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Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A system, method, and related computer program for storing digital
camera data directly onto a detachable USB storage key in the digital
camera. The present invention allows a user to store digital photographs
taken with a digital camera directly onto the USB storage key and
transfer said storage key and the data contained thereon to another
computer controlled instrument, such as a PDA, camcorder, personal
computer, or a second digital camera, without the use of a cable.
The digital camera has a slot for operatively receiving a memory
card for storage of digital photographs to be taken by said camera.
The digital camera has a USB connection slot formed in the body
of the camera adapted to receive a USB storage key. The USB key
drive in the camera is accessible through said USB connection slot.
A separatable USB storage key received in said USB connection slot
and connected to said USB key drive stores data from said camera
on the USB key. This invention allows a user more flexibility in
storing digital photographs, and transferring stored data easily
and quickly to another computer controlled instrument.
Digital Camera Patent Claims
1. A computer controlled digital camera comprising: a camera body
having formed therein a slot for operatively receiving a memory
card for storage of digital photographs taken by said camera; a
USB connection slot formed in said camera body adapted to receive
a USB storage key; a USB key drive in said camera body accessible
through said USB connection slot; and a separatable USB storage
key insertable into said USB connection slot and connected to said
USB key drive, whereby data from said camera is enabled to be stored
on said USB key.
2. The computer controlled digital camera of claim 1 wherein the
stored data on the USB key is transferable to a computer controlled
instrument with a device driver for a USB key.
3. The computer controlled digital camera of claim 2 wherein the
computer controlled instrument with a device driver for a USB key
is a PDA.
4. The computer controlled digital camera of claim 2 wherein the
computer controlled instrument with a device driver for a USB key
is a camcorder.
5. The computer controlled digital camera of claim 2 wherein the
computer controlled instrument with a device driver for a USB key
is a personal computer.
6. The computer controlled digital camera of claim 2 wherein the
computer controlled instrument with a device driver for a USB key
is a second digital camera.
7. A method for storing data from a computer controlled digital
camera, including the steps of: receiving a memory card for storage
of digital photographs taken by a camera with a camera body having
formed therein a slot for operatively receiving said memory card;
receiving a USB storage key in a camera body having a USB connection
slot formed in said camera body adapted to receive said key; accessing
a USB key drive in said camera body through said USB connection
slot; and receiving a separatable USB storage key in said USB connection
slot and connected to said USB key drive, whereby data from said
camera is enabled to be stored on said USB key.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the stored data on the USB key
is transferable to a computer controlled instrument with a device
driver for a USB key.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the computer controlled instrument
with a device driver for a USB key is a PDA.
10. The method camera of claim 8 wherein the computer controlled
instrument with a device driver for a USB key is a camcorder.
11. The method camera of claim 8 wherein the computer controlled
instrument with a device driver for a USB key is a personal computer.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein the computer controlled instrument
with a device driver for a USB key is a second digital camera.
13. A computer program having code recorded on a computer readable
medium for storing data on a computer controlled digital camera,
comprising: means in a camera body having formed therein a slot
for operatively receiving a memory card for storage of digital photographs
taken by said camera; means for a USB connection slot formed in
said camera body adapted to receive a USB storage key; means for
a USB key drive in said camera body accessible through said USB
connection slot; and means for a separatable USB storage key insertable
into said USB connection slot and connected to said USB key drive,
whereby data from said camera is enabled to be stored on said USB
key.
14. The computer program of claim 13 wherein the stored data on
the USB key is transferable to a computer controlled instrument
with a device driver for a USB key.
15. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the computer controlled
instrument with a device driver for a USB key is a PDA.
16. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the computer controlled
instrument with a device driver for a USB key is a camcorder.
17. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the computer controlled
instrument with a device driver for a USB key is a personal computer.
18. The computer program of claim 14 wherein the computer controlled
instrument with a device driver for a USB key is a second digital
camera.
Digital Camera Patent Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to computer controlled consumer
electronics devices or instruments, such as digital cameras, and
specifically to the storage of digital pictures directly onto a
USB storage key inserted into the USB connection slot in said camera.
This invention also relates to the transfer of the stored data on
the USB storage key to a computer controlled instrument, such as
a PDA, camcorder, personal computer, or a second digital camera
without the use of a cable.
BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART
[0002] The past decade has been marked by a technological revolution
driven by the convergence of the data processing industry with the
consumer electronics industry. The effect has, in turn, driven technologies
that have been known and available but relatively quiescent over
the years to now come into great demand in the marketplace.
[0003] The rapid expansion in the capacity of computers to perform
support functions, the greater and greater miniaturization of computers,
as well as reduction in costs to perform memory and computer operations
has opened the door for computer controlled instrumentation. A key
aspect of this expansion has been lower and lower cost memory. In
recent years, this has been manifested in flash memory cards and
sticks. At the current technology stage, these memory cards and
sticks are detachably inserted into the computer controlled electronic
instruments to provide an extra memory capacity of from one half
to four to five gigabytes.
[0004] Memory cards use a flash memory that is based upon EEPROM
(electrically erasable programmable read only memory) grid chips.
Flash memory EEPROM works much faster than conventional EEPROM.
Instead of erasing one byte at a time, it erases an entire block
or an entire chip at a time and then rewrites. Smartmedia and Compactflash
provide the "electronic film" for digital cameras while
the Sony memory stick is quite popular in digital cameras and for
computer controlled video games. These high capacity memory cards
and sticks have been performing hard drive storage functions for
the above-described computer controlled electronic instruments.
In this connection, the SSFDC (solid state floppy disc card) developed
by Toshiba, Inc. may function as the above-described Smartmedia
card. Similarly, the above CompactFlash is a small circuit board
with at least one flash memory chip and a dedicated controller chip
encased in a housing or shell.
[0005] With this rapid expansion of the use of detachable memory
cards for an increasing variety of computer controlled electronic
instruments, the cards themselves are becoming relatively ubiquitous.
The memory cards may be in or on the desks and cabinets of their
users. The current use of memory cards requires the attachment of
a USB cable between the camera and the personal computer or other
computer controlled instrument, or that the personal computer or
other computer controlled instrument be equipped with a media reader
that can handle the specific types of storage the camera uses.
[0006] The present invention involves the Universal Serial Bus
(USB), which was originally developed in 1995 by Intel, Compaq,
DEC, IBM, Microsoft, NEC, and Northern Telecom, to define an external
expansion bus that simplified adding peripherals to a PC with low
cost to the user. The USB, version 1.1, has a data transfer rate
of 12 megabits per second (Mbps) for connecting peripherals to a
microcomputer. USB can connect up to 127 peripherals, such as external
CD-ROM drives, printers, modems, mice, and keyboards to the system
through a single, general purpose port, which is accomplished by
daisy chaining peripherals together. USB is designed to add such
devices without having to shut down and restart the system. Currently,
USB enjoys tremendous success in the marketplace, and most peripheral
vendors are developing products to this specification. Virtually
all new PCs have one or more USB ports included thereon. USB, version
2.0, offers its users an additional range of higher performance
peripherals, such as video-conferencing cameras, and increases data
throughput by a factor of 40, since it has a higher bandwidth. USB
2.0 has 480 Mbps bandwidth.
[0007] To better understand USB, an understanding of the roles
of each of its major elements is necessary, which is described in
greater detail in the article "Understanding Universal Serial
Bus Part 1: USB Basics", Embedded Systems Programming, John
Canosa, Miller Freeman, San Francisco, Calif., USA, June 1997. These
major elements are the host PC hardware and software, the hub, and
the peripheral. The role of the system software is to provide a
uniform view of I/O systems for all applications software. The system
software hides hardware implementation details causing the application
software to be more portable. For the USB I/O subsystem, the system
software manages the dynamic attach and detach of peripherals. This
phase is called enumeration, and involves communicating with the
peripheral to discover the identity of a device driver that should
be loaded if it has not been loaded yet. A unique address is assigned
to each peripheral during enumeration to be used for run-time data
transfers. During run-time, the host PC initiates transactions to
specific peripherals, and each peripheral accepts its transactions
and responds accordingly. The host PC software incorporates the
peripheral into the system power management scheme and can manage
overall system power without user interaction.
[0008] The role of the hub is to provide managed power to attached
peripherals, in addition to its obvious role of providing additional
connectivity for USB peripherals. The hub recognizes dynamic attachment
of a peripheral and provides at least 0.5 W of power per peripheral
during initialization. Under control of the host PC software, the
hub may provide more device power, up to a maximum of 2.5 W, for
peripheral operation. A newly attached hub will be assigned its
unique address, and hubs may be cascaded up to five levels deep.
During run-time, a hub operates as a bi-directional repeater and
will repeat USB signals as required on upstream (towards the host)
and downstream (towards the device) cables. The hub also monitors
these signals and handles transactions addressed to itself. All
other transactions are repeated to attached devices. A hub supports
both 12 Mbps (full-speed) and 1.5 Mbps (low-speed) peripherals.
[0009] All USB peripherals must react to request transactions sent
from the host PC. The peripheral responds to control request transactions
sent from the host PC. The peripheral responds to control transactions
that, for example, request detailed information about the device
and its configuration. The peripheral sends and receives data to/from
the host using a standard USB data format. This standardized data
movement to/from the PC host and interpretation by the peripheral
gives USB its enormous flexibility with little PC host software
changes. USB peripherals can operate at 12 Mbps or 1.5 Mbps. Presently,
computer systems and cameras sold in the marketplace include integrated
USB ports as a general feature.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0010] The present invention provides a solution to the problems
related to the inflexibility or inconvenience of storing digital
photographs and transferring said stored data to another computer
controlled instrument. Accordingly, the present invention provides
a digital camera having a USB key drive, wherein the digital camera
has a slot for operatively receiving a memory card for storage of
digital photographs taken by said camera. The digital camera also
has a USB connection slot formed in the body of the camera adapted
to receive a USB storage key. It should be understood that in order
to practice the present invention, the camera manufacturers would
have to build a USB port into the camera, provide an adapter for
use, or manufacture a USB memory key with a non-standard plug end
to fit a current camera's port. A typical port is illustrated on
FIG. 1. This port has been simplified for purposes of illustration.
In reality, most cameras are equipped with a USB port that allows
interface with smaller and differently shaped ports or connection
slots other than would fit a standard USB cable plug. Most cameras
currently are accessorized with a cord that has one standard plug
end, and one non-standard plug end. The USB key drive in the camera
is accessible through said USB connection slot. A separatable USB
storage key is received in said USB connection slot and connected
to said USB key drive, whereby data from said camera is able to
be stored directly on the USB key.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present invention will be better understood and its
numerous objects and advantages will become more apparent to those
skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, in conjunction
with the accompanying specification, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a USB key drive
in accordance with the present invention capable of being inserted
into a computer controlled electronic instrument, i.e. a digital
camera;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a USB storage key
in accordance with the present invention being inserted into a computer
controlled electronic instrument, i.e. a digital camera;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a simplified control circuitry
on controller integrated circuitry on an IC chip on a USB key drive
in accordance with this invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an illustrative flowchart in accordance with this
invention showing how the USB key drive stores digital photographs
directly thereon; and
[0016] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an illustrative run of the process
set up in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, a typical use of the USB key drive
of the present invention in connection with a computer controlled
instrument, e.g. a digital camera, is shown. The camera 16 has a
slot 17 into which a typical memory card 13 may be removably inserted
to operatively engage the computer system in the camera to function
as a typical extended memory card, and will be hereinafter described
in greater detail. The digital camera 16 also has a USB connection
slot 18 adapted to receive a USB storage key 19. It should be understood
that in order to practice the present invention, the camera manufacturers
would have to build a USB port into the camera, provide an adapter
for use, or manufacture a USB memory key with a non-standard plug
end to fit a current camera's port. USB connection slot 18 or port
has been simplified for purposes of illustration. In reality, most
cameras are equipped with a USB port that allows interface with
smaller and differently shaped connection slots or ports other than
would fit a standard USB cable plug. Most cameras currently are
accessorized with a cord that has one standard plug end, and one
non-standard plug end. Of course, the operations to be described
will be applicable to an extended memory card and computer controlled
instrument co-action.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows the digital camera 16, wherein the USB storage
key 19 is inserted into the USB connection slot 18, and can receive
data from the digital camera 16 and store said data on the USB storage
key 19. The USB storage key 19 and the data stored thereon can be
transferred from the digital camera 16 to any USB capable computer
controlled instrument without first downloading data to a PC or
other computer system. The user can detach the USB storage key 19
and load the data onto any computer system with a USB port without
the use of a cable.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of simplified control circuitry
on controller integrated circuitry on an IC chip of a memory card
13, and the storage of data onto a USB storage key and the transfer
of said stored data to a computer controlled instrument in accordance
with this invention. In order to better understand the present invention,
an understanding of the memory card is necessary. The controller
chips provide specific purpose logic to control the access, reading
and writing into the flash memory array chips. These logic or control
chips contain data processors 20, operating systems stored in RAM
22 and a permanent programmable memory, and a programmable ROM 21
that may be EEPROM, e.g. flash EEPROM. All of the routines and programs
may also be conventionally stored in this flash EEPROM 21. These
include memory card operating systems and built-in applications
that may also be conventionally stored in the RAM. The digital camera
with a USB key contains a system bus 23 connected via I/O output
at one end to the conventional connectors of the camera 16 to the
computer controlled instrument. In accordance with the present invention,
this relatively standard structure is modified to have an appropriate
connection via bus 24 to a USB key drive 25, and a USB connection
slot 28 for a USB storage key is present. A separable USB storage
key 26 is received in said USB connection slot 28 to said USB key
drive 25, whereby data from said camera 16 is enable to be stored
on said USB key 26. The indicators are controlled through the controller
processor 20 in accordance with the routines illustrated in FIG.
4 and FIG. 5, to be subsequently described.
[0020] There is also shown a bus branch to a power supply. Where
the USB storage key is functioning already operatively inserted
into the computer controlled instrument, the power supply of the
instrument itself may be used for this function. By use of the present
invention, the user is able to transfer stored data from a digital
camera to a computer controlled instrument, e.g. a laptop computer,
camcorder, personal computer, or a second digital camera.
[0021] The running of the process set up in FIG. 3 will now be
described with respect to the flowchart of FIG. 4. The flowchart
represents some steps in a routine that will illustrate the operation
of the invention. A determination is made as to whether the user
wants to store digital photographs on a traditional memory card,
step 51. If Yes, the application nodes are written to, step 52.
A memory card stores digital photographs taken by said digital camera,
step 53. If No, a determination is made as to whether the user wants
to store digital photographs on a USB storage key, step 54. If No,
the process ends. If Yes, a USB storage key is inserted into a USB
connection slot, step 55. The USB storage key stores data from said
camera thereon, step 56. Then a determination is made as to whether
the stored data on the USB storage key is to be transferred to a
computer controlled instrument, step 57. If Yes, the USB storage
key is detached from the digital camera, step 58. Then the USB storage
key is inserted into a USB port of a computer controlled instrument,
step 59, and the stored data is accessible to said computer controlled
instrument. If No, the data remains stored on the USB storage key
in the digital camera, step 60.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 5, an illustrative flowchart in accordance
with this invention showing how the USB storage key stores data
from a digital camera directly thereon, and transfers said stored
data to a computer controlled instrument without the use of a cable.
Means provided in a digital camera body having formed therein a
slot for operatively receiving a memory card for storage of digital
photographs taken by said camera, step 70. Receiving means in said
camera's USB connection slot adapted to receive a USB storage key,
step 71. Means provided in said camera body for accessing a USB
key drive through said USB connection slot, step 72. Means provided
in said USB connection slot for receiving a separatable USB storage
key, and connected to said USB key drive, whereby data from said
camera is enabled to be stored on said USB key, step 73. Means for
removing said USB storage key from a digital camera, and transferring
the USB storage key and its stored data to a computer controlled
instrument, such as a PDA, personal computer, camcorder, or a second
digital camera, without the use of a cable, step 74.
[0023] Although certain preferred embodiments have been shown and
described, it will be understood that many changes and modifications
may be made therein without departing from the scope and intent
of the appended claims. |