JPH07191885A - Image recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the image recording and reproducing device which effectively utilizes a recording medium and improves operability while maintaining data compatibility with a computer. CONSTITUTION:As the number of entries in a non-registered image file to be calculated based on the contents of an FAT at a relevant time point and the required number of clusters per unit image file, the first number of non- registered entries is recognized and as the number of entries in a non-registered image file concerning a current directory at the same time point, the second number of non-registered entries is recognized. When the second number of non-registered entries is smaller than the first number of non-registered entries, a sub directory is automatically set to the relevant route directory or current directory.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording / reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to an image recording / reproducing apparatus having data compatibility with a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital still camera (DSC) for recording image data, audio data and control data as a file on a recording medium such as a memory card, a magnetic medium (hard disk or floppy disk) and a magneto-optical medium has already been filed by the present applicant. Proposed. In such a digital still camera, when data is recorded on a recording medium in a file format, memory management must be performed in a standard DOS (disk operating system) format in a personal computer or the like in terms of data compatibility. However, even in this electronic still camera, the memory is managed in the DOS format. This also applies to other types of image recording / reproducing devices. Then, it is also considered to record control information for controlling the operation and associating each file as a control file (also referred to as a control file or a relation file) on the recording medium.

[0003]

As described above, by adopting the memory management system having data compatibility with the computer, there is an advantage that captured image data and the like can be easily used by the computer. There are many problems that must be solved in order for an image recording / reproducing apparatus such as a camera to handle data.

For example, in order to use a medium having data compatibility with the computer, the computer may record a file such as a document file which cannot be handled by the camera on the medium, which may cause the following inconvenience.

Normally, a computer handles a large number of small-sized files such as text files, and when a large number of such small-sized files are registered in the same directory, recording is possible based on an unused data area. The number of directory entries that can be newly registered may be smaller than the number of sheets. In this case, there is a problem in that the image data area becomes redundant but cannot be registered, making it difficult to use the recording medium efficiently.

If files that can be handled by the camera and files that cannot be handled coexist in the same directory, some frames cannot be played during playback, and it is difficult for the operator to grasp the recording status.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording / reproducing apparatus in which the data compatibility with a computer is maintained and the recording medium is effectively used and the operability is improved.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention uses the F at that time.
First unregistered entry number recognizing means for recognizing the first unregistered entry number, which is the number of entries of the unregistered image file calculated based on the content of AT and the required number of clusters per unit image file, And a second unregistered entry number recognizing means for recognizing a second unregistered entry which is the number of entries of the unregistered image file in the current directory at the same time. When the number of second unregistered entries recognized by the second unregistered entry number recognition means is smaller than the number of recognized first unregistered entries, a subdirectory is automatically set in the root directory or the current directory. And a sub-directory automatic setting means for doing so.

[0009]

In the present invention, the first unregistered entry number, which is the number of entries of the unregistered image file calculated based on the contents of the FAT and the required number of clusters per unit image file at that time, is recognized and The second unregistered entry, which is the number of unregistered image file entries for the current directory at the same time, is recognized, and when the second unregistered entry number is smaller than the first unregistered entry number, the root directory or the current directory Automatically set subdirectories in the directory.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an application example to a digital still camera which is an embodiment of an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. The camera housing 100 includes a lens 101,
Trigger switch 102 for instructing shooting, display panel 103 composed of LCD, operation switch 104 for instructing operation, insertion slot 105 into which memory card 106 is inserted and mounted, video signal output for outputting captured video signal The terminal 107 and an external interface (I / F) 108 for exchanging data with an external device are provided.

As shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, the operation switch 104 has a power switch 104A for controlling ON / OFF of a camera power source, a recording / reproducing switch 104B for switching a recording / reproducing mode, and a directory for operating a directory. A switch 104C, an UP switch 104D for selecting a playback frame (may be used for directory operation) and a DOWN switch 104E, and a mode switch 104F for setting a mode such as a continuous shooting mode are provided.

The display panel 103 is, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a display section 103A for displaying modes such as reproduction, continuous shooting, and directory, a display section 103B for displaying a frame number and a directory number, and a recordable and reproducible number. It has a display portion 103C for displaying.

FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a digital still camera as an example of this embodiment. A subject is input via a lens 1 to an image pickup circuit 2 having an image pickup device such as a CCD, which is a photoelectric conversion means, and having a circuit for performing a predetermined image pickup process on the converted electric signal. Imaging circuit 2
The video signal from is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 3 and written in the frame memory 4. The video data read from the frame memory 4 is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 5, encoded by the video encoder 6, and then supplied to the external terminal 7 and the electronic viewfinder 8.

At the time of data recording, the video data read from the frame memory 4 is JP-coded by the compression / expansion circuit 10.
The compression processing is performed by a compression method based on the EG method and the like, and is recorded in the memory card 16 via the card interface (I / F) 11. At the time of reproduction, the video data read from the memory card 16 via the card interface (I / F) 11 is expanded by the compression / expansion circuit 10,
It is written in the frame memory 4. The video data read from the frame memory 4 is processed by the D / A converter 5 and the video encoder 6, and then output to the external terminal 7 and the electronic viewfinder 8.

The system control circuit 12 controls the entire camera operation. For example, the display of the display unit 13 (corresponding to 103 in FIG. 1) is controlled, and the camera operation is controlled based on the operation information from the operation switch 14 (corresponding to 104 in FIG. 1). The system control circuit 12 also superimposes character information on the video signal via the character generator 9, and further controls communication with the outside via an external interface (I / F) 15.

FIG. 5 shows an example of data arrangement in the memory card. Parameter data of management information is recorded in the boot sector, which is the first area, a table indicating the memory usage status is recorded in the FAT, and subsequently, file data recording in which image files and the like forming the file data area are recorded. The area is located. Image files and audio files consist of a header and an image data area. This image data is data in a format conforming to JPEG. In the file data area, in addition to an image file, a file such as a text file that cannot be handled by the image recording / reproducing apparatus, a subdirectory, or the like is recorded.

The directory structure is shown in FIG.
FIG. 3A shows the structure of the root directory, which is composed of a set of entries of the number of entries recorded in the boot sector, and each has an entry 0, an entry 1, an entry 2, an entry 3, ... Corresponds to the frame number. The sub-directory is, as shown in FIG.
A current directory “.”, A parent directory “..”, an entry 2 and an entry 3, ... Corresponding to the frame numbers 1 and 2.

An example of the format of the directory entry is shown in FIG. 7, and the name, attribute, (reservation), time, date, start cluster, file size, etc. are specified. In this example, the file is displayed by frame number,
The file name is automatically created by the system control circuit in the form of a combination of fixed pattern and serial number. The procedure of creation is to determine the upper 5 digits of the file name by a function that generates a character string of alphabets and numbers, check the duplication of the upper 5 digits of the file in the current directory, and if there is duplication, increment it. Top 5 by operation
Decide on the digit. The lower 3 digits are serial numbers. The extension is J6I. A frame number may be adopted as the serial number portion.

As shown in FIG. 8, the FAT is composed of a divided area of 12 bits or 16 bits, entries 0 and 1 are reserved, entries 2, 3 and 4 are in clusters 2, 3 and 4 of the file data area. It corresponds. In the cluster used for recording the file, non-zero data is written in the FAT entry, and chain structure data is written to represent the connection of one file.

The image file has a structure as shown in FIG. 9, and the standard ID for the image file structure of the camera,
It has a file header part in which parameters of image data and the like are written, and an image data part in which recorded compressed data of image data such as the JPEG standard is written.

FIG. 10 shows a display example during the recording operation. This display can be similarly performed on the display unit 103 or the video screen. Immediately after the power is turned on, the current directory is displayed, for example, for 5 seconds as shown in FIG. 9A, and subsequently, as shown in FIG. 13 "is displayed. As for the directory numbers, as shown in FIG. 11, the root directory may be set to "0" and numbers may be added in the order of the tree walk.

The display unit can display the root directory and sub-directories in a tree structure by using the character generator 9, and can display the file name in alphabetical form.

FIG. 12 shows a similar display example during the reproducing operation. Immediately after the power is turned on, the current directory “0” is displayed for 5 seconds as shown in FIG. 7A, and then the reproduction frame number “1” and the reproduction are performed as shown in FIG. The possible number "6" is displayed. here,
As a file that can be played back by the camera, the condition that the content of the standard ID of the recording file header with the file name extension “J6I” can be processed by the camera is a condition.

10 and 12, by pressing the directory switch 104C, the current directory can be displayed for 5 seconds at any time.

FIG. 13 shows a display example when the area of the recording medium is insufficient. The lack of area means that the number of entries that can be registered is smaller than that of the file data area. If the number of entries is insufficient during recording, the "directory" display segment blinks when the current directory is displayed. At this time, since the recording medium cannot be effectively used, the fact can be displayed on the display screen by the character generator 9 to notify the operator.

When there are not enough entries, the operator pushes the directory switch 104C while pressing the trigger switch 10
Pressing 2 creates a subdirectory and moves the current directory to the created subdirectory. The name of the subdirectory is created with a fixed pattern and serial number. FIG. 14 shows a display example when such a directory is created. In this display, the directory number blinks. The above-mentioned display can be performed by using the character generator 9 so that it can be displayed more easily, for example, the file name of the created subdirectory or the tree display of the directory hierarchy.

In the above description, the current directory is moved to the newly created subdirectory. However, without moving the directory, an extra, for example, text data file other than the image file is newly created in the subdirectory for organization. You can move to and make effective use of the file data area. By doing this,
Even in an image recording / reproducing apparatus that can handle only the root directory, the data area can be effectively used if the image files are left in the root directory.

It is also possible to create a subdirectory and move the image files in all the subdirectories in the memory card to the subdirectory. In other words, it is possible to organize data that is difficult to access by dividing it into several sub-directories and organize them in one directory. At this time, there is a possibility that the file names will be duplicated, so the file name automatic change processing is required. In the case of an image file, the name can be changed by incrementing the serial number part.

The process of moving a file between directories is
This is done by moving the 32-byte data registered in the directory entry for one file. This processing can be performed easily and at high speed by the system controller 12.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation processing procedure of the above example. When the camera power is turned on and power-on processing is performed (step S101), a current directory described later is set (step S102), and direct display is performed for, for example, 5 seconds (step S10).
3). Next, it is determined whether the recording / reproducing switch is set to the recording mode or the reproducing mode (step S
104), if it is the recording mode, the number of recordable sheets described later is counted (step S105), and it is determined whether or not the number of entries is insufficient (step S106). If it is determined that the number of entries is insufficient, a warning that the number of entries is insufficient is displayed and displayed (step S10).
After 7), if the number of entries is not insufficient, the recordable number is displayed as it is (step S108), and the recording process is started.

When it is determined in step S104 that the reproduction mode is set, the number of reproducible sheets, which will be described later, is counted (step S109), the reproducible number is displayed (step S110), and then the reproduction process is started.

The procedure for setting the current directory is shown in FIG. First, the control file ".CTL" file is searched from the root directory (step S201), and the presence or absence of the control file is determined (step S202). Here, an example of the control file is shown in FIG. In step S202,
If it is determined that there is "current:" in the file
Is searched for (step S203), the presence or absence thereof is determined (step S204), and if it is determined to be present, the subdirectory of the designated path is searched (step S205),
The presence or absence thereof is determined (step S206). If it is determined to be present, the designated directory is set as the current directory (step S207), the directory number is added (step S209), and the process is terminated.

If it is determined in step S202, 204 or 206 that there is none, the root directory is set to the current directory (step S208),
The process of step S209 is reached.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of counting the recordable number of sheets. The required number of clusters is calculated from the size of the image file, and the recordable number A is calculated from the FAT (step S301). Next, the number B of unregistered directories in the FAT is searched (step S302). In this process, the entry in which the head of the current directory is "0" (unused) or "0ESH" (erased after once used) is counted. This is taken into consideration when the number of directories that the system control circuit can handle is smaller than the actual number of directories. Then, A
The smaller of B and B is the recordable number (step S30).
3).

FIG. 19 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the reproducible number counting processing in the embodiment of the present invention. First, "0" is set in the counter (step S401), the top entry of the current directory is read (step S402), and it is determined whether the top is "0" (unrecorded) (step S403). "0"
If so, the process ends. If it is not "0", the beginning is "0".
It is determined whether or not it is "E5H" (recorded and then erased) (step S404), and if not, it is determined whether or not the extension is "J6I" (step S405). Here, the extension is " If it is "J6I", it is determined whether the header of the file is OK (camera processable) (step S406),
If OK, reproduction is possible, so the counter is incremented (step S407), and the end of entry is determined (step S408). If the entry is completed in step S408, the process ends.

If the beginning is "0E5H" in step S404, the extension is not "J6I" in step S405, the file header is OK in step S406.
If not, or if the entry is not completed in step S408, the next entry is read (step S408).
409) and the process proceeds to step S403.

The directory creation processing procedure will be described with reference to FIG. This process is performed when the directory switch and the trigger switch are simultaneously pressed in the recording mode. First, it is determined whether recording is possible (step S5
01), if it is impossible, end the process, and if possible,
A subdirectory is created (step S502). Here, the names of the sub-directories are determined so as not to overlap in the same directory. Next, the presence or absence of the control file is determined (step S503). If there is no control file, a control file is created and the current directory is registered (step S504). If there is a control file, the current directory of the control file is changed. (Step S505), the current directory is changed to the subdirectory just created (step S506), the number of recordable sheets is counted (step S507), and then the recording process is started.

As described above, the above process may be performed by the operator consciously or automatically when the number of directory entries is insufficient. Also, when the handling files are mixed, it is possible to automatically create a directory / sub-directory and organize the sub-directories.

Next, the directory move processing procedure is shown in FIG.
Will be described with reference to. Directory up switch 10
The 4D operation starts the directory-up processing. First, the tree walk is performed to search the next directory (step S601), and the presence or absence of the control file is determined (step S602). If there is no control file, the control file is created. The current directory is registered (step S603), and if there is a control file, the current directory of the control file is changed (step S604), the current directory is changed (step S605), and the directory is displayed (step S606). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the recording mode is set (step S607). If the recording mode is set, the number of printable sheets is counted (step S607).
607), and shifts to recording processing. If the reproduction mode is set in step S607, the number of reproducible sheets is counted (step S609), and the process proceeds to the reproduction process.

On the other hand, the directory down switch 104
When E is operated, the directory down process starts,
After searching the previous directory in the tree walk (step S610), the process shifts to the above-described step S602.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for grouping related image data. For example, the present process is effective when performing a grouping process on image files that are related to each other such as continuous shooting or themes that are continuously shot with the trigger switch ON. FIG. 22 shows a grouping process of image files obtained by continuous shooting as an example.
When continuous shooting is set, it is displayed as shown in FIG. 23 (step S701), a subdirectory is created (step S702), and the current directory is moved to the created subdirectory ( Step S7
03) and display the subdirectory (step S)
704).

Next, after waiting for a trigger input to instruct recording (step S705), a photographing process for recording photographed image data in a file format on a medium is performed (step S70).
6) It is determined whether recording is possible (step S70).
7). If recording is possible, it is determined whether or not a trigger is input, and if it is input, step S7.
Returning to the process of 06, if there is no trigger input, the process returns to the upper directory (step S709) and ends the process. If it is determined that recording is impossible in step S707, the process directly returns to step S709.

In this processing as in the above processing, the grouping mode is set by pressing the mode switch, the image data obtained by shooting is put in the created sub-directory, and the reproduction mode switch is pressed to move to the upper directory. enter. The functions of the present invention are summarized as follows. (1) The recordable number display section and the reproducible number display section are also used, and the recordable number is displayed during recording and the reproducible number is displayed during reproduction. (2) When counting the number of reproducible files, the file name and file format are determined and the number of reproducible files is counted. (3) When determining the number of recordable sheets, a means is provided for making the value calculated from the FAT (memory capacity) or the number of newly registerable directory entries smaller. (4) Provision of means for issuing a warning when there are insufficient entries. (5) A means for creating a subdirectory for separating and organizing files that can be handled by the camera and files that cannot be handled is provided. (6) When the number of unrecorded entries in the root directory is smaller than the number of recordable sheets calculated from the FAT (memory capacity) in the memory card, means for creating the subdirectory for organization in (4) is provided. (7) When a file that can be handled by the camera and a file that cannot be handled are mixed in the same directory in the memory card, a means for creating the directory for sorting in (4) is provided. (8) A means for moving files that cannot be handled by the camera is provided in the file directory subdirectory. (9) A means for collecting image files (files that can be handled by the camera) is provided in the subdirectory for file organization. (10) Image file (File that camera can handle)
Is provided in the control file, and means for accessing the subdirectory according to the control file is provided. (11) When a file name and a subdirectory name are created, a means for creating the name is provided so that duplication does not occur. (12) A means for automatically or manually creating a subdirectory at the time of grouping is provided.

[0044]

As described above, according to the image recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, the data area of the recording medium can be effectively utilized while maintaining the data compatibility with the computer, and the operability is improved. Greatly improved. In particular,
If the number of entries is insufficient, the subdirectory is automatically created, so the file data area can be fully used even if the number of entries is insufficient.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention and an example of application to a digital still camera.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of an operation switch 104 shown in FIG.

3 is a diagram showing a display example of a display panel 103 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a digital still camera as an example of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of data arrangement in a memory card.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a directory structure.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a format example of a directory entry.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of FAT.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a structure of an image file.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example during a recording operation.

11 is a diagram showing another example of the display of FIG. 10 and showing an example of numbering directory numbers in the order of tree walks.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example similar to that of FIG. 10 during a reproducing operation.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example when the area of the recording medium is insufficient.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display example when a directory is created.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an operation processing procedure of the above example.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting a current directory.

17 is a diagram showing an example of a control file in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for counting the recordable number of sheets.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of reproducible sheet count processing in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a directory creation processing procedure.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a procedure for directory movement processing.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a grouping processing procedure of image files obtained by continuous shooting.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an example of displaying that continuous shooting is performed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 lens 2 imaging circuit 3 A / D converter 4 frame memory 5 D / A converter 6 video encoder 7 external terminal 8 viewfinder 9 compression / expansion circuit 10 system control circuit 11 display / switch control circuit 12 display circuit 13 operation switch 14 character Generator 15 RS interface 16 Card interface 17,106 Memory card 18 Power supply 19 Audio circuit 20 Speaker 21 Microphone 100 Camera housing 101 Lens 102 Trigger switch 103 Display panel 104 Operation switch 105 Slot 107 Video signal output terminal 108 External interface

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first number for recognizing a first unregistered entry number, which is an entry number of an unregistered image file calculated based on the contents of FAT at that time and the required number of clusters per unit image file. An unregistered entry number recognizing means, a second unregistered entry number recognizing means for recognizing a second unregistered entry which is the number of entries of the unregistered image file in the current directory at the same time point as described above, The first recognized by the unregistered entry number recognition unit 1
When the number of second unregistered entries recognized by the second unregistered entry number recognizing means is smaller than the number of unregistered entries of the subdirectory, a subdirectory for automatically setting a subdirectory in the root directory or the current directory. An image recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: an automatic setting unit.