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  Digital camera with priority informationUSPTO Application #: 20070019080Title: Digital camera with priority information Abstract: Even if the digital camera is inexpensive without the function of reproducing images, it can effectively use a memory capacity and has the function of responding to quick image-capturing, and important images can be recorded with higher priority. The digital camera comprises a priority selection switch for selecting priority of an image, and information about selected priority is recorded in association with the image when the image is recorded. For example, priority is ranked on three stages of “important”, “normal”, and “memo”. When a recording medium for storing image data has an insufficient memory capacity, control is exercised such that an image with priority lower than a newly captured image is automatically erased to record the new image. Further, a recorded image may be analyzed to automatically assign a low priority value to an image that may be damaged. (end of abstract) Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC - Washington, DC, US Inventors: Atsushi MISAWA, Yasunobu KAYANUMA USPTO Applicaton #: 20070019080 - Class: 348231990 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070019080. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/078,384 filed Feb. 21, 2002. The entire disclosure of the prior application Ser. No. 10/078,384 is considered part of the disclosure of the accompanying continuation application and is hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a technique for recording and erasing an image that is applied to a digital camera. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 2000-24479, 2000-125185, 11-187347, and 10-79914, most conventional digital cameras include an image display device such as a liquid crystal monitor. In such a camera with a monitor, when an unnecessary image is erased from images recorded in a recording medium such as a memory card, a user can select an image to be erased while viewing reproduced images on a monitor screen. [0006] However, recently, while advanced digital cameras have been developed, inexpensive digital cameras have been put on the market with functions limited by omitting the function of reproducing images, to create a new commodity market. In general, such cameras not having the function of reproducing images have no device for erasing recorded images. [0007] Further, as for the cameras having the function of reproducing images as well, when the user wants to quickly capture an image while an available capacity in a recording medium is insufficient, even if the user wants to erase images of lower priorities from recorded images, the user needs to confirm reproduced images on a monitor to find images to be erased. Thus, the operation is inconvenient and the user may miss an opportunity to capture an image. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention has been developed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has as its object the provision of a digital camera, by which even an inexpensive camera not having the function of reproducing images can effectively use a recording capacity, a camera having the function of reproducing images can respond to quick image-capturing, and important images can be recorded with higher priority. [0009] In order to attain the above object, the present invention is directed to a digital camera capable of recording in a recording medium an image captured through an image pickup element, the digital camera comprising: a priority setting device which sets priority of a captured image; and a recording device which records information indicative of the priority set by the priority setting device in association with the captured image when the captured image is recorded. [0010] According to the present invention, priority is set for each image recorded in the recording medium when image-capturing, and information indicative of priority is recorded with the image when the image is recorded. It is possible to readily extract an image with lower priority firstly as a candidate to be erased and to readily arrange images in order of priority by using priority information associated with an image. [0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the priority setting device is characterized by allowing the user to select priority. The user operates the priority setting device before image-capturing to optionally select priority of a captured image. [0012] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the priority setting device is characterized by analyzing the captured image to determine whether the captured image is damaged or not and automatically setting lower priority than a normal image to an image that may be damaged. [0013] It is hardly worth storing a damaged image (failed image) such as an image blurred by camera-shake and an image having an unsuitable amount of light exposure. Therefore, the captured image is analyzed, whether the captured image is damaged or not is determined, and information indicative of low priority is automatically assigned to the captured image that may be damaged. Thus, it is possible to readily discriminate a damaged image and a normal image by automatically setting priority. Of course, a camera may include the combination of a manual priority setting device, which allows the user to optically select priority, and an automatic priority setting device using image analysis. [0014] As a pattern of use of the information indicative of priority associated with the image, the digital camera may further comprise a control device a control device which, if the recording medium has an insufficient recording capacity when a new image is captured, erases an image recorded in the recording medium with priority lower than the new image and records the new image in the recording medium. [0015] Even when an available capacity is insufficient in the recording medium, by setting high priority before image-capturing, an image with lower priority is erased from recorded images, and a new image is recorded. Thus, it is possible to quickly respond to an opportunity for capturing an image and to effectively use a recording capacity of an inexpensive camera not having the function of reproducing images. [0016] As another pattern of use of priority information, the digital camera may further comprise a frame number automatic correcting device which assigns frame numbers in order of priority by using the information indicative of the priority. Hence, it is possible to readily perform file management such as sorting files in order of priority. An important image can be firstly viewed and transferred. [0017] The present invention is also directed to a digital camera capable of recording in a recording medium an image captured through an image pickup element, the digital camera comprising: a device which analyzes a captured image to determine whether the captured image is damaged or not and assigns identification information to a probably-damaged image; and a recording device which records the identification information in association with the captured image when the captured image is recorded. [0018] As a pattern of use of the identification information, for example, control is exercised such that when the recording medium has an insufficient recording capacity, an image that may be damaged is erased and a newly captured image is recorded. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] The nature of this invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will be explained in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures and wherein: [0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera of the present embodiment; Continue reading... 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