JPH08275038A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To eliminate the need for a reproduction-only device in an electronic camera, and reproduce an image on an information processing device such as a personal computer without connecting with a cable or the like. [Structure] As a means for accumulating an image captured by an electronic camera 101, a card type image data accumulating means 102 including a PCMCIA compliant card type form and an interface means 103 is provided. This is achieved by transferring the video data to the information processing device via the interface means 103 when reproducing the video data. [Effect] Since the card-type video data storage means 102 can be removed from the electronic camera 101 and inserted into the information processing device, the information processing device does not need a troublesome connecting means with the electronic camera and captures the video data. Can be played.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording / reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for reproducing an image in an information processing device such as a computer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a recording system of images shot by an electronic camera without using an optical film, there are a system of recording on a magnetic storage medium such as a magnetic disk and a system of recording on a semiconductor memory built in the electronic camera. There is something.
In the case of the method of recording on a magnetic storage medium, when reproducing an image, it is reproduced by a reproducing device specially made. To play back the video recorded in the semiconductor memory, an information processing device such as a personal computer and an electronic camera are connected via a general-purpose communication port such as RS232C, and the video data is transferred to the main storage means of the information processing device. It was displayed on the display device.

[0003]

Since the conventional electronic camera using the magnetic storage medium or the semiconductor memory as described above electrically records the image, the optical processing for development is performed like an optical camera. Is unnecessary, and there is an advantage that the video recording medium can be repeatedly used. But,
When playing back the captured image, a playback-only device is required or the electronic camera does not have a playback function,
It was necessary to connect the electronic camera and the information processing device with a cable or the like to transfer data.

An object of the present invention is to reproduce video data on an information processing device without requiring a reproduction-only device and without connecting an electronic camera and an information processing device with a cable.

[0005]

The above-mentioned object is to provide a video data storage means for recording and storing video taken by an electronic camera as a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card In
ternational Association) card shape
In addition, the video data storage means from the electronic camera body as a whole,
Alternatively, a part of the structure is removable. On the other hand, electrically, this is achieved by similarly including a PCMCIA-compliant interface unit and a non-volatile data storage unit, and transferring the video data to the information processing apparatus via the interface unit when reproducing the video. .

[0006]

The information processing apparatus having the PCMCIA-compliant interface means treats the card-type peripheral device connected thereto as normal memory means or I / O means. That is, the data stored in the card type peripheral device can be treated in the same manner as the data stored in the main storage means of the information processing device. Further, after transferring the data stored in the card type peripheral device to the main storage means of the information processing device, some processing can be performed on the main storage means. Therefore, by storing the video data by using a card-type peripheral device having a data storage means as the video data storage means of the electronic camera, the information processing device does not need a special connection means, and the video data storage means can store the video data. Can be captured.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a form of a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 101 is an electronic camera,
102 is a PCMCIA-compliant card-type video data storage means, 103 is a PCMCIA-compliant interface means, 104 is an eject button for ejecting the card-type video data storage means 102 from the electronic camera 101, 1
Reference numeral 05 is a card slot into which the card-type video data storage means 102 is inserted. At the time of shooting, the card-type video data storage means 102 is used by inserting it into the card slot 105. After the photographing is completed, the card-type video data storage means 102
To play the video stored in, press the eject button 10
Press 4 to eject the card-type video data storage means 102, insert it into an information processing device (not shown) used as a playback device, and transfer the video data.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 201 is an optical lens, 2
Reference numeral 02 is an optical processing means for converting the optical data from the optical lens 201 into electrical data. Reference numeral 203 is a temporary storage means for temporarily storing the captured video data, 204 is a non-volatile storage means for storing the video data, 101 is an electronic camera, 102 is a card-type video data storage means, and 103 is P
It is a CMCIA-compliant interface means.

The image that has passed through the lens 201 is converted into electrical data by the optical processing means 202 and is temporarily stored in the temporary storage means 203. This temporary storage means 203 is connected to the output side of the optical processing means 202 and PCMCI
It is provided to absorb the difference in the data format from the A-compliant interface means 103. After that, PCMCI
Non-volatile storage means 20 in the card-type video data storage means 102 via the A-compliant interface means 103.
Accumulated in 4. At the time of reproduction, the card-type video data storage means 102 discharged from the electronic camera 101 is inserted into an information processing device (not shown), and the video data stored in the nonvolatile storage means 204 is transferred.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the card-type image data accumulating means 102 is completely removed from the electronic camera 101, so that the second card-type image data accumulating means can be inserted. There is an advantage that you can take a picture of. In this case, since the video data is stored in the non-volatile storage means, the video data will not be lost even if the card-type video data storage means is completely removed.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing the form of the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that the card-type video data storage means 102 is integrated with the electronic camera 101 by a hinge 301. At the time of shooting, the card-type video data storage means 102 is folded and brought into close contact with the back surface of the electronic camera 101. Then, when reproducing the video, the card-type video data storage means 102 is set to 180
Open to PCMCIA compliant interface means 10
3 is inserted into the information processing device and video data is transferred.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that the non-volatile storage means 204 is directly connected to the optical processing means 202. This is because the PCMCIA-compliant interface means 103 is provided in the subsequent stage of the non-volatile storage means 204, so that the non-volatile storage means 204 can absorb the above-mentioned difference in data format.

The image passing through the lens 201 is converted into electrical data by the optical processing means 202, and the non-volatile storage means 20 in the card-type image data storage means 102.
Accumulated in 4. During playback, PC as in the first embodiment
The video data is read from the MCIA-compliant interface unit 103 and transferred to the information processing apparatus.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the non-volatile storage means 204 comprises an optical processing means 202 and a PCMCIA.
Since the difference in the data format of the compliant interface unit 103 is absorbed, there is an advantage that the temporary storage unit is unnecessary, the configuration is simple, and the cost can be reduced.

[0016]

According to the present invention described above, the PCMC
Since most IA-compliant interface means are installed in portable personal computers at present, any personal computer can be used for reproduction, and a dedicated device for reproduction is unnecessary.

The PCMCIA-compliant card-type video data storage means for storing video data can be wholly or partly removed from the electronic camera and inserted into the information processing apparatus, so that the information processing apparatus can be connected in a troublesome manner. Video data can be captured without requiring any means.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a form of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external view showing a form of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 ... Electronic camera, 102 ... PCMCIA compliant card type video data storage means, 103 ... PCMCIA compliant interface means, 104 ... Eject button,
105 ... Card slot, 201 ... Lens,
202 ... Optical processing means, 203 ... Temporary storage means, 204 ... Nonvolatile storage means, 301 ... Hinge.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image storage means for storing an image captured by an electronic camera is constructed in a form in which the whole or a part of the image is detachable from the electronic camera, and the electronic camera is attached to an apparatus for reproducing the image. The electronic camera is characterized in that the image storage means, which is wholly or partially removed, is attached to reproduce the image.