IMAGING APPARATUS CONTROL UNIT AND DIGITAL CAMERA

Abstract

An imaging apparatus control unit, comprising a calculation block, a first control block, an output block, and a second control block, is provided. The calculation block calculates the number of possible photographs. The number of possible photographs is set as the sequential-photographing number. The first control block carries out imaging control for either sequential-photographing or single-photographing. The output block outputs the compressed image signal to the memory. The second control block either repeatedly carries out the sequential control for sequential-photographing, or stops carrying out the sequential control for sequential-photographing and begins carrying out the sequential control for single-photographing when the sequential-photographing number is below a first predetermined number.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of a digital camera having an imaging apparatus control unit of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the DSP;

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing the timing of the a first, second, and third tasks executed in the imaging control for single-photographing;

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing a timing when a first, second, and third tasks executed in the imaging control for sequential-photographing;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the DRAM and the connection of the DRAM to the process block;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart explaining various operations in the sequence-photograph mode carried out by the CPU and the DSP;

FIG. 7 is a first data structural diagram conceptually showing the storage status of the compressed image data in the memory card;

FIG. 8 is a second data structural diagram conceptually showing the storage status of the compressed image data in the memory card;

FIG. 9 is a third data structural diagram conceptually showing the storage status of the compressed image data in the memory card;

FIG. 10 is a fourth data structural diagram conceptually showing the storage status of the compressed image data in the memory card; and

FIG. 11 is a fifth data structural diagram conceptually showing the storage status of the compressed image data in the memory card.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus control unit, comprising: a first detection block that detects the spare capacity of a memory, said memory storing an image signal, said image signal being generated by an imaging device when capturing an optical image of an object;a calculation block that calculates the number of possible photographs based on said spare capacity and a predetermined data size;a setting block that sets said number of possible photographs as the sequential-photographing number;a first control block that carries out imaging control for either sequential-photographing or single-photographing so that said set sequential-photographing number of photographs or a single photograph is taken, respectively;a compression block that generates a compressed image signal by compressing said image signal, which is generated according to said imaging control for either sequential-photographing or single-photographing, according to the variable-length compression;an output block that outputs said compressed image signal to said memory;a second control block that carries out sequential control for sequential-photographing or single-photographing, with said first detection block, said calculation block, said setting block, said first control block, said compression block, and said output block being sequentially ordered to detect said spare capacity, to calculate said number of possible photographs, to set said number of possible photographs as said sequential-photographing number, to carry out said imaging control for sequential-photographing, to generate said compressed image signal, and to output said compressed image signal, respectively, in said sequential control for sequential-photographing; and with said first control block, said compression block, and said output block being sequentially ordered to carry out said imaging control for single-photographing, to generate said compressed image signal, and to output said compressed image signal, respectively, in said sequential control for single-photographing;a comparison block that compares said sequential-photographing number, which is calculated in said sequential control for sequential-photographing, to a first predetermined number; anda second detection block that detects whether or not a command for sequence photography is input; andsaid second control block repeatedly carrying out said sequential control for sequential-photographing while said second detection block detects said command for sequence photography; andsaid second control block terminating actions of said sequential control for sequential-photographing and initiating actions of said sequential control for single-photographing when said sequential-photographing number is below said first predetermined number.

2. An imaging apparatus control unit according to claim 1, wherein said second control block repeatedly carries out said sequential control for single-photographing after initially carrying out said sequential control for single-photographing.

3. An imaging apparatus control unit according to claim 1, wherein said second control block terminates said sequential control for single-photographing when said command for sequence photography is discontinued.

4. An imaging apparatus control unit according to claim 1, wherein said second control block terminates carrying out said sequential control for single-photographing if said number of possible photographs calculated before carrying out said sequential control for single-photographing is below a second predetermined number.

5. An imaging apparatus control unit, comprising: a first control block that orders an imaging device to capture an optical image of an object, said imaging device generating an image signal upon capture of said optical image;a signal processing block that carries out predetermined signal processing, a compressed image signal generated from said image signal created by said imaging device and compressed during said predetermined signal processing according to variable-length compression;a second control block that stores said compressed image signal in a memory; anda third control block that carries out sequential control for either single-photographing or sequential-photographing, with said first control block, said signal processing block, and said second control block being sequentially ordered so that generation of said image signal, predetermined signal processing on said image signal, and storage of said compressed image signal in said memory are carried out, in order, in said sequential control for single-photographing; and with said first control block, said signal processing block, and said second control block being ordered so that at least two of the three acctions which include generation of said image signal, predetermined signal processing on said image signal previously generated by said imaging device, and storage in said memory of said compressed image signal which had previously undergone said predetermined signal processing are carried out simultaneously in said sequential control for sequential-photographing; anda detection block that detects the spare capacity of said memory; andsaid third control block carrying out said sequential control for sequential-photographing, and initiating actions of said sequential control for single-photographing when detected said spare capacity is less than a predetermined value.

6. A digital camera, comprising: an imaging device that generates an image signal when capturing an optical image of an object;a memory that stores said image signal;a first detection block that detects the spare capacity of said memory;a calculation block that calculates the number of possible photographs based on said spare capacity and a predetermined data size;a setting block that sets said number of possible photographs as the sequential-photographing number;a first control block that carries out imaging control for either sequential-photographing or single-photographing so that said set sequential-photographing number of photographs or one single photograph is taken, respectively;a compression block that generates a compressed image signal by compressing said image signal, which is generated according to said imaging control for either sequential-photographing or single-photographing, according to the variable-length compression;a second control block that carries out sequential control for sequential-photographing or single-photographing, with said first detection block, said calculation block, said setting block, said first control block, said compression block, and said memory being sequentially ordered to detect said spare capacity, to calculate said number of possible photographs, to set said number of possible photographs as said sequential-photographing number, to carry out said imaging control for sequential-photographing, to generate said compressed image signal by compressing said image signal, and to store said compressed image signal, respectively, in said sequential control for sequential-photographing; and with said first control block, said compression block, and said memory being sequentially ordered to carry out said imaging control for single-photographing, to generate said compressed image signal by compressing said image signal, and to store said compressed image signal, respectively, in said sequential control for single-photographing;a comparison block that compares said sequential-photographing number, which is calculated in said sequential control for sequential-photographing, to a first predetermined number; anda second detection block that detects whether or not a command for sequence photography is input; andsaid second control block repeatedly carrying out said sequential control for sequential-photographing while said second detection block detects said command for sequence photography; andsaid second control block terminating actions of said sequential control for sequential-photographing and initiating actions of said sequential control for single-photographing when said sequential-photographing number is below said first predetermined number.