Digital Camera Patent Abstract
The CPU 17 accesses multiple slots 41a and 41b in a digital camera
1 at regular intervals to detect whether or not memory cards 40a
and 40b are mounted in the slots 41a and 41b, respectively. Based
on whether or not memory cards 40a and 40b are mounted in the slots
41a and 41b, respectively, the CPU 17 selects one slot as the slot
to be accessed. There are three modes available as the mode from
which to perform this selection, i.e., a fixed mode, a priority
mode and a manual operation mode. Digital Camera Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A digital camera comprising: a plurality of mounting portions
to which recording media can be mounted; a detector which detects
whether or not the recording media are mounted to said mounting
portions; and a selector which selects from among said mounting
portions a portion to be accessed based on the detection result
of said detector, wherein, where at least two recording media are
mounted to said mounting portions, said selector selects the mounting
portion to which the recording medium was mounted first as the mounting
portion to be accessed.
2. A digital camera according to claim 1 further comprising a first
display which displays information regarding the mounting portion
selected by said selector.
3. A digital camera according to claim 2 further comprising a second
display which displays the picked-up image, and said first display
and said second display are located separately from each other.
4. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein each of said
mounting portions is a connector to be mechanically and electrically
connected to each of the recording media.
5. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein each of said
mounting portions is a slot inside of which each of the recording
media is housed.
6. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein each of said
mounting portions has a slot inside of which each of the recording
media is housed and a connector to which the recording media housed
in said slot is mechanically and electrically connected.
7. A digital camera comprising: a plurality of mounting portions
to each of which a recording medium is mounted; a mode setting member
which is operated to set a mode from among a plurality of selection
modes, in each of said plurality of selection modes the mounting
portion to be accessed being selected from among said plurality
of mounting portions; and a selector which selects one of said mounting
portions to be accessed from among said plurality of mounting portions
in accordance with the selection mode set by the operation of said
mode setting member, wherein the selection modes include a mode
in which the mounting portion in which a storm medium was first
mounted is selected as the mounting portion to be accessed.
8. A digital camera according to claim 7, wherein the selection
modes include a mode in which a particular mounting portion is selected
as the mounting portion to be accessed at all times from among said
plurality of mounting portions.
9. A digital camera according to claim 7, wherein the selection
modes include a mode in which a mounting portion is selected from
among said plurality of mounting portions as the mounting portion
to be accessed based on an operation performed by means of an operating
member.
Digital Camera Patent Description
This application is based on application No. Hei 11-350379 filed
in Japan, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a digital camera equipped with
multiple mounting portions in which recording media may be housed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A digital camera generally is constructed such that a detachable
memory card may be mounted in it in order to store picked-up images.
In recently years, in order to increase the number images to be
picked-up and stored, digital cameras having two slots have become
available, enabling the mounting of two memory cards.
When taking a picture, the user designates whether to store the
image in the memory card mounted in the first slot or in the memory
card mounted in the second slot through the operation of an alternating
switch, and by performing the image storing processing to the designated
memory card, the pick-up image is stored in the memory card that
the user desires.
However, in a two-slot digital camera of this type, a storing processing
is performed only to the slot designated by the user. Therefore,
if a slot in which no memory card is mounted is designated, an image
storing error results. For example, where a memory card is mounted
in the first slot only and the user designates the second slot,
i.e., the slot having no memory card, as the slot to which the image
should be stored, because no memory card exists in the designated
second slot, an image storing error results.
There are also times when the user mounts a memory card without
paying close attention to the slot in which the memory card is being
mounted. In such a case, it is difficult to properly designate the
slot for image storing. In particular, when the user wants to take
a picture quickly, if the wrong slot is designated, a storing error
result and no image storing takes place, which may result in a missed
photo-taking opportunity.
In addition, it is preferred that a certain rule be established
beforehand as to which of the memory cards in the two slots should
be used for image storing. If the memory card to be used is randomly
determined, the problem may occur that the image is stored in the
memory card that the user did not intend to use. It is also desirable
that the user can clearly know which one of the memory cards in
the two slots is being used for image storing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was made in view of the problems identified
above, and the object of the present invention is to provide a digital
camera using which no errors occur even if the user mounts a recording
media without paying attention to the mounting portion in which
it is being mounted.
In order to attain these and other objects, one aspect of the present
invention comprises a digital camera having multiple mounting portions
in which recording media may be housed, said digital camera also
having a detector that detects whether or not the recording media
are mounted in the multiple mounting portions and a selector that
selects from among the multiple mounting portions the portion to
be accessed based on the detected mounting status, wherein, where
at least two recording media are mounted in the multiple mounting
portions, the selector selects the mounting portion in which a recording
medium was mounted first as the mounting portion to be accessed.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention
will become apparent from the following description thereof taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate
specific embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following description, like parts are designated by like
reference numbers throughout the several drawings.
FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are drawings showing an external view of a
digital camera as one embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are drawings showing an external view of the
digital camera.
FIG. 3 shows the basic internal construction of the digital camera.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of
the digital camera.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing the functions performed
by the CPU.
FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the guidance display in the manual
operation mode.
FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation sequence when the
slot to be accessed is selected.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation sequence when the
slot to be accessed is selected.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation sequence when the
slot to be accessed is selected.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the operation sequence when the
slot to be accessed is selected.
FIG. 11 is a drawing showing the priority slot image displayed
in the camera function display.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The embodiments of the present invention are explained below with
reference to the drawings.
<1. Construction of Digital Camera>
FIG. 1(a) is a front elevation, FIG. 1(b) is rear elevation, FIG.
2(a) is a plan view and FIG. 2(b) is a side elevation of a digital
camera 1.
A lens unit 3 to make images of an object, an objective lens of
a viewfinder 7 to determine the range to be photographed, and an
electronic flash 8 to illuminate the object are located on the front
side of the digital camera 1. A viewfinder 7 eyepiece, a monitor
25 comprising a color liquid crystal display to confirm the picked-up
image, an setting alternating switch 6b to set the selection mode
from which to select the slot to be accessed, and four-direction
keys 6c, 6d, 6e and 6f to scroll the picked-up image and to change
the various setting parameters are located on the rear side of the
digital camera 1.
A shutter start button 6a to begin the pick-up of the object image
to be recorded and a camera function display 9 that displays the
card names specified for the memory cards 40a and 40b mounted in
the slots 41a and 41b as well as the photographing parameters, and
that displays the slot to be accessed in order for the user to visually
confirm which card is to be accessed, i.e., the memory card 40a
or 40b, should be used to store the object image. The camera function
display unit 9 comprises a small size monochrome liquid crystal
display. By locating it separately from the monitor 25 that is used
to confirm the picked-up image, the user can visually check the
photographing parameters during the image pick-up.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2(b), two slots 41a and 41b are located
on one side of the digital camera 1 so that two memory cards 40a
and 40b may be mounted. One memory card 40a or 40b may be mounted
in the slot 41a or 41b, respectively. Connector 41a-1 which is mechanically
and electrically connected to the memory card mounted in the slot
41a is located inside the slot 41a. Connector 41b-1 which is mechanically
and electrically connected to the memory card mounted in the slot
41b is located inside the slot 41a. Each of the connectors includes
respectively a plurality of connecting pins, for example. The connectors
41a-1 and 41b-1 are schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. Regarding
this embodiment, an example that has two memory card mounting slots
will be used for convenience of explanation, but the present invention
is not limited to this construction. The number of slots may be
three or more. In addition, in order for the user to distinguish
these slots from each other, such markings as `Slot A` and `Slot
B` are indicated near the memory card mounting inlets of the slots
41a and 41b, respectively.
It is also acceptable if the camera has only one slot with connectors
inside so those two or more memory cards may be mounted.
FIG. 3 shows the basic internal construction of the digital camera
1 constructed as described above. As shown in FIG. 3, the digital
camera 1 has an aperture stop 4 in the lens unit 3, and an image
pick-up sensor 5 inside, and may house two memory cards 40a and
40b.
The image pick-up sensor 5 has multiple pixels aligned on a plane
(imaging plane or focal plane) that is perpendicular to the optical
axis, and comprises a CCD area sensor in which reading is performed
for all pixels. Red, green and blue primary color filters are applied
on the imaging surface of the image pick-up sensor 5 in a checkered
fashion on a pixel-by-pixel basis, so that each pixel is sensitive
to each color component of the light incident on the sensor via
the lens unit 3 and aperture stop 4. In the image pick-up sensor
5 having this construction, the amount of exposure is regulated
through control of the charge accumulation time.
The functional construction of the digital camera 1 will now be
explained. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional construction
of the digital camera 1.
An image signal that has undergone photoelectric conversion inside
the image pick-up sensor 5 is shifted to the transfer path, which
is shielded from light, and reading is sequentially performed for
each pixel from this transfer path via a buffer. The image signal
obtained by means of the image pick-up sensor 5 is led to an image
processor 10 via a Correlated Double Sampling circuit (CDS) 36,
an Automatic Gain Controller (AGC) 37, and an Analog to Digital
(A/D) converter 38. In other words, an image signal undergoes sampling
in the CDS 36, where the image pick-up sensor 5 noise is eliminated,
and is then corrected for sensitivity in the AGC 37. The A/D converter
38 comprises a ten-bit A/D converter, for example, and converts
into a digital signal the normalized analog signal that is obtained
from the AGC 37. Therefore, the image signal led to the image processing
unit 10 comprises a digital signal.
In addition, in order to control each component of the digital
camera 1, a camera control CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31 is located
inside the camera. This camera control CPU 31 functions as a controller
during image pick-up, and sends control signals to the aperture
driver 32 and the timing generator 33.
The aperture value for the aperture stop 4 and the charge accumulation
time for the image pick-up sensor 5 are calculated by the camera
control CPU 31. Based on the calculation results, the camera control
CPU 31 provides control signals to the aperture driver 32 and the
timing generator 33, creating a control system that ensures that
the image pick-up sensor 5 receives the proper amount of exposure
during image pick-up.
Based on the control signals from the camera control CPU 31, the
aperture driver 32 drives the aperture stop 4 to adjust the aperture
diameter, and the timing generator 33 controls the charge accumulation
time for the image pick-up sensor 5, which is determined by the
timing to begin charge accumulation and the timing to end it.
The operation switches 6 are used by the user to either input the
photographing parameters and image processing parameters or perform
an photographing operation, and include the shutter start button
6a, the setting alternating switch 6b and the four-direction keys
6c, 6d, 6e and 6f. The camera control CPU 31 sets various photographing
parameters based on the input from the operation switches 6 to make
them effective, or displays the settings in the camera function
display 9 located on the top side of the digital camera 1. When
the shutter start button 6a, which is included among the operation
switches 6, is pressed down completely, the camera control CPU 31
performs image pick-up by controlling the aperture stop 4 and image
pick-up sensor 5 as described above.
The camera control CPU 31 is constructed such that it can mutually
exchange data with the image processor 10. It sends display data
to the image processor 10 so that the various setting parameters
may be displayed on the monitor 25. It also receives the data indicating
which of the memory cards 40a and 40b is to be accessed, displays
the slot to be accessed in the camera function display 9, which
functions as the selection slot display, and displays the card names
of the memory cards 40a and 40b mounted in the slots 41a and 41b,
respectively.
On the other hand, the image processor 10 that performs multiple
types of processing to the digitized image signal comprises, for
example, a one-chip Integrated Circuit, and includes a pixel interpolation
circuit 11, a color balance controller 12, a gamma correction circuit
13, an image compressor 14, a video encoder 15, a memory card driver
16, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 17, a ROM (Read Only Memory)
18 and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 19, which are mutually connected
via a data bus 29. The image processing unit 10 may also access
the image memory 21 that functions as a temporary memory in which
data of the picked-up image obtained from the image pick-up sensor
5 is temporarily stored.
When a digitized image signal is input to the image processor 10,
it is stored in the image memory 21. The image stored in the image
memory 21 undergoes pixel interpolation by the pixel interpolation
circuit 11, white balance adjustment by the color balance controller
12 and prescribed conversion by the gamma correction circuit 13,
and is stored in the image memory 21 once more.
In the pixel interpolation circuit 11, after the image data is
read from the image memory 21 in which it is stored and masking
is performed using the filter pattern of the primary color filters,
averaging interpolation is performed for the pixels surrounding
prescribed pixels for each color component.
In the color balance controller 12, white balance adjustment is
performed based on gain correction performed independently for red,
green and blue regarding the image signal of each color component
that is generated through the pixel interpolation. Specifically,
the area that is thought to be originally white is estimated from
the brightness and saturation of the object, and the gain for each
color component is set based on the red, green and blue of that
area. By performing correction for each color component using the
gains thus obtained, white balance adjustment is automatically performed,
that is, so-called `auto white balance` process is carried out.
Furthermore, in the gamma correction circuit 13, non-linear conversion
compatible with the output device (such as the monitor 25 or an
external CRT, for example) is performed to the image data that has
undergone white balance adjustment.
The image compressor 14 performs compression of the image stored
in the image memory 21 using the JPEG method in order to reduce
the amount of image data to be stored on the memory card 40a or
40b.
The memory card driver 16 is electrically connected to the two
connectors 41a-1 and 41b-1 inside the slots 41a and 41b in which
memory cards are mounted. It accesses the memory card 40a or 40b
mounted in the slot 41a or 41b to store or read image and other
data. The memory cards 40a and 40b comprise portable storing media
and may be mounted in and removed from the slots 41a and 41b, respectively.
The video encoder 17 encodes the image data into NTSC or PAL data
in order to display the image stored in the image memory 21 or memory
card 40a or 40b on the monitor 25, and causes the image to be displayed
on the monitor 25. As a result, the monitor 25 functions as a picked-up
image display.
The CPU 17 is constructed such that it may access the ROM 18 and
RAM 19, and reads the programs stored in the ROM 18 and performs
various functions by executing the programs. It controls the operations
of the various components described above and selects the slot to
be accessed, by monitoring whether the memory cards 40a or 40b are
mounted in the two slots 41a and 41b, respectively.
<2. Functions Performed by the CPU 17>
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing in a schematic fashion the functions
performed by the CPU 17. The functions for controlling the operations
of the various components described above, such as the pixel interpolation
circuit 11, are omitted from the drawing. As shown in FIG. 5, the
CPU 17 performs the functions of a mounting status detector 171,
an access slot selector 172 and an image store/read processor 173.
In the explanation that follows below, the functions 171 through
173 are described as if they are independent components, but they
are all functions of the CPU 17. However, they may be performed
by means of independent components (i.e., circuits).
The mounting status detector 171 detects whether or not memory
cards are mounted, by accessing the slots 41a and 41b via the memory
card driver 16 at certain intervals and determining whether or not
memory cards 40a and 40b are mounted. Therefore, where a memory
card was not mounted in a given slot when it was accessed previously
but a memory card is determined to be mounted when the same slot
is subsequently accessed, the mounting status detector 171 can recognize
that a memory card is newly mounted in that slot. The memory card
mounting status of the slots 41a and 41b is communicated to the
access slot selector 172.
The access slot selector 172 selects one of the two slots 41a and
41b as the slot to be accessed. There are three operation modes
available for this selection. Which one of these three modes will
be used for the selection of the slot to be accessed is specified
by the user performing an alternating operation of the setting alternating
switch 6b for mode setting. The camera control CPU 31 then communicates
the setting of the setting alternating switch 6b to the access slot
selector 172. Therefore, the access slot selector 172 selects and
determines the slot to be accessed from among the two slots 41a
and 41b in accordance with the mode thus specified.
However, where the mounting status detector 171 recognizes that
only one of the slots 41a and 41b has a memory card, since it is
not possible to perform storing or reading of images even if the
slot in which no memory cards are mounted is chosen as the slot
to be accessed, the slot in which a memory card is mounted is automatically
selected as the slot to be accessed. Therefore, it is only when
both memory cards 40a and 40b are recognized by the mounting status
detector 171 to be mounted in both slots 41a and 41b that the slot
to be accessed is selected based on one operation mode from among
the three operation modes as described above.
When the slot to be accessed is selected, the access slot selector
172 stores the information in the RAM 19. The access slot selector
172 also transmits the information on the slot to be accessed to
the camera control CPU 31. By transmitting this information to the
camera control CPU 31, it becomes possible to display which slot
was selected as the slot to be accessed in the camera function display
9.
The CPU 17 then functions as an image store/read processor 173
to store the picked-up image onto the memory card or to read the
picked-up image stored on the memory card. It performs an image
storing operation or image reading operation as to the slot to be
accessed from among the two slots 41a and 41b, the information on
which is stored in the RAM 19.
The operation modes in which to select the slot to be accessed
will now be explained.
The first mode is a fixed mode in which a pre-determined slot is
selected as the slot to be accessed from among the two slots 41a
and 41b. This fixed mode is associated with the upper level of the
setting alternating switch 6b, such that this mode becomes activated
when the user moves the setting alternating switch 6b to the upper
level. In this mode, the specified slot, information regarding which
is stored in the RAM 19, is read, and the slot that corresponds
to the specified slot is determined to be the slot to be accessed.
Either the slot 41a or 41b may be specified as the specified slot.
For example, where the slot 41b is set as the specified slot and
memory cards 40a and 40b are mounted in both slots 41a and 41b,
the slot 41b is selected as the slot to be accessed at all times
in this fixed mode. The information indicating the specified slot
is stored in the ROM 18 in advance, and is stored in the RAM 19
when the system is powered up.
The second mode is a priority mode in which the slot in which a
memory card was first mounted is selected as the slot to be accessed
from between the two slots 41a and 41b. This priority mode is associated
with the middle level of the setting alternating switch 6b, such
that this mode becomes activated when the user moves the setting
alternating switch 6b to the middle level. Where the priority mode
is activated, when the mounting status detector 171 detects that
a memory card has been newly mounted in one of the slots, if a memory
card already resides in the other slot, the access slot selector
172 selects the other slot, i.e., the slot in which a memory card
was first mounted, as the slot to be accessed.
Where there are two slots, if the construction of the camera is
such that the slot to be accessed will not change when only one
memory card is mounted and a memory card has been newly mounted,
the slot in which a memory card was first mounted may be selected
as the slot to be accessed. If a memory card is then removed, the
slot that has a memory card should be selected as the slot to be
accessed in the same way when only one memory card is mounted.
Where there are three or more slots, if the construction of the
camera is such that the slot to be accessed is not changed when
only one memory card is mounted and one or more memory cards have
been newly mounted, the slot in which a memory card was first mounted
may be selected as the slot to be accessed. However, when one memory
card is removed from the situation in which three or more memory
cards are mounted, it is necessary to determine which slot received
a memory card first among the slots in which memory cards still
remain. Therefore, where there are three or more slots, the mounting
order of the cards in the slots in which a memory card was mounted
must be separately saved in the RAM 19. By saving this information,
even where one memory card is removed, the slot in which a memory
card was first mounted may be distinguished from the other slots.
By selecting the slot to be accessed using the priority mode in
this way, image storing may be performed into the memory card that
was first mounted in the digital camera, and then into a different
memory card that was mounted afterward, such as when the first memory
card runs out of capacity. Therefore, it becomes possible to sequentially
store picked-up images in accordance with the order of memory card
mounting.
The third mode is a manual operation mode in which one slot is
selected as the slot to be accessed from between the two slots 41a
and 41b by the user operating the operation switches 6 as desired.
This manual operation mode is associated with the lower level of
the setting alternating switch 6b, and becomes activated when the
user moves the setting alternating switch 6b to the lower level.
When the manual operation mode is set, a guide screen for the user
to specify a slot is displayed in the monitor 25 located in the
rear side of the digital camera 1.
FIG. 6 shows the guide screen in the manual operation mode. Where
the setting alternating switch 6c is set to the lower level, the
CPU 17 displays the guide screen shown in FIG. 6 in the monitor
25 so that the user may easily designate the slot to be accessed.
In the display state shown in FIG. 6, Slot A is selected from between
Slot A, which corresponds to the slot 41a, and Slot B, which corresponds
to the slot 41b. The selection may be changed by the user operating
the leftward key 6c or the rightward key 6d from among the four-direction
keys 6c through 6f. For example, where the user operates the rightward
key 6d when Slot A is selected as shown in FIG. 6, a change may
be made so that Slot B is selected. When the user operates the downward
key 6f from among the four-direction keys 6c through 6f, the slot
displayed as selected may be settled as the slot to be accessed.
Therefore, in this manual operation mode, the slot to be accessed
may be manually selected based on the user's desires when a memory
card 40b is mounted in the slot 41b after a memory card 40a was
mounted in the slot 41a, and the user desires to store the picked-up
images in the memory card 40b that was subsequently mounted, for
example.
In this embodiment, there are three operation modes for selecting
the slot to be accessed, as described above, such that a memory
card may be selected based on the user's desires as the memory card
to be accessed by the user operating the setting alternating switch
6b.
<3. Operation Sequence>
The operation sequence that is followed when the slot to be accessed
is selected by the CPU 17 from between the slots 41a and 41b will
now be explained with reference to the flow charts. FIGS. 7 through
10 are flow charts showing the operation sequence followed when
the slot to be accessed is selected.
The CPU 17 functions as a mounting status detector 171 and detects
whether memory cards are mounted in the slots 41a and 41b (step
S1). It then determines whether or not the number of memory cards
mounted in the digital camera 1 is two. If it is two, YES is determined
and the CPU 17 advances to step S5. If it is one, NO is determined
and the CPU 17 advances to step S3.
In step S3, the CPU 17 determines whether the one memory card detected
is mounted in the slot 41a or slot 41b. The CPU 17 then advances
to step S4, in which it functions as an access slot selector 172,
and specifies as the slot to be accessed the slot determined to
be housing the memory card.
On the other hand, in step S5, where the mode set by means of the
setting alternating switch 6b is identified, and if that mode is
the fixed mode, the CPU 17 advances to step S6, whereas if the set
mode is the priority mode, the CPU 17 advances to step S7. If the
set mode is the manual mode, the CPU 17 advances to step S8.
The flow chart shown in FIG. 8 is followed as the operation sequence
when the fixed mode is activated. In step S61, the CPU 17 obtains
the information on the slot to be accessed from the RAM 19 and specifies
that slot as the slot to be accessed. The CPU 17 then advances to
step S62, in which it transmits the information on the slot specified
as the slot to be accessed (priority slot) to the camera control
CPU 31 and instructs the camera function display 9 to display the
priority slot.
FIG. 11 shows the screen shown in the camera function display 9
through this priority slot display. As shown in FIG. 11, the camera
function display 9 displays the card names stored in the two memory
cards 40a and 40b mounted in the two slots 41a and 41b, the priority
slot and the photographing parameters. The card names and the priority
slot are displayed in the upper area of the camera function display
9, while the photographing parameters are displayed using the segment
display method in the lower area of the camera function display
9.
The card name stored in the memory card 40a mounted in the slot
41a, i.e., `CARD 1`, is displayed in the upper part, and the card
name stored in the memory card 40b mounted in the slot 41b, i.e.,
`CARD 2`, is displayed in the lower part, as shown in FIG. 11. By
displaying the card names in this way, even if the user mounted
the memory cards 40a and 40b without distinguishing which card went
into the slot 41a or 41b, it is easy for the user to visually determine
which card is mounted in which slot.
The priority slot is indicated through the display of a prescribed
mark (a circle in FIG. 11) to indicate the slot to be accessed that
was specified in step S61. By displaying the priority slot in this
way, the user may easily confirm which memory card may be first
accessed, and if image storing is performed to `CARD 2` during actual
photographing even when the displayed priority slot is `CARD 1`,
the user can deduce that the memory card 40a mounted in the slot
41a has no more free memory space.
When the display of the priority slot in the camera function display
9 is completed, the CPU 17 then advances to step S63, where it checks
the remaining memory in the memory card mounted in the priority
slot, and where there is sufficient memory to store the picked-up
image, the CPU 17 advances to step S64 and establishes the priority
slot as the slot to be accessed.
On the other hand, where there is not sufficient memory in the
memory card mounted in the priority slot, the CPU 17 advances to
step S65, where it checks the available memory in the memory card
mounted in the second slot, which is different from the priority
slot. Where there is sufficient memory available in the memory card
mounted in the second slot, the CPU 17 sets the second slot as the
slot to be accessed in step S66. Where the card mounted in the second
slot also lacks sufficient memory, the CPU 17 advances to step S67,
and since the picked-up image may not be stored anywhere, an error
routine is carried out.
The operation sequence when the priority mode is activated is shown
in the flow chart shown in FIG. 9. In step S71, the CPU 17 determines
whether or not a memory card has been newly mounted in the first
slot, which comprises either the slot 41a or 41b. Where a memory
card has been newly mounted in the first slot, the CPU 17 advances
to step S72, where it determines whether or not a memory card is
already mounted in the second slot, which is the other slot. Where
a memory card is already mounted in the second slot, that means
that the memory card in the second slot was mounted first. Consequently,
the second slot is deemed the priority slot (step S73). On the other
hand, where no memory card is mounted in the second slot, the first
slot is deemed the priority slot, in the same way as when only one
memory card is mounted in the camera (step S74).
The CPU 17 then advances to step S75 and determines whether or
not a memory card has been newly mounted in the second slot. Where
a priority slot is already set in the step S73 or S74, NO is determined
in this step S75 and the sequence advances to step S79. On the other
hand, where NO is determined in step S71, the CPU 17 advances to
step S75 so as to determine the memory card in the second slot.
When YES is determined in step S75, the CPU 17 then determines whether
or not a memory card is already mounted in the first slot (step
S76), and where a memory card is already mounted in the first slot,
that means that the memory card in the first slot was mounted first,
and therefore the first slot is deemed the priority slot (step S77).
On the other hand, where no memory card is mounted in the first
slot, the second slot is deemed the priority slot, in the same way
as when only one memory card is mounted in the camera (step S78).
Based on this routine, either of the slots 41a and 41b is deemed
the priority slot. The CPU 17 then advances to step S79, and communicates
which slot is the priority slot to the camera control CPU 31, whereupon
the priority slot is displayed in the camera function display 9
as shown in FIG. 11.
The CPU 17 then advances to the sequence from step S63 onward shown
in the flow chart of FIG. 8 to check the available memory space
of the memory card mounted in the priority slot. Where there is
a sufficient empty memory space, the CPU 17 establishes the priority
slot as the slot to be accessed, while where there is not a sufficient
memory space available, the CPU 17 checks the empty memory space
in the memory card mounted in the other slot to establish it as
the slot to be accessed (steps S63 through S66). Where either memory
cards 40a or 40b do not have a sufficient memory space, the error
routine is performed (step S67).
The operation sequence when the manual operation mode is activated
is shown in the flow chart shown in FIG. 10. The CPU 17 displays
the operation guide screen shown in FIG. 6 in the monitor 25 (step
S81). The priority slot is input by the user operating the four-direction
keys 6c through 6d (step S82). The priority slot designated by the
user is communicated from the camera control CPU 31 to the CPU 17.
The CPU 17 then deems the slot designated by the user from among
the multiple slots 41a and 41b as the priority slot (step S83).
As a result, either one of the slots 41a and 41b is deemed the priority
slot based on the user's intention. The CPU 17 then advances to
step S84 and communicates which slot is the priority slot to the
camera control CPU 31, whereupon the priority slot is displayed
in the camera function display 9 as shown in FIG. 11.
The CPU 17 advances to the sequence from step S63 onward shown
in the flow chart of FIG. 8, and establishes the slot to be accessed
by performing the same sequence as the one described above (steps
S63 through S67).
By performing the sequence described above, it is automatically
detected whether or not memory cards are mounted in the slots, and
the slot to be accessed may be selected from among the multiple
slots based on the state of mounting of memory cards. Therefore,
even when only one memory card is mounted in one of the slots, for
example, the slot in which the memory card is mounted is automatically
specified and deemed the slot to be accessed. Consequently, the
user need not pay particular attention to the slot in which a memory
card is mounted, leading to easier operation.
In addition, multiple memory cards may be mounted in the slots
without paying attention to the order of mounting. Unless all of
the memory cards lack sufficient memory, errors will not result
when recording is performed.
In particular, where the slot to be accessed is selected using
the priority mode, the picked-up images may be sequentially stored
in the order in which the memory cards were mounted in the digital
camera 1 by the user, making it easy to manage the picked-up images
after they are stored.
Further, since any of the three modes may be set based on the user
operation as described above, the mode from which to select the
slot to be accessed may be activated based on the user's desires,
which contributes to making the digital camera 1 easy to use.
<4. Modifications>
One embodiment of the present invention was explained above, but
the present invention is not limited to the embodiment explained
above.
For example, in the embodiment described above, it is memory cards
that are mounted in the multiple slots 41a and 41b, but the image
storing medium may instead comprise magnetic disk (magnetic disk
cards) or magneto-optical disk (magneto-optical disk cards).
In addition, the functioning portions by which to select the slot
to be accessed from among the multiple slots may be located separately
from the image processing unit 10, or the camera control CPU 31
may be constructed such that it carries out such a function.
As explained above, at least two image storing media are mounted
in the multiple slots, the selector selects, from among multiple
slots, the slot to be accessed into which an image storing medium
was first mounted, enabling the picked-up images to be sequentially
stored in the image storing media beginning with the image storing
medium that was mounted first, so that errors do not result even
if the user mounts the image storing media without paying attention
to the slot in which they are mounted, making the camera easier
to operate.
Additionally, the digital camera has a selected slot display that
displays the slot selected by the selector, so that the selected
slot may be visually confirmed.
Moreover, the selected slot display is located separately from
the display that displays the picked-up image, and therefore the
selected slot may be visually confirmed during the photographing
as well.
Further, the digital camera has a mode setting member that sets
one selection mode from among multiple selection modes from which
to select from among the multiple slots the slot to be accessed,
and the slot to be accessed is selected from among the multiple
slots in accordance with the selection mode set by means of the
mode setting member, and therefore, the slot to be accessed may
be selected based on the user's desires, which improves the ease
of operation of the digital camera.
Still further, the digital has the multiple selection modes include
(a) a mode in which a particular slot is selected as the slot to
be accessed at all times from among the multiple slots, (b) a mode
in which the slot in which a storing medium was first mounted is
selected as the slot to be accessed, and (c) a mode in which a slot
is selected from among the multiple slots as the slot to be accessed
based on an operation performed by means of an operating member.
In this case, one slot from among multiple slots is selected as
the slot to be accessed irrespective of the set mode.
Although the present invention has been fully described by way
of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to
be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent
to those skilled in the art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes
and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention,
they should be construed as being included therein.
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