Data generating device and a portable apparatus provided with a data generating device

A portable apparatus or camera is provided with: a basic date data generator for generating basic date data based on a standard time of a first place; a display device for displaying date data; a first memory for storing data on a second place and data on travel schedule for the second place; a second memory for storing data on time difference between the standard time of the first place and a standard time of the second place; a field date data generator for changing generated basic date data into field date data of the second place based on the time difference data stored in the second memory; a judging device for judging, based on the travel schedule data, whether generated basic date data corresponds to a traveling period of the second place; and a controller for controlling the display device to display the field date data of the second place when the generated basic date data is judged to correspond to a traveling period of the second place.

This application is based on patent application No. 9-271492 filed in
 Japan, the contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
 THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 This invention relates to a date generator capable of generating time data
 or other, and a portable apparatus provided with such a data generating
 device.
 In portable apparatus such as cameras, conventionally, a date display
 device is generally provided on the rear surface of a camera main body to
 imprint date data in a part of a photographed frame when photographing is
 performed. The date display device provided in the camera also enables an
 adjustment of time, a change of a display mode (a display mode of
 month/day/year) and a selection of date display (i.e., whether or not a
 date is to be imprinted in a photographed picture).
 In some known cameras, a world map is displayed on the rear surface of a
 camera main body and, when a preset country is designated, a date
 displayed is changed to the one based on the standard time of the
 designated country. Portable information input apparatus such as
 electronic organizer or PDA have been commercially available to allow an
 easy input of a travel schedule and the like.
 The content of the date display is manually changed in the date display
 device provided in the conventional camera and portable information input
 apparatus. Accordingly, if a user brings them to a country or an area
 which has a time difference from a country or area where he lives such as
 when he travels abroad, a cumbersome operation is required to manually
 change a date to be displayed to a date in that country or area. In the
 portable information input apparatus, a period during which the user stays
 in the foreign country or other area is known by inputting a travel
 schedule. Thus, in the case that the user travels to the foreign country
 as scheduled, it is convenient if the date display is automatically
 changed to the date in that country or area during his stay. However,
 since the content of the schedule and the date are not linked to each
 other, the date to be displayed cannot automatically be switched to the
 one in that country or area during the period of the travel.
 In the case of cameras, the date displayed in the date display device is
 imprinted in the photographed picture. Accordingly, unless a user changes
 the date display of the date display device during the travel to a foreign
 country, the automatic date imprinting causes a problem. Thus, in cameras,
 if the displayed date of the date display device is automatically changed
 to a local date when the user travels to a foreign country or the like, it
 can advantageously avoid a cumbersomeness to manually change the date and
 prevent an error date imprinting. Therefore, a function of automatically
 changing the date display becomes more effective.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 It is an object of the invention to provide a data generating device and a
 portable apparatus which have overcome the above problems residing in the
 prior art.
 According to an aspect of the invention, a data generating device
 comprises: a basic date data generator which generates basic date data of
 a basic place; a memory which stores data concerning places, and data
 concerning schedule of travel between places; and a field date data
 generator which judges, based on the place data and the schedule data
 stored in the memory, where a field place is, and generates date data of a
 judged field place based on the basic date data and the judged field
 place.
 According to another aspect of the invention, a data generating device
 comprises: a first date data generator which generates first date data; a
 memory which stores a relationship between the first date data and date
 data of a field place; and a second date data generator which judges,
 based on the first date data, where a field place is, and generates second
 date data based on the first date data and the relationship.
 According to still another aspect of the invention, a portable apparatus
 comprises: a basic date data generator which generates basic date data of
 a basic place; an input section through which place data concerning places
 and travel schedule data are input; a memory which stores input place data
 and schedule data in connection with the input place data; and a field
 date data generator which judges, based on the place data and the schedule
 data stored in the memory, where a field place is, and generates date data
 of a judged field place based on the basic date data and the judged field
 place.
 According to yet another aspect of the invention, a portable apparatus
 comprises: a first date data generator which generates first date data; an
 input section through which date data of places are input; a memory which
 stores a relationship between the first date data and date data of places;
 and a second date data generator which judges, based on the first date
 data, where a field place is, and generates second date data based on the
 first date data and the relationship.
 According to further another aspect of the invention, a camera comprises:
 means for generating basic date data based on a standard time of a first
 place; means for displaying date data; first means for storing data on a
 second place and data on travel schedule for the second place; second
 means for storing data on time difference between the standard time of the
 first place and a standard time of the second place; means for changing
 generated basic date data into field date data of the second place based
 on the time difference data stored in the second storing means; means for
 judging, based on the travel schedule data, whether generated basic date
 data corresponds to a traveling period of the second place; and means for
 controlling the displaying means to display the field date data of the
 second place when the generated basic date data is judged to correspond to
 a traveling period of the second place.
 These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention
 will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed
 description and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
 FIGS. 1 to 3 shows a camera adopting the Advanced Photo System
 (hereinafter, referred to as "APS").
 The camera 1 is provided with a taking lens 3 substantially in the middle
 of the front surface of a camera main body 2. A distance meter 4, a light
 meter 5 and a viewfinder optical system 6 are provided above the taking
 lens 3. A built-in flash 7 and a shutter release button 8 are provided in
 upper right and left ends of the front surface of the camera main body 2,
 respectively. A cartridge chamber 9 for mounting a film cartridge
 containing a film is provided below the built-in flash 7 inside the camera
 main body 2. The film cartridge is mountable into the cartridge chamber 9
 from the bottom side of the camera main body 2.
 A film of the APS is completely contained in a film cartridge KT as shown
 in FIG. 4. When the film cartridge KT is mounted in the film chamber 9, a
 film F is dispensed from the film cartridge KT by a film loading mechanism
 of the camera 1 to set an exposure area Fa of the leading frame in a
 predetermined exposure position (where the exposure area Fa faces an
 exposure frame provided behind an optical axis of the taking lens 3).
 At an upper edge of the film F in FIG. 4 are formed a pair of perforations
 Fb, Fb' at the opposite ends of the exposure area Fa of each frame. A film
 feed control including the loading, winding and rewinding of the film F is
 performed in accordance with a detection signal of an optical sensor such
 as a photoreflector for detecting the perforations Fb, Fb'. At a lower
 edge of the film F in FIG. 4 are provided magnetic recording portions Fc
 along the exposure areas Fa of the respective frames. Pieces of
 information concerning an image recorded in the exposure area Fa of each
 frame such as a date of photographing, information as to whether the
 photographed image is vertically or horizontally framed, exposure control
 values and a magnification (2-bit data) are magnetically recordable in the
 magnetic recording portions Fc.
 Referring back to FIG. 1, an IC card chamber 10 in which the IC card 11 is
 mountable is provided at the bottom end of the camera main body opposite
 from the cartridge chamber 9. As shown in FIG. 3, the IC card 11 is
 mounted and ejected through a card slot 10a formed in a bottom portion of
 the right side surface of the camera main body 2.
 The IC card 11 is a special card for storing pieces of information
 concerning the photographing, schedules, customer management, events, etc.
 The IC card 11 is a rectangular thin plate and is packaged with a ROM
 (read only memory) for storing data representing a preset format used to
 input the data and an EEPROM 112 in which the data inputted in accordance
 with the input format is reloadably written. A plurality of electrode
 terminals 113 (see FIG. 5) are provided at one end of the IC card 11, and
 the IC card 11 is externally connected via the electrode terminals 113
 with a controller 22 (see FIG. 12) provided in the camera main body 2 for
 centrally controlling the photographing operation of the camera 1.
 There are different types of IC cards 11 specially tailored for specified
 applications including a photographing information card, a schedule card
 or a business card (for customer management). In the ROM 111 of each card
 11 is stored an input format data in conformity with the application of
 this card 11. The input format is described later. It should be
 appreciated that a plurality of input format data may be stored in one
 card and that a data input may be enabled in accordance with an input
 format corresponding to a selected desired application.
 In the rear surface of the camera main body 2, a viewfinder window 12 and a
 power switch 15 are provided in an upper left end and in an upper middle
 portion as shown in FIG. 2. A display device 13 is provided between the
 viewfinder window 12 and the power switch 15. The display device 13 is a
 liquid crystal display of dot-matrix type as shown in FIG. 6. The emission
 control of the respective dots (pixels) of the display device 13
 (hereinafter, "LCD device 13") is performed in accordance with a vertical
 drive signal and a horizontal drive signal outputted from a display drive
 circuit 15. For example, the dots where both drive signals are at high
 level are turned on, and dots where at least either one of the drive
 signals are at low level are turned off.
 Although the display device 13 is the LCD device of dot-matrix type in this
 embodiment, it may be constructed by combining the LCD device of this type
 and a conventional LCD device for the symbol display. Such an arrangement
 enables a reduction in the number of dots of the LCD device of dot-matrix
 type and, consequently, the construction of the display device 13 and the
 drive control can be simplified.
 On the right side of the LCD device 13 is provided a key operation unit 14,
 which includes a direction designating key 141 for designating an input
 position of data displayed in the LCD device 13 and a key switch group 142
 which is operated to alphanumerically input data, change modes and give an
 instruction to store/clear the input data.
 The direction designating key 141 includes a round operation button
 inclinable in upward, downward, leftward and rightward directions. When
 the key 141 is rotated in one of the arrow directions, the designation of
 this direction is inputted. In selecting items, a desired item is selected
 from a selection menu by pushing the key 141 standing upright without
 being inclined.
 The key switch group 142 is comprised of 4.times.4 (a total of 16) key
 switches. 12 key switches (hereinafter, alphanumeric keys) excluding those
 in a left end column are used to alphanumerically input characters and
 numbers, including symbols * and #. The respective keys except * have
 multiple functions. For example, an alphanumeric key "1ab" can be used to
 input a number "1" and character "a" or "b" and its associated characters.
 The four key switches in the left end column (hereinafter, function keys)
 are used to store/clear the data inputted by the alphanumeric keys, set
 the modes, and change the alphanumeric data. The function key "MR" is
 operated to give an instruction to store the input data displayed in the
 LCD device 13 in the IC card 11. The function key "C/N" is operated to
 switch a character input and a numerical input by the alphanumeric keys.
 The function key "CR" is operated to give an instruction to clear the
 input data displayed in the LCD device 13. The function key "MO" is
 operated to set a desired mode concerning the display.
 In this embodiment, at least "magnetic data input mode", "data input mode",
 "input data confirmation mode" and "date display mode " are available as
 modes concerning the display. The "magnetic data input mode" is a mode for
 inputting data to be recorded in the magnetic recording area Fb of the
 film F. The "data input mode" is a mode for storing the data input in
 accordance with a specified input format stored in the IC card 11. The
 "input data confirmation mode" is a mode for confirming and, if necessary,
 correcting the content of the input data stored in the IC card 11. The
 "date display mode" is a mode for displaying a basic time and is initially
 set when the camera 1 is activated. In other words, the "date display
 mode" is a display mode in a usual state.
 Codes comprised of two numbers are allotted to the respective modes. For
 example, the codes "00", "01", "02" and "02" are respectively allotted to
 the "date display mode", "data input mode", "input data confirmation mode"
 and "magnetic data input mode". By inputting specified two numbers after
 the mode key is operated, a mode corresponding to this code is set.
 For example, if the key switches are operated in the order of "MO", "0st",
 "1ab", the data input mode is set to enable specified information
 conforming to the application of the IC card 11 to be newly inputted in
 accordance with the specified input format stored in the IC card 11. If
 the key switches are operated in the order of "MO", "0st", "2cd", the
 input data confirmation mode is set and the input data stored in the IC
 card 11 is displayed in the LCD device 13 to enable a conformation and
 correction of the content of the input data. Further, if the key switches
 are operated in the order of "MO", "0st", "3ef", the magnetic data input
 mode is set to enable a data input by the key operation unit 14 to be
 recorded in the magnetic recording area Fb of the film F.
 As described above, when the camera 1 is activated, the "date display mode"
 is initially set and a date is displayed as shown in FIG. 7.
 In the data input mode, the input format data is read from the ROM 111 of
 the IC card 11 and displayed in the LCD device 13. This input format is
 comprised of the selection of an input item and an input of data
 corresponding to the selected item. The selection of the input item is
 made by selecting the selection item displayed in the LCD device 13 by the
 direction designating key 141, and the input of data corresponding to the
 selected item is performed by inputting characters, numbers and the like
 one by one by operating the alphanumeric keys of the key switch group 142
 in an input position of this item.
 For example, if the data input mode is set in the case that the IC card 11
 for the travel schedule is mounted in the camera 1, display screens shown
 in FIGS. 8 to 10 are displayed in the LCD device 13. The display screen of
 FIG. 8 is a selection screen. In this screen, four items: "DESTINATION",
 "TRANSPORTATION MEANS", "DATE" and "MEMO" are selectable. An item possible
 to be selected is made distinguishable from the others by reverse-display
 or the like. The item in reverse-display is changed by operating the
 direction designating key 141 upward and downward. A desired item is
 selected by pushing the key 141 in the middle while being in
 reverse-display.
 FIG. 9 shows an exemplary input screen in the case that the item "DATE" is
 selected in the display screen shown in FIG. 8. In this screen, a date of
 travel can be inputted in month/day/year. Positions where data are to be
 inputted are indicated by reverse-display. In FIG. 9, a data "8.14, 1997"
 is already inputted.
 When the date data is inputted in the order of "M", "D", and "Y" the
 display content of the LCD device 13 is switched to an input screen shown
 in FIG. 10, and an input of a means of transportation used on that day is
 made possible. Similar to the inputting method of the date data, a data
 representing a desired means of transportation is inputted by operating
 the alphanumeric keys in the input position in reverse-display. In the
 case of an error input, the input data in reverse-display is cleared by
 operating the "CR" key and a data can be inputted in this position again.
 If the data are inputted in all items as described above and the "MR" key
 is finally operated, the inputted data are stored in the EEPROM 112 of the
 IC card 11, and the display content of the LCD device 13 is returned to
 the display screen of FIG. 8 to enable an input of a next schedule.
 When the input data confirmation mode is set, the input format data and the
 already inputted data are read from the IC card 11 and displayed in the
 LCD device 13. In the aforementioned example, the data inputted in
 accordance with the input format are already written as shown in FIGS. 8
 to 10. Since this display screen is adapted to enable the confirmation and
 correction of data, the inputted data can be confirmed by successively
 renewing the selection items or input items without correcting the
 contents of the respective selection items or input items. If necessary,
 the data can be corrected by newly inputting a data.
 As described above, since the specified input format data is stored so that
 the pieces of information corresponding to the application of the IC card
 11 can hierarchically be inputted, necessary pieces of information can
 easily be inputted in accordance with the input format and the inputted
 data can be confirmed.
 Although pieces of information not directly relevant to the photographing
 are inputted in the example of the above input format, pieces of
 information concerning the photographing which is to be recorded in the
 magnetic recording area Fb of the film F (hereinafter, "photographing
 information") may supplementarily be inputted. The amount and content of
 the information to be recorded in the magnetic recording area Fb are
 specifically limited by the standards of the Advanced Photo System. A
 degree of freedom of the photographing information is enhanced by storing
 the pieces of photographing information beyond the specified levels in the
 IC card 11.
 FIG. 11 is a diagram showing exemplarily an input format for the pieces of
 photographing information. When the IC card 11 for storing the pieces of
 photographing information is mounted in the camera 1 and the data input
 mode is set, an initial screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed in the LCD
 device 13. In the input screen of FIG. 11, items "FRAME NO.", "TITLE",
 "PLACE", "DATE", "PHOTOGRAPHER", "OBJECT"and "MEMO"can selectively be
 inputted.
 The item "FRAME NO." is to link the information with the frame of the film
 F. In the case that images in the respective frames of the exposed film
 are scanned by a film scanner and displayed on a CRT (cathode-ray tube)
 via a personal computer, the pieces of photographing information can be
 displayed on the CRT together with the frame image by reading the pieces
 of the photographing information of a corresponding frame number from the
 IC card 11. The items in the initial screen include the "TITLE" and the
 like which have the same contents as those magnetically recorded in the
 film F. However, since a larger amount of information can be inputted in
 the IC card 11 than in the magnetic recording area Fb, a more detailed
 content can be inputted. Although no independent input items are given for
 pieces of information concerning a photographing technique such as an
 exposure condition, a light source information (color temperature),
 information as to the use of flash light, and the type of the film used,
 these pieces of information may independently be inputted or may
 hierarchically be inputted as photographing conditions.
 FIG. 12 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a block construction for the
 photographing and display of the camera 1 according to the invention.
 In FIG. 12, the same elements as those described above are identified by
 the same reference numerals. A switch S1 is turned on when the shutter
 release button 8 is pressed halfway, thereby instructing a photographing
 preparation, and a switch S2 is turned on when the shutter release button
 8 is fully pressed, thereby instructing a shutter release (exposure
 control).
 The distance meter 4 detects a distance to an object (object distance), and
 the light meter 5 detects a brightness of the object (object brightness).
 The detected object distance and the object brightness are inputted in the
 controller 22 for centrally controlling the photographing and display
 operations of the camera 1 to calculate automatic focusing (AF) control
 values and exposure control values.
 A battery B is a power source of the camera 1. When the power switch 15 is
 turned on, powers are supplied to the controller 22 and the other circuits
 from the battery B, thereby activating the camera 1.
 A magnetic recording circuit 17 records a magnetic data in the magnetic
 recording portion Fb of each frame of the film F. Specifically, the
 magnetic recording circuit 17 records a magnetic data corresponding to the
 photographed frame in the magnetic recording area Fb, which magnetic data
 is outputted from the controller 22 when the film F is wound by one frame
 after the photographing.
 A shutter 18 and a shutter drive circuit 19 are adapted to control an
 exposure time during the photographing. The shutter drive circuit 19
 drives the shutter 18 in accordance with a shutter speed sent from the
 controller 22 so as to control an exposure amount to a specified level.
 A flash firing circuit 20 is adapted to control a firing timing of the
 built-in flash 7. The circuit 20 causes the built-in flash 7 to be fully
 fired at a firing timing sent from the controller 22.
 A focusing lens drive circuit 21 is adapted to adjust a focal point of the
 taking lens 3. The circuit 21 drives a focusing lens in the taking lens 3
 in accordance with an AF control value sent from the controller 22 to
 focus the taking lens 3.
 The controller 22 centrally controls the photographing operation of the
 camera 1, the data inputting operation in LCD device 13 and the data
 display in the LCD device 13. In the camera 1 according to this
 embodiment, a travel schedule can be inputted as described above. This
 camera 1 has an additional function of automatically switching the data
 display to the one conforming to the country or area of the destination
 during the period of the travel in the case that a schedule of a travel to
 a country or area having a time difference from a country or area where
 the user lives is inputted. The controller 22 also controllably switches
 the date display.
 The controller 22 is comprised of a microcomputer and is internally
 provided with a ROM 23, a RAM 24 (random access memory), a data input
 controller 25, a basic date data generator 27, a field date data generator
 28, a magnetic data generator 29, an exposure controller 30, a shutter
 controller 31, a flash firing controller 32 and an AF controller 33.
 The ROM 23 is a memory for storing a program of various control sequences
 for the photographing operation, the data inputting operation, etc. and
 data necessary to implement the program. The RAM 24 is a memory for
 storing the data when calculations are made for various controls in
 accordance with the program.
 The data input controller 25 controls the data input in the data input mode
 and the input data confirmation mode. The data input controller 25
 includes an input format reading circuit 251, a display data generating
 circuit 252 and an input data writing circuit 253.
 The input format reading circuit 251 reads the input format data from the
 ROM 111 of the IC card 11. The display data generating circuit 252
 converts the data inputted via the key operation unit 14 into a display
 data in accordance with the input format data read from the IC card 11 and
 the input format displayed in the LCD device 13. In other words, the data
 made of characters or the like representing the input format and data made
 of characters, numbers or the line inputted by the key operation unit 14
 are code data, and the display data generating circuit 252 converts the
 code data into dot display data (dot data) using a preset conversion
 table. This conversion table is stored in the ROM 23.
 When the data input mode and the input data confirmation mode are set, the
 data input controller 25 causes the input format reading circuit 251 to
 read the input format data from the ROM 111 of the IC card 11, causes the
 display data generating circuit 252 to convert the read input format data
 into a dot data for the display, and then outputs the converted dot data
 to the display controller 26. The display controller 26 outputs the
 received dot data to the display drive circuit 16, which causes the input
 format to be displayed in the LCD device 13, thereby enabling the data
 input.
 When the data are inputted by the key operation unit 14 in accordance with
 the input format displayed in the LCD device 13 in the data input mode and
 the input data confirmation mode, the data input controller 25 causes the
 display data generating circuit 252 to convert the input data into a dot
 data for the display, and then outputs the obtained dot data to the
 display controller 26. The display controller 26 outputs the received dot
 data to the display drive circuit 16, which causes the inputted characters
 and/or numbers to be displayed is a specified display position of the LCD
 device 13.
 The input data writing circuit 253 is adapted to write the data (code data)
 inputted by the key operation unit 14 in accordance with the input format
 in the EEPROM 112 of the IC card 11.
 The display controller 26 controls the display content of the LCD device 13
 in accordance with the set mode. When the data input mode or the input
 data confirmation mode is set, the display controller 26 outputs the dot
 data for the display inputted from the data input controller 25 to the
 display drive circuit 16, thereby causing a data input display (see FIGS.
 8 to 10) to be made in the LCD device 13. When the data display mode
 (initially set mode in the normal mode), the display controller 26 outputs
 a date data (dot data) inputted from the field date data generator 28 to
 the display drive circuit 16, thereby causing a date display (see FIG. 7)
 to be made in the LCD device 13.
 The basic date data generator 27 generates a basic time data
 (month/day/year), and includes a reference clock and a date calculating
 circuit. The basic date data generator 27 converts a time counted by the
 reference clock into a display mode of month/day/year based on the EST
 (Eastern Standard Time) of the United States and outputs it to the display
 controller 26. It should be noted that if an other display format is set,
 the counted time is converted into this display format.
 The field date data generator 28 changes the date data generated by the
 basic date data generator 27 into a date data based on the standard time
 of the destination during the period of the travel in the case a schedule
 of travel to a destination which has a time difference from where a user
 lives is inputted. The field date data generator 28 is internally provided
 with a judging circuit 281 and a data changing circuit 282 as shown in
 FIG. 13.
 The judging circuit 281 judges whether the basic time of the EST of the
 United States falls within the period of the scheduled travel (i.e.,
 whether the user is on his travels). To the judging circuit 281 are
 inputted at least travel period data of the travel schedule data read from
 the IC card 11 from the data input controller 25 and the basic EST data
 from the basic date data generator 27. The judging circuit 281 judges
 whether the basic time of EST falls within the travel period by comparing
 the basic time of EST with the travel period and outputs the judgment
 result to the data changing circuit 282.
 If a schedule of travel to England as shown in FIG. 14 is, for example,
 inputted in the IC card 11, a travel period data "8.14, 1997 to 8.31,
 1997" is inputted to the judging circuit. If the basic time of EST
 inputted to the judging circuit 281 from the basic date data generator 27
 is, for example, "7.24, 1997", the basic time of EST does not fall within
 the travel period. Accordingly, the judgment result that the basic time of
 EST falls outside the travel period is outputted to the data changing
 circuit 282 from the judging circuit 281. If the basic time of EST is, for
 example, "8.14, 1997", the judgment result that the basic time of EST
 falls within the travel period is outputted to the data changing circuit
 282 from the judging circuit 281.
 If no schedule of travel is inputted in the IC card 11, the travel period
 data is not inputted to the judging circuit 281 from the data input
 controller 25. Accordingly, in this case, the judgment result that the
 basic time of EST falls outside the travel period is outputted to the data
 changing circuit 282 from the judging circuit 281.
 The data changing circuit 282 changes the date data generated based on the
 EST by the basic date data generator 27 into a date data based on the
 standard time of the destination of the travel. The data changing circuit
 282 does so by adding a time difference between the EST and the standard
 time of the destination to the date data inputted from the basic date data
 generator 27, and outputs the changed date data to the display controller
 26. For example, in the case of the aforementioned travel to England, if
 the date data inputted from the basic date data generator 27 is "8.14,
 1997, AM 11:31", the date data is changed into "8.14, 1997, PM 3:31" by
 adding a time difference of +4 hours, and the changed date data is
 outputted to the display controller 26.
 Time difference data between EST and the standard times of main countries
 and areas used to change the date data are stored in the ROM 111 of the IC
 card 11. When the IC card 11 is mounted in the camera 1, the time
 difference data are read and inputted in the data changing circuit 282.
 The time difference data may be stored in the ROM 23 of the controller 22.
 The display controller 26 outputs the date data inputted from the field
 date data generator 28 to the display drive circuit 16 in the date display
 mode. Accordingly, the date data such as month/day/year based on the EST
 is displayed in the LCD device 13 unless the user is on his travels,
 whereas the date data based on the standard time of the destination is
 displayed in the LCD device 13 while he is on his travels.
 In the above example, the date data based on the EST is displayed in the
 LCD device 13 as shown in FIG. 7 unless the user is on his travels in
 England, whereas the date data based on the English standard time is
 displayed in the LCD device 13 as shown in FIG. 15 while he is on his
 travels in England.
 As shown in FIG. 14, the name of the country or area ("England" in FIG. 14)
 may be displayed together with the date data so that the standard time of
 which country or area is used can be understood. This makes it easily
 understandable that the date data of New York is displayed after being
 changed. Further, as shown in dotted line in FIG. 14, the date based on
 the EST may also be displayed. This is convenient to immediately know the
 EST when the user tries to communicate with New York, e.g., by telephone
 at the destination of the travel. These display methods may selectively be
 set by the user in order to enhance a degree of freedom of the display
 methods.
 Referring back to FIG. 12, the magnetic data generator 29 generates
 magnetic data to be recorded in the magnetic recording areas Fb of the
 film F. The magnetic data also include the data inputted by the key
 operation unit 14 in the magnetic data input mode. The generated magnetic
 data are outputted to the magnetic recording circuit 17, which in turn
 records the magnetic data in the magnetic recording area Fb of the film F.
 The exposure calculator 30 calculates exposure control values (aperture
 value, shutter speed) using the object brightness detected by the light
 meter 5. The shutter controller 31 controls an exposure time (shutter
 release time) during the exposure control based on the shutter speed
 calculated by the exposure calculator 30. The shutter controller 31
 controls the exposure time by controlling opening and closing timings of
 the shutter 18. The flash firing controller 32 controls the firing of the
 built-in flash 7 and a flash firing timing during the flash firing
 photographing. The AF controller 33 controls the automatic focusing of the
 taking lens 3. The AF controller 33 calculates a drive control value for
 the focusing lens using the object distance detected by the distance meter
 4 and outputs the drive control value to the focusing lens drive circuit
 21.
 Next, the photographing operation, the data inputting operation and the
 date display of the camera 1 are described with reference to flowcharts of
 FIGS. 16 and 17.
 FIGS. 16 and 17 are flowcharts showing basic sequences of the photographing
 operation, the data inputting operation and the date display. These
 flowcharts are for the case where the IC card 11 for schedules is used.
 When the camera 1 is activated by turning the power switch 15 on, the
 controller 22 and various other circuits are initialized (setting of the
 initial data, initial modes and the like, resetting of flags, etc.) (Step
 #1). Subsequently, it is judged whether the IC card 11 is mounted in the
 card chamber 10 (step #3). If the IC card 11 is mounted (YES in Step #3),
 the schedule data stored in the EEPROM 112 of the IC card 11 is
 transferred to the controller 22 (Step #5).
 Subsequently, if the read data is schedules, it is judged whether a
 schedule corresponding to the basic time exists by searching scheduled
 times of the schedule contents (Step #7). If such a schedule exists (YES
 in Step #7) , the date display mode initially set is changed to the input
 data confirmation mode and the schedule is displayed in the LCD device 13
 (Step #9). For example, events scheduled for that day and, if the basic
 time is still in the morning, schedules relatively shortly after the basic
 time such as schedules in the morning are displayed in the LCD device 13.
 This schedule display is designed to enhance the convenience of the camera
 1 as a schedule management equipment since the camera 1 can record
 information concerning the photographing as well as other pieces of
 information such as schedules, taking advantage of the key operation unit
 14. In other words, the schedule display prevents the user from forgetting
 the schedules.
 On the other hand, if no schedule shortly after the basic time exists (NO
 in Step #7), it is judged whether a travel schedule exists (Step #11). If
 a travel schedule exits (YES in Step #11), it is judged whether the user
 is on his travels by comparing the data on the travel period with the
 basic date data generated by the basic date data generator 27 (Steps #13,
 #15). If the basic date data falls within the travel period (YES in Step
 #15), it is changed to the date data based on the standard time of the
 destination by adding a time difference between the EST and the standard
 time of the destination (Step #17), and the changed date data is displayed
 in the LCD device 13 (Step #19). In other words, the basic time at the
 destination is displayed in the LCD device 13 while the user is on his
 travels.
 On the other hand, if the IC card 11 is not mounted in the card chamber 10
 (NO in Step #3), if the travel schedule is not inputted (NO in Step #11)
 or if the basic date data falls outside the travel period even though the
 travel schedule is inputted (NO in Step #15), the date data generated
 based on the EST is displayed in the LCD device 13 (Step #19). In other
 words, the EST is displayed in the LCD device 13 unless the user is on his
 travels or any travel is scheduled.
 The date display or schedule display is continued until the switch S1 is
 turned on (Step #21). When the switch S1 is turned on by pressing the
 shutter release button 8 halfway (YES in Step #21), the object brightness
 is detected by the light meter 5; the exposure control values are
 calculated by the exposure calculator 30 using the detected object
 brightness; the object distance is detected by the distance meter 4; and
 the AF control value is calculated by the AF controller 33 using the
 detected object distance (Step #23).
 Subsequently, the taking lens 3 is focused based on the calculated AF
 control value, and the aperture value and shutter speed are adjusted based
 on the exposure control value (Step #25), entering a standby state for a
 shutter release instruction (a loop of Steps #27, #29).
 When the shutter release button 8 is fully pressed in the standby state,
 turning the switch S2 on (YES in Step #27), a photographing operation
 (exposure control) is performed (Step #31). If the shutter release button
 8 is released during the standby period (NO in Step #29), this routine
 returns to Step #5 to perform the aforementioned photographing preparation
 again.
 When the photographing operation is completed, the film F is wound by one
 frame (Step #33) and this routine returns to Step #5 for a next
 photographing operation. While the film F is wound, the magnetic data
 corresponding to the photographed frame is recorded in the magnetic
 recording area Fb of the film F by the magnetic recording circuit 17. At
 this time, if the data concerning the photographed frame is stored in the
 IC card 11, the magnetic data includes a data for linking the photographed
 frame with the stored data (e.g., frame number or a control number in the
 case a control number is affixed to the data stored in the IC card 11).
 The magnetic data includes the data for linking the photographed frame with
 the data stored in the IC card 11 (hereinafter, "card data") for the
 following reason. In the case that a film image reproducing system is
 constructed by a film scanner 34 for reading images recorded in a film and
 also reading card data and magnetic data recorded in the film F, a
 personal computer 35 and a CRT 46 as shown in FIG. 19, the frame images of
 the film F can be displayed together with the card data and the magnetic
 data on the CRT 35.
 In the film image reproducing system shown in FIG. 19, the film scanner 34
 reads the images and the magnetic data recorded in all the frames of the
 film F contained in the film cartridge KT as well as the data stored in
 the IC card 11. These image data, magnetic and card data (code data) are
 transferred to the personal computer 35, which in turn starts preparing
 the reproduction of the film images. When a frame to be reproduced (frame
 number) is designated via a keyboard 351 of the personal computer 35, the
 image data, magnetic data and card data read by the film scanner are
 searched based on the frame number and the image corresponding to the
 designated frame number is reproduced on the CRT 36 and the title, date of
 photographing, place of photographing and the like recorded as the
 magnetic data and card data are displayed as character information in
 specified positions on the display screen of the CRT 36.
 In the example of FIG. 19, a picture taken in London by the user traveled
 as scheduled is reproduced on the CRT 36. The place of photographing, date
 of photographing, a photographer and other data stored in the IC card 11
 are also displayed at the bottom of the display screen of the CRT 36.
 In the above processing, in the case that the user travels to a country
 lying in the same zone as the country he lives, there is no change in the
 time displayed because there is no time difference. The same processing,
 date display and recording as above may be performed in this case as well.
 Alternatively, in the case that there is judged to be no time difference,
 the same processing as the one performed when no travel schedule is
 inputted may be performed.
 FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing an "Interrupt" routine implemented by
 operating the key operation unit 14. If the key operation unit 14 is
 operated while the processing of the basic sequence shown in FIGS. 16 and
 17 is performed, the "Interrupt" routine shown in FIG. 18 is implemented.
 Specifically, when the key operation unit 14 is operated (Step #41), the
 type of the operated key is judged (Step #43). If the operated key
 concerns a mode change (NO in Step #43), the display mode of the LCD
 device 13 is changed to the set mode (Step #45). For example, if the "data
 input mode" is inputted when the "date display mode" is set, the display
 mode is changed from the "date display mode" to the "data input mode" and
 the date display in the LCD device 13 is changed to the display of the
 input format read from the IC card 11.
 Unless the operated key concerns the mode change (YES in Step #43), a data
 input processing corresponding to the key operation is performed (Step
 #47) since the key is operated for the data input. It should be
 appreciated that this key operation is not actually received in the date
 display mode since it is an operation in the data input mode or the input
 data confirmation mode.
 In the data input mode, the input data confirmation mode or magnetic data
 input mode, the inputted data are displayed in the specified display
 positions of the LCD device 13 after being converted into display data
 (dot data). This interrupt routine is implemented every time the key is
 operated, and a display processing corresponding to the key operation of
 the key operation unit 14 is performed.
 In the foregoing embodiment, the usual date display is made based on the
 EST since a foreign travel from New York is planned. In the case that a
 foreign travel from a country or area other than New York is planned, the
 usual date display is made based on the standard time of this country or
 area.
 Although the foreign travel from New York to England is described in the
 foregoing embodiment, the invention is also applicable to a case where the
 user travels from New York where the EST is adopted to another area where
 the Pacific Standard Time is adopted.
 Although the schedule of a short travel is described in the foregoing
 embodiment, the travel means not only a narrowly defined travel such as a
 sightseeing travel, but also a travel in which the user travels from a
 first country or area to a country or area (particularly having a
 different standard time) other than the first country or area to stay for
 a predetermined long period. Accordingly, the data generating device is
 applicable provided that a schedule is inputted regardless of the purpose
 and/or period of the stay and even in the case of a temporary departure
 from a country.
 If the travel schedule is stored in the IC card 11 as described above, the
 data displayed in the EST in the LCD device 13 is automatically changed to
 the one at the destination during the period of the travel. Accordingly,
 when the user travels with the camera 1, cumbersomeness to manually change
 the date display of the camera 1 to a local date can be eliminated.
 Further, in the case that the date displayed in the LCD device 13 is
 imprinted in a picture, the date based on the EST will not mistakenly be
 imprinted in the picture at the destination.
 Although the data generating device provided in the camera is described in
 the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto,
 but may be applicable to a data generating device for use in a portable
 information terminal apparatus such as an electronic organizer, a laptop
 or a notebook type personal computer.
 As described above, at least travel schedule including the name and
 standard time of the second country or area can be inputted in the data
 generating device for generating data on the date based on the standard
 time of the first country or area, and the date based on the standard time
 of the first country or area is changed to the date based on the standard
 time of the second country or area and the changed date is displayed in
 the display device during the period of the travel if the travel schedule
 is inputted. Accordingly, in the case that the schedule is inputted in
 advance, the date of the destination is automatically displayed when the
 user brings the data generating device to his trip, eliminating a
 cumbersomeness to manually change the date.
 Further, since the name of the second country or area is displayed together
 with the date based on the standard time thereof, whether the date
 displayed in the display device is a changed date or a usual date can
 easily be judged.
 Furthermore, the first storage device for storing the travel schedule and
 the second storage device for storing a time difference data used to
 change the date based on the standard time of the first country or area to
 the date based on the standard time of the second country or area are
 provided in the same detachable external storage medium. This reduces the
 burden of the circuit construction of the data generating device and makes
 it easy to rearrange the stored data and to change the content of the
 stored data.
 Further, if the data generating device is provided in the camera having a
 date imprinting function, there is no likelihood that, even if a picture
 is taken in a country or area having a time difference from where the user
 lives, a date different from the one of this country or area is imprinted
 in a picture.
 Although the present invention has been fully described by way of example
 with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that
 various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the
 art. Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart
 from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being
 included therein.