Digital electronic still camera automatically determining conditions of a memory cartridge

• US 5,153,729 A
• Filed: 02/01/1991
• Issued: 10/06/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Saito, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Application Number:
  US07/649,339
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 358/209, 358/906, 358/909, 358/229, 358/335, 358/41, 365/52, 235/492, 364/708
• US Class Current: 348/231.6
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/025 two
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32112 in a separate computer file, document page or paper sheet, e.g. a fax cover sheet H04N1/32122 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/214 Checking or indicating the storage space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3214 of a date
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3215 of a time or duration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

A digital electronic still camera has a detachably loaded memory cartridge. The cartridge includes control data representative of its status. The camera has an imaging unit for shooting an object field to produce an image signal. The image signal is connected into digital image data. A connector detachably connects the memory cartridge to a converter. A manual operation unit responsive to manual operation can generate a first instruction signal for preparation for shooting by the imaging unit and a second instruction signal to instruct shooting to be achieved by the imaging unit. A controller responsive to the manual operation unit for controlling the imaging unit and the signal converter to store the image data in the memory cartridge. When the first instruction signal from the operation unit is received, the controller reads out the control data from the memory cartridge. When the second instruction signal is received, the controller stores in the memory cartridge the image data from the signal converter depending upon the control data read out from the memory cartridge.

Claims

1. A digital electronic still camera detachably loaded with a memory cartridge, the camera adapted to shoot an object field to produce image data representing the object field to store the data in the memory cartridge,

said memory cartridge having a first storage area for storing therein control data including at least one of indications of a storage capacity, a free area, time when a battery supplying the memory cartridge expires and a write inhibit flag of said memory cartridge, and a second storage area, separate from the first storage area, for sorting therein the image data, the free area being part of the second storage area in which part of any data is not stored,

said camera including,

imaging means for shooting the object field to produce an image signal representing the object field;

signal convertor means for converting the image signal into digital image data associated with the image signal;

connector means for detachably connecting said memory cartridge to said signal convertor means;

manual operation means responsive to a manual operation for first generating a first instruction signal for preparation for shooting by said imaging means, and next a second instruction signal to instruct a shooting to be achieved by said imaging means; and

control means responsive to said manual operation means for controlling said imaging means and said signal convertor means to store the image data in the second storage area of said memory cartridge,

said control means, on receiving the first instruction signal from said manual operation means, reading out the control data from the first storage area of said memory cartridge, and, on receiving the second instruction signal, storing in the second storage area of said memory cartridge the image data produced from said signal convertor means in dependence upon the control data thus read out from the first storage are of the memory cartridge.

2. A camera in accordance with claim 1, wherein said signal convertor means compresses the image data to produce data resultant from compression.

3. A digital electronic still camera detachably loaded with a memory cartridge, the camera adapted to shoot an object field to produce image data representing the object field to store the data in the memory cartridge comprising:

a memory cartridge that has a first storage area for storing therein control data including at least one of indications of a storage capacity, a free area, time when a battery supplying the memory cartridge, and a second storage area, separate from the first storage area, for storing therein the image data, the free area being part of the second storage area in which part of any data is not stored,

said camera including,

imaging means for shooting the object field to produce an image signal representing the object field;

signal convertor means for converting the image signal into digital image data associated with the image signal;

connector means for detachably connecting said memory cartridge to said signal convertor means;

manual operation means for generating an instruction signal to instruct a shooting to be achieved by said imaging means; and

control means responsive to said manual operation means for controlling said imaging means and said signal convertor means to store the image data in the second storage area of said memory cartridge,

said control means, when said memory cartridge is connected to said connector means, reading out the control data from the first storage area of said memory cartridge, and, on receiving the instruction signal, storing in the second storage area of said memory cartridge the image data produced from said signal convertor means in dependence upon the control data thus read out from the first storage area of the memory cartridge.

4. A camera in accordance with claim 3, wherein said signal convertor means compresses the image data to produce data resultant from compression.

5. A memory cartridge detachably mounted in a digital electronic still camera which can shoot an object field to produce an image signal representing the object field, the image signal being convertible into digital image data associated with the image signal, the digital image data being stored in said memory cartridge, said still camera having manual operation means responsive to a manual operation for first generating a first instruction signal for preparation for shooting an object field, and next a second instruction signal to effect the shooting,

said memory cartridge including,

storage means comprising a first storage area for storing therein control data including at least one of indications of a storage capacity, a free area, time when a battery supplying the memory cartridge expires and a write inhibit flag of said memory cartridge, and a second storage area, separate from the first storage area, for storing therein the digital image data, the free area being part of the second storage area in which part of any data is not stored;

and

connector means for detachably connecting said memory cartridge to said still camera;

said storage means being operative under the control of said still camera to produce, upon the first instruction signal, the control data means, and store, upon the second instruction signal, the digital image data in dependence upon the control data thus produced.

6. A memory cartridge detachably mounted in a digital electronic still camera which can shoot an object field to produce an image signal representing the object field to produce an image signal representing the object field, the image signal being convertible into digital image data associated with the image signal, the digital image data being stored in said memory cartridge, said still camera having manual operation means for generating an instruction signal to instruct a shooting on an object filed,

said memory cartridge including,

storage means comprising a first storage area for storing therein control data including at least one of indications of storage capacity, a free area, time when a battery supplying the memory cartridge expires and a write inhibit flag of said memory cartridge, and a second storage area, separate from the first storage area, for storing therein the digital image data, the free area being part of the second storage area in which part of any data is not stored;

and

connector means for detachably connecting said memory cartridge to said still camera;

said storage means being operative, when connected to said still camera, to produce the control data stored in the first storage area of said storage means, and store, in response to the instruction signal, the digital image data depending upon the control data thus produced.

7. A memory cartridge detachably mounted in a digital electronic still camera which shoots an object field to produce an image signal representing the object field, the image signal being converted into digital image data associated with the image signal, the digital image data being stored in said memory cartridge, the still camera having manual operation means responsive to a manual operation for first generating a first instruction signal for preparation for shooting an object field, and next a second instruction signal to effect the shooting, wherein

said memory cartridge comprises:

storage means for storing therein control data representative of a status of said memory cartridge; and

connector means for detachably connecting said memory cartridge to said still camera;

said storage means being operative under the control of said still camera to produce, upon the first instruction signal, the control data stored in said storage means, and store, upon the second instruction signal, the digital image data in dependence upon the control data thus produced,

said connector means comprising a connector terminal producing a signal representative of a memory type of said storage means.

8. A memory cartridge detachably mounted in a digital electronic still camera which can shoot an object field to produce an image signal representing the object field, the image signal being convertible into digital image data associated with the image signal, the digital image data being stored in said memory cartridge, said still camera having manual operation means for generating an instruction signal to instruct a shooting on an object field, comprising:

said memory cartridge including,

storage means for storing therein control data representative of a status of said memory cartridge; and

connector means for detachably connecting said memory cartridge to said still camera;

said storage means being operative, when connected to said still camera, to produce the control data stored in said storage means, and store, in response to the instruction signal, the digital image data in dependence upon the control data thus produced,

said connector means comprising a connector terminal producing a signal representative of a memory type of said storage means.