JPH033484A - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent consumption of a power supply by lighting an electronic view finder only when a shutter button lighting the electronic view finder is depressed to 1st or 2nd stage of the stroke. CONSTITUTION:The electronic view finder 5 is controlled to be lighted only when the shutter button stroke is pressed to a 1st stage or a 2nd stage when pickup is attained at application of power supply of the camera and a light control means C displaying the video image is provided by the image pickup means 1. Thus, the electronic view finder is lighted only when the shutter button stroke is depressed to the 1st stage or 2nd stage to prevent consumption of the power supply.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an electronic still camera, and more particularly to an electronic still camera that records images captured by an imaging means such as a solid-state imaging device on a recording medium.

(Prior Art) In recent years, electronic still images have been developed by combining a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD with a recording device using a rotating recording medium such as a magnetic disk, recording still images on the rotating recording medium, and playing back the images on a monitor or printer. The camera has been developed to a great extent.

This electronic still camera does not require chemical processing such as development, unlike cameras that use silver halide film (hereinafter referred to as silver halide cameras), and images taken can be viewed immediately on a monitor or hard copy. , there is no need to shield the recording medium from light, and the recording medium can be reused, etc.
It has many advantages.

Furthermore, since electronic still cameras input images through an image sensor, the finder can be an electronic viewfinder. When an electronic viewfinder is used in an electronic still camera, there is no need to provide a quick return mirror or the like between the photographing optical system and the image sensor. Problems such as the parallax deviation between the photographic optical system and the finder optical system and the need for a complicated interlocking mechanism between the photographic optical system and the finder optical system when the photographic optical system is a zoom lens can be solved. It has the advantage of not occurring.

However, the electronic viewfinder of a conventional electronic still camera has the disadvantage that it consumes a large amount of power, unlike an optical viewfinder.

(The problem that the invention aims to solve!!) As mentioned above, when an electronic viewfinder is used in an electronic still camera, the electronic viewfinder consumes a large amount of power, which significantly shortens the life of the power supply. There was a problem.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the electronic viewfinder lights up only when the shutter button that needs to light up is pressed into the first or second stage of its stroke. The purpose is to prevent power consumption.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, the present invention includes a photographing optical system, an imaging means for converting a subject image formed by the photographing optical system into an electrical video signal, and a system for recording the video signal. An electronic still camera having a recording means and an electronic viewfinder as a finder, when the power of the camera is turned on and photography is possible, the shutter button is pushed into the first or second stage of its stroke. This object is achieved by comprising a lighting control means for controlling the electronic viewfinder to turn on only when the electronic viewfinder is on, and projecting an image taken by the imaging means.

(Function) The electronic still camera of this invention (hereinafter referred to as camera) lights up only when the camera is turned on and shooting is possible, and the shutter button is pressed into the first or second stage of its stroke. The control means turns on the electronic viewfinder, and the imaging means projects an image.

(Example) An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electronic still camera which is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a control diagram of the operation of this embodiment. This is a flowchart.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, A represents an image sensor 4;
It is composed of a CCD control circuit (FIG. 2) 14 that controls the image sensor 4, and is an imaging means that converts into a subject image formed by the imaging optical system 1. B is a recording means for recording the video signal, which is composed of a recording section 9 and a recording section control circuit 15 (FIG. 2) that controls the recording section 9. C is a lighting control means, and this lighting 111Jm means C is composed of an electronic viewfinder control circuit 13 that controls the electronic viewfinder 5 as a 5-view finder, and a camera control circuit 10.
When the camera is powered on and ready to take a picture, the shutter button (not shown) is pressed into the first stage of its stroke, e.g., 1/2 of its stroke, or into the second stage, e.g., its entire stroke. The electronic viewfinder 5 is controlled to turn on only when the image capturing means A
It is a means of projecting images by (details will be described later).

Further, in FIG. 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 2 denotes an aperture, which is controlled by an aperture control circuit 17. 3 is a shutter, which is controlled by a shutter control circuit (FIG. 2, 12). 5 is an electronic viewfinder, and 6 is a lens in the finder section. 7 is a switch that serves both as a power source and a mode changeover for the camera.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained using FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, when the camera switch 7 is operated and the power is turned on (hereinafter referred to as the standby state), when the photographer presses the release button (not shown) halfway through its full stroke, the switch is turned on. 1 (Figure 2)
becomes ON. Camera control circuit 10 turns on switch 1
When this is confirmed, the shutter 3 is opened, and the diaphragm 2 opens and closes depending on the charge accumulated in the image sensor 4, that is, the amount of light incident on the image sensor 4, and a certain amount of light enters the image sensor 4. adjusted so that it is incident. Then, an image formed on the image sensor 4 by the camera control circuit 10 and the electronic viewfinder control circuit 13, which are lighting control means C, is projected onto the electronic viewfinder 5. Further, the brightness of the subject is measured by a photometry unit (not shown). When the release button is pressed further, switch 2
(Fig. 2) is turned ON. When the ON state of this switch 2 is confirmed by the camera control circuit 10, a photographing operation is started. Until this time, the electronic viewfinder is lit and displays images. First, the aperture 2 is moved to an aperture value determined based on the brightness of the subject or an aperture value preset by the photographer. At the same time, the shutter 3 is closed and the charges accumulated in the image sensor 4 are discharged. Then, the shutter 3 is opened and closed, and the video signal accumulated in the image sensor 4 at this time is transferred to the recording section 9 by the camera control circuit 10, and recorded by the recording section control circuit 15 on the unrecorded part of the recording medium. Further, the shutter 3 is returned to the state before release, and photographing is completed. Then, when the switch 1 of the release button is turned off, the driving of the image sensor 4 is stopped, and the power to the electronic viewfinder 5 is turned off, returning to the original state.

Next, the flow of operation control in this embodiment will be briefly re-explained using the flowchart of FIG. 3, focusing on the lighting control means.

In FIG. 3, the power is turned on and the flow starts. In step 31, the image sensor is driven, the shutter is opened, and the aperture movie is driven. And step 3
Proceed to step 2 and complete the first stage of the shutter button stroke (1
/2) Determine whether the release switch 1 (hereinafter referred to as switch 1) is turned on. If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step 33; if it is not turned on, the process proceeds to step 34. In step 34, the electronic viewfinder is set to 0FFL. /
Then, the process returns to step 32. On the other hand, in step 33, the electronic viewfinder is turned on, and in step 35, photometry and distance measurement of the subject, confirmation of voltage and power supply, and white balance adjustment are performed, and the process proceeds to step 36. In step 36, the shutter speed, aperture value, and the amount of movement of the optical system are calculated, and the process proceeds to step 37. In step 37, the release switch 2 (hereinafter referred to as switch 2), which is the second stage (all) of the shutter button stroke, is turned on. Determine whether it is set and turn it on.
If so, the shutter is closed in step 40. Then, proceed to step 41, and in step 37 switch 2 is turned OFF.
If it is not turned on, the process proceeds to step 38, and the switch l is turned on.
Determine whether it is turned on, and if it is turned on, step 37
If the electronic viewfinder is not turned on, the electronic viewfinder is turned off in step 39, and the process returns to step 32.

On the other hand, in step 41, the charge of the image element is discharged,
Move the aperture and move the optical system, proceed to step 42, open and close the shutter in step 42, transfer charge in step 43, record in step 44, and proceed to step 45.
Open the shutter with , drive the aperture movie, and proceed to step 32.
Return to

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the electronic viewfinder lights up only when the shutter button that requires lighting is pressed into the first or second stage of its stroke, and the power is consumed. It has the effect of preventing

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electronic still camera that is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a flowchart for controlling the operation of this embodiment. It is. A ---- Imaging means B - - Recording means C - Lighting control means 1 - Middle photographing optical system 2 - One aperture 3 - - Shutter 4 - One image pickup element 5 - One electronic view Finder 6 --- Lens 7 of the finder section --- Power switch 9 --- Recording section 0 --- Camera IIJ control circuit 3 --- Electronic viewfinder control circuit 4 --- CCD control circuit 5 --- 1. Recording section control circuit

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A photographing optical system, an imaging means for converting a subject image formed by the photographing optical system into an electrical video signal, a recording means for recording the video signal, and an electronic viewfinder as a finder. In an electronic still camera having an electronic still camera, when the power of the camera is turned on and photography is possible, the shutter button is pressed in the first or second stage of its stroke.
1. An electronic still camera characterized by comprising a lighting control means for controlling the electronic viewfinder to turn on only when the electronic viewfinder is pushed into the step, and projecting an image taken by the imaging means.