JP3962987B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a digital camera that is recycled and used.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the field of silver halide cameras, lenses with a film have been widely used as cameras that can be recycled. Such a lens-equipped film has an advantage that it can be easily obtained on the spot even when the camera is forgotten to be carried at a resort.
[0003]
On the other hand, digital cameras have been rapidly increasing in pixel count in recent years, and the image quality has reached a level comparable to silver halide cameras, so it is hoped that a recyclable camera that can be used as easily as silver halide cameras will appear. It is rare.
[0004]
By the way, it is premised that the cameras that are recycled in this way can be provided at a low cost. For this purpose, it is necessary to systematize recycling and prevent unauthorized reuse. From this point of view, in Patent Document 1, as a digital camera that is recycled, captured image data is encrypted and recorded on a recording medium, and the camera itself has a function of decrypting the encrypted image data. It has been proposed to prevent unauthorized use by not having it.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-196931 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the digital camera of Patent Document 1, there is a drawback that if a cipher is decrypted, it can be easily reused by a malicious user.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a digital camera that can systematize recycling and prevent unauthorized reuse.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, the photographing program recorded in the program memory is loaded into the working memory, and the control unit photographs the camera according to the photographing program loaded in the working memory. In a digital camera that performs control and recording control of photographed image data, the control unit records the photographed image data by overwriting the photographing program recorded in the program memory. I will provide a.
[0009]
According to the present invention, photographed image data is recorded by overwriting the photographing program recorded in the program memory. Thereby, once used, the shooting program does not exist in the program memory, so that a third party who does not have the shooting program cannot be reused, and illegal reuse can be effectively prevented.
[0010]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 includes a recording memory for recording captured image data, and the control unit records the captured image data in the recording memory, When the capacity of the recording memory is full, a digital camera is provided that records captured image data in the program memory.
[0011]
According to the present invention, the number of shootable images can be increased by having a recording memory.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording memory in which data of a specific bit pattern is written in a digital camera that converts and records an optical image of a subject into digital image data in order to achieve the object. And a storage means for storing the bit pattern written in the recording memory, and a verification for verifying whether the bit pattern written in the recording memory matches the bit pattern stored in the storage means And the bit pattern data written in the recording memory when the bit pattern written in the recording memory matches the bit pattern stored in the storage means as a result of verification by the verification means And a recording means for recording image data taken in the erased area. To provide a camera.
[0013]
According to the present invention, it is possible to record captured image data only when the bit pattern written in the recording memory matches the bit pattern stored in the storage means. Therefore, even if the recording memory is formatted without knowing the bit pattern stored in the storage means, it becomes impossible to record thereafter, so that unauthorized reuse of a third party can be effectively prevented.
[0014]
The invention according to claim 4 provides the digital camera according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the bit patterns are prepared and different bit patterns are used for each camera in order to achieve the object. .
[0015]
According to the present invention, by preparing a plurality of bit patterns and using different bit patterns for each camera, unauthorized reuse can be prevented more effectively.
[0016]
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in order to achieve the object, a bit pattern generated at random is written in the recording memory and stored in the storage means. Provide digital cameras.
[0017]
According to the present invention, by using a randomly generated bit pattern, unauthorized reuse can be prevented more effectively.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a digital camera according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the digital camera 10 mainly includes a photographing optical system 12, an image sensor (CCD) 14, an analog signal processing circuit 16, an A / D converter 18, an image input controller 20, an image signal processing circuit 22, A compression processing circuit 24, a central processing circuit (CPU) 26, an operation unit 28, a communication unit 30, a program memory 32, a work memory 34, a memory controller 36, and a recording memory 38 are configured. The operation is centrally controlled.
[0020]
The photographing optical system 12 includes a photographing lens 12A and a diaphragm 12B. The photographing lens 12A is composed of, for example, a pan-focus single focus lens, and subject light incident on the photographing lens 12A is incident on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 14 through the diaphragm 12B.
[0021]
A known image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS is used for the image sensor 14, and the optical image of the subject is converted into an electric signal by the image sensor 14. In the present embodiment, a CCD is used for the image sensor 14. The CCD 14 has a number of photosensors arranged two-dimensionally on the light receiving surface, and subject light incident on the light receiving surface is converted into signal charges of an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light by each photosensor. The signal charge accumulated in each photosensor is read according to the timing pulse given from the timing generator (TG) 40, and is output to the analog signal processing circuit 16 as a voltage signal corresponding to the signal charge. The CCD 14 is provided with a charge sweeping drain. By sweeping out the signal charge accumulated in each photosensor to the charge sweeping drain, the accumulation time (shutter speed) of the signal charge accumulated in each photosensor. Is controlled.
[0022]
The analog signal processing circuit 16 includes a correlated double sampling processing circuit (CDS) and an amplifier (AMP), and the signal output from the CCD 14 is subjected to correlated double sampling processing and color separation processing into RGB signals. Adjustment of the signal levels of RGB colors (pre-white balance processing) is performed. The analog image signal output from the analog signal processing unit 16 is converted into a digital image signal by the A / D converter 18 and then stored in the work memory 34 via the image input controller 20. Then, it is output from the working memory 34 to the image signal processing circuit 22.
[0023]
The image signal processing circuit 22 includes a luminance / color difference signal conversion circuit, a gamma correction circuit, and the like. The image signal input to the image signal processing circuit 22 is a luminance signal (Y signal) and a color difference signal (Cr, Cb signal). ) And a predetermined process such as gamma correction is performed. The image signal after the signal processing is temporarily stored in the work memory 34 and then output to the compression processing circuit 24.
[0024]
The compression processing circuit 24 compresses the image data after signal processing according to JPEG, Exif-JPEG, TIFF, or other predetermined formats. The compressed image data is temporarily stored in the work memory 34 and then recorded in the recording memory 38 via the memory controller 36.
[0025]
The operation unit 28 includes a power switch 28A, a release switch 28B, and the like, and the CPU 26 controls the operation of a corresponding circuit based on an input signal from the operation unit 28.
[0026]
The communication unit 30 transmits / receives data to / from a personal computer (PC). The communication unit 30 includes a USB interface 30A and a USB controller 30B, and the digital camera 10 is connected to the personal computer side USB interface via a USB cable via the USB interface 30A. Data is transmitted / received via the USB controller 30B.
[0027]
The program memory 32 is constituted by a rewritable memory, for example, a flash ROM. Here, a shooting program for performing shooting control and recording control of the digital camera 10 and image data recorded in the digital camera 10 are personalized. A suction program for sucking into the computer, various setting data necessary for control, and the like are recorded.
[0028]
The work memory 34 is composed of SDRAM, and the photographing program recorded in the program memory 32 is developed here. Further, the CPU 26 performs various arithmetic processes using the work memory 34.
[0029]
The recording memory 38 is constituted by a rewritable memory, for example, a flash ROM, in which captured image data is recorded.
[0030]
The operation of the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above is as follows.
[0031]
The digital camera 10 is sold at a store, and the user purchases it. After purchase, when the power switch 28A of the operation unit 28 is turned on and the power of the digital camera 10 is turned on, the CPU 26 detects this and develops the shooting program recorded in the program memory 32 on the work memory 34. . Thereafter, the CPU 26 executes the photographing program on the working memory 34.
[0032]
When the user presses the release switch 28A of the operation unit 28 with the digital camera 10 powered on, the CPU 26 detects this and executes shooting control and recording control according to the shooting program.
[0033]
First, the brightness of the subject (shooting Ev value) is calculated based on the image signal output from the CCD 14, and the shutter speed is determined based on the shooting Ev value. Then, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 14 is controlled based on the determined shutter speed, and image data for one frame is acquired.
[0034]
The image data for one frame shot in this way is stored in the work memory 34 from the CCD 14 via the analog signal processing circuit 16, the A / D converter 18, and the image input controller 20. Then, after predetermined signal processing is performed by the image signal processing circuit 22, compression processing according to a predetermined format is performed by the compression processing circuit 24 and recorded in the recording memory 38 via the memory controller 36. The
[0035]
The image data for one frame is recorded in the recording memory 38 as described above. Thereafter, the same operation is performed, and the photographed image data is sequentially recorded in the recording memory 38.
[0036]
Here, as shown in FIG. 2A, the captured image data is sequentially recorded in an empty area of the recording memory 38, but the capacity of the recording memory 38 is limited, and the empty area If there is no further recording, no more recording can be performed in the recording memory 38 as shown in FIG.
[0037]
On the other hand, since a shooting program for performing shooting control and recording control of the camera is developed in the work memory 34 and executed on the work memory 34, the shooting program recorded in the program memory 32 is It becomes unnecessary.
[0038]
Therefore, in the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5C, when there is no more free space in the recording memory 38, image data shot in the area where the shooting program is recorded in the program memory 32. Will be overwritten in sequence. Then, when the area in which the shooting program is recorded is overwritten with the shot image data, the shooting ends.
[0039]
After shooting, the user brings the camera with the camera to the store and requests a print service or a writing service to a recording medium such as a smart media, a compact flash, a CD, or an MD.
[0040]
In the store, the digital camera 10 and a personal computer are connected by using the USB interface 30A provided in the digital camera 10. Then, the image data recorded in the recording memory 38 and the program memory 32 is extracted from the digital camera 10 to a personal computer. Thereafter, at the store, the requested service using the sucked-out image data, that is, the printing of the image data or the writing to the recording medium, is provided to the requesting user.
[0041]
On the other hand, the used digital camera 10 from which the image data has been extracted is collected by the manufacturer. The manufacturer erases and initializes data recorded in the recording memory 38 and the program memory 32, and newly writes a shooting program or the like in the program memory 32. Then, after refilling the battery, inspecting the appearance, etc., and confirming that there is no abnormality, the battery is handed over to the sales store and again sold.
[0042]
As described above, the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment is recycled and used. At this time, it is conceivable that an unauthorized user sucks out only the image data from the digital camera 10 and uses it again. However, since the used digital camera 10 already has no shooting program, the digital camera 10 Is in an inoperable state. Therefore, it becomes impossible to reuse an illegal route, and only a recycling system with an authorized route is established.
[0043]
As described above, in the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment, when the capacity of the recording memory 38 is exhausted, the captured image data is overwritten and recorded in the area where the shooting program of the program memory 32 is recorded. Therefore, once used, even if data is illegally extracted, it cannot be used again, and illegal reuse can be effectively prevented.
[0044]
Further, since the image data is also recorded in the program memory 32, the number of shootable images can be increased.
[0045]
The digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment is configured so that when the capacity of the recording memory 38 is exhausted, the captured image data is overwritten and recorded in the area where the shooting program of the program memory 32 is recorded. First, the recorded image data is overwritten and recorded in the area where the shooting program of the program memory 32 is recorded, and when the capacity is lost, the shot image data is recorded in the recording memory 38. Also good.
[0046]
Further, the recording memory 38 may not be provided, and the data may be directly overwritten and recorded in the area where the shooting program of the program memory 32 is recorded.
[0047]
Furthermore, the data may be alternately recorded in the areas where the photographing programs of the recording memory 38 and the program memory 32 are recorded.
[0048]
In this embodiment, the USB is used as the communication unit, but the communication unit with an external device is not limited to this. In this embodiment, the personal computer is connected, but the connected device is not limited to this.
[0049]
Next, a second embodiment of the digital camera according to the present invention will be described.
[0050]
The digital camera according to the first embodiment described above prevents unauthorized reuse of a third party by recording the captured image data by overwriting the captured image data recorded in the program memory 32. However, in this case, an unauthorized user may suck out the image data from the recording memory 38 and reuse it before the recording memory 38 runs out of free space.
[0051]
Therefore, in the digital camera of the present embodiment, illegal data can be obtained by writing specific bit pattern data to the recording memory, verifying with a specific pattern at the time of writing image data, and then erasing and writing image data. Prevent reuse.
[0052]
Hereinafter, recording control of image data by the digital camera of the second embodiment will be described in detail. The configuration of the digital camera itself is the same as that of the first embodiment described above.
[0053]
As shown in FIG. 3, specific bit pattern data is written in a recording memory 38 in which captured image data is recorded.
[0054]
On the other hand, in the program memory 32, the bit pattern data written in the recording memory 38 is recorded in the setting data area.
[0055]
The recorded image data is recorded as follows. When recording image data, the CPU 26 first compares the bit pattern data written in the recording memory 38 with the bit pattern data stored in the program memory 32 to verify whether they match. (Verify).
[0056]
As a result of the verification, if the two match, the bit pattern data written in the recording memory 38 via the memory controller 36 is erased (erasure is performed only for recording one frame of image data), and the erase is performed. The image data photographed via the memory controller 36 is recorded in the area.
[0057]
Thereafter, the captured image data is recorded in the recording memory 38 while verifying the bit pattern every time the image data is recorded.
[0058]
As described above, in the digital camera according to the present embodiment, it is verified whether the bit pattern written in the recording memory 38 matches the bit pattern stored in the program memory 32. It is possible to record the captured image data only when it is present. Therefore, even if an unauthorized user independently initializes the recording memory 38 for the purpose of reuse, the captured image data is not used unless specific bit pattern data is written in the recording memory 38. Cannot be recorded and cannot be reused. Thereby, unauthorized reuse can be effectively prevented.
[0059]
In this embodiment, each time the captured image data is recorded in the recording memory 38, the bit pattern is verified and erased. However, the collation with the bit pattern is performed for the first image data. You may make it carry out only at the time of recording. In this case, the bit pattern written in the recording memory 38 at the time of recording the first image data is compared with the bit pattern stored in the program memory 32. Erase all written bit patterns.
[0060]
The bit pattern to be written in the recording memory 38 is arbitrary, and a plurality of bit patterns may be prepared and different bit pattern data may be written for each camera. Alternatively, randomly generated bit pattern data may be written. Thereby, unauthorized reuse can be prevented more effectively.
[0061]
Also, the digital camera of the present embodiment also has the image data stored in the program memory 32 after the empty area of the recording memory 38 has disappeared, as in the digital camera of the first embodiment described above. Overwrite and record. As a result, unauthorized reuse can be prevented more effectively. In addition, the number of images that can be shot can be increased.
[0062]
Note that the digital camera according to the present embodiment cannot be reused unless data of a specific bit pattern is written. Therefore, the captured image is not necessarily the same as the digital camera according to the first embodiment described above. There is no need to record data by overwriting the shooting program in the program memory 32. Therefore, the captured image data may be recorded only in the recording memory 38.
[0063]
Next, a recycling system using the digital camera of the second embodiment will be described.
[0064]
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a recycling system using the digital camera according to the second embodiment.
[0065]
The service center 1 entrusts sales of the digital camera to the sales store 2, and the user 3 purchases the digital camera from the sales store 2.
[0066]
The user 3 who has purchased the digital camera brings the digital camera to the sales store 2 after completing the shooting of the prescribed number of images, and requests a service for printing the captured image data or writing to a recording medium such as a CD. The sales store 2 delivers the requested digital camera to the service center 1 and performs the requested service at the service center 1. That is, if it is a print service, the image data recorded from the digital camera is sucked and printed on photographic paper, and if it is a writing service, the sucked image data is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD. The completed print or recording medium is returned to the sales store 2 and delivered to the user 3 via the sales store 2.
[0067]
On the other hand, for the used digital camera, reproduction processing is performed in the service center 1. The reproduction process of the digital camera is performed as follows according to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0068]
Here, a case where randomly generated bit pattern data is written as specific bit pattern data to be written in the recording memory 38 will be described as an example.
[0069]
First, it is checked whether or not the image data recorded in the digital camera has been sucked (step S1). That is, it is checked whether image data has already been sucked out from the digital camera 10 in order to provide a service to the user 3.
[0070]
As a result of the check, if the image data sucking is not completed, the image data is sucked out as STEP 10 as shown in FIG.
[0071]
First, a digital camera is connected to a personal computer, and it is checked whether image data is recorded on the digital camera (step S12). That is, it is checked whether or not the captured image data is recorded in the recording memory 38. If there is image data, the image data is extracted from the digital camera to the personal computer, and the requested service is executed.
[0072]
On the other hand, if the image data is not recorded, it is directly used for reproduction and proceeds to the next step.
[0073]
With respect to the digital camera that has finished sucking out the image data, as shown in FIG. 5, it is next checked whether or not the recording memory 38 has been initialized (step S2). If it is not initialized, as shown in STEP 20, the recording memory 38 is initialized as shown in FIG.
[0074]
First, the image data recorded in the recording memory 38 is erased (step S22). Next, a bit pattern to be written in the recording memory 38 is created (step S24). This bit pattern is created by randomly generating a bit string, and the created random bit pattern data is written to the recording memory 38 (step S26).
[0075]
With respect to the digital camera that has completed initialization of the recording memory 38, as shown in FIG. 5, it is next checked whether or not writing of the photographing program or the like has been completed in the program memory 32 (step S3). . If the writing has not been completed, as shown in FIG. 6C, a shooting program or the like is written as STEP 30.
[0076]
First, a program such as an imaging program, a suction program, and setting data to be recorded in the program memory 32 is loaded into the transfer buffer of the personal computer (step S32). Next, the bit pattern data written in the recording memory 38 is embedded in the program as setting data (step S34). Next, the program memory 32 of the digital camera is erased (step S36), and the program loaded in the transfer buffer is written (step S38). Thus, the shooting program and other programs are recorded in the program memory of the digital camera.
[0077]
As shown in FIG. 5, the digital camera for which the program has been written is then refilled and checked for appearance (step S4), thereby completing the digital camera playback process. Then, the digital camera for which the reproduction process has been completed is again delivered to the sales store 2 and sold at the sales store 2.
[0078]
As described above, the data of the specific bit pattern to be written in the recording memory 38 is managed by the service center and is not known to a third party. Therefore, even if an unauthorized user initializes the recording memory 38 of the used digital camera for the purpose of reuse, the captured image cannot be written and cannot be used normally.
[0079]
Further, since the user does not normally know that the specific bit pattern data is recorded in the recording memory 38, the user writes the specific bit pattern data in the recording memory 38 for reuse. Therefore, unauthorized reuse can be effectively prevented.
[0080]
In particular, by writing specific bit pattern data in the recording memory 38 using randomly generated bit string data as in the present embodiment, the specific bit pattern in the recording memory 38 should be used. Even if it is found that the data is reused if the data is written, the data of the specific bit pattern to be written cannot be easily known, and illegal reuse can be effectively prevented.
[0081]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since the captured image data is recorded by overwriting the recording program recorded in the program memory, there is a recording program in the program memory after being used once. Therefore, a third party who does not have a shooting program cannot be reused, and illegal reuse can be effectively prevented.
[0082]
In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to record the captured image data only when the bit pattern written in the recording memory matches the bit pattern stored in the storage unit. The reuse of the three parties can be effectively prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the digital camera according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the digital camera according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a digital camera recycling system.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a digital camera recycling system.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a digital camera recycling system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera, 12 ... Shooting optical system, 12A ... Shooting lens, 12B ... Aperture, 14 ... Imaging device (CCD), 16 ... Analog signal processing circuit, 18 ... A / D converter, 20 ... Image input controller, 22 ... Image signal processing circuit, 24 ... Compression processing circuit, 26 ... Central processing circuit (CPU), 28 ... Operation unit, 28A ... Power switch, 28B ... Release switch, 30 ... Communication unit, 32 ... Program memory, 34 ... Working memory 36 ... Memory controller 38 ... Recording memory 40 ... Timing generator (TG)

Claims (5)

In the digital camera in which the shooting program recorded in the program memory is loaded into the working memory, and the control unit executes shooting control of the camera and recording control of the shot image data according to the shooting program loaded in the working memory.
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the control unit records the photographed image data by overwriting the photographing program recorded in the program memory. A recording memory for recording captured image data is provided, and the control unit records the captured image data in the recording memory, and captures the captured image in the program memory when the recording memory is full. A digital camera characterized by recording image data. In a digital camera that converts and records an optical image of a subject into digital image data,
A recording memory in which data of a specific bit pattern is written;
Storage means for storing a bit pattern written in the recording memory;
Verification means for verifying whether the bit pattern written in the recording memory matches the bit pattern stored in the storage means;
As a result of verification by the verification unit, when the bit pattern written in the recording memory matches the bit pattern stored in the storage unit, the bit pattern data written in the recording memory is erased. Recording means for recording image data taken in the erased area;
A digital camera characterized by comprising The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the bit patterns are prepared and different bit patterns are used for each camera. 4. The digital camera according to claim 3, wherein a randomly generated bit pattern is written in the recording memory and is stored in the storage means.

Images