Television – Camera – system and detail – Combined image signal generator and general image signal...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-21
2001-03-27
Garber, Wendy (Department: 2612)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Combined image signal generator and general image signal...
C348S375000, C348S376000, C358S906000, C396S321000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208380
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a digital camera, and more particularly to a digital camera which is provided with a built-in memory for storing image data of plural images.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are two types of conventional digital cameras: in one type, image data representing object images, which are captured via a taking lens and an image pickup device, are stored in a built-in memory. In the other type, image data are stored in an external memory such as a memory card which is inserted and pulled out from the camera body.
In the above-stated conventional digital cameras, the built-in memory and the external memory must have a large capacity in order to increase the number of capturing images. If the built-in memory has a large capacity, the built-in memory is large-sized and high-priced. Thus, the camera is large-sized and high-priced. For this reason, there is a problem in that the digital camera which uses the built-in memory cannot increase the number of capturing images. In order to transfer the image data from the built-in memory to a personal computer, etc., the digital camera must be connected to the personal computer via an interface cable in a complicated manner.
On the other hand, in the case of the digital camera which uses a memory card in accordance with the standards of the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (a PCMCIA card) for example, which is ordinarily used in a laptop computer, etc., the camera body must be provided with a card slot, which houses the memory card. Thus, the camera cannot be very small.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed in view of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object the provision of a digital camera which not only uses an external memory such as a memory card, which can also be small-sized without being restricted by the size of the external memory and which can further easily increase the number of capturing images.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a digital camera of the present invention, which captures object images via a taking lens and an image pickup device, comprises: a camera body; a built-in memory for storing image data representing captured object images, which built-in memory is provided in the camera body; a detachable memory card for storing the image data, which memory card has a larger capacity than the built-in memory; a card slot for receiving the memory card, which card slot is provided on the camera body; a connector for connecting with the memory card, which connector is arranged at an internal end of the card slot; a memory control means for transferring the image data from the built-in memory to the memory card; and in the digital camera of the present invention, when the memory card is inserted into the card slot and connects to the connector, the memory card is partially exposed.
That is, according to the present invention, there is no need to use the memory card during the photographing. Thus, the camera can be small-sized without being restricted by standards of the memory card. If the built-in memory is filled with the image data, the memory card is connected to the connector so that the image data stored in the built-in memory can be transferred to the memory card. Thus, the capacity of the built-in memory does not restrict the number of capturing images.
Moreover, the digital camera of the present invention further comprises: a detecting means for detecting that the connector connects with an external memory such as a memory card; a memory control means for transferring the image data from the built-in memory to the external memory; and in the digital camera of the present invention, when the detecting means detects that the connector connects with the external memory, the memory control means transfers the image data stored in the built-in memory to the external memory and initializes the built-in memory to allow new capturing. That is, if the built-in memory is filled with the image data, the image data can automatically be transferred from the built-in memory to the external memory only by connecting the external memory in the connector. Then, the built-in memory is automatically initialized, and thus new image data can be stored in the built-in memory. Since the transfer of the image data and the initialization of the built-in memory are automatically performed, the complicated operations are not required for the transfer of the image data and the initialization of the built-in memory. Moreover, the important image data can be prevented from being lost by the incorrect operation.
These and other objects of the present application will become more readily apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
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Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Garber Wendy
Vu Ngoc-Yen
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