JPH071364B2 - Memory cartridge - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a memory cartridge with an image memory, for example a memory cartridge for storing digital image data provided by a digital electronic still camera or other image data recording device. .

What is called an electronic still camera or a still video camera, which is currently realized and commercially available, FM-modulates a video signal and records it in the form of an analog signal on a magnetic disk as a recording medium. The magnetic disk is rotatably housed inside a so-called case or jacket. Video signals of about 50 frames can be recorded on the magnetic disk. When there were multiple magnetic disks, a label was attached to the case to distinguish them from each other, and the date of imaging and index information were handwritten on the label. The remaining recordable number (the number of remaining frames) is displayed on the display unit of the camera only when the magnetic disk is inserted or mounted in the electronic still camera. It was inconvenient because I didn't know the number.

With the progress of IC memory manufacturing technology in recent years, a large-capacity semiconductor memory chip has been realized, and a memory cartridge for digitally storing image data and a digital electronic device capable of recording a captured image on the memory cartridge. The still camera shines in the limelight. Even in such a memory cartridge, it is troublesome to attach a label like the conventional magnetic disk floppy, and it is inconvenient if the remaining number is displayed only after it is attached to the camera. Will remain as is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention takes advantage of the feature of a memory cartridge capable of handling and storing digital signals. An object of the present invention is to provide a memory cartridge that can automatically display index information, the number of remaining frames, and the like.

The present invention relates to a digital electronic still camera that outputs digital image data representing a subject image obtained by picking up an image of a subject and label information related to the digital image data, and a memory that is detachably attached to a digital electronic still camera.
The cartridge is an image memory for inputting the digital image data output from the digital electronic still camera, storing the input digital image data, and inputting the label information output from the digital electronic still camera. A data memory for storing the label information associated with the corresponding digital image data, a drive circuit for driving the data memory, a display device capable of displaying characters stored content of the data memory as visible information, And a battery for supplying operating power to at least the drive circuit and the display device. The memory cartridge is one in which one or more memory chips are housed in the cartridge, and is a concept including a memory card.

If the image memory and the data memory are volatile memories, the batteries also power these memories. However, the battery for the driving device and the display device and the battery for the memory may be separate. If the memory is non-volatile, the memory would not need a battery. Since the display contents of the display device are always viewed in bright places,
So-called solar cells may be used as the batteries for the display device and the driving device.

The memory cartridge is attached to the digital electronic still camera and electrically connected to the digital electronic still camera. As a result, digital image data representing the subject image obtained by picking up the subject is given from the digital electronic still camera to the image memory of the memory cartridge and stored therein. Label information relating to the digital image data is given from the digital electronic still camera to the memory cartridge as necessary, and stored in the data memory in association with the corresponding digital image data. The label information stored in the data memory is given to the display device and displayed.

The label information displayed on the display device of the memory card includes a shooting date, an index (a code and number determined by the user, a shooting location, a user's name, etc.), and the number of remaining frames that can be stored. .

Label information related to digital image data is stored in memory
Since it can be displayed on the display device of the cartridge, it is possible to easily know the nature of the image data stored in the memory cartridge (photographing date, photographer, etc.).

As long as the memory drive circuit and the display device are supplied with operating power from the battery, the label information stored in the data memory is read and displayed on the display device even if the memory cartridge is detached from the camera or the like. It is convenient because the date, index, and the number of remaining frames are always displayed automatically.

Description of Embodiments FIG. 1 shows a memory cartridge as an example of a memory cartridge.
It shows the appearance of the card. The memory card 1 has a number of terminals 2 for electrically connecting to the digital electronic still camera when it is mounted on the camera. These terminals 2 connect a data bus, an address bus, a control line and the like. A display device 3 is provided on a part of the surface of the memory card 1. Display device 3
Is realized by a device capable of displaying characters such as characters, symbols and numbers, for example, a liquid crystal display device. The display device 3 displays the number of remaining frames that can be stored in the image memory of the memory card 1, the shooting location as index data, the shooting date, and the like. When the memory card 1 is attached to the digital electronic still camera, the display device 3
It is advisable to open a window at the corresponding location on the camera side so that the display contents of can be seen from the outside.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the electrical configuration of the digital electronic still camera 10 and the memory card 1.

The system controller 20 controls shooting by the digital electronic still camera 10, transfer of various data to the memory card 1, and other processing. system·
The controller 20 is a CPU, an RO that stores its execution program.
M, RAM for storing necessary data, etc.

The subject image is formed on the image sensor 12 through the optical system 11, and the image sensor 12 outputs a video signal. This video signal is then subjected to necessary signal processing such as amplification, exposure adjustment and color adjustment in the signal processing circuit 13, and then the A / D conversion circuit.
It is converted into a digital signal at 14. This digital signal is further subjected to necessary processing such as decomposition into color components in the signal processing circuit 15 and given to the data selector 16 as image data.

The data input device 17 is for inputting various index information including a shooting location and the like.
It is composed of a keyboard including character keys and the like. The input data is converted into a code representing it in the data generating circuit 18 and given to the data selector 16.
The data input device 17 can also be configured with a simple display and push buttons. Each time the push button is pressed, a different character is displayed on the display, and by inputting an input for selecting a desired one with another push button, the displayed character is input.

Counter 19 for date or time code if necessary
Arises from. This code is also sent to the data selector 16.

Further, the control 20 supplies data representing the number of remaining frames to the data selector 16.

The data selector 16 is controlled by the system controller 20 and sends out designated one of the above-mentioned image data, input data, date data, and data representing the number of remaining frames to the memory card 1.

The memory card 1 is electrically connected to the above-mentioned circuit in the camera 10 by the connector 9 when mounted on the camera 10. The connector 9 includes a connector provided on the camera side and a terminal 2 of the card 1.

The memory card 1 includes several image memory chips 4, a data memory 5, a memory drive circuit 6, the above display device 3, a display drive circuit 7, and operating power for each of these circuit elements. And a battery 8 for supplying electric power. Image data for one or a plurality of frames is stored in the image memory chip 4 according to its capacity. Image memory 4
If the data memory 5 is non-volatile, the battery 8 does not need to supply electric power to the memories 4 and 5, and the battery 8 can be a solar cell.

Although the data bus is specifically shown in FIG. 2,
Of course, an address bus, control lines, etc. are provided in the camera 10 and card 1 and are connected by the connector 9.

When photographing is performed, the image data photographed under the control of the controller 20 is transferred to the memory card 1 through the data selector 16 and the connector 9 and stored in a predetermined area of the image memory 4. Also, the remaining frame number data is updated, transferred from the controller 20 to the card 1 in the same manner, and stored in a predetermined area in the data memory 5. The initial value of the remaining piece number data is card 1
Can be obtained by searching the respective areas of the image memory 4 in the card 1 when the is mounted on the camera 10 and checking whether it has been used (recorded).

Further, when data is input from the data input device 17, the controller 20 similarly transfers a code representing the data to the card 1 and stores it in a predetermined area of the data memory 5.

There are various ways of processing date data depending on when the date is used as label information. For example, memory card 1
When the date when the image data of the first frame is stored is used as the label information, the controller 20 confirms that all areas in the image memory 4 are unused, and then the first photographing is performed. When it is read, the data of the counter 19 is transferred and stored in a predetermined area of the data memory 5. If the shooting date of the last frame is used as the label information, the date indicated by the counter 19 when the number of remaining frames becomes 0 may be given to the data memory 5. Alternatively, the date data in the data memory 5 may be updated for each shooting. If necessary, two or more dates (for example, the first shooting date and the last shooting date) may be stored in the data memory 5 and displayed on the display device 3.

In any case, when the camera 10 is used, the label information is read by the controller 20 in the camera 10 as described above.
It is stored in the data memory 5 inside. Therefore, as long as the driving circuits 6 and 7 and the display device 3 are supplied with operating power, even if the card 1 is attached to the camera 10 or detached from the camera 10, the data memory 5 Various data are always read from the memory 5 by the driving circuit 6, converted into display information by the driving circuit 7, and displayed on the display device 3. If the data in the memory 5 changes, the display information will of course change accordingly.

In the above example, the code (for example, character code) representing the display information (data) is transferred to the memory 5, but the direct display image data (for example, the data representing the blinking of the dot in the case of the dot display device) is transmitted. The data may be stored in the data memory 5. In this case, the structure of the display drive circuit 7 is further simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the external appearance of a memory card, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the outline of the electrical configuration of the digital electronic still camera and the memory card. 1 …… Memory card (memory cartridge), 2 ……
Terminal, 3 ... Display device, 4 ... Image memory, 5 ... Data memory, 6 ... Memory drive circuit, 7 ... Display drive circuit, 8 ... Battery.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A memory which is detachably mounted on a digital electronic still camera for outputting digital image data representing a subject image obtained by capturing an image of the subject and label information related to the digital image data.
The cartridge is an image memory for inputting digital image data output from the digital electronic still camera and storing the input digital image data, and inputting and inputting the label information output from the digital electronic still camera. A data memory for storing the label information stored in association with the corresponding digital image data, a drive circuit for driving the data memory, a display device capable of displaying characters stored in the data memory as visible information, A memory cartridge comprising at least the drive circuit and a battery for supplying operating power to the display device.