JP2003116033A - Electronic camera and electronic camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera which can diagnose a camera without fault to use the camera and can detect an accurate defect pixel without effect of the temperature, and to provide an electronic camera system. SOLUTION: The electronic camera 10 receives power from a power supply means (AC/DC converter 36 or the like placed on a stand 30 for the camera and provided in the stand 30 for the camera. The camera 10 comprises a camera diagnosing means (CPU54, an EEPROM 57 and a defect pixel detecting correcting unit 92) provided in a camera body 11, a placing detecting means (stand placing detecting circuit 60 or the like) for detecting the placing of the body 11 on the stand 30, and a performance control means (CPU54, a stand placing detecting circuit 60, etc.), for performing the camera diagnosing means at predetermined timing when the placing of the body 11 on the stand 30 is detected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera and an electronic camera system including the electronic camera and a camera stand.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Defective pixels exist in a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD image pickup device. The defective pixels include black defective pixels and white defective pixels.

It is said that black defective pixels are mainly generated during manufacturing. When the black defective pixel exists, the defective portion appears as a black dot when a bright sky is photographed, for example. Therefore, it adversely affects shooting of a subject on a bright background.

The white defective pixel is said to be a defective pixel which is subsequently generated mainly due to exposure to cosmic rays after shipment. If this white defective pixel exists, the defective portion will appear as a white spot, for example, at night photography. Therefore, for example, when shooting a star, there is a possibility of being fatally damaged.

The presence of such defective pixels seriously impairs the quality of the picked-up image, and its improvement is strongly desired. For defective pixels that occur during manufacturing, the manufacturer can take measures. However, it is difficult for the manufacturer to take countermeasures for late defective pixels that occur over time due to the influence of cosmic rays after shipping.

Therefore, a means has been proposed in which a program for detecting a late defective pixel is provided inside the electronic camera to detect a late defective pixel which occurs over time, and to correct it. As a method of correcting the defective pixel, the address of the detected defective pixel is stored in a memory or the like, and when the image data is recorded, the output data of the pixel corresponding to the stored address is It is a general method to perform interpolation processing based on output data of pixels without defects existing in the surroundings.

[0007]

The above-described defective pixel detecting program is provided inside the electronic camera, and means for timely detecting and correcting subsequent defective pixels which occur over time has the following problems. is there.

(1) It takes a relatively long time to detect a defective pixel. Therefore, it is required to select a timing that does not hinder the use of the camera as much as possible and perform defective pixel detection. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-57656 discloses means for executing defective pixel detection at the timing of battery replacement of a camera. However, in the above means, since defective pixels are detected for a predetermined period of time after the battery is replaced, it is not possible to shoot immediately after the battery is replaced. After all, the means disclosed in the above publication is unavoidable in the use of the camera.

(2) Although the detection of the defective pixel is easily affected by the temperature of the image sensor and its surroundings, the temperature compensating means is not particularly considered. Therefore, for example, if the defective pixel detection operation is executed immediately after the electronic camera has been used for a long time, the pixels near the image sensor are relatively hot, and even pixels that are not defective pixels at normal temperature are detected as defective pixels. Will end up.

In the case of a CCD image pickup device, as the temperature rises, the dark current due to defects in the Si crystal increases, so that white defect pixels tend to increase. For example, when shooting in the dark, at a low temperature + 20d compared to the average output of normal pixels.
The output of the specific pixel, which is about B, is +4 when the temperature is high.
It can reach 0 dB. Therefore, if the upper limit threshold value is temporarily set to +40 dB and the detection operation is performed at a high temperature on the assumption that the pixel is executed at the normal temperature, the specific pixel, which is originally allowed as a normal pixel, is detected as a defective pixel. Therefore, it is determined that the image pickup device has many defects, and accurate defective pixel detection cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic camera and an electronic camera system having the following advantages.

(A) The camera can be diagnosed without causing any trouble in using the camera.

(B) The defective pixel can be accurately detected without being affected by the temperature.

[0014]

In order to solve the problems and achieve the objects, the electronic camera and the electronic camera system of the present invention have the following characteristic configurations. In addition, characteristic configurations other than the following will be clarified in the embodiments.

(1) The electronic camera of the present invention is an electronic camera that is mounted on a camera stand and receives power from a power supply means (AC / DC converter or the like) provided in the camera stand. Camera body and camera diagnostic means (CPU, EE) provided in the camera body
PROM, defective pixel detection / correction unit, etc.), placement detection means (stand placement detection circuit, etc.) for detecting that the camera body is placed on the camera stand, and this placement detection means. When it is detected that the camera body is placed on the camera stand, execution control means (CPU, CPU, EEPROM, defective pixel detection / correction unit, etc.) for executing the camera diagnosis means at a predetermined timing.
Stand placement detection circuit, etc.).

In the above electronic camera, the diagnosis of the electronic camera is automatically performed under the condition that the non-use state of the camera is fixed, so that the so-called dead time is effectively used and it does not substantially hinder the use of the camera. . Moreover, since it is possible to make a diagnosis with sufficient time, the diagnosis accuracy is also improved.

(2) The electronic camera system of the present invention is an electronic camera system comprising an electronic camera and a camera stand on which the electronic camera is removably mounted.
The camera stand includes a light irradiating unit (a light source, a reflecting plate, and a milky plate) that irradiates light onto the photographing system of the electronic camera mounted thereon, and the electronic camera emits light from the light irradiating unit. It is characterized in that it is provided with a defective pixel detecting means capable of detecting a black defective pixel of the image pickup device when illuminated.

In the above electronic camera system, the light irradiation means provided in the camera stand can stably irradiate the photographing system of the electronic camera mounted on the camera stand with uniform light. It is possible to accurately detect the black defect.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, (a) being a top view, (b) being a front view. (C) is a bottom view, (d) is a side view, and (e) is a rear view.

As shown in FIG. 1, this electronic camera 10
Has a taking lens window 12, a strobe light emitting window 13, a remote control light receiving window 14, and the like on the front surface of the camera body 11. In addition, a release button 15 is provided on the top surface of the camera body 11.
Is provided, and a tripod mounting hole 16 and a battery loading port 1 are provided on the bottom surface.
7 etc. are provided. A rechargeable secondary battery 18 can be removably loaded from the battery loading port 17 into the battery housing inside the camera body.

A connector cover 19 is slidably provided on the left side surface of the camera body 11 when viewed from the front, as indicated by an arrow. A connector 21 is arranged inside the connector cover 19. This connector 2
1 is connected to a secondary battery 18 via a charging circuit 23 described later, and can be connected to a connector 31 of a camera stand 30 described later.

An LCD display unit 22 is provided on the rear surface of the camera body 11 as a display unit for reproducing and displaying an image or the like recorded on a recording medium or the like. A defective pixel detection command button 28 for giving a white defective pixel detection command or a black defective pixel detection command is provided at one corner on the back surface of the camera body 11.

A substrate 20 is installed inside the camera body 11, and the charging circuit 23, a lens barrel 24 having the photographing lens window 12 at its tip, and the like are mounted on the substrate 20.

2A and 2B are views showing a state in which the electronic camera 10 is mounted on the camera stand 30 with the back surface facing the front side. FIG. 2A is a side view, FIG. 2B is a front view, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part shown with a part broken away. As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic camera 10 is placed in a posture different from the posture in use, that is, a vertically long posture, with one end inserted into the camera placement recess 32 of the camera stand 30. It In such a mounted state, the connector arranged on the side surface of the camera body 11 (which is located on the lower side in the figure in the figure because the camera body 11 is in a vertically long posture) 21 is coupled with the connector 31 arranged on the bottom surface of the camera mounting recess 32 on the stand side.

The camera stand 30 is made of, for example, hard resin and is shaped like a chair, and the camera mounting recess 32 is provided on the upper surface of the base 30a. The one side surface of the partition portion 30b in the upright state is a slightly inclined backrest portion 33 for supporting one side surface of the camera body 11. This stand 3
A plug 35 is connected to 0 via a cable 34. When the plug 35 is inserted into a power outlet (not shown), the stand 30 functions as a power supply unit.

As shown in FIG. 2C, inside the camera stand 30, a photographing system 40 (a photographing lens 41, an image sensor 43, etc.) of the electronic camera 10 mounted on the stand 30 is installed. Light irradiating means 30L for irradiating light
Is provided. This light irradiation means 30L is used for the light source 3
7, a reflecting plate 38, and a milk white plate 39. The light emitted from the light source 37 is diffusely reflected by the reflecting plate 38, and the light can be stably irradiated to the photographing system 40 through the milk white plate 39. ing. Further, inside the electronic camera 10, defective pixel detection means 90 for detecting defective pixels of the image sensor 43 is provided. The defective pixel detection means 90 includes a temperature sensor 91, a defective pixel detection / correction unit 92, etc., which will be described later, and is capable of accurately detecting and correcting the defective pixel.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the entire control system of the electronic camera system including the electronic camera 10 having the defective pixel detection / correction function and the camera stand 30. In the figure, the portion surrounded by the chain double-dashed line is the electronic camera 10.
The portion surrounded by the chain double-dashed line in the lower part of the figure is the portion of the camera stand 30.

First, the portion of the camera stand 30 will be described. The stand 30 is a commercial AC power supply (AC100
AC / DC to convert volt) to low voltage rectified power supply
The light source 37, which is one of the components of the converter 36 and the light irradiation means 30L, is provided. Further, it is provided with a video output terminal (jack) VID and a serial bus connection terminal (jack) USB as a signal communication terminal.
The AC / DC converter 36, the video output terminal (jack) VID, the serial bus connection terminal (jack) USB as a signal communication terminal, and the like are connected to the connector 31 on the stand side and the electronic camera side as described below. Is electrically connected to each unit in the camera body via the connector 21 of the.

One of the connector 21 on the electronic camera side and the connector 31 on the stand side is a plug and the other is a jack so that they can be detachably connected. When the connector 21 and the connector 31 are coupled, as shown by the dotted line in the figure, the respective parts on the electronic camera side and the respective parts on the stand side are connected to each other via the corresponding connector terminals.

That is, the ground portion E1 on the stand side and the ground portion E1 on the electronic camera side are connected via the connector terminal a. In addition, the AC / AC
The DC converter 36 and the switching circuit 71 in the power supply unit 70 on the electronic camera side are connected. Furthermore, connector terminal c
The control end of the AC / DC converter 36 on the stand side and one port of the CPU 54 on the electronic camera side are connected via the. Further, the ground portion E2 on the stand side and the potential control terminal P in the stand placement detection circuit 60 on the electronic camera side are connected via the connector terminal d. Also, the connector terminal e
The serial bus connection terminal (jack) USB on the stand side and the serial bus connection terminal (jack) USB on the electronic camera side are connected via the. Similarly, the video output terminal (jack) VID on the stand side and the video output terminal (jack) VID on the electronic camera side are connected via the connector terminal f.

Next, the part of the electronic camera 10 will be described. The electronic camera 10 includes a photographing system 40 including a photographing lens 41, a mechanical shutter 42, and an image pickup device (for example, CCD image pickup device) 43 inside the camera body 11. An electric signal corresponding to the subject image captured by the photographing system 40 is converted into image data by the image pickup circuit 44. This image data is sent to the DRAM via the data bus 50.
It is temporarily stored in the temporary storage memory 51 including This temporarily stored image data is stored in the image processing device 5
After being compressed in step 2, it is stored in the image recording medium 53 including a flash memory or the like.

The image data stored in the image recording medium 53 is read from the recording medium 53 during reproduction, expanded by the image processing device 52, and temporarily stored in the temporary storage memory 51. To be done. Then, the temporarily stored reproduced image data is supplied to the LCD display unit 22 through the LCD driver 55 and can be displayed as an image. It should be noted that the reproduced image data is sent to the video output terminal V via the video driver 56.
The ID can also be output to an external display device (not shown), which allows external monitoring to be timely.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 57 is an EEPROM including a flash memory for storing the addresses of detected defective pixels, and reference numeral 58 is an operation program unit for causing the CPU 54 to perform a predetermined operation. 5
Reference numeral 9 denotes an interface for exchanging signals via a serial bus connection terminal (jack) USB.

By the way, the electronic camera 10 is provided with a stand placement detection circuit 60 as placement detection means for detecting whether or not the camera body 11 is placed on the stand 30. This stand placement detection circuit 60
Applies a potential of + V applied to the terminal 61 to one port of the CPU 54 through the resistance element 62, and the camera body 11 is placed on the stand 30 so that the connectors 21 and 31 are separated from each other. When coupled, the one end of the resistance element 62, that is, the potential control end P connected to the CPU 54 is dropped to the ground potential, so that the stand placement information SA indicating that the camera body 11 is placed on the stand 30 is displayed. It is given to the CPU 54. In the present embodiment, the CPU 54 sets the stand placement information SA.
Is given, the defective pixel detection function and the correction function by the defective pixel detection command button 28 described above are effectively operated.

The power supply section 70 comprises a switching circuit 71, a power supply circuit 72, the charging circuit 23 having a battery remaining amount detecting circuit 73, and the secondary battery 18. This power supply unit 70 is used for the AC / DC converter 36 of the stand 30.
When a rectified power source of a predetermined level is input from, the rectified power source is supplied to each unit in the camera body via the switching circuit 71 and the power supply circuit 72. When the rectified power is not input from the stand 30, the DC power from the secondary battery 18 is supplied to each unit in the camera body through the power supply circuit 72. Furthermore, the remaining battery level of the secondary battery 18 is
When the remaining battery level detection circuit 73 detects that the battery level has dropped to the limit level, the charging circuit 23 recharges the secondary battery 18
Is charged.

The camera control section 80 has an input instructing section 81,
The shutter controller 82 and the shutter motor 83 are provided. The input instructing section 81 uses the release button 15
A release switch that responds to, a switch that responds to the defective pixel detection command button 28, and various other switches.

A temperature sensor 91 as a temperature measuring means is connected to the CPU 54. A defective pixel detection / correction unit 92 is connected to the data bus 50.
The temperature sensor 91, the defective pixel detection / correction unit 92, and the EEPROM 5 for storing the address of the defective pixel
7, further, the defective pixel detection command button 28, etc.
4 constitutes the defective pixel detecting means 90 of the present invention. The defective pixel detection means 90 detects defective pixels according to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 91, and can always perform accurate defective pixel detection while compensating the detection output level of the defective pixels depending on temperature. ing.

In the present embodiment, the detected defective pixel address is stored in the EEPROM 57. Then, at the time of photographing, the data output from the defective pixel at the stored address is subjected to interpolation processing by the output data of normal surrounding pixels. Then, the image data after the interpolation processing is recorded in the image recording medium 53 after being subjected to the compression processing and the like.

Hereinafter, the white defect detection operation and the black defect detection operation by the electronic camera system according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to respective flow charts shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). . First, the white defect detection operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Step ST11: The stand placement detection circuit 60 indicates that the electronic camera 10 is placed on the stand 30.
Is detected, the stand placement information SA is obtained.

Step ST12: Stand placement information SA
The temperature around the image sensor 43 is measured based on the signal from the temperature sensor 91 on the condition that

Step ST13: It is determined whether or not the measured temperature is below a predetermined level.

Step ST14: As a result of the above judgment, if the measured temperature exceeds a predetermined level, for example, 30 ° C., the defective pixel is not detected and the detection operation is stopped.

Step ST15: As a result of the above judgment, when the measured temperature is a predetermined level, for example, 30 ° C. or lower,
A defect determination threshold value is set according to the measured temperature level (range). For example, the defect determination threshold value when the measured temperature is 25 to 30 ° C. is +50 with respect to the average output level of normal pixels.
Set to dB. Similarly, the defect determination threshold value at 20 to 25 ° C. is +4 with respect to the average output level of normal pixels.
It is set to 0 dB.

Step ST16: The image pickup device 43 is exposure-controlled for a predetermined time (several seconds) with the shutter 42 closed.

Step ST17: Pixels whose output level exceeds the defect determination threshold set according to the measured temperature level (range) are detected as defective pixels.

Step ST18: The address of the detected defective pixel is recorded in the EEPROM 57.

Step ST19: A series of defect detection operation is ended.

Next, regarding the black defect detection operation, FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Step ST21: The stand placement detection circuit 60 indicates that the electronic camera 10 is placed on the stand 30.
Is detected, the stand placement information SA is obtained.

Step ST22: Stand placement information SA
The temperature around the image sensor 43 is measured based on the signal from the temperature sensor 91 on the condition that

Step ST23: It is determined whether or not the measured temperature is below a predetermined level.

Step ST24: As a result of the above judgment, if the measured temperature exceeds a predetermined level, for example, 35 ° C., the defective pixel is not detected and the detection operation is stopped.

Step ST25: As a result of the above judgment, when the measured temperature is a predetermined level, for example, 35 ° C. or lower, the defect judgment threshold value corresponding to the measured temperature level (range) is set. For example, the defect determination threshold when the measured temperature is 25 to 30 ° C. is − with respect to the average output level of normal pixels.
It is set to 20 dB. Similarly, the defect determination threshold value at 20 to 25 ° C. is − with respect to the average output level of normal pixels.
It is set to 30 dB.

Step ST26: The CPU 54 sends the optical control signal SB based on the black defect detection command BP to the connector 2
It is given to the AC / DC converter 36 in the stand 30 via 1, 31. As a result, the lighting power SP is supplied from the AC / DC converter 36 to the light source 37 of the light irradiation means 30L. Therefore, uniform light is stably emitted from the light emitting means 30L to the photographing system 40 of the camera body 11.

Step ST27: The image sensor 43 is exposed for a predetermined time (instantaneously) while the shutter 42 is open.

Step ST28: Pixels whose output level is below the defect determination threshold set according to the measured temperature level (range) (pixels that do not become bright) are detected as black defective pixels.

Step ST29: The address of the detected defective pixel is recorded in the EEPROM 57.

Step ST30: A series of defect detection operation is completed.

Next, the timing control operation of detecting the defective pixel by the defective pixel detecting means 90 and charging the built-in secondary battery 18 by the charging means (charging circuit 23 etc.) will be described with reference to FIGS. Each will be described with reference to the respective flow charts shown. First, the control operation for charging after the defect detection operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Step ST31: The stand placement detection circuit 60 indicates that the electronic camera 10 is placed on the stand 30.
Is detected, the stand placement information SA is obtained.

Step ST32: Stand placement information SA
On the condition that is obtained, the defective pixel detection means 90 detects the defective pixel.

Step ST33: It is determined whether or not the remaining battery level is equal to or higher than a predetermined level.

Step ST34: When it is determined that the remaining amount of the battery is not more than the predetermined amount, the charging circuit 23 performs charging, and the process returns to step ST33.

Step ST35: When it is determined in step ST33 that the remaining battery amount is equal to or more than the predetermined amount, the series of control operations is ended.

By the control as described above, the defective pixel detecting operation by the defective pixel detecting means 90 is not affected by the temperature rise due to charging, so that the temperature measuring means (CP) is used.
The detection accuracy can be maintained at a predetermined level without special temperature compensation using the U54, temperature sensor 91, etc.).
Of course, temperature compensation using the temperature measuring means may be performed at the same time.

Next, defective pixel detecting means 90 after charging
The control operation in the case of performing the defective pixel detection operation according to step 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Step ST41: The stand placement detection circuit 60 indicates that the electronic camera 10 is placed on the stand 30.
Is detected, the stand placement information SA is obtained.

Step ST42: Stand placement information SA
On the condition that the above is obtained, it is determined whether or not the remaining battery level is equal to or more than a predetermined amount.

Step ST43: When it is determined that the remaining amount of the battery is not more than the predetermined amount, the charging circuit 23 performs charging, and the process returns to step ST42.

Step ST44: When it is determined in step ST42 that the remaining battery amount is equal to or more than the predetermined amount, the defective pixel detecting means 90 described above detects the defective pixel.

Step ST45: A series of control operations is completed.

By the control as described above, after the charging by the charging means (charging circuit 23 etc.) is sufficiently performed,
The defective pixel detection means 90 performs defective pixel detection. Therefore, since the built-in secondary battery 18 is hardly consumed during the detection operation, there is no possibility that the defective pixel detection operation is interrupted due to battery consumption. In this case, it is necessary to perform temperature compensation using the temperature measuring means.

(Characteristics of Embodiment) [1] The electronic camera 10 shown in the embodiment is mounted on the camera stand 30, and a power supply means (AC / DC converter) provided in the camera stand 30. 36
The electronic camera 10 receives power from
The camera body 11, camera diagnostic means (CPU 54, EEPROM 57, defective pixel detection / correction unit 92, etc.) provided in the camera body 11, and detection that the camera body 11 is mounted on the camera stand 30 And a mounting detection means (stand mounting detection circuit 60 or the like) for detecting that the camera body 11 is mounted on the camera stand 30 by the mounting detection means (60 or the like),
The camera diagnostic means (CPU 54, EEPROM 57,
It is characterized in that it comprises an execution control means (CPU 54, stand placement detection circuit 60, etc.) for executing the defective pixel detection / correction unit 92) at a predetermined timing.

In the electronic camera 10, the electronic camera 10 is operated under the condition that the non-use state of the camera is fixed.
Since the diagnosis is automatically performed, so-called dead time is effectively used, and it does not substantially hinder the use of the camera. Moreover, since it is possible to make a diagnosis with sufficient time, the diagnosis accuracy is also improved.

[2] Electronic camera 10 shown in the embodiment
Is the electronic camera 10 described in [1] above, wherein the camera diagnosis means (CPU 54, EEPROM 57, defective pixel detection / correction unit 92) is defective pixel detection means 90 for detecting defective pixels of the image sensor 43. It is characterized by being.

In the electronic camera 10, defective pixel detection is automatically performed under the condition that the electronic camera 10 is not used.

[3] Electronic camera 10 shown in the embodiment
Is the electronic camera 10 described in [2], in which the camera body 11 further includes temperature measuring means (CPU 54, temperature sensor 91, etc.), and the defective pixel detecting means 90.
Means the above-mentioned temperature measuring means (CPU 54, temperature sensor 91
It is characterized in that defective pixels are detected according to the temperature measured in (1).

In the electronic camera 10, since the detection output level of the defective pixel depending on the temperature is temperature-compensated, erroneous defective pixel detection can be prevented.

[4] Electronic camera 10 shown in the embodiment
Is the electronic camera described in [2] or [3], wherein the camera body 11 is the camera stand 30.
Charging means (charging circuit 23 or the like) for charging the built-in secondary battery 18 with electric power supplied from the execution control means, and the execution control means charges the defective pixel detecting means by the charging means (charging circuit 23 or the like). It is characterized in that it includes means for starting after the defective pixel detection by 90.

In the electronic camera 10, since the defective pixel detecting operation by the defective pixel detecting means 90 is not affected by the temperature rise due to charging, the temperature measuring means (CPU) is used.
54, the temperature sensor 91, etc.), the detection accuracy can be maintained at a predetermined level without special temperature compensation.

[5] The electronic camera shown in the embodiment is
The electronic camera according to [3], wherein the camera body has a charging means (charging circuit 2) for charging the built-in secondary battery 18 with electric power supplied from the camera stand 30.
3), and the execution control means (CPU 54, stand placement detection circuit 60, etc.) causes the defective pixel detection means 90 to be executed after the charging by the charging means (charging circuit 23, etc.) is completed. It is characterized by including.

In the electronic camera 10, the defective pixel detection operation is not interrupted by the exhaustion of the built-in secondary battery 18.

[6] The electronic camera system shown in the embodiment is an electronic camera system including an electronic camera 10 and a camera stand 30 on which the electronic camera 10 is detachably mounted. Stand 30
Light irradiating means 30L (light source 37, reflector 38, which irradiates light to the photographing system 40 of the electronic camera 10 placed on
The optoelectronic camera 10 is provided with a milky board 39), and the electronic camera 10 is provided with defective pixel detection means 90 capable of detecting a black defective pixel of the image pickup element 43 by being irradiated with light from the light irradiation means 30L.

In the above electronic camera system, from the light irradiation means 30L provided on the camera stand 30,
Electronic camera 10 mounted on the camera stand 30
Since uniform light can be stably applied to the imaging system 40, the black defect can be accurately detected.

[7] The electronic camera system shown in the embodiment is the electronic camera system described in [6], wherein the camera stand 30 supplies power to the mounted electronic camera 10. The electronic camera 10 includes a power supply unit (AC / DC converter 36 and the like), and a charging unit (charging circuit 23 and the like) that charges the built-in secondary battery 18 by the electric power supplied from the camera stand 30. It is characterized by that.

(Modification) The electronic camera and the electronic camera system shown in the embodiment include the following modifications.

The temperature sensor 91 is provided on the stand side.

[0089]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic camera and an electronic camera system having the following operational effects.

(A) Since the camera diagnosis is executed under the condition that the non-use state of the camera is fixed, the camera diagnosis can be performed without any trouble in using the camera.

(B) Since defective pixels are detected while temperature compensation is performed, defective pixels can be accurately detected without being affected by temperature.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a top view and (b) is a front view.
(C) is a bottom view, (d) is a side view, and (e) is a rear view.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a rechargeable camera stand,
(A) is a side view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a partially broken side view.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the entire camera system including the electronic camera and the stand according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

4A and 4B are flow charts showing a white defect detection operation and a black defect detection operation by the electronic camera system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are flow charts showing timing control operations for defective pixel detection and built-in secondary battery charging in the electronic camera system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, respectively. explain.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Electronic camera 11 ... Camera body 19 ... Connector cover 21 ... Connector 22 ... LCD display section 23 ... Charging circuit (part of charging means) 28 ... Defective pixel detection command button 30 ... Camera stand 30 L ... Light irradiation means (37, 38, 39) 31 ... Connector 32 ... Recess for mounting camera 36 ... AC / DC converter (a part of power supply means) 40 ... Shooting system (41, 42, 43) 60 ... Stand placement detection circuit (placement detection means) 70 ... Power supply unit 80 ... Camera control unit 90 ... Defective pixel detecting means

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electronic camera mounted on a camera stand and supplied with power by a power supply means provided in the camera stand, comprising a camera body and a camera diagnostic means provided in the camera body. A placement detecting means for detecting that the camera body is placed on the camera stand, and when the placement detecting means detects that the camera body is placed on the camera stand. An execution control means for executing the camera diagnosis means at a predetermined timing, and an electronic camera. 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera diagnosis means is defective pixel detection means for detecting defective pixels of an image pickup device. 3. The camera body further comprises temperature measuring means, and the defective pixel detecting means detects defective pixels according to the temperature measured by the temperature measuring means. The electronic camera described in 2. 4. The camera body further comprises charging means for charging a built-in secondary battery with electric power supplied from the camera stand, and the execution control means performs charging by the charging means for detecting the defective pixel. 4. The electronic camera according to claim 2, further comprising means for starting after the defective pixel is detected by the means. 5. The camera body further comprises a charging means for charging a built-in secondary battery with electric power supplied from the camera stand, and the execution control means, after the charging by the charging means is finished, 4. The electronic camera according to claim 3, further comprising means for executing defective pixel detection means. 6. An electronic camera system comprising an electronic camera and a camera stand on which the electronic camera is removably mounted, wherein the camera stand is mounted on a photographing system of the mounted electronic camera. The electronic camera is provided with a defective pixel detection unit capable of detecting a black defective pixel of the image pickup device by being irradiated with light from the light irradiation unit. system. 7. The camera stand includes power supply means for supplying power to a mounted electronic camera, and the electronic camera charges a built-in secondary battery with electric power supplied from the camera stand. The electronic camera system according to claim 6, further comprising a charging unit.