Apparatus for recording picked up image signal on second memory through first memory

• US 5,949,950 A
• Filed: 03/29/1996
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kubo, Ryoji
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Application Number:
  US08/623,741
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 386/4, 386/46, 386/52, 386/64, 386/38, 386/113, 386/116, 386/117, 386/118, 386/119, 386/120, 386/125, 386/126, 358/906, 358/909.1, 348/207, 348/714, 348/715, 348/716, 348/718, 348/719, 369/47, 369/48, 369/60
• US Class Current: 386/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2141 in a multi-frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras

Abstract

A video signal recording apparatus includes a first memory arranged to store an image signal and a second memory arranged to store an image signal outputted from the first memory. These memories are controlled in such a manner that, if a new image signal is inputted to the first memory while the second memory is still in process of storing the image signal outputted from the first memory, a storing action of the second memory is suspended, so the new image signal can be stored in the first memory even while the second memory is in process of storing the image signal.

Claims

1. An image signal recording apparatus for recording an image signal on a recording medium, comprising:

(a) image take-in means for taking in an image signal to output the taken in image signal;

(b) a semi-conductor memory for storing temporarily the image signal outputted from said image take-in means and outputting the image signal temporarily stored;

(c) instructing means for instructing the semiconductor memory to store the image signal outputted from said image take-in means;

(d) recording means for recording on the recording medium, said medium being different from the semiconductor memory, the image signal outputted from the semiconductor memory; and

(e) operation control means for monitoring whether instruction is made to store new image signal outputted from the image take-in means in the semiconductor memory by the instruction means during the recording of the image signal stored in the semiconductor memory by the recording means, and for suspending the recording of the image signal on the recording medium by the recording means when detection is made that the instruction has been made, and thereafter for starting the storing operation of the new image signal outputted from the image take-in means in the semiconductor memory.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor memory includes a plurality of storage areas for storing temporarily the image signal.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said operation control means controls the apparatus so as to monitor whether instruction is made to store a new image signal taken in from the image take-in means in the semiconductor memory by the instruction means just during the recording of the image signal stored in a first storage area of plural storing areas of the semiconductor memory by the recording means:

to suspend recording of the image signal on the recording medium of the recording means;

to temporarily store the new image signal outputted from the image take-in means in a second storing, area different from the first storing area of the plural storing areas of the semiconductor memory;

thereafter to restart the recording of the image signal stored in the first storing area of the semiconductor memory on the recording medium; and

to record the new image signal stored in the second storing area of the semiconductor memory on the recording medium.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said semiconductor memory includes a first group of storage areas comprising a plurality of storage areas for storing temporarily an image signal corresponding to a picture and a second group of storage areas, said second group being different from said first group of storage areas, comprising a plurality of storage areas for storing temporarily the image signal corresponding to the picture, and divides and stores, when the image signal corresponding to the picture is temporarily stored, the image signal corresponding to the picture in said plurality of storage areas of which said first group of storage areas and/or said second group of storage areas are comprised.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the operation control means controls the apparatus so as to monitor whether instruction is made by the instruction means to store the new image signal outputted from the image-take-in means in the semiconductor memory just during the recording of the image signal stored in the first storing area of the semiconductor memory by the recording means:

to record part of the image signals stored in one of plural storing areas constituting a first group of storing areas of the semiconductor memory;

after completion of the recording, to suspend the recording of the image signal by the recording means on the recording medium;

to temporarily storing the new image signal outputting from the image take-in means in a second group of storing areas of the semiconductor memory;

thereafter, to restart the recording of the image signal stored in the first group of storing areas of the semiconductor memory; and

after completion of the restarted recording, to record the new image signal stored in the second group of storing areas of the semiconductor memory on the recording medium.