Ulllt?d States Patent [19]
`Sasaki et a1.
`
`5,018,017
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
`
`[54] ELECTRONIC STILL CAMERA AND IMAGE
`RECORDING METHOD THEREOF
`
`[75] Inventors: Minoru Sasaki, Tokyo; Mmfumi
`Umeda, Kawasaki; Yoshitomo
`Tagami, Yokohama; Akihiko
`Sugikawa, Yokohama, all of Japan
`[73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kawasaki,
`Japan
`[21] Appl. No.: 447,858
`[22] Filed:
`Dec. 8, 1989
`
`[63]
`
`Related US. Application Data
`Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 289,238, Dec. 23,
`1988.
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Dec. 25, 1987 [JP]
`Japan .............................. .. 62-327174
`Feb. 2, 1989 [JP]
`Japan
`l-2252l
`
`Mar. 22, 1989 [JP]
`
`Japan . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. l-67606
`
`Mar. 22, 1989 [JP]
`
`Japan ........................... .. l-67607
`
`H04N 5/30
`[51] Int. Cl.5 ........................ ..
`[52] US. Cl. .................................. .. 358/209; 358/335;
`358/909
`[58] Field of Search ................. .. 358/909, 209, 213.16,
`358/2l3.25, 41, 12, 13, 133, 105, 906, 335
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,489,351 12/1984 d’Alayer de Costemore
`d’Arc ................................ .. 358/909
`4,745,474 5/1988 Schit‘f ................................ .. 358/105
`
`[56]
`
`4,758,883 7/1988 Kawahara et a]. ............... .. 358/335
`4,802,003 1/1989 Takei et a1. ......................... _. 358/12
`4,837,628 6/1989 Sasaki ................................ .. 358/909
`4,918,523 4/1990 Simon et a1. ........................ .. 358/12
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0289944 11/1988 European Pat. Off. .
`0269581 11/1987 Japan .
`0224561 9/1988 Japan .
`0284987 11/1988 Japan .
`Primary Examiner-Tommy P. Chin
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Oblon, Spivak, McClelland,
`Maier & Neustadt
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`An electronic still camera has a memory card, which is
`detachably provided, for recording photographed
`image data. The electronic still camera comprises a data
`compression unit for compressing image data to be
`recorded, a mode selection unit provided in association
`with the data compression unit to select a recording
`mode or compression mode, a buffer memory for once
`storing the image data compressed in the compression
`mode selected by the mode selection unit, and a deter
`mination unit for determining whether or not the image
`data stored in the buffer memory can be recorded on the
`recording medium. In the electronic still camera, when
`the image data was determined to be unrecordable by
`the determination unit, the image data stored in the
`memory is stored in the buffer memory till the record
`ing medias assumes a recordable state.
`
`18 Claims, 23 Drawing Sheets
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.1
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 1 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`FIG.
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.2
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 2 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`V .0_u
`
`5
`
`mwaoowo
`
`* _ mmwmog
`
`
`
`wwm WZzEmE
`
`N5
`
`mu
`
`mm.
`
`
`
`00> mm womDom mw>>On_
`
`Jm
`
`9325mm; BS
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 3 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`MEMORY
`
`CARD
`
`.L|flOH|3
`9N|SS3OOHd
`'lVN9|S
`
`.L|fl3tl I3
`9N|SS33OHd
`
`DRIVING
`
`CIRCUIT
`
`DATARECORDINGCIRCUIT
`
`CONTROLCIRCUIT
`
`RELEASE
`
`I /
`
`\
`
`Z»-N
`N
`
`III
`
`/
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.4
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 4 0f 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`5| ""
`52
`
`"lllll'll
`
`53»
`
`OUT
`
`56
`
`57
`
`F l G.
`
`5
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.5
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 5 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`MT.’ o\<
`
`m
`
`2
`2 A M.
`J. .1\1 S G
`P. IIIIILIII mu. E / 2
`
`1.. N M .l C
`O A R / P \
`
`
`F2 \zOrEEEwm m... r
`m>>\> 9
`2..- x98 R K 2 U m S
`
`
`
`L A F U E
`
`o\Hu|_U
`
`2
`
`C C R LR I
`C D FD
`6 .I D E SE F F
`2\ C D N AN / V
`
`z m... m w w w
`2 mwzmo H “ M / / 2 Ewézmia E , , B 1
`
`5 4 2 2 2 (I R % ‘1H R g r . L\A4/.__
`
`2 .1.\ F E WS E S
`
`R 0
`
`H s E m mR M
`
`ES
`
`FIG. 6A
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.6
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 6 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`3|
`s‘
`“5°
`Yi
`O m»-
`° #15
`62% CE“
`
`(no.0
`
`3i
`12
`m
`I
`
`3!
`s3
`<22
`Y2
`"L'-
`12a
`351% C82
`
`314
`}
`5
`Y3
`8
`1% 2:2
`E E
`
`o "
`
`2fsc
`
`fSC
`
`1/2 fsc
`
`o o 080 0C0
`A
`
`a:
`g
`1r
`<1 ‘2'
`E LU
`‘0 <9
`W
`
`29
`
`DOM
`
`317
`%
`%
`a u-
`2 2 Add
`R/W
`
`34
`/‘ _6
`BUFFER V0 5
`MEMORY
`3
`E
`2
`LU
`2
`
`VCC
`
`,
`)
`15
`
`—-—- POWER
`——-‘ SOURCE
`_-_- CIRCUIT
`
`1
`232
`
`\
`
`BATTERY
`
`231
`
`r J
`23
`
`FIG. 6B
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.7
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 7 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`\
`
`\
`
`50 Eu ;
`
`Nil :8 NEQ :mu $> m; N; :>
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`.wwmu. .wmu NW5 8%. ¢~> m~> NN> .8,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`>
`
`
`
`rvml Emu Nil 3i 3; Q; N8, :;
`
`
`
`ammo Emu $5 55 v? 09 Q9 .9
`
`N8 m8 -> _N>
`
`N8 N5 N»
`
`
`
`_~¢mu_ Emu Ni :1,
`
`>
`
`Nani :5 . w; :>
`
`
`
`Q5 Emu ~m> .9
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.8
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 8 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`MEMORY CARD AREA SEGMENTATION
`
`OOOOH
`
`lOOOH
`
`m D
`
`m
`
`m m D
`Y M A R m A
`m _. M
`
`m W
`
`R E B M U
`
`m 0 O O
`
`,N H H H K O 4 2 lllllllllll I!
`
`B a
`
`FIG. 9A
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.9
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 9 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`DIRECTORY
`
`I BYTE
`
`FILE N0. (IMAGE NO.)
`
`ENLTSRSYAEIXTI‘ION
`IMAGING SYSTEM
`IMAGE MODE
`
`IMAGE. VOICE, DATA
`525/60.625/5O
`W88? COMPRESSION
`
`VOICE MODE
`
`COMPRESSION
`
`YEAR
`
`MONTH
`
`DATE
`
`HOUR
`
`MINUTE
`
`IIH
`
`ENTRY BLOCK NO.
`
`04H
`
`NUMBER OF BLOCKS USED
`
`I DIRECTORY
`
`I6 BYTE
`
`NUMBER OF
`DIRECTORIES
`
`256
`
`V
`
`FIG. 9B
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.10
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 10 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`FAT AREA
`(256 BYTE)
`
`DATA AREA
`(IOK BYTE x 255=2.55M BYTE)
`
`IBYTE
`1 BYTE
`I BYTE
`
`BLOCK NUMBER OOH
`01 H
`02H
`
`.
`
`IOKB
`IOKB
`IOKB
`
`2:
`
`'
`
`:7
`
`:
`
`=5
`
`=5
`
`a:
`
`n H
`I2H
`I3H
`
`ZAH
`
`FEH
`
`OOH
`04 H
`02H
`I
`I
`l
`|
`I
`I
`I
`
`J,
`_"
`
`n
`"'
`
`:5
`
`NH I2H
`I2H {3H
`{3H 2AH
`I
`I
`|
`I
`l
`I
`I
`I
`l
`2AH FFH
`I
`l
`|
`I
`I
`l
`I
`I
`I
`:
`I
`FFH
`
`2:
`
`x,
`
`FIG. 9C
`
`FIG. 90
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.11
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 11 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF FLASH
`
`WB DATA
`
`EXPOSURE VALUE
`
`SHUTTER SPEED VALUE
`
`IOKB
`
`
`
`
`
`BLOCKNUMBERIZHBLOCKNUMBERIIH
`
`
`BLOCKNUMBERI3H IOKB
`
`
`BLOCKNUMBER2AH
`
`USER AREA
`
`IMAGE DATA
`
`‘IMAGE DATA
`
`IMAGE DATA
`
`IMAGE DATA
`
`FIG. 9E
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.12
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 12 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`I START I
`
`VSTI
`DETECT MEMORY CARD "
`I
`INPUT DIRECTORY INFORMATION '
`
`5T3
`
`BUFFER
`AVAIL'ABLE
`YES
`8T3
`INPUT MODE INFORMATION
`I
`ST5\'OUTPUT MoDE SELECTION SIGNAL
`I
`3T6 NF RELEASE AND WRITE IMAGE DATA
`INTO BUFFER
`
`i
`5T?‘ ‘VINPUT INFoRMATIoN OF FLASH,
`WB EXPOSURE vALuE, SHUTTER
`SPEED, DATE, TIME AND THE LIKE
`
`3T8 "SET ENTRY BLOCK
`I
`5T9“ CALCULATE NUMBER OF BLOCKS
`
`ST"
`
`NUMBER OF
`BLOCK SUFFICIENT
`
`STIO
`
`INPUT RESET
`GNAL
`
`4
`
`' YES
`ASSIGN FAT ADDRESS F ST“
`I
`WRITE DATA INTO
`MEMORY CARD "v $TI2
`
`FIG. I0
`
`CLEAR BUFFERA A.’ 51-13
`I
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.13
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 13 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`XE
`
`&’b
`
`El]
`
`I1I
`
`HEOOONS
`
`GENERATOR
`
`.1
`
`4Z ‘
`
`.2
`m
`
`FRAMEMEMORYCONTROL
`
`I/F
`
`DETERMINATION
`
`DISPLAY
`
`.Llfl32-:l|3
`NOlJ.V'10d
`-H3J.Nl
`
`U038 |3
`9N|HOJ.S38
`VJ.VC|
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.14
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 14 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`A/DI
`
`zwqmlnaa
`
`4 2 I
`
`5
`2
`
`mwzmo
`
`2 m 2 YMWHVE
`CD FD
`CR LR
`DI AW
`4
`1 4 R
`
`NN
`m
`mmE ,
`LN F
`AR / E I
`.1 1 8G / i A.“ 2 2
`
`FLASH
`
`RELEASE _
`I
`MODE
`
`i
`
`wé
`SENSOR \
`
`EXPOSURE
`SENSOR
`1
`DISPLAY
`
`CPU
`
`RESET
`
`NF
`
`14F
`E42
`
`F l G.
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.15
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 15 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`42
`
`(
`
`(7)
`_ m +;
`$58
`o 0: E
`>- a. 0
`
`342‘
`
`l
`
`0:
`‘LL-l
`a
`U‘
`
`344'
`
`‘
`
`$
`LU t
`< E a
`P‘
`a:
`3&6
`
`[__
`
`SW
`
`3‘|6"\-/
`BUFFER
`MEMORY
`
`31
`(,7
`>
`%
`‘ 2 u_
`‘g _\_ Add
`WW
`
`a:
`29 M 9
`&
`4 LL!
`+- z
`
`3 E
`
`D
`g
`
`E
`2
`w
`2
`
`, 34 ‘
`_/ 5
`
`1/0
`
`vcc
`—
`
`I
`
`I {5
`
`~--— POWER
`SOURCE
`--- CIRCUIT
`3
`232
`
`\
`
`BATTERY
`I
`w
`234
`
`J
`
`Y
`23
`
`vFIG.12B
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.16
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 16 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`I:
`
`
`
`Cm< moEn: m. .w _ n.
`
`202
`
`
`
`._. 5015
`
`mm_
`
`<P<O
`
`OZEKOQMK
`JOKPZOU
`
`kg
`
`P 501 _U
`
`Im
`
`O:
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.17
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 17 of 23!v
`
`5,018,017
`
`28
`
`m
`
`I 02
`
`272
`
`205855
`
`
`
`I Q38 R
`
`m2;
`
`A
`
`ma W w ,. s G
`
`w A W
`
`. II E E
`
`N N
`
`L m
`
`mSHrU 4
`
`2 U H. 52% 2 ZQEILQQ
`2(.;
`
`.w. 4
`2 ( R 4
`c m m m
`
`FLASH
`
`RELEASE
`
`MODE
`
`WB
`SENSOR
`
`EXPOSURE A
`SENSOR
`
`DISPLAY
`
`DRIVER
`
`I/F
`
`243/’
`
`24
`2
`
`CPU
`
`In?‘
`242
`
`244
`
`F I G.
`
`I4A
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.18
`
`

`
`U
`
`.S. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 18 of 23
`
`5,013,017
`
`H...
`
`
`
`3iMn.55;
`booms-oz_._n.s_<m
`
`taumaWozmmmoomn.
`
`._<zo_m
`
`wmm
`
`I.1Lm9<mmzm_o
`
`<._.<n_B
`
`I
`
`BATTERY
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.19
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 19 0f 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`( START )
`
`ST‘
`
`E DETECT MEMORY cARD
`i
`512 / INPUT DIRECTORY INFORMATlON
`
`8T3
`
`UFF
`
`AVAlLélBLE
`YES
`
`NO
`
`ST4\{’
`
`INPUT MODE INFORMATION
`I
`ST5\I OUTPUT M0DE SELECTION SIGNAL]
`,
`i
`$T9\{v CALCULATE NUMBER OF BLOCKS]
`
`I
`
`STIO'
`
`5220
`
`'wARN
`
`YES
`
`NEW
`CARD?SET
`STI4'
`
`A
`
`NUMBER OF
`
`LOCKS SLPIFFICIENT
`' YES
`1ST2I
`[DISPLAY NUMBER OF FRAMES]
`
`ST22
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`N0
`RELEASE AND wRITE IMAGE
`3T6 A“ DATA INTO BUFFER
`i
`WS€¢=2§§8§¥6£8§§ %'iIUFT‘-T‘E%H'
`ST? "’SPéED, DATE, TIME AKID THE LIKE
`
`5m /\+ SET ENTRY BLOCK
`1
`STH AIASSIGN FAT ADDRESS |
`i
`[ wRITE DATA INTO MEMORY cARD'
`i
`cLEAR BUFFER A 8TB
`I
`
`5H2
`
`I
`
`F l G. 15
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.20
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 21, i991
`
`Sheet 20 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`In
`
`DIAPHRAGM
`
`DRIVER
`
`16
`
`FLASH
`
`DCC
`DRIVER
`
`244
`
`FLASH
`
`DRIVER
`
`‘MODE
`
`SENSOR
`
`EXPOSURE
`SENSOR
`
`WSPLAY
`
`GENERATOR |
`
`'
`
`2
`
`24;
`
`9
`
`g%%ENUOUS
`
`RESET
`
`FIG. {GA
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.21
`
`

`
`U
`
`.S. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 21 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`Htzoma3oz_mmmoomn_
`
`._<zo_m
`
`14m8<EzmoHmmE3m
`
`W55.“.'
`
`I
`
`
`uz_._.u_..,_<mi>mO_>_m2
`.::om_u-mm:“S
`
`wW
`
`
`
`
`
`1om<o>mosms_
`
`we513C6CI
`
`BATTERY
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.22
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 22 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`DIRECTORY
`
`FILE NO. (IMAGE NO.)
`
`INFORMATION
`CLASSWICATION
`
`IMAGE. VOICE. DATA
`
`IMAGING SYSTEM
`
`525/60 . 625/5O
`
`IMAGE COMPRESSION
`MODE
`
`VOICE COMPRESSION
`MODE
`
`I I II I I I I I II I II III
`
`IMAGE MODE
`
`VOICE MODE
`
`YEAR
`
`MONTH
`
`MEMORY TYPE SRAM, E2 PROM
`
`ACCESS TIME
`
`ENTRY BLOCK NO.
`
`NUMBER OF BLOCKS USED
`
`I DIRECTORY
`
`I6 BYTE
`
`NUMBER or
`DIRECTORIES
`
`256
`
`FIG.
`
`I7
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.23
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 21, 1991
`
`Sheet 23 of 23
`
`5,018,017
`
`F I G. 18A
`
`FIG. 18B
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.24
`
`

`
`1
`
`5,018,017
`
`ELECTRONIC STILL CAMERA AND IIVIAGE
`RECORDING METHOD THEREOF
`
`CROSS-REFERENCES TO THE RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`The present application is a continuation-in-part ap-
`plication of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 289,238
`filed on Dec. 23, 1988.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to an electronic still
`camera, which uses,
`for example, a semiconductor
`memory card as a recording medium, for recording still
`images on the recording medium.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
`
`Electronic still cameras which use a solid state imag-
`ing device such as a CCD (charge coupled device) for
`photographing still images of subjects and recording the 20
`still images on rotatable magnetic recording medium,
`that is, a video floppy, are considered to replace con-
`ventional still cameras for photographing and recording
`still images by use of the photosensitivity of silver salt
`films, that is, photographic films using silver salt photo-
`sensitive material, and they have been merchandized.
`However, since this type of electronic still camera uses
`the rotatable magnetic recording medium, a driving unit
`for driving the rotatable magnetic recording medium
`relative to the recording head must be provided inside 30
`the camera, thus making it difficult to reduce the size of
`the camera. A solid state electronic still camera system
`for recrding image information on a memory card using
`a semiconductor memory (that is, storing image infor-
`mation in a semiconductor memory of a memory card),
`as a system which has no driving unit and is suitable for
`small sized cameras, has been considered by the same
`applicant (U.S. application Ser. No. 073,160, Minoru
`Sasaki). A typical example of this type of electronic still
`camera is shown in FIG. 13.
`An image of the subject is transmitted via lens 121,
`diaphragm 122 and color filter 120, and formed on CCD
`126 which is used as the imaging device in which the
`optical image is subjected to a photoelectric conversion.
`An output signal of CCD 126 is subjected to a predeter-
`mined process in preprocessing circuit 127, converted
`into a digital signal by means of analog-to-digital (A/D)
`converter 128, and then recorded on memory card 115.
`In this case, a signal from each picture element of the
`imaging device is recorded in the digital form on mem-
`ory card 115. The signal of each picture element of the
`imaging device is subjected to a predetermined process
`such as the amplification, white-balance correction and
`7 correction as the pre-processing. Picture element
`data, which has been subjected to the pre-processing in
`a sequence according to the picture element array, is
`recorded on memory card 115. In the reproduction
`mode, memory card 115 is set in a reproducing unit, and
`data stored in memory card 115 is subjected to a prede-
`termined signal processing and digital-to-analog (D/A) 60
`conversion, and then supplied to a TV (television) mon-
`itor which in turn displays the data as an image. In FIG.
`13, case 110, release switch 111 for triggering the imag-
`ing operation, battery 123 used as a power source, shut-
`ter control circuit 124 for controlling diaphragm 122
`and electronic shutter operation, CCD driving circuit
`125, and monitoring unit 130 are also shown. CCD
`driving circuit 125 is used to control and drive shutter
`
`2
`control circuit 126, pre-processing circuit 127, A/D
`converter 128 and memory card 115. Monitoring unit
`130 displays the photographed image based on signals
`transmitted via pre-processing circuit 127 at the time of
`photographing and is used as a view finder.
`As described above, wherein data corresponding to
`each picture element of the solid state imaging device is
`recorded on the memory card, the signal processing is
`simple and the device is simple in construction. How-
`ever, if the recording conditions such as the number of
`picture elements and the arrangement of color filters of
`the solid state imaging device of the electronic still
`camera are changed, for example, the arrangement of
`data recorded on the memory card or the amount of
`data per frame will be changed accordingly. Therefore,
`the recorded memory card is not interchangeably used
`for another type of electronic still camera system, that
`is, an electronic still camera having the number of pic-
`ture elements and arrangement of color filters different
`from those of the electronic still camera used for re-
`cording the image data on the memory card.
`If a single electronic still camera is designed so as to
`record image under different recording conditions, the
`recorded memory card may be interchangeably used to
`some extent. However, in this case, the memory capac-
`ity required for recording one frame of image data of
`the photographed still image varies depending on the
`recording conditions (recording modes) set at the time
`of photographing. Therefore,
`in a case where new
`image data is written into a recording area in which one
`frame of image data has been previously recorded and
`erased, the memory capacity may sometimes be insuffi-
`cient for recording the new image data, thus making it
`impossible to record the new image data.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`An object of this invention is to solve the aforemen-
`tioned disadvantages and provide a new electronic still
`camera and an image recording method by which the
`memory capacity required for recording one frame of
`data can be changed as required, the number of images
`to be recorded on one recording medium can be effi-
`ciently changed according to the image quality, and
`which can flexibly cope with a shortage in residual
`amount of the recording medium mounted at the time of
`photographing and the non-coincidence of the record-
`ing area when a suitable frame is erased and a new
`image is recorded.
`In an electronic still camera of this invention, a re-
`cording medium for recording a photographed image
`data, for example, a memory card is detachably pro-
`vided. The electronic still camera comprises a data
`compression unit for compressing an image data to be
`recorded, a mode selection unit provided in association
`with the data compression unit to select a recording
`mode, that is, a compression mode, a buffer memory for
`temporarily storing an image data compressed in the
`compression mode selected by the mode selection unit,
`and a determination unit for determining whether or not
`the image data stored in the buffer memory can be re-
`corded on the recording medium. In the electronic still
`camera, when “NO” is determined by the determination
`unit, the image data stored in the memory is stored in
`the buffer memory of the camera until the recording
`medium assumes a recordable state, that is, until a new
`memory card is mounted, for example. Preferably, the
`compression mode includes an uncompression mode not
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.25
`
`

`
`3
`applied with the data compression by the data compres-
`sion unit.
`In the electronic still camera according to a preferred
`embodiment of the present invention, an image signal
`subjected to photoelectric conversion by a solid state
`imaging device is digitalized by a signal processing
`circuit and coded, and the coded digital data is recorded
`on a memory card. In the electronic still camera, an
`image signal is converted into a brightness signal and
`two color-difference signals by a signal processing cir-
`cuit and recorded on a memory card. In the electronic
`still camera, the image data can be compressed and the
`total bit capacity for recording one frame of image data
`can be reduced by changing the number of samples and
`by non-linear quantitizing an error with an expected
`signal to reduce the number of bits required to express
`one sample data, and the brightness signal and two’
`color—difi"erence signals can be written into the memory
`card as the recording medium. Also, the number of
`frames of images written into a memory card can be
`changed as desired accordingly. In the electronic still
`camera, the memory of the memory card is divided into
`blocks of fixed capacity, a number or name is set to each
`block, data in each frame is divided into several blocks
`and recorded, and the number of blocks used for each
`frame and the number or name of the first block are
`recorded whereby even if the memory of different ca-
`pacity is used every frame, writing, reading, erasing or
`rewriting can be easily made.
`In the electronic still camera according to the present
`invention, there are a plurality of compression modes
`having different compressibility, and an user can suit-
`ably select any of these modes. In the electronic still
`camera as described, even if the capacity of the record-
`ing medium or the data amount of one frame is deter-
`mined so that the capacity capable of being recorded by
`one recording medium, for example, a memory card, is
`the natural number times of the data amount of one
`frame in all the recording modes, when a plurality of
`different compression modes are selected for one re-
`cording medium, for example, the memory card, a sur-
`plus of the memory capacity less than one frame inevita-
`bly sometimes occurs. In other words, there sometimes
`occurs a case where a shortage of capacity not capable
`of recording an image of one frame on the memory
`capacity finally left occurs. In the light of this, in the
`electronic still camera of the present invention, when a
`shortage in capacity of the memory card attached oc-
`curs for photographed image data, and the transfer of
`the photographed image data to the memory card is
`effected for the first time when a new memory card is
`attached and the image data assumes a state capable of
`being recorded. Accordingly, the user can suitably se-
`lect and photograph the compression mode without
`being troubled by the residual capacity of the recording
`medium or the kind of compression modes when the
`compression mode is selected.
`In the electronic still camera according to the present
`invention, the number of images capable of being re-
`corded on the recording medium for example memory
`card, can be efficiently changed depending on the
`image quality, and even if plural kinds of image data
`processed according to different modes are mixed and
`recorded on a single recording medium, no inconve-
`nience occurs. Moreover, in the electronic still camera,
`it is possible to erase only data of one frame to record a
`new image data in an easy manner. Furthermore, in the
`electronic still camera, even in the case where the short-
`
`5
`
`15
`
`20
`
`40
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,018,017
`
`4
`age in capacity of the recording medium attached has
`been found after imaging had been made, the imaging
`content can be recorded on another recording medium.
`Accordingly, the present invention can provide an elec-
`tronic still camera and an image recording method
`which can be conveniently used as a system including
`the recording medium.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance
`of an electronic still camera according to a first embodi-
`ment of this invention;
`FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the con-
`struction of the electronic still camera shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the basic
`construction of a semiconductor memory card used in
`the electronic still camera shown in the embodiment of
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the detail construction
`of the memory card shown in FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the modeled construc-
`tion of a CCD array used in the embodiment shown in
`FIG. 1;
`FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing the detailed
`construction of the electronic still camera shown in
`FIG. 2;
`FIGS. 7 and 8 are views illustrating the sampling
`points of the image data in the embodiment shown in
`FIG. 1 on the assumption that the positions thereof lie
`on a 2-dimensional plane;
`FIGS. 9A to 9B are views illustrating the recording
`formats of the memory card used in the embodiment
`shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the process in detail
`at the time of photographing effected by the embodi-
`ment shown in FIG. 1;
`,
`FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the schematic
`construction of a reproducing unit for reproducing an
`image from the memory card recorded by the camera of
`this invention;
`FIGS. 12A and 12B are block diagrams showing the
`detailed construction of a second embodiment of this
`invention;
`FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the construction of the
`conventional electronic still camera;
`FIGS. 14A and 14B are block diagrams showing the
`detailed construction of a third embodiment of this
`invention;'
`FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the process in detail
`at the time of photographing in the embodiments shown
`in FIGS. 14A and 14B;
`FIGS. 16A and 16B are block diagrams showing the
`detailed construction of a fourth embodiment of this
`invention;
`FIG. 17 is a view for explaining a format of a direc-
`tory within a memory card in the embodiments shown
`in FIGS. 16A and 16B; and
`FIGS. 18A and 18B are views illustrating examples of
`mode switch.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`There will now be described an electronic still cam-
`era according to an embodiment of this invention with
`reference to the accompanying drawings.
`An electronic still camera system, as used hereinafter
`is defined as including an electronic still camera and a
`reproducing unit. The electronic still camera is used to
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.26
`
`

`
`30
`
`5
`take a picture of a subject and record the image on a
`semiconductor memory card used as recording me-
`dium, and the reproducing unit is used to read out image
`information from the memory card and transfer the
`image information to TV receiver or the like for dis-
`play.
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electronic still
`camera as viewed from the rear upper point thereof,
`and the explanation for portions thereof which have the
`same functions as those of an ordinary still camera
`(using a photographic film) is omitted. Electronic still
`camera 10 includes reset switch 9, release 11, photo-
`graphing mode switch 12 and photographed picture
`number displaying unit 13. Further, insertion slot 14 is
`provided for permitting insertion of semiconductor
`memory card 15 on the right side of electronic still
`camera 10. Shutter speed selection dial 18 is disposed on
`the electronic still camera 10. These elements will be
`described more in detail later.
`FIG. 2 schematically shows the basic construction of 20
`electronic still camera 10. In the photographing opera-
`tion, focusing is effected by lens system 21 and the shut-
`ter speed is adequately set by operating shutter speed
`selection dial 18 in the same manner as in the ordinary
`still camera. Diaphragm 22 is controlled by control
`circuit 24, and the shutter speed is adjusted by a so-
`called electronic shutter. The electronic shutter adjusts
`the shutter speed by controlling the charge storing time
`in CCD array 26 used as an image device. An image of
`a shutter is formed on CCD array 26 via lens system 21.
`When the photographing operation is started and
`release 11 is set into the halfway position (the release
`button is depressed halfway) by an operator or user, the
`power source voltage from power source 23 using a
`battery is supplied to the respective electronic circuit
`sections (that is, when the power source switch not
`shown is turned on, the power source voltage is sup-
`plied only to a portion required in the preparation stage
`of photographing, and the power source voltage is sup-
`plied to other portions required for photographing for
`the first time when the release 1] assumes the halfway
`position). The amount of incident light is measured by
`exposure sensor 19, and control circuit 24 controls dia-
`phragm 22 according to the measured amount of inci-
`dent light. The external color temperature is measured
`by white balance sensor 17, and control circuit 24 gen-
`erates a white balance control signal according to the
`measured color temperature.
`When release 11 is further depressed from the half-
`way position to the fully depressed position (the release
`button is fully depressed), control circuit 24 produces a
`shutter pulse. In response to the shutter pulse, driving
`circuit 25 supplies control signals to CCD array 26,
`pre-processing circuit 27, A/D conversion circuit 28
`and signal processing 31 which are in turn operated in
`response to the respective control signal. An image
`information signal formed of an analog signal from
`CCD array 26 is supplied to A/D conversion circuit 28
`via pre-processing circuit 27 and is converted into a
`corresponding digital signal. The image information 60
`signal thus converted into the digital form is subjected
`to a predetennined signal processing in signal process-
`ing circuit 31. A digital image information signal from
`signal processing circuit 31 is supplied to semiconductor
`memory card 15 together with a control signal with an
`address signal. In this way, the image information signal
`corresponding to the photographed still image is stored
`in semiconductor memory card 15.
`
`55
`
`65
`
`5,018,017
`
`15
`
`6
`Prior to the photographing, the user can selectively
`set the format of data to be stored in semiconductor
`memory card 15 by operating mode switch 12. Mode
`switch 12 is used to select and set a desired one of a
`plurality of modes for different image qualities. Mode
`selection by mode switch 12 makes it possible to change
`the amount of digital data required for storing one
`frame image (i.e., the number of image frames which
`can be stored in one memory card 15). For example,
`when high quality mode is set, one frame image is stored
`as digital data of 640 Kbytes with the highest image
`quality. When mode “B” is set, one frame image is
`stored as digital data of 320 Kbytes with the second
`highest image quality, and when mode “C” is set, one
`frame image of I60 Kbytes is stored with the third high-
`est image quality. Further, when mode “D” or low
`image quality mode is set, one frame image of 80 Kbytes
`corresponding to the smallest memory space for one
`frame is stored. If memory card 15 is provided with a
`memory of 2.56 Mbytes, for example, it is possible to
`store 4, 8, I6 and 32 frames into one memory card 15 in
`modes “A”, “B”, “C” and “D”, respectively. The selec-
`tion of the recording modes by the mode switch 15 is
`effected every frame. The details of a method for stor-
`ing data into the memory card 15 will be described
`later.
`In the above description, the data amount in one
`frame is set by selecting one of the invariable modes.
`However, the compression rate of data amount may be
`set freely set by the user. In the case of the former (i.e.,
`selecting one mode), for example, a dial-type switch
`12A, wherein modes (A) to (D) correspond to four
`selections of a dial l2A1, as shown in FIG. 18A, can be
`used as the mode switch 12. In this type of mode switch,
`the dial 12A] is rotated to select one of the modes (A)
`to (D). In the case of the latter (i.e., freely setting the
`compression rate of data amount), a switch 12B, which
`comprises, as shown in FIG. 18B, a pair of triangular
`button switches 12B1 and l2B2 arranged in opposite
`directions and a display 12B3 for displaying the com-
`pression rate, can be used. In the mode switch 12, the
`compression rate l/N (N: an integer having a predeter-
`mined value or less that determines the limit of com-
`pression) is displayed on the display 12B3. Upon opera-
`tion of the button switches l2Bl and 12B2, the value N
`is increased or decreased to set a desired compression
`rate.
`FIG. 3 shows the basic construction of memory card
`15. Memory card 15 is constituted by a printed circuit .
`board having a plurality of random access memory
`(RAM) chips 36 mounted thereon. External terminals
`32 including data terminals, address terminals and con-
`trol terminals, and power source terminals 33 are pro-
`vided on one side of memory card 15. For use of mem-
`ory card 15, it is inserted into electronic still camera 10
`or a reproducing unit. Supply of the power source volt-
`age to memory card 15 is achieved via power source
`terminals 33, and transfer of signals with respect to
`memory card 15 is effected via external terminals 32.
`Exclusive battery 34 used for holding stored data is built
`in memory card 15. Further, memory card 15 includes
`power source switching circuit 35 which switches the
`power source of RAM chip 36 from built-in battery 34
`to power source 23 of electronic still camera 10 or the
`power source of the reproducing unit when memory"
`card 15 is inserted into electronic still camera 15 or the
`reproducing unit, respectively.
`
`Sony, Ex. 1007, p.27
`
`

`
`7
`FIG. 4 shows an example of memory card 15 having
`20 1 M-byts RAM chips 361 to 3620. Extema] terminals
`321 to 323 and power source terminals 33 are provided
`on one side of memory card 15. External terminals 321
`to 323 include 8-bit data terminals 321, address terminals
`322 for receiving address information A0 to A20 and
`control terminals 323. Memory card 15 of FIG. 4 has a
`memory capacity of 20 Mbytes (2.56 Mbytes). Control
`terminals 323 include terminal CS for selection of RAM
`chips 36, write pulse terminals WP and card selection
`terminals CE for selecting one of cards when a plurality
`of cards are used. One of decoders 1211 and 1212 is
`selected by an input supplied to terminals CS. Decord-
`ers 1211 and 1212 respectively correspond to RAM
`chips 361 to 3610 and 3611 to 3610.
`CCD array 26 which is a solid state imaging device is
`used as an imaging device for photographing still frame
`images, for example. A frame interline transfer type
`CCD may be suitable for the CCD array 26 used in the
`electronic still camera of this invention, for example.
`FIG. 5 shows the modeled construction of one exam-
`ple of a frame interline transfer type CCD solid state
`imaging device.
`The CCD array has image receiving portions 51
`formed of photoelectric conversion elements such as
`photodiodes arranged in a matrix form. Vertical trans-
`ferring portions 52 are arranged along and adjacent to
`the columns of image receiving portions 51. Charges in
`each of image receiving portions 51 are transferred to a
`corresponding one of the vertical transferring portions
`52 in response to field shift pulse divl, and the trans-
`ferred from one end thereof to charge storage section 54
`acting as a frame memory section via transfer gate 53.
`Signal charges in charge storage section 54 are trans-
`ferred to output circuit 56 via horizontal transferring
`section 55 and then output as an electrical signal. Drain
`portion 57 is arranged adjacent to the other ends of
`vertical transferring sections 52.
`In a case where only one CCD array of this type is
`used to derive out