JP2000078518A - Digital still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital still camera capable of reproducing/transferring image files in a proper order. SOLUTION: An MPU 5 sets the sequence of file reproduction in the case that plurality of files stored in a memory card are read and allows a display means 9 to display images based on image signals of each read file in the order that is set by the MUP 5. Thus, the images are reproduced in an optimum mode based on the order above and then the user-friendly digital still camera is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a technique for reproducing / transferring image data, and more particularly, to a technique for reproducing / transferring image data in a digital still camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the improvement of electronic technology, digital still cameras for converting a captured image into digital data and storing the digital data have been developed and are already on the market. A user can display an image captured by a digital still camera on, for example, a display of his / her personal computer, and can print the image via a printer, so that the application range is wide.

[0003] Image data obtained by imaging with a digital still camera is stored in a recording medium such as a memory card as one file for each image. Such a recording medium can be put in and taken out of a digital still camera, and by accessing another personal computer, a digital still camera, or the like,
The recorded image data can be read arbitrarily and displayed as an image on a display or the like.

[0004]

However, the storage medium is
Since digital still cameras of different models may be commonly used, images from different digital still cameras may be filed on the same recording medium. On the other hand, for example, an image read from a scanner
In some cases, files are stored on the same recording medium via a personal computer.

In such a case, a plurality of input means in the same recording medium have different directory structures, respectively.
It is conceivable to file each image in this directory. However, when such a recording medium is mounted on a digital still camera and a recorded image is to be reproduced, there is a problem in what order to reproduce the recorded image.
A similar problem also occurs when a recorded image is transferred. When reproducing / transferring such an image, it is conceivable that the image is input in the order of the image input date without considering the directory. However, such an order may not necessarily match the user's preference.

An object of the present invention is to provide a digital still camera capable of reproducing / transferring images in an appropriate order in view of the problems of the related art.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a digital still camera according to the present invention is a digital still camera that stores an image signal obtained by imaging as a file having a directory structure in a storage means. File reading means for reading a file stored in the directory stored in the storage means,
When there are a plurality of directories, the order setting means sets an order of reproduction of the directories, and a display means. An image based on the image signal of each read file in the directory is displayed.

[0008] A digital still camera according to the present invention is a digital still camera for storing an image signal obtained by imaging as a file having a directory structure in a storage means, wherein the image signal is stored in the directory stored in the storage means. File reading means for reading the set file, and order setting means for setting an order of transfer of the directory when there are a plurality of directories, the transfer means comprising: The image signal of each read file in the directory is transferred according to the order of the directory set by the means.

[0009]

According to the digital still camera of the present invention, file reading means for reading a file stored in the directory stored in the storage means, and when there are a plurality of directories, the order of reproduction of the directory is determined. An order setting means for setting, and a display means, wherein the display means displays an image based on the image signal of each read file in the directory in accordance with the order of the directory set by the order setting means. Display,
Images can be reproduced in an optimal manner based on such an order, so that a user-friendly digital still camera can be provided.

According to the digital camera of the present invention, a file reading means for reading a file stored in the directory stored in the storage means, and, when there are a plurality of directories, setting a transfer order of the directory. And transfer means for transferring the read image signals of the files in the directory according to the order of the directories set by the order setting means. Therefore, the images can be transferred in an optimal manner based on the order, thereby providing a user-friendly digital still camera.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital still camera according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a photoelectric conversion unit 2 as an imaging unit, in which an optical image is formed on a light receiving surface by a photographing lens 1,
The A / D converter 3 converts an optical image of a subject into a corresponding charge amount, that is, performs a so-called photoelectric conversion. The A / D converter 3 converts an analog signal input from the photoelectric conversion unit 2 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal. It is. The image data obtained via the A / D conversion circuit 3 is temporarily stored in the image memory 4.

The image data stored in the image memory 4 is subjected to various types of image processing by the MPU 5, and is finally created as one file for each image.
Is stored in the main memory 6 connected to the. In addition, MPU5
Receives power from a power supply 7 such as a built-in battery, and receives data from an interface unit 8 (232C serial port, USB, Ir
A file stored in the main memory 6 can be transferred to and received from an external digital still camera 10 or a personal computer or the like via a DA communication device or the like. Further, the interface means 8 includes a memory card M which is a storage medium mounted on the digital still camera.
The file stored in C can be read and transmitted to the main memory 6 via the MPU 5.

FIG. 2 shows a conventional memory card MC.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a file relating to an image recorded in the inside. As shown in FIG. 2, in the memory card MC as a storage means, files relating to images captured by digital still cameras of different manufacturers and files relating to images read by a scanner or the like are stored. , And are recorded in the order of the input dates of shooting and image reading.

A user who wants to select a specific image from the memory card MC in which files are mixed as described above often searches for files before and after that while following his / her memory of when the image was taken. . However, the user's memory itself is often ambiguous, and it may take a considerable time to find a specific image.
Further, there is a case where it is desired to reproduce only an image photographed by a specific digital still camera (for example, one having a high number of pixels). On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, a specific image can be efficiently searched for as follows. The data in the file on the memory card MC includes image data,
A manufacturer name and a model name of a camera or the like as shown in parentheses in FIG. 2 are written.

When the memory card MC is accessed via the interface unit 8, the MPU 5 serving as a file reading unit and an order setting unit first reads the name of a manufacturer or a model of a camera or the like, and reads a directory corresponding to the name. The structure is created in a storage area in the main memory 6. More specifically, a directory is created under the root directory for each camera or scanner manufacturer. In this case, as the directory name, a manufacturer name of the camera or the scanner can be directly used or a simplified code can be used. The order of the directories may be, for example, alphabetical order of directory names, or directories of specific manufacturers may be arranged first. Note that an image read by a scanner or the like is rarely reproduced by a digital still camera, so that the directory is preferably located last.

Further, the MPU 5 creates directories for different models of the same maker. As the directory name, the model name of the camera or scanner can be directly used or a simplified code can be used. Thereafter, in each directory, the file name of the image input by the corresponding maker and model is recorded in order of input date. Further, the order of the directories may be, for example, alphabetical order of camera names, or may be arranged in descending order of the number of pixels. If a new photographing is performed after the directory structure is formed in this way, the MPU 5 can record the image obtained by the photographing in a directory corresponding to the maker and model.

FIG. 3 shows the directory structure thus formed. Such a directory structure can be displayed by the display means 9. When the user presses an image frame advance button (not shown), the MPU 5 can reproduce images sequentially from the file name (for example, IMG05.JPG) in accordance with the directory structure shown in FIG. The directory structure created in the main memory 6 in this manner can be replaced with the data in the memory card MC, so that a personal computer or the like accessing the memory card MC can use the directory structure to Searching for files becomes possible. The memory card M on which no data is recorded
When C is accessed, a directory may be formed directly here.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the MPU 5 accessing the memory card MC having no directory structure first creates a directory structure for each camera or model. Based on the structure, the user can efficiently search, for example, an image shot by a camera of a specific manufacturer or an image shot by a camera of a specific model even by the same manufacturer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image G reproduced by the liquid crystal display of the display means 9. As shown in FIG. 4, an upper directory name “A” is displayed at the top of the image.
A "and the lower directory name" DC10 "
Is displayed together with the image file name “IMG05.JPG”. As described above, the upper directory name specifies the manufacturer name of the camera or the like (for example, AA company), and the lower directory name specifies the model name of the camera or the like (for example, DC).
10), the user who sees such a display reads the reproduced image from the AA DC
It can be immediately recognized that the image was taken by 10 cameras.

If the liquid crystal display of the display means 9 is a touch panel type input means, the user uses the input means or other input means to change the directory name (for example, DC10) shown in FIG. When specified, all the image file names recorded in the directory DC10 are displayed. Further, when the user specifies a specific image file name using the same input means, the corresponding image is displayed on the liquid crystal display.

Further, the MPU 5 can transfer the data to the external digital still camera 10 or a printer (not shown) in order from the top in the directory structure shown in FIG. 3 through the interface means 8 as the transfer means. It has become. By deciding the priority order of the images using input means such as a liquid crystal display capable of inputting with a pen, the user can arbitrarily set the order of the images to be reproduced or transferred regardless of the directory structure. May be.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the above embodiments, and it is needless to say that modifications and improvements can be made as appropriate. is there.

[0023]

According to the digital still camera of the present invention, the file reading means for reading the files stored in the directory stored in the storage means, and when there are a plurality of directories, the reproduction order of the directories is changed. An order setting means for setting, and a display means, wherein the display means displays an image based on the image signal of each read file in the directory in accordance with the order of the directory set by the order setting means. Display,
Images can be reproduced in an optimal manner based on such an order, so that a user-friendly digital still camera can be provided.

According to the digital camera of the present invention, a file reading means for reading a file stored in a directory stored in the storage means, and an order for setting a transfer order of the directory when the directory is plural. Setting means, and transferring means, wherein the transferring means transfers the image signals of the read files in the directory according to the order of the directories set by the order setting means. Images can be transferred in an optimal manner based on the order, thereby providing a user-friendly digital still camera.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital still camera according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a file related to an image recorded in a memory card MC according to the related art.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a directory structure formed based on the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image G reproduced by a liquid crystal display of a display unit 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photographing lens 2 photoelectric conversion means 3 A / D converter 4 image memory 5 MPU 6 main memory 7 power supply 8 interface device 9 display means 10 external digital still camera MC memory card

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on front page (72) Inventor Masaaki Takasaki 1 Sakuracho, Hino-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation F-term (reference) 5C022 AA13 AC13 AC69 5C053 FA08 FA14 FA27 HA29 JA16 JA21 KA24 LA04 LA06

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. A digital still camera that stores an image signal obtained by imaging as a file having a directory structure in a storage unit, wherein the file reads out a file stored in the directory stored in the storage unit. Reading means, when there are a plurality of directories, order setting means for setting the order of reproduction of the directories, and display means, wherein the display means sets the order of the directories set by the order setting means. A digital still camera that displays an image based on an image signal of each of the read files in the directory. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said order setting means sets the order based on a directory name.
A digital still camera according to item 1. 3. The directory name includes information on a digital still camera manufacturer, and the order setting means sets the order based on information on the digital still camera manufacturer. 3. The digital still camera according to 2. 4. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the directory name includes information on a model of the digital still camera, and the order setting unit sets the order based on information on the model of the digital still camera. 3
A digital still camera according to item 1. 5. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is detachable from the digital still camera.
The digital still camera according to any one of the above. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of setting condition input means and setting condition storage means, wherein said order setting means sets a file reproduction order based on setting conditions obtained from at least one of said means. Claim 1 characterized by the following:
6. The digital still camera according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 7. The display means is adapted to display a directory name, and further provided is a selection means for selecting a corresponding directory by specifying the displayed directory name. 7. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein said order setting means sets the order of reproduction of the files based on the directory selected by the means. 8. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein said order setting means sets a file transfer order based on information about the digital still camera. 9. The digital still camera according to claim 8, wherein the information on the digital still camera is information on a manufacturer of the digital still camera. 10. The digital still camera according to claim 8, wherein the information on the digital still camera is information on a model of the digital still camera. 11. The digital still camera according to claim 1, wherein said order setting means sets an order so that files relating to the digital still camera are preferentially reproduced. 12. A digital still camera that stores an image signal obtained by imaging as a file having a directory structure in a storage unit, wherein the file reads out a file stored in the directory stored in the storage unit. Reading means; and order setting means for setting a transfer order of the directory when there are a plurality of directories, comprising: transferring means, wherein the transferring means is a directory set by the order setting means. A digital still camera for transferring image signals of each of the read files in the directory in accordance with the order of: 13. The digital still camera according to claim 12, wherein said order setting means sets the order based on a directory name. 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the directory name includes information on a digital still camera manufacturer, and the order setting means sets the order based on information on the digital still camera manufacturer. 13
A digital still camera according to item 1. 15. The digital camera according to claim 13, wherein the directory name includes information on a model of the digital still camera, and the order setting unit sets the order based on information on the model of the digital still camera. 15. The digital still camera according to 14. 16. An apparatus comprising at least one of setting condition input means and setting condition storage means, wherein said order setting means sets a file transfer order based on setting conditions obtained from at least one of said means. The digital still camera according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein: 17. The display means is adapted to display a directory name, and further provided is a selection means for selecting a corresponding directory by specifying the displayed directory name. 17. The digital still camera according to claim 12, wherein said order setting means sets the order of transferring files based on the directory selected by said means. 18. The digital still camera according to claim 12, wherein said order setting means sets a file transfer order based on information about the digital still camera. 19. The digital still camera according to claim 18, wherein the information about the digital still camera is information about a manufacturer of the digital still camera. 20. The digital still camera according to claim 18, wherein the information on the digital still camera is information on a model of the digital still camera. 21. The digital still camera according to claim 12, wherein said order setting means sets an order so that files relating to the digital still camera are transferred with priority. 22. The digital still camera according to claim 12, wherein said storage means is detachable from said digital still camera.