JPH02148264A - Portable information storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a device which is small-sized and light-weight and is superior in portability and has a high retrieval speed by using an IC memory card as an information storage medium. CONSTITUTION:Picture information of a visiting card or the like is read with a hand scanner 12, and retrieval information is inputted from a keyboard 3 and is stored in a RAM 38 of an IC memory card 8 together with picture information; and at the time of retrieval, this retrieval information is inputted from the keyboard 3 to retrieve and read out corresponding picture information from the RAM 38 in the IC memory card 8, and this information is displayed on a liquid crystal display part 2 or printed out by a printer 17. When the area to be displayed is larger than the display area of the liquid crystal display part 2, this state is automatically detected to scroll and display picture information. Since the IC memory card is used as the information recording medium, the whole of the device is made considerably small-sized and light-weight and an excellent portability and a high retrieval speed are obtained.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention is directed to a mobile phone that stores image information such as a business card on an IC memory card, retrieves it as needed, and outputs it for display. The present invention relates to a possible information storage device.

(Prior Art) Recently, as a method for storing a large amount of image information such as documents, an information storage device (electronic file device) using an optical disk as an information storage medium has been developed and put into practical use.

Here, to briefly explain information storage devices using conventional optical discs, first, when registering (storing) image information,
In addition to setting the image information to be registered in the scanner,
For example, by inputting search information such as a file name or keyword from the keyboard, the image information is read by a scanner, the search information entered above is added to the read image information, and the image information with this search information added is compressed. After processing, it is recorded on an optical disc.

Next, when searching for registered image information in this way, by inputting the search information of the image information you want to search from the keyboard, the corresponding search information is added based on this input search information. The image information is searched and read from the optical disk, and the read image information is expanded and restored to the original image information, and then displayed on a display or output as a hard copy using a printer.

In this way, conventional information storage devices have used optical disks as information storage media. However, as is well known, although optical disks have the characteristics of inexpensive large-capacity memories with fast access speeds, their drive devices are extremely large, making it difficult to make the entire device smaller and lighter. , it has the disadvantage of lack of portability.

Furthermore, in conventional information storage devices, when the area of image information to be displayed is larger than the display area of a display unit, a method has been used in which the image information is scrolled and displayed using key operations by the operator.

However, this method requires the operator to perform key operations each time, which is very inconvenient and troublesome.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, the present invention uses an optical disk as an information storage medium, so it is difficult to make the entire device smaller and lighter, and it lacks portability. This was developed to solve the problem that when the area of image information to be displayed is larger than the display area of the display section, the operator has to perform key operations each time, which is extremely inconvenient and troublesome. , the entire device can be significantly reduced in size and weight, making it highly portable.In addition, when the area of image information to be displayed is larger than the display area of the display unit, it is automatically detected and scrolled. An object of the present invention is to provide a very convenient portable information storage device that can save an operator's key operations for scrolling display.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) A portable information storage device of the present invention includes a first input means for inputting image information to be stored, and a second input means for inputting search information etc. a removably provided IC memory card for storing image information, a display section having a display area divided into a plurality of areas, and displaying and outputting image information as a visible image; The image information input by the first input means is divided into blocks of a size corresponding to the divided areas of the display section, and the search information input by the second input means is added to the blocks, and the search information input by the second input means is added to the blocks. A storage control means stored in the card and image information to which corresponding search information is added based on the search information inputted by the second input means are searched and read from the IC memory card and displayed on the display unit. a readout control means for outputting the image information read from the IC memory card, and determining whether or not the number of blocks of the image information to be displayed exceeds the number of areas of the display unit when the image information read from the IC memory card is displayed on the display unit; a determining means; a display control means for scrolling and displaying the image information block by block when the determining means determines that the number of blocks of the image information exceeds the number of areas of the display section; and at least the second input; The device includes a portable main body that accommodates a device, an IC memory card, a display section, a storage control device, a continuous output control device, and a display control device.

(Function) By using an IC memory card as an information storage medium, the entire device can be made much smaller and lighter than before, making it highly portable and fast in search speed. . In particular, the entire device can be made significantly smaller and lighter, and by incorporating a battery as a power source, it is convenient to carry, and it is possible to store information at any location and search for and output stored information. becomes.

In addition, if the area of the image information to be displayed is larger than the display area of the display unit, it can be automatically detected and scrolled, eliminating the need for the operator to perform key operations for scrolling as in the past. It can be done and is very convenient.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 9 shows the external appearance of a portable information storage device according to the present invention. That is, 1 is a portable apparatus body formed in the shape of a thin rectangular parallelepiped, and a liquid crystal display section 2 and a keyboard 3 are provided on the surface of this body 1. The keyboard 3 is provided with a numeric keypad and function keys that also function as English or kana character keys, and is also provided with a registration key 4, a search key 5, an execution key 6, and a power-on key 7. There is.

Further, a card insertion slot 9 for inserting and setting an IC memory card 8 as an information storage medium is provided on the end surface of the main body 1 in the transverse direction. is provided with a multi-contact contact section 11 (not shown) for making electrical contact with a multi-contact contact section 10 (not shown) of the inserted IC memory card 8.

Further, a /\\end scanner (image reading section) 12 as an optional component can be electrically connected to the main body 1 via a cable 13 and a connector 14 in a detachable manner. The hand scanner 12 is configured as follows, for example. That is, 15 is a thin, hand-held scanner body, and a rectangular reading window 16 is formed at its tip. The width of the reading window 16 in the longitudinal direction is set to, for example, at least the width of the business card in the transverse direction. Inside the main body 15, there is a light source that irradiates light onto the object to be read through the reading window 16, and a CCD type that receives reflected light from the object to be read through the reading window 16 and converts it into an electrical signal. The image sensor, an optical system for the sensor, a light source and a drive circuit for driving the image sensor, a signal processing circuit for processing the output signal of the image sensor, and the like are housed.

When reading image information using the hand scanner 12 configured in this manner, the hand scanner 12 is held in the hand and is read by moving the reading window 16 in a predetermined direction while touching the object to be read.

Furthermore, the main body 1 includes a printer (image output device) 17 as an optional part, and a cable 18 and a connector 1.
Electrical connection is possible via 9 in a detachable manner.

FIG. 10 shows the configuration of a portable information storage device according to the present invention. That is, an MPU (microprocessor unit) 20 serves as a control section that controls the entire device, and operates based on a clock supplied from a clock generation control section 21. A system bus 22 is connected to the MPU 20, and this system bus 22 has
A contact part 11 for making electrical contact with the contact part 10 of the IC memory card 8, and a RAM for temporarily storing application programs, data, etc.
(Random access memory) 24, image processing unit 2 that performs compression/expansion processing and division processing of image information, etc.
5. A display control section 26 that controls the liquid crystal display section 2, a keyboard control section 27 that controls the keyboard 3, a scanner control section 28 that controls the hand scanner 12, and a printer control section 29 that controls the printer 17 are connected. There is.

Reference numeral 30 represents a battery for supplying power to each of the above components.

The display controller 26 includes a display memory 46 for storing image information to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 2, as shown in FIG. 7, and the display memory 46 has four areas, for example. 46. It is divided into ~46.1. As a result, the display area of the liquid crystal display section 2 is
The area is divided into four areas corresponding to the areas 461 to 464 of 6.

FIG. 11 shows the circuit configuration of the IC memory card 8. That is, buffers 33 and 34 are connected to the contact section 10 via an address bus 31 and a data bus 32, and these buffers 33 and 34 are connected to the address bus 3.
5. ROM (Read Only Memory) 37 as a program memory and RAM (Random Access Memory) 3 as an image memory via a data bus 36
8 is connected, and an address decoder 39 is connected to the ROM 37 and RAM 38. The ROM 37 stores control programs for the MPU 20 to operate. The RAM 38 is for storing image information and the like.

Further, a buffer 41 is connected to the contact section 10 via a control signal bus 40, and various control signals (for example, a data write signal, a data read signal, etc.) are outputted from the buffer 41. Furthermore, a power supply switching circuit 4 is connected to the contact portion 10 via a power supply line 42.
3 is connected, and a lithium battery 44 for RAM backup is connected to this 7-power source switching circuit 43. The power supply switching circuit 43 normally switches power from the battery 44 to the RAM 3.
8 for backup, and when the IC memory card 8 is inserted and set in the card insertion slot 9, the contact section 10
This switch switches the power supplied from the outside to be supplied to each section including the RAM 38 via the external power supply.

4 and 5 show memory maps of the RAM 38. That is, the RAM 38 includes an index section 51 and an image information section 52. The index section 51 specifies each piece of image information stored in the image information section 52. Each piece of image information is given its own search information, and has a so-called tree structure. It manages each image information.

That is, index #51 consists of a search information management section 53 and an image management section 54. As shown in FIG. 5(a), the search information management unit 53 manages a tree section 55 in which search information is stored in a tree configuration and a location where image information corresponding to the search information is stored. and a start pointer section 56 in which the start pointer of the image management section 54 is stored.

The bird part 55 includes a search information section in which search information is stored;
It consists of a next address section that stores the storage address of the next located search information, and a back address section that stores the storage address of the previous search information.

FIG. 6 shows a concrete example of the tree structure. This example shows a case in which the search information is expressed as, for example, a personal name, and the personal names are arranged in a tree in ascending order (solid line) and descending order (broken line).

The image management section 54 has a tree structure similar to the tree section 55 of the search information management section 53, as shown in FIG. ), an image address section that stores the first address of the position where the first address is stored, a next address section that stores the next first address, and a back that stores the previous first address. It consists of an address part.

As shown in FIG. 5(c), the image information section 52 stores input image information divided into a plurality of blocks. Therefore, one image information consists of a plurality of block information. Note that the size of the block into which the image information is divided is determined by the divided area 46. of the display memory 45. ~4
64.

Next, in such a configuration, image information registration (storage) and search operations will be described.

First, image information registration processing using, for example, the hand scanner 12 will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, after connecting the hand scanner 12 to the main body 1, the IC memory card 8 is set by inserting it into the card insertion slot 9 (Sl). Next, by pressing the registration key 4 in the keyboard 3 (S2), the MPU 20
reads the registered program from the ROM 37 in the IC memory card 8, starts an operation based on the registered program, and displays a message for inputting search information on the liquid crystal display section 2. According to this message, the user inputs arbitrary search information (for example, a person's name, etc.) using the keyboard 3 (S3), and then presses the execution key 6 in the keyboard 3 (S4).

Then, the MPU 20 checks for duplicates of the input search information (S5, S6). That is, I.C.
Search information for registered image information has already been written in the search information management section 53 of the RAM 38 in the memory card 8, so by tracing the search information in the bird part 55 in ascending order (or descending order), Checks whether there is anything matching the input search information. As a result of this check,
If there is a match, the MPU 20 displays an error message indicating duplicate search information on the liquid crystal display section 2 (S7), and guides the operator to input another search information.

If there is no match as a result of the above check, the MPU
20 temporarily stores the input search information in the RAM 24 and displays a message for inputting image information on the liquid crystal display section 2.

According to this message, the operator scans the hand scanner 1.
2 in hand and read image information to be registered, such as a business card, by scanning it (S8). This read image information is binarized by the scanner control unit 28 and then
It is temporarily stored in the RAM 24 under the control of the PU 20. Thereafter, the MPU 20 sends the image information in the RAM 24 to the display controller 26 to display it on the liquid crystal display 2 (S9).

Here, the operator visually checks the display content on the liquid crystal display section 2 to confirm that the business card has been read as desired (5IO), and presses the execution key 6 in the keyboard 3 (S11). Then, the MPU 20 uses the RAM 2
The image information in 4 is transferred to the image processing section 25. The image processing unit 25 divides the transferred image information into a plurality of blocks as described above (S12), and compresses each of the divided image information (block information).
1B), send. The MPU 20 inputs each compressed image information (block information) sent from the image processing unit 25.
It is written to the image information section 52 of the RAM 38 in the C memory card 8 (S14).

Then, when the image information writing process to the image information section 52 is successfully completed, the MPU 20 writes the image information to the IC memory card 8.
Write processing is performed on the index section 51 of the RAM 38 (S15).

First, the management information of the image information that has just been written is written into the image management section 54 of the index section 51. That is, the image management section 54
In order to write the first address of the position where the first block information is stored, first, check the first addresses already written in the image address field in ascending order, and determine which first address is the first address to be written. Determine whether it is located next to the address. When the determination is completed, the first address to be written is written into the first image address section where no first address is written.

Next, the storage address of the written start address is written into the next address field corresponding to the start address located before the start address. Next, the storage address of the first address located next to the written first address is written into the next address section corresponding to the written first address. Next, the storage address of the written start address is written into the back address field corresponding to the start address located next to the start address. Next, the storage address of the first address located before the written first address is written into the back address section corresponding to the written first address.

In this way, the first address of the position where the first block information is stored is written. Then, by repeatedly executing the same process again, the first address of the position where the next block information is stored is written. In this way, the leading address of each block of information that has been divided and stored is written in a tree configuration.

Next, search information (R
AM24) is written to the search information management section 53 of the index section 51. That is, in order to write the search information, first, by checking the search information that has already been written in the tray section 55 in ascending order, it is determined whether the search information to be written is located next to which search information. to judge. When the determination is completed, the search information to be written is written in the search information section at the beginning of the bird section 55 where no search information is written.

Next, the storage address of the written search information is written into the next address field corresponding to the search information located before the search information. Next, the storage address of the search information located next to the written search information is written in the next address section corresponding to the written search information. Next, the storage address of the written search information is written into the back address section corresponding to the search information located next to the search information. Next, the storage address of the search information located before the written search information is
Write in the back address field corresponding to the written search information. In this way, search information is written in a tree structure.

In this way, when the search information writing process is completed, the start pointer of the image management section 54 that manages the location where the image information corresponding to the written search information is stored is changed to the start pointer section of the search information management section 53. 56 in correspondence with the search information.

Next, the search process for the image information registered as described above will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the IC memory card 8 is set by inserting it into the card insertion slot 9 (521), and then the search key 5 in the keyboard 3 is pressed (S22). Then, MPU2
0 reads a search program from the ROM 37 in the IC memory card 8, starts an operation based on the search program, and displays a message for inputting search information on the liquid crystal display section 2. Follow this message and enter the search information for the image information you want to search from the keyboard 3.
B), then press the execution key 6 on the keyboard 3 (
S24).

Then, the MPU 20 stores the input search information in the RAM 2.
4, then RAM3 in the IC memory card 8.
By tracing the tree section 55 of the search information management section 53 of No. 8 in ascending order (or descending order), search information matching the input search information in the RAM 24 is searched (S25, 5
26). As a result, if there is no search information that matches the input search information, the MPU 20 displays a search information error message on the liquid crystal display section 2 (527) and guides the operator to re-enter the search information. If there is search information that matches the input search information, the MPU 20 obtains a start pointer stored in the start pointer section 56 corresponding to the search information.

After obtaining the start pointer in this way, the MPU 20
By tracing the image management section 54 of the index section 51 of the RAM 38 in ascending order from the start pointer (for example, in the example of FIG. 3. Sequentially refer to the start address of the block information and sequentially read each block information of the target image information from the image information section 52 of the RAM 38 from the start.
28), and send it to the image processing section 25.

Since each block information sent is compressed, the image processing unit 25 decompresses it to restore it to the original block information (529), and then stores it in the RAM 2.
Transfer to 4. At this time, the MPU 20 controls the image information section 5.
It is determined whether the number of each block of information (the number of blocks of image information) read from the display memory 46 is larger than the number of areas (four) of the display memory 46 (S30). As a result of this judgment, if the number of blocks is smaller than the number of areas or both are equal,
The MPU 20 sends each decompressed block information in the RAM 24 to the display controller 26, stores it in the display memory 46, and displays it on the liquid crystal display 2 as one piece of image information (S31).

Further, as a result of the above judgment, if the number of blocks is larger than the number of areas, the MPU 20 cannot display each block information at once, so the MPU 20 stores the block information in the display memory 46 sequentially starting from the first block information. Display the image information while scrolling in block units (S32
).

For example, as shown in FIG. 5(c), block information A, B, C, D, E, etc. are stored in the image information section 52, and the currently searched image information is the block information. B
, C, A, L, F, and G, first, as shown in Fig. 8(a).
Block information as shown? gB.

C, A, and L are stored in the display memory 46, and then as shown in FIG.
Block information C, A, L as shown in b).

F is stored in the display memory 46, and then block information A, L, F, and G are stored in the display memory 4 as shown in FIG. 8(c).
6. In this way, by sequentially storing block information in the display memory 46 starting from the first block, image information having an area larger than the display area of the liquid crystal display section 2 is displayed while being scrolled block by block. . A specific example is shown in Fig. 3. If Fig. 3(a) is one piece of stored image information, in this case Fig. 3(b) → Fig. 3(C) → Fig. 3( It is displayed while scrolling as shown in d).

In this way, image information such as business cards can be transferred to the hand scanner 12.
The data is read using the IC memory card 8 and stored in the RAM 38 in the IC memory card 8. At this time, input the search information necessary for the search from the keyboard 3, and use the IC memory card 8 along with the image information.
The data is stored in the internal RAM 38. By inputting this search information from the keyboard 3 during a search, the corresponding image information is searched and read out from the RAM 38 in the IC memory card 8 and displayed on the liquid crystal display section 2 or printed out on the printer 17. It is something to do.

Therefore, since an IC memory card is used as the information storage medium, the entire device can be made much smaller and lighter than conventional ones using optical disks, etc., and it has excellent portability and search speed. It can be fast. In particular, the entire device can be made significantly smaller and lighter by incorporating a battery as a power source.
It is convenient to carry and allows storage of image information and search output of stored image information at any location. It is also possible to display or print out the image information by removing the IC memory card storing the image information and setting it in another card reader.

Additionally, if the area of the image information to be displayed is larger than the display area of the liquid crystal display section 2, it can be automatically detected and scrolled for display, eliminating the need for the operator to perform key operations for conventional scrolling display. It can be very convenient.

In the above embodiment, when the area of the image information to be displayed is larger than the display area of the display unit during image information search processing, the case where the image information is scrolled is explained. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the information registration process, when the area of the image information to be displayed is larger than the display area of the display unit, the present invention can be similarly applied to the case where the image information is scroll-displayed.

Further, in the above embodiment, since an IC memory card using a battery-backed RAM is used as the image memory, it is possible to both register and search image information. However, if you only need to search for image information, mask ROM or programmable R is used as the image memory.
I using OM (EPROM or EEPRO~1)
A C memory card can also be used. In this case, of course, the image information is registered in a separate dedicated device. Since such an IC memory card does not require a built-in battery, it can be made into an inexpensive and thin card, and is particularly suitable for displaying and outputting fixed image information such as maps and timetables.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, a case has been described in which a ROM for storing an MPU control program is built into an IC memory card, but it is not always necessary to do so, and this ROM may be provided on the main body side. . Therefore, it is sufficient that the IC memory card has at least a built-in image memory such as a RAM.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the hand scanner and printer are optional parts and are separate from the main body of the device.
It is also possible to incorporate both or one of them into the main body of the device, thereby making it even more portable.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the entire device can be significantly reduced in size and weight, and has excellent portability. If the information is larger than the area, it can be automatically detected and scrolled, thereby providing a very convenient portable information storage device that can omit the operator's key operations for scrolling.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a flowchart explaining image information search processing, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart explaining image information registration processing, FIG. 3 is a diagram specifically explaining scrolling display of image information, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing a memory map of the RAM built in the IC memory card. , FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of the tree structure in the search information management section of the index section of the RAM, FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of the display memory, and FIG. 8 is a diagram explaining the scrolling display operation of image information. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the portable information storage device, FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the portable information storage device, and FIG. 11 is an IC
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a memory card. 1... Device main body, 2... Liquid crystal display section (display section) 3.
...Keyboard (second input means) 4...Registration key 5...Search key 8...IC memory card, 12
...Hand scanner (image reading unit, first input means)
20... MPU (control unit) 25... image processing unit, 26... display unit control unit, 27... keyboard control unit, 38... RAM (image memory), 51...
Index section, 52... Image information section, 53... Search information management section, 54... Image management section, 55... Tori part, 5
6...Start pointer section. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 2 (a) Figure 2 (b) Figure 5 (a) (C) Figure (d) Figure (c) Figure (a) ( b) (C) Figure

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A first input means for inputting image information to be stored, a second input means for inputting search information, etc., and an IC memory provided detachably for storing image information etc. a display section having a display area divided into a plurality of areas and displaying and outputting image information as a visible image; and a display section for displaying and outputting image information etc. as a visible image; storage control means for dividing the blocks into blocks of a size corresponding to the area, adding search information inputted by the second input means to the blocks, and storing the search information inputted by the second input means into the IC memory card; readout control means for searching and reading image information to which corresponding search information is attached based on the search information from the IC memory card and displaying the image information on the display section; a determining means for determining whether or not the number of blocks of image information to be displayed exceeds the number of areas of the display section when displaying the image information on the display section; display control means for scrolling and displaying the image information block by block when it is determined that the image information exceeds the number of blocks, at least the second input means, an IC memory card, a display section, a storage control means, a readout control means, and What is claimed is: 1. A portable information storage device comprising: a portable main body housing display control means;