JP2995063B2 - Electronic imaging device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] The present invention relates to an electronic still camera system.

[Related Art] Recently, an electronic still camera system has been developed as a new video device and is being generally used.

In this electronic still camera system, the solid-state imaging device captures an image, performs photoelectric conversion, writes the information on a recording medium, reads out the information written on the recording medium during reproduction, and outputs the information as video information, Images can be reproduced using this video information. The electronic still camera system is composed of a camera (recording device), a reproducing device, and a recording medium in terms of hardware, and the reproducing device may be provided independently of the camera, or may have a reproducing function integrated with the camera. It may be provided as a camera with a tag.

However, the electronic still camera system can be used for a wide range of applications like conventional silver halide film cameras. It can also be used when storing as an image. A new problem arises as the use expands. One of the requirements is as follows. That is, in normal recording and reproduction using the electronic camera system, anyone can freely perform recording and reproduction using an arbitrary device without specifying the user and the device. However, depending on the purpose of recording and reproduction, it may be necessary that only a specific person can reproduce the recorded image and that other persons cannot reproduce the image. For example, when an electronic still camera system is used for medical purposes, when an image of a patient is recorded, the image is played back only to the doctor, the patient, and his / her family, while others are protected from the standpoint of protecting patient privacy. Sometimes it is necessary to prohibit the reproduction of images.

However, in response to this demand, conventional silver halide film cameras allow anyone to view the image captured on the film, and the camera system itself cannot identify the person who views the image. The technology of the film camera cannot be applied to the electronic still camera system.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, in the current electronic still camera system, the recorded image cannot be reproduced and the viewer cannot be specified, and such a demand cannot be satisfied. This was a major challenge in further developing the system.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic imaging apparatus capable of specifying an operation of recording and reproducing an image according to a user or an apparatus.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The electronic imaging device of the present invention has taken the following means to solve the problems and achieve the object.

That is, the electronic imaging device is configured to write image data on the applied recording medium at the time of photographing and read image data from the recording medium at the time of image reproduction, and to transfer information in an unusual form. A connector for removably applying a key having conversion means for performing recording and reproduction, and a secret function relating to access to the recording medium during recording and reproduction only when the key is attached to the connector. And means for providing image data processing means.

[Operation] The electronic imaging device of the present invention exhibits the following operation by taking the above-described means.

That is, when accessing information on a recording medium,
In other words, the secret function operates when writing image information on the recording medium and reading information written on the recording medium, so that only those who know how to handle the secret function are equipped with the photographing device or the reproducing device. Using the specified secret function, the image can be recorded and reproduced using a specific device. A person who does not know how to handle the secret function cannot use the secret function provided in the photographing device or the reproducing device and cannot record and reproduce an image. Specifically, the secret function can be easily and reliably operated by the above-described respective means.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The electronic still camera system of each of the embodiments described below has a configuration in which a camera as a recording device and a reproducing device are separated from each other and uses a memory card as a recording medium. That is, the memory card 3 is set in the camera 1 as shown in FIG. In the camera 1, an image is captured by a solid-state imaging device through a lens and photoelectrically converted.
The data of the image thus obtained is provided on the memory card 3.
Write to RAM. After recording, the memory card 3 is taken out of the camera 1 and set in the reproducing device 2. The playback device 2 reads out image information from the RAM of the memory card 3 and outputs it as video data. An image is reproduced on a monitor screen such as a CRT using the video data. Images are recorded and reproduced in this manner.

First, an embodiment of an electronic still camera system having a secret function will be described.

A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, at the time of recording, between the camera 1 and the memory card 3 set in the camera 1, a conversion means for giving a writing order different from the information writing order at the time of normal recording is interposed. Recording is performed, and at the time of reproduction, reproduction is performed by interposing a conversion means for providing a reading order different from the information reading order at the time of normal reproduction between the reproducing device 2 and the memory card 3 set in the reproducing device 2. is there. This conversion means uses, for example, a key 4. That is, the key 4 is set on the camera 1 at the time of recording, and is set on the reproducing device 2 at the time of reproduction.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a camera 1 employing this embodiment. The camera 1 is provided with a control circuit having a memory address having a large number of addresses corresponding to a large number of pixels constituting a screen, a data line and an address line connecting the control circuit with the memory card 3 set in the camera 1. It is. This address line has a plurality of lines connecting the memory address of the camera 1 and the corresponding memory address provided in the RAM of the memory card 3, and each line is provided with a bus buffer G. The gate control terminal of the bus buffer G of this address line is fixed at a high level, for example, +5 V via a resistor R.
Further, the camera 1 is provided with a key insertion connector 5 into which the key 4 is removably inserted. This connector 5 is the camera 1
A plurality of terminals Ca connected to each memory address of the card 3 and a plurality of terminals Cb connected to each memory address of the card 3 are arranged on both sides of the connector, and each bus buffer G of each line is connected to a ground line. A terminal Cc is provided. The key 4 is formed by, for example, wiring a substrate, and the wiring is rearranged so that a normal address line connecting the memory address of the camera 1 and the memory address of the card 3 correspondingly differs from each other. It is a thing. In addition, it also has a wiring connected to a terminal for the ground line of the connector 5.

In this configuration, the key 4 is not set when performing normal image recording. In this case, each bus buffer G of the address line is turned on, and the memory address of the camera 1 and the memory address of the card 3 are connected in a pair. Therefore, the image data is transmitted from the control circuit of the camera 1 through the address line to the memory card 3.
Sent to and written to RAM.

On the other hand, the key 4 is connected to the key insertion connector 5 of the camera 1.
, The wiring of the key 4 is connected to each terminal Ca of the connector 5,
Connect to Cb, Cc. Accordingly, the wiring of the key 4 connects the camera-side memory address and the card-side address with different signal lines from the normal address line by changing the signal lines. Then, the gate control terminal of each bus buffer G of each address line is connected to the ground line, and each bus buffer G enters a high impedance state. Therefore, the image data from the control circuit of the camera 1 does not pass through the address line but passes through the wiring of the key 4. Therefore, the image data is written to the memory card 3 by a line combination different from a normal address line by passing through the line of the key 4.

On the other hand, the playback device 2 also has an address line and a key insertion connector having the same configuration as the camera 1. Then, when the recorded image is reproduced using the normal address line without setting the normal key 4 in the camera 1, only the memory card 3 is set in the reproducing device 2. In this case, the image data in the RAM of the memory card 3 is read out to the control circuit through a normal address line, and the image is reproduced.

When the recorded image is reproduced by setting the key 4 in the camera 1, the camera 1 is connected to the key insertion connector.
Insert the key 4 used in. As a result, the same address line as when the key 4 is used in the camera 1 is formed, and the image data of the memory card 3 is
Is read out to the control circuit through a line passing through and the image is reproduced. That is, when reproducing an image recorded with the key 4 set in the camera 1, the key 4 is
If is not set, the image data of the memory card 3 will be read out through a normal address line. However, since this line is different from the line on the card 3 side on which the image is recorded, the image is not reproduced in a normal state and an abnormal image is reproduced. Therefore, the key 4 in the camera 1
In order to normally play back the image recorded with the setting of “.” On the playback device 2, it is necessary to use a dedicated playback device 2 having a dedicated connector into which the key 4 can be inserted. Only the user who owns the key 4 can perform the operation. The key 4 may have various configurations.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented with various modifications.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the electronic imaging apparatus of the present invention, a secret function is provided when accessing image information on a recording medium. Or reproduction can be performed only by a specific device. Therefore, it is very effective when an image needs to be reproduced only for a specific person, and is suitable, for example, when the system is used for medical use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are explanatory views showing a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 ... camera, 2 ... playback device, 3 ... memory card

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic imaging apparatus configured to write image data to an applied recording medium at the time of photographing and to read image data from the recording medium at the time of reproducing an image. A connector having a conversion means for recording and reproducing information at a connector for detachably applying a key, and a secret function relating to access to the recording medium during recording and reproduction only when the key is attached to the connector. And an image data processing means adapted to operate. 2. The image data processing means according to claim 1, wherein, when said key is mounted on said connector, said key conversion means writes information during normal recording between said image pickup device and said recording medium during recording. An information writing order different from the order is set, and at the time of reproduction, an information reading order different from the information reading order at the time of normal reproduction is set between the imaging device and the recording medium. The electronic imaging device according to claim 1.