation mode, the fluctuation of the main body of the control device 200 causes, for example, an instant of Δt at a connection point C1 between the communication unit 200 and the communication path 300 or a connection point C2 between the power supply unit 201 and the power cable 208. Even when a disconnection occurs and a failure occurs in data communication between the main body of the control apparatus 200 and the external device 100, the shake detection unit 203 detects the shake, and the communication control unit 204 responds accordingly. Since the operation of the data communication by 202 is controlled as described above, it is possible to avoid the communication data received by the communication unit 202 from being illegal. Therefore, the reliability of data communication is improved, and the operation of the main control unit 206 that uses the data obtained by the data communication is stabilized.
[0052]
Next, a second operation mode related to communication control according to shake detection will be described. In the second operation mode, when the amount of shake detected by the shake detection unit 203 exceeds a predetermined amount during data communication by the communication unit 202, the correctness of the data received from the external device 100 is terminated. It will be verified later. That is, unlike the first operation mode described above, in the second operation mode, data communication is not interrupted even when the control apparatus is shaken.
[0053]
However, in the second mode, the data received from the external device 100 needs to be preliminarily added with information for verification, such as a checksum of about 32 bits, at the end thereof.
[0054]
When the amount of shake detected by the shake detection unit 203 exceeds a predetermined amount, a checksum is calculated based on the received data temporarily stored in the storage unit 205. Verification is performed by determining whether or not this checksum matches a checksum added in advance to the end of the received data.
If the checksums do not match, the received data is considered invalid and is discarded. At this time, the fact that the illegal data has been received is displayed on, for example, a display device (not shown), or a warning sound is emitted to notify the outside. This prompts the user to redo data reception.
[0055]
Even in the second operation mode, the reliability of the data communication is improved as in the first operation mode, and the operation of the main control unit 206 using the data obtained by the data communication is stabilized.
[0056]
According to the control device according to the second embodiment described above, it is possible to appropriately cope with an unstable communication state with an external device due to the fluctuation of the device.
[0057]
In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, In the implementation stage, it can change variously in the range which does not deviate from the summary. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, some constituent requirements may be deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention can provide a high electron camera reliability that can adequately deal with unstable state of communication with the external device due to shaking of the device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing storage areas of a flash memory and an EEPROM. FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a first operation mode related to rewrite processing. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a second operation mode related to rewrite processing. FIG. 6 is a second embodiment of the present invention. Block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the control device according to
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Shooting lens system 12 ... Imaging element 13 ... Imaging circuit 14 ... A / D
15 ... Buffer memory 16 ... DSP
17 ... Contrast detector 18 ... Shake detector 20 ... Memory card 21 ... Interface (I / F)
22 ... Card slot 23 ... Flash memory 24 ... RISC-CPU
25… EEPROM
30 ... Rewrite processing unit 31 ... Internal bus 40 ... Compression / decompression unit 50 ... Image display LCD
51 ... Video memory 52 ... Video output circuit 53 ... Video output terminal 60 ... External input / output terminal 61 ... External interface (I / F)
71 ... Strobe light emitting unit 72 ... Mode LCD
73 ... Operation unit 74 ... Photometry circuit 80 ... Power supply unit 81 ... Camera battery

Claims (7)

Connection means for connecting an external device;
A communication means for performing data communication with an external device connected via the connection means;
Detecting means for detecting the amount of shaking of the apparatus body;
Data by the communication means is interrupted when the fluctuation amount detected by the detection means exceeds a predetermined amount, and the communication data is resumed when the fluctuation amount falls below the predetermined amount. Communication operation control means for controlling the communication operation ,
Said communication means, said electronic camera, wherein that you receive programs and parameters from an external device by the data communication. The electronic camera according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying the outside that the amount of shaking exceeds a predetermined amount. A verification unit that verifies the correctness of the data received from the external device after the end of the data communication when the amount of fluctuation detected by the detection unit exceeds a predetermined amount during data communication by the communication unit; The electronic camera according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the data received based on the data communication includes a program and parameters relating to image capturing, recording, or reproduction. In an electronic camera that electronically captures a subject image captured from an optical system,
Storage means for storing data used for operation control of the electronic camera;
A communication means for communicating with an external device;
Rewrite processing means for receiving rewrite data by communication with an external device by the communication means, and rewriting data stored in the storage means;
Detection means for detecting the shaking of the electronic camera body;
When the fluctuation amount detected by the detection means is within a predetermined amount, the rewriting process is performed until the end, and when the fluctuation amount detected by the detection means exceeds the predetermined amount, the rewriting process is stopped. An electronic camera comprising: processing control means for controlling rewrite processing means . The electronic camera according to claim 5 , wherein the data is executed in an electronic camera body and includes an operation program related to photographing, recording, or reproduction of the subject image. Wherein the data is an electronic camera according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises a parameter used for adjustment of the optical system.

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