Information recording system

Claim 2

A camera comprising: loading means for loading a film cartridge therein, said film cartridge including a film, electric memory means, and a plurality of electric contacts which are electrically connected to said memory means; terminal means including a plurality of terminals to be electrically connected to said plurality of electric contacts of said film cartridge loaded in said loading means; exposure means for exposing said film to light; processing means for processing exposure data relating to the exposure of said film; store means for storing said exposure data in said memory means via said terminal means; detection means for detecting that another film cartridge, having no electric memory means, has been loaded in said loading means; and means responsive to said detection means for prohibiting said store means from operating.

Claim 3

A camera according to claim 1, wherein said store means stores said exposure data in said memory means whenever one frame of said film is exposed.

Claim 4

A camera according to claim 1, wherein said store means stores data which is different from said exposure data in said memory means via said terminal means in response to the loading of the first mentioned film cartridge in said loading means.

Claim 5

A camera according to claim 1 further comprising means for recording identification data in said film corresponding to said exposure data.

Claim 6

A camera according to claim 1, wherein said store means stores camera-related data in said memory means in response to the loading of the first-mentioned film cartridge in said loading means.

Claim 7

A film cartridge comprising: film; a semiconductor device capable of writing, erasing and reading data; a plurality of terminals; connection means for electrically connecting said plurality of terminals and said semiconductor device; and an accommodating portion in which said film, said semiconductor device, said plurality of terminals, and said connection means are accommodated, said accommodating portion being provided with a plurality of openings each of which corresponds to said plurality of terminals for the purpose of having said plurality of terminals electrically connected to a camera when said film cartridge is loaded in said camera.

Claim 8

A film cartridge comprising: film; a semiconductor device capable of writing, erasing and reading data; a plurality of terminals; connection means for electrically connecting said plurality of terminals and said semiconductor device; and an accommodating portion in which said film, said semiconductor device, said plurality of terminals, and said connection means are accommodated, said accommodating portion being provided with a plurality of openings each of which corresponds to said plurality of terminals for the purpose of having said plurality of terminals electrically connected to a camera when said film cartridge is loaded in said camera.

Claim 9

A film cartridge comprising: a film; a semiconductor device capable of writing, erasing, and reading data; a plurality of terminals; connection means for electrically connecting said plurality of terminals and said semiconductor device, said plurality of terminals being arranged to be electrically connected to a camera when said film cartridge is loaded in said camera, and said plurality of terminals and said connection means being integrally provided with said semiconductor device; and an accommodating portion in which said film is accommodated, said semiconductor device being detachably accommodated by said accommodating portion.

Claim 10

A film cartridge comprising: a film; a semiconductor device capable of writing, erasing, and reading data; a plurality of terminals; connection means for electrically connecting said plurality of terminals and said semiconductor device, said plurality of terminals being arranged to be electrically connected to a camera when said film cartridge is loaded in said camera, and said plurality of terminals and said connection means being integrally provided with said semiconductor device; and an accommodating portion in which said film is accommodated, said semiconductor device being detachably accommodated by said accommodating portion.

Claim 11

A film cartridge according to claim 7, wherein said accommodating portion is provided with openings which are closed by said semiconductor device when said semiconductor device is accommodated by said accommodating portion.

Claim 12

A film cartridge comprising: a film; a semiconductor device capable of writing, erasing, and reading data; a plurality of terminals; connection means for electrically connecting said plurality of terminals and said semiconductor device, said plurality of terminals being arranged to be electrically connected to a camera when said film cartridge is loaded in said camera; a first member in which data is written, said first member being provided in said film; and a second member in which data is written, said second member being provided in said semiconductor device.

Claim 13

A film cartridge comprising: a film; a semiconductor device capable of writing, erasing, and reading data; a plurality of terminals; connection means for electrically connecting said plurality of terminals and said semiconductor device, said plurality of terminals being arranged to be electrically connected to a camera when said film cartridge is loaded in said camera; a first member in which data is written, said first member being provided in said film; and a second member in which data is written, said second member being provided in said semiconductor device.

Claim 14

A film cartridge according to claim 9, wherein data corresponding to data written in said first member is written in said second member.

Claim 15

A camera comprising: loading means in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film, electric memory means, and a plurality of electric contacts which are electrically connected to said memory means; terminal means including a plurality of terminals to be electrically connected to said plurality of electric contacts of said film cartridge loaded in said loading means; exposure means for exposing said film to light; processing means for automatically processing auto set data relating to the exposure of said film; operation means operated manually for processing manual set data relating to said exposure of said film but different from said auto set data; and store means having a first mode for storing said auto set data in said memory means via said terminal means and a second mode for storing said manual set data in said memory means via said terminal means, said store means being operated selectively in either said first mode or said second mode.

Claim 16

A camera comprising: loading means in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film, electric memory means, and a plurality of electric contacts which are electrically connected to said memory means; terminal means including a plurality of terminals to be electrically connected to said plurality of electric contacts of said film cartridge loaded in said loading means; exposure means for exposing said film to light; processing means for automatically processing auto set data relating to the exposure of said film; operation means operated manually for processing manual set data relating to said exposure of said film but different from said auto set data; and store means having a first mode for storing said auto set data in said memory means via said terminal means and a second mode for storing said manual set data in said memory means via said terminal means, said store means being operated selectively in either said first mode or said second mode.

Claim 17

A camera according to claim 11, wherein said store means does not store said manual set data in said memory means when the mode is said first mode, and does not store said auto set data in said memory means when the mode is said second mode.

Claim 18

A camera according to claim 12, wherein said store means stores data in said memory means whenever one frame of said film is exposed with said exposure means.

Claim 19

A camera according to claim 13, wherein said auto set data includes information relating to at least one of a diaphragm of a lens, a shutter speed value, and a subject brightness.

Claim 20

A camera comprising: loading means for loading a film cartridge therein, said film cartridge including a film and memory means; exposure means for exposing said film to light; processing means for processing exposure data relating to the exposure of said film; store means for storing said exposure data in said memory means; detection means for detecting that another film cartridge, having no memory means, has been loaded in said loading means; and means responsive to said detection means for prohibiting said store means from operating.

Claim 21

A camera comprising: loading means for loading a film cartridge therein, said film cartridge including a film and memory means; exposure means for exposing said film to light; processing means for processing exposure data relating to the exposure of said film; store means for storing said exposure data in said memory means; detection means for detecting that another film cartridge, having no memory means, has been loaded in said loading means; and means responsive to said detection means for prohibiting said store means from operating.

Claim 22

A camera according to claim 15, wherein said store means stores said exposure data in said memory means whenever one frame of said film is exposed.

Claim 23

A camera comprising: loading means in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and memory means; exposure means for exposing said film to light; processing means for automatically processing auto set data relating to the exposure of said film; operation means operated manually for processing manual set data relating to said exposure of said film but different from said auto set data; and store means having a first mode for storing said auto set data in said memory means and a second mode for storing said manual set data in said memory means, said store means being operated selectively in either said first mode or said second mode.

Claim 24

A camera comprising: loading means in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and memory means; exposure means for exposing said film to light; processing means for automatically processing auto set data relating to the exposure of said film; operation means operated manually for processing manual set data relating to said exposure of said film but different from said auto set data; and store means having a first mode for storing said auto set data in said memory means and a second mode for storing said manual set data in said memory means, said store means being operated selectively in either said first mode or said second mode.

Claim 25

A camera system comprising: a) a camera having loading means for loading therein a film cartridge including a film and memory means, exposure means for exposing said film to light, processing means for processing exposure data relating to the exposure of said film, and store means for storing said exposure data in said memory means whenever one frame of said film is exposed; and b) a writing apparatus having producing means for producing data independently of said camera and transferring the produced data to said memory means.

Claim 26

A camera system comprising: a) a camera having loading means for loading therein a film cartridge including a film and memory means, exposure means for exposing said film to light, processing means for processing exposure data relating to the exposure of said film, and store means for storing said exposure data in said memory means whenever one frame of said film is exposed; and b) a writing apparatus having producing means for producing data independently of said camera and transferring the produced data to said memory means.

Claim 27

A camera system according to claim 18, wherein said writing apparatus has display means for displaying data stored in said memory means.

Claim 28

A camera system according to claim 19, which further comprises a developing apparatus for developing said film on the basis of data stored in said memory means.

Claim 29

A camera system according to claim 20, which further comprises a printing apparatus responsive to data stored in said memory means for printing images exposed on said film.

Claim 30

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and memory; an exposure part to perform an exposure operation repeatedly, said exposure part exposing a respective frame of said film to light and winding up said frame in each exposure operation; a producing part which produces in association with each exposure operation a set of data corresponding to the frame which is exposed in that exposure operation; and a storing part which collectively stores in said memory sets of data from said producing part without deleting the sets of data corresponding to previously exposed frames from said memory, said storing part operating with each exposure operation to store the set of data corresponding to the exposed frame into the memory such that the sets of data have a one-to-one correspondence with the exposed frames; a detecting part which detects a condition wherein one-to-one correspondence between sets of data produced by said producing part and exposed frames of said film will not be retained; and a warning part which performs a warning in response to detection of said condition by said detecting part.

Claim 31

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and memory; an exposure part to perform an exposure operation repeatedly, said exposure part exposing a respective frame of said film to light and winding up said frame in each exposure operation; a producing part which produces in association with each exposure operation a set of data corresponding to the frame which is exposed in that exposure operation; and a storing part which collectively stores in said memory sets of data from said producing part without deleting the sets of data corresponding to previously exposed frames from said memory, said storing part operating with each exposure operation to store the set of data corresponding to the exposed frame into the memory such that the sets of data have a one-to-one correspondence with the exposed frames; a detecting part which detects a condition wherein one-to-one correspondence between sets of data produced by said producing part and exposed frames of said film will not be retained; and a warning part which performs a warning in response to detection of said condition by said detecting part.

Claim 32

An information processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said producing part includes a setting part to set data to be produced, and said condition is a condition in which an operation is attempted to set data for a subsequent frame of said film prior to exposure of a current frame of said film.

Claim 33

An information processing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said producing part includes a setting part to set data to be produced, and said condition is a condition in which an exposure operation is attempted for a current frame of said film without prior operation of said setting part in association with that frame.

Claim 34

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory; an exposure part to perform an exposure operation repeatedly, said exposure part exposing a respective frame of said film to light and winding up said frame in each exposure operation; a producing part which produces a respective set of data to be stored in said memory when each frame of said film is exposed; and a warning part which detects a condition wherein a one-to-one correspondence between sets of data produced by said producing part and exposed frames of said film will not be retained, and which prohibits the exposure operation in response to detection of said condition.

Claim 35

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory; an exposure part to perform an exposure operation repeatedly, said exposure part exposing a respective frame of said film to light and winding up said frame in each exposure operation; a producing part which produces a respective set of data to be stored in said memory when each frame of said film is exposed; and a warning part which detects a condition wherein a one-to-one correspondence between sets of data produced by said producing part and exposed frames of said film will not be retained, and which prohibits the exposure operation in response to detection of said condition.

Claim 36

An information processing apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said producing part includes a setting part to set data to be produced, and said condition is a condition in which an exposure operation is attempted for a current frame of said film without prior operation of said setting part in association with that frame.

Claim 37

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory; an exposure part to perform an exposure operation repeatedly, said exposure part exposing a respective frame of said film to light and winding up said frame in each exposure operation; a producing part which automatically produces, for each exposure operation, auto set data relating to that exposure operation; an operation part operated manually for inputting, for each exposure operation, at least one individual item of manual set data relating to that exposure operation but different from all auto set data for that exposure operation; and a storing part to collectively store in said memory the auto set data and manual set data for every exposed frame of said film.

Claim 38

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory; an exposure part to perform an exposure operation repeatedly, said exposure part exposing a respective frame of said film to light and winding up said frame in each exposure operation; a producing part which automatically produces, for each exposure operation, auto set data relating to that exposure operation; an operation part operated manually for inputting, for each exposure operation, at least one individual item of manual set data relating to that exposure operation but different from all auto set data for that exposure operation; and a storing part to collectively store in said memory the auto set data and manual set data for every exposed frame of said film.

Claim 39

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory; an exposure part capable of repeatedly performing an exposure operation to expose said film to light; a producing part which produces data for each exposure operation and stores said data in said memory with each exposure operation; a holding part independent of said memory and which holds the data produced by said producing part for each exposure operation until the next exposure operation; and a change inputting part to input changes to be made, prior to the next exposure operation, from the data held by said holding part; said producing part producing, for the next exposure operation, the data held by said holding part modified by the changes input by said change inputting part.

Claim 40

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory; an exposure part capable of repeatedly performing an exposure operation to expose said film to light; a producing part which produces data for each exposure operation and stores said data in said memory with each exposure operation; a holding part independent of said memory and which holds the data produced by said producing part for each exposure operation until the next exposure operation; and a change inputting part to input changes to be made, prior to the next exposure operation, from the data held by said holding part; said producing part producing, for the next exposure operation, the data held by said holding part modified by the changes input by said change inputting part.

Claim 41

An information processing apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising a display for displaying said data held by said holding part.

Claim 42

An information processing system comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory; an exposure part to perform an exposure operation to expose said film to light; a producing part which produces data and stores said data in said memory whenever one frame of said film is exposed by said exposure part; an operation part to be operated by an operator; and a modifying part independent of said producing part and responsive to said operation part for modifying said data stored in said memory by said producing part.

Claim 43

An information processing system comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory; an exposure part to perform an exposure operation to expose said film to light; a producing part which produces data and stores said data in said memory whenever one frame of said film is exposed by said exposure part; an operation part to be operated by an operator; and a modifying part independent of said producing part and responsive to said operation part for modifying said data stored in said memory by said producing part.

Claim 44

An information processing apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said modifying part includes a converter unit connectable to communicate electronically with said memory part when said film cartridge is not loaded in said loading part.

Claim 45

A recording method for a camera capable of loading therein a film cartridge which includes a film and a memory part, comprising: performing an exposure operation repeatedly; producing, in association with each exposure operation, a set of data corresponding to the frame which is exposed in that exposure operation; with each exposure operation, storing in said memory part of said film cartridge the set of data corresponding to that exposure operation, while retaining in said memory part sets of data which have been stored from previous exposure operations; detecting a condition wherein one-to-one correspondence between sets of data produced by said producing part and exposed frames of said film will not be retained; and performing a warning in response to detection of said condition.

Claim 46

A recording method for a camera capable of loading therein a film cartridge which includes a film and a memory part, comprising: performing an exposure operation repeatedly; producing, in association with each exposure operation, a set of data corresponding to the frame which is exposed in that exposure operation; with each exposure operation, storing in said memory part of said film cartridge the set of data corresponding to that exposure operation, while retaining in said memory part sets of data which have been stored from previous exposure operations; detecting a condition wherein one-to-one correspondence between sets of data produced by said producing part and exposed frames of said film will not be retained; and performing a warning in response to detection of said condition.

Claim 47

A recording method for an information processing apparatus which is capable of loading therein a film cartridge, having a film and a memory part, and which includes a producing part to produce a respective set of data to be stored in the memory part of the film cartridge when a frame of the film is exposed to light in an exposure operation, said method comprising: detecting a condition in which one-to-one correspondence between sets of data produced by said producing part and exposed frames of the film will not be retained; and in response to detection of said condition, prohibiting, by an automatic operation of said apparatus independent of a user of said apparatus, subsequent performance of the exposure operation.

Claim 48

A recording method for an information processing apparatus which is capable of loading therein a film cartridge, having a film and a memory part, and which includes a producing part to produce a respective set of data to be stored in the memory part of the film cartridge when a frame of the film is exposed to light in an exposure operation, said method comprising: detecting a condition in which one-to-one correspondence between sets of data produced by said producing part and exposed frames of the film will not be retained; and in response to detection of said condition, prohibiting, by an automatic operation of said apparatus independent of a user of said apparatus, subsequent performance of the exposure operation.

Claim 49

A method according to claim 33, wherein the producing part of said apparatus includes a setting part to set data to be produced, and said condition is a condition in which an exposure operation is attempted for a current frame of the film without prior operation of the setting part in association with that frame.

Claim 50

A recording method for an information processing apparatus capable of loading therein a film cartridge which includes a film and a memory part, comprising: performing an exposure operation repeatedly, each exposure operation exposing a respective frame of the film to light; automatically producing, for each exposure operation, auto set data relating to that exposure operation; manually inputting, for each exposure operation, at least one individual item of manual set data relating to that exposure operation but different from all auto set data for that exposure operation; and collectively storing, in said memory part of said film cartridge, the auto set data and manual set data for every exposed frame of said film.

Claim 51

A recording method for an information processing apparatus capable of loading therein a film cartridge which includes a film and a memory part, comprising: performing an exposure operation repeatedly, each exposure operation exposing a respective frame of the film to light; automatically producing, for each exposure operation, auto set data relating to that exposure operation; manually inputting, for each exposure operation, at least one individual item of manual set data relating to that exposure operation but different from all auto set data for that exposure operation; and collectively storing, in said memory part of said film cartridge, the auto set data and manual set data for every exposed frame of said film.

Claim 52

A recording method for an information processing apparatus capable of loading therein a film cartridge which includes a film and a memory part, comprising: performing an exposure operation repeatedly, each exposure operation exposing a respective frame of the film to light; producing respective data for each exposure operation and storing the data in said memory part of said film cartridge with each exposure operation; holding, independently of said memory part, the data produced for each exposure operation until the next exposure operation; inputting changes to be made from the held data of a given exposure operation; and producing, for the next exposure operation, the held data modified by the inputted changes.

Claim 53

A recording method for an information processing apparatus capable of loading therein a film cartridge which includes a film and a memory part, comprising: performing an exposure operation repeatedly, each exposure operation exposing a respective frame of the film to light; producing respective data for each exposure operation and storing the data in said memory part of said film cartridge with each exposure operation; holding, independently of said memory part, the data produced for each exposure operation until the next exposure operation; inputting changes to be made from the held data of a given exposure operation; and producing, for the next exposure operation, the held data modified by the inputted changes.

Claim 54

A recording method for an information processing apparatus capable of loading therein a film cartridge which includes a film and a memory part, comprising: performing an exposure operation, the exposure operation exposing a frame of the film to light; operating a producing part to produce and store data in said memory part of said film cartridge whenever one frame of the film is exposed; and operating a modifying part independent of said producing part to modify the data stored in said memory part, in response to operation of an operation member by an operator.

Claim 55

A recording method for an information processing apparatus capable of loading therein a film cartridge which includes a film and a memory part, comprising: performing an exposure operation, the exposure operation exposing a frame of the film to light; operating a producing part to produce and store data in said memory part of said film cartridge whenever one frame of the film is exposed; and operating a modifying part independent of said producing part to modify the data stored in said memory part, in response to operation of an operation member by an operator.

Claim 56

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film, an electric memory, and a plurality of electric contacts which are electrically connected to said memory; a terminal part including a plurality of terminals to be electrically connected to said plurality of electric contacts of said film cartridge loaded in said loading part; an exposure part which exposes said film to light; a processing part which processes exposure data relating to the exposure of said film; a storing part which stores said exposure data in said memory by way of said terminals; a detector which detects that another cartridge, having no electric memory, has been loaded in said loading part; and an inhibiting part responsive to said detector to inhibit an operation of said storing part.

Claim 57

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film, an electric memory, and a plurality of electric contacts which are electrically connected to said memory; a terminal part including a plurality of terminals to be electrically connected to said plurality of electric contacts of said film cartridge loaded in said loading part; an exposure part which exposes said film to light; a processing part which processes exposure data relating to the exposure of said film; a storing part which stores said exposure data in said memory by way of said terminals; a detector which detects that another cartridge, having no electric memory, has been loaded in said loading part; and an inhibiting part responsive to said detector to inhibit an operation of said storing part.

Claim 58

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film, an electric memory, and a plurality of electric contacts which are electrically connected to said memory; a terminal part including a plurality of terminals to be electrically connected to said plurality of electric contacts of said film cartridge loaded in said loading part; an exposure part which exposes said film to light; a processing part which automatically processes auto set data relating to the exposure of said film; an operation part operated manually to process manual set data relating to said exposure of said film but different from said auto set data; and a storing part having a first mode to store said auto set data in said memory via said terminals and a second mode to store said manual set data in said memory via said terminals, said storing part being operated selectively in either said first mode or said second mode.

Claim 59

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film, an electric memory, and a plurality of electric contacts which are electrically connected to said memory; a terminal part including a plurality of terminals to be electrically connected to said plurality of electric contacts of said film cartridge loaded in said loading part; an exposure part which exposes said film to light; a processing part which automatically processes auto set data relating to the exposure of said film; an operation part operated manually to process manual set data relating to said exposure of said film but different from said auto set data; and a storing part having a first mode to store said auto set data in said memory via said terminals and a second mode to store said manual set data in said memory via said terminals, said storing part being operated selectively in either said first mode or said second mode.

Claim 60

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory; an exposure part which exposes said film to light; a processing part which processes exposure data relating to the exposure of said film; a storing part to store said exposure data in said memory; a detector which detects that another film cartridge, having no memory, has been loaded in said loading part; and a prohibition part responsive to said detector to prohibit said storing part from operating.

Claim 61

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory; an exposure part which exposes said film to light; a processing part which processes exposure data relating to the exposure of said film; a storing part to store said exposure data in said memory; a detector which detects that another film cartridge, having no memory, has been loaded in said loading part; and a prohibition part responsive to said detector to prohibit said storing part from operating.

Claim 62

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory; an exposure part which exposes said film to light; a processing part which automatically processes auto set data relating to the exposure of said film; an operation part manually operated to process manual set data relating to the exposure of said film but different from said auto set data; and a storing part having a first mode to store said auto set data in said memory and a second mode to store said manual set data in said memory, said storing part being operated selectively in either said first mode or said second mode.

Claim 63

An information processing apparatus comprising: a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory; an exposure part which exposes said film to light; a processing part which automatically processes auto set data relating to the exposure of said film; an operation part manually operated to process manual set data relating to the exposure of said film but different from said auto set data; and a storing part having a first mode to store said auto set data in said memory and a second mode to store said manual set data in said memory, said storing part being operated selectively in either said first mode or said second mode.

Claim 64

An information processing system comprising: a) an information processing apparatus including a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory, an exposure part which exposes said film to light, a processing part which processes exposure data relating to the exposure of said film, and a storing part to store said exposure data in said memory whenever one frame of said film is exposed; and b) a recording apparatus including a producing part which produces data independently of said information processing apparatus and transfers the produced data to said memory.

Claim 65

An information processing system comprising: a) an information processing apparatus including a loading part in which a film cartridge is loaded, said film cartridge including a film and a memory, an exposure part which exposes said film to light, a processing part which processes exposure data relating to the exposure of said film, and a storing part to store said exposure data in said memory whenever one frame of said film is exposed; and b) a recording apparatus including a producing part which produces data independently of said information processing apparatus and transfers the produced data to said memory.