US 5,852,467 A · Image signal recording apparatus controlling the transfer of image data from temporary memory to non-volatile memory

Abstract

An image signal recording apparatus controlling the transfer of image data from temporary memory to non-volatile memory obtains an image of an object, inputs an image signal corresponding to the obtained image, and temporarily stores the input image signal. When it has been detected that an image signal corresponding to a storable capacity of the temporary storage has been input, the subsequent photographing operation is prohibited. It is thereby possible to securely store an image signal corresponding to an obtained image of an object.

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Claims58

Dependent claims

An image signal recording apparatus for recording image signals, said image signal recording apparatus comprising:

image pickup means for obtaining an image of an object, and for outputting an image signal corresponding to the obtained image;
first memory means having a predetermined storage capacity for temporarily storing the image signal output from said image pickup means, and for outputting the temporarily stored image signal;
second memory means for storing the image signal output from said first memory means;
first detection means for detecting the amount of image signals stored in said first memory means;
second detection means for detecting the storage capacity of image signals in said second memory means;
and
image-pickup-operation prohibition means for directly comparing the amount of image signals stored in said first memory means with the storage capacity of said second memory means, and for prohibiting the image-pickup operation of said image pickup means when the amount of image signals stored in said first memory means equals the storable capacity remaining in said second memory means as the result of a comparison between the detection results of said first and second detection means.

4 more elements

An image signal recording apparatus for recording image signals, said image signal recording apparatus comprising:

image pickup means for obtaining images of objects, and for sequentially and continuously outputting image signals corresponding to the obtained images in units of a picture frame;
first memory means having a predetermined storage capacity for temporarily storing the image signals output from said image pickup means, and for outputting the temporarily stored image signals;
second memory means for storing the image signals output from said first memory means;
and
control means for controlling the storing of the image signals in said first memory means and outputting the stored image signals therefrom, and for directly comparing the amount of image signals stored in said first memory means with the storage capacity of said second memory means, and for prohibiting the image-pickup operation of said image pickup means when the amount of image signals stored in said first memory means equals a storable capacity remaining in said second memory means.

2 more elements

An image signal recording apparatus for recording image data such that the image data is first temporarily stored in a volatile memory and then transferred to a non-volatile memory, said apparatus comprising:

first detection means for determining whether the remaining capacity in said volatile memory has reached a predetermined amount;
second detection means for detecting the stored capacity of image signals in the non-volatile memory;
comparing means for directly comparing the amount of image signals stored in said volatile memory with the storage capacity of the non-volatile memory;
and
notifying means for notifying a user that the non-volatile memory cannot further record image data if said first detection means determines that the remaining capacity of said volatile memory has reached the predetermined amount.

2 more elements

first detection means for determining whether the accumulated amount of image data temporarily stored in said volatile memory has reached a predetermined value;
second detection means for detecting the stored capacity of image signals in the non-volatile memory;
comparing means for directly comparing the amount of image signals stored in said volatile memory with the storage capacity of the non-volatile memory;
and
notifying means for notifying a user that said non-volatile memory cannot store further image data if said first detection means determines that the accumulated amount of image data temporarily stored in said volatile memory has reached said predetermined value.

2 more elements

first detection means for determining whether the remaining capacity of said volatile memory has reached a predetermined amount;
second detection means for detecting the stored capacity of image signals in the non-volatile memory;
comparing means for directly comparing the amount of image signals stored in said volatile memory with the storage capacity of the non-volatile memory;
and
control means for disabling the operation of writing image data into said non-volatile memory if said first detection means determines that the remaining capacity of said volatile memory has reached said predetermined amount.

2 more elements

An image signal recording apparatus for recording image data such that the image data is first temporarily recorded in a volatile memory, and then transferred to a non-volatile memory, said apparatus comprising:

first detection means for determining whether the accumulated amount of image data temporarily stored in said volatile memory has reached a predetermined value;
second detection means for detecting the stored capacity of image signals in the non-volatile memory;
comparing means for directly comparing the amount of image signals stored in said volatile memory with the storage capacity of the non-volatile memory;
and
control means to disable the operation of writing image data into said non-volatile memory if said first detection means determines that the accumulated amount of image data temporarily stored in said volatile memory has reached said predetermined value.

2 more elements

first detection means for detecting the remaining capacity in said volatile memory;
second detection means for detecting the stored capacity of image signals in the non-volatile memory;
comparing means for directly comparing the amount of image signals stored in said volatile memory with the storage capacity of the non-volatile memory;
and
notifying means for notifying a user that said non-volatile memory cannot store further image data if the remaining capacity of said volatile memory detected by said first detection means has reached a predetermined amount.

2 more elements

first detection means for detecting the accumulated amount of image data temporarily stored in said volatile memory;
second detection means for detecting the stored capacity of image signals in the non-volatile memory;
comparing means for directly comparing the amount of image signals stored in said volatile memory with the storage capacity of the non-volatile memory;
and
notifying means for notifying a user that said non-volatile memory cannot store further image data if the accumulated amount of image data temporarily stored in said volatile memory, as detected by said first detection means, has reached a predetermined value.

2 more elements

first detection means for detecting the remaining capacity of said volatile memory;
second detection means for detecting the stored capacity of image signals in the non-volatile memory;
comparing means for directly comparing the amount of image signals stored in said volatile memory with the storage capacity of the non-volatile memory;
and
control means for disabling the operation of writing image data into said non-volatile memory if the remaining capacity of said volatile memory, as detected by said first detection means, has reached said predetermined amount.

2 more elements

first detection means for detecting the accumulated amount of image data temporarily stored in said volatile memory;
second detection means for detecting the stored capacity of image signals in the non-volatile memory;
comparing means for directly comparing the amount of image signals stored in said volatile memory with the storage capacity of the non-volatile memory;
and
control means for disabling the operation of writing image data into said non-volatile memory if the accumulated amount of image data temporarily stored in said volatile memory, as detected by said first detection means, has reached said predetermined value.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,308 words

Summary1,089 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#This invention relates to an image signal recording apparatus for recording image signals.

#2. Description of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings6 figures

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a photographing operation of the electronic camera of the first embodiment;

#FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of an electronic camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Detailed description4,098 words

#Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the schematic configuration of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

#As shown in FIG. 1, this electronic camera includes photographing lens 1, exposure controller 2 (such as a shutter having a stop function, or the like), image pickup device 3 (such as a CCD or the like), sample-and-hold circuit 4, A/D converter 5, volatile internal memory 6, memory control unit 7, timing signal generation circuit 8, system controller 9, interface circuit 10, and detachable non-volatile hard-disk device or devices 11. As indicated by symbols M0-M7 in FIG. 1, internal memory 6 has a storage capacity so that image data for eight picture frames can be stored.

Image signal recording apparatus controlling the transfer of image data from temporary memory to non-volatile memory

Life of this patent

Image signal recording apparatus controlling the transfer of image data from temporary memory to non-volatile memory

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims58

Description5,308 words

Drawings

Description5,308 words

Classification8 codes

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