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

• US 5,956,084 A
• Filed: 05/02/1995
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen, VU, NGOC YEN T
• Application Number:
  US08/432,712
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207, 348/222, 348/231, 348/232, 348/233, 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/376, 348/714, 348/718, 348/719, 348/333, 348/334, 348/372, 358/335, 358/336, 358/342, 358/344, 358/906, 358/909.1, 386/38, 386/117, 396/321
• US Class Current: 348/231.9
• 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 device for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a video signal representing the image of the subject obtained;

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

a connector, in and from which a first memory cartridge is capable of being loaded and unloaded at will, said first memory cartridge incorporating an external memory for storing the compressed image data;

a sensor for sensing that the first memory cartridge has been connected to said connector;

determining device for determining that compressed image data can no longer be recorded in the first memory cartridge connected to said connector;

a display for displaying a message requesting replacement of the first memory cartridge in response to the determining device determining that compressed image data can no longer be recorded in the first memory cartridge,

wherein, said sensor senses unloading of the first memory cartridge after display of the message and senses loading of a second memory cartridge after sensing unloading of the first memory cartridge;

a controller, after the digital image data has been stored temporarily in the frame memory and subsequent to the sensor sensing the loading of the second memory cartridge, for confirming that the second memory cartridge includes available memory storage space, and for controlling the writing of the digital image data from the frame memory to the second memory cartridge upon confirming that the second memory cartridge includes available memory storage space; and

a device for cancelling automatic turn-off of power in response to the message requesting replacement of the first memory cartridge being displayed by said display.

2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said recording signal processor includes:

a Y/C processing circuit for generating luminance data and color data from the digital image data; and

a compressing circuit for compressing the digital image data after the digital image data has been subjected to Y/C processing by said Y/C processing circuit;

said digital image data, which is subjected to Y/C processing, being temporarily stored in the frame memory;

said controller controlling means performing after available memory storage space in the second memory cartridge has been confirmed, the compression of the digital image data and the writing of the compressed digital image data into the second memory cartridge.

3. An electronic still-video camera comprising:

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

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

a connector, in and from which a memory cartridge is capable of being loaded and unloaded at will, said memory cartridge incorporating an external memory for storing the compressed image data;

a sensor for sensing that the memory cartridge has been connected to said connector;

a display for displaying a message requesting connection of the memory cartridge in response to the sensor sensing that the memory cartridge fails to be connected to the connector;

a controller, after the digital image data has been stored temporarily in the frame memory and subsequent to the sensor sensing the connection of the memory cartridge to the connector, for confirming that the connected memory cartridge includes available memory storage space, and for controlling the writing of the digital image data from the frame memory to the connected memory cartridge upon confirming that the connected memory cartridge includes available memory storage space; and

a device for cancelling automatic turn-off of power in response to the message requesting connection of the memory cartridge being displayed by said display.

4. The camera according to claim 3, wherein said recording signal processor includes:

a Y/C processing circuit for generating luminance data and color data from the digital image data; and

a compressing circuit for compressing the digital image data after the digital image data has been subjected to Y/C processing by said Y/C processing circuit;

said digital image data subjected to Y/C processing being temporarily stored in the frame memory;

said controller controlling after available memory storage space in the connected memory cartridge has been confirmed, the compression of the digital image data and the writing of the compressed digital image data into said connected memory cartridge.