JP3903622B2 - Electronic imaging apparatus and camera system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic image pickup apparatus and a camera system, and more particularly to an electronic image pickup apparatus suitable for an electronic image pickup module (adapter) that can be used as an electronic camera by being mounted on a silver salt camera or the like, and the same The present invention relates to a camera system using an electronic imaging device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a technique capable of reversibly converting a silver salt camera into an electronic camera using an electronic imaging module that can be attached to the silver salt camera is known (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-251461). In such an electronic imaging module or an apparatus called a film cartridge type imaging device, it is necessary to align the lens optical axis of the camera with an imaging device such as a CCD, and a CCD position detection mechanism, a CCD position movement adjustment mechanism, and the like are provided. (JP-A-9-96864).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional apparatus including the CCD position detection mechanism and the CCD position movement adjustment mechanism has a drawback in that the structure is complicated, adjustment of mechanical alignment is difficult, and the signal processing burden on the control system is large.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. Mechanisms such as a position detection mechanism and a CCD position movement adjustment mechanism (hereinafter referred to as a CCD position movement adjustment mechanism) required for alignment of the CCD (imaging device) with respect to the optical axis of the lens of the camera It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic imaging device that can omit the CCD position adjustment mechanism) and to simplify the device structure, and to provide a camera system using the electronic imaging device.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has an image sensor and a signal processing unit for processing an image signal obtained from the image sensor, and is attached to the film camera so that the film camera is an electronic camera. In an electronic imaging device that can be converted to be usable, an imaging device having an imaging surface size larger than an exposure area size on a film surface of a photographic film used in a camera for a film is used.
[0005]
The exposure area size in a photographic film is predetermined for each film type, and normally an aperture (exposure opening) is provided on the camera body side in order to realize the exposure area size. In the case of cameras using the same photographic film, the aperture size is almost the same, but the distance from the cartridge room (film loading chamber) to the aperture differs depending on the model, so an electronic imaging device is used instead of a photographic film. In the past, it has been necessary to accurately position the image sensor on the lens optical axis of the camera.
[0006]
In this regard, the electronic image pickup apparatus of the present invention uses an image pickup element having an image pickup surface size larger than the exposure area size, so that the size difference of each model is absorbed by the size to sufficiently cover the exposure area size. This can eliminate the need for delicate positioning of the image sensor.
An electronic imaging apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention considering application to a camera using a film cartridge has a case that can be mounted in a cartridge chamber of a film camera, and the signal processing is included in the case. A film cartridge type electronic image pickup apparatus in which a part is housed, and an image pickup device having an image pickup surface size large enough to absorb a dimensional difference between models of a distance from a cartridge chamber of a film camera to an aperture is provided. It is characterized by being used.
[0007]
In this specification, the term “patrone” is used as a concept including cartridges, cassettes, magazines, and the like, and is not limited to the well-known 35 mm film cartridge. That is, this term is used as a comprehensive expression of various types of film storage cases regardless of the name of the film cartridge of the 24 mm new photographic system (APS).
[0008]
The problem of how large the imaging surface size of the image sensor should be relative to the exposure area size is a matter of design, but for silver-salt cameras that are generally commercially available, from the patrone room to the aperture. By investigating the distance (dimension), it is preferable to select a size (size) that can absorb the difference in dimension for most camera models.
[0009]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an image sensor and a signal processing unit that processes an image signal obtained from the image sensor, and is attached to the film camera so that the film camera is electronically connected. In an electronic imaging device that can be converted to be usable as a camera, the imaging surface size of the imaging device is smaller than the exposure area size on the film surface of a photographic film used for a film camera, and when the electronic imaging device is mounted An image sensor having a size that is assumed to be capable of being arranged in the frame of the aperture by absorbing a dimensional difference between the models of the distance from the cartridge chamber of the film camera to the aperture is used. .
[0010]
According to the present invention, since the image pickup device having an image pickup surface size smaller than the exposure area size is used, even if the distance from the cartridge room to the aperture is different depending on the camera model, the image is taken inside the exposure area size at the time of mounting. Since the element is arranged, a delicate positioning operation of the image sensor is not necessary. Also in this case, the problem of how small the image pickup surface size of the image pickup device is with respect to the exposure area size is a design matter, but as described above, generally available silver salt cameras It is preferable to investigate the distance (dimension) from the cartridge chamber to the aperture and select a size that can absorb the difference in dimensions of a considerable number of camera models.
[0011]
In a camera system intended to attach an electronic image pickup apparatus having an image pickup surface size smaller than the exposure area size as described above to a film camera, the image pickup surface size is set in the camera finder. It is preferable to include an imaging guarantee range presenting unit that displays an area smaller than the corresponding visual field area as the imaging guarantee range.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of an electronic imaging device and a camera system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external view of a film cartridge type imaging apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a film cartridge type imaging device 10 includes a CCD 12 corresponding to an imaging device, a plate member 14 to which the CCD 12 is attached, and a case 16 in which a signal processing circuit and the like are accommodated. . The case 16 has substantially the same shape as an existing film cartridge (for example, a 35 mm film cartridge), and the plate member 14 is extended on the side surface of the case 16. In addition, it is preferable to provide a slide mechanism (coarse adjustment mechanism) that can roughly adjust the pull-out amount of the plate member 14 at the connecting portion of the case 16 and the plate member 14. However, a mechanical structure (fine adjustment mechanism) for accurately aligning the actual shooting position with the aperture of the camera is not mounted.
[0013]
In the case of a 35 mm film cartridge, the exposure area size 18 on the film surface is defined as 24 mm long × 36 mm wide. Based on this promise, in the imaging apparatus 10 of this example, a CCD 12 having an imaging surface size 19 larger than the exposure area size 18 is used. How large the CCD 12 is used with respect to the exposure area size 18 is a design matter. In particular, the difference between the distance between the cartridge room and the aperture in a commercially available silver salt camera is sufficiently investigated, It is preferable to determine the imaging surface size 19 from the viewpoint that it can be used in common in many silver halide cameras by absorbing the difference in dimensions of each model.
[0014]
Further, since the error of the mounting position in the vertical direction of the CCD 12 is considered to be small, it is preferable to ensure a larger imaging surface size 19 of the CCD 12 in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction.
In this way, the CCD 12 having an imaging surface size 19 larger than the exposure area size 18 is used, and in actual imaging, it corresponds to a part of all the pixels of the CCD 12, that is, the exposure area size (24 mm × 36 mm) 18. Images are taken by the part.
[0015]
In the case 16, there are a signal processing circuit for processing a signal output from the CCD 12, a memory for recording and storing image data, a ROM in which a control program is stored, a central operation as a control means for controlling and controlling each circuit. Components necessary for an electronic imaging device such as a processing device (CPU) are accommodated.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the film cartridge type imaging apparatus 10 of this example. As shown in the figure, the imaging apparatus 10 includes a CCD 12, a CCD drive circuit 20, an A / D converter 22, a buffer 24, a DMA (Direct memory access) controller 26, a RAM (built-in RAM buffer) 28, a CPU 30, and a CPU bus. 32, a storage interface 34, a storage medium (recording medium) 36, and the like.
[0016]
The operation of the film cartridge type imaging apparatus 10 having the above-described configuration is as follows. As described with reference to FIG. 1, the image pickup apparatus 10 has a shape similar to the shape in which a photographic film is drawn from a film cartridge, and can be mounted on a silver salt camera (not shown).
The plate member 14 is configured so that it can be slightly inserted into and removed from the case 16 by the coarse adjustment mechanism, so that the CCD 12 is approximately aligned with the optical axis of the camera by manually adjusting the amount of the plate member 14 to be extracted. By mounting the imaging device 10 on the camera instead of the film cartridge, the CCD 12 is disposed behind the aperture of the camera, and a subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 12 through the photographing lens of the camera.
[0017]
Since the image pickup apparatus 10 of this example uses a CCD 12 having an image pickup surface size 19 larger than the exposure area size 18 of the film surface, the CCD 12 does not have to be accurately positioned with respect to the aperture, and from the film cartridge to the aperture. The exposure area is included in the image pickup surface of the CCD 12 even if the dimensions of the camera slightly differ depending on the camera model. Therefore, it is not necessary to align the CCD 12 with high accuracy, and a conventional CCD position adjustment mechanism (fine adjustment mechanism) or the like can be omitted.
[0018]
The subject image formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 12 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 12 and read out as an image signal. After undergoing predetermined analog signal processing such as gain control (GC) and color balance adjustment, the A / D converter 22 is processed. Is converted into a digital signal. The A / D converted image data is guided to a buffer 26 and processed by a DMA controller 26 after being subjected to processing such as luminance signal generation, color difference signal generation, gamma correction and compression / decompression according to a known digital signal processing technique. It is temporarily stored in the RAM 28 according to the address. The image data stored in the RAM 28 in this way is transferred to the storage medium 36 via the storage interface 34 and is recorded and stored in the storage medium 36 according to the address generated by the DMA controller 26. The image data recorded on the storage medium 36 can be output to an external device such as a personal computer (personal computer) via a wireless communication means, an infrared communication means, or an external output terminal (not shown).
[0019]
In actual imaging, an image corresponding to the subject image is captured in a part of all the pixels of the CCD 12, and therefore when the data of all the pixels output from the CCD 12 are recorded in the storage medium 36, the image is captured. The file also includes a data portion unrelated to the subject image.
Regarding the extraction of the image portion (effective image portion) corresponding to the subject image, the image data is transferred to an external device such as a personal computer, and then manually processed (processed) using appropriate image processing software (program). .
[0020]
As a modification of the present embodiment, the effective image portion can be automatically cut out. For example, in the signal processing unit housed in the case 16 of the film cartridge type imaging device 10, the dark portion detection of the image data is performed, and only the effective image portion is extracted by truncating the portion corresponding to the dark portion. Also good. As described above, it is also possible to perform a cut-out process of an effective image portion from all the pixel data of the CCD 12 using an image processing technique and write the image data after the cut-out process to the storage medium 36. According to this method, since only the image data corresponding to the subject image is recorded on the storage medium 36, the recording capacity of the storage medium 36 can be used effectively, and the use of the image data is easy.
[0021]
As described above, by using the CCD 12 having an image pickup surface size 19 larger than the exposure area size 18 of the film surface, it is not necessary to position the CCD 12 with respect to the aperture of the camera with a sufficient size. The conventional position adjusting mechanism and the like can be omitted.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0022]
FIG. 3 is an external view of a film cartridge type imaging apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the film cartridge type imaging device 40 includes a CCD 42, a plate member 44 that supports the CCD 42, and a case 46 in which a signal processing circuit and the like are accommodated. The case 46 has substantially the same shape as an existing film cartridge (for example, a 35 mm film cartridge), and the plate member 44 extends from the side surface of the case 46. A slide mechanism (coarse adjustment mechanism) may be provided at the connecting portion between the case 46 and the plate member 44 so that the amount by which the plate member 44 is pulled out can be roughly adjusted. However, a mechanical structure (fine adjustment mechanism) for accurately aligning the actual shooting position with the aperture of the camera is not mounted.
[0023]
In the case of a 35 mm film cartridge, the exposure area size 48 on the film surface is determined to be 24 mm long × 36 mm wide. In the image pickup apparatus 40 of this example, a CCD 42 having an image pickup surface size 49 smaller than this size is used. How small the CCD 42 is to be used with respect to the exposure area size 48 is a design matter. In particular, the difference in the distance between the patrone chamber and the aperture in a commercially available silver salt camera is fully examined. It is preferable to determine the image pickup surface size 49 from the viewpoint that it can be used commonly in many silver salt cameras by absorbing the difference in these dimensions.
[0024]
Since the image pickup surface size 49 of the CCD 42 is made smaller than the exposure area size 48, when the image pickup device 40 is mounted on a silver halide camera, the CCD 42 can be accommodated within the frame of the camera aperture regardless of the camera model. The position adjustment mechanism can be omitted.
Further, in combination with the use of the CCD 42 having an image pickup surface size 49 smaller than the exposure area size 48, the finder of the silver salt camera is configured as follows.
[0025]
FIG. 4 shows a finder display example. The finder 50 of the silver salt camera has an imaging guarantee area frame (hereinafter referred to as a film imaging guarantee area frame) 52 indicating an imaging guarantee range at the time of photographing using a photographic film. An imaging range (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD imaging area) 54 corresponding to the original imaging area of the CCD 12 exists inside the film imaging assurance area frame 52. When the above-described imaging device 40 is attached to the camera, an area (frame indicated by reference numeral 56) smaller than the CCD imaging area 54 in the finder 50 of the camera is presented as an imaging guarantee range.
[0026]
As a means for presenting an imaging assurance area frame (hereinafter referred to as a CCD imaging assurance area frame) 56 indicating the imaging assurance range when the imaging device 40 is mounted on the finder 50, for example, the camera finder 50 shown in FIG. There is a method to attach a special mask sheet. There is also a method of providing a mechanism (field frame switching mechanism) capable of changing the field of view range by configuring the field frame so that the field frame can be moved in and out by a mechanical structure. A method of realizing a mask corresponding to FIG. 4 by adopting liquid crystal as a field frame of the finder 50 and changing the transmission region of the liquid crystal is also conceivable. In addition, it is also possible to adopt a method in which a zoom lens is adopted in the finder optical system, the finder optical system is zoomed, and the visual field image is enlarged to narrow the visual field area.
[0027]
FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a camera system including means for automatically presenting the CCD imaging guaranteed area frame 56 on the viewfinder in conjunction with the camera mounting of the imaging device 40. 5 that are the same as those in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted. As shown in FIG. 5, in this camera system, information transmission terminals 62 and 64 for communication are provided between the film cartridge type imaging device 40 and the camera body 60, and these terminals 62 and 64 are connected. Thus, the CPU 30 of the imaging device 40 is configured to transmit information related to the imaging guaranteed range corresponding to the imaging surface size 49 of the CCD 12 to the camera body 60 side.
[0028]
Reference numeral 66 denotes a microcomputer built in the camera body 60, and reference numeral 68 denotes a finder display changing means corresponding to the above-described field frame switching mechanism, liquid crystal mask, or zoom servo mechanism of the finder optical system. is there.
The microcomputer 66 of the camera body 60 controls the finder display changing unit 58 based on information received from the imaging device 40, and changes the display in the finder 50 as described with reference to FIG. As a result, the imaging guaranteed range by the CCD 12 is presented to the user.
[0029]
According to the imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment described above, a conventional mechanical system is required for a small imaging apparatus that is required to be configured to have a size that can be accommodated in a cartridge room of a silver salt camera. A simple CCD position adjusting mechanism can be omitted. Thereby, simplification and size reduction of an apparatus structure are realizable.
In addition, since the viewfinder shows that the CCD imaging area is narrower than the photographic film imaging area (exposure area), the user can easily grasp the limitation of the imaging area. In particular, since the imaging guarantee area presented in this finder is even smaller than the actual imaging area of the CCD, it is possible to reliably acquire at least image data of a subject image observed in the imaging guarantee area.
[0030]
The camera system of this example has an effect that the camera can be used as a telephoto camera by mounting the imaging device 40 on the camera.
In the above description, the film cartridge type imaging device mounted on a silver salt type camera using a 35 mm film cartridge has been described as an example. However, the present invention is applicable to various films such as a camera using a film cartridge compatible with a new 24 mm photo system. It can be applied to cameras. Further, the electronic image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a silver salt type camera, but can be similarly applied to an instant camera using a self-developing film.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the electronic imaging apparatus according to the present invention, since the imaging device having an imaging surface size larger than the exposure area size on the film surface is used, the distance from the cartridge room to the aperture varies depending on the camera model. Differences can be absorbed. This eliminates the need for accurate positioning of the image sensor with respect to the lens optical axis of the camera, and eliminates the conventional CCD position adjustment mechanism.
[0032]
In addition, according to the electronic imaging device according to the present invention, since an imaging device having an imaging surface size smaller than the exposure area size is used, even if the distance from the cartridge room to the aperture differs depending on the camera model, An image sensor can be arranged inside the exposure area size. Therefore, a delicate positioning operation of the image sensor is not necessary, and a conventional CCD position adjusting mechanism can be omitted.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view of a film cartridge type imaging apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a film cartridge type imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an external view of a film cartridge type imaging apparatus showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a display example of a camera finder. FIG. 5 is a film cartridge type imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment. Block diagram of a camera system using the device [Explanation of symbols]
10, 40 ... Film cartridge type imaging device 12, 42 ... CCD
14, 44 ... Plate members 16, 46 ... Cases 18, 48 ... Exposure area size 19, 49 ... Imaging surface size 50 ... Viewfinder 52 ... Film imaging guaranteed area frame 54 ... CCD imaging guaranteed area frame 56 ... CCD imaging guaranteed area frame 60 ... Camera Main bodies 62, 64 ... information transmission terminal 68 ... finder display changing means

Claims (5)

In an electronic imaging device that includes an imaging device and a signal processing unit that processes an image signal obtained from the imaging device, and that can be used as an electronic camera by being attached to the film camera,
An electronic image pickup apparatus using an image pickup device having an image pickup surface size larger than an exposure area size on a film surface of a photographic film used for a camera for a film. A film cartridge type electronic imaging apparatus having a case that can be mounted in a cartridge chamber of a film camera, wherein the signal processing unit is accommodated in the case. The electronic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an imaging device having an imaging surface size large enough to absorb a dimensional difference between models at a distance up to is used. In an electronic imaging device that includes an imaging device and a signal processing unit that processes an image signal obtained from the imaging device, and that can be used as an electronic camera by being attached to the film camera,
As the image pickup device, the image pickup surface size is smaller than the exposure area size on the film surface of the photographic film used for the film camera, and when the electronic image pickup apparatus is mounted, the distance from the cartridge room of the film camera to the aperture is An electronic imaging apparatus characterized in that an imaging element having a size that is assumed to be capable of absorbing a dimensional difference between models and being arranged within the frame of the aperture is used. 4. The electronic imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a coarse adjustment mechanism capable of manually performing coarse adjustment of a position of the image pickup device with respect to the film camera. The camera for film can be converted into an electronic camera by mounting an electronic image pickup device including an image pickup device and a signal processing unit for processing an image signal obtained from the image pickup device on a film camera capable of recording an optical image on a photographic film. In a camera system that can be converted to
When an electronic image pickup apparatus having an image pickup device having an image pickup surface size smaller than the exposure area size on the film surface of a photographic film is mounted on the film camera, the image camera corresponds to the image pickup surface size on the finder of the film camera. An imaging guarantee range presentation means for displaying an area smaller than the visual field area as an imaging guarantee range is provided.

Images