Audio data recording system for recording voice data as an optically readable code on a recording medium for recording still image data photographed by a camera

• US RE36,589 E
• Filed: 10/14/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Akamine, Yoshikazu, Wakamatsu, Seiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Neyzari, Ali
• Application Number:
  US09/172,740
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 369/14, 369/15, 369/13, 396/315, 396/312, 358/335, 358/342, 360/10.1, 360/32, 355/218, 382/239, 382/250, 382/251, 382/232, 348/232
• US Class Current: 369/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/24 with means for separately producing marks on the film, e.g. title, time of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2206/004 using markings on the photographic material, e.g. to indicate pseudo-panoramic exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/244 Magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 31/06 in which sound track is associated with successively-shown still pictures
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/86 Re-recording, i.e. transcribing information from one magnetisable record carrier on to one or more similar or dissimilar record carriers by varying the order of the information G11B27/029, G11B27/036
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0033 with cards or other card-like flat carriers, e.g. flat sheets of optical film

Abstract

An audio data recording/reproduction system including an independent, portable camera for respectively recording still image data on a silver salt region of a film and audio data on a magnetic recording region of the film. A silver salt film developing/printing device is provided for developing the still image data recorded in the silver salt region of the film, and for printing the developed still image data on a front surface of a photographic paper as visible data. A conversion device is provided for reproducing the audio data recorded in the magnetic recording region of the film, and for converting the reproduced audio data into an optically readable code. And a recording device is provided for printing the optically readable code produced by the conversion device on a rear surface or a blank section of the front surface of the photographic paper.

Claims

1. An audio data recording/reproduction system comprising:

an independent, portable camera for respectively recording still image data on a silver salt region of a film and audio data on a magnetic recording region of said film;

a silver salt film developing/printing device for developing said still image data recorded in said silver salt region of said film, and for printing said developed still image data on a front surface of a photographic paper as visible data;

conversion means for .[.reproducing.]. .Iadd.converting .Iaddend.said audio data recorded in said magnetic recording region of said film, .[.and for converting said reproduced audio data.]. into an optically readable .Iadd.two-dimensional .Iaddend.code .Iadd.comprising a plurality of blocks.Iaddend.; and

a recording device for printing said optically readable .Iadd.two-dimensional .Iaddend.code produced by said conversion means on a rear surface or a .[.blank.]. .Iadd.predetermined .Iaddend.section of said front surface of said photographic paper.

2. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 1, further comprising reproduction means for optically reading out said optically readable .Iadd.two-dimensional .Iaddend.code printed by said recording device on said photographic paper, and for reproducing corresponding original audio data therefrom.

3. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein said conversion means comprises:

magnetic recording/reproduction means for reproducing said audio data magnetically recorded on said magnetic recording region of said film;

A/D conversion means for converting said audio data reproduced by said magnetic recording/reproduction means into a digital signal;

compression means for compressing said digital signal produced by said A/D conversion means;

error correction symbol adding means for adding an error correction symbol to said digital signal compressed by said compression means;

memory means for interleaving said digital signal to which said error correction symbol has been added by said error correction symbol adding means;

data adding means for adding predetermined data to said digital signal interleaved by said memory means; and

modulation means for modulating said digital signal to which said predetermined data has been added by said data adding means, for recording thereof.

4. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 3, wherein said data adding means includes:

means for adding .[.a two-dimensional.]. block .[.address marker.]. .Iadd.addresses .Iaddend.to respective blocks of said digital signal interleaved by said memory means.[., said two-dimensional address marker serving as a reference for synchronizing and positioning said blocks of said digital signal interleaved by said memory means.].; and

means for adding an error judgment signal .Iadd.for said block address .Iaddend.to said digital signal interleaved by said memory means.[.in accordance with a predetermined recording format.]..

5. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein said recording device prints said optically readable .Iadd.two-dimensional .Iaddend.code as a dot code constructed by two-dimensionally arranging a plurality of dots.

6. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 2, wherein said reproducing means includes a pen-type reproduction device for scanning said optically readable .Iadd.two-dimensional .Iaddend.code and converting said optically readable code into an audio signal.

19. An audio data recording/reproduction system comprising:

digital image data obtaining means for obtaining an imaged picture as digital image data;

digital audio data obtaining means for obtaining an input voice as digital audio data;

a memory for recording digital image data obtained by said digital image data obtaining means and digital audio data obtained by said digital audio data obtaining means;

conversion means for converting said digital audio data recorded in said memory or audio data from said digital audio data obtaining means into an optically readable two-dimensional code comprising a plurality of blocks; and

recording means for forming image data recorded in said memory or image data from said digital image data obtaining means as visualized data on a recording medium, and printing/recording an optically readable two-dimensional code converted by said conversion means on said recording medium. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. An audio data recording/reproducing system according to claim 19, wherein said recording means prints/records said optically readable two-dimensional code on a region in said recording medium where image data is not formed. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. A recording method of recording an image and a voice on the same recording medium comprising the steps of;

obtaining image data by image a picture;

obtaining audio data by inputting a voice;

converting audio data obtained in said audio data obtaining step into an optically readable two-dimensional code comprising a plurality of blocks; and

forming image data obtained in said image data obtaining step on a recording medium as visualized data, and printing/recording an optically readable two-dimensional code converted in said converting step on said recording medium. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. A method according to claim 21 wherein;

said image data obtaining step records a picture imaged by a camera using a silver salt film having a silver salt region and a magnetic recording region in said silver salt region of said silver salt film as a still image;

said audio data obtaining step records a voice inputted to said camera on said magnetic recording region of said silver salt film as audio data;

said converting step converts said audio data recorded in said magnetic recording region into said two-dimensional code; and

said recording step records a still image recorded on said silver salt region on a front surface of a photographic paper, and printing/recording said optically readable two-dimensional code on a predetermined section on which a still image recorded on a rear surface or a front surface of said

20. photographic paper is not recorded. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. A method according to claim 21 wherein:

said image data obtaining step obtains a still image imaged by an electronic still camera as digital image data and recording the still image in a memory installed in said electronic still camera;

said converting step converts said digital audio data recorded in said memory into an optically readable two-dimensional code comprising a plurality of blocks; and

said recording step records said digital image data recorded in said memory on a front surface of a recording medium, and prints/records said optically readable two-dimensional code on a predetermined section on which a still image recorded on a rear surface or a front surface of said recording medium is not recorded. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of blocks of said optically readable two-dimensional code are arranged in two dimensions. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 24, wherein each of said plurality of blocks has a two-dimensional block addresses. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 25, wherein each said two-dimensional block address includes an address error judgment symbol. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of blocks includes a marker. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of blocks has a data area comprising a plurality of dots arranged according to said audio data.

21. Iaddend..Iadd.29. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 28, wherein said plurality of dots are arranged in two dimensions according to a predetermined format. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein said optically readable two-dimensional code is produced by subjecting individually said plurality of blocks to conversion processing. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of blocks of said optically readable two-dimensional code are arranged in two dimensions, each of said plurality of blocks having a two-dimensional block address, a marker, and a data area comprising a plurality of dots arranged according to said audio data. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of blocks of said optically readable two-dimensional code are arranged in two dimensions. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 32, wherein each of said plurality of blocks has a two-dimensional block address.

22. Iaddend..Iadd.34. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 33, wherein each said two-dimensional block address includes an address error judgment symbol. .Iaddend..Iadd.35. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of blocks includes a marker. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of blocks has a data area comprising a plurality of dots arranged according to audio data. .Iaddend..Iadd.37. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 36, wherein said plurality of dots are arranged according to a predetermined format. .Iaddend..Iadd.38. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 1, wherein said optically readable two-dimensional code is produced by subjecting individually said plurality of blocks to conversion processing. .Iaddend..Iadd.39. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of blocks of said optically readable two-dimensional code are arranged in two dimensions, each of said plurality of blocks having a two-dimensional block address, a marker, and a data area comprising a plurality of dots arranged according to said audio data. .Iaddend..Iadd.40. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of blocks of said optically readable two-dimensional code are arranged in two dimensions. .Iaddend..Iadd.41. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 40, wherein each of said plurality of blocks has a two-dimensional block address. .Iaddend..Iadd.42. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 41, wherein each said two-dimensional block address includes an address error judgment symbol. .Iaddend..Iadd.43. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 19, wherein each of said plurality of blocks includes a marker. .Iaddend..Iadd.44. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 19, wherein each of said plurality of blocks has a data area comprising a plurality of dots arranged according to audio data.

23. Iaddend..Iadd.45. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 44, wherein said plurality of dots are arranged in two dimensions according to a predetermined format. .Iaddend..Iadd.46. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 19, wherein said optically readable two-dimensional code is produced by subjecting individually said plurality of blocks to conversion processing. .Iaddend..Iadd.47. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of blocks of said optically readable two-dimensional code are arranged in two dimensions, each of said plurality of blocks having a two-dimensional block address, a marker, and a data area comprising a plurality of dots arranged according to said audio data. .Iaddend..Iadd.48. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 21, wherein said plurality of blocks of said optically readable two-dimensional code are arranged in two dimensions. .Iaddend..Iadd.49. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 48, wherein each of said plurality of blocks has a

24. two-dimensional block address. .Iaddend..Iadd.50. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 49, wherein each said two-dimensional block address includes an address error judgment symbol. .Iaddend..Iadd.51. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 21, wherein each of said plurality of blocks includes a marker. .Iaddend..Iadd.52. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 21, wherein each of said plurality of blocks has a data area comprising a plurality of dots arranged according to said audio data. .Iaddend..Iadd.53. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 52, wherein said plurality of dots are arranged in two dimensions according to a predetermined format. .Iaddend..Iadd.54. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 21, wherein said optically readable two-dimensional code is produced by subjecting individually said plurality of blocks to conversion processing. .Iaddend..Iadd.55. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 21, wherein said plurality of blocks of said optically readable two-dimensional code are arranged in two dimensions, each of said plurality of blocks having a two-dimensional block address, a marker, and a data area comprising a plurality of dots arranged according to said audio data. .Iaddend.

7. An audio data recording/reproduction system comprising:

an independent, portable electronic still camera including image pick-up means for obtaining image data, input means for inputting audio data, and a first recording medium for recording said image data obtained by said image pick-up means and said audio data input by said input means;

a printer for printing one of said image data recorded on said first recording medium and said image data obtained by said image pick-up means on a second recording medium as visualized data; and

conversion means for converting one of said audio data recorded on said first recording medium and said audio data input by said input means into an optically readable .Iadd.two-dimensional .Iaddend.code .Iadd.comprising a plurality of blocks.Iaddend.;

wherein said printer prints said optically readable code produced by said conversion means in a .Iadd.predetermined .Iaddend.region of said second recording medium in which image data has not been printed.

8. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 7, further comprising reproduction means for optically reading out said optical readable .Iadd.two-dimensional .Iaddend.code recorded on said second recording medium so as to reproduce corresponding original audio data.

9. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 7, wherein said image pick-up means comprises:

a camera unit for inputting an image signal;

an A/D converter for converting said image signal input by said camera unit into a digital signal; and

a compression unit for compressing said .[.image.]. digital .Iadd.image .Iaddend.signal produced by said A/D converter.

10. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim .[.9.]. .Iadd.7.Iaddend., wherein said input means comprises:

an input unit for inputting an audio signal;

an A/D converter for converting said image signal input by said input unit into a digital signal; and

a compression unit for compressing said audio digital signal produced by said A/D converter.

11. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim .[.10.]. .Iadd.7.Iaddend., wherein said electronic still camera includes a data synthesizing unit for synthesizing compressed image data produced by said compression unit of said image pick-up means and compressed audio data produced by said compression unit of said input means.

12. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 11, wherein synthesized image data and audio data produced by said data synthesizing unit are recorded on said first recording medium.

13. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 12, wherein said first recording medium includes a memory card.

14. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim .[.12.]. .Iadd.7.Iaddend., wherein said conversion means comprises:

.[.a data memory unit for storing one of said audio data produced by said compression unit of said input means and said audio data recorded in said first recording means, and for interleaving said stored audio data;

.].

an error correction symbol adding unit for adding an error correction symbol to said .[.interleaved.]. audio data .Iadd.from one of a compression unit included in said input means and said first recording medium;

a data memory unit for recording said audio data to which the error correction symbol is added by said error correction symbol adding unit, and for interleaving said recorded audio data.Iaddend.;

an address data adding unit for adding respective .Iadd.block .Iaddend.address data to respective blocks of said audio data .[.to which said error correction symbol has been added.]. .Iadd.which is interleaved by said data memory unit.Iaddend., and for adding an address error judgment symbol to said audio data .[.to which said error correction symbol has been added.]. .Iadd.which is interleaved by said data memory unit.Iaddend.;

.[.a conversion circuit for converting.]. .Iadd.a modulating circuit for modulating .Iaddend.said audio data to which said .Iadd.block .Iaddend.address data and said address error judgment symbol .[.have been into data of another bit number.]. .Iadd.are .Iaddend.added .Iadd.by said address data adding unit, for recording.Iaddend.; and

a marker adding unit for adding a marker to said .Iadd.modulated .Iaddend.audio data.[.of another bit number.]..

15. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim .[.17.]. .Iadd.7.Iaddend., further comprising synthesizing means for synthesizing one of said image data recorded on said first recording medium and said image data obtained by said image pick-up means with said optically readable .Iadd.two-dimensional .Iaddend.code produced by said conversion means, and wherein a synthesized output from said synthesizing means is recorded on said second recording medium by said printer.

16. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 7, wherein said printer includes a simple printer and a color printer.

17. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 7, wherein said second recording medium comprises one of a heat sensitive paper, photographic paper, photographic sheet, photographic tape, and resin film.

18. An audio data recording/reproduction system according to claim 15, further comprising:

data separation means for separating said audio data recorded on said first recording means and said image data recorded on said first recording means from each other; and

elongation means for elongating said image data separated by said data separation means to form elongated, uncompressed data, and for supplying said elongated, uncompressed data to said synthesizing means. .Iadd.