JP2836984B2 - Memory card with key and display - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a memory card mounted on, for example, an electronic still camera and storing image data, and more particularly to a memory card with keys and displays.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photographed image and supplementary information of the image are recorded on this type of memory card. In the additional information, besides the time automatically generated from the device body,
There is detailed information such as shooting location and photographer. Conventional memory cards are recording-only cards. Therefore, a key is required on the device side to create detailed information, and it is necessary to insert the memory card into the camera to display the detailed information of the memory card, so that the memory card can not be handled as a single unit There is such a problem. Some multifunctional IC cards used in calculators and the like have a built-in memory and have keys and display functions. However, since data transfer to the memory always goes through the CPU, there is a problem that it is unsuitable for a memory card such as an electronic still camera that requires fast information transfer.

Therefore, there is a demand for a memory card which can input and display detailed information by itself and can transfer image data to an external device at a high speed when the memory card is attached to the device.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of such demands, the present invention, when mounted on a device, transfers image data as a memory card to the outside at a high speed, and when used alone as a multi-function IC card, performs key input and display. It is an object of the present invention to provide a memory card with a key and a display capable of performing the following.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a memory which is connected to an external device, has a first storage area in which information is written and read, and wherein the first storage area includes a plurality of unit storage areas. The card has input means provided on the surface of the card for inputting information, display means provided on the surface of the card for displaying information, a second storage area in which information is written and read, and information from the input means. Control means for writing to the second storage area, displaying on the display means, and reading information in the second storage area to the display means in accordance with an instruction from the input means; Switch means for selectively connecting the storage area from the control means side to the external apparatus side, and the external apparatus is allowed to access the first and second storage areas without the intervention of the control means.

[0006]

The memory card according to the present invention is connectable to an external device, and has first and second storage areas. When the card has a built-in power supply, when the card is used alone, the built-in power supply is turned on, and the switch means connects the second storage area from the external device to the control means. The control means writes the information from the input means to the second storage area, displays the information on the display means, and reads the information in the second storage area to the display means in accordance with an instruction from the input means.

[0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
A specific embodiment in which the display-equipped memory card is applied to an electronic still camera will be described in detail. FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the memory card of this embodiment. The memory card 10 is used as an external device.
When it is inserted into the connection slot of all electronic still cameras (not shown), it connects to the camera circuit via the connector 12,
Record the captured image data. On the surface of the single body 10,
A key matrix 14 including keys such as numerals, calculation commands, alphabets, clear, space, and cursor movement as shown in the figure, an LCD display unit 16, and a solar cell 18 functioning as a single unit power supply are provided. . In the use mode as a single unit removed from the camera, it becomes a multifunctional IC card that can input and display additional information related to shooting.

The memory card 10 has a memory area 19, as shown in FIG. Memory area 19 contains 2 MB EE
It comprises a PR0M, and includes an image data area 20, a header 22, a directory 24, a memory allocation table (MAT) 26, and an additional data area 28.

In the additional data area 28, the user
This is the area where user information is written by the matrix 14.
The user information is written as shown in FIG. 5 as an example.
I will. "Tokyo" for the first to third frames, and for the fourth frame
Shown when shooting in "Osaka". In the data shownNumbers
Indicates the image number and is attached to both ends of the image number
"*" Is a delimiter for each frameIndicates, ":" Indicates the end of additional information
This is a marker shown. Do not particularly provide the additional data area 28.
The packet corresponding to the image in the image data area 20 described later
Record these additional information in the user area of the header 210
May be used.

The image data area 20 has one packet 200 having a data capacity for recording an image as a video signal in a standard format.
And the packet header 210 in which the management information is written
Are included in N sets. The packet 200 is managed by a cluster 212 which is the minimum management unit of the memory. The packet header 210 is provided with an image number, the number of used and remaining clusters, the number of pages of the EEPROM, the user area, and the like.

The directory area 24 contains N packets 20
Provided corresponding to 0. One packet directory is
As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of clusters 212 in the packet 200
Information to identify the server, for example, the start cluster number
408 and the number of used clusters 410 are accumulated. This specifies in which cluster the image data of one image is stored.

The attribute 409 of the packet is
Information indicating whether reading, writing, and erasing of the data is possible and prohibited is provided. This may not necessarily be provided in the directory area 24, but may be provided in, for example, a MAT area 26 described later.

The directory area 24 also has a date / time area 412 of 6 bytes per packet, which includes a packet.
The date and time when 200 was recorded on the memory card 10 is written.
In this embodiment, the date and time information includes the last two digits of the Christian era to the second, so that continuous shooting can be supported.

The image number 420 in the directory area 24 is an area for writing an image number that can be arbitrarily assigned to the packet 200 by the user. The user can use this to edit the frames of the image so that they are reproduced in a desired order . Furthermore the directories area 24, information classification 414, the image type 416 and the image quality mode 418 is also recorded. For example, the information classification 414 indicates the type of information to be recorded, that is, the image, audio, and data. The image system 416 is assigned to the standard color television system of NTSC and PAL for displaying the number of pixels separately for color / black and white. Further, the image quality mode 418 is assigned to display of a compression method such as discrete cosine transform, differential PCM, and delta PCM.

In this embodiment, storage areas for the attribute 409, the start cluster 408, the number of used clusters 410, the date and time 412, and the image number 420 are provided for each directory, that is, for each packet 200. However, this is not always necessary, and the configuration may be such that all packets 200 are collectively stored for each type of information. For example, the attribute 409 may be stored collectively for all packets, the first cluster may be stored collectively for all packets, and the number of used clusters, date and time, and image number may be stored collectively for all packets. . Further, for example, the attribute 409, the head cluster, and the number of used clusters may be collectively stored in the order of packets.

In this embodiment, basically, one packet of image data is stored in an arbitrary cluster. The MAT area 26 stores data indicating the association of clusters in which one packet of image data is stored, that is, MAT data. MA
The T data includes, for example, with respect to the cluster 212 in which a part of the image data of one packet is stored, identification information of the cluster which is directly connected to the remaining image data but is stored, for example, a number. The remaining image area indicates that the cluster 14 is the end of the packet 200 by a predetermined code, for example, “all 1s” (binary value).

The memory card 10 has an address designating circuit 30 as shown in FIG. 1, and an address for designating the storage position is given from the electronic still camera through the connector 12. Storage area 2 of memory area 19 of memory card 10
0, 22, 24, 26 are an address bus 34 and a data bus 32
, And the additional data area 28 is connected to these buses through a switch 29. Switch 29
, When the memory card 10 is connected to the connector, additional data
Data area 28 to the external device side.
Connect to U36 side. When the card alone, in the solar cell 18
Generated power is key matrix 14 , LCD display 1
6, EEPRO forming switch 29 and additional data area 28
M, and the memory card 10 is
When the connector 12 is connected to an external device by being inserted into the power supply , the light to the solar cell 18 is shut off and the power supply is turned off, and the power supply 38 from the external device is supplied to the addressing circuit 30 and the memory area 19. Is supplied. Therefore, the memory card
Numeral 10 is a multifunctional IC card having a calculator function by itself. When additional information (FIG. 5) is input from the key matrix 14, the CPU 36 writes the input information into the additional data area 28 and displays it on the LCD display unit 16. When the memory card 10 is connected to an external device via the connector 12, an addressing circuit
30 is supplied with power 38 from the connector 12, and specifies the address of the memory area 19 to the address bus 34 by the input address from the external device. The external device can access the memory area 19 from the data bus 32 to write and read image data.

When the external device is a digital electronic still camera, the logical consistency between the directory 24 and the MAT 26 is checked from the camera. This is to enable efficient use of the card 10 even if the management data of the two is inconsistent. The camera performs an initialization mode. In this initial setting mode, the entire directory 24 of the card 10 is searched, and for the directory whose use is indicated, the chain of the MAT 26 indicated by the directory is traced to list all the clusters 212 belonging to the chain.

The operator sets a compression mode for image data in the camera. The camera calculates the number of clusters 212 necessary for storing the image data in the image data area 20 of the card 10 based on the data amount after compression, and calculates the number of free clusters equal to or larger than the number of clusters required for the image data to be stored. If exists,
An empty cluster 212 is specified.

When a photographing instruction is input, the camera captures an image of the object scene, performs processing such as color adjustment on the photographed signal, converts the photographed signal into digital data, and further performs data compression at a certain compression ratio. Accumulate in the data buffer. At the same time, the address of the image data storage area 20 is generated according to the number of the already specified cluster 212, and these data and address are input to the memory card 10 through the connector 12.

Cluster 212 used for storing image data
Is a display with an attribute 409 indicating that writing is permitted. The order is arbitrary, and preferably the order of the directories 24. Therefore, a series of directories 24
When one of the directories is deleted, the subsequent directories are not shifted so as to fill them, and the deleted directory is used.

In the memory card 10, an address for the memory area 19 is designated according to the address designated by the camera, and the directory data is stored in the directory 24 and the MAT 26
Then, the MAT data is written into the image data area 20, and the image data is written into the image data area 20. Directory data and MAT data are written from the camera to the directory area 24 . The data includes date and time data, the top cluster number 408 of the selected clusters 212, the number of used clusters 410, the information classification 414, the image format 416, and the image quality mode 418.

As can be seen, according to the present method,
By including an indication regarding write and read protection in the attribute area 409 provided in the directory area 24, for example, the middle of a series of clusters 212 can be erased and replaced with the image data of another packet 200. Can be written. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform processing such as reconfiguring the directory 24 for the cluster 212 to be recorded, and image data can be written quickly. As described above, since the data in the different directories 24 can be quickly written to the memory card 10, it is possible to appropriately cope with high-speed continuous shooting as an electronic still camera.

[0024]

As described above, the card with a key and display of the present invention becomes a multi-function IC card by itself, and the user can use the card with the recorded image even if the card is not attached to an apparatus such as an electronic still camera. Can be written and read. When attached to a camera, data can be transferred at high speed without the intervention of a CPU that processes additional information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment in which a memory card with keys and display of the present invention is applied to a digital electronic still camera.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a memory card in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a storage area of a memory card in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a directory in a storage area shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of additional information in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Memory card with key and display 14 Key matrix 16 LCD display 19 Memory area 28 Additional data area 29 Switch 36 CPU

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06K 19/07 H04N 5/907

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An external device connected to the external device;From the external device
A first storage area in which the first information is written and read
IncludingFirstHaving storage means,TheIf the first storage area is
Memory card with key and display including unit storage area
And saidFirstStorage means relating to the first information;And
The first information is associated with the unit storage area and the external device
The second to store the directory for management from the storage side
Has a storage area,ThememoryThe card isAccording to the control and power supply from the external device,
Designation means for designating the addresses of the first and second storage areas
When, The external device and the designation means are provided in the first and second
Bus means for connecting to storage means; Provided on the surface of the cardTo be added to the first information
Additional information according to operationInput means for inputting,A second storage area having a third storage area for storing the additional information;
Storage means; The card is provided on the surface of the card.AdditionDisplay to display information
Means, From the input meansAdditionInformation3Write to storage area
Display on the display means, and respond to the instruction from the input means.
More than3Stored in the storage area ofAdditionThe information
Control means to read out to the stage, The The memory card is the external deviceWhen removed from the front
Connecting the bus means to the second storage means
The control means from the device and the designation means sideSelective contact
Switch means, The input means, the display means, the second storage means, the control means,
Generates power supply to switch and switch means by light irradiation
Power generation means, wherein the card is an external device.
When removed from the slot and receiving the light, the power supply
Generate, the card is inserted into the slot and the light is
Power generation means for stopping the generation of power when shut off.
Including The designating means is such that the card isInserted into the slot
SaidWhen connected to an external deviceFrom the external deviceSuppliedTo
ElectricDriven by a power source and controlled by the external device.
FirstThe address of the storage means via the switch means
Specify,further According to the control of the external device, the second
Specifying the address of the storage means through the switch means,
The external device accesses the storage area at the specified address.
Seth,  The switch means includes a memory cardIs the slot
Of the power generated by the power generation means
Upon receiving the supply, the connection is switched to the control means side,
SaidThe control meansReceiving power supply from the power generation means;
KakeThe second memorymeansAgainstAdditionWriting information
And reading, and for the input means and the display means
Memory with key and display characterized by performing control
card. 2. The memory card according to claim 1, wherein said power supply generating means is provided facing a front surface of said memory card, and said power supply means is illuminated by light according to said connection.
And stop generating the power when light is blocked
Key display with memory cards that feature a solar battery der Turkey.