Abstract:
A photographic information storage device equipped with a memory, which is able to store photographic information regarding pictures taken by a camera. A control device is provided which executes writing of the photographic information to the memory and interrupts the writing of the photographic information when the memory is full. When the control device has interrupted writing, a second control device enables writing by automatically cancelling the interruption command.

Description:
This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/497,085, filed Jun. 30, 1995, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a storage device, and in particular, relates to a photographic storage device able to store the photographic information of a camera. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Photographic information storage devices are known which are able to write photographic information, such as the aperture value of a photographic lens, to a memory inside the camera. Photographic information storage devices are also known which transfer stored photographic information to an external storage device outside the camera. In known photographic information storage devices, when the photographer commands the writing of the photographic information to the memory, the photographic information is written to the memory with each frame photographed. When memory runs out, the shutter release is disabled, and photography is no longer possible. At this point, the photographer is able to continue taking pictures, without writing photographic information, by performing an operation which interrupts the writing of the photographic information to the memory. Further, the photographer may also clear past entries from memory, by deleting or transferring photographic information, to free up space in the memory. However, when the writing of the photographic information to the memory is interrupted, even if space is created in the memory through the deletion of the photographic information or by transfer of the photographic information to an external storage device, writing of the photographic information is not restarted unless the photographer cancels the writing interruption. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a photographic information storage device for storing photographic information in a memory which, even if storing of the photographic information to the memory is interrupted, is able to enable storing of the photographic information without a conscious operation by the photographer. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     Objects of the present invention are achieved in a photographic information storage device for a camera, the photographic information storage device comprising a memory unit to store photographic information, and a control unit to write the photographic information to the memory unit, the control unit being adapted to interrupt the writing of photographic information to the memory unit when the memory unit is full and automatically resume writing of photographic information to the memory unit when the memory unit has available space. 
     Objects of the present invention are further achieved in a photographic information storage device for a photographic camera, the photographic information storage device comprising a storage unit for storing photographic information, a writing unit for writing the photographic information to the storage device, a writing interruption unit for interrupting the writing of the photographic information to the storage device, a mode changing unit which enables writing to the storage device, and a canceling unit which cancels the interruption of the writing of the photographic information to the storage device when the writing interruption unit interrupts the writing of the photographic information to the storage device and the mode changing unit enables writing to the storage unit. 
     Objects of the present invention are also achieved by a photographic information storage device comprising a storage device for storing photographic information regarding image information stored on a storage medium, a storage command unit for commanding the storage of the photographic information to the storage device, an interruption command unit for commanding the interruption of storage of the photographic information to the storage device when the storage device is full, a canceling unit for canceling the interruption of storage of the photographic information to the storage device when the full state of the storage device has been cancelled by means of the reading in, or the erasure, of stored data, a first identification unit for indicating whether the photographic information may be stored, a second identification unit for indicating whether the storage device is full, a third identification unit for indicating whether the storage of the photographic information has been interrupted, a first setting unit for setting the first identification unit to indicate that the photographic information may be stored in response to a storage command by the storage command unit, a second setting unit for setting the second identification unit to indicate that the storage device is full when there are no longer any regions for storing data, a third setting unit for setting the third identification unit to indicate that the storage of the photographic information has been interrupted in response to an interruption command by the interruption command unit, a storage execution unit for executing storage of the photographic information in response to a photographic operation when the first identification unit indicates that the photographic information may be stored, the second identification unit indicates that the storage device is not full, and the third identification unit indicates that the storage of the photographic information has not been interrupted, a storage interruption unit for interrupting storage of the photographic information when the third identification unit indicates that the storage of the photographic information has been interrupted, a first restart unit for setting the second identification unit to indicate that the storage device is not full and setting the first identification unit to indicate the photographic information may be stored when the second identification unit indicates that the storage device is full and the third identification unit indicates the storage of the photographic information has been interrupted, and a second restart unit for setting the third identification unit to indicate the storage of the photographic information has not been interrupted when a new film is inserted. 
     Objects of the present invention are also achieved in a photographic information storage device which is equipped with a storage unit for storing photographic information, a writing unit for writing the photographic information to the storage unit, a writing interruption unit for interrupting the writing of the photographic information by the writing unit, and a mode changing unit for changing the area of the storage unit where the photographic information is written to a mode in which writing of photographic information is again possible. 
     Objects of the present invention are also achieved in a photographic information storage device for storing photographic information in a camera wherein a canceling unit cancels an interruption of storing photographic information when the film of the camera has been changed after a mode changing unit has changed the mode. 
     Objects of the present invention are also achieved in a photographic information storage device wherein a storage unit is located inside a camera, and a mode changing unit, which, after the stored photographic information has been transferred to an external storage device, enables storing of further photographic information in the storage unit. 
     Objects of the present invention are also achieved in a photographic information storage device which is equipped with a storage command unit for controlling the storing of the photographic information, an interruption command unit for interrupting the storage of the photographic information, a canceling unit which cancels the storing of the photographic information when the storage area for the photographic information is insufficient, a first identification unit for determining if photographic information can be stored, a second identification unit for determining if the storage area for the photographic information is insufficient, a third identification unit for determining whether the storage of the photographic information is interrupted, a first setting unit for setting the first identification unit to a storage mode in response to a storage command of the storage command unit, a second setting unit for setting the second identification unit to a storage area insufficient mode when the storage area for the photographic information is insufficient, a third setting unit for setting the third identification unit to a storage interruption mode in response to an interruption command of the interruption command unit, a storage execution unit for storing the photographic information in response to the photographic operation when the first identification unit is in storage mode, the second identification unit is not in the storage area insufficient mode and the third identification unit is not in a storage interruption mode, a storage interruption unit for interrupting the storage of the photographic information when the third identification unit is in the storage interruption mode, a first restart unit for setting the second identification unit to a mode which is not the storage area insufficient mode and setting the first identification unit to the storage mode when the storage area insufficient mode has been canceled by the canceling unit when the second identification unit is in the storage area insufficient mode and the third identification unit is in the storage interruption mode, and a second restart unit for cancelling the setting of the storage interruption mode of the third identification unit when the film is changed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the control system of a photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a diagram of the structure of the memory of the photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG.  3 ( a ) is a diagram of a storage mode flag in the memory of the photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG.  3 ( b ) is a diagram explaining the storage mode flag in the memory of the photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG.  3 ( c ) is a diagram which indicates the camera&#39;s information storage modes, which result from combinations of the respective bits in the storage mode flag in the photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the procedure for storing photographic information in memory in the photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is flow chart which shows the procedure for transferring photographic information from memory to a Personal Computer in the photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a flow chart which shows processing when the film is loaded in a camera equipped with the photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the control system of a photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present embodiment is for use in a camera  1  and a personal computer  2  (hereinafter referred to as “PC”). The PC  2  operates as a storage device for photographic information, such as the shutter speed and aperture value, transferred from the camera  1  via a transfer cable  3 . The camera  1  is equipped with a control device  11  which, in addition to executing the various computations and control programs necessary for taking pictures, controls the storage of photographic information to a photographic information memory  14 . The control device  11  also operates to transfer the photographic information to the PC  2 . A storage interruption button  12   a , interrupts the storage of photographic information in the memory  14 . A display device  13  displays the photographic information to the photographer. 
     The PC  2  is provided with a control device  21 , which generally comprises a microcomputer and peripheral components. A data storage start key  22  commands storage of the photographic information in the memory  14 . A transfer command key  23  transfers the photographic information which is stored in the memory  14  to the PC  2 . A storage device  24 , which preferably comprises a magnetic storage device such as a hard disk, stores the transferred photographic information. The control device  21  is also able to command the control device  11  to transfer the photographic information, which is stored in the memory  14 , to the PC  2 . 
     FIG. 2 is a diagram of the structure of the memory of a photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The control device  11  assigns address 100h of the memory  14  as the storage area for a storage mode flag and assigns address 200h through 3FFh as a photographic information storage area. The storage mode flag at address 100h is used in performing control of photographic information storage in 1-byte units. Film number data, which indicates the film identification data of a first film roll, is stored at address 200h. A shutter speed used for the first frame is stored at address 201h. An aperture value used for the first frame is stored at address 202h. As each frame is shot, the associated shutter speed and aperture value are sequentially stored in the memory  14 . When the last frame is shot, for example the 36th frame, the shutter speeds and aperture values for the 36th frame are stored, and a specified byte of data (hereinafter referred to as “END”), which designates the end of one roll of the film photographic information, is written in the next available address. The film photographic information for a second roll of film is stored in the subsequent addresses in the same form as the first roll. Although not shown in FIG. 2, an address counter, which stores the address where the photographic information is written, is stored in a specified position in the memory  14 . The contents of the address counter are updated, in sequence, each time the photographic information is written to the memory  14 . 
     FIG.  3 ( a ) is a diagram of a storage mode flag in the memory of a photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A bit  0  is a data storage bit, which indicates whether the control device  11  is to store photographic information in the memory  14 . A bit  1  is a memory full bit, which indicates whether space exists for storage of photographic information in the memory  14 . A bit  2  is a storage interruption bit, which indicates whether the storage of photographic information in the memory  14  is to be interrupted. The remaining 5 storage mode bits are not used in the above embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG.  3 ( b ) is a diagram explaining the storage mode flag in the memory of a photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. When the data storage bit is set to “0”, the photographic information is not stored in the memory  14 . Conversely, when the data storage bit is set to “1”, the photographic information is stored in the memory  14 . When the memory full bit is set to “0”, space for storing photographic information remains in the memory  14 . Conversely, when the memory full bit is set to “1”, no space for storing photographic information remains in the memory  14 . When the storage interruption bit is set to “0”, interruption of storage of photographic information in the memory  14  is canceled, i.e., the storage of photographic information is enabled. When the storage interruption bit is set to “1”, the storage of photographic information to the memory  14  is interrupted. 
     FIG.  3 ( c ) is a diagram which indicates the camera&#39;s information storage modes, which result from combinations of the respective bits in the storage mode flag in the photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Mode 1 is an initial mode, where storage of the photographed information in the camera is not commanded, space for writing photographic information exists in the memory  14 , and storage interruption is not in effect. Mode 2 is a data storage setting mode, which stores photographic information in the memory  14 . Mode 3 is a memory full status. Because there is no space in the memory  14  for the storage of photographic information even though the data storage bit is set, the memory full bit is set to “1”, and shutter release is prohibited. Mode 4 is a storage interruption mode, where storage of photographic information to the memory  14  is interrupted in order to allow photography, even with the memory  14  being full. Mode 4 is entered by the pressing of the storage interruption button  12   a . Mode 5 is a photographic information transfer mode. After photographic information has been transferred to the PC  2 , depending on the storage mode flag, the data storage bit is set to “1” and the memory full bit is cleared to “0”, if memory full status and storage interruption mode are in effect. The memory full status is cleared through the transfer, but the storage interruption bit is still set to “1”, so storage of photographic information is not performed, even if the release operation is performed. Mode 6 is a storage mode used when a new film canister is loaded into the camera  1 . Restarting of photographic information storage occurs when the storage interruption bit is cleared to “0” after the new film canister is loaded and fed to the first frame to be photographed. Mode 6 has the same bit pattern as Mode 2, which allows storage of photographic information to be restarted without operating the data storage start key  22 . 
     FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the procedure for storing photographic information in memory in the photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The command for starting the storage of the photographic information to the memory  14  is issued by control device  21  when an input signal from the data storage start key  22  is received. The data storage bit  0  is then set to “1.” When the photographing of one roll of film is completed, the control device  11  receives a film rewind signal, writes “END” in the memory  14  address specified by the address counter, and updates the address counter. 
     In step S 101 , the control device  11  determines whether the storage interruption operation has been performed, that is, whether an input signal has been received from the storage interruption button  12   a . If a storage interruption operation has not been performed, the operation proceeds to step S 102 , and a judgment is made as to whether a release signal has been received from the shutter release button, i.e., whether the release operation has been performed. When the release operation has been performed, operation proceeds to step S 103 . When the release operation has not been performed, the operation returns to step S 101 . 
     In step S 103 , a determination is made as to whether the memory full bit is set to “1”. When the memory full bit is set to “1”, the operation proceeds to step S 104 . In step S 104  a determination is made as to whether the storage interruption bit is set to “1.” When the storage interruption bit is set to “1”, operation proceeds to step S 105 . When the storage interruption bit is not set to “1”, operation returns to step S 101 . Release processing is performed in step S 105 , and thereafter step S 106  is executed. If there was a negative determination in step S 103 , operation proceeds to step S 105 . 
     In step S 106 , a determination is made as to whether the data storage bit is set to “1”. When the data storage bit is set to “1”, operation proceeds to step S 107 . When there has been a negative determination in step S 106 , operation returns to step S 101 . In step S 107 , a determination is made as to whether the storage interruption bit is set to “1.” When the storage interruption bit is not set to “1” step S 108  is executed. When the storage interruption bit is set to “1”, operation returns to step S 101 . In step S 108 , the shutter speed and the aperture value are written to the address indicated by the address counter, and the address counter is updated. Next, in step S 109 , a determination is made as to whether there is space for writing photographic information in the memory  14 . When it is judged that no space in the memory  14  exists, the step S 110  is executed. When it is determined that there is space in the memory  14 , operation returns to step S 101 . In step S 110 , the memory full bit is set to “1”, and operation returns to step S 101 . 
     If after step S 101 , operation proceeds to step S 111 , and a determination is made as to whether the data storage bit is set to “1.” When the data storage bit is set to “1”, step S 112  is executed. When there has been a negative determination in step S 111 , operation returns to step S 101 . In step S 112 , a determination is made as to whether the memory full bit is set to “1.” When the memory full bit is set to “1”, step S 113  is executed. When there has been a negative determination in step S 112 , operation returns to step S 101 . In step S 113 , the data storage bit is set to “0”, the storage interruption bit is set to “1”, and operation returns to step S 101 . 
     When the release operation is performed during data storage mode, that is, when the memory full bit is “0”, the data storage bit  0  is set “1”, and the storage interruption bit is set to “0”, the result of step S 102  is affirmative, and the result of step S 103  is negative. Thereafter, release, that is, picture taking, is performed in step S 105 . Similarly, if the result of step S 106  is affirmative and the result of step S 107  is negative, data storage processing is performed in step S 108 . Then, the result of step S 109  is affirmative, and there is a return to step S 101 . When picture taking is repeated and memory full status results, the result of step S 109  becomes negative, and the memory full bit is set to “1” in step S 110 . When the release operation is again performed, picture taking becomes impossible since the result of step S 103  is affirmative, and the result of step S 104  is negative. When the storage interruption button  12   a  is pressed in this mode, and the result of step S 101  is affirmative, the storage bit is set to “0”, and the storage interruption bit  2  is set to “1” through the operation of steps S 111  through S 113 . Thus, the result of step S 104  is affirmative, and picture taking is performed, but because the result of step S 106  is negative, there is a return to step S 101  without data storage processing being performed. 
     FIG. 5 is a flow chart which shows the procedure for transferring photographic information from memory to the PC  2  in the photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A transfer of photographic information from the memory  14  to the storage device  24  is initiated by the control device  21  in response to the activation of the transfer command key  23  of the PC  2 . First, in step S 201 , there is a request by the control device  21  to the control device  11  for the transfer of photographic information. The data contained in the memory  14  is transferred from the control device  11 . Next, the data is read and written to the storage device  24 . Thereafter, in step S 202 , a judgment is made as to whether the memory full bit is set to “1.” When the memory full bit is set to “1”, operation proceeds to step S 203 . In step S 203 , a determination is made as to whether the storage interruption bit is set to “1.” When the storage interruption bit is set to “1”, operation proceeds to step S 204 , and the data storage bit is set to “1.” Next, in step S 205 , the memory full bit is set to “0.” When there has been a negative determination in step S 203 , operation jumps to step S 205 . When there has been a negative determination in step S 202 , processing is ended. 
     FIG. 6 is a flow chart which shows processing when the film is loaded in a camera equipped with the photographic information storage device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In step S 301 , the film is wound to the first frame to be photographed. After this, in step S 302 , the storage interruption bit is cleared to “0”, and in step S 303 , the film number is written to the address indicated by the address counter, the address counter is updated, and processing is ended. At the stage where the processing of FIG. 5 has been executed, the storage interruption bit remains at “1” even if the data storage bit is “1”, and the memory full bit is “0.” Thus, even if picture taking is executed after transfer, the result of step S 107  in FIG. 4 is affirmative, and storage of photographic information cannot be restarted. Therefore, when new film has been loaded, the processing in FIG. 6 is executed, the storage interruption bit is cleared to “0”, and storage of photographic information is restarted. 
     In the camera  1  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, picture taking can be performed even after storage interruption mode is in effect, so the frame which is being photographed cannot be determined immediately after transfer, and the photographic information and the photographed frame of film does not correspond. 
     Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described with respect to a specific configuration, it will be recognized that the preferred embodiment is not limited to the specific configuration. For example, in the preferred embodiment, modification of the storage mode flag, such as updating the data storage bit and the memory full bit, is performed by control device  21  on the PC  2 . However, after control device  11  receives an interruption signal for the completion of transfer of photographic information to the PC  2 , it is also able to execute the steps starting with step S 202  in FIG.  5 . Moreover, while a button which corresponds to the data storage start key  22  is located on the camera side, the control device  11  can also be adapted to operate the data storage bit based on an input signal from that button. In such a case, if the PC  2  merely performs writing of the transferred photographic information to the storage device  24 , separate processing can be executed thereafter. In the preferred embodiment, space is created in the memory for writing information through the transfer of information, but the present invention would also be effective if space is created in the memory by deleting photographic information. 
     Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.