Patent Abstract:
An image processing device such as an electronic camera prevents external devices from writing to a first storage region of a memory, while allowing the external device to write to a second storage region of the memory. Accordingly, even when the external device operates irregularly, information stored in the first storage region cannot be erased or corrupted. According to a second aspect of the invention, two connectors provided on the electronic camera so that the camera can be attached to different external devices are arranged on the outer housing of the camera so that when the first connector is connected to an external device, the second connector is covered. Conversely, when the second connector is connected to an external device, the first connector is covered. This prevents both connectors from being simultaneously connected to two different external devices. Therefore, the possibility of causing an excessive voltage within the camera is lessened.

Full Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE  
         [0001]    The disclosure of the following priority application is herein incorporated by reference: Japanese Patent Application No. 8-213493.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to an information processing device, and relates in particular to an information processing device such as, for example, an electronic camera having a memory that is divided into plural regions and that can be linked to an external device such as, for example, a personal computer.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    In conjunction with the progress that has been made in information processing technology, electronic cameras have been developed that photograph objects utilizing a photo-electric conversion element such as, e.g., a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and the like. Some of these electronic cameras are provided with a serial interface, such as an RS232C interface, for example, that can be connected to a serial port of a personal computer (PC) through a prescribed cable.  
           [0006]    When the electronic camera is connected to a PC through this type of interface, photographed image data can be transmitted to the personal computer from the electronic camera.  
           [0007]    However, a problem can arise when a PC that is operating irregularly is connected to the electronic camera. For example, an unexpected (and undesirable) operation may be performed by the PC relative to the electronic camera that causes the electronic camera to not function properly. For example, the PC may change (or erase) operating parameters for the electronic camera, which are stored in the electronic camera&#39;s memory.  
           [0008]    Another problem that can exist with the electronic cameras arises due to the fact that they are provided with multiple connection terminals that can be connected to multiple external devices and that receive electric power from these external devices. In particular, if electric power is simultaneously supplied from multiple external devices (through the different connectors), then an abnormal (excessive) electrical current is generated within the electronic camera. This can damage the internal circuitry of the electronic camera.  
           [0009]    Even when the multiple external devices are supposed to supply electric power at the same fixed voltage, e.g., 5 volts, variations in the voltage of the electric power source of each external device, even to the extent of +/−0.1 volts, raises the possibility that differences will occur in the supplied electrical voltage.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    According to one aspect of the invention, an information processing device such as, for example, an electronic camera prevents external devices from accessing a first storage region of a memory, while allowing the external device to access a second storage region of the memory. Accordingly, even when the external device operates irregularly, information stored in the first storage region cannot be erased or corrupted.  
           [0011]    In particular, an information processing device incorporating this aspect of the invention includes a controller coupled to a connector and to a memory, the controller preventing external devices connected to the connector from accessing a first storage region of the memory. The memory includes a first storage region and a second storage region. The connector enables the information processing device to be connected to an external device (such as, for example, a personal computer) that is separate from the information processing device.  
           [0012]    When the information processing device is an electronic camera, it includes a lens and a photoelectric converter upon which the lens focuses an image of the object so that the photoelectric converter generates electronic image data. The lens and the photoelectric converter can be located in a housing of the electronic camera and the controller can be coupled to the photoelectric converter to control the storage of the electronic image data in the memory. Specifically, the controller can store the electronic image data generated by the photoelectric converter in the second region of the memory. The controller can enable external devices connected to the connector to access the second region of the memory.  
           [0013]    According to a second aspect of the invention, two connectors that are provided on an image processing device such as, for example, an electronic camera, so that the camera can be attached to different external devices are arranged on the outer housing of the camera so that when the first connector is connected to an external device, the second connector is covered. Conversely, when the second connector is connected to an external device, the first connector is covered. This prevents both connectors from being simultaneously connected to two different external devices. Therefore, the possibility of causing an excessive voltage within the camera is lessened.  
           [0014]    An information processing device incorporating this aspect of the invention includes a first connector by which the information processing device is connectable to a first external device that supplies power to the information processing device through the first connector and a second connector by which the information processing device is connectable to a second external device that supplies power to the information processing device through the second connector. The first connector and the second connector are arranged relative to each other on a surface of the information processing device such that when the first connector is connected to the first external device, the second connector is prevented from being connected to the second external device, and when the second connector is connected to the second external device, the first connector is prevented from being connected to the first external device.  
           [0015]    The information processing device can also include a lens and a photoelectric converter upon which the lens focuses an image of an object to be photographed so that the photoelectric converter generates electronic image data. A processor located in the information processing device processes the electronic image data. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective external view of an electronic camera, which is one type of information processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 electronic camera connected to a personal computer;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the internal construction of the FIG. 1 electronic camera;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of one example of the components of the FIG. 1 electronic camera; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 illustrates the storage regions of the flash memory of FIG. 4. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    Embodiments of the present invention are described hereafter with reference to the drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic camera  1  performs photography of a photographic object when it is connected to a holder  61  (a first external device). The holder  61  includes a release button  82 , which is operated at the time of photography, and a power source comprised of a plurality of batteries  83 , which provides electric power to each electronic circuit. As shown in FIG. 2, electronic camera  1  also can be connected to a designated expansion slot of a personal computer  101  (a second external device). When connected to the PC  101 , the camera  1  receives a signal based on operations performed by the personal computer  101 , and then accomplishes processing corresponding to the signal.  
         [0023]    A surface X of the electronic camera  1 , which faces the photographic object at the time of photography, includes a viewfinder  2 , a photographic lens  3  and a strobe  4 . The viewfinder  2  presents the photographic scope of the photographic object to the user. The photographic lens  3  obtains the optical image of the photographic object. The strobe  4  flashes a light to illuminate the photographic object.  
         [0024]    An LCD  6  and operation keys  7  are provided on an upper surface Z 1  of the electronic camera  1 . LCD  6  displays the photographed image. Operation keys  7  are operated by the user to perform a number of functions.  
         [0025]    A first connector  26  is arranged on the surface Z 2 , which is the lower surface of the electronic camera  1 . When the distal end of the electronic camera  1  is inserted into an opening  84  of the holder  61 , i.e., when the holder  61  is mounted to the electronic camera  1 , connector  26  is electrically connected to a first connector  81  of the holder  61 . Signals corresponding to the electric power of the battery  83  and to the operation of the release button  82  (i.e., control signals and a power signal) are supplied to the electronic camera  1  from the holder  61  through the first connector  26  and the first connector  81 .  
         [0026]    A second connector  27  is arranged on the distal end of the electronic camera  1 . Second connector  27  includes, for example, a connection terminal of the standard PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) type, and is designed so as to be connectable to the connection terminal (i.e. the bus) of the personal computer  101  via an expansion slot of the personal computer. Electric power for the internal electronic circuitry of the electronic camera  1  (which requires one of multiple types of voltage (for example 5 volts and 12 volts)) and a signal corresponding to a specified process (i.e., a control signal) are supplied to the electronic camera  1  from the personal computer  101  through second connector  27 .  
         [0027]    As is known, the personal computer  101  can be connected to an alternating current source. By means of an internally housed AC/DC converter (not shown), the personal computer  101  converts the alternating electric power from the alternating current source to direct current electric power, and supplies the direct current electric power to the electronic camera  1  via connector  27 .  
         [0028]    When the electronic camera  1  is connected to the holder  61  (via first connectors  26  and  81 ), the second connector  27  is located within the opening  84  of the holder  61 . In such a condition, the second connector  27  is not electrically connected to anything, not even to the holder  61 . Thus, due to the arrangement of connectors  26  and  27  on the housing of the camera  1 , when connector  26  is connected (to connector  81 ), connector  27  is prevented from being electrically connected to other external devices (i.e., it is electrically isolated).  
         [0029]    When the electronic camera  1  is connected to the personal computer  101  (via second connector  27  and the PC expansion slot), the first connector  26  makes contact with the side surface of the personal computer  101 . In such a condition, the first connector  26  is not electrically connected to anything, not even to the personal computer  101 . Thus, due to the arrangement (i.e., the relative locations) of connectors  26  and  27  on the housing of the electronic camera  1 , when connector  27  is connected (to the PC bus via the PC expansion slot), connector  26  is prevented from being electrically connected to other external devices (i.e., it is electrically isolated).  
         [0030]    In this manner, since only the first connector  26  or the second connector  27  can be connected to the holder  61  or to the personal computer  101 , respectively, there is no simultaneous supply of electric power from the holder  61  and the personal computer  101 .  
         [0031]    It is possible to implement this aspect of the invention by alternative means. For example, the connectors  26  and  27  could include covers that are selectively locked in a closed position. In such an example, when one of the connectors is attached to an external device, the cover of the other connector is locked. The connectors  26  and  27  could also be selectively disabled so that when one connector is connected to an external device, the other connector is disabled.  
         [0032]    Next, referring to FIG. 3, one possible construction of the internal parts of the electronic camera  1  is described. A CCD  20  is provided behind the photographic lens  3  so that the light image of the photographic object focused by the photographic lens  3  is photo-electrically converted into an electric signal. Photoelectric conversion devices other than a CCD can be used with the invention.  
         [0033]    Located vertically below the viewfinder  2 , the photographic lens  3  and the strobe  4  is a condenser (or capacitor)  22 . Condenser  22  accumulates electric charge for outputting a flash of the light by the strobe  4 .  
         [0034]    Various control circuits for controlling each part of the electronic camera  1  are formed on a circuit board  23 . A flash memory  24  (explained hereafter) is provided on the circuit board  23 . The data of the photographed picture image and various parameters are stored in the flash memory  24 .  
         [0035]    Next, one possible electrical construction of the components of the electronic camera  1  of the present embodiment is explained with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 4. The CCD  20 , which includes a plurality of pixels, photo-electrically converts the light images focused onto each pixel into image signals. A digital signal processor (referred to hereafter as DSP)  33  supplies a CCD horizontal drive pulse to the CCD  20 . DSP  33  also controls the CCD drive circuit  39  and supplies a CCD vertical drive pulse to the CCD  20 .  
         [0036]    An image processor  31  is controlled by a CPU  36 , and samples in a prescribed timing the image signals photo-electrically converted by the CCD  20 . An analogto-digital converter (referred to hereafter as the A/D converter)  32  digitizes the image signals sampled by the image processor  31 , and supplies the digitized signals to the DSP  33 .  
         [0037]    The DSP  33  controls the data bus connected to the buffer memory  35  and the flash memory  24 . In particular, after the image data supplied from the A/D converter  32  is temporarily stored in the buffer memory  35 , the image data stored in the buffer memory  35  is read out and then recorded in the flash memory  24 .  
         [0038]    The DSP  33  also can store the picture image data supplied from the A/D converter  32  in the frame memory  47 , whereupon the image data is displayed on the LCD  6 . The image data stored in flash memory  24  is read out by the DSP  33 , and the image data is then stored into frame memory  47 , to be displayed on LCD  6 .  
         [0039]    The buffer memory  35  is used to harmonize any differences between the input/output speed of the data relative to the flash memory  24 , and the processing speed of the CPU  36  and the DSP  33 .  
         [0040]    The flash memory  24  includes non-volatile memory elements. FIG. 5 shows an example of the manner in which data is allocated to the storage regions of the flash memory  24 . In the first region (address 0000H address A) of the flash memory  24  is stored the parameter data essential to the control of the electronic camera  1 . In the second region (address A - address B) is stored image data of the photographed image and data that is handled by the personal computer  101 .  
         [0041]    Data that can be stored in the first region of the flash memory  24  includes, for example, the date and time data (8 bit data which identifies the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second), which is generated by the timer  45 , data corresponding to the quantization table used to perform compression processing by the JPEG (Joint Photography Experts Group) format, and data relating to the operation of the strobe  4  (automatic flash, flash prevention, forced flash, and the presence or lack thereof of a red eye reduction lamp). Additional data that can be stored in the first region includes, for example, the total number of frames of photographed picture images (number of frames of picture images recorded in the second region of the flash memory  24 ) data relating to the electronic camera  1  such as the serial number of the electronic camera  1 , and the manufacturing lot number, and data such as the correction data of the output level of each color value (RGB) of the CCD  20 .  
         [0042]    It would also be appropriate to store the diaphragm value in the case when the established value of the shutter speed is provided, as well as when the diaphragm mechanism is situated between the photographic lens  3  and the CCD  20 , along with correction data used at the time of establishing these values, in the first region of the flash memory  24 .  
         [0043]    The CPU  36  is programmed or set-up so as to write any signals supplied from the personal computer  101  through the second connector  27  and the interface I/F  50  only to the second region of the flash memory  24 . In other words, the CPU  36  does not write any signals supplied from the personal computer  101  to the first region.  
         [0044]    The CPU  36  also can be programmed or set-up so as to output the picture image data recorded in the second region of the flash memory  24  to the personal computer  101 , through the I/F  50  and through the second connector  27 .  
         [0045]    By controlling the CPU  36  in this manner, even when the personal computer  101  is operating irregularly, the signal supplied from the personal computer  101  is only read into the second region of flash memory  24 . Accordingly, there is no erasure or overwriting of the parameters essential to the operation of the electronic camera  1 , which are recorded in the first region of the flash memory  24 .  
         [0046]    In addition to controlling the strobe drive circuit  41 , which causes the appropriate amount of light to be flashed by the strobe  4 , CPU  36  also controls the lens drive circuit  30  to perform an autofocus operation by moving the photographic lens  3 .  
         [0047]    The CPU  36  also retrieves signals from the operations keys  7 , which can include, for example, a power source switch, and processes these signals in an appropriate manner.  
         [0048]    The timer  45  internally houses a back-up battery, and outputs data corresponding to the current time to the CPU  36 .  
         [0049]    When the electronic camera  1  is connected to the holder  61 , an interface (I/F)  48  outputs signals from the release button  82 , which are supplied through the first connector  26  from the holder  61  to the CPU  36 .  
         [0050]    When the electronic camera  1  is connected to the holder  61 , a DC/DC converter  49  converts the voltage supplied from the batteries  83  connected through the first connector  26  to the appropriate operating voltage for each circuit provided in the electronic camera  1 , and supplies that voltage to each circuit.  
         [0051]    When the electronic camera  1  is connected to the personal computer  101 , the I/F  50  outputs signals supplied from the personal computer  101  through the second connector  27  to the CPU  36 . Additionally, when the electronic camera  1  is connected to the personal computer  101 , the second connector  27  supplies electric power from the personal computer  101  to each circuit.  
         [0052]    Next, an explanation is provided with respect to various operations of the electronic camera  1  according to the present embodiment. First, an explanation is provided with regard to the photography operation of the electronic camera  1 .  
         [0053]    Initially, after the distal end of the electronic camera  1  is inserted into the opening  84  of the holder  61  to connect the electronic camera  1  to the holder  61 , the power source switch, which is one of the operation keys  7 , is operated to supply power to the electronic camera  1 . In other words, the camera is turned ON. The photographic object is confirmed by means of the view-finder  2 , and when the release button  82  of the holder  61  is depressed, the photographic processing of the image commences.  
         [0054]    The light image of the photographic object observed through the viewfinder  2  is focused by means of the photographic lens  3  onto the CCD  20 , which includes a plurality of pixels. The light image of the photographic object formed on the CCD  20  is photo-electrically converted to image signals by each pixel, and sampling is accomplished by the image processor  31 . The image signals sampled by the image processor  31  are supplied to the A/D converter  32 , and are then output to the DSP  33  in digitized form.  
         [0055]    The DSP  33 , after outputting the image data to the buffer memory  35  where it is temporarily stored, reads out the image data from the buffer memory  35 , and stores the image data in the flash memory  24 . At this time, the DSP  33  preferably compresses the image data in accordance with the JPEG format, which combines discrete cosine transformation, quantization and Huffman encoding. Thus, compressed image signals are stored in the flash memory  24 . Other compression techniques could be used.  
         [0056]    When the release button  82  is continuously depressed, the DSP  33  outputs the image data obtained during that time to the frame memory  47 , and the photographed image is displayed on the LCD  6 .  
         [0057]    In addition, as necessary, the strobe  4  is operated, permitting illumination of the photographic object.  
         [0058]    When the electronic camera is connected to the personal computer  101 , it is also possible to perform photography by operating the personal computer  101 .  
         [0059]    Next, an explanation is provided with regard to the operation of the electronic camera  1  in the case when access to the flash memory  24  is accomplished by the personal computer  101 .  
         [0060]    Initially, as shown in FIG. 2, the distal end (including the second connector  27 ) of the electronic camera  1  is inserted into the expansion slot of the personal computer  101  so that the personal computer  101  is electrically connected to the electronic camera  1 . When a designated operation in the personal computer  101  is performed by the user, a signal (i.e., commands) is output to the electronic camera  1  via the bus within the personal computer  101  and the expansion slot.  
         [0061]    The electronic camera  1  retrieves the signal via the I/F  50  and the second connector  27 . The I/F  50  also outputs this signal to the CPU  36 . When the signal includes a write command, the CPU  36  determines whether the address that is the subject of the write command is within the second region of the flash memory  24 . If the address is determined to be an address within the second region, then the data included in the command is written to the address by the CPU  36 .  
         [0062]    Conversely, when the CPU  36  determines that the address is within the first region (and not within the second region), then the write command is not executed by the CPU  36 .  
         [0063]    When the supplied command is a read command, then the CPU  36  determines whether the read-out address is within the second region. If the address is determined to be an address within the second region, then the address is accessed, and the data at that address is read-out by the CPU  36  and output to the personal computer  101  through the I/F  50  and the second connector  27 .  
         [0064]    Conversely, if the CPU  36  determines that the address is within the first region (not within the second region) then the read command is not executed bv the CPU  36 .  
         [0065]    In this manner, the CPU  36  determines whether or not the address which is the subject of the command received from the personal computer  101  is within the second region. When it is determined that the address is in other than the second region (in other words in the first region) then access by the personal computer  101  relative to the first region is prevented.  
         [0066]    In the above embodiment, by inserting the end of the electronic camera  1  into the personal computer  101 , both units are connected. However, the connection methodology is not restricted to this single embodiment.  
         [0067]    While this invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention set forth herein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7