JP4338919B2 - Imaging device and replacement unit - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an exchange unit. In particular, the present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an exchange unit that manage the number of output images.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The image pickup apparatus disclosed in the above-described publication has a mechanism in which an image pickup function is stopped after a specified number of images are picked up and cannot be reproduced unless a specified process is performed at a factory.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the imaging devices disclosed in JP-A-8-160517, JP-A-8-82840, JP-A-11-275420, and JP-A-2000-228740 are used for reproduction and resetting. It is necessary to bring it to the factory. In addition, there are cases where it is desired to flexibly and quickly respond to control, replacement, and maintenance regarding the number of output images.
[0004]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an imaging apparatus and an exchange unit that can solve the above-described problems. This object is achieved by a combination of features described in the independent claims. The dependent claims define further advantageous specific examples of the present invention.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an optical unit that acquires an image, an imaging unit that captures an image acquired by the optical unit as image data by optical / electrical conversion, and image data captured by the imaging unit And an image recording unit for storing number specifying information for specifying the number of images output from the image recording unit to the outside.
[0006]
You may further have the exchange unit which has a main-body part which has an optical unit, an imaging unit, an image recording part, and a number information storage part.
[0007]
The replacement unit may further include a battery that drives the main body.
[0008]
Specified by a setting unit that stores a preset number of images that can be output within the range of one or more storable images determined from the capacity of the image recording unit, and information that specifies the number of images stored in the number information storage unit If the number of images to be output does not fall below the allowable number of images that can be stored in the image recording unit stored in the setting unit, the output of image data from the image recording unit to the outside is rejected, and the specified number of images An image output determination unit that permits output of image data from the image recording unit to the outside when the number of sheets that can be output is less than the maximum number may be further provided.
[0009]
The number information storage unit may store the same number of key information as the number of outputtable sheets, and the key information may be changed to a used state every time the image recording unit outputs image data to the outside.
[0010]
The number information storage unit may store information for specifying image data output from the image recording unit to the outside as the number specification information.
[0011]
According to another aspect of the present invention, an exchange unit attached to a main body having an optical unit that acquires an image and an image pickup unit that captures an image acquired by the optical unit as image data by optical / electrical conversion is provided on the main body. An image recording unit that is detachable and stores an image captured by the imaging unit as image data; a number information storage unit that stores number specifying information for specifying the number of image data output from the image recording unit to the outside; A battery for driving the main body.
[0012]
The number information storage unit may store information for specifying image data output from the image recording unit to the outside as the number specification information.
[0013]
The above summary of the invention does not enumerate all necessary features of the present invention, and sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be the invention.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the claimed invention, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are solutions of the invention. It is not always essential to the means.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a system including a digital camera 10. The digital camera 10 is an example of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention. The digital camera 10 records and outputs a subject as image data. The printer 12, the image processing device 14, and the accepting device 18 receive the image data output by the digital camera 10 and output it in an appropriate format corresponding to the user's request. For example, the printer 12 prints and outputs image data on a sheet. The image processing apparatus 14 processes the image data according to the user's request, and then transmits the data through a network or outputs it to a magnetic recording medium. The accepting machine 18 responds to a complex request from the user and outputs the image data by transmission through a paper medium, a magnetic recording medium, and a network. The accepting machine 18 can also transmit predetermined setting information to the digital camera 10.
[0016]
FIG. 2 shows an external view of the digital camera 10 of this example. The digital camera 10 includes an external connector 200 on the surface of the housing. The external connector 200 is a connection part having a shape unique to the digital camera 10. The external connector 200 has electrodes on the surface. The external connector 200 communicates with the printer 12, the image processing device 14, and the accepting device 18 through electrodes. Here, communication using the electrode of the external connector 200 as a medium follows a predetermined rule that only a specific person can know. For example, communication via the external connector 200 is encrypted with a key that only a specific person can know. Accordingly, it becomes difficult to illegally operate the digital camera 10 from the outside.
[0017]
FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the digital camera 10. The digital camera 10 includes an optical unit 170, an image pickup unit 174, an image recording unit 178, a number information storage unit 182, a setting unit 186, an image output determination unit 190, an output unit 194, and a battery 198. Prepare.
[0018]
The optical unit 170 acquires an image of the subject of the digital camera 10 and outputs it to the imaging unit 174. The imaging unit 174 acquires an image incident from the optical unit 170 and captures it as image data by optical / electrical conversion. The imaging unit 174 outputs the captured image data to the image recording unit 178.
[0019]
The image recording unit 178 stores the image data received from the imaging unit 174. The image recording unit 178 outputs the image data stored in the image recording unit 178 to the output unit 194 in response to the notification from the image output determination unit 190 through the output unit 194. At this time, the image recording unit 178 notifies the number information storage unit 182 that new image data has been output.
[0020]
The number information storage unit 182 stores the number of output images from the image recording unit 178. The number of output images is referred to by the image output determination unit 190 and is used to determine whether new image output is permitted. When the number information storage unit 182 receives notification from the image recording unit 178 that image data has been newly output, the number information storage unit 182 increases the number of output images. Also, the number information storage unit 182 refers to the number of output images stored in the number information storage unit 182 by the accepting device 18. The number information storage unit 182 is set with the number of output images by the accepting device 18. For example, when returning the digital camera 10 to the initial state, the number of output images is set to zero. The administrator can perform predetermined settings on the digital camera 10 by operating the accepting machine 18. This indicates that the administrator helps the user to provide the digital camera 10 in a more flexible sales form or contract form.
[0021]
The setting unit 186 stores the number of outputtable sheets that can be output from the image recording unit 178. Note that the number of images that can be output is equal to or less than the number of storable images determined from the capacity of the image recording unit 178 and within a range of 1 or more. Further, the number of printable sheets is set in advance by the accepting device 18. The administrator can set the number of sheets that can be output to the digital camera 10 by operating the receiving device 18. Therefore, the administrator can easily provide the digital camera 10 to the user in a more flexible sales form or contract form.
[0022]
Upon receiving notification from the printer 12, the image processing device 14, or the accepting device 18 that the image output determination unit 190 outputs image data, the image output determination unit 190 outputs the image data to the image recording unit 178 through the output unit 194. Send a notice to that effect. Further, the image output determination unit 190 receives and compares the number of output images stored in the number information storage unit 182 and the number of output images stored in the setting unit 186. If the image output determination unit 190 determines that the number of output images does not fall below the number of outputtable images, the image output determination unit 190 notifies the output unit 194 that output of image data is rejected. On the other hand, if the image output determination unit 190 determines that the number of output images is less than the number of outputtable images, the image output determination unit 190 notifies the output unit 194 that output of image data is permitted.
[0023]
The output unit 194 processes the image data output from the image recording unit 178 in accordance with the notification from the image output determination unit 190. That is, when the output unit 194 receives a notification from the image output determination unit 190 that the output of the image data is rejected, the output unit 194 does not output the image data received from the image recording unit 178. On the other hand, when the output unit 194 receives a notification from the image output determination unit 190 that the output of the image data is permitted, the output unit 194 receives the image data received from the image recording unit 178 as the printer 12, the image processing device 14, and the accepting device. 18 is output.
[0024]
The battery 198 drives the digital camera 10. The battery 198 transmits information indicating the state of the battery 198 to the accepting device 18. Here, the state of the battery 198 includes the remaining amount of the battery 198, aging deterioration of the battery 198, deterioration due to repeated use, and the like. Thereby, the administrator can know the state of the battery 198 by operating the receiving machine 18. This makes it easy for the administrator to determine whether to collect or replace the digital camera 10.
[0025]
Thus, the administrator can freely set the upper limit on the number of image data that can be output within the capacity limit of the image recording unit 178. For example, the number of image data can be limited according to the contract money by a contract such as lending. Furthermore, since the contract can be easily changed or canceled in the middle, the convenience of the user can be improved.
[0026]
FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of processing for outputting image data captured in this embodiment to the outside. The imaging unit 174 captures image data according to a user instruction and stores the image data in the image recording unit 178 (S100). The image recording unit 178 receives a request to output image data by the user (S110). At that time, the image output determination unit 190 compares the number of printable sheets stored in the setting unit 186 with the number of sheets specified by the sheet number specifying information stored in the number information storage unit 182 (S120). If the number of outputtable sheets is less than the specified number (S120: YES), the image recording unit 178 outputs the image data to the outside (S130). Subsequently, the sheet number information storage unit 182 updates the sheet number specifying information and increases the number of output sheets specified by the sheet number specifying information (S140). On the other hand, if the number of outputtable sheets does not fall below the specified number (120: NO), the image recording unit 178 does not output the image data to the outside (S150).
[0027]
FIG. 5 shows a first modification in which information for specifying the number of image data stored in the number information storage unit 182 in the present embodiment is modified. The number information storage unit 182 may store key information 210 as the number specification information. The number of elements of the key information 210 is the same as the number specified by the setting unit 186. Elements of the key information 210 are different from each other. The key information 210 is also an example of information on the number of outputtable sheets set in advance in the setting unit 186.
[0028]
This modification will be described with reference to FIG. As a preparatory operation, the number information storage unit 182 stores the key information 210 in advance. For example, the accepting machine 18 may transmit the key information 210 to the number information storage unit 182 by the administrator.
[0029]
The number information storage unit 182 stores key information 210 as the number specification information. The sheet number information storage unit 182 updates the sheet number specifying information in response to a notification from the image recording unit 178. The update of the number specifying information means that the number information storing unit 182 deletes the elements of the key information 210 by the number of the newly output image data. Here, the deletion operation is an example of changing to a form representing used according to the present invention. For example, the number information storage unit 182 includes a flag area corresponding to each element of the key information 210, and each time the image recording unit 178 outputs image data, a flag indicating used is set in the flag area. It is an example of changing to the form showing used according to the invention. The number information storage unit 182 records the total number of output sheets at the time of deletion. Thereby, the number information storage unit 182 identifies the number identification information.
[0030]
Each element of the key information 210 is made according to a predetermined agreement that only a specific person can know, and may be a mechanism that is difficult to forge by other persons. For example, a case where each element of the key information 210 is regarded as a hexadecimal number will be described. What deleted the least significant digit from each element of the key information 210 becomes a continuous number sequence from the upper side to the lower side of the key information 210. However, if the least significant digit of the key information 210 is determined by a predetermined arrangement, it is difficult for a person who does not know the predetermined arrangement to add a new element of the key information 210. As described above, the key information 210 is in the form of a key such as a number or a signal, so that the administrator can easily manage the use and restriction of the digital camera 10. This is effective when the number of image data is limited in accordance with the contract money by a contract such as a loan. If the key information 210 is in a form that is difficult to forge, it is difficult for an unauthorized user to perform an image data output operation beyond the limit. That is, it becomes easy for the contractor to properly execute a contract such as a loan.
[0031]
In FIG. 6, the functional block diagram of the 2nd modification of a present Example is shown. The digital camera 10 includes a main body 150 and an exchange unit 160, and the main body 150 and the exchange unit 160 are detachable. When the main body 150 and the exchange unit 160 are joined and used, the digital camera 10 has sufficient strength as an integrated housing. The optical unit 170 and the imaging unit 174 are provided in the main body 150. The image recording unit 178, the number information storage unit 182, the setting unit 186, the image output determination unit 190, the output unit 194, and the battery 198 are provided in the replacement unit 160.
[0032]
The exchange unit 160 collectively has a part for controlling the output processing of the image data. That is, the exchange unit 160 includes a number information storage unit 182 and a setting unit 186. Furthermore, the exchange unit 160 has a portion that requires maintenance and replacement. That is, the exchange unit 160 has a battery 198. In other words, the exchange unit 160 collectively has parts that are set and managed by the administrator. As a result, the user can remove the exchange unit 160 and deliver it to the administrator, or communicate with the outside. Therefore, convenience for both the user and the administrator can be improved.
[0033]
FIG. 7 shows an example of a data format stored in the sheet number information storage unit 182 of the third modification of the present embodiment. The number information storage unit 182 may store a set 250 of image data recorded in the image recording unit 178 as information for specifying the number of sheets. The set of recorded image data 250 is an example of information for specifying image data output from the image recording unit to the outside according to the present invention. The recorded image data set 250 includes an image storage area 252 and an output storage area 254. The image storage area 252 stores part of the image data captured by the imaging unit 174. The output storage area 254 stores data indicating output completion indicating whether or not corresponding image data has been output. The number of image data output by the image recording unit 178 is specified by summing the number of data indicating output completion stored in the output storage area 254. Other parts are the same as in this embodiment.
[0034]
This modification will be described with reference to FIG. Similar to the present embodiment, first, an image of a subject is transmitted to the image recording unit 178 as image data through the optical unit 170 and the imaging unit 174.
[0035]
The image recording unit 178 stores the image data received from the imaging unit 174. Further, the image recording unit 178 transmits a part of the image data received from the imaging unit 174 to the number information storage unit 182. The image recording unit 178 outputs the image data stored in the image recording unit 178 to the output unit 194 in response to a user request. At this time, the image recording unit 178 transmits information specifying the newly output image data to the number information storage unit 182.
[0036]
The number information storage unit 182 stores a part of the image data received from the image recording unit 178. In addition, when the number information storage unit 182 receives information specifying image data newly output from the image recording unit 178, the number information storage unit 182 records data indicating output completion in the corresponding output storage area 254. In addition, the number information storage unit 182 refers to the number of output images stored in the number information storage unit 182 or is set to an arbitrary value by the accepting device 18.
[0037]
The image output determination unit 190 refers to the output storage area 254 in the recorded image data set 250 stored in the number information storage unit 182, counts the total number of data indicating output, and stores it as the number of output images. To do. In addition, the image output determination unit 190 receives the outputtable number stored in the setting unit 186. The image output determination unit 190 compares the number of output images with the number of outputtable sheets. When the image output determination unit 190 determines that the number of output image sheets is not less than the number of outputtable sheets, the output unit 194 Notify that output of image data is to be rejected. On the other hand, if the image output determination unit 190 determines that the number of image outputs is less than the number of outputtable images, the image output determination unit 190 notifies the output unit 194 that output of image data is permitted.
[0038]
The output unit 194 controls output of image data to the printer 12, the image processing device 14, and the accepting device 18 based on the notification received from the image output determination unit 190.
[0039]
The recorded image data set 250 may be output to the accepting device 18 and displayed as an image on the monitor device. Thereby, the user and the administrator can easily discriminate images that have already been output, and the convenience in outputting image data from the digital camera 10 can be improved.
[0040]
FIG. 8 shows a configuration of a digital camera 10 that is an example of an imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. The digital camera 10 includes an imaging unit 20, an imaging control unit 40, a system control unit 60, a display unit 100, an operation unit 110, a storage unit 120, an external connection unit 130, and an image processing unit 140.
[0041]
The imaging unit 20 includes a photographic lens unit 22, a diaphragm 24, a shutter 26, an optical LPF 28, a CCD 30, an imaging signal processing unit 32, a finder 34, and a strobe 36.
[0042]
The taking lens unit 22 takes in a subject image and performs processing. The photographing lens unit 22 includes a focus lens, a zoom lens, and the like, and forms a subject image on the light receiving surface of the CCD 30. The stop 24 stops light that has passed through the photographing lens unit 22, and the optical LPF 28 passes wavelength components that are longer than a predetermined wavelength included in the light that has passed through the stop 24. Each sensor element of the CCD 30 accumulates charges according to the amount of light of the imaged subject image (hereinafter, the charges are referred to as “accumulated charges”).
[0043]
The shutter 26 is a mechanical shutter and controls whether or not the CCD 30 is exposed to the light that has passed through the photographing lens unit 22. The digital camera 10 may have an electronic shutter function instead of the shutter 26. In order to realize the electronic shutter function, the sensor element of the CCD 30 has a shutter gate and a shutter drain. By driving the shutter gate, the accumulated charge is swept out to the shutter drain. By controlling the shutter gate, the time for accumulating charges in each sensor element, that is, the shutter speed can be controlled. In the CCD 30, the accumulated charge is read to the shift register by a read gate pulse, and sequentially read as a voltage signal by a register transfer pulse.
[0044]
The imaging signal processing unit 32 color-separates a voltage signal indicating an object image output from the CCD 30, that is, an analog signal, into R, G, and B components. Then, the imaging signal processing unit 32 adjusts the white balance of the subject image by adjusting the R, G, and B components. The imaging signal processing unit 32 performs gamma correction on the subject image. The imaging signal processing unit 32 performs A / D conversion on the analog signal decomposed into R, G, and B components, and digital image data (hereinafter referred to as “digital image data”) of the subject image obtained as a result. Output to the system control unit 60.
[0045]
The finder 34 may have a display means, and may display various types of information from the main CPU 62 described later in the finder 34. The strobe 36 has a discharge tube 37 that discharges the energy stored in the capacitor, and functions when the discharge tube 37 emits light when energy is supplied to the discharge tube 37.
[0046]
The imaging control unit 40 includes a zoom driving unit 42, a focus driving unit 44, an aperture driving unit 46, a shutter driving unit 48, an imaging system CPU 50 that controls them, a distance measuring sensor 52, and a photometric sensor 54. The zoom driving unit 42, the focus driving unit 44, the aperture driving unit 46, and the shutter driving unit 48 each have a driving unit such as a stepping motor, and drive a mechanism member included in the imaging unit 20. In response to pressing of a release switch 114 described later, the distance measuring sensor 52 measures the distance to the subject, and the photometric sensor 54 measures the subject brightness. The distance measuring sensor 52 and the photometric sensor 54 respectively measure the measured distance to the subject (hereinafter simply referred to as “distance data”) and the subject luminance data (hereinafter simply referred to as “photometric data”). It supplies to CPU50.
[0047]
The imaging system CPU 50 adjusts the zoom magnification and focus of the photographing lens unit 22 by controlling the zoom driving unit 42 and the focus driving unit 44 based on photographing information such as a zoom magnification designated by the user. Further, the imaging system CPU 50 may adjust the zoom magnification and focus by controlling the zoom drive unit 42 and the focus drive unit 44 based on the distance measurement data received from the distance measurement sensor 52.
[0048]
The imaging system CPU 50 determines the aperture value and the shutter speed based on the photometric data received from the photometric sensor 54. In accordance with the determined values, the aperture driving unit 46 and the shutter driving unit 48 respectively control the aperture amount of the aperture 24 and the opening / closing of the shutter 26.
[0049]
Further, the imaging system CPU 50 controls the light emission of the strobe 36 based on the photometric data received from the photometric sensor 54 and adjusts the aperture amount of the aperture 24 at the same time. When the user instructs to capture an image, the CCD 30 starts charge accumulation, and outputs the accumulated charge to the imaging signal processing unit 32 after a lapse of the shutter time calculated from the photometric data.
[0050]
The system control unit 60 includes a main CPU 62, a character generation unit 84, a timer 86, and a clock generator 88. The main CPU 62 controls the entire digital camera 10, particularly the system control unit 60. The main CPU 62 exchanges necessary information with the imaging CPU 50 by serial communication or the like.
[0051]
The clock generator 88 generates an operation clock for the main CPU 62 and supplies it to the main CPU 62. The clock generator 88 generates an operation clock for the imaging system CPU 50 and the display unit 100. The clock generator 88 may supply operation clocks having different frequencies to the main CPU 62, the imaging system CPU 50, and the display unit 100.
[0052]
The character generation unit 84 generates character information and graphic information to be combined with a captured image such as a shooting date and time and a title. The timer 86 is backed up by a battery or the like, for example, always counts time, and supplies time information such as information related to the shooting date and time of the shot image to the main CPU 62 based on the count value. It is desirable that the timer 86 counts the time even when the power source of the digital camera body is off by the power supplied from the storage battery. The character generation unit 84 and the timer 86 are preferably provided in the main CPU 62.
[0053]
The storage unit 120 includes a memory control unit 64, a nonvolatile memory 66, and a main memory 68. The memory control unit 64 controls the nonvolatile memory 66 and the main memory 68. The non-volatile memory 66 is composed of an EEPROM (electrically erasable and programmable ROM), a FLASH memory, or the like, and should be retained even when the power of the digital camera 10 is off, such as setting information and adjustment values at the time of shipment. Store the data. The nonvolatile memory 66 may store a boot program, a system program, and the like for the main CPU 62.
[0054]
The main memory 68 is preferably composed of a relatively inexpensive memory having a large capacity, such as a DRAM. The main memory 68 has a function as a frame memory for storing data output from the imaging unit 20, a function as a system memory for loading various programs, and other functions as a work area. The nonvolatile memory 66 and the main memory 68 exchange data with each unit inside and outside the system control unit 60 via the bus 82. The nonvolatile memory 66 may further store digital image data.
[0055]
The image processing unit 140 includes a YC processing unit 70, an encoder 72, and a compression / decompression processing unit 78. The external connection unit 130 includes an optional device control unit 74 and a communication I / F unit 80.
[0056]
The YC processing unit 70 performs YC conversion on the digital image data, and generates a luminance signal Y and color difference (chroma) signals BY and RY. The main memory 68 stores the luminance signal and the color difference signal based on the control of the memory control unit 64.
[0057]
The compression / decompression processing unit 78 sequentially reads out the luminance signal and the color difference signal from the main memory 68 and compresses them. Then, the option device control unit 74 writes the compressed digital image data (hereinafter simply referred to as “compressed data”) to a memory card that is an example of the option device 76.
[0058]
The encoder 72 converts the luminance signal and the color difference signal into a video signal (NTSC or PAL signal) and outputs it from the terminal 90. When a video signal is generated from the compressed data recorded in the option device 76, the compressed data is first supplied to the compression / decompression processing unit 78 via the option device control unit 74. Subsequently, the data that has undergone the necessary decompression processing in the compression / decompression processing unit 78 is converted into a video signal by the encoder 72.
[0059]
The optional device control unit 74 performs necessary signal generation, logical conversion, and / or voltage conversion between the bus 82 and the optional device 76 in accordance with the signal specifications allowed by the optional device 76 and the bus specifications of the bus 82. . The digital camera 10 may support, for example, a standard I / O card conforming to PCMCIA as the optional device 76 in addition to the memory card described above. In this case, the option device control unit 74 may be configured by a PCMCIA bus control LSI or the like.
[0060]
The communication I / F unit 80 performs control such as protocol conversion according to communication specifications supported by the digital camera 10, such as USB, RS-232C, Ethernet, and the like. The communication I / F unit 80 may output the compressed data or digital image data to an external device including a network via the terminal 92. The communication I / F unit 80 includes a driver IC as necessary, and communicates with an external device via a terminal 92. The communication I / F unit 80 may be configured to exchange data with an external interface such as a printer, a karaoke machine, or a game machine.
[0061]
The display unit 100 includes an LCD monitor 102, an LCD panel 104, a monitor driver 106, and a panel driver 108. The monitor driver 106 controls the LCD monitor 102. The panel driver 108 controls the LCD panel 104. The LCD monitor 102 is provided on the rear side of the camera with a size of about 2 inches, for example, and the current shooting / playback mode, zoom magnification for shooting / playback, battery level, date / time, mode setting screen, subject image, etc. Is displayed. The LCD panel 104 is a small black-and-white LCD provided on the upper surface of the camera, for example, and displays information such as image quality (FINE / NORMAL / BASIC, etc.), strobe emission / prohibition, standard number of shoots, number of pixels, battery capacity / remaining capacity, etc. .
[0062]
The operation unit 110 includes a power switch 112, a release switch 114, a function setting unit 116, and a zoom switch 118. The power switch 112 turns on / off the power of the digital camera 10 based on a user instruction. The release switch 114 has a two-stage pushing structure of half-pressing and full-pressing. As an example, when the release switch 114 is half-pressed, the imaging control unit 40 performs automatic focus adjustment and automatic exposure adjustment, and when fully pressed, the imaging unit 20 captures a subject image.
[0063]
The function setting unit 116 is, for example, a rotary mode dial or a cross key, and accepts settings such as “file format”, “special effect”, “print”, “decision / save”, “display switching”, and the like. The zoom switch 118 receives the setting of the zoom magnification of the subject image acquired by the imaging unit 20.
[0064]
The main operation of the above configuration is as follows. First, the power switch 112 is pressed to supply power to each part of the digital camera 10. The main CPU 62 reads the state of the function setting unit 116 to determine whether the digital camera 10 is in the shooting mode or the playback mode.
[0065]
When the digital camera 10 is in the shooting mode, the main CPU 62 monitors the half-pressed state of the release switch 114. When the half-pressed state of the release switch 114 is detected, the imaging system CPU 50 obtains photometry data and distance measurement data from the photometry sensor 54 and the distance measurement sensor 52, respectively. The imaging control unit 40 adjusts the focus, aperture, and the like of the imaging unit 20 based on the photometry data and the distance measurement data obtained by the imaging system CPU 50. When the adjustment is completed, the LCD monitor displays characters such as “standby” to inform the user accordingly.
[0066]
Subsequently, the main CPU 62 monitors the fully pressed state of the release switch 114. When the fully depressed state of the release switch 114 is detected, the shutter 26 is closed after a predetermined shutter time, and the accumulated charge of the CCD 30 is swept out to the imaging signal processing unit 32. Digital image data generated as a result of processing by the imaging signal processing unit 32 is output to the bus 82. The digital image data is temporarily stored in the main memory 68, then processed by the YC processing unit 70 and the compression / decompression processing unit 78, and recorded in the option device 76 via the option device control unit 74. The captured image based on the recorded digital image data is displayed on the LCD monitor 102 for a while in a frozen state, and the user can confirm the captured image. This completes a series of shooting operations.
[0067]
On the other hand, when the digital camera 10 is in the playback mode, the main CPU 62 reads a photographed image taken from the main memory 68, the non-volatile memory 66, and / or the optional device 76 and displays it on the LCD monitor 102 of the display unit 100. .
[0068]
In this state, when the user instructs “forward” and “reverse” in the function setting unit 116, the main CPU 62 displays other captured images stored in the main memory 68, the nonvolatile memory 66, and / or the option device 76. This is read and displayed on the LCD monitor 102 of the display unit 100.
[0069]
Note that the digital camera 10 in this embodiment may not include the imaging control unit 40 and the display unit 100. Further, the main body 150 in the second modification corresponds to the imaging unit 20, the imaging control unit 40, the operation unit 110, the system control unit 60, the display unit 100, and the image processing unit 140. . The exchange unit 160 corresponds to the storage unit 120 and the external connection unit 130.
[0070]
FIG. 9 shows a system configuration diagram of the digital camera 10 and the accepting device 18. The hardware configuration of the accepting machine 18 will be described using this figure. The accepting machine 18 includes a communication I / F unit 220, a memory 224, a control CPU 228, an operation display device 232, an image printer 236, and a network I / F unit 240.
[0071]
The operation of the receiving machine 18 will be described. The accepting device 18 stores the image data received via the communication I / F unit 220 in the memory 224. The memory 224 outputs the image data received from the communication I / F unit 220 to the network I / F unit 240, the image printer 236, and the operation display device 232. The network I / F unit 240 transfers the received image data to another computer through the computer network. The image printer 236 prints the received image data on the paper. The operation display device 232 displays the received image data to the operator of the receiving machine 18.
[0072]
The accepting machine 18 receives the state of the battery 198 via the communication I / F unit 220. As a result, the administrator can easily manage the battery 198 through the accepting machine 18. The accepting machine 18 can initialize the setting unit 186 and the number information storage unit 182 via the communication I / F unit 220. As a result, the administrator can easily manage the restriction on the number of output images through the accepting device 18. The control CPU 228 plays a role of electrically controlling a series of operations of the accepting device 18 and mediating competing operations in the accepting device 18.
[0073]
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. Various modifications or improvements can be added to the above embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.
[0074]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, control related to the number of output images, information necessary for replacement and maintenance can be easily performed from the outside, and the convenience of sales, lending and maintenance of the imaging device can be improved. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a system including a digital camera 10. FIG.
FIG. 2 is an external view of the digital camera 10 of the present example.
3 is a functional block diagram of the digital camera 10. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing for outputting image data captured in the present embodiment to the outside.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first modified example in which information specifying the number of image data stored in the number information storage unit 182 in the present embodiment is modified.
FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a second modification of the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a data format diagram stored in a sheet number information storage unit 182 according to a third modification of the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a hardware configuration diagram of a digital camera 10 that is an example of an imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a system configuration diagram of the digital camera 10 and the accepting device 18;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 12 Printer 14 Image processing apparatus 18 Reception machine 20 Imaging part 22 Shooting lens part 24 Aperture 26 Shutter 28 Optical LPF
30 CCD
32 Imaging signal processing unit 34 Finder 36 Strobe 37 Discharge tube 40 Imaging control unit 42 Lens drive unit 44 Focus drive unit 46 Aperture drive unit 48 Shutter drive unit 50 Imaging system CPU
52 Distance Sensor 54 Photometric Sensor 60 System Control Unit 62 Main CPU
64 Memory control unit 66 Non-volatile memory 68 Main memory 70 YC processing unit 72 Encoder 74 Optional device control unit 76 Optional device 78 Compression / decompression processing unit 80 Communication I / F unit 82 Bus 84 Character generation unit 86 Timer 88 Clock generator 90 Terminal 92 Terminal 100 Display unit 102 LCD monitor 104 LCD panel 106 Monitor driver 108 Panel driver 110 Operation unit 112 Power switch 114 Release switch 116 Function setting unit 118 Zoom switch 120 Storage unit 130 External connection unit 140 Image processing unit 150 Main unit 160 Replacement unit 170 Optical unit 174 Imaging unit 178 Image recording unit 182 Number information storage unit 186 Setting unit 190 Image output determination unit 194 Output unit 198 Battery 200 External connector 210 Key information 220 Communication I / F unit 224 Memory 228 Control CPU
232 Operation display device 236 Image printer 240 Network I / F unit 250 Collection of recorded image data 252 Image storage area 254 Output storage area

Claims (8)

An imaging device comprising a body part and an exchange unit that are detachable from each other,
The main body is
An optical unit for acquiring images;
An imaging unit for imaging an image acquired by the optical unit as image data by optical / electrical conversion;
Have
The exchange unit is
An image recording unit for storing image data captured by the imaging unit;
A sheet number information storing unit for storing sheet number specifying information for specifying the number of images output from the image recording unit to the outside;
A battery for driving the imaging device;
Imaging device having a. A setting unit for storing a preset outputtable number within a range of one or more storable images determined from the capacity of the image recording unit;
Number specified by the number of sheets specified information to the number information storing unit stores is when the setting unit does not turn down before SL output number of sheets that stores from the image recording section to the external rejects output of the image data, the number of the number information storing unit is specified by the number specifying information to be stored is, when falls below pre SL output number of sheets which the setting unit is stored, the image recording unit the imaging apparatus according to 請 Motomeko 1 having a further and to that images the output determination unit permits the output of the image data to the outside from.   The setting unit is provided in the exchange unit.
The imaging device according to claim 2.   The image output determination unit is provided in the replacement unit.
The imaging device according to claim 2. A setting unit for storing a preset number of images that can be output within a range of one or more storable images determined from the capacity of the image recording unit;
The number information storage unit stores the output number of sheets and the same number of key information, each time the image recording unit outputs the image data to the outside, to change into a form representing the spent said key information
The imaging apparatus according to 請 Motomeko 1. The number information storage section, as the number specifying information, that stores information for specifying the image data outputted to the outside from the image recording unit
The imaging apparatus according to 請 Motomeko 1. An exchange unit detachable from a main body having an optical unit for acquiring an image and an imaging unit for capturing an image acquired by the optical unit as image data by optical / electrical conversion,
An image recording unit for storing an image captured by the imaging unit as image data;
And number information storage section for storing the number specifying information for specifying the number of images output to the outside from the image recording unit,
A battery for driving the main body and the replacement unit ;
Exchange unit with. A setting unit for storing a preset outputtable number within a range of one or more storable images determined from the capacity of the image recording unit;
When the number specified by the number specifying information stored in the number information storage unit does not fall below the outputtable number stored in the setting unit, output of the image data from the image recording unit to the outside If the number specified by the number specifying information stored in the number information storage unit is less than the outputtable number stored in the setting unit, the image from the image recording unit to the outside An image output determination unit that permits data output; and
Exchange unit according to claim 7 that further having a.

Images