JP4796193B2 - Microscope camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify the arrangement of an image file to be performed by a camera body. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 201 gives an instruction to a memory reading/writing part 36, and makes removable media 35 record an image data file expressing a sample image obtained by using a microscope. When a power source switch provided to an operating part 30 is operated, and power supply to a digital camera for the microscope is started, the CPU 201 gives an instruction to a reading attribute setting part 74 to set read-only attributes to a data file already recorded in the removable media 35 when the power supply is started. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data management technique, and more particularly to a technique for managing a file of image data representing an observation image in a camera that captures the observation image with a microscope.

  In a digital camera for a microscope that captures an observation image with a microscope and generates image data representing the observation image, it is read and written by a computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) such as a flexible disk or a semiconductor memory card. Equipped with possible recording media. The image data of the observation image recorded on the recording medium is an image data file (for example, a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) method) that conforms to a data format for general-purpose images that can be displayed on a PC. Hereinafter, it is generally stored as “image file”).

  On the other hand, with the recent increase in the capacity of recording media, the number of images (number of image files) recorded on one recording medium has also increased, which may range from thousands to tens of thousands. Therefore, it is essential to be able to organize the image files already recorded on the recording medium with a digital camera for microscopes. For example, it is easy to delete all the image files in the recording medium with one operation. Digital cameras for microscopes that have a function that can be collectively deleted and a function that an observer designates and deletes unnecessary image files are generally popular. In addition, a hard disk device having a function of connecting a camera to a PC and performing camera control, image recording, playback operation, and the like on the PC and generally having a larger capacity than a recording medium detachable from the camera A digital camera for a PC-controlled microscope that records and saves an image file of a photographed image on a PC equipped with is widely used. In such a camera, in addition to the above-described file batch deletion function and designated image deletion function, the image file sorting function and a plurality of images specified by an observer are provided by the PC for general use. Various file operations such as file batch deletion function or file name change function are possible.

Various techniques have been proposed for such a data file organizing function.
For example, in Patent Document 1, an image file is recorded on a recording medium together with the recording date and time, an image with an old recording date and time is automatically deleted, and the remaining recording capacity of the recording medium is less than a set amount. A technology is disclosed in which the image with the oldest date and time is deleted so that the user does not have to perform file organization operations, and more images can be taken with a recording medium with a small recording capacity. Has been.

  Further, for example, Patent Document 2 has a setting file including user information so that only a file matching the selected user information can be accessed, so that even if the apparatus is shared, individual user preferences A technique for improving the usability by enabling the setting is disclosed.

  Further, for example, Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for improving file organizing performance by distinguishing music files and image files, and enabling them to be deleted one by one or collectively. Yes.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 4, in an electronic image device such as an electronic camera with a communication function for exchanging images with the outside, file transmission by a user is enabled by enabling batch deletion of transmitted images and received images. A technique is disclosed in which the operation is simplified.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 5, when an image is recorded by a camera, an identification code is also recorded, and the file recorded on the recording medium is the image file of the own camera, or other camera. It is possible to identify whether the file is created on a device such as a device when operating the image file on the camera, and when the observer deletes the image by operating the camera, the file created on the other device is deleted. Thus, a technique is disclosed in which an image created by another device is reliably protected.

  Further, for example, Patent Document 6 discloses a technique for preventing an image that is designated for printing from being erased and preventing an image that is to be printed later from being erased accidentally. .

JP-A-10-124353 JP 2002-24067 A JP 2002-176578 A JP 2002-369120 A Japanese Patent No. 3446524 JP 2003-196077 A

  Of the technologies listed above, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 may accidentally erase an image that has a recording date that is old, but it does not require an image in the recording medium. It is impossible to distinguish between images and necessary images at once.

Further, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, since a setting file must be prepared separately, the configuration of the apparatus becomes complicated.
Further, Patent Document 3 does not disclose that an observer sets the type of file to be distinguished.

The technique disclosed in Patent Document 4 is premised on transmitting and receiving image files.
In addition, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 5 deletes an image file that has been captured and recorded by another person when one camera is shared by a plurality of observers. It can happen.

In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 6, no consideration is given to an image that is not printed but is to be stored.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and a problem to be solved is to facilitate the organization of image files performed by the camera body.

  A microscope camera that is one aspect of the present invention is a microscope camera that records a sample image obtained by a microscope, and a recording control unit that records an image data file representing the sample image on a recording medium; A switch means for controlling the power supply to the microscope camera and a list of data files already recorded on the recording medium at the start time when the power supply is started by the switch means Included in the list of the data file recording on the recording medium when the list creating means to delete, the deleting means to delete the recording of the data file on the recording medium, and the instruction to delete the recording of the data file are acquired Deletion control means for causing the deletion means to delete only records of data files that have not been deleted. The which is characterized, to solve the problems described above by this feature.

  The above-described microscope camera according to the present invention further includes display means for reproducing and displaying the image represented by the image data file, and the list creating means includes the display means in the data file. The list may be created only for the image data file representing the images that can be displayed.

  In addition, the microscope camera according to the present invention described above may further include a control unit that controls the operation of the microscope camera based on a control signal transmitted from another device.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that the image file can be easily organized as described above.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the observation system containing the digital camera for microscopes which implements this invention. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of a camera head part. It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure of an operation part. It is a figure which shows the electrical structure of the operation part. It is a figure which shows the structure of a display site | part. It is the figure which showed the processing content of the control processing performed by CPU with the flowchart. It is the figure which showed the processing content of the image reproduction process with the flowchart. It is a figure which shows the example of a deletion execution instruction confirmation screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a deletion execution prohibition notification screen. It is a figure which shows the change part in Example 2 in the control processing of FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a changed part in the second embodiment in the image reproduction process of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of an operation site 4 in Example 3, Example 7, and Example 8. It is a figure which shows the example of a file information list. It is a figure which shows the change part in Example 3 in the control processing of FIG. It is the figure which showed the processing content of the control processing at the time of a power supply off with the flowchart. It is a figure which shows the change part in the modification of Example 3 in the control processing of FIG. It is a figure which shows the change part in the modification of Example 3 in the control process at the time of the power-off of FIG. 12B. It is a figure which shows the electrical structure of the operation part in Example 4 and Example 6. FIG. It is a figure which shows the change part in the modification of Example 5 in the control processing of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a read-only attribute setting selection screen. This is a control process for formatting a removable medium. It is a figure which shows the change part in the modification of Example 6 in the control processing of FIG. 16A. It is a figure which shows the example of a format cancellation alerting | reporting screen. It is a figure which shows the change part in Example 7 in the control processing of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a changed portion (No. 1) in the embodiment 7 in the image reproduction processing of FIG. 6. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a changed portion (No. 2) in the embodiment 7 in the image reproduction processing of FIG. 6. It is a figure which shows the example of the existing image deletion execution instruction confirmation screen. It is a figure which shows the example of an all deletion execution instruction confirmation screen. It is a figure which shows the change part in Example 8 in the control processing of FIG. 18A. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of an operation part in Example 9. It is a figure which shows the example of data of ID file. It is a figure which shows the change part in Example 9 in the control processing of FIG. It is a figure which shows the electrical structure of the operation part in Example 10. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an observation system including a digital camera for a microscope embodying the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a digital camera 3 for a microscope is composed of a camera head unit 2 and an operation display unit 6 that is a separate structure. Are arranged on the optical axis 53 of the light representing the image (specimen image) of the specimen 50.

  The microscope main body 1 has a stage 51 on which the specimen 50 is placed, an objective lens 52 for observing the specimen 50, and light from the microscope main body 1 formed as a specimen image for an observer to peek at. An eyepiece lens 54, an imaging lens 55 that forms the light as a sample image in the light receiving unit of the camera head unit 2, a half mirror 56 that mainly guides a part of the light traveling on the optical axis 53 to the eyepiece lens 54, and the like. It is configured.

FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the camera head unit 2.
As shown in the figure, the camera head unit 2 photoelectrically converts a sample image formed on the light receiving surface, and samples an electrical signal output from the photoelectric conversion element 20 at regular time intervals. A sampling circuit 21 that performs conversion, an A / D (analog-digital) converter 22 that converts a sampling signal that is an analog electrical signal into digital data, and an image processing unit that generates an image of the sample 50 based on the converted digital data 23. Here, for example, a CCD (charge coupled device) is used as the photoelectric conversion element 20. As shown in FIG. 1, a shutter 25 is provided between the microscope main body 1 and the camera head unit 2 to block light reaching the light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion element 20 at a desired time. The shutter 25 may be a mechanical shutter that mechanically blocks light, but instead, an electronic shutter that blocks light according to an electrical signal may be used.

  Returning to the description of FIG. The camera head unit 2 and the operation display unit 6 are connected by a cable 7 and can exchange electric signals with each other. The operation display unit 6 is connected to the camera head unit 2 within the range allowed by the length of the cable 7. Can be installed remotely.

  The operation display unit 6 displays an operation part 4 where various operations are performed by an observer for an operation control instruction to the camera head part 2, and a display part that displays a specimen image of the specimen 50 guided to the camera head part 2. And 5 are integrally provided. The display part 5 also has a function of displaying the setting status of various imaging conditions performed by operating the operation part 4.

  The operation part 4 and the display part 5 are fixed at a constant angle. For example, when the operation display unit 6 is installed on a desk, the operation part 4 is almost horizontal with the desk surface, and the display part 5 is an angle that is easy for the observer to operate within the range of 0 ° to 90 °, for example, about 90 °. It has become. In addition, the display part 5 is in a state of 0 ° with respect to the desk surface, the operation part 4 and the display part 5 are in a horizontal state, that is, various switches provided in the operation part 4 and the display provided in the display part 5. This means that the panel is arranged on the same plane.

FIG. 3A shows an external configuration of the operation site 4.
The operation part 4 has a power switch 71 for instructing power supply to each part of the microscope digital camera 3 and an operation mode for the observer to switch the operation mode of the microscope digital camera 3 to perform an imaging operation. A mode switch 32 for selecting at least one of two modes of “imaging operation mode” or “reproduction mode” for reproducing a recorded photographed image, and a correction value in exposure correction performed at the time of photographing a sample image Various corrections for the camera head unit 2 and the display part 5, the exposure correction switch 33 for setting the image, the one-image deletion switch 72 and the all-deletion switch 73 for erasing the recorded observation image in the reproduction mode Operation control switches such as a shutter switch 31 and a left selection switch 61 or a right selection switch 62 for instructing an operation are provided. Cage further memory device 34 is provided for storing the captured image.

  The memory device 34 has a memory read / write unit 36 that can write and read a photographed image to and from a removable removable medium 35 such as a flexible disk widely used in a PC or the like.

FIG. 3B shows an electrical configuration of the operation site 4 in the present embodiment.
In the figure, the operation unit 30 includes various switches shown in FIG. 3A. Various operations performed on the operation unit 30 by the observer include a central processing unit, a ROM storing a program for causing the central processing unit to perform various control processes described later, and the central processing unit execute the program. It is analyzed and processed by a control processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 201 including a RAM used as a working storage area for execution.

  For example, when an image or the like is displayed on the display part 5, when the CPU 201 performs a process of writing display data to the display RAM 200, the display part 5 performs display based on the data. Further, in the control relating to shooting, the CPU 201 generates a predetermined control signal for giving the camera head unit 2 an instruction related to shooting associated with the operation on the operation unit 30, and connects the cable 7 from the camera head connector 203. When the process of sending to the camera head unit 2 is performed, the operation of the camera head unit 2 (including the shutter 25) is controlled by the instruction. When recording digital image data sent from the image processing unit 23 of the camera head unit 2 via the cable 7 to the removable medium 35 as a recording medium, the CPU 201 stores the image data in a predetermined file format. Then, the process of sending to the memory read / write unit 36 is performed. In the present embodiment, data files in the removable medium 35 are managed using a well-known MS-DOS (registered trademark) FAT (File Allocation Table) file system.

  Between the memory device 34 and the CPU 201, a recording number detection unit 64 that detects the number of image files recorded on the removable medium 35, and a read-only attribute (the file) for the files recorded on the removable medium 35 And a read attribute setting unit 74 for setting an attribute that prohibits addition, change, and deletion operations on data included in the data.

Next, FIG. 4 will be described. The figure shows the structure of the display part 5.
The display part 5 includes an image display panel 41 for displaying a captured image and a reproduced image of the image stored in the memory device 34, photographing information such as exposure time and exposure correction at the time of photographing, and image file name at the time of reproduction. An information display panel 42 for displaying reproduction information such as the above is provided. Further, a D / A (digital--) which converts image data, which is a digital signal, into an analog electric signal necessary for displaying an image represented by data stored in the display RAM 200 of the operation part 4. An analog) converter 24 is provided.

  Next, FIG. 5 will be described. This figure shows the processing contents of the control processing performed by the CPU 201 in a flowchart. When the power switch 71 is turned on and the supply of power to each part of the microscope digital camera 3 is started, the CPU 201 first reads and starts executing the above-described program, and the control processing shown in FIG. To do.

  First, in S101, an instruction is given to the recording number detection unit 64 to detect the number of images recorded on the removable medium 35 (the total number of image files), and in S102, the read attribute setting unit 74 is detected. The process of setting the read-only attribute for that number of image files, that is, for all the image files in the removable medium 35, by rewriting the file attribute of the directory entry in the removable medium 35 by giving an instruction to Done.

  The file once set to the read-only attribute in this way is not only used when the file is operated on the microscope digital camera 3, but also on the removable medium 35 taken out from the microscope digital camera 3 as a data reading device (for example, a flexible disk is flexible. Even if a file operation is performed on a PC or the like by inserting it into the disk drive), the read-only attribute is recognized as valid. Therefore, unless the processing for canceling the attribute is performed, file deletion or modification, etc. Editing operations are not accepted.

  Next, in S <b> 103, processing is performed to determine what is the operation mode of the microscope digital camera 3 currently selected by the mode switch 32. If the shooting mode is selected, the process proceeds to S104. If the reproduction mode is selected, the process proceeds to S113.

  In S104, a sample image display process is performed. This process is a process in which the image of the specimen 50 currently being captured by the microscope digital camera 3 is displayed on the image display panel 41 as it is under the control of the CPU 201. More specifically, when a sample image from the microscope main body 1 is imaged on the photoelectric conversion element 20 through the imaging lens 55, the sample image is converted into an electrical signal. The electrical signal is sampled by the sampling circuit 21 every unit time and then converted into digital data by the A / D converter 22. After that, the image processing unit 23 performs predetermined image processing on the digital data, thereby generating image data for an image representing the specimen 50. When the generated image data is sent from the camera head unit 2 to the operation display unit 6 via the cable 7, the CPU 201 stores the image data in the display RAM 200. The stored image data is read from the display part 5, converted into an image signal that is an analog signal by the D / A converter 24, and then input to the image display panel 41, whereby the image of the specimen 50 is converted into an image. Displayed on the display panel 41. A process for causing each part of the microscope digital camera 3 to perform the above process is a sample image display process.

In S <b> 105, processing is performed to determine what is the photographing mode of the microscope digital camera 3 currently selected by the mode switch 32.
In the present embodiment, the photographing mode of the microscope digital camera 3 is further provided with at least two operation modes of “observation state” and “under photographing state”. In the “observation state” mode, the image of the specimen image is displayed by sequentially displaying on the image display panel 41 while repeatedly taking images of the specimen 50 with the shutter 25 opened (may be opened and closed at regular time intervals). In the “photographing state” mode, the sample image at the moment when the shutter switch 31 is pressed is displayed as a still image on the image display panel 41 and the sample image is displayed. The image file is recorded on the removable medium 35.

  In the process of S105, if it is determined that the “observation state” mode is selected, the process proceeds to S106, and if it is determined that the “photographing state” mode is selected, the process proceeds to S108.

In S106, the sample image display process similar to S104 described above is performed.
In S107, a process for determining whether or not an instruction to switch the microscope digital camera 3 to another operation mode is detected by operating the mode switch 32 is performed. Here, when the instruction operation is detected (when the determination result is Yes), the process returns to S103 and the above-described process is repeated. On the other hand, when the operation instruction is not detected (when the determination result is No), the process returns to S106 and the above-described sample image display process is performed again. By repeatedly performing this sample image display process, dynamic display of the sample image on the image display panel 41 is realized.

  In S108, processing for determining whether or not a pressing operation on the shutter switch 31 is detected is performed. Here, when the pressing operation is detected (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S109. When the pressing operation is not detected (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S112.

In S109, the shutter 25 is controlled to be opened for a predetermined exposure time set in advance.
In S110, the image represented by the electrical signal output from the photoelectric conversion element 20 during the period in which the shutter 25 was opened by the processing in the previous step is displayed on the image display panel 41 in the same manner as the sample image display processing. Processing to display is performed. At this time, processing for displaying the setting state of the exposure time and shooting information such as exposure correction performed in the shooting on the information display panel 42 is also performed.

  In S111, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36, and an image file for the image displayed on the image display panel 41 by the process of the previous step is recorded on the removable medium 35. In this recording process, the read-only attribute is not set for the image file to be recorded.

  In S112, a process for determining whether or not an instruction to switch the microscope digital camera 3 to another operation mode is detected by operating the mode switch 32 is performed. Here, when the instruction operation is detected (when the determination result is Yes), the process returns to S103 and the above-described process is repeated. On the other hand, when the operation instruction is not detected (when the determination result is No), the process returns to S108 and the process of detecting the pressing operation on the shutter switch 31 is performed again.

  By the way, if it is determined in S103 described above that the playback mode is selected, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36 in S113, and a predetermined image file recorded on the removable medium 35, Here, a process of reading the first image file among the ordered image files is performed.

  In S114, an image reproduction process is performed. This process is a process for displaying an image represented by an image file recorded on the removable medium 35 on the image display panel 41, and details thereof will be described later.

  In S115, a process for determining whether or not an instruction to switch the microscope digital camera 3 to another operation mode is detected by operating the mode switch 32 is performed. Here, when the instruction operation is detected (when the determination result is Yes), the process returns to S103 and the above-described process is repeated. On the other hand, when the operation instruction is not detected (when the determination result is No), the process returns to S114 and the image reproduction process is performed again.

The process so far is the process of FIG.
Next, FIG. 6 will be described. This figure shows the processing contents of the image reproduction process, which is the process of S114 of FIG. 5, in a flowchart.

  First, in S121, it is determined whether the image file to be read exists in the removable medium 35 in the process of reading the image file from the removable medium 35 executed most recently, for example, the process in S113 of FIG. Processing is performed. If the image file exists (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S123. On the other hand, when the image file does not exist (when the determination result is No), a screen for notifying the observer that the image file does not exist in the removable medium 35 is displayed on the image display panel 41 in S122. Processing for displaying time is performed, and thereafter, the image reproduction processing is terminated and the processing returns to the processing in FIG.

  In S123, a process of displaying on the image display panel 41 an image represented by the image file read by the process of reading the image file from the removable medium 35 executed most recently is performed. That is, image data stored in a predetermined format is extracted from the image file, stored in the RAM 200 in a predetermined format, and the image data is read out to the display portion 5 and is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 24. The image signal is converted into an image signal and then input to the image display panel 41 to display the image on the image display panel 41.

  In S124, processing for determining whether or not a pressing operation on the right selection switch 62 has been detected is performed. Here, when the pressing operation is detected (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S125, and when the pressing operation is not detected (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S126.

  In S125, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36, and among the image files recorded on the removable medium 35, an image file in which the order immediately after the image currently displayed on the image display panel 41 is given. A reading process is performed, and thereafter, the image reproduction process is terminated and the process returns to the process of FIG.

  In S126, a process for determining whether or not a pressing operation on the left selection switch 61 is detected is performed. Here, when the pressing operation is detected (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S127. When the pressing operation is not detected (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S128.

  In S127, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36, and among the image files recorded on the removable medium 35, an image file assigned with the immediately preceding order for the image currently displayed on the image display panel 41 is selected. A reading process is performed, and thereafter, the image reproduction process is terminated and the process returns to the process of FIG.

  In the processes from S124 to S127 described above, the display on the image display panel 41 of the image recorded on the removable medium 35 is sequentially switched according to the operation on the left selection switch 61 or the right selection switch 62. It is processing of. Here, when an instruction to display the image immediately after the image to which the last order is assigned is received by an operation on the right selection switch 62, the image to which the first order is assigned is displayed instead. Alternatively, when an instruction to display the image in the immediately preceding order following the image to which the first order is assigned is received by an operation on the left selection switch 61, the image in which the last order is assigned instead. May be displayed.

  In S128, processing for determining whether or not a pressing operation on the single-sheet deletion switch 72 has been detected is performed. Here, when the pressing operation is detected (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S129. When the pressing operation is not detected (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S136.

  In the subsequent processing from S129 to S135, the image file of the image currently displayed on the image display panel 41 is deleted from the removable medium 35. If the read-only attribute is set for this image file, The image file is not deleted.

  In S129, a process for determining whether or not the read-only attribute is set for the image file of the image currently displayed on the image display panel 41 is performed. When the attribute is not set (determination result) Is Yes), the process proceeds to S130, and when the attribute is set (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S134.

  In S130, a process of superimposing and displaying a deletion execution instruction confirmation screen as illustrated in FIG. 7 is performed on the image display panel 41. In S131, what is the instruction given by the observer according to the displayed screen? A process for determining is performed.

  In the process of S131, when it is determined that an instruction to execute deletion is issued by pressing the left selection switch 61, the process proceeds to S132, and the image file of the image currently displayed on the image display panel 41 is deleted from the removable medium 35. In the subsequent S133, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36, and among the image files recorded on the removable medium 35, an image file assigned the order immediately after the deleted one is read. After that, the image reproduction process is terminated and the process returns to the process of FIG. On the other hand, in the process of S131, when it is determined that an instruction to cancel the deletion execution by pressing the right selection switch 62 is issued, the process proceeds to S135.

  In S134, the deletion execution prohibition notification as illustrated in FIG. 8 is a screen for notifying the observer that the read-only attribute is set for the image file of the image currently displayed on the image display panel 41. A process of superimposing and displaying the screen on the image display panel 41 for a predetermined time is performed. In this process, the image file of the image currently displayed on the image display panel 41, that is, the image file set with the read-only attribute is not naturally deleted.

  In S135, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36 to read the image file of the image currently displayed on the image display panel 41. Thereafter, the image reproduction process is terminated and the process returns to the process of FIG. .

  In S136, processing for determining whether or not a pressing operation on the all deletion switch 73 is detected is performed. Here, when the pressing operation is detected (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S137, and when the pressing operation is not detected (when the determination result is No), the image reproduction process ends. Then, the process returns to the process of FIG.

  In S137, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36, and a process of extracting an image file that is not set with a read-only attribute from among the image files recorded on the removable medium 35 is performed. In S138, the image file is extracted. A process of deleting all image files from the removable medium 35 is performed. Therefore, the image file having the read-only attribute is left on the removable medium 35 without being deleted.

  In S139, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36, and a process of reading the image file given the first order among the image files recorded on the removable medium 35 is performed. Thereafter, the image reproduction process is performed. End and return to the process of FIG.

The process so far is the image reproduction process.
When the CPU 201 performs the above-described processing of FIGS. 5 and 6, the management of the image file on the removable medium 35 can be performed by the microscope digital camera 3.

The above-described digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment has the following effects.
First, when the power switch 71 is turned on and the supply of power to each part of the microscope digital camera 3 is started, the read-only attribute is set for all image files recorded on the removable medium 35 at that time. Since it is automatically set, the image recorded on the removable medium 35 at the time of starting the power supply is not accidentally erased. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of setting the read-only attribute in the image file individually by the observer and improve the operability. For example, when one removable medium 35 is shared by many people, another person has taken and recorded it before. You can share the image without worrying about accidentally erasing it. Also, even if the removable media 35 owned by the user is lent to another person, it is safe because the image is not accidentally deleted by another person.

  Furthermore, when a large number of images are recorded in the recording medium, if the all deletion function of the digital camera 3 for a microscope is used, only newly recorded images can be deleted after the power supply is started most recently. , Image file organization becomes easy.

  In this embodiment, instead of the removable medium 35, for example, a fixed recording medium such as a hard disk device or a semiconductor memory may be installed in the memory device 34, and an image may be recorded using such a recording medium. . By doing so, a mechanism for attaching and detaching the removable medium 35 becomes unnecessary, and thus the entire microscope digital camera 3 is simplified and miniaturized.

  In this embodiment, in the observation system including the microscope digital camera 3 shown in FIG. 1, when the power switch 71 is turned on and the supply of power to each part of the microscope digital camera 3 is started, Among the data files recorded on the removable medium 35, the read-only attribute is set only for the image file that can be displayed as an image on the image display panel 41.

  The first embodiment is based on the premise that only the image file is recorded in the removable medium 35. On the other hand, for example, when the observer saves a memo or the like as a text file in the removable medium 35, such a data file is displayed as an image on the image display panel 41 of the microscope digital camera 3. Never happen. Therefore, the read attribute is not set for such a file at the start of power supply. For this purpose, the CPU 201 is caused to perform the process shown in FIG. 9A instead of the process of S102 of FIG.

The process of FIG. 9A will be described.
In S201 following the process of S101 in FIG. 5, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36, and among the data files recorded on the removable medium 35, an extension indicating that the stored data is image data. Extract all the data files given to the file name (for example, data files with the extension “jpg” indicating that the image file is in the data format conforming to the above-mentioned JPEG format). Processing is performed.

  In S202, an instruction is given to the read attribute setting unit 74 to rewrite the file attribute of the directory entry in the removable medium 35, and a process of setting a read-only attribute for the image file extracted by the process of the previous step is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S103 in FIG.

  In this embodiment, when a pressing operation on the all deletion switch 73 is detected, an image can be displayed as an image on the image display panel 41 of the microscope digital camera 3 among the data files recorded on the removable medium 35. All image files that are not read-only attributes are deleted. Specifically, the processing of S211 shown in FIG. 9B is inserted between the processing of S136 and S137 of FIG.

  The processing in S211 is the same processing as in S201 in FIG. 9A described above, gives an instruction to the memory read / write unit 36, and among the data files recorded on the removable medium 35, the stored data is image data. This is a process of extracting all the data files having the file name with the extension indicating that the Then, in the process of S137 in FIG. 6 following this process, a process for extracting an image file with no read-only attribute set from the image file extracted by the process of S211 is performed. By doing so, there is no possibility that data files already recorded on the removable medium 35 at the time of starting power supply, including those that do not represent images such as text files, will be deleted.

  The microscope digital camera 3 of the present embodiment described above sets the read attribute only for the image file that can be displayed by the microscope digital camera 3 itself among the data files recorded in the removable medium 35. Attribute setting work is reduced. As a result, for example, even if the removable medium 35 has a large capacity and a large amount of data files are stored, the processing amount of the read attribute setting process is reduced. Takes less time.

  In this embodiment, in the observation system including the microscope digital camera 3 shown in FIG. 1, when the power switch 71 is turned on and the supply of power to each part of the microscope digital camera 3 is started, the removable media 35, the file attribute of the directory entry in the directory 35 is rewritten, a list for managing whether each image file is read-only is created and held in the RAM of the CPU 201, and whether or not the image file can be deleted is determined. Judgment is made based on the list.

FIG. 10 shows an electrical configuration of the operation site 4 in the present embodiment. In the figure, the same components as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.
The difference between the electrical configuration of the operation part 4 in the present embodiment and that in the first embodiment is that a file information list generation unit 100 is added between the CPU 201 and the recording number detection unit 64.

  The file information list generation unit 100 generates a list of all image files recorded on the removable medium 35 when the power switch 71 is turned on and the supply of power to each unit of the microscope digital camera 3 is started. And stored in the RAM in the CPU 201. Then, when the digital camera for microscope 3 deletes the image file, it is determined whether or not the read attribute is set for each image file based on the file.

An example of the file information list generated by the file information list generation unit 100 is shown in FIG.
In the list shown in the figure, “ID” (identifier), which is a number individually assigned to each data file, “file name” of the data file, and “attribute” given to the data file are associated with each other. ing. Here, when the read-only attribute is set in the data file, the “attribute” in this list is set to “1”, and when the read-only attribute is not set (can be deleted), the “attribute” in this list. Is set to “0”. In the figure, for example, the file name of the data file whose ID is “1” is “Pic001.jpg”, and the attribute is “1”. Therefore, the read-only attribute is set for this data file. I understand that

  Since all the “attribute” fields in the list of FIG. 11 are “1”, it can be seen that the read-only attribute is set for all the data files shown in this list.

  Next, FIG. 12A will be described. The process shown in the figure is a control process for generating a file information list. This process is inserted between the process of S102 and the process of S103 in FIG.

  In S301 following S102 in FIG. 5, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36 to read out all file names of data files recorded on the removable medium 35.

  In S302, an instruction is given to the file information list generation unit 100, and a process of generating a file information list by associating individual IDs with each file name acquired by the process of the previous step is performed. The created file information list is held in the RAM in the CPU 201.

  In S303, all the “attribute” fields in the file information list held in the RAM in the CPU 201 are set to “1”, and all data files whose file names are shown in the list are displayed on the list. Processing for setting a read-only attribute is performed. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to S103 in FIG. 5 and the subsequent processing is executed to rewrite the file attribute of the directory entry in the removable medium 35 and set the read-only attribute for all the image files in the removable medium 35. Processing is performed. Thereby, the read-only attributes in the removable medium 35 and the file information list match.

  In the subsequent processing, the sample image recording process performed in response to the pressing operation on the shutter switch 31 records the image file on the removable medium 35, but does not perform any data operation on the file information list. . Therefore, the file information list is not updated after the processing of FIG. 12A is performed.

  Next, FIG. 12B will be described. This figure is a flowchart showing the contents of the power-off control process that is performed when the CPU 201 detects that the power switch 71 is turned off.

  First, in S311, processing for referring to the file information list held in the RAM in the CPU 201 is performed, and in subsequent S312, the data file whose “attribute” is set to “1” on the list, that is, A process for canceling the read-only attribute in the removable medium 35 for the data file for which the read-only attribute is set on the list is made possible to be deleted.

  In S313, various processes for cutting off the supply of power to each unit of the microscope digital camera 3 are performed, and thereafter, the process of FIG. 12B ends. Here, in this embodiment, since the file information list is held in the RAM in the CPU 201, the file information list disappears when power supply is cut off.

  The above processing is the control processing when the power is off. After this processing, when the removable media 35 is taken out from the digital camera 3 for a microscope and inserted into a data reading device (for example, a flexible disk drive for a flexible disk) and a file operation such as data file deletion or data writing is performed on a PC or the like. Since the read-only attribute for each data file in the removable medium 35 is cancelled, the file operation on the PC or the like is possible.

  The above-described digital camera 3 for a microscope according to the present embodiment is adapted to each data file recorded on the removable medium 35 at the start of power supply to each part of the digital camera 3 for a microscope (when the power switch 71 is turned on). The read-only attribute set in the above is canceled at the end of the power supply (when the power switch 71 is turned off), so that when the removable medium 35 is used in another device such as a PC, the data file is read. There is no need to change attribute settings, further improving operability.

In this embodiment, the CPU 201 may be caused to insert the process of FIG. 12C between the process of S111 and the process of S112 of FIG.
12C, after the image file is recorded on the removable medium 35 by the process of S111 of FIG. 5, the file name of the recorded image file is added to the file information list in S321, and the file information A process for assigning individual IDs to the file names on the list is performed. In the subsequent S322, a process is performed in which the “attribute” corresponding to the file name added on the file information list is set to “0” and the read-only attribute is not set (can be deleted), and thereafter, the process shown in FIG. The process proceeds to S112.

  By causing the CPU 201 to perform the processing of FIG. 12C, it becomes possible to manage the data file recorded on the removable medium 35 using the file information list, and the management becomes easy.

  Further, the CPU 201 is caused to perform the processing of FIG. 12C, and the processing of S312 of FIG. 12B is replaced with the processing of S331 of FIG. 12D, that is, data in which “attribute” is set to “0” on the file information list. It is also possible to perform a process of canceling the read-only attribute in the removable medium 35 for a file, that is, a data file for which the read-only attribute is not set on the list, so that the file can be deleted.

  In this case, for example, when the microscope digital camera 3 provides a function that allows the observer to set a read-only attribute for each data file, the observer uses the function to read-only. The data file set in the attribute is recorded in the removable medium 35 when the power switch 71 is turned on by causing the CPU 201 to perform processing for setting the “attribute” corresponding to the data file to 1 on the file information list. The read-only attribute in the removable medium 35 is reflected when the power switch 71 is turned off for the data file set as the read-only attribute by the observer together with each data file that has been stored. It is maintained even after the end of power supply.

In the present embodiment, the file information list can be stored on the removable medium 35 instead of being stored in the RAM in the CPU 201.
In this case, for example, even if an observer who has a plurality of removable media 35 performs observation and photographing operations while frequently changing the media, the file information described in the file information list and the actual removable media Since the relationship with the data file recorded in 35 always matches and does not contradict, the power switch 71 is operated every time the removable medium 35 is replaced to turn on / off the power of the digital camera 3 for microscope. There is no need.

  In this embodiment, in the observation system including the microscope digital camera 3, the read-only attribute is set for the data file recorded on the removable medium 35 when the removable medium 35 is inserted into the microscope digital camera 3. That's it.

  FIG. 13 shows an electrical configuration of the operation site 4 in this embodiment. In the figure, the same components as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3B are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The difference between the electrical configuration of the operation part 4 in the present embodiment and that in the first embodiment is that a media detector 101 is provided in the memory device 34.
The media detector 101 detects whether or not the removable media 35 exists in the memory device 34. When the media detector 101 detects the insertion of the removable medium 35, the detection result is transmitted to the CPU 201. The CPU 201 constantly monitors the media detector 101, and starts executing the control process shown in FIG. 5 every time the detection result is acquired from the media detector 101. As a result, the read-only attribute is set for the data file recorded on the removable medium 35 when the removable medium 35 is inserted into the microscope digital camera 3.

  In the above-described microscope digital camera 3 according to the present embodiment, the read-only attribute is set for the data file in the removable medium 35 in accordance with the insertion of the removable medium 35, so that the power switch 71 is turned on. Even if the removable medium 35 is replaced while the digital camera 3 for microscope is operating, the read-only attribute is immediately set for the data file already recorded on the removable medium 35 after replacement. There is no worry that this data file will be deleted by mistake, and the management of the data file becomes easy.

  In this embodiment, in the observation system including the microscope digital camera 3 shown in FIG. 1, when the supply of power to each part of the microscope digital camera 3 is started, it is recorded on the removable medium 35 at that time. An observer can select whether or not to set a read-only attribute for a data file.

  FIG. 14 will be described. The process shown in the figure is a control process for allowing an observer to select whether or not to set a read-only attribute. When the power switch 71 is turned on and the supply of power to each part of the microscope digital camera 3 is started, the CPU 201 performs the process shown in FIG. 14 instead of the control process shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 14, first, in S501, a process of superimposing a read-only attribute setting selection screen as illustrated in FIG. 15 on the image display panel 41 is performed, and in subsequent S502, an observer is displayed according to the displayed screen. A process is performed to determine what the instruction given by is.

  In the process of S502, when it is determined that the read-only attribute setting has been selected by pressing the left selection switch 61, the process proceeds to S101 in FIG. 5, and the data file recorded on the removable medium 35 at that time is stored. On the other hand, processing for setting the read-only attribute is started. On the other hand, when it is determined in the process of S502 that the selection of not setting the read-only attribute is made by pressing the right selection switch 62, the process proceeds to S103 in FIG. 5 and the process of setting the read-only attribute is executed. Without proceeding, the process of FIG.

  In the above-described microscope digital camera 3 according to the present embodiment, the observer can select to cancel the read attribute setting function automatically performed by the microscope digital camera 3. For example, one observer can use one removable medium. If you do not need to set a read-only attribute, as in the case of continuing to use the 35, by canceling the function, the observer's observation work will not be hindered, eliminating the annoyance felt by the observer To do.

  In the observation system of FIG. 1 including the digital camera 3 for a microscope having the electrical configuration of the operation site 4 shown in FIG. 13, when it is acquired from the media detector 101 that the insertion of the removable media 35 has been detected, When the CPU 201 starts executing the process shown in FIG. 14 instead of the control process shown in FIG. 5 and the removable medium 35 is inserted into the digital camera 3 for a microscope, the removable medium 35 at that time is inserted. The observer may be able to select whether or not to set the read-only attribute for the data file recorded in

  This embodiment is a case where the microscope digital camera 3 provides a format (medium initialization) function for the removable medium 35 in the observation system including the microscope digital camera 3 shown in FIG. Thus, when a data file having a read-only attribute set exists in the removable medium 35, formatting is not executed.

  FIG. 16A will be described. The process shown in the figure is a control process performed by the CPU 201 to format the removable medium 35. This process is started when the observer operates the operation part 4 to give a format execution instruction to the digital camera 3 for a microscope.

  First, in step S601, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36 to search the removable medium 35 for a data file in which the read-only attribute is set, and in step S602, data in which the read-only attribute is set. Processing for determining whether or not the file exists is performed. Here, when it is determined that there is a data file with the read-only attribute set (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S603, and there is no data file with the read-only attribute set. When it is determined (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S604.

  In step S603, a process for notifying that the designated format is not executed by superimposing the format cancellation notification screen as illustrated in FIG. 17 on the image display panel 41 is performed, and thereafter, the format for the removable medium 35 is executed. The process of FIG. 16A is terminated without doing so.

In step S604, a process for formatting the removable medium 35 is performed, and thereafter, the process of FIG. 16A ends.
In the microscope digital camera 3 of this embodiment described above, when the read-only attribute is set for the data file recorded on the removable medium 35 at the start of power supply to each part of the microscope digital camera 3 or the like. Since the formatting function for the removable media 35 by the microscope digital camera 3 is disabled, the removable media 35 is not formatted even though there is a data file with the read attribute set. As a result, the convenience of file organization is further improved.

  In this embodiment, when a data file having a read-only attribute is present in the removable medium 35, the observer can select whether or not to format the removable medium 35. May be. For that purpose, when the determination result of S602 in FIG. 16A is Yes, the process of FIG. 16B may be executed instead of the process of S603.

  The process of FIG. 16B will be described. First, in S611, a process for superimposing and displaying on the image display panel 41 a screen for requesting the observer to select whether or not to permit formatting is performed. In S612, the process continues. A process is performed to determine what the instruction given by the observer was in accordance with the displayed screen.

  In this processing of S612, when it is determined that an instruction to permit the execution of formatting has been made by an operation on the operation part 4, a processing of executing formatting for the removable medium 35 is performed in S613, and thereafter the processing of FIG. 16B is performed. finish. On the other hand, when it is determined in the processing of S612 that an instruction not to permit (cancel) the execution of formatting is given by an operation on the operation part 4, the processing of FIG. 16B is terminated without executing the formatting of the removable medium 35. To do.

  In this way, even if a data file having a read-only attribute is present in the removable medium 35, if the observer determines that the data file is unnecessary, the format of the removable medium 35 is changed. Execution becomes possible.

  In this embodiment, in the observation system of FIG. 1 including the microscope digital camera 3 having the electrical configuration of the operation part 4 shown in FIG. 10, the power switch 71 is turned to the on side to each part of the microscope digital camera 3. When power supply is started, a list for managing whether or not each image file is read-only, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 11, is created and stored in the RAM of the CPU 201. This is the same as in the third embodiment in that whether to delete the file is determined based on the list, but the file attribute in the removable medium 35 is not rewritten at the start of power supply.

  FIG. 18A will be described. The process shown in the figure is a control process for creating the file information list illustrated in FIG. 8 without rewriting the file attributes in the removable medium 35. When the power switch 71 is turned on and the supply of power to each part of the microscope digital camera 3 is started, the CPU 201 performs the process shown in FIG. 18A instead of the control process shown in FIG.

In step S <b> 701, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36 to read out all file names of data files recorded on the removable medium 35.
In S <b> 702, an instruction is given to the file information list generation unit 100, and a process of generating a file information list by associating individual IDs with each file name acquired by the process of the previous step is performed. The created file information list is held in the RAM in the CPU 201.

  In S703, all “attribute” fields in the file information list held in the RAM in the CPU 201 are set to “1”, and all data files whose file names are indicated in the list are displayed on the list. A process for setting the read-only attribute is performed, and then the process proceeds to S103 in FIG.

  Subsequent processes are basically the same as those shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. However, when a pressing operation on the single deletion switch 72 is detected in S128 of FIG. 6, the processing of FIG. 18B is executed instead of the processing of S129, and further, a pressing operation on the all deletion switch 73 is detected in S136. In some cases, the process of FIG. 18C is executed instead of the processes of S137 and S139.

  First, the processing of FIG. 18B will be described. When the determination result of S128 of FIG. 6 is performed. When the attribute is not set (when the determination result is Yes), the process proceeds to S130 in FIG. 6 and the attribute is set. If (when the determination result is No), the process proceeds to S712.

  In S712, FIG. 19A is used to confirm an instruction as to whether or not to delete the currently displayed image stored in the removable medium 35 before the microscope digital camera 3 was turned on most recently. A process for superimposing and displaying an existing image deletion execution instruction confirmation screen as illustrated is performed on the image display panel 41, and in S713, a process for determining what is the instruction given by the observer according to the displayed screen Is done.

  In this processing of S713, when it is determined that an instruction to execute deletion is issued by pressing the left selection switch 61, the processing proceeds to S714, and the image file of the image currently displayed on the image display panel 41 is deleted from the removable medium 35. Then, the process proceeds to S133 in FIG. On the other hand, if it is determined in the processing of S713 that an instruction to cancel the deletion execution is issued by pressing the right selection switch 62, the processing proceeds to S135 in FIG. 6 without deleting the image file.

Next, the process of FIG. 18C will be described.
When the determination result in S136 of FIG. 6 is Yes, in S721, deletion of all data files including those stored in the removable medium 35 before the microscope digital camera 3 is turned on most recently is executed. In order to confirm the instruction whether or not, an all delete execution instruction confirmation screen as illustrated in FIG. 19B is displayed on the image display panel 41 in a superimposed manner, and in the subsequent S722, according to the displayed screen. Processing is performed to determine what is the instruction given by the observer.

  In the process of S722, when it is determined that an instruction to execute all deletion is issued by pressing the left selection switch 61, the process proceeds to S723, and a process of deleting all the data files recorded on the removable medium 35 is performed. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S139 in FIG.

  On the other hand, in the process of S722, by pressing the right selection switch 62, among the data files recorded on the removable medium 35, the data is stored on the removable medium 35 before the microscope digital camera 3 is turned on most recently. If it is determined that an instruction to leave the original file without deleting it is given, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36 in S724, and among the image files recorded on the removable medium 35, the read-only attribute is a file. Processing for extracting information that is not set on the information list is performed. In subsequent S725, processing for deleting all of the extracted image files from the removable medium 35 is performed, and then the processing proceeds to S139 in FIG. . Therefore, in this case, the data file stored in the removable medium 35 before the digital camera for microscope 3 is turned on most recently remains in the removable medium 35 without being deleted.

  In the above-described microscope digital camera 3 of the present embodiment, the information about the data file recorded on the removable medium 35 is stored in a list so that the power supply to the microscope digital camera 3 is started. Can manage data files without rewriting the file attributes in the removable medium 35. Therefore, it is possible to easily delete an image recorded on the removable medium 35 before the start of power supply by another device such as a PC.

  In the present embodiment, the target data file managed by the file information list created in the seventh embodiment is limited to image files that can be displayed as images on the image display panel 41.

For this purpose, the process of S701 in the process of FIG. 18A executed by the CPU 201 in the seventh embodiment is replaced with the process of S801 shown in FIG.
Explaining this process, in S801, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36, and among the data files recorded on the removable medium 35, an extension indicating that the stored data is image data is a file name. All the file names of the data files given in (for example, the data file having the extension “jpg” indicating that the file is an image file in the data format conforming to the JPEG method described above). A read process is performed, and thereafter, the process proceeds to S702 of FIG. 18A.

  The above-described microscope digital camera 3 according to the present embodiment has a list in which reading attributes are set only for image files that can be displayed by the microscope digital camera 3 among the data files recorded on the removable medium 35. Since it is created, the attribute setting work is reduced. As a result, for example, even if the removable medium 35 has a large capacity and a large amount of data files are stored, the processing amount of the read attribute setting process for the list decreases, so the power supply to the microscope digital camera 3 starts. The time required for processing time is shortened.

  In this embodiment, when the removable medium 35 is inserted into the observation system including the microscope digital camera 3, whether or not the removable medium 35 is the same as that used most recently in the microscope digital camera 3. If they are the same, the read-only attribute is set for the data file recorded on the removable medium 35.

  FIG. 21 shows an electrical configuration of the operation site 4 in the present embodiment. In the figure, the same components as those in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.

The difference between the electrical configuration of the operation part 4 in the present embodiment and that in the fourth embodiment is that an ID storage device 102 and an ID comparator 103 are provided.
The ID storage device 102 stores one numerical value designated by the CPU 201, for example, any numerical value in the range of 0000 to FFFF (hexadecimal number). This numerical value will be referred to as the ID value of the ID memory 102. This ID value is used as identification information for individually identifying the removable medium 35.

  The ID comparator 103 compares the numerical value indicated in the ID file to be recorded on the removable medium 35 with the ID value of the ID storage device 102 and outputs a determination result of the matching / mismatching to the CPU 201.

An example of data in the ID file is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, numerical values are shown as text files in the ID file. This numerical value will be referred to as the ID value of the ID file.
In this embodiment, when the media detector 101 detects the insertion of the removable media 35, the detection result is transmitted to the CPU 201. The CPU 201 constantly monitors the media detector 101, and starts executing the control process shown in FIG. 23 every time the detection result is acquired from the media detector 101.

FIG. 23 will be described.
First, in S901, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36 to acquire the ID value of the ID file recorded in the removable medium 35. In the subsequent S902, the acquired ID value and the ID storage device are acquired. Processing is performed to cause the ID comparator 103 to determine whether or not the ID value of 102 matches. In this determination process, if the ID file is not recorded on the removable medium 35, it is assumed that the two do not match (the determination result is No).

  Here, when it is determined that the two match (when the determination result is Yes), it is assumed that the inserted removable medium 35 is the same as that used most recently in the microscope digital camera 3. Then, the process proceeds to S101 in FIG. 5, and a process for setting a read-only attribute for the data file recorded on the removable medium 35 is performed.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that they do not match (when the determination result is No), it is considered that the inserted removable medium 35 is different from the one used most recently in the digital camera 3 for a microscope. In S903, a process of increasing the ID value of the ID storage device 102 by “1” is performed. However, at this time, when the ID value of the ID memory 102 has already reached the maximum value that can be taken, for example, FFFF (hexadecimal), the minimum value that can take the ID value of the ID memory 102 is For example, 0000 (hexadecimal number).

  In S904, an instruction is given to the memory read / write unit 36, and an ID file indicating the current ID value of the ID storage device 102 is created and recorded in the removable medium 35. In this process, if an ID file has already been recorded on the removable medium 35, the recorded content is updated by overwriting the ID file. By this processing, the current ID value of the ID storage device 102 and the current ID value of the ID file are matched, so that the removable media 35 newly inserted into the digital camera 3 for microscopes has been used up to now. If it is the same, the determination result in S902 described above is Yes.

  In S905, various settings relating to imaging performed on the digital camera 3 for a microscope, for example, processing for resetting (initializing) exposure settings and various operation states to the initial state are performed, and thereafter FIG. The process proceeds to S103, and the process of FIG. 5 is executed without setting the read-only attribute for the data file recorded on the removable medium 35.

  In the above-described microscope digital camera 3 of the present embodiment, when the removable medium 35 has been used recently, the read attribute is set for the data file when the removable medium 35 is mounted. For example, when both the removable media 35 shared by a plurality of people and the individual removable media 35 are used in combination, the read-only attribute is set for the shared media, while It is possible to selectively use such as not setting a read-only attribute. Further, when a removable medium 35 different from the one used most recently is inserted, various settings relating to imaging with respect to the microscope digital camera 3 are automatically initialized. By performing the operation from the initial state, a mistake in the operation can be prevented in advance.

In this embodiment, the microscope digital camera 3 is controlled by a PC.
FIG. 24 shows an electrical configuration of the operation site 4 in the present embodiment. In the figure, the same components as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3B are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The difference between the electrical configuration of the operation part 4 in the present embodiment and that in the first embodiment is that a communication terminal 37 and a communication control unit 38 are provided.
The CPU 201 is a standard configuration PC by the communication control unit 38, that is, a CPU (central processing unit) that controls operation of the entire PC by executing a control program, and this CPU uses it as a work memory as necessary. Main memory, interface unit that manages the exchange of various data, an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk device for storing and storing various programs and image data, and images and various images represented by image data Various data can be exchanged via a communication terminal 37 with a PC having a display unit for displaying the information on the basis of a control signal sent from the PC. The operation of the digital camera 3 is controlled. As the communication terminal 37, for example, a terminal conforming to the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard can be used.

  In order to control the microscope digital camera 3 with this PC, a control program for causing the CPU of this PC to perform the various control processes described so far is created and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. In addition, in a state where the PC is connected to the communication terminal 37, the program is read from the recording medium to the PC and executed by the CPU.

  As a recording medium from which the recorded control program can be read by the PC, for example, a storage device such as a ROM or a hard disk device provided as an internal or external accessory device in the PC, or a medium driving device provided in the PC A portable recording medium such as a flexible disk, MO (magneto-optical disk), CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or the like that can read a control program recorded by being inserted into the disk can be used.

  Further, such a recording medium may be a storage device provided in a program server connected to a PC via a communication line. In this case, a transmission signal obtained by modulating a carrier wave with a data signal representing a control program is transmitted from the program server to a PC through a communication line as a transmission medium, and the PC demodulates the received transmission signal. By replaying the control program, the control program can be executed by the CPU of the PC.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in FIG. 1, the operation display unit 6 may be deleted, and the camera head unit 2 and the PC may be directly connected instead. In this case, the camera head unit 2 and the PC are connected using a general-purpose communication interface such as USB, and a camera control command from the PC is transmitted to the camera head unit 2. The camera head unit 2 can control exposure time and shooting.

The technical idea of the following configuration is derived from the above-described embodiment.
[Appendix 1] A microscope camera for recording a sample image obtained by a microscope,
Recording control means for recording an image data file representing the sample image on a recording medium;
Switch means for controlling power supply to the microscope camera;
A list creation means for creating a list of data files already recorded on the recording medium at the start time when the power supply is started by the switch means;
Deleting means for deleting a record of the data file in the recording medium;
A deletion control unit that causes the deletion unit to delete only the recording of the data file that is not included in the list among the recording of the data file in the recording medium when the instruction to delete the recording of the data file is acquired;
A microscope camera characterized by comprising:

[Supplementary Note 2] It further includes display means for reproducing and displaying the image represented by the image data file,
The list creation means creates the list only for image data files representing images that can be displayed on the display means among the data files.
2. The microscope camera according to appendix 1, wherein

  [Supplementary Note 3] The microscope camera according to Supplementary Note 1, further comprising control means for controlling the operation of the microscope camera based on a control signal sent from another device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Microscope main body 2 Camera head part 3 Digital camera for microscopes 4 Operation part 5 Display part 6 Operation display part 7 Cable 20 Photoelectric conversion element 21 Sampling circuit 22 A / D converter 23 Image processing part 24 D / A converter 25 Shutter 30 Operation unit 31 Shutter switch 32 Mode switch 33 Exposure correction switch 34 Memory device 35 Removable media 36 Memory read / write unit 37 Communication terminal 38 Communication control unit 41 Image display panel 42 Information display panel 50 Sample 51 Stage 52 Objective lens 53 Optical axis 54 Eyepiece Lens 55 Imaging lens 56 Half mirror 61 Left selection switch 62 Right selection switch 64 Recorded number detection unit 71 Power switch 72 Single deletion switch 73 All deletion switch 74 Read attribute setting unit 100 Information file List generating unit 101 media detector 102 ID storage unit 103 ID comparator 200 display RAM
201 Control processing unit (CPU)
203 Camera head connector

Claims (1)

A microscope camera for recording a specimen image obtained by a microscope,
Recording control means for recording an image data file representing the sample image on a recording medium;
Switch means for controlling power supply to the microscope camera;
A list creating means for creating a list of data files already recorded on the recording medium when the power supply is started by the switch means;
Deleting means for deleting a record of the data file in the recording medium;
A deletion control unit that causes the deletion unit to delete only the recording of the data file that is not included in the list among the recording of the data file in the recording medium when the instruction to delete the recording of the data file is acquired;
A microscope camera characterized by comprising:

Images