JP2001358976A - Imaging unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging unit that can very easily realize photographing for a long time without deterioration in the image quality by controlling the operation or providing information in response to a degree of cooling of an imaging device. SOLUTION: An inexpensive cooling material easy to be acquired being typically dry ice is put in or mounted in a pocket provided in an imaging unit main body to very much decrease a dark current of an imaging device 22 so as to attain long time exposure required for astrography or the like. Since a temperature sensing element 40 provided between the pocket and the imaging device 22 or in the vicinity of the imaging device 22 can sense a temperature of the imaging device 22, the operation control or provision of information in response to a degree of cooling of the imaging device 22 can be realized and photographing for a long time can very easily be realized as a result without deterioration in the image quality.

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 using a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD, and more particularly to an image pickup device having a function of cooling the image pickup device for long-time photographing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is necessary to perform a long-time exposure in order to photograph a subject having extremely low brightness, such as astronomical photography. CC
When performing long-time exposure in an electronic camera (digital still camera) using a solid-state imaging device such as D, it is most important to reduce the dark current, and the imaging device must be cooled for the purpose of reducing the dark current. Must. As a technique for cooling an imaging device in an electronic camera, it is known to use an electronic cooling device such as a Peltier device (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
-38019).

However, in a configuration using an electronic cooling element such as a Peltier element, a relatively large amount of power is consumed to drive the electronic cooling element, and a mechanism for radiating heat generated by the cooling element itself is also required. Occurs. For this reason, there has been a problem that the device is totally dedicated exclusively and the device configuration is enlarged.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve this problem and provide an imaging apparatus which can be carried around as a general camera on a daily basis, and which can temporarily perform cooling imaging as needed.
The present applicant has previously proposed an imaging apparatus capable of performing simple cooling imaging by putting in or attaching a readily available coolant represented by dry ice (Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-7).
7137).

However, even if the coolant is supplied, it takes a predetermined time for the temperature of the image pickup device to actually decrease. Therefore, if the photographing is performed for a long time before that, the image quality is deteriorated. That is, although an imaging device capable of introducing a coolant can efficiently cool the imaging device, the photographer cannot know how much the imaging device is actually cooled, so that the image quality deteriorates. There is a problem that it is difficult to determine whether or not long-time shooting without any trouble is possible, and how long the long-time shooting is allowed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and enables an image sensor to be cooled without increasing the size and cost of the apparatus, and operates according to the degree of cooling of the image sensor. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging apparatus capable of performing control or information presentation and capable of performing a long-time shooting without deterioration in image quality extremely easily.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus for picking up an image of a subject using a solid-state image pickup device. It has a mounting pocket, and a temperature detecting element is arranged between the pocket and the image sensor or near the image sensor.

According to the present invention, a dark current in an image pickup device is extremely reduced by putting or mounting an inexpensive and readily available coolant typified by dry ice in a pocket provided in the image pickup device main body. And a long-time exposure required for astronomical photography or the like becomes possible. Furthermore, since the temperature of the image sensor can be detected by the temperature sensor provided between the pocket and the image sensor or near the image sensor, operation control or information presentation according to the degree of cooling of the image sensor is realized. This makes it possible to extremely easily perform long-time shooting without image quality degradation.

[0009] In this case, it is particularly preferable that a configuration is adopted in which the use of the long-time photographing mode is permitted when the temperature detection element detects that the temperature of the image pickup element has fallen below a predetermined temperature. This makes it possible to prevent a long-time shooting before the temperature of the imaging device actually decreases to the predetermined temperature. Further, in addition to or separately from such control of permission / prohibition of long-time shooting, if the temperature detected by the temperature detection element of the image sensor is not lower than a predetermined temperature, a warning about use of the long-time shooting mode is issued. May be adopted, and the user may be notified in advance that the degree of cooling of the image sensor is not sufficient.

[0010] Further, there is further provided means for setting a value of a longest exposure time usable in the long-time photographing mode based on a temperature detected by the temperature sensor by the image sensor. The value of the longest exposure time that can be photographed is automatically set, and it is possible to realize long-time photographing with the optimal longest exposure time according to the current degree of cooling. Of course, the set value may be presented to the user as a standard of the usable exposure time, or the detected temperature of the image sensor may be presented.

Further, for example, as in bulb photography in which exposure is continuously performed while the shutter trigger is pressed,
When the exposure time in the long shooting mode is determined by a user operation, a predetermined warning is issued when the elapsed time from the start of the exposure reaches the value of the set maximum exposure time or earlier. It is desirable to employ. Thus, it is possible to notify the user of the standard at the time of the end of the exposure during the actual exposure operation.

When detecting the temperature of the imaging device using the temperature detection device, a predetermined temperature margin or a time margin determined according to a thermal time constant of the imaging device and a structure in the vicinity thereof is taken into consideration. Thus, the temperature of the image sensor can be detected with high accuracy.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a basic configuration of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(A) is a horizontal sectional view seen from above, and FIG. 1 (b) is a rear view.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a camera housing, in which a lens 21, a solid-state image sensor 22, and a circuit board 2 are provided.
3 and various parts not shown are accommodated. The lens 21 is the outermost lens and one surface is exposed to the outside. Further, a focusing lens and a zoom lens (not shown) are arranged between the lens 21 and the image sensor 22. The image sensor 22 is, for example, a CCD image sensor, and is mounted on a circuit board 23.

The basic structure up to this point is the same as that of a conventional general electronic camera, but in this embodiment, in addition to this, a cooling material (coolant) is supplied to the back surface 11 of the camera housing 10. A coolant supply pocket 12 is provided. The pocket 12 is located on the back side of the image sensor 22 and has a room-like structure having a lid 13. The lid 13 continuously forms the exterior surface of the camera housing 10. I have. Part of the wall surface of the pocket 13 is in direct contact with the circuit board 23.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 14 denotes a lock mechanism for locking the lid 13 to the camera housing 10, and reference numeral 24 denotes the image pickup device 2.
2, a cover glass provided on the light receiving surface side, and 25 indicates a lead wire.

In such a configuration, when nothing is put in the pocket 12, it can be used as a normal electronic camera. On the other hand, by introducing a cooling material such as dry ice into the pocket 12,
2 can be efficiently cooled, and imaging can be performed with little dark current. As a result, it is possible to photograph an extremely low-luminance subject such as an astronomical photograph that requires long-time exposure.

FIG. 2 shows another example of the mounting structure of the image pickup device 22. The difference from FIG. 1 is that the back surface of the image sensor 22 is directly cooled instead of cooling the back surface of the image sensor 22 via the circuit board 23. That is, an opening is provided in the circuit board 23 on which the imaging element 22 is mounted, and the opening is provided through the opening.
Is exposed. The back surface of the imaging element 22 exposed at the opening is in direct contact with one surface of the wall constituting the pocket 12. With such a configuration, the imaging element 22 can be cooled more efficiently.

3A and 3B are views for explaining a second example of the configuration of the electronic camera. FIG. 3A is a horizontal sectional view as viewed from above, FIG. 3B is a rear view, and FIG. (c) is a structural sectional view of the coolant unit. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, a mounting pocket 16 to which a coolant unit 30 can be mounted is provided instead of the dry ice charging pocket 12 shown in FIG. The pocket 16 is formed by providing a concave portion on the rear side 11 of the camera housing 10, and the coolant unit 30 is detachable.

The coolant unit 30 comprises a structure 31 having an internal cavity and a cool agent 32 filled and sealed in the cavity. The outer shape of the unit 30 is determined so as to fit into the pocket 16. And in the mounted state,
As shown in FIG. 3A, the rear surface (exposed surface) of the unit 30 continuously forms the exterior surface of the camera housing 10.

The refrigerating agent 32 of the cooling unit 30 utilizes the heat storage effect of the latent heat of the substance and can be cooled very easily for a relatively long period of time by previously cooling it in, for example, a freezing room of a home refrigerator. It is assumed that. In addition, such a refrigerant itself has been put into practical use as a general-purpose refrigerant pack (in which a refrigerant is sealed in a soft plastic pack) used for homes such as "ice bags that do not require ice," and various kinds of compositions are used. Things exist. Coolant 32 in the context of the present invention
Can be used, but for example, a mixture of water, a gelling agent and ethylene glycol may be used.

With such a configuration, it is possible to use the coolant unit 30 as a normal electronic camera with the coolant unit 30 mounted without any particular cooling. Alternatively, if the unit 30 is removed from the pocket 16 and used, the weight can be further reduced. On the other hand, by sufficiently cooling beforehand in the pocket 16 and then fitting the coolant unit 30, the image sensor 22 can be efficiently cooled, and an extremely low-luminance subject can be photographed like an astronomical photograph. It becomes possible.

FIG. 4 shows a mounting structure of a temperature detecting element 40 provided on the circuit board 23 for detecting the temperature of the image pickup element 22. As the temperature detecting element 40,
For example, a known thermistor, a thermocouple, or the like is used. Further, any of a chip (surface mounting) component and a lead component may be used.

FIG. 4A shows an example in which a temperature detecting element 40 made of a surface-mounted component is used, and is disposed on the back side of the image pickup element 22. That is, the temperature detection element 40
As shown, the image sensor 22 mounted on the circuit board 23
And a circuit board 23. As described above, since the pocket 16 is provided on the back surface side of the circuit board 23 in contact with it, the pocket 1
The temperature detection element 40 is disposed between the image sensor 6 and the imaging element 22.

FIG. 4B shows an example in which a temperature detecting element 40 made of a lead component is used and arranged on the back side of the image pickup element 22. As described with reference to FIG.
2 is mounted such that its back surface is inserted into the opening of the circuit board 23. Temperature detection element 4 composed of lead components
0 is attached so that the lead 40a is substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the lead 25 of the image sensor 22 as shown in the figure. When the image sensor 22 is formed of a package having a DIP structure, the leads 25 extend only from two specific sides of the package of the image sensor 22 opposite to each other. It is led out to the circuit board 23 from the other two sides having no 25. Needless to say, the temperature detection element 40 may be arranged so as to avoid the lead 25 of the imaging element 22.
The temperature detecting element 40 may be arranged obliquely with respect to the direction connecting the two sides of the imaging element 22 having no image.

FIG. 4C shows an example in which the temperature detecting element 40 composed of a surface mount component or a lead component is arranged beside the image sensor 22. That is, the temperature detection element 4
0 is mounted on the circuit board so as to be close to one side of the image sensor 22 where there is no lead. In this case, it is preferable that the temperature detection element 40 be disposed directly in contact with the imaging element 22. This arrangement can also be applied to a configuration in which the image sensor 22 is mounted in the opening of the circuit board 23 as described with reference to FIG. Alternatively, two temperature detection elements 40 may be prepared as shown by the dotted lines, and the two temperature detection elements 40 may be arranged so as to sandwich the image sensor 22. This makes it possible to comprehensively judge the temperature detection results of the two temperature detection elements 40.
It is possible to more accurately check the temperature of the image sensor 22. Note that the number of the temperature detecting elements 40 may be further increased, and various arrangements other than the arrangement sandwiching the imaging element 22 may be used.

Next, a system configuration of the electronic camera will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes an imaging lens system including various lenses; 102, a lens driving mechanism for driving the lens system 101; 103, an exposure control mechanism for controlling the diaphragm of the lens system 101; 104, a mechanical shutter;
Reference numeral 105 denotes a CCD color image sensor corresponding to the above-described image sensor 22, and reference numeral 106 denotes a CC for driving the image sensor 105.
D driver, 107 is a pre-processing circuit including an A / D converter, etc., 108 is a digital processing circuit for performing color signal generation processing, matrix conversion processing, and other various digital processing, 109 is a card interface, 110
Denotes a memory card, and 111 denotes an LCD image display system.

Further, in the figure, reference numeral 112 denotes a system controller (CPU) for overall control of each unit, 113 denotes an operation switch system composed of various switches, and 114 denotes an operation display for displaying an operation state, a mode state, and the like. System, 115 is a lens driver for controlling the lens driving mechanism 102, 116 is a strobe as a light emitting means, 117 is an exposure control driver for controlling the strobe 116, 118
Is a nonvolatile memory (E) for storing various setting information and the like.
EPROM) 119 denotes a temperature detection sensor corresponding to the temperature detection element 40 described above.

In the digital camera of the present embodiment,
The system controller 112 performs all control in a comprehensive manner. In particular, the shutter mechanism included in the exposure control mechanism 103 and the CCD image pickup device 1
Exposure (charge accumulation) and signal readout are performed by controlling the drive of the drive circuit 05, and the readout signal is taken into the digital process circuit 108 via the preprocess circuit 107, subjected to various signal processings, and then subjected to the card interface 109 via the card interface 109. The data is recorded on the memory card 110.

The system controller 112 includes:
A long-time shooting mode control unit 201 is provided. The long-time shooting mode control unit 201 is for performing operation control or information presentation in accordance with the degree of cooling of the image sensor 105, and based on the temperature of the image sensor 105 detected by the temperature detection sensor 119. Permit time shooting /
It has a function of performing prohibition control, a function of automatically setting the longest exposure time that can be used in long-time shooting, and a function of presenting various information related to long-time shooting to the user.

(Normal shooting mode and long shooting mode) Here, the "normal shooting mode" and the "long shooting mode" of the digital camera of the present embodiment will be described.
"Normal shooting mode" is a standard shooting mode (normal exposure mode) assuming that the camera is used in a normal temperature environment.
It is. Assuming that the longest exposure time capable of ensuring image quality in a normal temperature environment is 2 seconds, the value of the longest exposure time is limited to 2 seconds in the “normal shooting mode”. The value of the longest exposure time in this “normal shooting mode” (= 2
Seconds), the image quality (dark charge level) of this camera at an element temperature of 40 degrees is measured (or estimated from various data) in anticipation of an increase in the internal temperature at room temperature, and the separately set “image quality acceptable as a product” It is determined based on the result of reference evaluation based on the “deterioration criteria”. That is, the value of the longest exposure time allowed when the CCD image sensor 105 is at 40 degrees (= 2 seconds) is preset as the longest exposure time in the “normal shooting mode”.

The "long time photographing mode" is a photographing mode having the longest exposure time longer than the "normal photographing mode", and is used, for example, when photographing a subject with extremely low luminance, such as in astronomical photographing. This “long shooting mode”
Is basically based on the premise that the imaging element 105 is sufficiently cooled by the coolant put into the pocket 16. For this reason, if the “long time shooting mode” is used before the image sensor 105 is sufficiently cooled, there is a risk that image quality may be degraded due to the influence of the dark current of the image sensor 105. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the following “long-time shooting mode” is controlled by the long-time shooting mode control unit 201.
Is performed.

(Control operation 1 in long-time shooting mode)
With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, a first example of the control operation regarding the long-time shooting mode will be described. Here, the longest exposure time in the “normal shooting mode” is set to 2 seconds, and the longest exposure time of 1 minute or more is allowed in the “long time shooting mode”.

First, CC is detected by the temperature detection sensor 119.
The temperature of the D image sensor 105 is detected (step S10).
1) It is determined whether or not the detected temperature (CCD temperature T [° C.]) is lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold temperature (here, 0 ° C.) (step S102). The reason why the threshold temperature is set to 0 ° C. is as follows. That is, the amount of dark charge generated is proportional to the exposure time, and changes twice as much as the temperature of the CCD element changes every predetermined unit temperature. In this example,
The amount of generated dark charge is Oct / 8 ° C. (Oct is octave =
(2 times) (the amount of dark charge generated is reduced by half every 8 ° C. decrease). Since the maximum exposure time at an element temperature of 40 ° C. is 2 seconds, the maximum exposure time at an element temperature T ° C. is 2 seconds × 2
^{-(T-40) / 8} . Therefore, element temperature 0
The maximum exposure time at 1 ° C. is 1 minute (2 seconds × 2 ^{−
(0−40) / 8} = 64 seconds ≒ 1 minute), so in this example, the threshold temperature is set to 0 ° C.

If the detected CCD temperature T ° C. is higher than 0 ° C. (NO in step S102), the use of the “long time shooting mode” is prohibited (step S105). In this case, control is performed such that the “long time shooting mode” is disabled or the “long time shooting mode” is selectable but the actual operation is the same as the “normal shooting mode”. Further, a warning is displayed to the effect that the use of the “long time shooting mode” is prohibited because the cooling is not sufficient.

If the detected CCD temperature T ° C. is equal to or lower than 0 ° C., the use of the “long time photographing mode” is permitted (step S103). And the current CCD temperature T ° C
, The value of the longest exposure time is calculated, and the calculated value is automatically set as the longest exposure time usable in the “long-time shooting mode” (step S104). For example, the longest exposure time is 1 minute at 0 ° C. (2 seconds × 2
^{− (0−40) / 8} = 64 seconds ≒ 1 minute), 2 minutes at −8 ° C., and 4 minutes at −16 ° C. That is, when the CCD temperature T ° C. is equal to or lower than 0 ° C., the longest exposure time is set to 1 minute × 2− ^{T / 8} . In the imaging process in the “long-time shooting mode”, long-time exposure for the set time is performed. Of course, when the longest exposure time is longer than one minute, information for allowing the user to select an arbitrary time from one minute to the longest exposure time may be presented.

(Control operation 2 in long-time shooting mode)
A second example of the control operation relating to the long-time shooting mode will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In this example, the longest exposure time in the “long time shooting mode” is fixed to 1 minute, and the “long time shooting mode” can always be used. However, "Long time shooting mode" is selected and C
When the detection result of the CD temperature is higher than 0 ° C., a control is performed to warn that image quality may be degraded.

That is, first, the "long time shooting mode"
It is determined whether or not the “long time exposure mode” has been selected (step S111). If the “long time shooting mode” has not been selected, the user is operated in accordance with the shutter trigger operation by the user. An imaging process in a standard shooting mode “normal shooting mode” (normal exposure mode) is performed (step S112). On the other hand, when the “long time shooting mode” is selected, the CCD temperature T
[° C] is detected and it is determined whether or not the detected temperature is 0 ° C or less (steps S113 and S114).
If the temperature is higher than C, a warning is displayed (step S11).
5). Then, in response to a shutter trigger operation by the user, an image pickup process (exposure time = 1 minute) in the “long time shooting mode” (long time exposure mode) is performed (step S11).
6).

In the second example, when the CCD temperature T [° C.] is 0 ° C. or less, the current CCD temperature T [° C.]
The longest exposure time corresponding to [° C.] may be calculated and automatically set as the usable longest exposure time. Further, the detection of the CCD temperature T [° C.] may be performed periodically regardless of whether the “long time shooting mode” is selected.

(Control operation 3 in long-time shooting mode)
A third example of the control operation regarding the long-time shooting mode will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. Here, the “bulb shooting mode” is used as the “long shooting mode”.
It is assumed that is used. That is, the present camera has a “normal shooting mode” with a maximum exposure time of 2 seconds and a “bulb shooting mode”. In the bulb shooting mode, the corresponding exposure is performed only during a shutter operation. (No time limit).

First, CC is detected by the temperature detection sensor 119.
The temperature of the D imaging element 105 is detected (Step S12)
1) It is determined whether or not the detected temperature (CCD temperature T [° C.]) is equal to or lower than 0 ° C. (step S122). CC
If the D temperature T ° C. is higher than 0 ° C. (NO in step S122), the use of the “bulb shooting mode” is prohibited (step S123). In this case, control is performed such that the “bulb shooting mode” is not selectable, or the “bulb shooting mode” is selectable but the actual operation is the same as the “normal shooting mode”. Further, a warning is displayed to the effect that the use of the “bulb shooting mode” is prohibited because the cooling is not sufficient.

On the other hand, if the CCD temperature T ° C. is equal to or lower than 0 ° C., use of the “bulb photographing mode” is permitted (step S124). Then, the value of the longest exposure time is calculated based on the current CCD temperature T ° C., and the calculated value is displayed as a guide (recommended exposure time limit) of the longest exposure time in the “bulb shooting mode” (step S125).
An example of the value to be displayed is "2- ^{T / 8} [minute]". In the imaging process in the “bulb shooting mode”, exposure is continuously performed during a period in which the shutter is pressed.

(Control operation 4 in long-time shooting mode)
With reference to the flowchart in FIG. 9, another control example regarding the “bulb shooting mode” will be described as a fourth example of the control operation regarding the long shooting mode. In this example, the use of the “bulb shooting mode” is always possible. When the “bulb shooting mode” is selected, control is performed to display a guideline of the longest exposure time (recommended exposure time limit).

That is, first, it is determined whether or not the “bulb shooting mode” has been selected (step S).
131), when the “bulb shooting mode” is not selected, the imaging process in the “normal shooting mode” (normal exposure mode), which is the standard shooting mode, is performed according to the shutter trigger operation by the user. (Step S13
2). On the other hand, when the “bulb shooting mode” is selected, the CCD temperature T [° C.] is detected, and the indication of the maximum exposure time (recommended exposure time limit) based on the detected temperature is displayed (step S133). S134). And
In response to the shutter trigger operation by the user, the imaging process in the “bulb shooting mode” is started, and the exposure is continuously performed while the shutter is pressed (step S13).
5).

The above-described control operations 3 and 4 include a long-time shooting mode similar to bulb shooting, such as time shooting (exposure starts with the first shutter operation and exposure ends with the second).
The same applies to long-time timer exposure (manual exposure in which an arbitrary exposure time can be set in advance).

For bulb or time photography, a warning is issued if the recommended exposure time limit (2-T / 8 [minutes]) is exceeded during (or in addition to) the actual exposure operation. Is preferred. As a modification of this, a warning may be issued in advance of reaching the recommended exposure time limit in accordance with the progress of the exposure operation. FIG. 10 shows a specific control example.

That is, when exposure is started (step S141), first, a timer counter for counting an elapsed time from the start of exposure is counted up (step S142). Then, by comparing the value of the timer counter with the value of the longest exposure time calculated from the detected temperature, it is determined whether the elapsed time from the start of exposure has reached or approached the recommended exposure time limit. (Step S142). When the recommended exposure time limit is reached or a predetermined time before the recommended exposure time limit is reached, a warning sound or the like is issued to notify the user (step S144). Until the exposure is completed by the user's shutter operation, the processing from step S141 is repeatedly executed (step S145).

It is to be noted that, in one preferred embodiment, in step S144, not only a warning is issued but also the photographing is forcibly terminated (jump to yes in step S145).

(CCD Temperature Detection) In any of the above control examples, if the output result of the temperature detection sensor 119 (detection element) is used as it is for the detection of the CCD temperature, the thermal resistance and the thermal resistance of the image pickup element 105 and other structures will be reduced. Due to the heat capacity, there may be a difference between the actual temperature of the CCD image sensor 105 and the actual temperature. In response to this, it is preferable to perform margin processing such as the following (1) or (2).

(1) Time margin processing: FIG.
As shown in (2), when the temperature detected by the temperature detection sensor 119 (for example, “0 ° C. or less”) lasts for, for example, 1 minute or more, it is determined that the CCD temperature is 0 ° C. or less.

(2) Temperature margin processing: The temperature obtained by adding, for example, 5 ° C. to the temperature detected by the temperature detection sensor 119,
This is adopted as the detection result of the CCD temperature. That is, for example, as shown in FIG.
If the temperature of −5 ° C. is detected by 9, it is determined that the CCD temperature is 0 ° C.

Of course, both (1) and (2) can be used in combination.

As described above, in this embodiment, the CCD temperature is detected by the temperature detection sensor 119, and various states such as long-time photographing mode control and warnings are displayed in accordance with the detected temperature. It is possible to realize an optimal photographing operation according to the degree of cooling of the imaging element by the material.

In the above control examples 3 and 4, the recommended exposure time limit is displayed, but the detection result of the CCD temperature, that is, "temperature" may be displayed. Also,
The display of “temperature” can be applied to the control examples 1 and 2, and the display of “temperature” may be performed as needed or always.

The warning may be performed not only by displaying a message but also by generating a warning sound. further,
The above control examples 1 to 4 can be used in combination as appropriate.

Regarding the mounting structure of the coolant,
The following modifications are possible. In FIG. 1, dry ice is used as a coolant to be charged into the coolant charging pocket.
This may be input. Alternatively, a dedicated cooling agent unit corresponding to the shape of the pocket may be prepared and inserted. Furthermore, if the pocket is configured to have a waterproof structure, it is possible to use ice, and there is an effect that the availability of usable coolant is significantly increased.

Although the lid portion shown in FIG. 1 has an outwardly open structure having a hinge, if it is configured as a slide type (sliding laterally open), it can be used even with the lid opened, In that case, there is an effect that the heat radiation effect at all times without the coolant is improved.

In FIG. 3, a cooling unit filled and sealed with a cooling agent (referred to as a cooling agent type) is used as the cooling unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A pocket having a lid may be provided. In this case, the coolant unit (referred to as a pocket type) having such a configuration and the above-described coolant type unit can be formed in a common mounting shape, and can be configured to be exchangeable for one camera. Such a configuration has an extremely large effect having all the features of versatility and low cost by using a pocket type unit as needed, and using a cold insulator type unit as needed.

The opening position of the pocket of the camera is not limited to the rear side of the camera body. If you want to place the monitor LCD in the center position on the back of the camera, or if you have a body that is long in the direction of the lens optical axis, such as a video movie,
It can be provided on any surface as needed, such as by providing a pocket opening on the top side of the camera body (and thus on the rear side of the image sensor). In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The imaging device can be cooled without increasing the size and cost of the device, and the temperature of the imaging device can be detected by the temperature detection device. By controlling the exposure and displaying the information, it is possible to easily perform a long-time shooting without image quality deterioration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view and a rear view for explaining a basic configuration of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary sectional view showing another example of the mounting structure of the image sensor in the electronic camera of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view and a rear view for explaining a second basic configuration of the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing a mounting structure of a temperature detecting element in the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary block diagram showing the system configuration of the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining a first control operation in the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining a second control operation in the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a third control operation in the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining a fourth control operation in the electronic camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an operation during exposure applied to the control operation of FIG. 8 or 9;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary view for explaining CCD temperature detection processing in the electronic camera of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Camera housing 11 ... Back side (back side of camera) 12 ... Coolant charging pocket 13 ... Lid 14 ... Lock mechanism 16 ... Coolant unit mounting pocket 21 ... Lens 22 ... CCD image sensor 23 ... Circuit board 24 ... Cover glass 25 Lead wire 30 Coolant unit 40 Temperature detecting element 105 CCD image sensor 112 System controller 119 Temperature detecting sensor 201 Long-time shooting mode control unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An imaging apparatus for imaging a subject image using a solid-state imaging device, comprising: a pocket for charging or mounting a coolant near the imaging device; An imaging apparatus comprising a temperature detection element disposed between or near the imaging element. 2. The image pickup apparatus has a normal photographing mode and a long-time photographing mode in which a longest exposure time is longer than the normal photographing mode, and a temperature detected by the temperature detecting element of the image sensor becomes a predetermined temperature or less. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein use of the long-time shooting mode is permitted in a case where the shooting mode is set. 3. The image pickup apparatus has a normal photographing mode and a long-time photographing mode in which the longest exposure time is longer than the normal photographing mode, and when a temperature detected by the temperature detecting element by the image sensor is not lower than a predetermined temperature. 3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a warning is issued regarding use of the long-time shooting mode. 4. The image pickup apparatus has a normal photographing mode and a long photographing mode having a longest exposure time longer than the normal photographing mode, and based on a temperature detected by the image sensor by the temperature detecting element. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit configured to set a value of a longest exposure time usable in a time photographing mode. 5. The image pickup apparatus has a normal photographing mode and a long-time photographing mode in which a longest exposure time is longer than the normal photographing mode, and based on a temperature detected by the image sensor by the temperature detecting element, Means for setting the value of the longest exposure time that can be used in the time photographing mode, and when the exposure time in the long time photographing mode is determined by an operation by the user, the elapsed time from the start of exposure is set. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for issuing a predetermined warning when or before the maximum exposure time is reached. 6. The temperature detection of the imaging device using the temperature detection device is performed in consideration of a predetermined temperature margin or a time margin determined according to a thermal time constant of the imaging device and a structure in the vicinity thereof. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the imaging device is used. 7. An image pickup apparatus for picking up an image of a subject using a solid-state image pickup device, comprising: a cooling material charging or mounting pocket provided in the vicinity of the image pickup device; A temperature detection element disposed between or near the imaging element; and a means for performing operation control or information presentation according to a degree of cooling of the imaging element based on a temperature detected by the temperature detection element. Imaging device.