JPH09186953A - Recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain correct time data even when time data are lost at replacement of a battery and time data different from the actual data are recorded. SOLUTION: In the case of recording time count data outputted from a clock 20 built in a camera into a card recording medium 118, information denoting whether or not the count data are set to a correct time is added to the count data and the resulting data are stored. Then a system controller 6 and the clock 20 reference the count data set information and an output from the clock 20 recorded not set into the card recording medium 118 is corrected into a correct recording time, then even when time data are lost at replacement of battery of a camera section 100 and time data different from actual data are recorded, the count data set information is referenced to discriminate incorrect time data and the data are corrected into correct time data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording device for recording and correcting time data, and is suitable for use in, for example, an electronic still camera having a function of recording a photographing recording time together with image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic still camera is widely known which photographs a subject and outputs the photographed still image as analog or digital image data. In many cases, this type of camera has a function of recording the date and time of shooting together with image data. In such a camera, a controller having a clock function is built in, and the clock operation is always performed.

However, when the remaining battery power for driving the controller having the clock function is exhausted, not only the time cannot be measured, but also the time data is lost. That is,
Since the time data is initialized when the battery is replaced, in this case, the user had to newly input the date and time.

Therefore, in order to solve such inconvenience, a capacitor having a large capacity is connected in parallel with the battery, and even when the battery is replaced, the charging voltage of the capacitor is used to perform a timekeeping operation for a while. An improved camera has been proposed so that the above can be continued.

Therefore, in this case, even if the battery voltage drops, the timekeeping operation can be continued for a while due to the voltage from the capacitors connected in parallel.
Then, if the power supply voltage of the controller performing the timekeeping operation can be secured until the user replaces the battery, the time data can be held, and it is not necessary to rewrite the time data.

[0006]

However, even in a camera to which a capacitor is connected, if the battery is left without being replaced, the clocking operation cannot be continued even with the voltage stored in the capacitor. Therefore, the time data disappears, and after all, the time data had to be newly input after the battery was replaced.

In this case, if the photographing is performed without inputting the time data, the time data recorded together with the image becomes meaningless unlike the actual case. The conventional camera has a problem in that it is difficult to correct an incorrect recording time to a correct time after shooting without inputting time data.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention makes it possible to correct the time data even after the time data is lost when the battery is replaced and the time data different from the actual time is recorded. With the goal.

[0009]

A recording device according to the present invention comprises a clock means for outputting clock data, a data recording means for recording clock data output from the clock means, and a clock output by the clock means. When the timekeeping data setting storage means for holding information indicating whether or not the data has been set at the correct time and the timekeeping data output from the timekeeping means are recorded in the data recording means, the timekeeping data set information is stored. By referring to the recording control means for performing additional recording and the time-measurement data setting information recorded in the data recording means, the output of the time-measuring means recorded in the data recording means without being set is set to the correct recording time. And a time adjusting means for adjusting the time.

Another feature of the present invention is that the time adjustment means corrects the recording time based on the time obtained from a second time measuring means which is separate from the recording device. It has a feature.

Another feature of the present invention is that the time adjustment means corrects the recording time based on the time set by the user's operation of the time setting means.

Another feature of the present invention is that the timekeeping data is elapsed time data from a reference time represented by 32 bits, and the upper 4 bits of the 32 bits are the timekeeping data setting information. It is characterized by being used as.

Another feature of the present invention is that it further comprises count information storage means for holding count information indicating how many times the timing operation by the timing means is interrupted,
The recording control means adds the count information to the time data set information and records the time data when the time data output from the time means is recorded in the data recording means. The means corrects, based on the count information recorded in the data recording means, only the output of the clocking means recorded unset in the data recording means after the last interruption to the correct recording time. I am trying.

Another feature of the present invention is that, based on the count information recorded in the data recording means, it is recorded in the data recording means without being set after the interruption before the last interruption. It is characterized by further comprising provisional time generation means for correcting the output of the timing means with reference to the outputs of the timing means before and after the provisional recording time so that the time series is correctly maintained.

[0015]

Since the present invention has the above technical means, when the clock data output from the clock means is recorded in the data recording means, the clock data setting information is added and recorded, and thereafter, the above By referring to the time data setting information recorded in the data recording means, the output of the time measuring means recorded without being set at the correct time can be corrected to the correct recording time.

According to another feature of the present invention, the recording time is automatically corrected on the basis of the time obtained from the second timing means separate from the recording device.

According to another feature of the invention, the second
Even if there is no such clocking means, the recording time can be corrected by the recording device alone provided with the time setting means.

According to another feature of the present invention, when the timing operation by the timing means is interrupted several times but the user does not set the correct time each time, the data is recorded in the data recording means without being set. Only the time data that can be corrected correctly is selected from among the several time data thus recorded, and the recording time is corrected.

According to another feature of the present invention, in the case where the timekeeping data recorded without being set in the data recording means cannot be corrected correctly because the timekeeping operation by the timekeeping means is interrupted several times. Even if there is, the time series of the series of timekeeping data will be corrected to the tentative recording time that was correctly maintained, and the time sequence of the timekeeping data will always be guaranteed.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a recording apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a digital still camera system which is a first embodiment of a recording apparatus of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 100 is a camera unit, and 200 is a camera unit.
Is a host computer unit, which digitally records an image taken by the camera unit 100 on a removable card recording medium 118. Further, by transferring the image data and various kinds of information to the host computer section 200 through the external bus I / F 16, it is possible to reproduce the picked-up image and perform various kinds of image processing.

Next, 2 is a diaphragm / shutter that has both a diaphragm function and a shutter function, and 3 is a CCD (Charged Cou) that converts reflected light from a subject into an electric signal.
4 is a preprocessing circuit including a CDS circuit for removing output noise from the CCD 3 and a non-linear amplification circuit for performing A / D conversion.

Reference numeral 5 is an A / D converter, 6 is a system controller for controlling the entire system, 7 is an operating unit, 8 is a mechanical system drive circuit for driving the lens 101 and the shutter 2 which also functions as an aperture under the control of the system controller 6. A timing signal generator (TG) 13 generates a timing signal necessary for operating the image pickup device.

Reference numeral 9 is an image pickup element drive circuit for amplifying a timing signal given from the TG 13 to a level at which the image pickup element can be driven, 10 is a DRAM for temporarily storing photographed digital image data, and 11 is a pixel corresponding to a pixel of the CCD 3. Imaging signal processing unit for processing digital image data, 1
4 is a card recording medium 118 as a data recording means and D
Card I for exchanging data with the RAM 10
/ F.

Reference numeral 16 denotes an external bus I / F for transferring an image to the host computer 200 and exchanging information attached to the image. Reference numeral 20 denotes a clock built in the camera unit 100, which exchanges time data (including “date”) with the system controller 6. Reference numeral 22 is a built-in clock of the host computer 200, 24 is an input means such as a keyboard and a mouse, and 26 is a display means such as a CRT.

The camera built-in clock 20 corresponds to the time measuring means, and the computer built-in clock 22 corresponds to the second time measuring means. Thereafter, initial setting of time data, photographing / recording, and host computer 20 for data in the card recording medium 118.
The transfer to 0 and the operation of the camera built-in clock 20 will be described in order.

[Initial Setting of Time Data] First, the initial setting of time data will be described. Immediately after loading the battery,
Since the value of the camera built-in clock 20 does not represent the current time, it is necessary to input the time data to the camera in some form.

In the present embodiment, instead of setting the date and time by operating the switch of the main body of the camera unit 100, the camera unit 10
0 is connected to the host computer 200, and the clock 22 built in the host computer 200 side is used to automatically correct the time of the camera built-in clock 20.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the built-in clock 20 of the camera, further divided into functions. In FIG. 2, 201 is a clock, 202 is a timer that actually performs clock operation using the clock 201, 203 is a memory that stores time data, and 204 is a communication I / F that communicates with the system controller 6.

Reference numeral 205 denotes a control means for controlling each part of the timer 202, the memory 203, and the communication I / F 204, which constitutes a recording control means and a time adjustment means together with the system controller 6. Since the built-in camera clock 20 continuously performs the time counting operation even when the camera does not perform the shooting operation, power is supplied by a system different from other camera units.
Therefore, the timekeeping operation is started at the same time when the battery is turned on, and the operation is continued until the battery runs out.

When a battery (not shown) is inserted into the built-in clock 20 of the camera, the program inside the control means 205 is started. Then, first, the contents of the memory 203 are initialized. Next, the update interval of the timer 202 (for example, every second)
Is set, and thereafter, the timer 202 notifies the control means 205 each time the value set at this update interval is reached.

Upon receiving this notification, the control means 205 updates the contents of the time data in the memory 203. As a result, the time data in the memory 203 is incremented as time passes.

The format of the time data in the memory 203 does not necessarily have to be the same as the time information actually recorded in the card recording medium 118, and some processing may be added in the system controller 6. .

For example, the time data in the memory 203 is
If the total second data from a certain reference time is represented by 32 bits, the camera built-in clock 20 itself can perform an increment operation at regular intervals and does not need to perform a special conversion operation, and thus can have a simple configuration. .

If the time that can be represented by 32-bit total seconds data is expressed in (year), it becomes 2 ³² / (365 * 24 * 60 * 60) = approximately 136 (year), which is sufficient for clocking. I understand.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, the time data Time of the memory 203 in the camera built-in clock 20 is initialized to zero when the power is turned on, and at the same time the time data has been set. The time setting flag Flg indicating whether or not it is set to "0". The memory 203 that stores the value of the time setting flag Flg in this way corresponds to a time data setting storage means.

Assuming that this initialization time is the reference time indicating 0:00:00 on January 1, 1970, time data Ti
me represents the elapsed time from this reference time in units of seconds (hereinafter referred to as total seconds).

Therefore, the camera built-in clock 20 itself is
It does not have the concept of date, time, or minute. The conversion operation to the date / hour / minute is performed by the software on the system controller 6 or the host computer 200 side.

The camera section 100 is connected to the host computer 20.
Time data Time after 1 hour without connecting to 0
Is as shown in FIG. 3 (b). On the other hand, the processing procedure on the host computer 200 side when connecting to the host computer 200 to perform the initial setting of the time data is as follows.

First, the connection is confirmed, and the camera built-in clock 20
It is checked whether the time setting flag Flg in is set (whether the value is "1"). Then, if the value of the time setting flag Flg is "1", it is determined that the time has already been set, and the processing ends.

The value of the time setting flag Flg is "0".
If so, it is determined that the time has not been set, and the current time is loaded from the built-in clock 22 in the host computer 200. Next, the loaded current time is converted into the above-mentioned total seconds format, and the command / data is transferred to the system controller 6 on the camera section 100 side. If there is content to be initialized other than the time, those data are also transferred. Then, the time setting flag Flg is set to "1" to end the initialization operation.

At this time, on the side of the camera section 100, an instruction to adjust the time of the built-in clock 20 of the camera is transmitted from the system controller 6 to the control means 205 through the communication I / F 204. The control means 205 correspondingly rewrites the contents of the time data Time of the memory 203.

For example, when the time of the built-in clock 22 on the host computer 200 side is 8:24:30 on January 10, 1995, the memory 20 in the camera built-in clock 20.
The contents of 3 are rewritten as shown in FIG.

[Photographing / Recording Operation] Next, with reference to FIG. 1, a state of photographing / recording operation of the camera unit 100 alone will be described.

When photographing is instructed by operating the operation unit 7, the lens 101 is controlled by the system controller 6.
And the shutter / diaphragm 2 is driven, and the focal length, the diaphragm, and the shutter speed corresponding to the photographing conditions are set. After that, the timing signal necessary for operating the CCD 3 is generated by the TG 13 to the image pickup element drive circuit 9, and the CCD 3 is driven.

The signal photoelectrically converted by the CCD 3 is passed through the pre-processing circuit 4 and the A / D converter 5 once to D
After being stored in the RAM 10, the image pickup signal processing unit 11 processes the digital image data according to the pixels of the CCD 3 and stores it in the DRAM 10.

The image data stored in the DRAM 10 in the above image capturing sequence is recorded on the card recording medium 118 through the card I / F 14. At this time, the time information in the built-in clock 20 of the camera, that is, the total seconds Time and the time setting flag Flg are taken out by the control of the system controller 6 and stored in the card recording medium 118 through the card I / F 14 as an attribute file.

After shooting, in order to confirm the contents of the recorded image more quickly, the image obtained by thinning out the shot image is stored in the card recording medium 118 as a reduced image file. These attribute files and reduced image files are stored in association with the corresponding image data.

[Transfer of Data in Recording Medium to Host Computer] By connecting the external bus I / F 16 and the host computer 200 with a cable (not shown), image information and time information recorded in the card recording medium 118 Can be transferred to the host computer 200.

The procedure for transferring the data recorded on the card recording medium 118 to the host computer 200 will be described below. First, when the connection with the host computer 200 is confirmed, the system controller 6 enters a state of waiting for a command from the host computer 200.

The host computer 200 issues to the system controller 6 an instruction to load the thinned-out images and the shooting time information of each image in order to display a list of the image data stored in the card recording medium 118. To do.

The system controller 6 reads out the thinned-out image and the photographing time information from the card recording medium 118 in response to the above-mentioned command and transfers them to the host computer 200 through the external bus I / F 16. The host computer 200 receives these data and outputs a list of index images as shown in FIG. 4 to the display means 26.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 210 denotes the card recording medium 1.
The system controller 6 manages an image number given to each image when recording on the recording medium 18. The image number is incremented by 1 each time one image is recorded. 212
Is a simple image (thinned image) read from the reduced image file, and 214 is time data at the time of recording.

When the user selects a desired image from the index images using the input means 24 such as a mouse or keyboard connected to the host computer 200, the host computer 200 records the image data corresponding to the image number on the card. It is loaded from the medium 118 and output to the display means 26.

[Correction of Shooting Time Data Recorded on Recording Medium] As described above, the camera built-in clock 2 immediately after the battery is inserted.
Since 0 does not correctly represent the current time, the time data was input using the built-in clock 22 of the host computer 200. However, even if the battery is replaced during shooting, the time of the camera built-in clock 20 is also input. Data will be lost and will need to be reconfigured.

In the present embodiment, in such a case, the card recording medium 1 is set without setting the time when the battery is replaced.
Even after the incorrect time data is once written in 18, the correct time data can be automatically corrected at the time of connection with the host computer 200.

FIG. 5A is a list of the contents of the attribute file of each image shown in FIG. As is apparent from FIG. 5A, for the dates / times of the image numbers 1 to 3, the time setting flag Flg is "1" and the time setting flags Flg of the image numbers 4 and after are "0". From this, it can be estimated that the battery was replaced between the image data of the image numbers 3 and 4.

For example, for the image data of image number 4, it is 7 after the battery is replaced from the recorded time data.
Since it can be estimated that the image was taken after 12 minutes, in order to correct these time data, it is sufficient to know the time indicated by the camera built-in clock 20 and the exact time at that time.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the software processing on the host computer 200 side when the time data in the card recording medium 118 is updated by connecting to the host computer 200.

In FIG. 6, first, the current time data Tcam_n indicated by the camera built-in clock 20 in the camera section 100.
ow and the current time data Tpc_now indicated by the built-in clock 22 of the host computer 200 (assuming that any time data is represented by the above-mentioned 32-bit total second data) is read (step S301).

Next, the reduced image of the photographed image, the photographing time data Tcam_rec, and the time setting flag Flg.
Is read (step S302). Then, it is checked by the time setting flag Flg whether the read shooting time data Tcam_rec indicates the correct time (step S303).

That is, the time setting flag Flg is "0".
If (time data has not been set), it can be estimated that the in-camera clock 20 has been reset due to battery replacement or some other reason, and image data was captured after the time data was cleared.

Therefore, in this case, the photographing time Tca
m Rec is modified as follows (step S304), and the time setting flag Flg of the designated image in the card recording medium 118 is set to "1" (step S3).
05). Tcam_rec = Tcam_rec + (Tpc_now-Tcam_now)… (*)

If the time setting flag Flg is "1" (time data has been set), this step S304,
The process of S305 is skipped. Then, all captured images in the card recording medium 118 are stored in the host computer 2.
Until it is loaded into 00, steps S302 to S305
The above process is repeated (step S306).

When all the captured images are loaded into the host computer 200, the host computer 20
The current time Tpc_now of 0 is read again (step S307), and the current time Tcam of the camera unit 100 is read.
_Now is transferred to the camera unit 100 side (step S308). Through the above processing, the current time is corrected (same as the initialization of time data).

For example, the current time of the camera built-in clock 20 and the time of the built-in clock 22 of the host computer 200 are 1970/01/01 10: 00.00, respectively.
(Total seconds: 36,000 seconds), 1995/07/2
3 1: 00.00 (total seconds: 806, 457, 600
sec), the accurate recording time Tcam_rec4 of the image data of image number 4 is calculated from the above formula (*) as Tcam_rec4 = 432 + (806,457,600-36,000) = 806,421,432 (sec) => 1995/07/22 15 It can be estimated as: 07.12.

Similarly, when the image data of the image numbers 5 and 6 are also corrected, the list of the corrected attribute files becomes as shown in FIG. 5B, and the correction of the photographing time is completed.

In this embodiment, the built-in camera clock 20 has the time setting flag Flg, and the time information is corrected by writing this flag in the card recording medium 118 as attribute information. Instead of, the contents of the time data itself can be used to determine whether or not the time data has been set.

For example, it is 2 ²⁸ / (365 * 24 * 60 * 60) = approximately that the upper 4 bits of the total second data from the reference time represented by 32 bits are all “0”. 8.5 years.

That is, the time data in the camera unit 100 corresponds to the portion from 1970 to June 1978, but this range is already in the past year and month, and there is no opportunity to be used in the normal date and time setting. Can be assumed.

Therefore, if all the upper 4 bits of the total second data are "0", the camera built-in clock 20 is reset for some reason, such as when the battery is replaced during shooting, and then the time data is set. It can be presumed that it has not been done. In this way,
The upper 4 bits of the time data can be used as a flag indicating whether or not it has been set.

In the above embodiment, only the information (for example, image number) of the image data recorded when the time setting flag Flg is "0", that is, the time data of the camera built-in clock 20 is not set correctly. Is stored and stored in the card recording medium 118, it is possible to search / correct the time-unset data when connecting to the host computer 200.

Further, in the above embodiment, the memory 203
Even if the time setting flag Flg therein is "0", it is possible to take a picture. However, if the time setting flag Flg is "0", that is, if the time is not set, the picture recording cannot be performed. You can also By doing so, it is possible to prevent meaningless date / time data from being recorded.

<Second Embodiment> Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital still camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the configuration common to the above-described first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be omitted. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 28 denotes a time setting means provided in the operation unit 7 for rewriting the time data of the camera built-in clock 22 by a user's operation. Reference numeral 30 denotes a card recording medium slot built in the host computer 200.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the time recorded on the card recording medium 118 is corrected only when the camera section 100 is connected to the host computer 200. In the form, the camera unit 100 can be used alone. The user himself / herself uses the time setting means 28 to initialize the time and correct the time after battery replacement.

FIG. 8 is a detailed block diagram of the camera built-in clock 20 according to the second embodiment. Compared with the configuration of the first embodiment, the count information, which is a non-volatile memory, is shown. An EEPROM 206 as a storage means is added.

In the present embodiment, in order to know how many times the battery has been replaced, the number of resets of the built-in camera clock 20 is stored in the EEPROM 206. By recording the number of resets together with the time data when recording the time data, it is possible to correct the time more accurately.

The camera built-in clock 20 according to the present embodiment.
The processing procedure of is shown in the flowchart of FIG. The operation of the camera built-in clock 20 will be described below with reference to FIG.

First, when the battery is loaded in the camera, the control means 205 increments the reset counter RC stored in the EEPROM 206 by 1 (step S80).
1). It is assumed that the reset counter RC is initialized to zero when the camera is shipped from the factory. Next, the time setting setting flag Flg in the memory 203 and the total second Ti
All me are initialized to zero (step S80).
2).

Then, it is checked whether or not the time setting means 28 has been operated (step S803), and if the user performs the time input operation, the attribute file of the image photographed in the past is searched for an illegal time. The data is corrected (step S804). The details of the processing in step S804 will be described later.

Next, the time set by the user is converted into the total seconds data from the reference time, and this is converted into the memory 203.
The time setting flag Flg is set to "1" (step S805).
When the time setting means 28 is not operated, the processing of steps S804 and S805 is skipped,
Jump to step S806.

Then, when a shooting command is issued from the operation unit 7 (step S806), a shooting / recording operation is performed (see the section [Shooting / Recording Operation] in the first embodiment). In addition, in the present embodiment, in addition to the total seconds Time and the time setting flag Flg, EEPR is added as an attribute file for each image.
The reset counter RC in the OM 206 is stored in the card recording medium 118 (step S807).

Total seconds data Time in the memory 203
Is incremented by 1 every 1 second (steps S808, S8
09). Normally, the processes of steps S808 and S809 are executed as a timer interrupt process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a more detailed procedure for the correction processing of the recorded photographing time data shown in step S804 of FIG. In this correction process, first, the attribute files of all the images stored in the card recording medium 118 are examined. (Step S901). If the time setting flag Flg in the attribute file is "1", the time data is not corrected and step S90 is performed.
Jump to 4.

On the other hand, when the time setting flag Flg is "0", the reset counter RC in the EEPROM 206 and the reset counter RC in the attribute file are compared (step S902). The data is corrected based on the total second data Time and the time set by the user (step S903). In addition,
The correction method is the same as that described in [Correction of photographing time data recorded in the recording medium] of the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof is omitted here.

If the two values are not equal, the process jumps from step S902 to step S904. Then, when the search for all the data is completed (step S904), the time adjustment process is completed.

In this way, by storing the number of resets for each image as an attribute file, it becomes possible to more accurately correct and estimate the photographing time. For example, assume that the list of the attribute information in the card recording medium 118 at a certain point of time is as shown in FIG.

From FIG. 11 (a), even though the battery is being exchanged between the image number 1 and the image number 2 and between the image number 3 and the image number 4, the user can confirm the time Image numbers 2, 3 and
As for No. 4, it can be seen that incorrect time data is recorded.

In this case, in the above-described first embodiment, the time setting flag Fl for the image numbers 2, 3 and 4 is set.
Since all g are "0", the time is corrected,
Of these, only the image number 4 is corrected correctly, and the image numbers 2 and 3 are corrected at an incorrect time.

This is because the time information of the camera built-in clock 20 after the first battery replacement is lost as a result of two battery replacements. Therefore, it is impossible to correct the time for the image numbers 2 and 3, and the time setting flag should be set to "0" without correction.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, by comparing the number of resets in step S902 of FIG. 10, the time is corrected only for the time unset data after the last battery replacement. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11B, only the time data of the image number 4 is correctly corrected.

In this case, accurate time data cannot be obtained for the time data (time data of image numbers 2 and 3) after the first battery replacement surrounded by the frame in FIG. 11 (b). . However, the shooting time range can be determined by referring to the shooting time data of the image numbers before and after that.

That is, the image data of the image numbers 2 and 3 are respectively 1995/01/06 11:00.
It was taken within the period of 0.00 to 1995/01/26 18: 36.55.

Although such photographing time range information may be used as an attribute, in the present embodiment, in order to facilitate searchability, temporary time data is created by the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. There is. In this case, the system controller 6 and the control means 205 of FIG. 8 include a provisional time generation means. Hereinafter, description will be given with reference to FIG.

First, the time setting flag Flg is checked in order from the image number 1 in the card recording medium 118, and the time unset data is searched. Then, the first found image number is set to X (step S1201). Next, the time data Time (X) of the image number X is temporarily saved in the temporary variable TEMP (step S1202),
Time (X) is obtained by adding 1 to the time data Time (X-1) of the image number (X-1) which is the immediately previous image number.
(Step S1203).

Next, the numbers of resets RC (X) and RC (X + 1) of the image number X and the image number (X + 1) are compared (step S1204), and if the two values are not equal, the process ends. On the other hand, if the two values are equal, a process for saving the relationship of the time difference between the untimed images is performed (steps S1205 and S1206), and step S12.
Return to processing of 04.

FIG. 11C shows the contents after the processing of FIG. 12 is applied to the attribute information of FIG. 11B.
In the processing of FIG. 12, the data obtained by adding 1 second to the time data of the image number immediately before the battery replacement is corrected as the first unset time data after the battery replacement, and the subsequent unset time data is not modified. , Is adjusted to save the time difference between unset time data. Therefore, the time difference between the image numbers 2 and 3 is the same in any of (b) and (c) of FIG.

As described above, even when the time data recorded without setting the time cannot be corrected correctly, if there is data recorded at the correct time before and after the time data, the method as described above is used. The time data of can be created. Since the temporal order of these time data is guaranteed, accurate results can be obtained, for example, when the files are sorted by date and time.

Further, if the correct time information of any time data among the time data that has not been set or the temporarily set time data is found later, the time data and the reset count RC are the same. All time data can be corrected to the correct time.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the time setting means 28 is provided in the camera section 100, so that the current time and the time data of the photographed image can be corrected without connecting to the host computer 200. It can be carried out.

Further, since the information on the number of resets of the built-in camera clock 20 is added and stored in the attribute file in the card recording medium 118, the user replaces the battery a plurality of times without setting the time. In this case, only the data that can be corrected can be selected to correct the time correctly.

[0103]

As described above, according to the present invention, when recording timekeeping data in the data recording means, information indicating whether or not the timekeeping data has been set at the correct time is added and recorded. , By referring to this time data setting information, the output of the time recording means that has not been set in the data recording means is corrected to the correct recording time. Even after the data disappears and the time measurement data different from the actual one is recorded, it is possible to determine the incorrect time measurement data by referring to the time measurement data setting information and correct it. Further, since it is not necessary to input correct time data each time the battery is replaced, there is an advantage that the time in the recording device can be easily adjusted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram showing a digital still camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a camera built-in clock.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a change in memory contents in a camera built-in clock.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of an image and time information output to a display means of a host computer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a list of attribute information stored in a card recording medium.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing for correcting time data when connecting to a host computer.

FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a camera built-in timepiece according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a camera built-in clock according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a correction processing procedure of recorded shooting time according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a list of attribute information stored in a card recording medium.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a temporary setting process procedure of unset time data according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 6 system controller 20 camera built-in clock 22 host computer built-in clock 28 time setting means 100 camera section 118 card recording medium 200 host computer section 203 memory 205 control means 206 EEPROM

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A time measuring means for outputting time measuring data, a data recording means for recording the time measuring data outputted from said time measuring means, and a time recording means for judging whether or not the time measuring data outputted from said time measuring means has been set to a correct time. A time data setting storage means for holding the information shown, a recording control means for recording the time data output from the time measuring means by adding the time data setting information to the data recording means, By referring to the time data setting information recorded in the data recording means, there is provided time adjusting means for correcting the output of the time measuring means recorded in the data recording means without being set to a correct recording time. Characteristic recording device. 2. The time adjustment means corrects the recording time based on a time obtained from a second time measuring means separate from the recording device. Recording device. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the time adjustment means corrects the recording time based on the time set by the user's operation of the time setting means. 4. The timekeeping data is elapsed time data from a reference time represented by 32 bits, and upper 4 bits of the 32 bits are used as the timekeeping data setting information. Item 2. The recording device according to item 1. 5. The time measurement data is elapsed time data from a reference time represented by 32 bits, and upper 4 bits of the 32 bits are used as the time measurement data setting information. Item 2. The recording device according to item 2. 6. The time measurement data is elapsed time data from a reference time represented by 32 bits, and upper 4 bits of the 32 bits are used as the time measurement data setting information. Item 5. The recording device according to item 3. 7. The recording control means further comprises count information storage means for holding count information indicating how many times the timekeeping operation by the timekeeping means has been interrupted, and the recording control means stores the timekeeping data output from the timekeeping means. When recording in the data recording means, the count information is added in addition to the time data set information and recorded, and the time adjustment means is based on the count information recorded in the data recording means. 2. Then, after the last interruption, only the output of the clocking means recorded unset in the data recording means is corrected to the correct recording time.
The recording device according to claim 1. 8. The recording control means further comprises count information storage means for holding count information indicating how many times the timekeeping operation by the timekeeping means has been interrupted, and the recording control means stores the timekeeping data output from the timekeeping means. When recording in the data recording means, the count information is added in addition to the time data set information and recorded, and the time adjustment means is based on the count information recorded in the data recording means. 3. Then, after the last interruption, only the output of the clocking means recorded unset in the data recording means is corrected to the correct recording time.
The recording device according to claim 1. 9. The recording control means further comprises count information storage means for holding count information indicating how many times the timekeeping operation by the timekeeping means has been interrupted, and the recording control means stores the timekeeping data output from the timekeeping means. When recording in the data recording means, the count information is added in addition to the time data set information and recorded, and the time adjustment means is based on the count information recorded in the data recording means. 4. Then, after the last interruption, only the output of the clocking means recorded unset in the data recording means is corrected to the correct recording time.
The recording device according to claim 1. 10. A count information storage means for holding count information indicating how many times the timekeeping operation by the timekeeping means has been interrupted, and the recording control means stores the timekeeping data output from the timekeeping means. When recording in the data recording means, the count information is added in addition to the time data set information and recorded, and the time adjustment means is based on the count information recorded in the data recording means. 5. Only the output of the clocking means recorded unset in the data recording means after the last interruption is corrected to the correct recording time.
The recording device according to claim 1. 11. A count information storage means for holding count information indicating how many times the timekeeping operation by the timekeeping means has been interrupted, and the recording control means includes the timekeeping data output from the timekeeping means. When recording in the data recording means, the count information is added in addition to the time data set information and recorded, and the time adjustment means is based on the count information recorded in the data recording means. 6. After the last interruption, only the output of the timekeeping means recorded unset in the data recording means is corrected to the correct recording time.
The recording device according to claim 1. 12. The recording control means further comprises count information storage means for holding count information indicating how many times the timekeeping operation by the timekeeping means has been interrupted, and the recording control means stores the timekeeping data output from the timekeeping means. When recording in the data recording means, the count information is added in addition to the time data set information and recorded, and the time adjustment means is based on the count information recorded in the data recording means. 7. Then, after the last interruption, only the output of the clocking means recorded unset in the data recording means is corrected to the correct recording time.
The recording device according to claim 1. 13. Based on the count information recorded in the data recording means, the output of the clocking means recorded in the data recording means without being set after the interruption before the last interruption is before and after the interruption. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a provisional time creating unit that refers to the output of the time counting unit and corrects the provisional recording time in which the time series is correctly maintained. 14. Based on the count information recorded in the data recording means, the output of the time measuring means recorded in the data recording means without being set after the interruption before the last interruption is before and after the interruption. 9. The recording apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a provisional time creating unit that refers to the output of the time counting unit and corrects the provisional recording time in which the time series is correctly maintained. 15. Based on the count information recorded in the data recording means, the output of the time measuring means recorded in the data recording means without being set after the interruption before the last interruption is before and after the interruption. 10. The recording apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a provisional time creating unit that refers to the output of the time counting unit and corrects the provisional recording time in which the time series is correctly maintained. 16. Based on the count information recorded in the data recording means, the output of the time measuring means recorded in the data recording means without being set after the interruption before the last interruption is before and after the interruption. 11. The recording apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a provisional time creating unit that refers to the output of the time counting unit and corrects the provisional recording time in which the time series is correctly maintained. 17. Based on the count information recorded in the data recording means, the output of the time measuring means recorded in the data recording means without being set after the interruption before the last interruption is before and after the interruption. 12. The recording apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a provisional time creating unit that refers to the output of the time counting unit and corrects the provisional recording time in which the time series is correctly maintained. 18. Based on the count information recorded in the data recording means, the output of the time measuring means recorded in the data recording means without being set after the interruption before the last interruption is before and after the interruption. 13. The recording apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a provisional time creating unit that refers to the output of the time counting unit and corrects the provisional recording time in which the time series is correctly maintained.