Electronic still camera

• US 6,212,331 B1
• Filed: 06/16/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Fukuoka, Hiroki, Manabe, Katsuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/334,265
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 386/107, 386/38, 386/117, 386/96, 386/104, 386/39, 386/46, 386/40, 386/125, 386/124, 386/106, 386/52, 386/64, 386/65, 386/4, 386/109, 386/111, 386/112
• US Class Current: 386/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• 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 2201/3264 of sound signals
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9264 using transform coding

Abstract

In an electronic still camera, image data obtained by a camera image pickup section are transmitted to an image data compression/extension circuit and are coded by this circuit. The coded image data are recorded to a FIFO circuit. The image data are then DMA-transferred to a memory card by a DMA controller within a memory card interface (I/F) and are recorded to the memory card. When the image data are regenerated, the image data are DMA-transferred in a reverse direction. In another camera, image data are outputted from a charge coupled device (CCD) and are converted to a digital signal. Sound data are outputted from a microphone and are converted to a digital signal. File header information is constructed by the image and sound data and is stored to a RAM of a memory card interface in advance. The file header information is recorded to a memory card by a direct memory access (DMA) control section.

Claims

1. An electronic camera comprising:

photographing means for photographing a photographed object and outputting image data;

image data coding means for coding the image data;

means for recording the coded image data to a recording medium;

means for converting a sound to an electric signal;

means for coding sound data converted to the electric signal;

means for recording the coded sound data to the recording medium;

means for storing file header information of the image data or the sound data to a memory in advance; and

direct memory transfer means;

said file header information being recorded to the recording medium by a direct memory transfer operation executed by said direct memory transfer means which does not access a central processing means.

2. An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein said file header information includes a Huffman table used at a coding time.

3. An electronic still camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic still camera further comprises means for making a control information file in which information relative to an image file, a sound file or a character information file is recorded to said recording medium;

and

a directory entry number is used in control of said control information file.

4. An electronic camera comprising:

a photographing device configured to photograph a photographed object and output image data;

a first coding device configured to code the image data;

a first recording device configured to record the coded image data to a memory card;

a converter configured to convert a sound to an electric signal;

a second coding device configured to code sound data converted to the electric signal;

a second recording device configured to record the coded sound data to the memory card;

a controller configured to store file header information of the image data or the sound data to a memory in advance; and

a direct memory transfer controller;

said file header information being recorded to the memory card by a direct memory transfer operation executed by said direct memory transfer controller which does not access a central processing means.

5. A method for operating a camera comprising the steps of:

photographing a photographed object and outputting image data;

coding the image data;

recording the coded image data to a recording medium;

converting a sound to an electric signal;

coding sound data converted to the electric signal;

recording the coded sound data to the recording medium;

storing file header information of the image data or the sound data to a memory in advance; and

wherein in said step of storing the file header information the file header information is recorded to the recording medium by a direct memory transfer operation which does not access a central processing means.