JPH11266379A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a digital camera which improve operability and has convenience to be used by activating a driving means by transmitting an activation signal toward a driving means in a state connected to the driving means. SOLUTION: A digital camera calls out a video disk drive (S 200). When the video disk drive side receives a calling signal from the digital video, it activates receiving processing routine (S 2000). The receiving processing routine decides its own power supply state (S 2010) and turns on the power (S 2020) when the power is off. On top of it, a status is updated from power supply off to power supply on (S 2030). The status is transmitted to the digital camera (S2040). The video disk drive is automatically activated, based on the calling of the video disk drive by the digital camera. Then, it is enough that an operator operates only the digital camera and it is extremely convenient.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a digital camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a recording medium used in a digital camera, there is a memory card which can be inserted into the digital camera, in addition to a memory built in the digital camera. In the case of such a memory card, it is conceivable that the memory card is replaced one after another for shooting, and the shot image data is also stored in the memory card.

However, the capacity of a memory card is generally about 2 M to 8 M, and the number of frames that can be recorded is limited to 40 to 160 per card. Therefore, in order to store the image data, it is necessary to transfer the image data to a large-capacity medium (a magneto-optical disk, a CD-R, a hard disk, or the like) in some form. Although it depends on which large-capacity recording medium is used, in this case, an image about 100 times as large as a memory card can be recorded.

Therefore, usually, image data taken by a digital camera is transferred to the large-capacity recording medium by processing of driver software on a personal computer provided with a digital camera and a large-capacity recording medium drive. . Alternatively, in the case of a personal computer having a card slot, a memory card extracted from a digital camera can be mounted on the personal computer and image data can be transferred as it is.

[0005]

However, conventionally, image data transfer between the digital camera and the recording medium cannot be directly performed by an operation from the digital camera side, resulting in poor operability.

The present invention has been made in view of such technical background, and it is possible to directly transfer image data between a digital camera and a storage medium based on an operation on the digital camera side. An object of the present invention is to provide a user-friendly digital camera with improved operability.

[0007]

An object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera connected to a drive unit of a recording medium, wherein a start signal is transmitted to the drive unit while the digital camera is connected to the drive unit. The digital camera is provided with transmitting means for activating the drive means.

According to this digital camera, the starting signal is transmitted by the transmitting means to start the drive means of the recording medium, so that the image data is transferred between the digital camera and the recording medium based on the operation from the digital camera side. Can be transferred, and the operability is improved.

In particular, when the image data shot by the digital camera is configured to be able to be recorded on the recording medium while the drive means is activated by the transmitting means, the image data shot by the digital camera is transmitted from the digital camera. It becomes possible to directly record on a recording medium based on the operation.
On the other hand, a display means for displaying the captured image data,
When the data recorded on the recording medium is configured to be reproduced and displayed on the display means, the content of the data recorded on the recording medium is displayed on the digital display means based on an operation from the digital camera. It can be displayed, and the usability is further improved.

Further, the digital camera and the drive means of the recording medium may be directly connected, or may be connected via a network to which one or more video or communication devices are connected. It may be connected. When connected via a network, it becomes possible to use video or communication equipment connected to the network in addition to the drive means for the recording medium, and the use of the digital camera is further expanded.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In this embodiment, a case where a digital camera and a drive means of a recording medium are connected via a network will be described as an example.

<Overall Configuration of Network> The overall configuration of the network will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which home AV equipment, a personal computer including a cable modem, a telephone, a notebook personal computer and a desktop personal computer, a facsimile, and a printer are connected to an IEEE 1394 home network. STB is IEEE
It is a set-top box equipped with a plurality of connectors for connecting 1394-compliant devices. The set boxes are also connected by IEEE1394.

The function of each device is as shown in the following table.

[0015]

[Table 1]

A device connected to the home bus can exchange information by designating a plurality of output sides for one input side. For example, when recording while watching a TV program, a TV monitor and a video disk drive are designated as receivers of the digital video signal output by the tuner, and a TV signal from an antenna is selected, and the digital video signal is selected. On the home bus, and the television monitor receives and displays the signal.
On the other hand, the video disk drive can also receive and record the signal.

When a digital camera is connected to the set box STB, images taken by the digital camera can be transferred to a personal computer for processing, displayed on a television monitor, or printed by a printer.

The configuration of the digital camera is as follows.

<Structure of Digital Camera> As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the digital camera 1 includes a box-shaped camera body 2 and a rectangular parallelepiped imaging unit 3. Imaging unit 3
Is the camera body 2 as viewed from the front (the front side in FIG. 2).
Is detachably attached to the right side surface of the camera and is rotatably mounted in a plane parallel to the right side surface.

The image pickup unit 3 includes a photographing lens having a macro zoom and a CCD (Charge Coupled D).
device), which converts an optical image of a subject into an image composed of charge signals photoelectrically converted by each pixel of the CCD and captures the image. On the other hand, the camera body 2 is provided with an LCD (Liquid)
d Display (D Crystal Display), a mounting section 17 for the memory card 8, and a connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected. After that, processing such as display on the LCD display unit 10, recording on the memory card 8, and transfer to a personal computer is performed.

A macro zoom lens 301 is provided inside the image pickup section 3, and an image pickup circuit having a CCD color area sensor 303 is provided at an appropriate position behind the macro zoom lens 301. In addition, a dimming circuit 304 including a dimming sensor 305 that receives the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is provided at an appropriate position in the imaging unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the front surface of the camera body 2, a grip 4 is provided at an appropriate position at the left end, and a built-in flash 5 is provided at an appropriate upper portion at the right end. As shown in FIG. 2, on the upper surface of the camera body 2, switches 6 and 7 for frame advance when reproducing a recorded image are provided substantially at the center. The switch 6 is a switch (hereinafter, referred to as an Up key) for advancing the recorded image in the direction in which the frame number increases (the direction of the photographing order). (Hereinafter referred to as Down key). Further, an erasing switch D for erasing an image recorded on the memory card 8 is provided on the left side of the Down key 7 when viewed from the back side (the front side in FIG. 3).
A shutter button 9 is provided at the upper right of the p key 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the back of the camera body 2, an LCD display for displaying a monitor (corresponding to a viewfinder) of a photographed image and displaying and reproducing a recorded image is provided substantially at the center of the left end. 10 are provided. Also, LC
A compression rate setting slide switch 12 for switching and setting a compression rate K of image data recorded on the memory card 8 is provided below the D display unit 10. A connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected is provided on a side surface of the camera body 2 on the imaging unit 3 side, and a power switch PS is provided on an upper rear surface.

Furthermore, the camera body 2 is provided with a microphone / speaker MIC for recording audio or displaying the audio recorded during reproduction. When displaying a video signal described later, an audio signal included in the video signal can be heard through the MIC.

The digital camera 1 has a flash mode (hereinafter, flash is sometimes referred to as FL) flash mode, an "automatic flash mode" in which the built-in flash 5 is automatically flashed in accordance with the subject brightness. A “forced light emission mode” for forcibly emitting light from the built-in flash 5 and a “light emission prohibited mode” for forbidden light emission from the built-in flash 5 are provided regardless of the FL. Mode setting key 11
Each time is pressed, each mode of "automatic light emission", "forced light emission" and "light emission inhibition" is cyclically switched, and any one of the modes is selectively set. In the digital camera 1, two compression ratios K of 1/8 and 1/20 can be selected and set. For example, when the compression ratio setting switch 12 is slid to the right, the compression ratio K = 1/8 is set. Slide to the left, the compression ratio K = 1/20 is set. In the present embodiment, two types of compression ratios K can be selected and set, but three or more types of compression ratios K
May be selectively set.

Further, a photographing / playback mode setting switch 14 for switching between a "photographing mode" and a "playback mode" as a function selection mode is provided at the upper right end on the back of the camera body 2. The photographing mode is a mode for photographing, and the reproduction mode is a mode for reproducing and displaying a photographed image recorded on the memory card 8 on the LCD display unit 10. The shooting / playback mode setting switch 14 also includes a two-contact slide switch. For example, sliding to the right sets the playback mode, and sliding to the left sets the shooting mode.

On the bottom of the camera body 2, a battery loading chamber 1 is provided.
8 and a card loading chamber 17 for the memory card 8 are provided.
The loading ports of the loading chambers 17 and 18 are closed by a clamshell type lid 15. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment uses a power supply battery E, which is formed by connecting four AA batteries in series, as a drive source.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the digital camera 1.

In the image pickup section 3, the CCD 303
Converts the light image of the subject formed by the macro zoom lens 301 into image signals of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) color components (from a signal train of pixel signals received by each pixel). ) And output. The timing generator 314 generates various timing pulses for controlling driving of the CCD 303.

The exposure control in the image pickup unit 3 is performed by adjusting the exposure amount of the CCD 303, that is, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 303 corresponding to the shutter speed, since the stop is a fixed stop. If an appropriate shutter speed cannot be set when the subject brightness is low, the CCD 3
By performing the level adjustment of the image signal output from the device 03, the improper exposure due to the insufficient exposure is corrected. That is, when the luminance is low, the exposure control is performed by combining the shutter speed and the gain adjustment. The level adjustment of the image signal is performed in the gain adjustment of the AGC circuit in the signal processing circuit 313.

The timing generator 314 generates a drive control signal for the CCD 303 based on a reference clock transmitted from the timing control circuit 202.
The timing generator 314 generates clock signals such as integration start / end (exposure start / end) timing signals and light-receiving signal readout control signals (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.) for each pixel. Output to the CCD 303.

The signal processing circuit 313 performs predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 303. The signal processing circuit 313
It has a DS (correlated double sampling) circuit and an AGC (auto gain control) circuit. The CDS circuit reduces the noise of the image signal, and the level of the image signal is adjusted by adjusting the gain of the AGC circuit.

The light control circuit 304 controls the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 during flash photography to a predetermined light emission amount set by the overall control unit 211. In flash photography, the reflected light of flash light from the subject is received by the light control sensor 305 at the same time as the start of exposure, and when the amount of received light reaches a predetermined light emission amount, the light control circuit 3
An emission stop signal is output from 04 to the flash control circuit 214 via the overall control unit 211. The flash control circuit 214 forcibly stops the light emission of the built-in flash 5 in response to the light emission stop signal, whereby the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled to a predetermined light emission amount.

In the camera body 2, the A / D converter 205 converts each pixel signal of the image signal into a 10-bit digital signal. The A / D converter 205 is
A / D input from an A / D clock generation circuit (not shown)
Each pixel signal (analog signal) is converted into a 10-bit digital signal based on a clock for D conversion.

In the camera body 2, a timing control circuit 202 for generating a reference clock, a timing generator 314, and a clock for the A / D converter 205 is provided. The timing control circuit 202 is controlled by the overall control unit 211.

The black level correction circuit 206 corrects the black level of the pixel signal (hereinafter, referred to as pixel data) A / D converted by the A / D converter 205 to a reference black level. A white balance circuit (hereinafter, referred to as a WB circuit) 207 performs level conversion of pixel data of each of R, G, and B color components so that the white balance is adjusted after the γ correction. WB circuit 207
Converts the level of the pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components using the level conversion table input from the overall control unit 211. The conversion coefficient (gradient of the characteristic) of each color component in the level conversion table is set by the overall control unit 211 for each captured image.

The gamma correction circuit 208 corrects gamma characteristics of pixel data. The γ correction circuit 208 has, for example, six types of γ correction tables having different γ characteristics, and performs γ correction of pixel data using a predetermined γ correction table according to a shooting scene or shooting conditions.

The image memory 209 is a memory for storing pixel data output from the gamma correction circuit 208. The image memory 209 has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, in the image memory 209, the CCD 303
In the case of having pixels in rows and m columns, it has a storage capacity for pixel data of n × m pixels, and each pixel data is stored in a corresponding pixel position.

The VRAM 210 is a buffer memory for image data reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. VR
The AM 210 has a storage capacity for image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD display unit 10.

The MIC is a microphone and a speaker as described above. When a video signal described later is displayed, the audio signal in the video signal is separated by the overall control unit 211 and can be heard through the MIC.

In the shooting standby state, each pixel data of an image picked up by the image pickup unit 3 every 1/30 (second) is
After being subjected to predetermined signal processing by the A / D converters 205 to γ correction circuit 208, the signals are stored in the image memory 209, transferred to the VRAM 210 via the overall control unit 211, and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. You. Thus, the photographer can visually recognize the subject image from the image displayed on the LCD display unit 10. In the playback mode, after the image read from the memory card 8 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the overall control unit 211, the VRAM 210
And reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

The card I / F 212 is an interface for writing image data to the memory card 8 and reading image data. Also, the communication I / F 21
3 indicates that the digital camera 9 is connected to each network connection device 19.
This is an interface conforming to the IEEE 1394 standard for external connection so that it can communicate with the Internet.

The flash control circuit 214 is a circuit for controlling light emission of the built-in flash 5. The flash control circuit 214 controls the presence / absence of light emission of the built-in flash 5, the amount of light emission, the light emission timing, and the like based on the control signal of the overall control unit 211. Is controlled.

The RTC 219 is a clock circuit for managing the shooting date and time, and is driven by another power source (not shown).

The operation unit 250 includes the Up key 6,
A switch corresponding to a Down key 7, a shutter button 9, an FL mode setting key 11, a compression ratio setting switch 12, and a shooting / playback mode setting switch 14 is provided.

The overall control unit 211 is composed of a microcomputer, and controls the driving of each member in the image pickup unit 3 and the camera main unit 2 in an organic manner so as to totally control the photographing operation of the digital camera 1. is there.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a luminance determination unit 211a for setting an exposure control value (shutter speed (SS)) and a shutter speed (S
S) a setting unit 211b. Brightness determination unit 211
a is 1/1/3 by the CCD 303 in the shooting standby state.
The brightness of the subject is determined using an image captured every 30 (seconds). That is, the brightness determination unit 21
1a is for determining the brightness of the subject by using the image data updated and stored in the image memory 209.

The luminance determining unit 211a is provided in the image memory 209.
Is divided into nine blocks, and the luminance data representing each block is calculated using the pixel data of the G (green) color component included in each block.

The shutter speed setting section 211b sets a shutter speed (integration time of the CCD 303) based on the result of the brightness determination of the subject by the brightness determination section 211a. Shutter speed setting section 211b
Has a shutter speed table.

The shutter speed is set to 1 /
Initially set to 128 (seconds), and in the shooting standby state,
The shutter speed setting unit 211b includes a brightness determination unit 211
The setting is changed from the initial value to the high-speed side or the low-speed side step by step according to the determination result of the brightness of the subject by a.

The overall control unit 211 performs “low-luminance scene”, “medium-luminance normal scene”, “medium-luminance normal scene”, and A scene determination unit 211c that determines four types of shooting scenes, that is, a “medium brightness backlight scene” and a “high brightness scene” is provided. "Low brightness scene"
Is a scene that normally requires auxiliary light from a flash, such as indoor shooting or nighttime shooting. A “medium-luminance normal scene” is a mode in which illumination light (including natural light and artificial light) for the main subject is in direct light. In addition, the scene can be photographed without auxiliary light because its brightness is appropriate. The “medium brightness backlight scene” is a scene in which the overall brightness is appropriate, but the flash light is preferable because the illumination light for the main subject is backlight, and the “high brightness scene” is, for example, a clear sea scene. It is a very bright scene like shooting at a ski resort. The determination result by the scene determination unit 211c is stored in the memory 211d.

Further, the overall control unit 211 determines whether the captured image is an image of a normal photograph of a landscape, a person, or the like (hereinafter, this type of captured image is referred to as a natural image), a character drawn on a board, An image determination unit 211e that determines whether an image such as a chart (hereinafter, an image similar to a binary image of this type is referred to as a character image) is provided.

The image judging section 211e includes an image memory 209
A histogram of the luminance data at each pixel position is created based on the pixel data constituting the captured image stored in the storage device, and the content of the captured image is determined based on the histogram. In general, a histogram of luminance data of a captured image is a so-called one-peak distribution having a single peak value with a small bias in the luminance distribution in the case of a natural image. In the case of a character image, a bias in the luminance distribution is observed in each of a white background portion and a black character portion.
Mountain distribution. Therefore, the image determining unit 211e determines whether the histogram of the brightness data BV (i, j) of the captured image has a single-peak distribution or a double-peak distribution, and determines whether the captured image is a natural image or a character image. It is determined whether the image is an image.
Then, this determination result is also stored in the memory 211d.

The overall control unit 211 includes a filter unit 211f for performing a filtering process and a recorded image generating unit 211g for generating a thumbnail image and a compressed image in order to perform the recording process of the photographed image. In order to reproduce the reproduced image on the LCD display unit 10, a reproduction image generation unit 211h that generates a reproduction image is provided.

The filter section 211f corrects high-frequency components of an image to be recorded by a digital filter to correct image quality related to contours. Filter unit 21
1f is a digital filter for performing a standard contour correction for each of the compression ratios K = 1/8 and 1/20, and two types of digital filters for enhancing the contour and the contour for the standard contour correction. A total of five types of digital filters, two types of digital filters to be weakened, are provided.

The recording image generating section 211g reads pixel data from the image memory 209 and generates a thumbnail image and a compressed image to be recorded on the memory card 8. The recording image generation unit 211g reads pixel data for every eight pixels in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction while scanning from the image memory 209 in the raster scanning direction, and sequentially transfers the pixel data to the memory card 8, thereby obtaining the thumbnail image. Is recorded on the memory card 8 while generating.

The recording image generation unit 211g reads out all pixel data from the image memory 209, and converts these pixel data into JPE data such as two-dimensional DCT transform and Huffman coding.
A predetermined compression process according to the G method is performed to generate image data of a compressed image, and the compressed image data is recorded in the main image area of the memory card 8.

In the photographing mode, when photographing is instructed by the shutter button 9 in the photographing mode, the overall control section 211 displays the thumbnail image of the image taken in the image memory 209 after the photographing instruction and the compression ratio set by the compression ratio setting switch 12. A compressed image compressed by the JPEG method using K is generated, and tag information (frame number, exposure value, shutter speed, compression ratio K, shooting date, flash on / off data at shooting, scene information, image ) Are stored in the memory card 8 together with the information such as the judgment result of the above.

As shown in FIG. 7, for the images recorded by the digital camera, 40 frames of images can be stored at a compression ratio of 1/20, and each of frames 81 to 85 is compressed with a tag portion and JPEG format. High-resolution image data (64
0 × 480 pixels) and image data for thumbnail display (8
0 × 60 pixels). For example, each frame can be handled as an image file in the EXIF format.

<Operation of Digital Camera on Network> As described above, with the digital camera 1 connected to an arbitrary set-top box STB on the home bus, the photographing / reproduction mode setting switch 14 is set to the reproduction mode. When set to the side, a screen D1 is displayed as shown in FIG. Screen D1 is a main menu and is a screen for selecting a function to be used. On the screen D1, print is selected, but by operating the Up / Down switch, nine menus shown can be selected.

On screen D1, numbers 1 to 8 are:
A function selection screen is displayed. After the shooting / playback mode setting switch is set to the playback mode side, the digital camera inquires about a device connected to the network before displaying the screen D1. I have. Each device has a unique ID number and type registered in a nonvolatile memory inside the device in advance, so that a list of devices connected to the network is created. This is shown in the following table.

[0062]

[Table 2]

Thus, it is possible to determine whether or not a device of a related type is connected to each function displayed on the main menu. The following table circles the type of equipment associated with each function. The number next to the circle indicates the order in which the function is called when the function is selected. For example, if "4: Internet" is selected, then the terminal adapter is called if the cable modem is unavailable.

[0064]

[Table 3]

Here, regarding the recognizable / non-recognizable states of the devices connected on the network, the following seven states are assumed. On the screen D1, only the function corresponding to the device recognized on the network can be selected according to the connection state of the network cable and the power cable.

[0066]

[Table 4]

In the state where the network cable is disconnected, since the digital camera 1 cannot control the function, the function related to the device whose network cable is disconnected cannot be selected and is displayed in a light color. It has become.

For example, when the terminal adapter is not connected, the function of “6: data transmission” cannot be selected.

As described above, when the network cable is connected but the power cable is not connected, the usable / unusable state differs depending on the device. That is, whether or not recognition is possible on the network is determined by whether or not the battery can be driven or whether or not power can be supplied via the network.

In this example, the telephone, the notebook computer, and the terminal adapter are equipped with secondary batteries inside, and only these three can be driven by the batteries. Therefore, even if the power cable is disconnected, as long as the network cable is connected, these devices are recognized on the network and the corresponding functions can be used. If the power is off as in
By transmitting the N signal from the digital camera, the power of the target device can be turned on.

A network cable,
When connected to the power cable, the device is recognized on the network, and the corresponding function is available. Even when the power state of the device is OFF as in the above, the power can be turned ON by transmitting a power ON signal from the digital camera.

On the screen D1, the function corresponding to the unusable device due to the disconnection of the network cable cannot be selected and is displayed in a light color, so that it corresponds to the unusable device. The inconvenience of selecting a function is eliminated, and only a function corresponding to an available device can be reliably selected, thereby improving operability.

When there are a plurality of devices corresponding to the specific function, the display is displayed in light color only when all the devices corresponding to the specific function cannot be used. For example, in the case of "2: playback", the display is dimmed only when all of the three persons, the television monitor, the desktop personal computer, and the notebook personal computer, are unavailable.

<Selection of Screen> When "1: Print" is selected on the screen D1 shown in FIG. 8 and the shutter button is pressed, the screen transits to the screen D10.

The screen D10 is a print image selection screen, in which images of four frames recently photographed by the digital camera 1 are displayed together with frame numbers, and the newest image is selected. A frame is displayed on the selected image.

When the Up key is pressed on the screen D10, an image with the next larger frame number is selected, and when the Down key is pressed, an image with the next smaller frame number is selected.

When "2: Play" is selected on the screen D1 and the shutter button is pressed, the screen transits to the screen D20. Screen D20
It is possible to select a place where the image stored in the memory card 8 of the digital camera 1 or the image recorded in the video disk drive is reproduced, and the monitor (display section 10) of the camera and the network The items "21: Display on camera monitor", "22: Display on TV", and "23: Display on computer" are used to select whether to play on the TV monitor or PC connected to the Displayed on the screen. Screen D
At 20, the newest image captured by the digital camera 1 is also displayed.

When "3: TV program" is selected on the screen D1, the display transits to a screen D30. On the screen D30, the recently selected channel number is displayed at the lower left. When the Up key is pressed, the channel number increases by one, and the Dow is displayed.
Pressing the n key decreases the channel number by one. In addition, on the screen D30, an image corresponding to the set channel number is displayed.

When "4: Internet" is selected on the screen D1, a transition is made to a screen D40 shown in FIG. Screen D4
At 0, an Internet address for browsing WWW content on a monitor screen of a digital camera can be selected. The address is set in advance and the Up
It is changed each time the key or the Down key is pressed. If not, scroll the selection.

When "5: Data recording" is selected on the screen D1, the display transits to a screen D50. On the screen D50, it is possible to select an object for storing an image recorded in the memory card 8 of the digital camera 1. Here, a video deck connected to the network and two personal computers can be selected, and the recording target can be changed each time the Up key or Down key is pressed. if,
If you can't fit on the screen, scroll through the choices.

When "6: Send" is selected on the screen D1,
Transition to screen D60. On the screen D60, a destination to which an image recorded in the memory card 8 of the digital camera 1 is transmitted can be selected. Up key, Down
It is possible to change the destination each time the key is pressed. If you can't fit on the screen, scroll through the choices. Note that the screen D60 also displays an item “64: Set destination” for setting the destination.

When "7: Execute application" is selected on the screen D1, the screen transits to a screen D70. Screen D70
In, various applications for digital cameras can be selected. Each time the Up key or Down key is pressed, the selected application can be changed.

When "8: Others" is selected on the screen D1, the display transits to a screen D80. On the screen D80, “81:
Two items, "list of connected devices" and "82: digital camera settings" can be selected. Each time the Up key or Down key is pressed, the selected item can be changed.

Note that in screens D10 to D80, FL
When the mode setting key 11 is pressed, the screen returns to the screen D1, and when the shutter button 9 is pressed, the selected item is determined.

<2: Selection of Playback> Regarding the playback processing executed on the screen D20, the operations of the digital camera and the disk drive are shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.
This will be described with reference to a screen transition diagram of FIG.

When the shutter button 9 is pressed while "2: Playback" is selected on the screen D1, the display transits to the screen D20. On the screen D20, the playback location is indicated by the Up key, D
By pressing the own key, a selection can be made cyclically. 21: Display on a camera monitor 22: Display on a television 23: Display on a personal computer can be selected.

On the screen 20 shown in FIG. 12, the default is to select 21: display on the camera monitor. When the shutter button is pressed in this state, the screen D21 is displayed.
Transitions to 1. On the screen D211, the reproduction target is Up
The key can be selected cyclically by pressing the Down key. 211: Image in the camera 212: Video disk drive 213: Data in the personal computer can be selected. By default, 211: Image in the camera Is selected.

When the Down key is pressed once, the screen transits to a screen D212. On screen D212, video / image information in the video disk drive can be displayed.
When the shutter button is pressed in Step 2, the steps in the flowchart shown in FIG.
At the digital camera calls the video disk drive.

When the video disk drive receives the call signal from the digital camera, the video disk drive activates the reception processing routine of S2000.

In the reception processing routine, first, in S2010, the self power state is determined. If the power is off (YES in S2010), the power is turned on in S2020. Then, in step S2030, the status is changed to power supply O.
Update from FF to power ON. Then, the status is transmitted to the digital camera in S2040. As a result of determining the power state in S2010, if the power is ON (NO in S2010), the status is transmitted as it is in S2040.
The contents of the status will be described later.

Thus, the video disk drive is automatically started based on the calling of the video disk drive by the digital camera. Therefore, when the video disk drive is started, the operator only needs to operate the digital camera alone, which is extremely convenient. .

The digital camera waits for a status signal from the video disk drive in step S210.
If the status signal is not received even after one minute has passed in S220 (YES in S220), the screen transits to the warning screen DA212A1 in S230, and the video disk drive is not connected (even if it is initially connected, (Including the case of being removed), and the process exits this routine.

When the status signal is received in S210, the received status signal is checked, and in S240, it is determined whether the video disk drive is usable. The status signal includes whether the video disk drive is in an idle state, a mounted state of a recording medium, a type of a mounted medium, a use state of the video disk drive, and a type of a signal being transmitted.

If the result of determination in S240 is that it is not usable (it is not idle) (NO in S240), S
At 250, it is determined whether or not a recording medium is mounted. If the media is not loaded (N in S250)
O), transit to a screen D212A4 in S251 to display that no media is loaded, and exit this routine.

When a medium is loaded (S2
In step S252, it is determined whether or not the disk drive is being used by another device. If the disk drive is not being used by another device (in S252,
NO), the display transits to the screen D121A5 to display a message to confirm the video disk drive, and exits this routine.

On the other hand, when the video disk drive is used by another device (YE at S252).
S), it is determined whether or not the video signal / still image signal is transmitted in S254. If the video signal / still image signal is not transmitted (NO in S254), a screen transition is made to a warning screen D212A3 in S255, and the video disk drive is switched to another screen. A message indicating that the device is being used is displayed, and the process exits from this routine.

If a video signal / still image signal is being transmitted in S254 (YES in S254), S256
To the screen D212A2, and the transmitted video signal /
The still image signal is displayed on the display unit 10 of the digital camera 1. Therefore, for example, when a video disc image is displayed on a television monitor, it is impossible to operate the video disc with a digital camera, but the same image currently displayed on the television monitor is displayed on the digital camera. Can be seen on the display unit.

If the video disk drive is available in S240 (YES in S240), the screen shifts to a screen D2120 in S257 to display the title of the mounted video disk, and in S258, the shutter after the title selection is selected. Wait for the button to be pressed. If it is detected in S258 that the shutter button has been pressed (YES in S258), a title signal is transmitted to the video disk drive in S260, and the reception of a video signal from the video disk drive is waited in S270.

When the video disk drive receives the title signal from the digital camera, the video disk drive starts the title signal routine of S2600. In this routine, S26
A title is set at 10, and a video signal is transmitted to the digital camera at S2620.

When the digital camera receives a video signal from the video disk drive in S270, the video is displayed on the display unit 10 in S280. Next, in S290,
It is determined whether or not the channel setting by the Up key / Down key has been performed. If the channel has been changed (YES in S290), a title signal is transmitted to the video disk drive in S300.

When the video disk drive receives the title signal from the digital camera in S3000 (S30)
(YES at 00), and returns to S2610 to set the title. If no title signal is received (S3000
At S3200, it is determined whether or not a reproduction end signal has been received.
O), returning to S2620 to continue transmitting the video signal.

On the other hand, after transmitting the title signal in S300, in step S310, the digital camera determines whether or not the FL mode setting key 11 has been pressed on screen D2120. If the channel has not been changed in S290 (NO in S290), the process proceeds to S310, and it is determined whether the setting button has been pressed in the FL mode.

If the FL mode setting key has been pressed (YES in S310), a reproduction end signal is transmitted to the video disk drive in S320. Then, in S330, the process returns to the screen D1 and exits this routine. When the setting button is pressed in the FL mode (NO in S310),
The process returns to S270, and waits for reception of a video signal from the video disk drive.

When the video disk drive receives the reproduction end signal in S3200 (YES in S3200), the process proceeds to S3200.
A reproduction end process of 3210 is executed, and the process exits from this routine. Until the reproduction end signal is received (N at S3200)
O) In S2620, the transmission of the video signal is continued.

Next, the above-described reproduction end processing in S3210 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In step S3220, the transmission of the video signal is stopped.
To update the status of the video disk drive. S
At 3240, it is determined whether one minute has elapsed since the reception of the reproduction end signal, and if one minute has elapsed (Y at S3240).
ES), the power of the video disk drive is turned off in S3250. As described above, since the power of the video disk drive is shut off based on the reproduction end signal output from the digital camera, the operator does not need to directly shut off the power of the video disk drive, which is convenient.

If one minute has not passed since the reproduction end signal was received in S3240 (N in S3240).
O) In S3260, it is determined whether there is a connection request from another device as viewed from the video disk drive. If there is a connection request (YES in S3260), the process exits this routine and issues a connection request. Perform a predetermined process according to the device. If there is no connection request (NO in S3260), the process returns to S3240.

In the above-described reproduction processing, the case where the video signal is browsed on the display unit 10 of the digital camera 1 has been described as an example. However, the procedure is the same when browsing a still image.

<5: Selection of Data Recording> Regarding the recording processing executed on the screen D50, the operation of the digital camera and the video disk drive will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 14 and the screen transition diagram of FIG.

When the shutter button 9 is pressed in a state where “5: Data recording” is selected on the screen D1, the screen transits to a screen D50 shown in Fig. 15. In the screen D50, the location to be recorded is indicated by the Up key 6 and the Down key. By pressing the key 7, selection can be made cyclically. 51: video disk drive 52: personal computer 1 desktop 53: personal computer 2 notebook can be selected.

On the screen D50, "51: Video disk drive" is selected by default, and when the shutter button is pressed in this state, the screen transits to the screen D500 and all the images recorded in the memory card 8 of the camera are displayed. Image data can be transferred to a video disk drive.

When the shutter button 9 is pressed on the screen D50, the digital camera calls the video disk drive in S500 of the flowchart of FIG. Next, when the video disk drive receives the calling signal from the digital camera, the video disk drive starts the reception processing routine of S5000.

In this reception processing routine, first, in S5010, the power state of itself is determined. If the power is off (YES in S5010), the power is turned on in S5020.
To Then, in step S5030, the status is updated from power OFF to power ON. Then, in step S5040, the status is transmitted to the digital camera. As a result of determining the power state in S5010, if the power is ON (NO in S5010), the status is transmitted as it is in S5040. The contents of the status will be described later.

In step S510, the digital camera waits for a status signal from the video disk drive.
If the status signal is not received after one minute has elapsed in S520 (YES in S520), the screen transitions to a warning screen D500A1 shown in FIG. 15 in S530, and a message that the video disk drive is not connected is displayed. Exit this routine.

If a status signal has been received in S510 (YES), the received status signal is checked, and
At 40, it is determined whether a video disk drive is available. The status signal includes whether the video disk drive is in an idle state, a mounted state of a recording medium, a type of a mounted medium, a use state of the video disk drive, and a type of a signal being transmitted.

As a result of the determination in S540, if it is not available (not idle) (NO in S540), S
At 550, it is determined whether or not a recording medium is mounted. If the media is not loaded (N in S550)
O), transit to a screen D500A4 in S551 to display that no media is loaded, and exit this routine.

When the medium is loaded (S5)
In step S552, it is determined whether or not the loaded medium is a DVD-ROM. If so (YES in step S552), the screen D500A is displayed in step S553.
Then, the process proceeds to step S6, where a warning to replace the DVD-RAM is displayed, and the routine exits.

On the other hand, if the loaded medium is a DVD-
If it is not a ROM (NO in S552), S55
In step S4, it is determined whether the video disk drive is being used by another device other than the digital camera. If the video disk drive is not being used by another device (S554:
NO), a transition is made to screen D500A5 at S555 to indicate that the video disk drive is to be confirmed, and the routine exits.

On the other hand, when the video disk drive is being used by another device (YES in S554, YE
S), a transition is made to a warning screen D500A3 in S556, indicating that the video disk drive is being used by another device, and the routine exits.

If the video disk drive is available in S540 (YES in S540), data transfer is actually executed in S560. Data transfer is continued until a data recording completion signal is received in S570. During the data transfer, a screen D500 is displayed in S561, and it is displayed that the data is being transferred.

When the video disk drive receives the recording data from the digital camera, the data receiving routine of S5600 is started. In this routine, S5610
To record the data transferred to the DVD-RAM. S5
Until the data recording is completed in 620, the data recording in S5610 is executed. When data recording is completed in S5620 (YES in S5620), a data recording completion signal is transmitted from the video disk drive to the digital camera in S5630.

If the digital camera receives a data recording completion signal in S570 (YES in S570), it proceeds to S58.
0, a screen D510 is displayed to indicate that the transfer is completed. Next, in S590, it is determined whether or not the FL mote setting key 11 has been pressed on the screen D510. If it has been pressed (YES in S590), a transfer completion signal is transmitted to the video disk drive in S600, and then S610. Returns to the screen D1 and exits this routine.

In S5640, when the video disk drive receives the transfer completion signal transmitted from the digital camera (YES in S5640), a recording end process is executed in S5650, and the process exits from this routine.

Next, the recording end processing of S5650 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. S
At step 5660, the status of the video disk drive is updated to an idle state. In S5670, it is determined whether one minute has elapsed since the transfer completion signal was received. If one minute has elapsed (YES in S5670), the power of the video disk drive is turned off in S5690. If one minute has not elapsed after receiving the transfer completion signal in S5670 (NO in S5670), it is determined in S5680 whether there is a connection request from a device other than the digital camera as viewed from the video disk drive, If there is a connection request (YES in S5680), the process exits this routine, and
A predetermined process is performed according to the device that has issued the connection request. If there is no connection request (NO in S5680), S5
Return to 670.

As described above, in the screen D50, "51:
I explained the processing when "VCR" is selected,
When “52: PC 1 desktop” and “52: PC 2 notebook” are selected, the personal computer is started in the same manner as described above, and the image is recorded on the recording medium mounted on the personal computer in the same manner as above. The data is recorded. Further, in the above embodiment, the case has been described where the digital camera and the recording medium drive unit are connected via a network to which a tuner, a television monitor, a facsimile, and the like are connected. The means may be directly connected, and in this case, each process is executed in the same procedure as in the above embodiment.

[0125]

The digital camera according to the present invention includes transmitting means for activating the drive means by transmitting a start signal to the drive means while being connected to the drive means of the recording medium. Thus, the drive unit is activated based on the operation from the digital camera side, and thereafter, the image data can be transferred between the digital camera and the recording medium.
For this reason, the operability of the digital camera is improved, and a digital camera with high commercial value can be obtained.

When the image data photographed by the digital camera can be recorded on the recording medium while the drive means is activated by the transmitting means, the image data photographed by the digital camera is transmitted from the digital camera. It becomes possible to directly record on a recording medium based on the operation.
On the other hand, a display means for displaying the captured image data,
When the data recorded on the recording medium is configured to be reproduced and displayed on the display means, the content of the data recorded on the recording medium is displayed on the digital display means based on an operation from the digital camera. It can be displayed, and the usability is further improved.

When the digital camera and the drive means for the recording medium are connected via a network to which one or more video or communication devices are connected, the drive means for the recording medium is used. In addition to this, it is possible to use video or communication equipment connected to this network, and the use of the digital camera can be further expanded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a network to which a digital camera according to the present invention is connected.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the digital camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the digital camera.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the digital camera.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the digital camera shown in FIGS.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an overall control unit in the block diagram of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage structure of an image in a memory card 8;

FIG. 8 is a part of a divided screen transition diagram for explaining an initial screen in a reproduction mode (function selection mode) and a screen when each function is selected.

FIG. 9 is another part of a screen transition diagram for explaining an initial screen in a reproduction mode (function selection mode) and a screen when each function is selected.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process when a function “2: play” is selected on the screen D1 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the content of a reproduction end process in the flowchart of FIG. 10;

12 is a transition diagram of a screen displayed in the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 13 shows “5: Data recording” on screen D1 in FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing a process when a function is selected.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the contents of a recording end process in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a transition diagram of a screen displayed in the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital camera 2 ... Camera body part 3 ... Imaging part 8 ... Memory card 9 ... Shutter button 10 ... Display part 11 ... FL mode setting key 14 ... Shooting / playback mode setting switch 211 ... General control part D1, D10-D80 ... screen

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A digital camera connected to a drive unit of a recording medium, wherein a start signal is transmitted to the drive unit in a state where the drive unit is connected to the drive unit, so that the drive unit is started. A digital camera characterized by comprising means. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the photographed image data can be recorded on a recording medium in a state where the drive unit is activated by the transmission unit. 3. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying photographed image data, wherein data recorded on a recording medium can be reproduced and displayed on said display means. 4. One or two connections with the drive means are provided.
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera is performed via a network to which a plurality of video or communication devices are connected.