Digital camera

• US 7,382,978 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2004
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xacti Corporation (Office Support KK)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaku, Junya
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey; W. B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suthar; Rishi S
• Application Number:
  US10/548,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20060171706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 396/429, 396/321, 396/439, 34820799-376
• US Class Current: 396/321
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2009/8084 using transform coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• 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

Abstract

A digital camera includes a CPU (34). The CPU (34) is a multitasking CPU for executing in parallel an imaging task, a file recording task, and a file transmitting task. When a shutter button (32) is operated, JPEG data corresponding to an object scene is written to an SDRAM (22) by the imaging task. An image file including the JPEG data stored in the SDRAM (22) is recorded in a CF memory of a memory/LAN cartridge (30) by the file recording task. The image file recorded in the CF memory is applied to a wireless LAN card of the memory/LAN cartridge (30) by the file transmitting task.

Claims

1. A digital camera that processes an image signal of an object scene imaged by an imaging means by a processor mounting a multitasking OS, wherein a plurality of tasks to be executed by said processor includes a first task for writing the image signal from said imaging means to an internal memory, a second task for recording the image signal stored in said internal memory in a recording medium, and a third task for transmitting the image signal recorded in said recording medium to a communication means,

wherein said first task, said second task, and said third task operate in parallel,

wherein said communications means is a wireless communication means, and wherein

said third task includes a firtst transfer process for transferring the image signal recorded in said recording medium to said internal memory, and a second transfer process for transferring the image signal stored in said internal memory to said communication means, and

said third task further includes a determination process for determining whether or not it is possible to communicate by said communication means, and said first transfer process and said second transfer process are validated when a determination result by said determination means is affirmative.

2. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said third task further includes a restriction process for restricting said second task prior to said first transfer process, and a canceling process for canceling the restriction placed on said second task after said second transfer process.

3. A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein each of said first transfer process and said second transfer process is a process transferring a predetermined number of screens of image signals.

4. A digital camera according claim 1, wherein said third task further includes an encryption process for performing encryption on the image file transferred to said internal memory by said first transfer process, and said second transfer process is a process to transfer the encrypted image file by said encryption process to said communication means.

5. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said recording medium and said communication means are stored in a detachable cartridge.

6. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said third task further includes a restriction process for restricting said second task prior to said first transfer process, and a canceling process for canceling the restriction placed on said second task after said second transfer process.

7. A digital camera according claim 1, wherein said third task further includes an encryption process for performing encryption on the image file transferred to said internal memory by said first transfer process, and said second transfer process is a process to transfer the encrypted image file by said encryption process to said communication means.

8. A digital camera according claim 2, wherein said third task further includes an encryption process for performing encryption on the image file transferred to said internal memory by said first transfer process, and said second transfer process is a process to transfer the encrypted image file by said encryption process to said communication means.

9. A digital camera according claim 3, wherein said third task further includes an encryption process for performing encryption on the image file transferred to said internal memory by said first transfer process, and said second transfer process is a process to transfer the encrypted image file by said encryption process to said communication means.

10. A digital camera according claim 6, wherein said third task further includes an encryption process for performing encryption on the image file transferred to said internal memory by said first transfer process, and said second transfer process is a process to transfer the encrypted image file by said encryption process to said communication means.

11. A digital camera according to claim 6, wherein each of said first transfer process and said second transfer process is a process transferring a predetermined number of screens of image signals.

12. A digital camera according claim 11, wherein said third task further includes an encryption process for performing encryption on the image file transferred to said internal memory by said first transfer process, and said second transfer process is a process to transfer the encrypted image file by said encryption process to said communication means.

13. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said recording medium and said communication means are stored in a detachable cartridge.

14. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said recording medium and said communication means are stored in a detachable cartridge.

15. A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said recording medium and said communication means are stored in a detachable cartridge.

16. A digital camera according to claim 3, wherein said recording medium and said communication means are stored in a detachable cartridge.

17. A digital camera according to claim 4, wherein said recording medium and said communication means are stored in a detachable cartridge.