Digital electronic still camera and removable memory card therefor

• US 6,856,353 B1
• Filed: 09/09/1999
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Misawa, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHIPKEY, JASON T
• Application Number:
  US09/392,445
• Time in Patent Office: 1,986 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231.7, 348/333.07, 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/333.03, 348/333.04, 348/333.05, 348/333.06, 348/333.08, 348/333.09, 348/333.1, 348/333.11, 348/333.12, 348/333.13
• US Class Current: 348/333.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• 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 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0013 Arrangements for the control of the connected apparatus by the still picture apparatus arrangements for the control of a still picture apparatus by the connected apparatus H04N2201/0074; control of image communication with the connected apparatus H04N2201/0015
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0051 Card-type connector, e.g. PCMCIA card interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply

Abstract

A memory card having a liquid crystal display device is reduced in thickness. To this end, the back side of a liquid crystal display panel is provided with a white diffusing plate and the memory card is not provided with a light source for backlighting. A digital electronic still camera, into which the memory card is removably inserted, is provided with a light source for backlighting. When the memory card has been inserted into the digital camera, the transmission-type liquid crystal panel is illuminated using the light source of the camera. Thus an image displayed on the liquid crystal display device of the memory card can be viewed even though the memory card does not have a light source for backlighting.

Claims

1. A digital image processing apparatus into which a memory card is removably inserted, said memory card including an image memory for storing image data representing an image, a transmission-type display panel for displaying an image represented by the image data that has been stored in said image memory, and a case for accommodating said image memory and said display panel, said case having an opening at a location corresponding to a back side of said transmission-type display panel, said image processing apparatus comprising:

an electronic image receiving element;

a processing circuit for processing said image for storage;

a receiving area receiving said memory card; and

a light source underlying said receiving area for illuminating said transmission-type display panel from the back side thereof.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory card has a power supply for driving said display panel, and said image processing apparatus further includes:

a memory-card insertion detection device for detecting whether said memory card has been inserted into the receiving area of said image processing apparatus; and

a command controller for applying to said memory card a command for controlling said memory card to turn the power supply on or off in response to detection of insertion of said memory card by said memory-card insertion detection device.

3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said memory card has a chargeable power supply for driving said display panel, and said image processing apparatus further includes:

a memory-card insertion detection device for detecting whether said memory card has been inserted into the receiving area of said image processing apparatus; and

a charging controller for performing control so as to charge said power supply in response to detection of insertion of said memory card by said memory-card insertion detection device.

4. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receiving area is a slot for receiving the memory card.

5. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a digital electronic camera.

6. The image processing apparatus of claim 5, wherein said camera is a digital still camera.

7. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said display panel is a liquid crystal panel.

8. A memory card removably inserted into an image processing apparatus which outputs image data representing an image, comprising:

an image memory for storing image data, which is output from the image processing apparatus, applied thereto as an input;

a liquid crystal display device for displaying an image represented by the image data that has been stored in said image memory; and

a case for accommodating said image memory and said liquid crystal display device, said case having an opening at a location corresponding to a back side of said liquid crystal display device for receiving light to illuminate said liquid crystal display device, said received light being emitted from said image processing apparatus when said case is inserted therein;

said liquid crystal display device being a transmission-type liquid crystal panel.

9. The memory card according to claim 8, further comprising a diffusion plate provided in said opening for diffusing light and illuminating the back side of said transmission-type liquid crystal panel with the diffused light.

10. The memory card according to claim 8, further comprising:

a power supply for supplying power to enable said liquid crystal display device to display an image thereon;

an attachment detecting device for detecting whether said memory card has been connected to the image processing apparatus; and

a power-off control device for turning said power supply off in response to detection of attachment of said memory card to the image processing apparatus by said attachment detection device.

11. The memory card according to claim 10, further comprising a charging circuit, which is supplied with a voltage from the image processing apparatus in response to detection of insertion of said memory card into the image processing apparatus by said insertion detection device, for charging said power supply by this supplied voltage.

12. The memory card of claim 10, wherein attachment of said memory card is accomplished by insertion of said memory card into a slot provided in the image processing apparatus intended for use therewith,

said attachment detection device detecting insertion of said memory card into the slot of said image processing apparatus.

13. The memory card according to claim 8, further comprising:

a power supply for displaying an image on said liquid crystal display device;

an insertion detecting device for detecting whether said memory card has been connected to the image processing apparatus by being inserted therein; and

a power-on controller for turning said power supply on in response to detection of insertion of said memory card into the image processing apparatus by said insertion detection device.

14. The memory card according to claim 13, further comprising a command input device for inputting a power-on command provided by the image processing apparatus;

said power-on controller turning said power supply on in response to input of the power-on command from said command input device.

15. The memory card according to claim 13, further comprising a charging circuit, which is supplied with a voltage from the image processing apparatus in response to detection of insertion of said memory card into the image processing apparatus by said insertion detection device, for charging said power supply by this supplied voltage.

16. The memory card of claim 8, wherein said memory card is viewable through illumination provided through the opening in said case.

17. The memory card of claim 8, wherein said image processing apparatus is a digital electronic camera.

18. A method of using a memory card provided with a display with an imaging device comprising:

using the display to display the contents of the memory card while said card is unattached to said imaging device;

providing an imaging device with a memory card receiving area having a memory card illuminating device associated therewith;

selectively attaching said memory card to the imaging device; and

using the display of the memory card as a display of the imaging device while said memory card is attached to said imaging device by illuminating said display of the memory card using said memory card illuminating device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said imaging device is a digital electronic camera.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said imaging device includes a recess for receiving the memory card,

said memory card being selectively inserted in said recess to attach to said imaging device and function as display and memory therefore.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said memory card includes a memory for storing a image data.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said imaging device is a digital electronic camera.