Digital Camera Patent AbstractOn the external packing film 124 of the memory card insertion section
vicinity of the bottom surface of the digital camera 100, the ROM
chip and the print wiring 131 are surface-mounted, and one end of
the print wiring 131 is connected to the ROM chip 130, and the other
end is connected to the external connecting terminal 132 provided
on the bottom surface of the digital camera 100. The identifying
information in the ROM chip 130 is read out at the time of the operation
of the digital camera 100, and is collated with the identifying
information inside the camera, and when it can not be collated or
it is not coincident, the power source of the camera is compulsively
turned off.
Digital Camera Patent ClaimsWhat is claimed is:
1. A digital camera comprising a removable recording medium for
recording a picked up image information, further comprising: a ROM
connected to an external connecting terminal of the digital camera
and storing first identifying information; an identifying information
memory section which is provided inside of the digital camera and
storing second identifying information; a collating section for
collating the first identifying information with the second identifying
information; and an operation limiting section compulsorily stopping
operation of the digital camera in a case a collating result by
the collating section is not coincident with each other, and wherein
the ROM is arranged in a condition that the connection to the external
connecting terminal is broken in a case the removable recording
medium is taken out.
2. A digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising: an
external packing film which covers at least a mounting portion of
the removable recording medium; and a bare chip of the ROM and a
wiring to the external connecting terminal are surface-mounted on
the camera side surface of the external pacing film so that the
mounting portion of the removable recording medium is covered; and
wherein the external packing film has an adhered portion adhered
to the digital camera surface in the vicinity of the mounting position
of the bare chip and the wiring.
3. A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the external
packing film is structured in such a manner that at least one portion
is more easily broken than other portion in the vicinity of the
adhering section and in the vicinity of the mounting position of
the wiring.
4. A digital camera according to claim 2, further comprising: a
mounting film which is thinner than the external packing film and
by which the chip and wiring can be mounted, and wherein the mounting
film is adhered to the external packing film; wherein the bare chip
of the ROM and the wiring to the external connecting terminal are
mounted on the mounting film in place of the external packing film;
and wherein the camera adhering section is provided on the mounting
film in place of the external packing film.
5. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the second identifying
information is read from the ROM, and is stored in the identifying
information memory section after the digital camera is produced.
6. A digital camera according to claim 5, wherein, as the second
identifying information to be stored, the first identifying information
is utilized.
7. A digital camera according to claim 5, wherein the reading of
the second identifying information from the ROM and storing into
the identifying information memory section are conducted by using
a predetermined program, and wherein the program is erased after
the storing into the identifying information memory section.
8. A digital camera according to claim 7, wherein the ROM is an
electrically erasable ROM, and wherein the program is previously
stored in the ROM. Digital Camera Patent DescriptionBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital camera, and particularly
to a digital camera which is appropriate for an easy use.
2. Description of the Related Art
At a visit location, when it hurriedly becomes necessary to take
a picked up image, there are many cases where a lens-fitted film
unit is used. Because a lens-fitted film unit can be easily obtained
in a retail shop or an automatic vending machine, even when a camera
is not always carried with the person, the desired image can be
photographed as necessary, and the recording can be remained.
On the one hand, a digital camera in which the digital image information
obtained by an image pick-up element is recorded in a built-in memory
or removable recording medium (hereinafter, sometimes simply denoted
as "medium"), is widespreadingly used. In such a digital
camera, in the same manner as the conventional camera, it has a
feature that, not only a photographic print according to the obtained
image information can be obtained, but further the digital image
information is taken into a personal computer and various processing
can be conducted on it. Therefore, also for the digital camera,
in the same manner as the lens-fitted film camera, it is expected
that it can be easily obtained in a retail shop or automatic vending
machine, and a system by which a print of the photographed image
and digital image information can be obtained in a low cost, is
spread.
However, in the digital camera, because many electronic parts are
necessary, it is difficult to produce in a low cost, specifically
it requires more cost in order to guaranty the performance of the
long period, a system is considered in which, after a predetermined
exposures are photographed, the photographed digital camera is withdrawn
and recycled. When it is not withdrawn after the predetermined exposure
photographing, the digital camera is used for a long period of time,
and because the quality of the photographed image can not be guaranteed,
it is important in this system that the withdrawal efficiency is
increased. Further, when the withdrawal efficiency is increased,
by using the withdrawn digital camera for the re-production, the
production cost can be reduced.
As the digital camera for increasing the withdrawal efficiency,
for example, a camera is proposed which is disclosed in Japan Patent
Laid Open 2000-228740. This digital camera employs a system by which
the digital image information is stored in an internal memory, and
the access to the internal memory is limited by a password. The
password is stored in the camera at the time of production of the
digital camera, and is controlled by the manufacturer. Accordingly,
because the user of this camera can not freely use the digital image
information, the user end up bringing the camera to a lab, and the
withdrawal efficiency is increased as a result.
However, when the access to the digital image information is limited
by the password, the control of the password by the manufacturer
and the password acquisition at the image information utilization
point such as a lab, are necessary, and the control burden to maintain
the withdrawal system is large. Further, because it can not be used
for the digital camera in which the medium is used, the processing
based on the digital image information and the re-production of
the digital camera can not be conducted in parallel, and the efficiency
of the re-production is not increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first aspect of the invention is directed to a digital camera
including a removable recording medium for recording a picked up
image information, a ROM connected to an external connecting terminal
of the digital camera and storing first identifying information
an identifying information memory section which is provided inside
of the digital camera and storing second identifying information,
a collating section for collating the first identifying information
with the second identifying information, and an operation limiting
section compulsorily stopping operation of the digital camera in
a case a collating result by the collating section is not coincident
with each other. This digital camera is characterized by that the
ROM is arranged in a condition that the connection to the external
connecting terminal is broken in a case the removable recording
medium is taken out. When such a structure is applied, because the
connection of the ROM with the digital camera main body is broken
when the recording medium in which the photographed image information
is recorded, is taken out, even when the recording medium is mounted
again, the digital camera can not be operated.
A second aspect of the invention is directed to the digital camera
further including an external packing film which covers at least
a mounting portion of the removable recording medium, a bare chip
of the ROM and wiring to the external connecting terminal are surface-mounted
on the camera side surface of the external pacing film so that the
mounting portion of the removable recording medium is covered. The
digital camera is characterized by that the external packing film
has an adhered portion adhered to the digital camera surface in
the vicinity of the mounting position of the bare chip and the wiring.
In the case where such a structure is applied, when the external
packing film is taken off in order to take out the recording medium,
the connection of the ROM with the digital camera main body is broken,
and the digital camera can not be operated again.
A third aspect of the present invention is directed to a digital
camera including an internal memory for recording picked up image
information, an input and output interface section which can transmit
the recorded picked up image information to the outside a ROM storing
first identifying information, and connected to an external connecting
terminal of the digital camera, an identifying information memory
section provided in the digital camera and storing second identifying
information, a collating section to collate the first identifying
information with the second identifying information, and an operation
limiting section by which an operation of the digital camera is
compulsively stopped in a case a collation result by the collating
section does not coincide with each other. The digital camera is
characterized by that the ROM is arranged in a condition that the
connection to the external connecting terminal is broken in a case
the recorded picked up image information is transmitted. In the
case where such a structure is applied, when the photographed image
information is taken from the internal memory, the connection of
the ROM to the digital camera main body is broken, and the digital
camera cannot be operated again.
A forth aspect of the present invention is directed to the digital
camera according to the third aspect of the invention, further including
an external packing film which covers at least the input and output
interface section, and a bare chip of the ROM and a wiring to the
external connecting terminal are surface-mounted on the position
covering the input and output interface section on the camera side
surface of the external packing film. The digital camera is characterized
by that the external packing film has a camera adhering section
to be adhered to the digital camera surface in the vicinity of the
mounting position of the bare chip and wiring.
In the case where such a structure is applied, when the photographed
image information is taken from the internal memory, the connection
of the ROM to the digital camera main body is broken, and the digital
camera can not be operated again.
The external packing film in the digital camera of the present
invention is structured in such a manner that at least one portion
is more easily broken than the other portion in the vicinity of
the adhered portion and in the vicinity of the mounting position
of the wiring. When such a structure is applied, the connection
of the ROM to the digital camera main body can be surely broken.
The bare chip of the ROM and the wiring to the external connecting
terminal in the digital camera of the present invention are mounted
on the mounting film which is thinner than the external packing
film, and the mounting film is adhered onto the external packing
film. When such a structure is applied, while the strength of the
external packing film is made appropriate for the external packing,
the connection of the ROM to the digital camera main body can be
surely broken.
Further, the second identifying information in the digital camera
of the present invention is read from the ROM after the digital
camera is produced, and stored in the identifying information memory
section. When such a structure is applied, the control of the first
and the second identifying information having a predetermined relationship
becomes easy.
Further, in the digital camera of the present invention, as the
second identifying information to be stored, the first identifying
information is used. When such a structure is applied, the identifying
information stored in the ROM can be arbitrary one, and the collation
processing becomes simple.
Further, the reading of the second identifying information from
the ROM in the digital camera of the present invention and the storing
into the identifying information memory section are conducted by
using a predetermined program, and the program is erased after the
storing into the identifying information memory section. When such
a structure is applied, the reproduction by using a new ROM chip
becomes difficult, and the increase of the withdrawal efficiency
can be expected.
Further, as the ROM in the digital camera of the present invention,
an electrically erasable ROM is used, and the reading program of
the second identifying information from the ROM, and the storing
program into the identifying information memory section are previously
stored in the ROM. When such a structure is applied, the program
storing memory of the digital camera itself can be structured by
a low cost ROM.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A to 1C are outline appearance views of a digital camera
of the first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an outline block structural view of the digital camera
of the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a view showing an outline operation flow at the time
of an identifying information registration.
FIG. 4 is a view sowing an outline operation flow at the time of
a use of the digital camera.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are views enlargedly showing the vicinity of a
ROM chip of the digital camera.
FIG. 6 is a view showing another example of a ROM chip mounting
of the digital camera.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a bottom surface of the digital camera
of the second embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an outline block structural view of the digital camera
of the second embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings, embodiments of the present invention
will be described below.
(The First Embodiment)
FIGS. 1A to 1C are appearance general views of a digital camera
of the first embodiment, and FIG. 1A shows its front view, FIG.
1B shows its rear surface, and FIG. 1C shows its bottom surface.
A digital camera 100 is structured by comprising a casing 116, power
switch 117, optical view finder 118, photographing lens 101, shutter
button 119, auxiliary light light-emitting section 120, memory card
insertion section 121, display 114, operation switch 115, menu switch
122, execution/image plane change over switch 123, external packing
film 124, ROM chip 130, print wiring 131, and external connecting
terminal 132.
The external packing film 124 is packed to protect the memory card
insertion section 121, and display 114, and to structurally reinforce
the main body. The external packing film 124 at least covers the
memory card insertion section 121, and when the memory card 112
is taken out after the photographing, it is stripped off. On the
one hand, in the re-production process, the camera is packed by
a new external packing film 124.
On the camera side surface of the external packing film 124, a
ROM chip 130 and print wiring 131 are mounted. One end of the print
wiring 131 is connected to the ROM chip 130, and the other end is
connected to the external connecting terminal 132 provided on the
bottom surface of the digital camera 100. Accordingly, the data
of the ROM chip 130 can be taken into the digital camera 100. Further,
as will be described later, the print wiring 131 is arranged in
such a manner that, when the external packing film 124 is stripped
off to take out the memory card 112, it is broken.
Herein, each element, except for a slide switch necessarily being
exposed outside (power switch 117), can be covered by the external
packing film 124. For example, the auxiliary light light-emitting
section 120, optical view finder 118 and photographic lens 101 are
covered by a transparent portion, having no print, of a film whose
transparency is high. When only the switch location is known, even
when a push-switch such as the menu switch 122, and execution/image
plane change over switch 123 is covered, the operation is not influenced.
Because of that, the indication may be made so that its location
is understood, or the switch may be covered by a portion made as
a transparent window. However, when the switch is protruded, it
is necessary that the film is expanded so that the tension does
not affect the film. The surface of the display 114 is covered by
the transparent material such as the glass or acrylic resin, but
even by this, because there is a problem that it is flawed, it is
preferable that this portion is also covered by the film having
the high transparency.
FIG. 2 is an outline block structural view of the digital camera
100 of FIGS. 1A to 1C. The digital camera 100 is structured by comprising
a photographic lens 101, shutter/aperture diaphragm 102, image pick-up
device 103, auxiliary light light-emitting section 120, and image
pick-up section including a drive circuit 110, analog signal processing
section 104, A/D conversion section 105, digital signal processing
section 106, output memory 107, and signal processing section including
compression expansion processing section 108, media interface 111
and output section including a display 114, operation switch 115,
power switch 117, shutter button 119, menu switch 122, operation
section including an execution/image plane change over switch 123,
and CPU 109 by which the whole of the digital camera is controlled.
On the media interface 111, the memory card 112 which is a removable
recording medium in which the picked up image information is recorded,
can be mounted.
Because the structure of the image pick-up section and the signal
processing section is the same as the conventional digital camera,
it will be briefly described. The light passing the lens 101 and
shutter/aperture diaphragm 102 is focused on the image pick-up device
103 such as the CCD, and the picked up image signal is obtained.
Herein, the shutter prevents a smear generation when a signal is
read from the image pick-up device 103. The image pick-up device
103 is driven by the drive circuit 110 at a predetermined timing
with an operation of the shutter button 119 as a trigger, and outputs
the image signal. The drive circuit 110 can also be omitted depending
on the drive voltage condition of the image pick-up device 103.
The image signal is A/D converted after the analog signal processing,
and temporarily stored in the output memory 107 through a digital
signal processing. Herein, when it is displayed on the display 114,
the content of the output memory 107 is read out, and is sent to
the display 114. The picked up image of the output memory 107 is
compression processed in the compression expansion processing section
108, and recorded in the memory card 112 through the media interface
111. The compression processing can also be omitted depending on
the photographic mode.
When the image recorded in the memory card 112 is displayed on
the display 114, the image information read from the memory card
112 is compression processed in the compression expansion section
108, and written into the output memory 107, and sent to the display
114.
These operations are conducted under the control of the CPU 109
which is operated by a predetermined program, corresponding to the
condition of each kind of switch including the power switch 117,
operation switch 115, menu switch 122, execution/image plane change
over switch 123, and shutter switch (not shown) operated by the
shutter button 119. In this connection, the memory in which the
program is stored, work memory, and identifying information memory
section in which the second identifying information which will be
described later, is stored, are not shown in the drawing.
As the ROM chip 130, for example, a serial ROM is used, and in
which the first identifying information and the second identifying
information for controlling the operation of the digital camera
are previously stored. The first identifying information and the
second identifying information have a predetermined relationship,
and it may be the same information. When it is the same information,
only the first identifying information is stored, and the first
identifying information is read out as the second identifying information.
Next, the use of the first and the second identifying information
stored in the ROM chip will be described. At the time of the production
or re-production of the digital camera 100, which will be described
later, the identifying information registration processing in which
the second identifying information stored in the ROM chip 130 is
stored into the identifying information memory section (not shown),
is conducted after the assembly and before the delivery. The registration
processing is conducted when a predetermined program is executed
by the CPU 109 upon a special operation of the switches (for example,
the simultaneous operation of switches 122, 123, and the shutter
button 119).
In FIG. 3, an outline operation flow at the time of the identifying
information registration is shown. When the registration of the
identifying information is commanded, it is checked whether the
ROM 130 is connected to the external connecting terminal 132 (step
301). When it is not connected, it is judged as the poor production,
and the error output is conducted (step 302). In the error output,
for example, an error indication is displayed on the display 114.
When the ROM 130 is connected, the second identifying information
is read from the ROM 130 (step 303), and the read identifying information
is stored in the identifying information memory section (not shown)
(step 304). Then, a program, which conducts the registration processing,
is erased (step 306), and the power is turned off (step 306), and
the registration processing is completed.
In this connection, the reason for erasing the program is to limit
that the person except for the specified person such as a manufacturer
conducts the registration processing. The registration program may
be stored in the digital camera 100 inside, however, it is stored
in the ROM 130, when the registration information is commanded,
the registration program may also be read and executed. Further,
when the registration program is stored in the ROM 130, and it is
erased after the registration processing, the electrically erasable
ROM is used as the ROM 130.
Successively, the operation at the time of the use of the digital
camera 100 will be described. FIG. 4 is a view showing an outline
flow of the time of the use of the camera. When the power switch
is turned on (step 401) at the time of start of the use, it is checked
whether the ROM 130 is connected to the external connecting terminal
132 in step 402 (step 402). When it is not connected, it is judged
that the use of the digital camera is completed, and the power source
is compulsively turned off (step 403), and it is made unusable.
When the ROM 130 is connected, the first identifying information
is read from the ROM 130, and the second identifying information
is respectively read from the identifying information memory section
(not shown) (step 404), and these are collated with each other (step
405). When the collation result is not coincident with each other,
it is judged that the use of the digital camera 100 is completed,
and the power source is compulsively turned off (step 403), and
it is made unusable. When the collation is coincident with each
other, the operation of the camera is successively possible, and
the desired operation can be conducted in step 407. In this connection,
herein, "the collation is coincident" not only means that
identifying information of the two are the same, but includes also
a case where it has a predetermined relationship. Then, when the
operation of the camera is completed, the power source switch 408
is turned off (step 408).
Next, the mounting of the ROM chip 130 and print wiring 131 onto
the external packing film 124 will be described. FIGS. 5A and 5B
are views in which the vicinity of the ROM chip 130 of the digital
camera 100 in FIG. 1 is enlarged, and FIG. 5A shows its bottom surface,
and FIG. 5B typically shows its A--A cross section.
On the camera side surface of the external film 124, the ROM chip
130 and the print wiring 131 are surface-mounted at the position
covering the memory card insertion section 121. One end of the print
wiring 131 is connected to the ROM chip 130, and the other end is
connected to the external connecting terminal 132 provided on the
casing 116 of the digital camera 100. In order to absorb the thickness
of the ROM chip 130, it is preferable that a concave portion 135
is provided in the casing 116 of the digital camera 100. In the
vicinity of the mounting positions of the ROM chip 130 and print
wiring 131 on the external packing film 124, an adhered portion
133 adhered to the casing 116 of the digital camera 100 is provided.
The adhered portion 133 is provided in the vicinity of the connection
point to the external connecting terminal 132, for example, at the
periphery of the external connecting terminal as shown in the drawing.
Further, it is more preferable when it is provided also in the vicinity
of the ROM chip 130, crossing the memory card insertion section
121.
As described above, when the ROM chip 130 is provided in the memory
card insertion section 121, when the memory card 112 in which the
picked up image information is stored is taken out after the photographing,
the external packing film 124 is broken and even when the memory
card 112 is mounted again and the digital camera 100 is tried to
be operated, the operation can not be conducted.
Accordingly, because there is no merit that the memory card is
taken out and used by the user itself, the carrying-in to the image
processing service place such as a lab by the user of the digital
camera 100 is promoted, and the withdrawal rate is increased. In
that case, when a portion (for example, writing of the image information
into the CD-ROM) of the processing by the carrying-in to the image
processing service place such as a lab is made a service of charge
of free, the withdrawal rate can be more increased. Further, it
is also possible that, when the picked up image information to be
stored in the memory card 112 is enciphered, the picked up image
information can not be used without carrying-in to the image processing
service place such as a lab.
In this connection, the adhering method is out of question when
the adhering portion 133 is adhered onto the casing 116 of the digital
camera 100 with the adhesive strength of the degree in which the
external packing film 124 is broken when the external packing film
is going to be stripped off. Further, when a perforation 134 is
formed at the position covering the print wiring 131 of the external
film 124, because it is easily broken, it is more preferable.
FIG. 6 is a view showing another mounting example of the ROM chip
130 and the print wiring 131, and is a view typically showing the
cross section corresponding to FIG. 5B. The example of FIG. 6 is
an example in which, instead of a case where the ROM chip 130 and
the print wiring 131 are mounted on the external packing film surface
124, these are mounted on the mounting film 136. The mounting film
136 has the largeness and strength of the degree in which the ROM
chip 130 and the print wiring 131 are surface-mounted, and the thinner
material than the external packing film 124 is used. Then, the periphery
of the mounting film 136 is adhered to the external packing film
124 by the adhesive agent 137.
The mounting of the ROM chip 130 and the print wiring 131 onto
the mounting film 137 may be allowable at any time before or after
the mounting film 137 is adhered to the external packing film 124.
In the vicinity of the mounting position of the ROM 130 and the
print wiring 131, a point in which the adhering portion 133 to be
adhered to the casing 116 of the digital camera 100 is provided,
is the same as in the example in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Further, a perforation
is also provided at need. When such a mounting is conducted, the
external packing film having an arbitrary strength can be selected
without considering the easiness of the breakage when the film is
stripped off, and it can be made the external packing film which
is appropriate for an original function of the external packing
film 124.
(The Second Embodiment)
The digital camera 100 in FIG. 1 is a camera in which the picked
up image information is stored in the removable recording medium
such as a memory card, however, the digital camera 200 of the second
embodiment is a camera in which the picked up image information
is stored in the internal memory 113. FIG. 7 shows a bottom surface
of the digital camera 200 of the second embodiment, and which is
a view corresponding to FIG. 5A. Further, FIG. 8 is an outline block
structural view of the digital camera 200.
The digital camera 200 has basically the same structure and function
as the digital camera 100 except a point that the picked up image
information is recorded in the internal memory 113 provided in the
digital camera 200 inside in place of that it is recorded in the
memory card 112 through the media interface 111, and a point that
the picked up image information stored in the internal memory 113
is taken out to the outside through the input output interface 125.
The input output interface 125 includes a connector portion 126
formed on the bottom surface of the digital camera 200. On the position
which covers the connector portion 126 of the external packing film
124, in the same manner as the digital camera 100, the ROM chip
130 and the print wiring 131 are mounted. One end of the print wiring
131 is connected to the ROM chip 130, and the other end is connected
to the external connecting terminal 132 provided on the bottom surface
of the digital camera 200.
Accordingly, when the external packing film 124 is stripped off
in order to take out the picked up image information through the
connector portion 126, the external packing film 124 and the print
wiring 131 is broken, and when the memory card 112 is mounted again
and the digital camera 200 is going to be operated, the operation
of the digital camera is unable. The perforation 134 and the concave
portion 135 of the ROM chip are provided at need. In this connection,
the ROM chip 130 and the print wiring 131 can also be structured
as a structure in which these are mounted on the mounting film in
the same manner as in the example of FIG. 6.
As can clearly be seen from the above description, according to
the present invention, a digital camera structured in such a manner
that the digital camera can not be used after the taking out of
the photographed digital image information so that the digital camera
after a predetermined exposures of photographing can be surely withdrawn,
can be provided. Then, consequently, the quality assurance of the
photographed image can be attained. |