Television – Camera – system and detail – Combined image signal generator and general image signal...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-08
2001-12-11
Ho, Tuan (Department: 2612)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Combined image signal generator and general image signal...
C348S220100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330028
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic image pickup devices for recording picked-up still image data on a recording medium, and more particularly to an electronic image pickup device for managing the image data recorded on the recording medium. The present invention also relates to information recording devices, data managing methods and recording mediums for electronic cameras.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an electronic image pickup device (so-called electronic still camera) which converts an optical still image picked up by a lens to an electric signal through a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and stores the electric signal as image data in a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory or a floppy disc is known. Since this electronic still camera stores a still image as electrical information, it is capable of converting the stored image data to a video signal and reproducing it in a television set, transferring the image data through communication lines to a remote place, and/or transferring image data to a personal computer. That is, the stored image data can be processed in various manners.
The conventional electronic still camera stores image data, header information indicative of the order of storage of the images, memory addresses in a recording medium (for example, a semiconductor memory) where the image data are stored, and memory management information indicative of allocation of the header information, image data and the memory management information, in the memory. Thus, if the header information/memory management information are broken for some reason during the operation of the still camera, it cannot be known where the image data is stored in the recording medium, and the image data cannot be read out although the image data is stored securely. In addition, the number of images recorded actually will not coincide with that managed by the header information, the recorded image data cannot be read out, and new image data cannot be recorded. That is, the camera does not operate at all.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electronic image pickup device which, even when the management information related to recording/reproducing image data is broken and the image pickup device does not operate, is capable of reoperating the system of the device by reconstructing the management information automatically.
In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides an electronic image pickup device comprising:
image pickup means for picking up an image and outputting corresponding image data;
storage means for storing the image data output by the image pickup means and management information about recording/reproduction of the image data;
abnormality detecting means for detecting the occurrence of the abnormality in the management information; and
information reconstructing means responsive to the detection of the abnormality by the abnormality detecting means for reconstructing the management information.
In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides an information recording device comprising:
user data storage means for storing user data produced on the basis of information gotten externally;
management data storage means for storing management data which manages said user data storage means;
detecting means for detecting a possible abnormality in the management data stored in said management data storage means; and
inhibiting means responsive to the detection of the abnormality by said detecting means for inhibiting the use of the management data stored in said management data storage means.
In this arrangement, when there occurs an abnormality in the management data stored in the management data storage means, the detecting means detects the abnormality. In response to this operation, the inhibiting means inhibits the use of the management data stored in the management data storage means.
In order to achieve the object, the-present invention provides a data managing method in an information recording device which stores user data produced on the basis of information gotten externally, comprising the steps of:
storing management data for managing storage means which stores the user data when the user data is stored;
detecting a possible abnormality in the stored management data, as requested; and
inhibiting the use of the stored management data when an abnormality is detected in the stored management data.
According to this method, the use of the management data in which an abnormality has occurred is inhibited automatically, and the operation of the electronic camera due to the management data in which the abnormality has occurred is stopped or avoided.
The present invention also provides a data storage medium which contains a program for controlling the storage of data by a computer,
the data storage medium storing, when user data produced on the basis of information gotten externally is stored, management data which manages storage means which stores the user data; detecting a possible abnormality in the stored management data, as requested; and inhibiting the use of the stored management data when the abnormality is detected.
The use of the program stored in the storage medium automatically inhibits the use of the management data in which the abnormality has occurred, and inhibits and/or avoids the operation of the electronic camera due to the management data in which the abnormality has occurred, in a device which includes a computer.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5515101 (1996-05-01), Yoshida
patent: 5754227 (1998-05-01), Fukuoka
patent: 5796428 (1998-08-01), Matsumoto et al.
patent: 5806072 (1998-09-01), Kuba et al.
patent: 5867214 (1999-02-01), Anderson et al.
Oie Masahiro
Yamamoto Kazuto
Casio Computer Co. Ltd.
Frishauf, Holtz Goodman, Langer & Chick, P.C.
Ho Tuan
LandOfFree
Electronic image pickup device which is operable even when... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electronic image pickup device which is operable even when..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electronic image pickup device which is operable even when... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2565056