Electronic still-video camera, and playback apparatus thereof being capable of storing image data when the storage capacity of a memory card is exceeded

• US 5,473,370 A
• Filed: 12/09/1993
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1990
• 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, Moronaga, Kenji, Nishi, Seiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan V.
• Application Number:
  US08/163,729
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 358/335, 358/906, 348/96, 348/207, 348/220, 348/231, 348/232, 348/233, 348/373
• US Class Current: 348/231.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2125 Display of information relating to the still picture recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2137 with temporary storage before final recording, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0077 Types of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/214 Checking or indicating the storage space
• 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: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

An electronic still-video camera is provided capable of preserving image data having a quantity which is greater than the storage capacity of a memory cartridge (memory card) loaded in the camera. Besides being capable of receiving an external memory in a memory cartridge loaded in the camera, the camera incorporates an internal memory. Image data obtained as a result of photography is stored in either the internal memory or the external memory, depending upon which memory has been selected by a memory selection switch.

Claims

1. An electronic still-video camera comprising:

image pick-up means for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a video signal representing the image of the subject obtained;

recording signal processing means for converting the video signal outputted by said image pick-up means into digital image data suited for storage in a memory device, and for compressing the digital image data;

buffer memory means, used in the recording signal processing by said recording signal processing means, for temporarily storing the image data;

an internal memory for storing the compressed image data;

a connector for loading and unloading a memory cartridge at will, said memory cartridge incorporating an external memory for storing the compressed image data;

a shutter-release button;

mode selecting means for selecting one of recording, copy and copy-all modes;

memory selecting means for selecting one of the internal memory and the external memory;

frame number designating means for designating a frame number to be transferred;

transfer direction designating means for designating one of a first transfer direction from the internal memory to the external memory and a second transfer direction from the external memory to the internal memory;

transfer triggering means for instructing the start of transfer of the image data;

recording control means, in response to a signal from said shutter-release button when the recording mode is selected by said mode selecting means, for writing the compressed image data outputted by said recording signal processing means in the selected one of the internal memory and the external memory selected by said memory selecting means;

first transfer means, in response to a signal from said transfer triggering means when the copy mode is selected by said mode selecting means, for transferring one frame of the compressed image data having the frame number designated by said frame number designating means in the one of the first and second transfer directions designated by said transfer direction designating means; and

second transfer means, in response to a signal from said transfer triggering means when the copy-all mode is selected by said mode selecting means, for transferring all compressed image data in the one of the first and second transfer directions designated by said transfer direction designating means.

2. An electronic still-video camera comprising:

image pick-up means for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a video signal representing the image of the subject obtained;

recording signal processing means for converting the video signal outputted by said image pick-up means into digital image data suited for storage in a memory device;

buffer memory means, used in the recording signal processing by said recording signal processing means, for temporarily storing the image data;

an internal memory for storing the image data;

a connector for loading and unloading a memory cartridge at will, said memory cartridge incorporating an external memory for storing the image data;

a shutter-release button;

mode selecting means for selecting one of a recording mode and a copy mode;

memory selecting means for selecting one of the internal memory and the external memory;

transfer direction designating means for designating one of a first transfer direction from the internal memory to the external memory and a second transfer direction from the external memory to the internal memory;

transfer trigger means for instructing the start of transfer of the image data;

recording control means, in response to a signal from said shutter-release button when the recording mode is selected by said mode selecting means, for writing the image data outputted by said recording signal processing means in the selected one of the internal memory and the external memory selected by said memory selecting means; and

transfer means, in response to a signal from said transfer trigger means when the copy mode is selected by said mode selecting means, for transferring at least one frame of the image data in the one of the first and second directions designated by said transfer direction designating means.

3. The camera according to claim 2 wherein said transfer trigger means comprises said shutter-release button.