JP2007178701A - Camera system, camera and external flash - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera system equipped with an excellent information providing means. <P>SOLUTION: The camera is equipped with: a VRAM B24 in which image data is stored; a CPU 19 generating the image data based on an image generated by a CCD 4 or predetermined character information and storing it in the VRAM B24; and a video encoder 14 outputting the image data read out from the VRAM B24 to the external flash through a hot shoe. The external flash is equipped with: a Video I/F receiving the image data through the hot shoe; and an LCD displaying an image based on the image data received by the Video I/F. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera system including an external flash with a display, a camera, and an external flash.

Conventionally, as a method of providing information to the user, information on the captured image such as histogram and shooting conditions, camera setting status such as aperture and shutter speed, shooting mode and number of pixels, camera operation method, etc. Is superimposed on the photographed image.
An external flash connected to a single-lens reflex camera or the like is also provided with a display such as a liquid crystal display by segments, and displays information such as a camera aperture, flash zoom information, and reachable distance.
Note that Patent Documents 1 to 4 are known as conventional techniques.
JP-A-2005-080042 JP 2000-050196 A JP 2000-261590 A JP 2004-328038 A

  However, in the information providing method using the display included in the camera body, there is a problem that the amount of information to be provided is too large to be displayed at a time or the screen becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a camera system provided with excellent information providing means.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. The invention according to claim 1 is directed to a camera including an imaging unit that images a subject and generates an image, and a connection unit that connects to the camera. And an external flash provided with a light emitting means for emitting a flash in response to an instruction from the camera via the connection means, wherein the camera includes an image storage means for storing image data, and the imaging means Or image data generated based on predetermined character information and stored in the image storage means, and the image data read from the image storage means via the connection means Image output means for outputting to the external flash, the external flash receiving image data via the connection means, and the image Based on the image data the force means receives a camera system characterized by comprising an image display means for displaying an image.
Note that the connection means includes not only a physical connection using a so-called hot shoe or the like, but also a wireless I / F such as Bluetooth or UWB (Ultra WideBand) that connects the camera and an external flash by wireless communication.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera including an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and generates an image, a connection unit connected to the camera, and an instruction from the camera via the connection unit. In a camera system comprising an external flash provided with a light emitting means for emitting a flash, the camera generates image data based on an image generated by the imaging means or predetermined character information, and passes through the connecting means. Image output means for outputting to the external flash, and the external flash stores image data stored in the image storage means and image data received via the connection means in the image storage means. A camera system comprising: an image input unit; and an image display unit that displays an image based on the image data read from the image storage unit. It is.
Note that the connection means includes not only a physical connection using a so-called hot shoe or the like, but also a wireless I / F such as Bluetooth or UWB (Ultra WideBand) that connects the camera and an external flash by wireless communication.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the camera system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the external flash is charged by a power source for supplying power and power supplied from the power source. A charging means for supplying power to the light emitting means when the light emitting means emits a flash, and the image display means displays a predetermined image or character when the charging means is being charged. It is characterized by.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the camera according to claim 4, wherein the connection means includes a plurality of contacts, and among the contacts, the contact connected to the image output means is: The image output means is arranged on the most front side in the direction in which the external flash is inserted, and the image output means outputs image data only when normal communication is possible at a contact other than the contact connected to the own means. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, since the image data generated by the image generation unit of the camera is displayed on the image display unit of the external flash, it is possible to provide a camera system including an excellent information providing unit that can provide various information to the user. .

  Further, according to the present invention, when the external flash charging means is being charged, the image display means displays a predetermined image or character, so that the display quality of the image display means is significantly reduced even if the display is disturbed. It is possible to provide a camera system equipped with excellent information providing means.

  Further, according to the present invention, the contact connected to the image output means is arranged on the front side in the direction of inserting the external flash with respect to the other contact, and the image is only displayed when the communication can be normally performed at the other contact. By outputting data, it is possible to provide a camera system equipped with excellent information providing means that prevents malfunction of the external flash.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a digital camera will be described as an example of the camera according to the present invention.

  The digital camera of the present embodiment includes a zoom lens 1, an iris (aperture) 2, a focus lens 3, an image pickup device (CCD) 4, a zoom motor 5, an iris motor 6, a focus motor 7, a timing generator 8, a CDSAMP circuit 9, and A serial I / F 27 is provided. Here, the zoom lens 1, the iris 2, the focus lens 3, and the imaging element 4 constitute imaging means for imaging a subject.

  The iris motor 6 forms a diaphragm variable unit that changes the opening degree of the iris 2. The timing generator 8 forms a shutter speed variable unit that changes the shutter speed. A CDSAMP (Corelated Double Sampling Amplifier) circuit 9 constitutes a gain variable unit that varies the degree of amplification with respect to the output of the image pickup device 4 that forms the output of the image pickup means. The iris motor 6, the timing generator 8, the CDSAMP circuit 9, and the flash 28 constitute an exposure changing unit that changes the exposure state in the imaging unit.

  The position of the zoom lens 1 can be moved by a zoom motor 5. The opening degree of the iris 2 can be controlled by the iris motor 6. The position of the focus lens 3 can be controlled by the focus motor 7. The subject image light that has passed through the zoom lens 1, the iris 2, and the focus lens 3 forms an image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor 4.

  The image sensor 4 photoelectrically converts subject image light imaged on its light receiving surface. As the image sensor 4, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, a CMOS (Complementary MOS) image sensor, or the like is used. Color filters are arranged on the front surface of the image sensor 4. The arrangement of the color filters includes R (red), G (green), and B (blue) primary color filters, and Cy (cyan), Mg (magenta), and Ye (yellow) complementary color filters. May be used. The image sensor 4 is driven by a timing signal from the timing generator 8.

  The digital camera of this embodiment includes an A / D converter 10, an image input controller 11, an image signal processing circuit 12, an image compression / decompression circuit 13, a video encoder 14, an image display device 15, and motor drivers 16, 17, and 18. CPU 19, AF detection circuit 20, AE and AWB detection circuit 21, memory 22, VRAM A23, VRAM B24, media controller 25, recording medium 26, serial I / F 27, and trigger 29. In addition, the digital camera of this embodiment includes a shutter switch SW1, a recording / reproducing switch SW2, a zoom switch SW3, a flash mode switch SW4, and a shooting mode selection switch SW5.

The A / D converter 10 digitizes the image signal output from the image sensor 4 and input via the CDSAMP circuit 9. The image input controller 11 supplies the image signal output from the A / D converter 10 to the CPU 19.
The image signal processing circuit 12 performs image processing such as gamma correction, edge enhancement, and white balance on the input image signal. The parameters for performing these image processes are set by the CPU 19.
The image compression / decompression circuit 13 compresses and encodes the input image signal. For example, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is used as the image data compression method. JPEG is a standard for compressing images using DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform). Note that the image data compression method is not limited to JPEG.
The VRAM (Video RAM) A23 is a memory for storing image data to be displayed on the image display device 15. The VRAM B24 is a memory for storing image data to be displayed on the LCD 58 of the external flash, and is an image storage unit.
The video encoder 14 reads the image data stored in the VRAM A23 and the VRAM B24, forms a video composite signal based on the image data, and the image read from the VRAM A23 is sent to the image display device 15 in the VRAM B24. The image read out from is an image output means for outputting to Video OUT (R5). The image display device 15 is a display such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays an image based on an input video composite signal. Video OUT (R5) is a video composite signal output terminal provided in the connection interface to the external flash.

  The AF (Automatic Focus) detection circuit 20 is for performing AF based on the output of the image sensor 4. The AF detection circuit 20 detects the high frequency component level of the image signal in order to perform focus control. That is, at the focal point, the high-frequency component level of the image signal increases. Therefore, the in-focus state can be determined by detecting the high-frequency component level of the image signal. The high-frequency component level of the image signal is detected by the AF detection circuit 20, and the high-frequency component level of the image signal is integrated during a predetermined focus area to obtain an AF evaluation value. The obtained AF evaluation value is supplied to the CPU 19.

In order to perform exposure and white balance, the AE and AWB detection circuit 21 forms an exposure control signal and a white balance control signal according to the following procedure on the basis of the image signal output from the image pickup device 4, and outputs these signals to the CPU 19. Output to.
The exposure control signal is a luminance evaluation value indicating the brightness of the image. The AE and AWB detection circuit 21 calculates the average value of the luminance of the entire image for the input image signal, and uses this as the luminance evaluation value.

  The white balance control signal refers to B gain and R gain. Here, the B gain is a magnification to be applied to the blue component of each pixel in white balance control, and the R gain is a magnification to be applied to the red component of each pixel. In the white balance control, among the three primary colors of each pixel, the green component is not changed (1 time), and the blue component and the red component are respectively multiplied by the B gain and the R gain to balance the three primary colors. To control. The AE and AWB detection circuit 21 calculates an average value of each of the red, blue, and green components of the entire image, and obtains a value obtained by dividing the average value of the green component by the average value of the blue component as B gain and the average value of the green component. The value divided by the average value of the red component is defined as the R gain.

The CPU 19 is a calculation unit that controls the entire digital camera, and an image generation unit that generates image data. Further, the CPU 19 receives input signals from the shutter switch SW1, the recording / reproducing switch SW2, the zoom switch SW3, the flash mode switch SW4, the shooting mode selection switch SW5, and the like. Further, the CPU 19 controls the zoom drive signal for moving the zoom lens 1, the focus drive signal for moving the focus lens 3, the iris drive signal for opening and closing the iris 2, and the gain of the CDSAMP circuit 9. Gain control signal and a trigger signal for driving the external flash are output. The CPU 19 performs serial communication with the external flash via the serial I / F 27.
The memory 22 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) that is a non-volatile memory storing a program for operating the CPU 19, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is a volatile memory used as a work memory when the CPU 19 operates. ).

The shutter switch SW1 is a switch that captures an image when pressed in the recording mode.
The recording / playback switch SW2 is a switch for setting the digital camera to a recording mode for capturing an image or a playback mode for displaying the captured image on the image display device 15.
The zoom switch SW3 is a switch for moving the zoom lens 1 in the recording mode.
The flash mode switch SW4 is a switch for setting automatic light emission / forced light emission / light emission inhibition as the light emission mode of the flash 28.
The shooting mode selection switch SW5 is a switch for selecting one shooting mode according to the shooting situation from the self-timer mode, continuous shooting mode, single shooting mode, bracket mode, and the like.

The media controller 25 has a function of reading / writing data from / to the recording medium 26.
The recording medium 26 is a medium on which a compression-coded image signal is recorded as an image file. For example, a card-type removable memory using a flash memory is used. As the recording medium 26, a nonvolatile memory built in a digital camera, a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or the like may be applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the external flash in the present embodiment. The external flash includes a zoom panel 50, a motor driver 51, a light emitting unit 52, a CPU 53, a charging unit 54, a power supply unit 55, a video I / F 56, an LCD driver 57, an LCD 58, and a serial I / F 59.
The zoom panel 50 changes the irradiation angle of the flash emitted by the light emitting unit 52 by a panel driven by the motor driver 51. The light emitting unit 52 emits a flash in response to an instruction to the CPU 53. The charging unit 54 accumulates electric power and supplies a large current for the light emitting unit 52 to emit light. The power supply unit 55 is a battery that supplies power stored in the charging unit 54. Video IN (P5) is a contact point connected to Video OUT (R5) of the camera, and Video I / F 56 to which Video IN (P5) is connected is an image input means for receiving a video composite signal. The LCD driver 57 drives the LCD 58 in response to a video composite signal from the Video I / F 56 or image data from the CPU 53. The LCD 58 is an image display unit that is driven by the LCD driver 57 and displays an image received by the LCD driver 57. The serial I / F 59 is an interface for performing serial communication with the camera, and is a contact point of Sin (Serial In), Sout (Serial Out), CLK (Clock), CS (Clear to Send), and GND (Ground). connect. The Trigger 60 is a signal line that transmits the flash emission timing notified by the camera.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing a hot shoe 60 and a hot shoe 61, which are connection means between the camera and the external flash in the present embodiment. FIG. 3A is a view of the camera as viewed from above, and an external flash hot shoe 61 is slid and attached to the hot shoe 60 from the front side. The contacts included in the hot shoe 60 are Sin (R3), Sout (R4), CS (Clear to Send) (R6), CLK (Clock) (R7) for serial communication of the serial I / F 27, and trigger output. Trigger (R1), GND (R2) which is a common ground for each contact, and VideoOUT (R5) for output of the video encoder 14. VideoOUT (R5) is disposed closer to the external flash in the insertion direction than other contacts. FIG. 3B is a view of the external flash as viewed from below, and the contacts provided in the hot shoe 61 are Sin (P4), Sout (P3), CS (P6) for serial communication of the serial I / F 59. , CLK (P7), Trigger (P1) for trigger input, GND (P2) for ground common to each contact, and VideoIN (P5) for input of Video I / F 56.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera from when the power is turned on will be described with reference to FIG. The main power of the digital camera is turned on / off by operating a power switch (not shown). When the power is turned on, the digital camera initializes the memory, zooming, DSP, various drivers (16, 17, 18), and the CPU 19 then sends a video OUT (R5) to the video encoder 14. To stop signal output to. Thereby, the output of the video signal for the external flash is turned off (S11). Next, the CPU 19 confirms the setting state of the recording / reproducing switch SW2, and determines whether or not the recording mode is set (S12).

  Here, assuming that the recording mode is set, the image pickup device 4 periodically takes an image even when not capturing an image, and the image signal is transmitted via the CDSAMP circuit 9, the A / D converter 10, and the image input controller 11. Is input to the CPU 19 (the operation at the time of image shooting will be described later). The CPU 19 outputs this digital image signal to the image signal processing circuit 12. When the image signal is input from the CPU 19, the image signal processing circuit 12 performs image processing such as gamma correction, edge enhancement, and white balance control on the image signal, and outputs the resulting image signal. This image signal is stored in the VRAM A 23 as image data via the CPU 19. The video encoder 14 refers to the image data stored in the VRAM A23, forms a video composite signal, and outputs the video composite signal to the image display device 15. Since the image display device 15 displays this video composite signal, the monitor image being photographed is displayed on the image display device 15 (S13).

  During this time, the CPU 19 also inputs the image signal input to the image signal processing circuit 12 to the AE & AWB detection circuit 21, and as a result, acquires an exposure control signal and a white balance control signal. Next, the CPU 19 outputs an iris drive signal and a gain setting signal based on the exposure control signal. Then, the iris drive signal is supplied to the iris motor 6 via the motor driver 17, and the opening degree of the iris 2 is controlled so as to have a predetermined signal level. Further, the gain setting signal is supplied to the CDSAMP circuit 9, and the gain of the CDSAMP circuit 9 is controlled so as to have a predetermined signal level. The CPU 19 sets B gain and R gain in the image signal processing circuit 12 based on the white balance control signal. As described above, in the recording mode, the exposure and the white balance are always controlled to the optimum state so that the photographing can be performed at any time.

  If the recording / reproducing switch SW2 is set to the reproducing side at the time of determination in step S12, the condition is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, the image file on the recording medium 26 is opened by the CPU 19 via the media controller 25, and the image data is read out. The CPU 19 supplies the image data read from the recording medium 26 to the image compression / decompression circuit 13. The image compression / decompression circuit 13 performs image data decompression processing and stores the resulting image data in the VRAM A23. The video encoder 14 refers to the image data in the VRAM A23, generates a video composite signal, and supplies this to the image display device 15. The reproduced image is displayed on the image display device 15 (S14).

  Next, the CPU 19 starts communication with the external flash via the serial I / F 27 (S15). The CPU 19 determines whether normal communication with the external flash has been established (S16). Here, if the external flash is not yet connected and communication is not established, the condition of step S16 is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step 22. In step S22, the CPU 19 instructs the video encoder 14 again following step S11 to stop the signal output to Video OUT (R5) (S22). Note that the signal output is stopped here because the external flash is connected to the camera, video is output from Video OUT (R5), and then the external flash is removed. is there. Next, unless the power is turned off (S23), the process returns to step S12 and the same sequence is repeated.

  If the external flash is connected to the camera while the above sequence is being repeated, the CPU 19 can communicate with the external flash in step S15. For this reason, normal communication which is the determination condition in step S16 is established, and the process proceeds to step S17. In step S <b> 17, the CPU 19 inquires of the external flash about the charging state via the serial I / F 27. When the CPU 53 of the external flash receives an inquiry about the charging state via the serial I / F 59, it obtains the charging state from the charging unit 54 and notifies it via the serial I / F 59. Since the external flash is connected, if the charging unit 54 is being charged, the CPU 19 receives a notification that charging is in progress via the serial I / F 27 (S17).

  Next, since the determination condition in step S18 is that the external flash needs to be charged, this condition is satisfied. Since the determination condition in step S18 is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S19. The CPU 19 writes the image data of the characters “Charging!” Into the VRAM B24 (S19). Next, the CPU 19 instructs the video encoder 14 to start signal output to Video OUT (R5) (S21). Upon receiving this instruction, the video encoder 14 reads the image data stored in the VRAM B 24 and generates / outputs a video composite signal based on the image data. The video composite signal is transmitted to the LCD driver via the Video OUT (R5) and the Video I / F 56. Upon receiving the video composite signal, the LCD driver displays “Charging!” On the LCD 58 based on the signal, as shown in FIG. Next, unless the power is turned off (S23), the process returns to step S12 and the same sequence is repeated.

As described above, the external video connection interface VideoOUT (R5) of the camera is provided on the near side of the external flash insertion direction with respect to the serial communication or trigger contact which is the existing external flash contact. Until serial communication is established after connection, output from Video OUT (R5) is stopped. As a result, when an external flash is connected, even if VideoOUT (R5), which is the contact of the video encoder 14, touches the serial communication of the external flash or the trigger d0 contact, the external flash may malfunction or be loaded. I don't want to do that.
Moreover, since the ground inside the external flash becomes unstable while the charging unit 54 is being charged, the display on the LCD 58 may be disturbed. Therefore, the display content is changed or the display is limited, and in this embodiment, the display is such that “Quality!” Does not significantly reduce the quality even if the image is disturbed. In addition, as an example of changing or restricting the display content, the display of the LCD 58 is filled with a single color, or the output of the Video I / F 56 is shut off, and the image provided in the LCD driver 57 or the like is displayed on the LCD 58 in advance. When the image is displayed and charging is completed, an image input from the Video I / F 56 is displayed.

  Further, when the charging of the external flash charging unit 54 is completed after a lapse of time, the CPU 19 indicates that it has been charged from the CPU 53 via the serial I / F 59 and the serial I / F 27 in step S17. Receive notifications. Accordingly, since it is not satisfied that the charge, which is the determination condition in step S18, is necessary, the process proceeds to step S20. In step S20, the CPU 19 converts the designated information data (for example, shooting conditions such as shutter speed and aperture value as shown in FIG. 5A) into image data and writes it into the VRAM B24 (S20). At this time, since the video encoder 14 has already started signal output in step S21, the video encoder 14 reads out the image data stored in the VRAM B24 as needed to generate / output a video composite signal based on the image data. ing. Therefore, here, the image data of the information data written in the VRAM B24 is read, a video composite signal is generated / output, and transmitted to the LCD driver via the Video OUT (R5) and the Video I / F 56. . Upon receiving the video composite signal, the LCD driver displays information data on the LCD 58 based on the signal. Thereafter, this flow is repeated until the condition that the power source, which is the determination condition in step S23, is turned off is satisfied.

Note that the image that the CPU 19 writes to the VRAM B24 and is displayed on the LCD 58 has the shooting conditions as shown in FIG. 5A here. However, other than this, for example, in the playback mode or the recording mode, the shot image In the histogram (FIG. 5 (b)) obtained by analyzing the CPU 19 and the reproduction mode or recording mode, a part of the photographed image is enlarged (FIG. 5 (c)), and the reproduction mode or recording mode is set. In the HELP display of the camera operation method stored in the memory 22 (FIG. 5 (d)), the playback mode or the recording mode, one shot before (FIG. 5e) and one before and after the captured image (FIG. 5 ( f)) or the like.
In addition, while the captured image and the histogram are displayed on the image display device 15 of the camera and the shooting conditions are displayed on the LCD 58 of the external flash (FIG. 6C), the camera is operated to switch to the external flash. When the histogram is displayed, the CPU 19 changes the image stored in the VRAM A23 and stops displaying the histogram on the image display device 15 (FIG. 6D). The contents may be linked. As another example, when there are six types of display items, (1) shutter speed, (2) aperture, (3) zoom, (4) exposure correction, (5) flash mode, and (6) histogram, When the shutter speed of 1) is displayed on the LCD 53 of the external flash, the remaining (2) to (6) are displayed on the image display device 15 of the camera, and the aperture of (2) is displayed on the LCD 53 of the external flash. When displayed, the remaining (1) and (3) to (6) may be displayed in a toggle manner so that the display items are sequentially switched in such a manner as to be displayed on the image display device 15 of the camera. .

  Next, the operation at the time of image shooting will be described. First, when the shutter switch SW1 is pressed and this is detected, the CPU 19 sends a shutter signal to the timing generator 8 and sends a trigger signal to the external flash via the trigger 29 when the flash is emitted. When the CPU 53 receives the trigger signal, it sends a light emission instruction to the light emitting unit 52, so that the light emitting unit 52 emits a flash by the power supplied from the charging unit 54. The image sensor 4 captures an image illuminated by the flash, and outputs the captured image as an analog image signal. The analog image signal is gain-controlled by the CDSAMP circuit 9 and converted into a digital image signal by the A / D conversion 10. This digital image signal is taken into the CPU 19 via the image input controller 11. Thereafter, the captured digital image signal is subjected to image processing such as gamma correction, edge enhancement, white balance, and YC conversion in the image signal processing circuit 12, data compressed in the image compression / decompression circuit 13, and as an image file. It is recorded on the recording medium 26.

In the present embodiment, the camera is provided with the VRAM B24 and the video encoder 14, and the external flash receives the video composite signal output from the contact VideoOUT (R5) by the camera. However, the VRAM B24 and the video encoder 14 are externally connected. The image data output from the CPU 19 may be written in the VRAM B 24 provided in the external flash.
In addition, when communicating image data or a video composite signal between the camera and the external flash, as shown in FIG. 6A, a wireless I / F (connection means) such as Bluetooth or UWB (Ultra WideBand) is used. May be. At this time, it does not matter whether there is a physical connection means such as a hot shoe. Further, when using these wireless I / Fs, as shown in FIG. 6B, a bidirectional I / F is used, a shutter button is provided on the external flash side, and an instruction from the shutter button is given. The CPU 19 may be notified via the wireless I / F, and the camera may take an image.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes a design and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital camera by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the external flash by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the connection interface of the digital camera and external flash in this embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the digital camera in this embodiment. It is an example of the display content of the image display apparatus 15 and LCD58 in this embodiment. It is an example of the display content of the image display apparatus 15 and LCD58 in this embodiment. It is an example of the display content of the image display apparatus 15 and LCD58 in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Zoom lens 2 ... Iris 3 ... Focus lens 4 ... Image sensor 5 ... Zoom motor 6 ... Iris motor 7 ... Focus motor 8 ... Timing generator 9 ... CDSAMP
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... A / D conversion 11 ... Image input controller 12 ... Image signal processing circuit 13 ... Image compression / decompression circuit 14 ... Video encoder 15 ... Image display apparatus 16, 17, 18 ... Motor driver 19 ... CPU
20 ... AF detection circuit 21 ... AE & AWB detection circuit 22 ... Memory 23 ... VRAM A
24 ... VRAM B
25 ... Media controller 26 ... Recording media 27 ... Serial I / F
50 ... Zoom panel 51 ... Motor driver 52 ... Light emitting unit 53 ... CPU
54 ... Charging part 55 ... Power supply part 56 ... Video I / F
57 ... LCD driver 58 ... LCD
59 ... Serial I / F

Claims (6)

A camera equipped with an imaging means for imaging a subject and generating an image;
In a camera system comprising a connecting means for connecting to the camera, and an external flash provided with a light emitting means for emitting a flash in response to an instruction from the camera via the connecting means,
The camera
Image storage means for storing image data;
An image generating unit that generates an image data based on an image generated by the imaging unit or predetermined character information, and stores the image data in the image storing unit;
Image output means for outputting the image data read from the image storage means to the external flash via the connection means,
The external flash is
Image input means for receiving image data via the connection means;
An image display means for displaying an image based on image data received by the image input means. A camera equipped with an imaging means for imaging a subject and generating an image;
In a camera system comprising a connecting means for connecting to the camera, and an external flash provided with a light emitting means for emitting a flash in response to an instruction from the camera via the connecting means,
The camera
An image output means for generating an image generated by the image pickup means or image data based on predetermined character information and outputting the image data to the external flash via the connection means;
The external flash is
Image storage means for storing image data;
Image input means for storing the image data received via the connection means in the image storage means;
An image display means for displaying an image based on the image data read from the image storage means. The external flash is
A power supply for supplying power;
Charging means for supplying power to the light emitting means when the light emitting means is flashed by the power supplied from the power source,
3. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the image display unit displays a predetermined image or a character when the charging unit is charging. 4. In cameras with connection means for connecting an external flash,
Imaging means for imaging a subject and generating an image;
An image output means for generating an image data based on an image generated by the imaging means or predetermined character information and outputting the image data via the connection means. The connection means includes a plurality of contacts,
Among the contacts, the contact connected to the image output means is disposed on the most front side in the direction of inserting the external flash,
5. The camera according to claim 4, wherein the image output means outputs image data only when normal communication is possible at a contact other than the contact connected to the self means. In an external flash comprising a connecting means for connecting to a camera, and a light emitting means for emitting a flash in response to an instruction from the camera via the connecting means,
Image input means for receiving image data via the connection means;
An external flash comprising: image display means for displaying an image based on image data received by the image input means.

Images