JPH0348583A - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively use memory capacity by dividing and recording image information on another external recorder when capacity or vacant area for recording the image information does not remain in the external recorder. CONSTITUTION:When no sufficient capacity remains in an external memory, a control circuit 8 issues an alarm signal, and informs that it is impossible to continue photographing at such state to the external memory 9, and waits selection whether a new external memory is used or the memory is divided. When the fact that a photographer exchanges the memory with a new one is detected at such state, the control circuit 8 records all data on the new memory. Or, when distributive recording is selected at such state, recording for only the residual capacity of the present memory is performed, and the mark of a final cluster is described as a continuous ID, and an alarm to request the next memory to the photographer is issued. When the photographer exchanges the memory to the new one or another memory, confirmation for the remaining capacity and the use of the ID are performed, and the continuous ID and division class number for a second sheet are recorded, then, remaining image data is transferred.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an electronic still camera that photoelectrically converts a subject image signal using an image sensor, then converts the code and records the signal on an external recording device.

BACKGROUND ART As an example of this type of electronic still camera, there is a technique as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 8504/1983, which was previously filed by the present applicant.

This compares the image information to be recorded from now on with the remaining capacity detected by the means for detecting the remaining capacity of the external memory, and if the remaining capacity of the external memory is insufficient, a warning will be issued and the capacity will be saved to the external memory. This prohibits photography.

An example of this is shown in FIG.

That is, in the figure, optical image information coupled onto an imaging device such as a CCD 2 via a lens 1 as an optical means is first converted into a CDS, clamp, or
Performs basic analog processing such as correction. This analog video signal is converted into a digital signal via an AD converter 4 at the next stage, and subjected to digital processing such as RGB separation and Y/C division by a digital processing circuit 5.

This digital image signal is temporarily stored in the next image memory 6, replaced with a converted code by the high efficiency code converter 7, and then returned to the image memory 6.

The conversion efficiency, timing, etc. at this time are controlled by a control circuit (eg, CPU) 8 in the figure.

Here, when issuing a warning about the remaining memory capacity, it is obtained by checking the amount of data in the conversion code format that occupies the image memory 6, and the remaining capacity of the external memory capacity is detected by checking the unrecorded area. The memory amounts of the two obtained by the counting operation are compared in the control circuit 8, and the amount of data in the image memory 6 determined by the photographing memory capacity detection means 11 is determined by the amount of data in the image memory 6 obtained by the memory capacity detection means 12. I
This is obtained by sending a signal to a warning device 10, such as an LED, when the remaining capacity of the C card 9 is exceeded. Further, at this time, by placing the driver circuit 13 of the CCD 2 or a mechanical driver (not shown) in a hold state, it is possible to stop any further imaging operation, regardless of the shutter button SL, 32.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in such conventional electronic still cameras, when the capacity of the external memory 9 is insufficient, the image the photographer attempts to take cannot be recorded, and multiple images are recorded. Even if it has a small amount of memory capacity, it has the disadvantage that it cannot be used effectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic still camera that is capable of dividing the last photographed image information into a plurality of memories or recording it all at once.

<Means for Solving the Problems> Therefore, as shown in FIG. After converting the obtained optical image signal of the subject into an electrical image signal using an image sensor,
In an electronic still camera that captures a subject image by recording image information that has been quantized and converted by the high-efficiency code converter in a removable external recording device, a removable device detects whether the external recording device is attached or detached. detection means;
The camera body should include a temporary saving means for subject images provided in the camera body, and a means for detecting remaining capacity or empty space in the external recording device, and should record subject image information in one external recording device. The configuration includes a dividing recording means that divides and records image information between the one external recording device and another external recording device for which switching is detected when the remaining capacity or free space runs out. .

In addition, if there is no more remaining capacity or free space to record subject image information in one external recording device, it will be detected that it has been switched to another external recording device, and the image will be stored in the other external recording device. The configuration includes a batch recording means for batch recording information.

The apparatus further includes means for detecting the amount of subject image information to be recorded in the external recording device, and a means for detecting the amount of subject image information to be recorded in the external recording device, and a means for detecting the amount of subject image information to be recorded in the external recording device, and a method for dividing the image into two or all at once in another external recording device. The present invention is further provided with recording selection means that allows the photographer to select whether to record the image according to the amount of information of the subject image.

<Operation> In the above configuration, it is possible to perform batch writing to the second memory, divisional writing to the first and second memories, and division into multiple memories is also possible.

Therefore, when the capacity of the external memory is insufficient, the image the photographer intends to take can be recorded, and when the photographer has a small memory capacity for a plurality of images, the memory capacity can be effectively utilized.

(Example> Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the system configuration of an embodiment of the electronic still camera of the present invention.

In this figure, the same elements as those in FIG. 9 are given the same reference numerals to simplify the explanation.

In the figure, attachment/detachment detection means 14 for detecting attachment/detachment of the external memory 9 and recording selection means 15 are added. The recording selection switch SW of the recording selection means 15 may be a normal "H" or "L" signal to the CPU, and will not be described here.

Further, as the attachment/detachment detection means 14, as shown in FIG.
Set any bin of external memory 9 to GNDii,
When this is connected to the camera body 16, for example, p
It may be a device that changes the input level from "H" level to "L" level via the ull-up resistor 17. Next, the operation and processing of this configuration will be explained.

Assume that a photographer records a photograph.

The photographer is sw,,sw. When you press the shutter S opening of
An example sequence as described in the conventional example is performed, the image is temporarily stored in the image memory 6, and the code is converted. At this time, Fig. 4(a). The control circuit 8 can detect the remaining amount of external memory by any of the means shown in (b). That is, FIG. 4(a) shows an example of a remaining memory amount/conversion compression ratio detection means to explain a method of direct address management, and FIGS. It shows how to manage addresses.

Now, the indirect address management method will be explained based on FIG. 4(b). In this memory management, the management block is 8 KB. Thereafter, the user's minimum read/playback area is divided into 4 KB units (clusters). Note that this value does not need to be 4KB,
For example, it may be the minimum memory value when the maximum compression conversion is performed.

The image attributes of the clusters mentioned above are encoded in the image allocation table starting from OO0800H, and by reading this table area, the control circuit 8 can determine the connected state and use/unuse of the image data clusters. . Also, the heading of each image is 0000041{
It is recorded in the area O007FBH.

Here, in order to detect the remaining capacity of the external memory 9, data at address OOOOOOOH (C) and 0 0 0 7
Obtained by reading the information contained in FEH~0007FFH (D). Specifically, OC on C
Assuming that OH is entered, the total capacity is 16MByte (16,384KByte) according to the conversion table shown in Figure 5.
). The value of D contains information corresponding to the number of effective sky areas (0 0 0 code) in the image allocation table, and the initial value is calculated as follows. For example, for 16MByLe, the code (16,384-8)/4-4094 (FFEH) is entered as the initial value. As this value decreases by one as one cluster is used, for example, if it becomes 2047 (7FFH), then (16,384" - 8") - 2047X4"
=8184KB is detected as remaining capacity. The remaining capacity of the external memory detected as described above is compared with the information amount of the captured image of the subject obtained by detecting the used area of the image memory 6, and if the remaining capacity is sufficient, recording is performed as is, as shown in FIG. The movement of the subject data to the external memory 9 is started according to the flowchart.

That is, in the flowchart of FIG. 6, when the processing of the Nth screen is completed in S1, the process advances to S2 to search for the empty class number Z near the beginning, and in S3, Z is entered from address 4N. In S4, the date code of the image is written from address (4N+1), and in S5, the image compression code is written at address 4N+3. In S6, codes are recorded in the image allocation table for empty clusters corresponding to the number Y of clusters required for image recording, starting from the one closest to the beginning. In S7, the external memory address X corresponding to the first cluster number is set in the 1/F address. In S8, lw in image address order
or, and proceed to S9.

In S9, it is determined whether the shooting data has ended or not, and if it has not ended, the process advances to SIO, the I/F address is incremented, the process advances to SLL, it is determined whether the cluster has ended, and the process ends. If 312, then X{Ii by the next cluster
! Set the I/F address and proceed to S13. or,
If the cluster does not end, proceed directly to 313. S13
Then, the image memory address is increased and the process returns to S8. On the other hand, if the photographing data is completed in S9, the process in S14. S
15 and S16, the number of remaining clusters is read, the number of remaining clusters is rewritten, and the process ends.

Next, if there is not enough capacity in the external memory, the control circuit 8 issues a warning signal, informing the external memory 9 that it will not be possible to take pictures in this state, and selecting whether to use a new external memory or divide the memory. Wait for. In this state, when the photographer detects that he has replaced the memory with a new one, ! The Il control circuit 8 detects the capacity of the new memory, and if it is sufficient, records all data in the new memory. Alternatively, if split recording is selected in this state, record only the amount remaining in the current memory, write the # of the final cluster as a continuation ID between 0007FCH NOO07FD, and request the photographer for the next memory. issue a warning. When the photographer detects this warning and replaces it with a new memory or another memory, the remaining memory is checked and the ID usage is confirmed (i.e., whether this memory has already received continuation), and if it is possible to record, OOOOOIH ~
Record the second continuation ID and the second division start cluster number in oooooo2H, and transfer the remaining image data.

Such processing is explained by the flowchart in FIG.

That is, in this flowchart, in S1, the remaining memory capacity of the external memory is input. In S2, the necessary memory for the captured image is manually stored. In S3, it is determined whether there is any memory remaining, and if there is, the process proceeds to S4 and records to the external memory. If there is no memory remaining, proceed to step 1;5, turn on the warning device, input the installation/removal status in S6, determine whether the first memory is removed in S7, and if it is removed,
Proceed to S8 to input the attachment/detachment status, determine whether another memory is installed in S9, and if it is installed, turn off the warning device in S10, return to S1, and record all at once in another external memory. This is the flow to do.

If the first memory is not disconnected in S7, proceed to Sll, input the division recording selection, proceed to S12, determine whether to divide or not, and if it is to divide, proceed to 513 and turn off the warning device. , if not split, return to S6. In S14, only the remaining amount is recorded, and in 315, the continuation I is recorded.
D is entered, a continuation mark is entered in S16, and the blinking of the warning device is turned on in 317.In 518, the memory installation/removal status is manually checked.In 319, it is determined whether or not the memory is removed.If it is removed, the process proceeds to S20. Proceed to step S21 to input the attachment/detachment status.
to determine whether another memory has been installed. If it is installed, the warning device is turned off at 322 and the process proceeds to S23. S2
In step 3, the remaining memory capacity of the external memory is input, and in step S24, the required remaining memory is input, and the process proceeds to step S25. In S25, it is determined whether or not the remaining amount is OK. If the remaining amount is OK, the process proceeds to S26, and the process is divided into two! Read D. If the remaining amount is not OK, return to 517. In S27, it is determined whether or not an ID is being used, and if so, the process advances to 328 and a two-part ID is entered. If you are not using it, Sl7
Return to. In S29, select the start address for two divisions,
At 330, the remaining image data is recorded.

As is clear from the above explanation, it is possible to perform batch writing to the second memory and divisional writing to the first and second memory. It goes without saying that by repeating the operations described above, it is possible to divide the memory into multiple pieces of memory. The flow of recording processing to an external memory in the direct address management method shown in FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 8 for reference. <Effects of the Invention> As explained above, the electronic still camera of the present invention According to , the photographer can selectively divide the last image taken into multiple memories or record it all at once, so there is no need to worry about running out of external memory. When the photographer is using the camera, it is possible to record the image that the photographer intended to take, and when the photographer has a small memory capacity for multiple images, it is very useful because the memory capacity can be used effectively.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a complaint correspondence diagram of the electronic still camera according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of the electronic still camera mentioned above, and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the attachment/detachment detection means in the above embodiment. Figure 4(a) is a diagram showing a method of direct address management using an example of a remaining memory capacity/conversion compression ratio detection means, and Figure 4(b) is a diagram showing a method for directly managing addresses using a similar example of remaining memory capacity/conversion compression ratio detection means. Figure 5 is a conversion table for the total memory capacity, Figure 6 is a flowchart explaining the recording process to external memory in the indirect address management method, and the WiJT diagram is a diagram showing how to perform indirect address management as an example. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for recording images across recording devices, FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the recording process to external memory in the direct address management method, and FIG. 9 is a system diagram of a conventional electronic still camera. l...Lens 2...
CCD 3...Pre-correction amplifier circuit 4...A
D converter 5...Digital process circuit
6... Image memory 7... High efficiency code converter 8... Control circuit 9... External memory 1l...
・Photographing memory capacity detection means l2...Memory remaining amount detection means l4...Attachment/detachment detection means 15...Recording selection means

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) It has a high-efficiency code converter with variable conversion efficiency of quantized information code, and after converting the optical image signal of the subject obtained by the optical means into an electrical image signal by the image sensor, the quantized and An electronic still camera that captures a subject image by recording image information converted by the high-efficiency code converter in a detachable external recording device,
attachment/detachment detection means for detecting attachment/detachment of the external recording device; temporary saving means for subject images provided within the camera body;
means for detecting the remaining capacity or empty area in the external recording device, and when there is no remaining capacity or empty area in one external recording device to record the subject image information,
An electronic still camera characterized by being provided with division recording means for dividing and recording image information between the one external recording device and another external recording device whose switching has been detected. (2) It has a high-efficiency code converter with variable conversion efficiency of quantized information code, and after converting the optical image signal of the subject obtained by the optical means into an electrical image signal by the image sensor, the quantized and An electronic still camera that captures a subject image by recording image information converted by the high-efficiency code converter in a detachable external recording device,
attachment/detachment detection means for detecting attachment/detachment of the external recording device; temporary saving means for subject images provided within the camera body;
means for detecting the remaining capacity or empty area in the external recording device, and when there is no remaining capacity or empty area in one external recording device to record the subject image information,
An electronic still camera characterized by comprising a batch recording means for detecting switching to another external recording device and collectively recording image information on the other external recording device. (3) It has a high-efficiency code converter with variable conversion efficiency of quantized information code, and after converting the optical image signal of the subject obtained by the optical means into an electrical image signal by the image sensor, the quantized and An electronic still camera that captures a subject image by recording image information converted by the high-efficiency code converter in a detachable external recording device,
attachment/detachment detection means for detecting attachment/detachment of the external recording device; temporary saving means for subject images provided within the camera body;
means for detecting the remaining capacity or empty area in the external recording device, and when there is no remaining capacity or empty area in one external recording device to record the subject image information, the one A dividing recording means for dividing and recording image information between the external recording device and another external recording device for which it is detected that the switching has been performed; The camera is equipped with a batch recording means for recording image information all at once, and a means for detecting the amount of subject image information to be recorded on an external recording device, and before being divided and recorded, it is divided or recorded on another external recording device. An electronic still camera is provided with a recording selection means that allows a photographer to select whether to record all at once, depending on the amount of image information of the subject.