Patent Abstract:
Apparatus having a file generator which assigns a file name for information to be recorded so that the information is formatted as a file for storage in a recording medium. The file generator automatically assigns the file name which has a part thereof which is a serial number stored and managed in the recording medium and associated with the file. The file generator, in one embodiment, increments the last stored file number and stores it in readiness for use to identify the next file to be created. The file generator also creates characters forming an arbitrary position of the file name. The file generator also provides a character which identifies the apparatus with the file number. The arbitrary characters, the character which identifies the apparatus and the serial number are combined to form the file name.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/648,666 filed Aug. 26, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/525,508, filed on Mar. 15, 2000, which is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/766,751 filed Dec. 13, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,586 which is a divisional application Ser. No. 08/241,017, filed on May 11, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,732, which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for capturing and storing images and more particularly to said apparatus which is provided with an operating mode for storing a file name. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     A conventional image recording/reproducing system, which acts as an image manipulating system, using a floppy disk, a memory card, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magnetic tape, or the like as a recording medium can perform interval recording of still images once and again at set recording time intervals. The recording time interval is, independent of a recording medium employed, specified with respect to a type of recording medium whose access speed is lowest among those of applicable types of media. 
     Shortest times of recording time intervals that are applicable corresponding to the types of recording media for the image recording/reproducing system are 10 sec for a floppy disk and 1 sec for a memory card and hard disk in a mode of digital image data compression recording. 
     As mentioned above, the shortest times of recording time intervals are considerably different among the different types of recording media. Even when interval recording is desired to be performed at as short time intervals as is possible, a time interval must be restricted in the longest time period with respect to a type of recording medium whose access speed is lowest among those of applicable types of recording media. Even when a recording medium employed offers a high access speed, recording must be performed at relatively longer time intervals. This is unreasonable. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a user-friendly image manipulating system capable of selecting a recording time interval depending on an adopted type of information recording medium and performing interval recording in as strict compliance as possible in response to a demand. 
     An image manipulating system according to the present invention has an interval recording means for repeatedly recording supplied image information at predetermined time intervals, comprising a ruling means that presents a limit value for recording time intervals selectively designative for repetitive recording depending on an adopted type of information recording medium, and disables selection of a recording time interval exceeding the limit value. 
     In the above system, a recording time interval for interval recording can be set to any of the values allowed by the ruling means depending on an adopted type of recording medium, and then interval recording can be executed. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the description below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a structure of an image recording/reproducing system, which acts as an image manipulating system of an embodiment of the present invention, with a remote-control transmitter, a modem, and others connected; 
         FIG. 2  shows a layout of a front panel of the image recording/reproducing system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a main routine running in the recording/reproducing system in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing a sequence initiated at branch B 4  in the flowchart of the main routine in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing a sequence initiated at branch B 1  in the flowchart of the main routine in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing the subroutine IntRec called by the main routine in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart showing a sequence initiated at branch B 5  in the flowchart of the main routine in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing a sequence initiated at branch B 6  in the flowchart of the main routine in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart showing the subroutine Comp 2  called by the main routine in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing the subroutine Right called by the main routine in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing the subroutine Left called by the main routine in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart showing the subroutine Up called by the main routine in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart showing the subroutine Down called by the main routine in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart showing the subroutine Recording called by the subroutine IntRec in  FIG. 6  or the main routine in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart showing the subroutine Empty Directory Number Retrieval called by the subroutine Recording in  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a flowchart showing the subroutine Empty Directory Retrieval  1  called by the subroutine Empty Directory Number Retrieval in  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a flowchart showing the subroutine Empty Directory Retrieval  2  called by the subroutine Empty Directory Number Retrieval in  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a flowchart showing the subroutine File Name Automatic Production called by the subroutine Recording in  FIG. 14 : 
         FIG. 19  is a flowchart showing the subroutine File Name Automatic Production  1  called by the subroutine File Name Automatic Production in  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a flowchart showing the subroutine File Name Automatic Production  2  called by the subroutine File Name Automatic Production in  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 21  shows an example of a menu screen for interval recording in the image recording/reproducing system in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 22  is an explanatory diagram concerning dual-screen displaying involving VRAMs in the image recording/reproducing system in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 23  shows an example of dual-screen display in the image recording/reproducing system in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 24  shows an example of a menu screen for file name automatic production in the image recording/reproducing system in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 25  is a side view showing a battery-like conductor loaded together with another power supply applicable to the image recording/reproducing system in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An embodiment of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a structure of an image recording/reproducing system, which acts as an image manipulating system of an embodiment of the present invention, with a remote-control transmitter and others connected. 
     Types of recording media applicable for image information to a recording/reproducing system  1  include, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a memory card  3 , a floppy disk (FD in  FIG. 1 )  5 , and a hard disk  20  (HD in  FIG. 1 ). 
     The image recording/reproducing system  1  of this embodiment comprises an A/D converter  11  for converting a supplied analog video signal into a digital signal to be written in a video RAM (hereinafter, VRAM)  13   c , a D/A converter  12  for outputting a video signal to a monitor or the like, an image data memory  13  having the built-in VRAM  13   c , data/address buses  22  and  23 , a video bus  24 , a recording/reproducing control unit  14 , a remote-control light receiver  15  for receiving infrared light transmitted from the remote-control transmitter  2  and outputting the transmitted signal to a CPU  14   a , operation switches  16  that comprise switch buttons arranged on a front panel  1   a  (See  FIG. 2 ) of a main unit of the system, a display  17  composed of LEDs for indicating operational states of the recording/reproducing system  1  and arranged on the panel  1   a , an RS232C interface (I/F in  FIG. 1 )  18  that is a serial interface circuit connected to the modem  4 , a memory card interface (I/F in  FIG. 1 )  19  that is a memory card interface circuit connected to the memory card  3 , a hard disk drive (HDD) unit  20 , a floppy disk drive unit (FDD in  FIG. 1 )  21 , batteries  25  realizing a power supply of 9 VDC or 5 VDC, and a voltage regulator  26 . 
     The foregoing data/address buses  22  and  23  serve as signal transmission buses linking between the memory card interface  19  and the control unit  14 , and between the control unit  14  and the RAM-A  13   a  in the image data memory  13 , D/A converter  12 , and A/D converter  11 . 
     The video bus  24  serves as a video signal transmission bus connecting between the VRAM  13   c  in the image data memory  13  and the D/A converter  12  or A/D converter  11 . 
     The recording/reproducing control unit  14  controls circuit elements constituting the system and inputs a signal sent from the remote-control light receiver  15  and the output signals of the operation switches  16 . The recording/reproducing control unit  14  comprises the CPU  14   a  having a built-in interval recording means and being responsible for control, a CG circuit  14   b  for outputting character data to be superposed on a video signal, a RAM-B  14   c  for storing data temporarily, a ROM  14   d  for storing various control algorithms, an EEPROM  14   e  for storing various data including recording time intervals for interval recording so as to make the data available with power off, and a floppy disk drive controller (FDC in  FIG. 1 )  14   f  for controlling the floppy disk drive  21 . 
     The image data memory  13  comprises the RAM-A  13   a  into which image data is fetched temporarily via the data/address bus  23  or a coder  13   b  to be described later, the coder  13   b  for compressing or decompressing image data, and the VRAM  13   c  into which a video signal is fetched via the video bus  24  or coder  13   b.    
       FIG. 2  shows a layout of the switch buttons of operation switches  16 , LED indicators  17 , and slots  1   b  and  1   c  with eject buttons, into which the memory card  3  and floppy disk  5  are loaded, on the front panel  1   a  of the image recording/reproducing system  1 . 
     Buttons and indicators arranged on the panel  1   a  except for the slots  1   b  and  1   c  for loading recording media are a POWER switch  16   z  that is a power switch button, a Disp switch  16   w  that is a character display switch button, a Set switch  16   x  that is a switch button for setting conditions for, for example, compression or non-compression of image data, an LED display  17   e  for displaying a frame number to be reproduced or recorded, a Card/FD/HD switch  16   r  that is a switch button for selecting a type of recording medium, an LED array  17   f  for indicating a selected type of recording medium, and an Up switch  16   s  for designating “upward,” a Down switch  16   u  for designating “downward,” a Right switch  16   v  for designating “rightward,” and a Left switch  16   t  for designating “leftward,” which are general-purpose arrow select switch buttons. 
     Also arranged on the front panel  1   a  are a transfer direction indication LED array  17   g  for indicating recording media acting as a source and destination of image data to be copied, LED indicators for indicating conditions for compression and non-compression of image data; that is, Fixed  1  and Fixed  2  indicators  17   a  and  17   b  for indicating compression under fixed  1  and  2  conditions, a Variable indicator  17   c  for indicating variable length compression, and a Non-compression indicator  17   d  for indicating that compression is not performed, a Copy switch  16   a  that is a switch button for copying image data of one screen into a recording medium, an All Copy switch  16   b  that is a switch button for copying all image data from one recording medium into another recording medium, a Format switch  16   c  that is a switch button for formatting a recording medium, an Erase switch  16   d  that is a switch button for erasing image data of one screen, an All Erase switch  16   e  that is a switch button for erasing all image data, a Rec switch  16   f  that is a switch button for designating a recording mode for recording image data, an IntRec switch  16   g  that is a switch button for designating an interval recording mode, a Play switch  16   j  that is a switch button for designating a reproduction mode, a Start switch  16   h  that is a switch button for activating the Copy to IntRec processing and the Play processing which are placed in a standby state because the associated switches  16   a  to  16   g  and  16   j  are pressed, and a Stop switch  16   i  that is a switch button for stopping the above processing. 
     Also arranged on the front panel  1   a  are a Fld/Frm switch  16   k  that is a switch button for designating whether image data is recorded field by field or frame by frame, a Comp 2  switch  16   m  that is a switch button for designating dual-screen display as a multi-screen display reproduction mode, a Comp 4  switch  16   n  that is a switch button for designating quadruple-screen display, a Multi 16  switch  16   p  that is a switch button for designating 16-division display, and LEDs  17   h  for indicating whether the Copy to Rec switches  16   a  to  16   f  are pressed. 
     Recording, reproducing, interval recording, and copying to be executed in the image recording/reproducing system  1  of this embodiment having the aforesaid configuration will be described using the flowcharts. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing a main routine of control operations in the recording/reproducing system. This processing starts with the Power switch  16   z  on. First, initialization is executed at step S 1 . Initialization sets 1 as a frame number for image data in the memory card  3  or floppy disk  5  which is to be recorded or reproduced. At respective branches B 4  to B 7 , processing associated with the switches are executed. When any switch is not pressed, it is checked if the Right or Left switch  16   v  or  16   t  is on or off at step S 2  or S 4 . If the Right or Left switch is on, the frame number is incremented or decremented. The resultant frame number then appears on the LED display  17   e  on the front panel  1   a . Control is then returned to branch B 4 . 
     When control is passed to step S 11  in the flowchart shown in  FIG. 4  via branch B 4 , conditions for interval recording are set. More particularly, it is checked at step S 11  if the IntRec switch  16   g  is on or off. If the IntRec switch  16   g  is-off, control is passed to branch B 5  in  FIG. 7  which will be described later. If the IntRec switch  16   g  is on, control is passed to step S 12 . 
     At step S 12 , a menu screen G 1  shown in  FIG. 21  is displayed on a monitor when the screen information is output to the monitor via the D/A converter  12 . This screen shows INT REC standing for interval recording (second line), the number of frames to be recorded (first line), and selective current values of recording time intervals for interval recording (fourth to eighth lines) which are associated with types of recording media and accompanied by specification of either data compression (COMPRESS.) or non-compression (NO COMPRESS.). The number of frames to be recorded can be set by means of remote control. 
     The selective recording time intervals for interval recording can be designated for each of the types of recording medium depending on compression or non-compression by taking into account the access times permitted by the types of recording medium. For example, ranges listed in Table 1 are selective. A lower limit of time intervals listed in Table 1 is a value indicating a limit by which interval recording can be performed in terms of the access time of each type of recording medium. Selection of a time interval smaller than the limit value is not allowed by a ruling means incorporated in the CPU  14   a.    
     In Table 1, a set constant for non-compression is not specified with respect to a floppy disk or one type of recording medium. This is because even if interval recording is performed on a floppy disk in a non-compression mode, since a floppy disk has a mere storage capacity of one or two screens, the system itself inhibits the interval recording of a floppy disk. Alphanumeric characters in parentheses following Floppy disk in Table 1 denote natures of floppy disks in terms of storage capacities thereof. Values in parentheses following Memory card in Table 1 denote access times. As soon as a recording medium is loaded, the system autonomously determines whatever of the types of recording medium listed in Table 1 is used. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Type of recording 
                 Compression or 
                 Range of set constants of 
               
               
                 medium 
                 non-compression 
                 recording time intervals 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Floppy disk 
                 (2DD) 
                 Compression 
                  20 sec to 60 min 
               
               
                   
                 (2HD) 
                 Compression 
                  10 sec to 60 min 
               
               
                   
                 (2ED) 
                 Compression 
                  10 sec to 60 min 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Memory card 
                 Compression 
                 0.5 sec to 60 min 
               
               
                 (100 to 200 nsec) 
                 Non-compression 
                   5 sec to 60 min 
               
               
                 Memory card 
                 Compression 
                   1 sec to 60 min 
               
               
                 (250 to 600 nsec) 
                 Non-compression 
                  10 sec to 60 min 
               
               
                 Hard disk 
                 Compression 
                   2 sec to 60 min 
               
               
                   
                 Non-compression 
                  20 sec to 60 min 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Values that can actually be set as recording time intervals are preprogrammed practical values within the ranges in Table 1. For example, in a case where compressed data is stored in a memory card whose access time is 200 nsec, thirty values listed in Table 2 can be selectively designated. Selection of any of the values is performed at steps S 36  and S 37  in the flowchart of  FIG. 5 . If a value other than the listed values is chosen during the selection, warning may be given by sounding a buzzer or blinking an LED. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Recording medium 
                 Set constant 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Memory card (200 nsec, compression) 
                 0.5 (sec) 
               
               
                   
                 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (sec) 
               
               
                   
                 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 (sec) 
               
               
                   
                 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (min) 
               
               
                   
                 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 (min) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     After the menu screen G 1  is displayed at step S 12  in  FIG. 4 , control is passed to step S 13 . The fourth line (FD (2HD) COMPRESS.) in a display area G 1 A in the screen G 1  is colored in red. Control is then passed to step S 14 . It is checked if the Right switch  16   v  is on or off. If the Right switch  16   v  is on, control is passed to step S 19 . It is checked what is a red display line. If the red display line is any of the fourth to eighth lines, control is passed to step S 31  in  FIG. 5  via branch B 1  which will be described later. If the red display line is none of the fourth to eighth lines, control is passed to step S 15 . 
     At step S 15 , it is checked if the Down switch  16   u  is on or off. If the Down switch  16   u  is off, control is passed to step S 16 . If the Down switch  16   u  is on, control is jumped to step S 20 . The red display line is displaced immediately below. Control is then passed to step S 17  which will be described later. 
     At step S 16 , it is checked if the Up switch  16   s  is on or off. If the Up switch  16   s  is off, control is passed to step S 17 . If the Up switch  16   s  is on, control is jumped to step S 21 . The red display line is then displaced immediately above. Control is then passed to step S 17 . The movable range of the red display line to be displaced at steps S 20  and S 21  is within the fourth to tenth lines. 
     At step S 17 , it is checked if the Start switch  16   j  is on or off. If the Start switch  16   j  is off, control is returned to step S 14 . If the Start switch  16   j  is on, control is passed to step S 18 . It is then checked if the ninth line in the menu screen G 1  appears in red. If the ninth line is not displayed in red, control is returned to step S 14 . If the ninth line appears in red, control is jumped to step S 22 . It is determined that recording time interval setting is released. The display of the menu screen G 1  is then turned off. Control is then returned to step S 11 . 
     When control is passed to branch B 1  as a result of the check made at step S 19 , processing initiated at step S 31 , which will be described hereinafter, is executed according to the flowchart in  FIG. 5 . In other words, the same line in a display area G 1 B as the red display line in the area G 1 A in the screen G 1  is displayed in red at step S 31 . At steps S 32  and  33 , it is checked if the Up switch  16   s  and Down switch  16   u , that are the direction switch buttons, are on or off. If the Up switch  16   s  or Down switch  16   u  is on, the constant of a recording time interval for the recording medium appearing on the red display line in the display area G 1 B is changed to longer time or shorter time to equal to one of the values listed in Table 2. Control is then returned to step S 32 . At step S 34 , it is checked if the Left switch  16   t  is on or off. If the Left switch  16   t  is on, control is jumped to step S 38 . The display area G 1 A is displayed in red. Control is then returned to step S 14  in  FIG. 4  via branch B 2 . Medium specification or other processing is executed. If the Left switch  16   t  is off, control is passed to step S 35 . 
     At step S 35 , it is checked if the Start switch  16   h  is on or off. If the Start switch  16   h  is off, control is returned to step S 32 . If the Start switch  16   h  is on, the display of the menu screen G 1  is terminated at step S 39  so that interval recording can be executed. At step S 40 , a predetermined value of recording time interval is written in the EEPROM  14   e . Therefore, even if the Power switch  16   z  were turned off, the predetermined value can be re-set effortlessly. 
     Next, control is passed to step S 41 . Subroutine IntRec which will be described later is called. Interval recording is then executed at set time intervals. Thereafter, control is returned to step S 11  in  FIG. 4  via branch B 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing subroutine IntRec. In this processing, first, medium specification is executed at step S 51 . At step S 52 , subroutine Recording is called. Image data recording is then executed. Control is then passed to step S 53 . A constant is then set for a timer according to the predetermined recording time interval. At step S 54 , the timer is started to count down. 
     At step S 55 , it is checked if the Stop switch  16   i  is on or off. If the Stop switch  16   i  is on, the subroutine is terminated. If the Stop switch  16   i  is off, control is passed to step S 56 . It is then determined whether recording can be continued in terms of the number of remaining frames. If recording cannot be continued, the subroutine is terminated. If recording can be continued, control is passed to step S 57 . It is then checked if the timer stops counting down. Control is then returned to step S 55 . If the timer completes counting down, the subroutine terminates. 
     As described above, in this system, recording time intervals exceeding the access speed permitted by a concerned type of recording medium are ruled out. Thus, interval recording can be executed at desired time intervals at which the properties of a recording medium can be exploited fully. 
     As described previously, when it is found at step S 11  in  FIG. 4  that the IntRec switch  16   g  is off, control is passed to step S 61  in the flowchart of  FIG. 7  via branch B 5 . It is then checked if the Copy switch  16   a  is on or off. If the Copy switch  16   a  is off, control is passed to step S 81  in  FIG. 8  via branch B 6 . If the Copy switch  16   a  is on, control is passed to step S 62 . Copying is then executed. 
     First, at step S 62 , a designated frame in a first medium, which serves as a copy source, having been designated at steps S 3  and S 5  in  FIG. 3  is reproduced and displayed on the monitor. At step S 63 , it is checked if the LED  17   f  associated with the memory card  3  lights. If the LED  17   f  lights, the one of the transfer indication LEDs  17   g  indicating data transfer from a card memory to a floppy disk is lit at step S 64 . If the LED  17   f  does not light, the one of the transfer indication LEDs indicating data transfer from a floppy disk to a memory card is lit at step S 71 . 
     At step S 65 , it is determined whether copying can be executed in terms of whether recording image data in a second medium serving as a transfer destination is disabled and what is the number of frames representing a remaining capacity. If copying cannot be executed, control is jumped to step S 70 . The one of the transfer indication LEDs  17   g  indicating data transfer from a memory card to a floppy disk and the one thereof indicating data transfer from a floppy disk to a memory card are put out. Control is then passed to step S 81  in  FIG. 8  via branch B 6 . If copying can be executed, control is passed to steps S 66  and S 67 . It is checked if the Right switch  16   v  or Left switch  16   t  is on or off. If either the Right switch  16   v  or Left switch  16   t  is on, a frame number for image data in a transfer destination is incremented (step S 72 ) or decremented (step S 73 ). Control is then returned to step S 66 . At this time, a frame number for image data in the first medium serving as a transfer source appears on the single LED display  17   e . Image data associated with the frame number can be viewed when sent to the monitor via the D/A converter  12 . 
     When it is detected at step S 68  that the Start switch  16   h  is on, control is passed to step S 74 . Subroutine Recording which will be described later is run to record data existent in the first medium serving as a transfer source into the second medium serving as a transfer destination. Control is then passed to step S 70 . If the Start switch  16   h  is off, control is passed to step S 69 . It is then checked if the Stop switch  16   i  is on or off. If the Stop switch  16   i  is off, control is returned to step S 66 . If the Stop switch  16   i  is on, control is passed to step S 70 . 
     As mentioned above, in this system, a frame number for image data in a copy destination is automatically selected during recording in  FIG. 14  which will be described later. For copying, therefore, only a frame number for image data in a medium serving as a copy source need be indicated on the single LED display  17   e . The system configuration can therefore be simplified. Irrelevant of raw image information, the simplification will not inconvenience any user. 
     When control is jumped to step S 81  in the flowchart of  FIG. 8  via branch B 6  in the flowchart of  FIG. 7 , it is checked if the Comp 2  switch  16   m  is on or off. If the Comp 2  switch  16   m  is off, control is returned to the main routine in  FIG. 8  via branch B 7 . If the Comp 2  switch is on, control is passed to step S 82  at which one of multi-screen displaying modes; that is, dual-screen displaying for providing a screen G 2  shown in  FIG. 22  is initiated. 
     At step S 82 , the frame numbers x and y for sub-screens appearing as right and left parts of the screen G 2  in  FIG. 22  are set to an equal value, and a flag RO is set to 1. The frame numbers are displayed in the screen. The right one of the frame numbers is displayed in red. The flag RO is used as a display area specifying means for selecting and specifying right and left display areas that are one part of the display screen and the other part thereof. The left or right display area corresponds to an x area or a y area in  FIG. 22 . The screen display magnifications of the two sub-screens are set to be equal with each other. At step S 83 , the dual screen G 2  shown in  FIG. 22  appears on the monitor. Specifically, an x-th frame is displayed as the left half of the dual screen G 2 , and a y-th frame is displayed as the right half thereof. 
     Next, at step S 84 , it is checked if the Comp 2  switch  16   m  is on or off. If the Comp 2  switch is on, control is jumped to step S 90 . Subroutine Comp 2  is called. 
     The subroutine Comp 2  runs according to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 9 . First, the flag RO is checked at step S 101 . If the flag RO is set to 1, control is passed to step S 102 . The flag RO is then reset to 0 at step S 101 . At step S 103 , the frame number appearing above the left part of the screen is colored in red. If the flag RO is set to 0, control is passed to step S 104 . The flag RO is then set to 1. At step S 105 , the frame number appearing above the right part of the screen is colored in red. The subroutine then terminates. Every time the Comp 2  switch  16   m  is pressed, the right frame number and left frame number are alternately colored in red. Thus, the right and left display areas can be specified selectively. 
     If it is found at step S 84  in  FIG. 8  that the Comp 2  switch  16   m  is off, control is passed to step S 85  or later. At steps S 85  and S 86 , it is checked if the Right switch  16   v  and Left switch  16   t  are on or off. If the Right switch  16   v  is on, control is passed to step S 91 . Subroutine Right is then called. When the Left switch  16   t  is on, control is passed to step S 92 . Subroutine Left is then called. 
     The Right or Left subroutine runs under the control of a means that executes processing for scrolling an image rendered in a display area that is part of a screen specified by the display area specifying means; such as, the x display area or y display area in  FIG. 22  corresponding to an image signal produced for the display area. 
     Subroutine Right runs according to the flowchart in  FIG. 10 . At step S 111 , the flag RO is checked. If the flag RO is set to 1, control is jumped to step S 112 . When the flag RO is set to 0 at step S 111 , control is jumped to step S 113 . At step S 112 , a value y 1  that is a coordinate of a horizontal starting point of the y display area is incremented. At step S 113 , a value x 1  that is a coordinate of a horizontal starting point of the x display area is incremented. After the incrementing, the subroutine terminates. 
     Subroutine Left runs according to the flowchart in  FIG. 11 . At step S 115 , the flag RO is checked. If the flag RO is set to 1, control is jumped to step S 116 . When the flag RO is set to 0, control is jumped to step S 117 . At step S 116 , the value y 1  that is a coordinate of a horizontal starting point of the y display area is decremented. At step S 117 , the value x 1  that is a coordinate of a horizontal starting point of the x display area is decremented. After the decrementing, the subroutine terminates. 
     The value x 1  or y 1  of the coordinate of the horizontal start point indicates a scroll starting point in the x or y display area of a display screen and corresponds to a horizontal coordinate in image data residing in the VRAM 1  or VRAM 2  associated with the x or y display area and incorporated in the VRAM  13   c.  Incidentally, a scroll terminus in the x or y display area of a display screen is indicated with xb or yb. The x or y display area therefore ranges from the starting point x 1  or y 1  to the terminus xb to yb. The value of the horizontal starting point x 1  or y 1  ranges from a minimum x 0  or y 0 , which indicates the leftmost end of the VRAM 22  or VRAM 2  in a single-screen display mode, to a maximum x 2  or y 2  indicating a middle point in the single-screen display mode. When the value of the horizontal starting point x 1  or y 1  assumes the maximum x 2  or y 2 , the scroll terminus xb or yb coincides with a point xa or ya that is located at the rightmost end of the VRAM 1  or VRAM 2  in the single-screen display mode. The output of the VRAM 1  or VRAM 2  is selected by means of a select switch element  13   c   1  or  13   c   2 , and then fed to the D/A converter  12 . Thus, dual-screen display is achieved. 
     In the flowchart of  FIG. 8 , the processing of step S 85  or S 86  is succeeded by that of step S 87  or S 88 . 
     At steps S 87  and S 88 , it is checked if the Up switch  16   s  and Down switch  16   u  are on or off. If the Up switch  16   s  is on, control is passed to step S 93 . Subroutine Up is then called. If the Down switch  16   u  is on, control is passed to step S 94 . Subroutine Down is then called. 
     The Up subroutine runs according to the flowchart in  FIG. 12 . At step S 121 , the flag RO is checked. If the flag RO is set to 1, control is jumped to step S 122 . If the flag RO is set to 0, control is jumped to step S 123 . At step S 122 , the frame number appearing above the right sub-screen is incremented. At step S 123 , the frame number appearing above the left sub-screen is incremented. The subroutine then terminates. 
     The Down subroutine runs according to the flowchart of  FIG. 13 . At step S 125 , the flag RO is checked. If the flag RO is set to 1, control is jumped to step S 126 . If the flag RO is set to 0, control is jumped to step S 127 . At step S 126 , the frame number appearing above the right sub-screen is decremented. At step S 127 , the frame number appearing above the left sub-screen is decremented. After the decrementing, the subroutine terminates. 
     After the processing of step S 87  or S 88  in  FIG. 8 , control is passed to step S 89 . It is checked if the Stop switch is on or off. If the Stop switch is off, control is returned to step S 83 . If the Stop switch is on, control is passed to step S 95 . A stop mode is affected by, for example, stopping dual-screen displaying. Control is then branched at branch B 7 . Subsequent processing is then executed. 
     As described above, during the dual-screen displaying, the Up switch  16   s  or Down switch  16   u  is pressed to designate two image data having two frame numbers, and the image data are displayed in two sub-screens separately. The Comp 2  switch  16   m  is then used to designate the right sub-screen or left sub-screen. Thereafter, the Right switch  16   v  or Left switch  16   t  is turned on or off, so that the right or left sub-screen can be scrolled to display any division of one screen in full size. Consequently, the right and left sub-screens, especially, areas near a boundary or ends of both the sub-screens can be compared with each other effortlessly. In this system, a screen is divided laterally. The present invention is not limited to this working mode but may apply to vertically-divided multi-screen display or division display providing two or more sub-screens. 
     Subroutine Recording, which is called at step S 52  in subroutine IntRec shown in  FIG. 6 , at step S 74  in Copying initiated at branch B 5  in  FIG. 7 , or during normal recording, will be described in conjunction with the flowchart in  FIG. 14 . 
     In the Recording subroutine, a directory to be recorded is selected automatically. First and second recording modes are available. In the first recording mode, all directories including those from which image data are deleted are searched to retrieve directories that do not have recorded image data. A directory having the smallest directory number is then specified. The first recording mode enables effective use of directories. In the second recording mode, a directory succeeding a directory number of a directory in or from which image data has been recorded or deleted last is specified. Deleted directories are wasted. However, the second recording mode enables recording in order of specification. 
     A flag R 1  which will be described later is adopted as a means for selecting the first or second recording mode. For example, a value set for the flag R 1  is stored in a recording medium, and a recording mode is specified by reading the value. Alternatively, a display screen for recording mode selection may be displayed successively to the menu screen G 1  in  FIG. 21 . While the screen is being viewed, switches are pressed to change the value set for the flag R 1 . Thus, a recording mode may be designated. As for a flag R 2  used in file name automatic production which will be described later, similar to the flag R 1 , a value stored in a recording medium may be read out or a value may be designated and entered in a screen. 
     The Recording subroutine will be described more particularly. First, at step S 131  in  FIG. 14 , subroutine Empty Directory Number Retrieval for retrieving a directory in a recording medium, in which image data is to be recorded, is called. 
     The subroutine checks, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the flag R 1  at step S 141 . If the flag R 1  is set to 1, control is passed to step S 142 . Subroutine Empty Directory Retrieval  1  is called to retrieve a directory to be recorded in the first recording mode. If the flag R 1  is reset to 0, control is passed to step S 143 . Subroutine Empty Directory Retrieval  2  is called to retrieve a directory to be recorded in the second recording mode. 
     The Empty Directory Retrieval  1  subroutine runs according to the flowchart in  FIG. 16 . At step S 151 , 1 is set for the designated directory number RN. At step S 152 , it is checked if the RN-th directory has been recorded with image data. If it is determined that the RN-th directory has not been recorded, control is passed to step S 153 . An empty directory number is specified as RN. The subroutine then terminates. 
     When it is found at step S 152  that the RN-th directory has been recorded with image data, control is jumped to step S 154 . 
     At step S 154 , the RN value is incremented. Control is then passed to step S 155 . It is checked if the RN value agrees with the maximum number of frames recordable in a recording medium; that is, the maximum number of directory entries RNmax. If they disagree, control is returned to step S 152 . If they agree, control is passed to step S 156  or S 157 . It is then determined that an empty directory is unavailable. CARD FULL is therefore displayed. The subroutine then terminates. 
     The Empty Directory Retrieval  2  subroutine runs according to the flowchart of  FIG. 17 . At step S 161 , the designated directory number RN is set to a value representing the maximum directory number RNmax. At step S 162 , it is checked if the RN-th directory has been recorded with image data. If the RN-th directory has been recorded, control is passed to step S 163  or S 164 . It is then determined that an empty directory is unavailable. CARD FULL is therefore displayed. If it is determined at step S 162  that the RN-th directory has not been recorded, control is passed to step S 165 . 
     At step S 165 , the RN value is decremented. Control is then passed to step S 166 . It is checked if the RN-th directory has been recorded with image data. When it is found that the RN-th directory has been recorded, it is determined that all directories ending with the RN-th directory have been recorded image data. Control is then jumped to step S 167 . RN+1 is specified as an empty directory number. The subroutine then terminates. When it is found at step S 166  that the RN-th directory has not been recorded, control is passed to step S 168 . It is then checked if the RN value is 1. If the RN value is 1, it is determined that all directories have been checked and not been recorded with image data. 1 is then set for the directory number RN. The subroutine then terminates. When the RN value is not 1, control is returned to step S 165 . 
     Step S 131  in subroutine Recording in  FIG. 14  is succeeded by step S 132 . At step S 132 , subroutine File Name Automatic Production is called. 
       FIG. 18  is a flowchart showing the File Name Automatic Production subroutine. The subroutine runs under the control of a means incorporated in the recording/reproducing control unit  14  and designed to assign a file name. During file name production, part of a file name is defined as arbitrarily non-designative and therefore specified automatically, while the other part is defined as arbitrarily designative. 
     First, at step S 171 , a medium is checked for a value set for the flag R 2 . If the value is 1, control is passed to step S 172 . If the value is 0, control is passed to step S 173 . Subroutine File Name Automatic Production  1  or File Name Automatic Production  2  is then run. 
     The File Name Automatic Production  1  subroutine runs according to the flowchart in  FIG. 19 . At step S 181 , fixed characters, for example, DFS are specified as the first to third leftmost characters of a file name. At step S 182 , a character specific to the system, for example, A is specified as the fourth leftmost character thereof. 
     The characters can be designated in a menu screen G 3  shown in  FIG. 24 . That is to say, the first line in the menu screen G 3  is displayed in red. The character A is changed to B, C, or the like, whereby the fourth character is designated. 
     At step S 183  succeeding S 182 , an automatically specified directory number, for example, 0036 is specified as the fifth to eighth characters. Next, at step S 184 , the characters specified at steps S 181  to S 183  are combined to produce a file name. The foregoing example provides DFSA0036. XXX. Note that XXX denotes a subordinate name of the file name. 
     As mentioned above, in subroutine File Name Automatic Production  1 , a file name includes a directory number of a directory associated with the file. For copying image data, the system autonomously appends a directory number to a file name. An operator therefore need not rename a file name. Furthermore, an accident that an old file having the same name as a new file is deleted will not occur. 
     The File Name Automatic Production  2  subroutine runs according to the flowchart of  FIG. 20 . At step S 191 , it is determined that a copy mode is designated. If the copy mode is designated, control is jumped to step S 197 . The subroutine is terminated without any change in a file name. If the copy mode is not designated, control is passed to step S 192 . Fixed characters, for example, DFS are specified as the first to third leftmost characters of a file name. At step S 193 , a character specific to the system, for example, B is specified as the fourth leftmost character thereof. At step S 194 , a value of a serial file number RM stored in the EEPROM  14   e , for example, 0063 is specified as the fifth to eighth leftmost characters thereof. At step S 195 , the value of the serial file number RM is incremented. At step S 196 , the characters specified at steps S 192  to S 194  are combined to produce a file name. The foregoing example provides DFSB0063. XXX. Note that XXX denotes a subordinate name of the file name. 
     As mentioned above, in subroutine File Name Automatic Production  2 , even when a plurality of systems of the same kind are installed, since any of the systems is distinguished from another with the fourth character of a file name, the systems can be differentiated from one to another. Moreover, since part of a file name is a serial file number stored and managed in the EEPROM  14   e  and associated with the file concerned, even if a medium is exchanged for another, a duplicate number will not be created within four characters. When image data is copied, therefore, a file name need not be renamed. A file having a duplicate name will not reside. This means that image data in an old file having the same name as a new file will not be deleted. 
     The serial file number RM may be defined with data produced by manipulating values of a year, date, time, minute, and second. The serial file number may be reset to 0s with the second line in the menu screen G 3  in  FIG. 24  displayed in red. 
     Next, a power supply for the system will be described. 
     The power supply  25  is composed of batteries. More particularly, six manganese batteries each generating a rated voltage of 1.5 V are connected in series with one another and stowed in a battery casing to constitute a power supply for inputting 9 VDC to the regulator  26 . Five lithium batteries each generating a rated voltage of 1.8 V, for example, can be used as alternative batteries. In this case, the power supply accommodates one battery-like conductor  27  shown in  FIG. 25  as a dummy battery. Since five 1.8 V batteries are connected in series with one another, the power supply inputs 9 VDC to the regulator. 
     The battery-like conductor  27  has a first conductive part  27   a  acting like a positive terminal of a battery and a second conductive part  27   b  acting like a negative terminal thereof and conducting substantially to the first conductive part. When batteries of another specification, for example, lithium batteries are employed, five lithium batteries and one battery-like conductor  27  are connected in series with one another, so that the supply voltage of the lithium batteries becomes substantially equal to that of six manganese batteries connected in series with one another. Thus, the battery-like conductor helps avoid malfunction due to overvoltage or undervoltage, or prevent circuits from destroying. 
     As described so far, an image recording/reproducing system serving as an image manipulating system of this embodiment identifies an adopted type of recording medium, sets a recording time interval for interval recording within a range allowed by a ruling means, and then executes interval recording. A recording time interval can be selected depending on a type of information recording medium. Interval recording can therefore be achieved in as strict compliance as is possible responsive to a demand. This results in a user-friendly system.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8