JP2000125158A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image pickup device that easily replaces a type of an image sensor installed in the image pickup device with a type of an image sensor in response to a photographing application in the image pickup device that is mounted removably on a photographing camera and so that the photographing camera can be used for an electronic camera. SOLUTION: This image pickup device consists of a cartridge section 12 that is mounted on a cartridge mount of a photographing camera and an image pickup section 14 on which a CCD image sensor 20 placed to a film exposure part of the photographing camera is mounted. The image pickup section 14 can removably be mounted on the cartridge section 12, and an image pickup section 14 on which a desired kind of a CCD image sensor 20 is mounted is mounted on the cartridge section 12 according to the photographing application.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, and more particularly, to an image pickup apparatus detachably mounted on a photographic camera using a photographic film so that the photographic camera can be used as an electronic camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been proposed an imaging apparatus which is detachably mounted on a photographic camera so that the photographic camera can be used as an electronic camera. This image pickup device is a CCD that is arranged in a film exposure section of the camera when mounted on the camera.
And the like, and a signal processing circuit for processing an image signal acquired by the image sensor.

[0003]

By the way, the image sensor of the above-mentioned imaging apparatus which has been conventionally proposed has the same size as a photographic film (for example, 35 mm film) and is formed integrally with the imaging apparatus main body. Therefore, for example, when it is desired to change the number of pixels of the image sensor, or to change from color to black and white, it is necessary to replace the imaging device itself. However, components such as a circuit of the imaging device include:
There are many that can be used in common regardless of the type of image sensor. Further, such a configuration can be made in advance. Nevertheless, the need to replace the imaging device itself when the type of image sensor is replaced is disadvantageous in that the cost burden increases for users who want to use various types of image sensors depending on the shooting application. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to use the image sensor itself as a general method of using the image sensor depending on the purpose of photographing.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in an image pickup apparatus detachably mounted on a photographic camera so that the photographic camera can be used as an electronic camera, an image sensor installed in the image pickup apparatus It is an object of the present invention to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of easily changing the type of image sensor to an image sensor of a type corresponding to a photographing use.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an imaging apparatus detachably mounted on a camera using a photographic film, wherein an image sensor is mounted on a film exposure section of the camera when the photographic film is mounted. Is arranged, and when the shutter of the camera is released, in an imaging device that records an image captured by the image sensor, a cartridge portion mounted on a cartridge mounting portion of the camera, the image being captured by the image sensor. A cartridge unit equipped with a recording unit for recording an image, and an imaging unit detachably mounted on the cartridge unit and including the image sensor, wherein the imaging unit on which the image sensor of a desired form is disposed is It is characterized in that it can be mounted on the cartridge part.

According to the present invention, the image pickup unit on which the image sensor is disposed can be detachably mounted on the cartridge unit on which the recording means for recording the image picked up by the image sensor is mounted. It is not necessary to replace the cartridge part when it is desired to change the type, and it is possible only by replacing the imaging unit in which the image sensor is disposed. Therefore, the cost burden is small, and the type of the image sensor can be easily changed according to the photographing use.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 are a front view and a rear view, respectively, showing the appearance of an imaging device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the imaging device mounted on a photographic camera using a 35 mm film (silver film). It is a figure showing a situation. As shown in these drawings, an imaging apparatus 10 according to the present invention includes a cartridge section 12 and an imaging section 14 connected to the cartridge section 12.
It is composed of Since the cartridge section 12 is formed in substantially the same shape (cylindrical shape) as a commercially available 35 mm film cartridge, as shown in FIG.
A desired type of photo camera 30 (hereinafter, referred to as a camera 30) using a mm film can be mounted in the cartridge mounting portion 32 in place of a 35 mm film cartridge. 3 is a film winding shaft of the camera 30.

[0008] The imaging unit 14 of the imaging device 10 has a CC
A D image sensor 20 is provided, and the CCD image sensor 20 is installed on the front surface of the support 18. Support part 18
Is formed in a flat plate shape, and is installed in the cartridge section 12 so as to be in the same direction as the direction in which the film is pulled out from the film cartridge in the camera 30. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the imaging unit 14 is arranged along the inner surface of the back cover 34 of the camera 30 to which the normal photographic film is conveyed, and the CCD image sensor 20 is positioned at the position where the camera 30 performs film exposure. It is arranged in the film exposure section 36). Thereby, when the shutter of the photographic camera 30 is released, the CC is transmitted through the lens unit 38 of the camera 30.
A subject image is formed on the light receiving surface of the D image sensor 20,
The image light is converted into an electric signal (image signal) by the CCD image sensor 20. CCD image sensor 20
Is subjected to predetermined signal processing, and is recorded as image data in a memory in the cartridge unit 12.

As described above, the conventional 35
By mounting the imaging device 10 in place of a film on a photographic camera of mm film, the photographic camera can be used as a digital camera. still,
Here, an imaging apparatus in which a 35 mm film photo camera is used as a digital camera has been described. However, the present invention uses a photo film of another size (including a non-roll film such as an instant film). The imaging device may be an imaging device when the camera is used as a digital camera. In that case, the imaging device has a shape that can be mounted on the photographic camera, and the image sensor is disposed in the film exposure unit. It may be configured as follows.

In the image pickup apparatus 10 described above, the cartridge section 12 and the image pickup section 14 are detachable by an attachment / detachment mechanism, as shown in FIG.
2 can be removed. 5 and 6 show the cartridge unit 12 to the imaging unit 14 respectively.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an imaging unit 14 and a cartridge unit 12 when the camera unit is removed. As shown in FIG.
On the support portion 18 of the imaging section 14 where the D image sensor 20 is installed, a substrate portion 50 protruding from an end is integrally formed. The substrate section 50 is provided with an IF terminal 52, and a signal (image signal) of an image captured by the CCD image sensor 20 is sent to a predetermined circuit in the cartridge section 12 via the IF terminal. It has become. It should be noted that various signals are exchanged with the cartridge 12 and power is supplied through the IF terminal.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
2, a notch 54 and a groove 56 for setting the support portion 18 of the imaging unit 14 in the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are formed. The imaging section 14 is mounted on the cartridge section 12 by fitting the substrate section 50 formed on the support section 18 of the imaging section 14 into the groove 56. Further, by fitting the substrate portion 50 into the groove 56, the IF terminal 52 provided on the substrate portion 50 is connected to the connector provided in the groove 56, and the CCD image sensor mounted on the imaging unit 14. Circuits such as 20 and circuits mounted in the cartridge unit 12 are electrically connected.

Next, the types of the image pickup section 14 will be described. As described above, since the imaging unit 14 can be detached from the cartridge unit 12, the imaging unit equipped with a desired type of CCD image sensor is replaced with the same cartridge unit 1.
2 can be attached. Therefore, by preparing a plurality of imaging units having different types of CCD image sensors,
The imaging unit mounted on the cartridge unit 12 can be exchanged according to the shooting application, and an image corresponding to the shooting application can be obtained. FIG. 7 shows different types of C
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a type of an imaging unit equipped with a CD image sensor. The imaging unit denoted by reference numeral 100 is equipped with a CCD image sensor having a size of 1.3 million pixels and a size of 35 mm.
It is equipped with a high-sensitivity type CCD image sensor of mm size. Further, the imaging unit denoted by reference numeral 104
The VGA size low-cost CCD image sensor is mounted, and the imaging unit indicated by reference numeral 106 is mounted with a high-sensitivity monochrome CCD image sensor. The imaging unit indicated by reference numeral 108 has a CCD image sensor of a type having infrared sensitivity.
These imaging units 100 to 108 can be selected by the user according to the purpose of photographing, and can be mounted on the cartridge unit 12. It is to be noted that the image pickup unit is not limited to the types shown in the above 100 to 108, and may be configured with other types of CCD image sensors.

Next, the circuit configuration and operation of the imaging device 10 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. As shown in FIG.
And a memory 60. In the memory 60, type information indicating the type of the imaging unit 14 (the type of the CCD image sensor 20) is recorded. The circuits mounted on the imaging unit 14 are provided with an IF terminal 52 of the imaging unit 14 (see FIG. 5).
Connector 70 in the cartridge section 12 connected to the
Is electrically connected to a circuit in the cartridge unit 12 via the.

On the other hand, the cartridge section 12 includes a CPU 72 for controlling the entire circuit, and an analog / digital signal processing section 7 for performing various analog processing and digital processing of image signals.
4. a memory unit 76 for recording a captured image, a power supply 78,
And an output unit 80 for outputting an image recorded in the memory unit 76 to an external device. The CPU 72
When the power is turned on, first, the type information is read from the memory 60 of the imaging unit 14 and the type of the imaging unit 14 attached to the cartridge unit 12 is recognized. Then, a command is sent to the analog / digital signal processing unit 74 based on the type of the imaging unit 14, and settings are made to cause the analog / digital signal processing unit 74 to execute processing according to the type of the imaging unit 14.

Next, when taking in an image,
When the shutter of the camera to which the present imaging device 10 is mounted is released, the CPU 72 gives an instruction to capture an image to the analog / digital signal processing unit 74. As a result, a drive pulse is output from the timing generator mounted on the analog / digital signal processing unit 74 to the CCD image sensor 20 via the connector 70. An image signal is transmitted from the CCD image sensor 20 to the analog / digital signal processing unit 74 by the driving pulse.
Note that whether or not the shutter of the camera has been released may be determined by, for example, providing an interface between the imaging device 10 and the camera and using a shutter signal from the camera, or by another method.

The analog / digital signal processing section 74 performs necessary analog processing such as white balance adjustment on the image signal, converts the image signal into a digital signal, and performs gamma correction, data compression and the like on the image signal. Digital processing. Then, the image data generated in this manner is recorded in the memory unit 76. Thus, an image captured by the CCD image sensor 20 of the imaging unit 14 is recorded in the memory unit 76 of the cartridge unit 12.

Power is supplied to each circuit of the cartridge section 12 and the imaging section 14 from a power supply 78 mounted on the cartridge section 12. The image recorded in the memory unit 76 as described above can be transferred to an external device via the output unit 80. Output unit 80
May be wireless communication means such as infrared communication, or may be wired communication means for outputting image data to an external device from an external output terminal provided on the outer surface of the cartridge section 12. .

As described above, in the above embodiment, the cartridge section 12 and the imaging section 14 are configured to be detachable, and the support section 18 of the imaging section 14 is replaced together.
The CD image sensor may be made detachable from the support unit 18 so that it can be replaced with a desired type of CCD image sensor.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image pickup section on which an image sensor is disposed is detachably mounted on a cartridge section on which a recording means for recording an image picked up by the image sensor is mounted. To be able to
When it is desired to change the type of the image sensor, it is not necessary to replace the cartridge unit, and it is possible only by replacing the imaging unit in which the image sensor is disposed. Therefore, the cost burden is small, and the type of the image sensor can be easily changed according to the photographing use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of an imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the appearance of the imaging device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the present imaging device is mounted on a photographic camera using a 35 mm film cartridge.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram used for describing an imaging apparatus in which an imaging unit is configured to be detachable.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an imaging unit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a cartridge unit.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a type of an imaging unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the imaging apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Image pick-up device 12 ... Cartridge part 14 ... Image pick-up part 18 ... Supporting part 20 ... CCD image sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus detachably mounted on a camera using a photographic film, wherein an image sensor is arranged in a film exposure section of the camera at the time of mounting, and the image is generated when a shutter of the camera is released. An image pickup apparatus for recording an image taken by a sensor, wherein the cartridge section is a cartridge section mounted on a cartridge mounting section of the camera, the cartridge section including recording means for recording an image taken by the image sensor, and the cartridge An imaging unit detachably mounted on the unit and having the image sensor arranged thereon, wherein the imaging unit having the image sensor of a desired form arranged thereon is attachable to the cartridge unit. 2. The image pickup section includes type information recording means for recording the type of the image sensor, and the recording means of the cartridge section records the type of the image sensor of the mounted image pickup section by the type information recording means. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal is detected and signal processing is performed based on the detected type of the image sensor.