JP2569751B2 - Solid camera - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solid-state camera, and more specifically, to an electronic camera using a removable solid-state memory device as a recording medium.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a camera for recording a still image, there are a film camera using a silver halide photographic material and an electronic still video camera using a magnetic disk. In recent years, with the background of high integration and low price of semiconductor memories, electronic still video cameras (hereinafter, referred to as solid-state cameras) using cartridges or cards and using the semiconductor memory device as a recording medium have been proposed. . Solid-state cameras have a recording unit that is sensitive to external
Since there is no electromagnetic conversion system, there is an advantage that image recording can be performed stably and at low cost.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional solid-state camera. However, the mounting portion of the memory cartridge is shown in a transparent state for easy understanding. 10 is the camera body,
12 is a memory cartridge that is detachable from the camera body 10,
Reference numeral 14 denotes an insertion slot for mounting the memory cartridge 12 on the camera body 10, reference numeral 16 denotes a guide for restricting the insertion direction of the cartridge 12, and reference numeral 18 denotes a guide groove adapted to the guide 16. When the memory cartridge 12 is inserted through the insertion slot 14, the guide 16 on the camera body 10 and the guide groove 18 on the memory cartridge 12 engage with each other, and the memory cartridge 12 is mounted on the camera body 10 in an appropriate direction. In the mounted state, the connector 20 of the cartridge 12 is electrically connected to the connector 22 of the camera body 10, the electric circuit in the camera body 10 is connected to the electric circuit in the memory cartridge 12, and the connection to the memory cartridge 12 is performed. Image recording becomes possible. After the photographing of a predetermined number of images, the memory cartridge 12 is detached from the camera body 10 and connected to an image reproducing (display) device to reproduce a recorded image on a printer or a television device, or to transmit the recorded image to a remote place.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of an electric circuit in the camera body 10. 24 is a photographic lens, 26 is a solid-state image sensor, 28 is a video signal processing circuit that performs white balance processing, etc.
29 is an A / D converter, and 30 is an interface circuit with the memory cartridge 12. The image sensor 26 converts an optical image from the photographing lens 24 into an electric signal. The output signal of the image sensor 26 is subjected to known video signal processing by a video signal processing circuit 28, digitized by an A / D converter 29, and converted into a format suitable for recording on the memory cartridge 12 by an interface circuit 30. The data is converted and recorded on the memory cartridge 12.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above conventional example, the memory cartridge 12 can be inserted into the camera body 10 in only one direction, and when the memory cartridge 12 is replaced, the insertion direction must be checked at all times. Therefore, the replacement operation becomes complicated, and the user must temporarily look away from the subject for checking the orientation of the cartridge 12 during the replacement operation.
I tended to miss shutter chances. For example, there is a problem in that the subject is lost while photographing the animal.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a solid-state camera that allows easy and quick replacement of a memory cartridge.

[Means for solving the problem]

A solid-state camera according to the present invention is a solid-state camera using a solid-state memory cartridge that is detachable from a camera body as a recording medium, wherein a first signal transmission unit is provided for each of the camera body and the solid-state memory cartridge, Further, the solid-state memory cartridge is provided with at least one second signal transmitting means for enabling a signal to be transmitted between the solid-state memory cartridge and the camera body in different mounting states of the solid-state memory cartridge to the camera body. And

[Operation] By providing the second signal transmission means, flexibility is created in the insertion direction of the solid state memory cartridge, and the replacement operation can be performed without looking at the direction of the cartridge. Therefore, the replacement operation of the cartridge is simplified and can be performed quickly.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. However, for easy understanding, the memory cartridge mounting portion of the camera body and the back surface of the memory cartridge are shown in a transparent state. The structure of the camera body 10 is the same as that of the conventional camera shown in FIG. Reference numeral 40 denotes a memory cartridge, and reference numeral 42 denotes a guide groove that fits the guide 16. However, the guide groove 42 passes from the front surface to the rear surface of the memory cartridge 40, and as long as the portion of the guide groove 42 is upward,
The memory cartridge 40 can be inserted into the insertion slot 14 from the front surface or the rear surface. 44,46
Is a connector similar to the connector 20 of FIG. The connector 46 is attached to the rear side of the memory cartridge 40 on a side different from the connector 44, and when the memory cartridge 46 is inserted into the insertion port 14 in a direction opposite to the direction of FIG. Connect to connector 22.

The memory cartridge 40 is functionally the same as the conventional memory cartridge 12, but the guide groove 42 is different from the conventional guide groove 18, and the memory cartridge 40 is inserted with the left and right reversed. Since the insertion into the opening 44 is permitted, two insertion directions of the memory cartridge 40 can be selected. When the memory cartridge 40 is inserted in the direction shown in FIG. 1, the connector 44 is electrically connected to the connector 22. On the other hand, when the memory cartridge 40 is inserted into the insertion port 14 with its right and left reversed. Is the connector 46
Are electrically connected to the connector 22. Therefore, in the embodiment of FIG. When the cartridge 40 is inserted into the camera body 10, it is only necessary to confirm that the guide groove 42 is at the top, and this can be recognized by the hand, so that the cartridge can be replaced easily and quickly.

FIG. 2A shows a modification of FIG. However, the camera body 10
Is the same. FIG. 2A also shows the rear surface of the cartridge in a see-through state for easy understanding. Guide grooves 52, 54 of a finite length adapted to the guide 16 are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the memory cartridge 50, and connectors 56, 5 are provided at both ends of the cartridge 50.
8 are provided. Since the guide grooves 52 and 54 have a finite length similarly to the guide groove 18, the cartridge 50 cannot be inserted into the insertion port 14 with the left and right reversed, but the guide grooves 52 and 54 having the same shape as the guide groove 18 are not provided. Since it is provided on the upper surface and the lower surface, even if the cartridge 50 is
Can be inserted.

When the cartridge 50 is inserted into the insertion slot 14 in the illustrated state, the connector 56 is connected to the connector 22, but when the cartridge 50 is turned upside down and inserted from the insertion slot 14, the guide 16 enters the guide groove 54, and the connector 58 is inserted. connector
Connect to 22. That is, the contact arrangement of the connector 58
56 contacts are reversed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, only the front and rear of the memory cartridge 50 need to be checked by hand by the shapes of the guide grooves 52 and 54, so that the replacement operation can be performed without looking at the cartridge visually.

FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment. In this embodiment, guide grooves 62 and 64 that match the guide 16 are formed in the upper and lower surfaces of the memory cartridge 60, and
The guide grooves 62 and 64 pass from the front surface to the rear surface of the cartridge 60. Therefore, the cartridge 60 can be inserted into the insertion slot 14 from any of the upper, lower, left and right surfaces. Then, connectors 66 and 68 are provided on one side of the cartridge 60, and connectors 70 and 72 are provided on the opposite side so that a signal connection can be obtained between the camera 60 and the camera main body 10 regardless of the direction in which the cartridge 60 is inserted. Is provided.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B, a signal connection with the camera body can be obtained in an arbitrary insertion direction of the cartridge 60, so that the cartridge replacement operation becomes easier, and can be performed easily and quickly.

Each of the above embodiments is based on consideration of compatibility with the conventional example shown in FIG. 3, and when this compatibility is not required, a connector is used to obtain an arbitrary insertion direction of the memory cartridge. It should be understood that there is considerable flexibility with regard to the location of the components.

In the above description, the electrical signal transmission method using the connector has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an optical signal may be partially or wholly used as a transmission medium.

〔The invention's effect〕

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, flexibility is obtained in the insertion direction of the memory cartridge, and the operation of replacing the memory cartridge can be performed easily and quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional example, and FIG. It is a schematic structure block diagram of an electric circuit. 10… Camera body, 12,40,50,60 …… Memory cartridge, 14… Cartridge slot, 16… Guide,
18,42,52,54,62,64 …… Guide grooves, 20,22,44,46,56,58,6
6,68,70,72 …… Connector

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Nobuaki Date 770 Shimonoge, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Tamagawa Works of Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hideaki Kawamura 770 Shimonoge, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Canon Inc. In-house (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Horii 770 Shimonoge, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Tamagawa Works, Canon Inc. Takashi Suzuki 770 Shimonoge, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Tamagawa Works of Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Seiichi Ozaki 770 Shimo-noge, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi Kanagawa Prefecture Inside the Tamagawa Works of Canon Inc.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A solid-state camera using a solid-state memory cartridge detachable from a camera body as a recording medium, wherein the camera body and the solid-state memory cartridge are provided with first signal transmitting means, respectively. memory·
A solid-state camera, wherein the solid-state memory cartridge is provided with at least one second signal transmitting means for enabling signal transmission between the solid-state memory cartridge and the camera body in different mounting states of the cartridge to the camera body.