Image pickup apparatus

• US 20070064114A1
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ikehata, Tatsuhiko, Uchida, Yoshihide
• Granted Patent: US 7,667,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.200
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10 Digital recording or reproducing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10972 Management of interruptions, e.g. due to editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 using transform coding

Abstract

Based on a detection signal from a drop sensor, it is determined whether or not an apparatus is actually dropping. When the apparatus is determined to be dropping, access to a HDD for recording or reading is forbidden, while when the apparatus is determined not to be dropping, the access is allowed. When the access is allowed, a process which is performed immediately before the access is forbidden is resumed.

Claims

1. An image pickup apparatus which records image data obtained by shooting, the apparatus comprising:

an image pickup unit which picks up an optical image and provides image data corresponding to the optical image;

a recording unit which records the image data obtained by the image pickup unit;

a determination unit which determines whether or not the apparatus is dropping; and

an access control unit which forbids access to the recording unit for recording or reading when the apparatus is determined by the determination unit to be dropping, and allows the access when the apparatus is determined not to be dropping.

2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a buffer unit composed of a semiconductor memory;

a unit which records the image data obtained by the image pickup unit in the buffer unit when the apparatus is determined by the determination unit to be dropping; and

a unit which records the image data stored in the buffer in the recording unit when the apparatus is determined by the determination unit not to be dropping.

3. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit comprises a drop sensor which detects gravity and outputs a signal indicating detection of a drop when the gravity is near zero and outputs a signal indicating non-detection of a drop when the gravity is normal,

the determination unit determining that the apparatus is dropping when the drop sensor indicates continuous detection of a drop for a first predetermined period of time.

4. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when the drop sensor indicates continuous non-detection of a drop for a second predetermined period of time, the determination unit determines that the apparatus is not dropping.

5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when, after the drop sensor indicates non-detection of a drop and before the second predetermined period of time has elapsed, the drop sensor indicates detection of a drop and indicates, immediately after that, non-detection of a drop again, the determination unit determines, before a state indicating the non-detection of a drop again continues for the second predetermined period of time, that the apparatus is not dropping.

6. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a card slot to connect a memory card which records the image data to the apparatus;

and a HDD,

only the HDD being forbidden from being accessed when the apparatus is determined to be dropping.