JPH01128168A - Signal transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accurately select information to be given to a medium loaded into a signal transfer device to process this information in real time or asynchronously and to realize the continuous shots or a single shot of picture signals by using a high-speed recording medium, a low-speed recording medium, a high-speed transfer device, and a low-speed transfer device. CONSTITUTION:A signal S1 of a frequency f1 is received from a signal generator 11 and a picture received from an image pickup part 13 undergoes prescribed processing via a process part 14. This processed picture is given to a buffer memory 16 and written by the signal of a write control part 17. While the output of an A/D converter 15 receives a drive signal S1 by the signal of a write control part 18 and written in a 1st card memory 2 via a connection part 3. This speed is synchronous with that of an input system and the real-time processing is possible. Thus the continuous shots are attained. A read control part 19 and a write control part 20 are controlled by a drive signal S2 having a frequency f2<f1 given from a 2nd signal generator 12. Then the picture signals are written in a 2nd card memory 4. In this case, only a single shot is carried out asynchronously with the input system since S1not equal to S2 is satisfied.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention can be used either integrally with, for example, an electronic still camera or other device that generates information to be stored, or separately from the device that generates information on a storage medium. and a storage medium (
The present invention relates to a signal transfer device inserted in a signal transmission path between a solid-state memory such as a card memory, and in particular to a device compatible with various storage media having different specifications such as access speed.

[Prior Art] A signal corresponding to an optical image, which is information to be stored, obtained by a photoelectric conversion means is buffered at a transfer rate depending on the model of the TV receiver, VTR, or printer, which is a buffer device provided in the main body of the device. , has a function of transferring signals from the sofa memory to the external device.

On the other hand, in recent years, progress has been made in the development of systems for signal-converting and storing stored information such as image information in a storage medium such as a so-called card memory that can be removably loaded into a device body that has a signal conversion function. It is being done. This type of system is different from the camera described in the above-mentioned publication in that the information to be stored is transferred to and stored in a storage means connected from the outside. However, in this type of system, the image information is temporarily stored in a variable memory within the apparatus main body, and the information is read from this buffer memory and stored in a card memory.

Furthermore, various digital storage media having completely different access speeds are configured to be selectively connected to the same connection section.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The conventional system described above has the following problems. Since various storage media with different access speeds are loaded into the main body of the device, for example, when a card memory capable of low-speed transfer such as ROM is loaded, the transfer speed (input system) to the buffer memory and the input speed to the card memory are different. Transfer speed becomes asynchronous. For this reason, there was a problem in that real-time processing of the image signal was not possible and only a single image could be captured.

An object of the present invention is to provide a signal transfer device that can accurately select the transfer of information to a storage medium loaded in the main body of the device, perform real-time processing or asynchronous processing, and enable rapid or single shooting of image signals. It is about providing.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the present invention takes the following measures. That is, at least one high-speed storage medium connection for connecting a storage medium with a relatively high possible access speed and at least one low-speed storage medium also adapted for connecting a storage medium with a relatively low possible access speed. a connection section, a high-speed transfer means for transferring information at a relatively high transfer rate to a storage medium connected to the high-speed storage medium connection section, and a storage medium connected to the low-speed storage medium connection section. A low-speed transfer means for transferring information at a relatively low transfer rate is provided.

[Effects] By taking such measures, the following effects are achieved. When transferring information to a storage medium with a relatively high access speed, the high-speed transfer means stores the information at a relatively high transfer rate on the high-speed storage medium via the high-speed storage medium connection. Further, when information is transferred to a storage medium having a relatively low access speed, the information is stored by the low-speed transfer means at a relatively low transfer rate on the low-speed transferable storage medium via the low-speed storage medium connection. Therefore, it is possible to select an appropriate transfer method depending on the type of storage medium loaded into the main body of the device, so real-time or asynchronous processing of information is possible, and rapid or single copying of information is possible. .

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electronic still camera. In this electronic still camera, a first card memory 2, which is a storage medium capable of high-speed transfer, is removably loaded into an electronic still camera main body 1, which is a device main body, through a first connection part 3, and a low-speed transfer is possible. The second card memory 4 is configured to be removably loaded via the second connecting portion 5.

The electronic still camera body 1 is constructed as follows.

The first drive signal generator 11 has a relatively high first frequency f
l (13,5M)12) memory drive signal s1
is expected to occur. Second drive signal generator 1
2 is a relatively low second frequency f2 (0.5M-Hz)
The memory drive signal s2 having the following value is generated. The imaging unit 13 operates upon receiving the drive signal s1 from the first drive signal generator 11, photoelectrically converts the image of the subject,
It provides an image signal to the processing section 14.

The processing unit 14 inputs the image signal from the imaging unit 13 and performs gamma correction, white balance adjustment processing, etc. The A/D converter 15 is the first drive signal generator 11
receiving the drive signal s1 of the image signal at a first frequency f
1 (13.5MHz) and performs analog/digital conversion. The buffer memory 16 stores the digital signal from the A/D converter 15 in a memory area. The write control unit 17 receives the memory drive signal s from the first drive signal generator 11.
1, the buffer memory 16 is subjected to write control at the first frequency. The write control unit 18 receives the memory drive signal S1 from the first drive signal generator 11.
Based on this, the digital signal from the A/D converter 15 is controlled to be written into the first card memory 2 via the first connection section 3 at a first frequency. The read control section 19 controls reading of the digital signals stored in the buffer memory 16 using the memory drive signal s2 from the second drive signal generator 12. The write control unit 20 controls writing of the digital signal read from the buffer memory 16 into the second card memory 4 based on the memory drive signal s2.

The first card memory 2 is a RAM capable of high-speed transfer, and is a storage medium that responds to the access speed of the first drive signal generator 1. Further, the second card memory 4 has the R
- Storage media with different access speeds for AM, e.g. RO
M, which is a storage medium responsive to the access speed of the second drive signal generator 12. A first connecting portion 3 and a second connecting portion 5 are provided on one longitudinal side of the electronic still camera main body 1, and the first connecting portion 3 is a dedicated ROM to which the first card memory 2 is connected. The second connection portion 5 serves as a connection terminal exclusively for the ROM connected to the second card memory 4.

Next, the operation of the electronic still camera of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained. First, the operation when the image signal obtained by the imaging section 13 is written into the buffer memory 1B and the first card memory 2 will be described. The first frequency fl (13,5M
When the imaging unit 13 is driven by the drive signal s1 (Hz), the image of the subject is photoelectrically converted by the imaging unit 13 into an image signal. This image signal is subjected to gamma correction, white balance adjustment, and other signal processing in the processing unit 14, and then output to the A/D converter 15. And A/D
In the converter 15, the image signal is converted into a first drive signal s
1, is analog/digitally converted, and is supplied to the buffer memory 16.
The digital signal supplied to 8=16 is written into the buffer memory 16 by a control signal from the write control section 17.

On the other hand, the digital signal from the A/D converter 15 receives the drive signal S1 from the first drive signal generator 11 according to the control signal of the write control section 18, and is sent to the first card via the first connection section 3. Written to memory 2. Therefore, since the image signal from the imaging section 13 is directly written to the card memory 2 of the node 1 by the write control section 18, the writing speed of the image signal to the first card memory 2 is synchronized with the input system.

As a result, real-time processing can be realized in the first card memory 2, making it possible to take quick pictures of images.

Next, the operation when reading the storage medium (digital signal) stored in the buffer memory 16 and writing it into the card memory 4 will be explained. First, the read control section 19 and the write control section 20 include a second drive signal generator 12.
A driving signal s2 having a frequency of 1'2 (0.5 MHz) is given. Therefore, the stored information stored in the buffer memory Q-16 is read out at the frequency f2 (0.5 MHz) of the second drive signal generator 12 and written into the card memory 4. Therefore, since the frequency f1 of the drive signal s1 for writing to the buffer memory 16 and the drive signal s2 for reading are different, it becomes asynchronous with respect to the input system and only a single copy is taken.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when an image signal is transferred to the first card memory 2 whose access speed is relatively high, the first card memory 2 that responds to the access speed of the first card memory 2
The data is written into the second card memory 4 via the first connection section 3 by the write control section 18 which receives the drive signal s1 from the drive signal generator 11. Further, when transferring an image signal to the second card memory 4 whose access speed is relatively low, write control is performed in response to the drive signal s2 of the second drive signal generator 12 responsive to the access speed of the second card memory 4. The information is written into the second card memory 4 by the unit 20 via the second connection unit 5.

Therefore, it is possible to select an appropriate information transfer means according to the type of storage medium loaded into the device main body 1, and in the case of the first card memory 2, real-time processing of image signals can be performed. Quick shooting became possible, and the second
In the case of the card memory 4, since asynchronous processing of image signals can be performed, only single shooting is possible.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, in the embodiment described above, the first drive signal generator 1
The frequency of the drive signal s1 from 1 to fl (11,5 MHz
), and the frequency of the drive signal s2 of the second drive signal generator 12 is set to f2 (0.5MHz), but any other frequency may be used as long as it corresponds to the type of the second card memory 4. Good too. Further, although the case where the second drive signal generator 12 is a single one is illustrated, a plurality of generators that generate drive signals of different frequencies may be provided together. It goes without saying that various other modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, there is provided a high-speed storage medium connection section for connecting a storage medium with a relatively high access speed, and a low-speed storage medium also suitable for connecting a storage medium with a relatively low access speed. a connection section, a high-speed transfer means for transferring information at a relatively high transfer rate to a storage medium connected to the high-speed storage medium connection section, and a storage medium connected to the low-speed storage medium connection section. Equipped with a low-speed transfer means for transferring information at a relatively low transfer rate,
It is possible to select an appropriate information transfer means according to the type of storage medium loaded into the main body of the device, and information can be transferred in real time or asynchronously, and image signals can be captured continuously or singly. It is possible to provide a signal transfer device that makes it possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electronic still camera. ■... Electronic still camera body, 2... First card memory, 3... First connection part, 4... Second card memory, 5... Second connection part, 11 ...first drive signal generator, 12...second drive signal generator, 13.
...Imaging section, 14...Process section, 15...A/D
Converter, 16... Buffer memory, 17.18.20
...Write control section, 19...Read control section, Sl.
... Drive signal, S2... Drive signal.

Claims (1)

[Claims] at least one high-speed storage medium connection for connecting a storage medium with a relatively high possible access speed and at least one low-speed storage medium connection also adapted for connecting a storage medium with a relatively low possible access speed. and a high-speed transfer means for transferring information at a relatively high transfer rate to a storage medium connected to the high-speed storage medium connection section, and a comparison to the storage medium connected to the low-speed storage medium connection section. 1. A signal transfer device comprising: low-speed transfer means for transferring information at a relatively low transfer rate.