Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera includes a CPU. When a memory card is attached
to the digital camera, the CPU determines as to a format formed
on the memory card. If the format is a normal format, the CPU changes
the normal format to an optimal format. However, where an image
file is already stored in the memory card or a directory for a file
other than the image file is formed, the CPU does not change the
format. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital camera for storing an image file into a detachable
memory medium, comprising: a first determiner which determines a
format of said memory medium; a second determiner which determines
a file storing state of said memory medium; and a format former
which forcedly forms a particular format on said memory medium when
a predetermined format is formed on said memory medium and said
file storing state is a predetermined state, wherein said particular
format is an optimal format suitable for storing said image file,
and wherein said predetermined format is a format in which a unit
area assuring a sequence of data is formed by a first number of
sectors, said particular format is a format in which the unit area
is formed by a second number of sectors, and said second number
is greater than said first number.
2. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined
state is a state in which no directory is created in said memory
medium.
3. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined
state is a state in which, although a particular directory for storing
the image file is created in said memory medium, no image file is
stored in said particular directory.
4. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said first determiner
determines a current format as said predetermined format when said
memory medium has a first predetermined sector under a first predetermined
area.
5. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said first determiner
determines a current format as said particular format when said
memory medium has a second predetermined sector under a second predetermined
area and said second predetermined area has predetermined data existing
therein.
6. A digital camera for storing an image file into a detachable
memory medium, comprising: a first determiner which determines a
format of said memory medium; a second determiner which determines
a file storing state of said memory medium; and a format former
which forcedly forms a particular format on said memory medium when
a predetermined format is formed on said memory medium and said
file storing state is a predetermined state, wherein said particular
format is an optimal format suitable for storing said image file,
wherein said first determiner determines a current format as said
predetermined format when said memory medium has a first predetermined
sector under a first predetermined area, and wherein said first
predetermined sector is an 8-th sector and said first predetermined
area is a boot area.
7. A digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising an
instructor which instructs to delete said image file stored in said
memory medium, a deleter which deletes said image file depending
upon an output of said instructor, and a second enabler which enables
said first determiner and said second determiner when all of said
image file is deleted.
8. A digital camera according to claim 7, wherein said instructor
includes an entire deletion instructor which instructs deletion
of all of said image file.
9. A digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a
first enabler that enables said first determiner and said second
determiner when said memory medium is attached.
10. A digital camera for storing an image file into a detachable
memory medium, comprising: a first determiner which determines a
format of said memory medium; a second determiner which determines
a file storing state of said memory medium; and a format former
which forcedly forms a particular format on said memory medium when
a predetermined format is formed on said memory medium and said
file storing state is a predetermined state, wherein said particular
format is an optimal format suitable for storing said image file,
wherein said first determiner determines a current format as said
particular format when said memory medium has a second predetermined
sector under a second predetermined area and said second predetermined
area has predetermined data existing therein, and wherein said second
predetermined sector is a 27-th sector and said second predetermined
area is a boot area, said predetermined data is data representative
of a predetermined number of sectors included in one cluster.
Digital Camera Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to digital cameras and, more particularly,
to a digital camera which is arranged to store image data, for example,
in a memory medium arranged detachably attached thereto.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are smart media (SSFDC) marketed widespread by Toshiba Corporation
which are used as a memory medium for a digital camera of this kind.
Such a smart medium is initially formatted in a normal DOS format
(normal format). With this format, where a smart medium has a capacity,
for example, of 4 MB, it contains sectors in number of "4"
for each cluster, as shown in FIG. 2.
The cluster here refers to a minimal unit within which data continuity
is to be guaranteed. That is, even if a plurality of clusters for
one image file is to be stored in a sporadic fashion by repeated
recordation and erasure of the image file, the image data thereof
will be kept continuous in each cluster.
However, because the data amount of a photographic image is approximately
60 KB, there is a necessity for a normal format to have clusters
of as many as 30 or so for one image file. Accordingly, where clusters
exist in a scattered manner, it takes considerable time to get access
to these image files.
In order to avoid this, a DOS format (optimal format) is optimally
defined for image files as shown in FIG. 2, to reduce the time of
accessing to the image files. With this optimal format, the number
of sectors for one cluster is reduced to "16" in order
to facilitate the access to the image file clusters, thereby reducing
access time.
The conventional digital camera of this kind has a function to
establish an optimal mode so that an operator can manipulate buttons
to change the normal format initially given for a smart medium to
an optimal format.
However, the operator usually is unaware of a format formed on
a purchased smart medium, and in many cases uses the camera with
the normal format kept unchanged. in this manner, the operator has
to manipulate buttons and set an optimal format if he wishes to
comfortably operate the camera.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide
a novel digital camera.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a digital
camera which can be appropriately operated without giving especial
attention to the format given on a memory medium.
According to the present invention, a digital camera having a memory
medium detachably attached to store an image file, comprises: a
determining means which determines as to a format formed on the
memory medium; and a format forming means which forms a particular
format on the memory medium depending upon an output of the determining
means.
The memory medium storing the image file is determined as to a
format by the determining means. The format forming means forms
a particular format depending upon an output of the determining
means.
In one aspect of the present invention, the particular format is
a format optimal for storing the image file. When a normal format
is formed on the memory medium, the format forming means changes
the normal format to the optimal format. However, when the memory
medium formed with the normal format is in a predetermined state,
a disabling means disables the format forming means.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined state
is a state that is formed with a directory for a file other than
the image file in the memory medium, or a state that is formed with
a directory for the image file and the image file is held in the
directory.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the determining
means determines a current format as the normal format when memory
medium has a first predetermined sector falling under a first predetermined
area. Incidentally, the first predetermined sector is an 8-th sector
and the first predetermined area is a boot area.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the determining
means determines a current format as the optimal format when the
memory medium has a second predetermined sector falling under a
second predetermined area and the second predetermined area has
predetermined data existing therein. Incidentally, the second predetermined
sector is a 27-th sector and the second predetermined area is a
boot area, the predetermined data is data representative of a predetermined
number of sectors included in one cluster.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a first enabling
means enables the determining means when the memory medium is attached.
In another aspect of the present invention, an instructing means
which instructs to delete the image file stored in the memory medium,
a deleting means which deletes the image file depending upon an
output of the instructing means, and second enabling means which
enables the determining means when all of the image file is all
deleted.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the instructing means
includes an entire deletion instructing means which instructs deletion
of all of the image file.
According to the present invention, the operator can comfortably
operate the camera without paying attention to a memory medium state
because a particular format is formed on the memory medium depending
upon an output of the determining means.
The above described objects and other objects, features, aspects
and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent
from the following detailed description of the present invention
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is an illustrative view showing a format given on a memory
card;
FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing a boot region in the memory
card normally formatted;
FIG. 4 is an illustrative view showing a boot region in the memory
card optimally formatted;
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing part of operation in the FIG. 1 embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another part of the operation in
the FIG. 1 embodiment; and
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another part of the operation in
the FIG. 1 embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, a digital camera 10 is a preferred exemplary
embodiment includes a lens 12. An Optical image taken through this
lens 12 is given to a CCD image 14 via a color filter having Cy,
Ye, Mg and G arranged in a mosaic form.
In a camera mode, the CCD imager 14 performs so-called pixel-mixing
readout. This provides a pixel signal which is supplied to a CDS/AGC
circuit 16. The CDS/AGC circuit 16 performs well-known noise removal
and level adjustment on the inputted pixel signal. The pixel signal
thus processed is then converted by an A/D converter 18 into digital
data, or pixel data. A first signal processing circuit 20 performs
color separation and YUV conversion on the pixel data outputted
from the AID converter 18.
The YUV data thus created is written by a memory control circuit
26 into a memory area 24a of a DRAM 24 through a bus 22, which is
to be thereafter outputted to a second signal processing circuit
30. The second signal processing circuit 30, during outputting motion
images, performs predetermined horizontal and vertical interpolations
on the YUV data (motion image data) from the DRAM 24 so that the
data becomes adapted to a display screen size on the LCD 34. The
motion image data on the second signal processing circuit 30 is
converted by a D/A converter 32 into an analog signal so that this
signal is supplied to the LCD 34 and outputted through an output
terminal 36. In this manner, motion pictures are outputted through
the LCD 34.
If a shutter button 40 is depressed, a system controller 42 controls
the CCD imager 14 to perform so-called all-pixel readout. This causes
the CCD imager 14 to output pixel signals by an interline scheme.
That is, the CCD imager 14 outputs an odd line of a pixel signal
during a first 1-field period, and an even line of pixel signal
during a next 1-field period. The CDS/AGC circuit 16 subjects the
pixel signal to noise removal and level adjustment, similarly to
the above. The A/D converter 18, in turn, converts the pixel signal
of the CDS/AGC circuit 16 into digital data, i.e., pixel data. The
CCD imager 14 is disabled after outputting 1 frame of pixel signals.
The 1-frame image data created by the A/D converter 18 is delivered
directly onto the bus 22 without processed by the first signal processing
circuit 20. This 1-frame image data is written by a memory control
circuit 26 into the memory area 24a.
A CPU 28 performs YUV conversion on the pixel data in the memory
area 24a with using a work area 24b, and compresses the converted
YUV data, i.e., photographic image data, according to a JPEG format
to accommodate the compressed data within an image file. The image
file is recorded in a memory card 46. Incidently, the memory card
46 is a smart medium (SSFDC) made by Toshiba Corporation, as stated
before.
The memory control circuit 26 reads, line by line, pixel data of
Ye, Cy, Mg and G out of the memory area 24a, and supplies them to
the second signal processing circuit 30. When the shutter button
40 is depressed, the second signal processing circuit 30 subjects
the pixel data to color separation and YUV conversion, whereby the
photographic image (freeze image) is outputted through the LCD 34.
In a reproduce mode established, if a reproduce button 48 is depressed,
the CPU 28 reads out compressed data contained in a desired image
file and decompresses the compressed data with using the work area
24b. The photographic image data (YUV data) thus decompressed is
stored into the memory area 24a so that it can be thereafter read
therefrom. The second signal processing circuit 30 performs horizontal
and vertical interpolations on this YUV data so that a reproduced
image is displayed on the LCD 34.
The system controller 42, even when its main power is turned off,
is backed up by an auxiliary power supply so that it can monitor
an output of a sensor 54 at all times. The sensor 54 serves to detect
a state of an opening/closing lid 38 formed at an accommodation
section for accommodating a memory card 46. When the opening/closing
lid 38 is closed, the sensor 54 supplies a high level signal to
the system controller 42. The system controller 42 responds to the
output of the sensor 54 and turns on/off the main power. That is,
the main power is turned off when the opening/closing lid 38 is
opened, and turned on when the opening/closing lid 38 is closed.
Incidentally, the system controller 42 turns off the main power
also when a main switch 50 is switched to an off side. Also, the
system controller 42 establishes a camera mode when the main switch
50 is switched to an REC side, and a reproduce mode when it is switched
to a PLAY side.
The CPU 28 starts processing of a flowcharts shown in FIG. 5 through
FIG. 7 when the main power is turned on. That is, at a step S1 the
memory card 46 is determined as to its format according to a subroutine
shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and, if required, a current format is converted
into an optimal format.
Referring to FIG. 6, it is determined at a step S31 whether a memory
card 46 is accommodated in the digital camera 10 or not. The CPU
28 concretely makes the determination of the step S31 based on an
output of the sensor 44 for detecting an accommodation of the memory
card 46. If "NO" here, the CPU 28 indicates a caution
"NO MEMORY CARD" on the LCD 34 at a step S33. As stated
before, if the opening/closing lid 38 is opened, the main power
is turned off, while if the opening/closing lid 38 is closed, the
main power is turned on. Accordingly, when the memory card 46 is
accommodated and the opening/closing lid 38 is closed, that is,
when the memory card 46 is completed of attachment, the CPU 28 resumes
a process from the step S1 of FIG. 5.
If "YES" is determined at the step S31, the CPU 28 searches,
at a step S35, an 8-th sector formed in the memory card 46 and then
determines, at a step S37, whether this sector is a vacant area
or not. If the 8-th sector is not a vacant area, it is determined
at a step S53 whether this 8-th sector is a boot area or not. Specifically,
the CPU 28 makes reference to the first 3 bites and the last 2 bites
of the 8-th sector, and determines whether this sector is a boot
area or not. As shown by underlines in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the first
3 bites of a boot area are "E9", "00" and "00"
and the last 2 bites are "55" and "AA" in either
of a normal format or an optimal format. Accordingly, a determination
is made at a step S53 whether the sector is a boot area, by detecting
5 bites as above.
If the determination at the step S53 is "YES", the current
format is determined as a normal format at a step S55. However,
if the determination at the step S53 is "NO", it is determined
at a step S57 that the memory card 46 is in an unformatted state.
Meanwhile, if "YES" is determined at the step S37, the
CPU searches at a step S39 a 27-th sector, and determines at a step
S41 whether this sector is a boot area or not in a similar procedure
to that stated before. If "YES" at the step S41, searching
is made at a step S43 for an address "00D", i.e. an address
shown by a circle in FIG. 4, and it is determined at a step S45
whether the address has bites "10" or not. The address
"00D" is written with data of the number of sectors contained
in one cluster, which data is expressed by hexadecimal notation.
Due to this, "10" means decimal number "16".
If "YES" at the step S45, the number of sectors contained
in the cluster is "16" and the CPU 28 determines the current
format as an optimal format. Incidentally, if "NO" at
the step S41 or S45, the CPU 28 determines that the memory card
46 is in an unformatted state.
Summarizing the above operations, when the memory card 46 is attached
to the digital camera 10, the format determining process is commenced.
If the 8-th sector is a boot area, the current format is determined
as a normal format. If the 27-th sector is a boot area and further
the address "00D" has data "10", the current
format is determined as an optimal format. On the other hand, if
the 8-th sector is neither a vacant area or a boot area, the memory
card 46 is determined unformatted. Also, when the address "00D"
is written with other data than "10" even if the 27-th
sector is not a boot area or a boot area, the memory card 46 is
determined unformatted.
If the current format is determined as an optimal format, then
the CPU 28 determines at a step S49 whether there exists a directory
exclusive for the image file (exclusive directory) or not. If there
is no exclusive directory, CPU 28 creates, at a step S51 an exclusive
directory, then returning a process. Contrary to this, if there
is already an exclusive directory, the process returns as it is.
When the current format is determined as a normal format, the CPU
28 determines at a step S59 whether there is nothing in an underling
layer of a root directory or not. If "YES" here, the process
advances to a step S65. At this step 65 an optimal format is formed
on the memory card 46 and an exclusive directory is created at a
step S67, and the process thereafter returns. On the other hand,
if "NO" at the step S59, that is, if any directory or
file exists in the underlying layer of the root directory, it is
then determined at a step S61 whether only an exclusive directory
exists or not. If "NO", that is if an directory other
than the exclusive directory exists, the process returns as it is
in order to prevent the data within the memory card 46 from being
erased. If "YES" at the step S61, the CPU 28 determines
at a step S63 whether any image file is absent within the underlying
layer of the exclusive directory or not. If any image file is present,
the process returns in order to prevent the same image file from
being erased. However, if no image file exists, the process advances
to the step S65.
In this manner, even if the current format is determined as a normal
format, if the memory card 46 is formed with an exclusive directory
or the memory card 46 is formed with an exclusive directory and
further the exclusive directory holding an image file, the memory
card 46 is in a predetermined state wherein an optimal formatting
is impossible. Accordingly, the optimal formatting process is disabled.
If the memory card 46 is determined unformatted, the CPU 28 causes
to display "FORMAT MEMORY CARD? YES NO". If the operator
opts "YES", the CPU 28 determines "YES" at a
step S71 and the process proceeds to the step S65. On the other
hand, if the operator selects "NO", the CPU 28 causes
to display, at a step S73, "PHOTOGRAPH UNAVAILABLE WITHOUT
FORMATTING" for a predetermined time period, and then the process
turns to the step S69.
Returning to FIG. 5, the CPU 28 determines at a step S3 whether
the current mode is a reproduce mode or not. If "NO" here,
the current mode is determined as a camera mode, and a camera mode
process is performed at a step S13 and thereafter the process returns
to the step S3. On the other hand, if the current mode is reproduced
mode, it is determined at a step S5 whether an all delete button
56 is turned on or not. If "NO", the process advances
to a step S15 where it is determined whether a one-sheet delete
button 52 is turned on or not. If the determination at this step
is "NO", the CPU 28 advances the process to a step S25
to execute other processes, and thereafter the process returned
to the step S3.
If the all delete button 56 is depressed the CPU at a step S7 causes
to display "DELETE ALL IMAGE FILES? YES NO". If the operator
selects "YES", the CPU determines "YES" at a
step S9, and effects all deletion at a step S11, and the process
returns to the step S1. Due to this, the above format determination
is carried out even when all deletion is effected. Incidentally,
if "NO" at the step S9, the CPU 28 advances the process
to the step S15.
If the one-sheet delete button 52 is depressed, the CPU at a step
S17 causes to display "DELETE IMAGE FILE? YES NO" on the
LCD 34. It is determined at a step S19 whether the operator selected
"YES" or not. If "NO" is selected, the process
is advanced to a step S25, while if "YES" is selected,
deletion of a desired image file is effected at a step S21. The
CPU 28 thereafter determines at a step S23 whether there are image
files remained in the memory card 46 or not. If no image file is
remained the process returns to the S1, while if any image file
is remained, the process is advanced to a step S25. Accordingly,
even where image files are all disappeared by operating the onesheet
delete button 16, the CPU carries out the above format determination.
Because the CPU 28 makes processes as the above, if the operator
inserts a new memory card 46 into the camera 10 and closes the opening/closing
lid 38, the normal format on the memory card 46 is changed to an
optimal format. Due to this, the operator can comfortably operate
the camera 10 without paying attention to the format on the memory
card 46. That is, the optimal format has the number of sectors "16"
included in one cluster, which is greater in sector number as compared
to that of the normal format. In other words, the number of clusters
included in one image file is less than that of the normal format.
This reduces time to detect clusters, which in turn reduces time
to reproduce and delete or write image files correspondingly. The
operator can comfortably operate the camera 10.
Also, if any data has ready written on the attached memory card
46, the CPU 28 suspends formation of optimal format thus preventing
the data from being intentionally deleted.
Although in this embodiment explanation was made using the smart
medium (SSFDC) as the memory card 46, the present invention is also
applicable to the case where using a memory medium such as a small
memory card of a compact flush, miniature card or small PC card,
a floppy disc, a zip, an MO (Magneto Optical disc).
The present invention is applicable to a video movie provided with
a function to take still pictures besides so-called a digital still
camera for still pictures.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the format initially formed on
the smart medium was explained as normal format. However, the normal
format is considered to include formats obtained by initialization
by a personal computer's DOS file system.
Further, in this embodiment optimal formatting is made by operator's
instructions when the memory card is in an formatted state. However,
optimal formatting may be forcibly made when an unformatted state
is determined.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated
in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration
and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the
spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by
the terms of the appended claims.
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