Digital camera and image recording system

• US 20010012064A1
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Published: 08/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Kubo, Hiroaki
• Granted Patent: US 6,992,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/231.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2137 with temporary storage before final recording, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/215 Recording a sequence of still pictures, e.g. burst mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/216 Arrangements for recording on different types of storage medium, e.g. IC card or magnetic tape; Recording on a plurality of storage media
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/218 Deletion of stored data; Preventing such deletion

Abstract

A digital camera reduces the possibility that a user'"'"'s release operation is disabled and performs photographing operations at the appropriate times. The digital camera (1) can load a memory card (40a) and a magnetic disk card (40b) as a plurality of recording media, wherein a CPU (17) can independently make accesses to the memory card (40a) and the magnetic disk card (40b). The CPU (17) performs a plurality of tasks in parallel, whereby a captured image is recorded on either one of the memory card (40a) and the magnetic disk card (40b) while predetermined processing is performed on the other. In such a configuration, a captured image which is stored in image memory (21) through a photographing operation can be recorded at an early stage on one of the recording media. This enables continuous photographing and the like even in such a condition that recording on a recording medium which is selected as a subject of recording is not allowed.

Claims

1. A digital camera comprising:

a temporary memory for temporarily storing a captured image generated in response to a photographing operation;

a first medium for recording and storing said captured image;

a second medium with a higher recording speed than said first medium, for recording and storing said captured image; and

a controller for, when recording said captured image from said temporary memory to said first medium, recording said captured image once from said temporary memory to said second medium and then from said second medium to said first medium.

3. The digital camera according to

claim 1

, wherein

said controller is operable to perform a plurality of tasks in parallel and performs one of said plurality of tasks when recording said captured image from said second medium to said first medium.

5. The digital camera according to

claim 1

, wherein

said first medium is a medium employing magnetic recording, and said second medium is a medium employing a semiconductor memory.

7. The digital camera according to

claim 1

, wherein

when said second medium has enough free space for recording said captured image stored in said temporary memory, said controller controls recording processing so that said captured image is recorded once from said temporary memory to said second medium and then from said second medium to said first medium.

2. A digital camera capable of loading media, comprising:

a temporary memory for temporarily storing a captured image generated in response to a photographing operation;

a first slot capable of loading a first medium for recording and storing said captured image;

a second slot capable of loading a second medium for recording and storing said captured image; and

a controller for, when recording said captured image from said temporary memory to said first medium on the condition that said second medium has a higher recording speed than said first medium, recording said captured image once from said temporary memory to said second medium and then from said second medium to said first medium.

4. The digital camera according to

claim 2

, wherein

said controller is operable to perform a plurality of tasks in parallel and performs one of said plurality of tasks when recording said captured image from said second medium to said first medium.

6. The digital camera according to

claim 2

, wherein

said first medium is a medium employing magnetic recording, and

said second medium is a medium employing a semiconductor memory.

8. The digital camera according to

claim 2

, wherein

when said second medium has enough free space for recording said captured image stored in said temporary memory, said controller controls recording processing so that said captured image is recorded once from said temporary memory to said second medium and then from said second medium to said first medium.

9. A digital camera comprising:

a plurality of media provided for recording and storing a captured image generated in response to a photographing operation; and

a controller capable of performing a plurality of tasks in parallel, said controller when performing a first task to record said captured image on a medium which is selected as a subject of recording out of said plurality of media, performing a second task which is different from said first task to perform predetermined processing on a medium which is not said subject of recording.

11. The digital camera according to

claim 9

, wherein

said predetermined processing is temporary buffering of said capturing image when recording said captured image on a medium to be said subject of recording.

13. The digital camera according to

claim 9

, wherein

said predetermined processing is formatting of a medium which is not said subject of recording.

15. The digital camera according to

claim 9

, wherein

said predetermined processing is printing of an image recorded on a medium which is not said subject of recording.

17. The digital camera according to

claim 9

, wherein

said predetermined processing is image processing on an image recorded on a medium which is not said subject of recording.

19. The digital camera according to

claim 17

, wherein

said image processing is compression processing on said image.

10. A digital camera capable of loading media, comprising:

a plurality of slots capable of loading a plurality of media for recording and storing a captured image generated in response to a photographing operation; and

a controller capable of performing a plurality of tasks in parallel, said controller when performing a first task to record said captured image on a medium which is selected as a subject of recording out of said plurality of media loaded in said plurality of tasks, performing a second task which is different from said first task to perform predetermined processing on a medium which is not said subject of recording.

12. The digital camera according to

claim 10

, wherein

said predetermined processing is temporary buffering of said capturing image when recording said captured image on a medium to be said subject of recording.

14. The digital camera according to

claim 10

, wherein

said predetermined processing is formatting of a medium which is not said subject of recording.

16. The digital camera according to

claim 10

, wherein

said predetermined processing is printing of an image recorded on a medium which is not said subject of recording.

18. The digital camera according to

claim 10

, wherein

said predetermined processing is image processing on an image recorded on a medium which is not said subject of recording.

20. The digital camera according to

claim 18

, wherein

said image processing is compression processing on said image.

21. An image recording system comprising:

a first digital camera;

a second digital camera; and

a transmission medium for providing a connection between said first and second digital cameras to make data communications possible, wherein

said first digital camera comprises a controller capable of performing a plurality of tasks in parallel and performing a first task related to a photographing operation or recording of a captured image while performing a second task for data communications with said second digital camera through said transmission medium.

22. The image recording system according to

claim 21

, wherein

said second digital camera comprises a medium for recording a captured image, and

said controller in said first digital camera performs said second task while performing said first task, thereby to obtain said captured image recorded on said medium.

23. The image recording system according to

claim 21

, wherein

said first digital camera further comprises first and second media for recording captured image, and

said controller in said first digital camera performs said first task to record a captured image on said first medium and performs said second task to transmit said captured image recorded on said second medium to said second digital camera.

24. An image recording system comprised of a digital camera and external equipment connected with each other, wherein

said digital camera comprises first and second media for recording a captured image and performs, in parallel, a task of recording said captured image on said first medium and a task of establishing data communications with said external equipment.

25. The image recording system according to

claim 24

, wherein

said external equipment is a printer, and

said digital camera performs, in parallel, a task of recording said captured image on said first medium and a task of making output to said printer.