Abstract:
A digital camera to which a storage medium can be connected, includes a profile information storer and a profile information reader. The profile information storer stores profile information representing a storage medium user in the storage medium connected to the digital camera. The profile information reader reads the profile information.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a digital camera and a digital camera system, especially to a digital camera having a user identifying function, and to a digital camera system including such a digital camera and a storage medium. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Generally, in digital cameras, a storage medium is connected to a digital camera and is used for storing photographed images. A storage medium in which images are stored, is detached from the digital camera and photographed images stored therein are replayed on a computer. 
   In the case where a digital camera to which a storage medium is attached, is used by a plurality of users, the storage medium used by one user may be initialized by another user and image data stored in the storage medium may be deleted. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a digital camera which has a user identifying function, and which can store information representing the identified users of the digital camera in a storage medium, and which can judge whether an identified user using the digital camera matches a user represented by the information previously stored in the storage medium, or not. 
   A digital camera according to the present invention, to which a storage medium can be connected, includes a profile information storer and a profile information reader. The profile information storer stores profile information representing a storage medium user in the storage medium connected to the digital camera. The profile information reader reads the profile information. 
   A digital camera system according to the present invention, includes a storage medium and a digital camera. The digital camera to which the storage medium can be connected, includes a profile information storer that stores profile information representing a storage medium user in the storage medium connected to the digital camera, and a profile information reader that reads the profile information. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be better understood from the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention set forth below together with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of the digital camera of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear view of the digital camera; 
       FIG. 3  is a view representing a screen displayed on the LCD monitor for inputting a user identification code; 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the digital camera; 
       FIG. 5  is a conceptual view representing profile information stored in the memory card; 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart representing a user registration routine; and 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart representing a memory card initialization routine. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the attached drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is a front view of the digital camera of the embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a rear view of the digital camera. 
   On an upper surface  10 U of the digital camera  10 , a release button  12  and a mode dial  14  are provided. On a front surface  10 F of the digital camera  10 , a photographing optical system  16  including a zoom lens, and a lighting device  20  are provided. Further, on a rear surface  10 B of the digital camera  10 , an LCD monitor  22  for displaying a subject image, a menu button  11 , a focus setting button  13 , a flash setting button  15 , an image deleting button  17 , a cross key  21 , an OK button  23 , and a zoom lever  25  and so on are provided (see  FIG. 2 ). On a side surface  10 S of the digital camera  10 , a slot (not shown) for inserting a memory card  46  for storing image data and a memory card cover  24  for covering the slot are provided. The memory card  46  is inserted into the digital camera  10  to store photographed images and is detached through the slot in accordance with need. 
     FIG. 3  is a view representing a screen displayed on the LCD monitor  22  for inputting a user identification code. 
   When the digital camera  10  is used for the first time, an initial set-up process is carries out by the user. For the set-up process, predetermined screens are automatically displayed on the LCD monitor  22 . One of the screens for the initial set-up process, is for registering a user as shown in  FIG. 3 . A user who uses the digital camera  10  for the first time, is registered as an owner user (a predetermined user), by inputting a user identification code and a password on the screen by using the cross key  21 , the OK button  23 , and so on. 
   The owner user registered in the digital camera  10 , can register other new users as regular users who are allowed to use the digital camera  10 . In this case, the menu selection screen is displayed on the LCD monitor  22  by pressing the menu button  11 , and then the screen for inputting a user identification code (called the input screen hereinafter) shown in  FIG. 3  is displayed being selected on the menu selection screen. When a new user who is allowed to use the digital camera  10  inputs his user ID and a password, the user is registered as a regular user. As mentioned above, a user who can use the digital camera  10 , is registered as an owner user who has predetermined authorities, or as a regular user who is permitted to use the digital camera  10  by the owner user. Hereinafter, the owner user and the regular user are called a registered user. 
   On the other hand, at every starting time of the digital camera  10 , excluding the first starting time for usage, the input screen is automatically displayed for identifying the user. Only in the case where a user identification code and a password input by the user attempting to use the digital camera  10  matches to those of a registered user previously registered, the digital camera  10  becomes operable. 
     FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the digital camera  10 .  FIG. 5  is a conceptual view representing profile information stored in the memory card  46 . 
   In the digital camera  10 , a microprocessor  19  for controlling all of the digital camera  10 , a flash memory  42  being built-in for storing image data and so on, an EEPROM  44  in which data for processing signals in the microprocessor  19  is stored, and so on are provided. To the microprocessor  19 , a main switch SWM, a mode dial  14 , and so on are connected. The main switch SWM is a power switch for the digital camera  10 , and the microprocessor  19  starts when the main switch SWM is turned on by an operation of the user. 
   The microprocessor  19  transmits predetermined signals to the LCD monitor  22 , so that the input screen is displayed. When a user ID and password are input, signals corresponding to the input information are transmitted to the microprocessor  19 . In the microprocessor  19 , whether the combination of the user ID and the password represented by the signals, corresponds to one of those of registered users previously stored in the flash memory  42 , or not is judged. Only when it is judged that the combination of the user ID and the password corresponds to one of those of the registered users, does the digital camera  10  become operable. On the other hand, when it is judged that the combination of the user ID and the password does not correspond to one of those of a registered user, any operation except for turning the power to the digital camera off and inputting user IDs and passwords is invalidated by the microprocessor  19 , and this continues as long as a user ID and a password corresponding to those of a registered user are not input. Therefore, it can be identified that a user using the digital camera  10 , is one of the registered users. When the operation of the digital camera  10  by a person other than a registered user is attempted, the operation is invalidated, and a warning message is displayed on the LCD monitor  22  to inform the person that the digital camera  10  has not become operable, based on the signals from the microprocessor  19 . 
   A mode for photographing a subject, and other modes for replaying an image and so on, are selectively set by an operation of the mode dial  14  to be in predetermined rotating positions, and signals corresponding to the position of the mode dial  14  are transmitted to the microprocessor  19 . The menu button  11 , the focus setting button  13 , the flash setting button  15 , the image deleting button  17 , the cross key  21 , and the OK button  23  are connected to the microprocessor  19 . When these buttons and a key are operated, signals corresponding to the operation are transmitted to the microprocessor  19 . Users can select various parameters for photographing and so on by operating these buttons. 
   When the release button  12  is half depressed, a photometry-measuring switch SWS is turned on. When the photometry-measuring switch SWS is turned on in a photographing mode, a subject distance is measured by a distance-measuring device (not shown), and photometry of a subject is measured by a photometry-measuring device (not shown). The obtained distance and photometry data are transmitted to the microprocessor  19 . The microprocessor  19  controls an AF/aperture driving circuit  34  to adjust the position of a photographing lens  30  for focusing. 
   When the release button  12  is fully depressed, a release switch SWR is turned on. When the release switch SWR is turned on, an aperture  31  is opened by a predetermined amount by the AF/aperture driving circuit  34 , and a shutter (not shown) is opened to the predetermined position for a predetermined time based on the control signals from the microprocessor  19 . In the case an aperture value and a shutter speed are previously selected and set by the user, the aperture  31  and the shutter are driven according to each of the set parameters. And then the CCD  38  controlled by a CCD driving circuit  36  is exposed, so that image signals according to the image are generated in the CCD  38 . When it is judged that illuminating a subject is necessary based on the distance and photometry data by the microprocessor  19 , control signals are transmitted to a flash circuit (not shown) from the microprocessor  19 , and the lighting device  20  emits illuminating light. 
   Image signals generated by the CCD  38  are processed to reduce noise at a CDS circuit  39  and are converted from analog to digital signals by an A/D converter  40 . The digitalized image signals are transmitted to the microprocessor  19  after various processes such as white balance adjustment. Image signals are further transmitted to an LCD driver (not shown) from the microprocessor  19 , the LCD monitor  22  is driven based on the image signals, and a subject image is displayed on the LCD monitor  22 . 
   Image data of the photographed subject image is temporally stored in a DRAM  45 , and stored in the flash memory  42  at the recording size previously selected, for example “1600×1200” pixels. The image data is transmitted to a memory card  46  inserted into the body of the digital camera  10  via an interface  43 , and is also stored in the memory card  46 . Image data is stored to be related to user information based on the user ID input by the registered user who photographed the image. Therefore, which one of the registered users is the photographer of each image can be identified by the microprocessor  19 . 
   Whether or not profile information representing a user of the memory card  46 , is already stored in the memory card  46  inserted into the digital camera  10  is judged by the digital camera  10 . And when the profile information is not stored, the profile information is provided to the memory card  46 . That is, the profile information representing the registered user currently using the digital camera  10  identified by the microprocessor  19  based on the user ID input at the starting time, as a user of the memory card  46  is generated by the microprocessor  19  based on the user ID. The generated profile information is transmitted to the memory card  46 , and stored. The profile information shown as “USER. ini” is stored in the route directory of the memory card  46 , and image data is stored in sub directories shown as “File  1 ” or “File  2 ” (see  FIG. 5 ). 
   When it is judged that the profile information is already stored in the connected memory card  46  by the digital camera  10 , the profile information can be read. That is, when the memory card  46  is inserted into the digital camera  10 , the profile information is read by the microprocessor  19 , and whether the registered user that the read profile information represents, is the registered user who is using the digital camera  10  at the time or not, is judged. 
   As a result of this, when the profile information is already stored in the memory card  46 , and the registered user that the read profile information represents is the same as the registered user who is using the digital camera  10  at the time, the memory card  46  becomes fully operable and any operation for the memory card can be carried out. In this case, the registered user who is using the digital camera  10  can store photographed images in the memory card  46 , can select the replay mode by an operation of the mode dial  14  and images replayed on the LCD monitor  22  can be successively changed by an operation of the cross key  21 , can delete image data stored in the memory card  46  by a depression of the image deleting button  17 , and can initialize the memory card  46 . 
   The initialization which is a process for deleting all data stored in the memory card  46 , is carried out by the following operations. First, the menu selection screen is displayed on the LCD monitor  22  by an operation of the menu button  11  and so on, and the initialization of the memory card  46  is ordered by the registered user. Based on control signals transmitted from the microprocessor  19  via the interface  43 , all image data stored in the memory card  46  is deleted. When this initialization of the memory card  46  finishes, the profile information representing the registered user using the digital camera  10 , is automatically transmitted to the memory card  46  from the microprocessor  19  and is stored in the memory card  46 . 
   In case the user represented by the profile information is the same as the registered user currently using the digital camera  10 , deleting the profile information can also be carried out. In this case, the menu selection screen is displayed on the LCD monitor  22 , and when the menu item for deleting the profile information is selected by the using registered user, the profile information stored in the memory card  46  is deleted based on the control signals transmitted from the microprocessor  19 . Note that in the case where the user represented by the profile information does not correspond to the registered user currently using the digital camera  10 , when the registered user currently using the digital camera  10  is the owner user, the profile information can be deleted by the owner user. 
   In the case where the profile information is not read from the memory card  46 , the same as the case where the user represented by the profile information stored in the memory card  46  inserted in the digital camera  10 , corresponds to the registered user who is using the digital camera  10 , all operations for the memory card  46  can be carried out. Therefore, in this case, the profile information representing the registered user currently using the digital camera  10 , as a user of the memory card  46 , is also transmitted to the memory card  46  from the microprocessor  19  after initialization of the memory card  46 , and is stored in the memory card  46 . 
   On the other hand, in the case where the profile information has already been stored in the memory card  46 , and the registered user represented by the read profile information does not correspond to the registered user currently using the digital camera  10 , the memory card  46  can be used, however, not all operations for the memory card  46  can be carried out. That is, in this case, the registered user currently using the digital camera  10  can store images photographed by himself in the memory card  46 , can replay the images on the LCD monitor  22 , and can delete the images photographed by himself and stored in the memory card  46 , however, initializing the memory card  46  is not allowed, and the image data of the images photographed by other registered users before the current user started to use the digital camera  10  and stored in the memory card  46 , can not be deleted. These controls for operations of the memory card  46  can be carried out because image data is stored to be related to the user information representing the registered user who photographed the image. When initializing the memory card  46  and deleting the image data are not allowed, although they are ordered, a warning message to inform the current registered user that the operation ordered can not be conducted, is displayed on the LCD monitor  22  based on control signals from the microprocessor  19 . 
   Note that when the registered user represented by the profile information does not correspond to the registered user currently using the digital camera  10 , images photographed by the other registered users and already stored, may not be displayed on the LCD monitor  22 . In this case, as mentioned above, the registered user currently using the digital camera  10  can not order the deletion of the data of the images. 
     FIG. 6  is a flowchart representing a user registration routine. 
   The user registration routine starts when the main switch SWM is turned on by a user. At step S 101 , the power source of the digital camera  10  is turned on and then the process proceeds to step S 102 . At step S 102 , whether or not a user is registered and initial setting for the digital camera  10  is necessary, is judged. When it is judged that the initial setting for the digital camera  10  is necessary, the process proceeds to step S 103 , and when it is judged that the initial setting for the digital camera  10  is not necessary, the process proceeds to step S 104 . At step S 103 , an owner user is registered by inputting a user ID and a password, and the process proceeds to step S 106 . 
   At step S 104 , a user ID and a password are input on the input screen displayed on the LCD monitor  22 , and the process proceeds to step S 105 . At step S 105 , whether or not a user attempting to use the digital camera  10  is a registered user, that is, whether or not the combination of the input user ID and the password accords with a combination previously stored in the flash memory  42 , is judged by the microprocessor  19 . When it is judged that the user attempting to use the digital camera  10  is a registered user, the process proceeds to step S 106 . 
   At step S 106 , whether the initialization of the memory card  46  is ordered or not is judged. When it is judged that the initialization is ordered, the process proceeds to step S 107 , and when it is judged that initialization is not ordered, the process proceeds to step S 108 . At step S 107 , a memory card initialization routine to initialize the memory card  46  is carried out (see  FIG. 7 ), and the process proceeds to step S 108 . 
   At step S 108 , whether the user currently using the digital camera  10  is the owner user or not is judged. When it is judged that the user currently using the digital camera  10  is the owner user at step S 108 , it is further judged whether new registration for a regular user allowed to use the digital camera  10  is necessary or not, at step S 109 . When it is judged that new registration for a regular user is necessary, a regular user is newly registered by an operation of the owner user at step S 110 , and the process proceeds to step S 111 . At step S 111 , a subject is photographed, and the process proceeds to step S 112 . At step S 112 , a photographed image is replayed or deleted, and the user registration routine ends. 
     FIG. 7  is a flowchart representing a memory card initialization routine. 
   The memory card initialization routine starts when the initialization of the memory card  46  is ordered at the user registration routine (at step S 106 ). At step S 201 , whether the profile information is stored or not is judged. When it is judged by the microprocessor  19  that the profile information is stored, the process proceeds to step S 202 , and when it is judged that the profile information is not stored, the process proceeds to step S 203 . At step S 202 , whether the registered user represented by the profile information corresponds to the registered user currently using the digital camera  10  or not, is judged. When it is judged that the registered user represented by the profile information corresponds to the registered user currently using the digital camera  10 , the process proceeds to step S 204 , and when it is judged that the registered user does not correspond to the current user, the process proceeds to step S 205 . 
   At step S 203 , the memory card  46  is initialized and the process proceeds to step S 206 . At step S 206 , the profile information regarding the registered user currently using the digital camera  10  as the user of the memory card  46 , is stored in the memory card  46 , and the memory card initialization routine ends. Similar to steps S 203  and S 206 , the memory card  46  is initialized at step S 204  and the profile information regarding the registered user currently using the digital camera  10  is stored in the memory card  46  at step S 207 . 
   On the other hand, at step S 205 , a warning message is displayed on the LCD monitor  22  to inform the current user that the memory card  46  can not be initialized, no initialization carried out, and the memory card initialization routine ends. 
   In the embodiment mentioned above, the digital camera  10  is provided which can identify the user currently using the digital camera  10 , store information representing the identified user as the user of the memory card  46  in the memory card  46 , and judge whether the user represented by the information previously stored in the memory card  46  corresponds to the user of the digital camera  10  who is currently using the digital camera  10 . Therefore, in a case where a plurality of users use the digital camera  10  with the memory card  46 , the situation where the memory card  46  used by a user is initialized by another user by mistake, and so on is prevented, so that image data is protected. 
   Note that in this embodiment, it is judged whether the profile information is stored in the memory card  46  or not at step S 201  in the memory card initialization routine, after the initialization order for the memory card at step S 106  in the user registration routine. However, this judgment at step S 201  can be conducted before the initialization order at step S 106 . In this case, when it was judged that the profile information was not stored in the memory card  46 , new profile information representing the current user is transmitted from the microprocessor  19  and stored in the memory card  46 , therefore, the initialization of the memory card  46  is necessarily carried out, without a step for judgment corresponding to the step S 202  in this embodiment. 
   When a registered user represented by the profile information stored in the memory card  46  does not correspond to the registered user currently using the digital camera  10 , any usage of the memory card  46  may not be allowed. 
   Deletion of the profile information can be conducted by the owner user, only in the case where the profile information stored in the memory card  46  represents the owner user, that is, only in the case where the user of the memory card  46  is the owner user, similarly to the regular users. On the other hand, the owner user may be able to initialize any memory card including one in which profile information representing a regular user is stored. 
   When the user represented by the profile information stored in the memory card  46  under usage correspond to the registered user currently using the digital camera  10 , the profile information may not be deleted at the initialization of the memory card  46 . In this case, transmitting the profile information from the microprocessor  19  to the memory card  46  is not required. 
   The method for identifying the user attempting to use the digital camera  10 , is not limited by inputting a user ID. For example, a power switch may detect the fingerprints of a user. 
   The invention is not limited to that described in the preferred embodiments, namely, various improvements and changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. 
   The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-032993 (filed on Feb. 9, 2005) which is expressly incorporated herein, by reference, in its entirety.