JP2962834B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

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 for taking in subject information and recording and reproducing image signals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a still video (SV) system has been known as a system for recording and reproducing a still image.
In this SV system, a standard television signal is FM-modulated and recorded on a 2-inch magnetic disk. This recording mode is analog recording defined in a format. Therefore, in the early days when the SV system was developed, the recording / reproducing circuit was almost composed of an analog circuit. However, recently, there have been many proposals using a digital circuit in the recording / reproducing process because of the advantage that the signal is not deteriorated even if recording / reproducing is repeated.

Among them, it has been considered that an image memory is mounted on a camera body and a recording / reproducing process is performed through the image memory. Also, if there is an image memory, an external input / output terminal is provided on the camera body,
For example, by inputting data (not limited to image data) from a personal computer or the like, it is possible to reproduce them on a monitor or record them on a magnetic medium in SV format.

[0004] In addition, CHSV (Co
compatible highband Still V
Ideo) method (for example, JP-A-1-280973)
Considering that, if an image memory is built in the camera body, it is not necessary to move the magnetic head at high speed during recording, and interpolation processing can be performed during playback.
A CHSV camera with integrated recording and reproduction becomes possible.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional example, in the case of an SV camera or a CHSV camera equipped with an image memory, data input from the outside to the memory and output of the memory data to the external device are performed by: It is necessary to provide a separate data input / output terminal on the camera main unit, and the data input / output terminal must be provided from that terminal. Providing such a terminal increases the size of the camera main unit by the amount of the terminal, resulting in poor operability. Was.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to input data from outside and output data to outside. It is an object of the present invention to provide a small-sized imaging device with good operability, which does not require separate input / output terminals.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the object, an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is an image pickup apparatus in which a camera body and a lens are detachably mounted. A second body for contacting a first group of electrical contacts provided on the lens unit to perform signal communication with the lens unit when the lens unit is mounted on the camera body unit; Wherein the second electrical contact group can be used as an electrical contact group for communicating information signals with the outside of the camera body when the lens unit is not mounted. It is characterized by.

In the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention, the camera body section controls the operation of the entire image pickup apparatus, and converts subject information taken in from the lens section into an electric signal for processing. Signal processing means;
In the mounted state of the lens, a part of the second group of electric contacts is connected to the control unit, and in the non-mounted state of the lens, a part of the second group of electric contacts is connected to the signal processing unit. And a changeover switch for performing the operation.

Further, in the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the camera body further includes an image memory in the middle of the signal processing means. A part of the two electrical contact groups is connected to the image memory. Further, in the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, a signal communicated between the first electrical contact group and the second electrical contact group is used during normal shooting in which subject information is taken in as light from the lens unit. It is a signal required for controlling the photographing operation.

[0010] In the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the information signal is an image signal. Further, in the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the camera main body has a mounting portion for mounting the lens unit, and a signal for mounting the lens unit and communicating the information signal with the outside. It further comprises an adapter for connecting a wire to the second set of electrical contacts.

[0011]

As described above, since the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is constituted, a part of the electric contact group used for signal communication with the lens unit is not photographed during a normal photographing operation. Sometimes, by using for signal communication with the outside,
It is not necessary to separately provide input / output terminals for this, and a small-sized imaging device with good operability can be realized.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1-1, FIG. 1-2
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging device according to an embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a lens unit for forming a subject image on an image pickup device (not shown) built in the image pickup unit 10, and 2 denotes a lens unit for limiting the amount of light incident on the image pickup unit 10. Aperture 3 is a camera body, 4a and 4b are provided on the lens unit 1, and contacts for transmitting and receiving signals between the lens unit 1 and the camera body 3 are shown. 1
Lens mounts 8a and 8b are provided on the camera main body 3 side, and signal pins (contact points) that come into contact with the contacts 4a and 4b, respectively, and 10 is an imaging device that converts light information of a subject into an electric signal. A signal processing unit for converting an output signal from the imaging unit into a video signal;
Is an A / D converter for converting a video signal into a digital signal, 16 is an image memory for recording a digitized video signal, and 18 is a digital signal output from the image memory 16 into an analog signal. The D / A converter 20 for conversion is an output circuit for converting an output signal from the D / A converter 18 into an output video signal.

An SV recording process circuit 22 converts an analog video signal into a signal for magnetic recording, and a magnetic recording medium 26 records the signal converted by the SV recording process circuit on a magnetic medium 28. A head 24 is an SV reproduction process circuit for converting a signal read from the magnetic medium 28 into a video signal, and a system control circuit 30 is for controlling the operation of the entire camera.

Reference numeral 32 denotes an external input / output device for externally supplying a video signal to the camera main body or outputting a video signal from the camera main body to a monitor.
Is a switch for switching the signal from the signal pin 8a to the system control circuit 30 and the image memory 16, and 36 is for connecting the external input / output device 32 to the signal pins 8a and 8b of the camera body. The external input / output adapter has a shape covering the lens mount 6 on the camera side. As the external input / output device, an external monitor, a printer, a video camera, a tuner, a character generator, a computer, a measuring instrument, an external recording / reproducing device and the like can be considered.

Next, the operation of the image pickup apparatus configured as described above will be described. First, in the normal recording operation of the subject information taken in from the lens unit 1, the imaging unit 10
Is converted into a video signal by the signal processing unit 12, A / D converted by the A / D converter 14,
The data is written to the image memory 16. After some processing (for example, recording twice for CHSV, such as noise reduction, etc.) is performed on the image memory 16, D
Is converted into an analog signal by the A / A converter 18,
It is converted into a recording signal by the SV recording process circuit 22.

Then, the recording medium 26 causes the magnetic medium 2
8 is magnetically recorded. In the reproducing operation, a signal extracted from the magnetic medium 28 by the magnetic head 26 is
The signal is converted into a video signal by the SV
The data is written to the image memory 16 through the / D converter 14. After some processing (for example, pixel interpolation for CHSV, pixel interpolation) is performed on the image memory 16, the signal is converted into an analog signal by the D / A converter 18, and is converted into an output video signal by the output circuit 20. Is output.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1-2, when inputting a signal from the outside or outputting a signal to the outside, the lens unit 1 is detached from the camera body 3 and thereafter the camera body 3 is removed. An external input / output adapter 36, which can be mounted on the third lens mount 6 and can input and output data from the signal pin groups 8a and 8b protruding from the lens mount 6, is mounted. Here, the signal pins 8a and 8b are both connected to the system control circuit 30 of the camera body 3 during normal photographing operation of the camera, and come into contact with the contacts 4a and 4b of the lens unit 1. The lens unit 1 is used for taking lens data such as the open F value and the focal length of the lens unit 1 into the system control circuit 30 and for exchanging clock signals for controlling the diaphragm 2.

When the external input / output adapter 36 is connected, the signal pin 8a is directly connected to the image memory 16 by the switch 35 to write data from the external input / output device 32 to the image memory 16. ,
Alternatively, the data in the image memory 16 is transferred to the external input / output device 32.
Can be sent to Also, the signal pin 8b
The external input / output device 32 and the system control circuit 3
It is used as a control line for exchanging clock signals with 0.

Here, since the number of signal pins 8a and 8b is small in the transmission form of data transmitted and received between the external input / output device 32 and the camera main unit 3, serial data is input and output. To In this way, for example, it becomes possible to observe computer graphic data and measuring instrument data on a monitor and to write the data on the magnetic medium 28. Alternatively, the signal of the magnetic medium 28 is sent to, for example, a personal computer so that external image processing or data analysis can be performed.

As described above, the single-lens reflex type,
SV camera equipped with image memory and capable of recording and playback,
Alternatively, in a CHSV camera, a part of a signal pin for controlling the aperture of a lens or the like is used as an input / output terminal for an external input / output device, and the data in the image memory is transmitted as serial data, thereby transmitting the external input / output. There is no need to provide a separate terminal, and the size of the camera can be reduced. It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a case where external input / output terminals are separately provided.

The present invention can be applied to a modification or modification of the above embodiment without departing from the gist of the invention. For example, in one embodiment, an imaging device having a built-in still image magnetic recording / reproducing device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to a moving image imaging device. However, as long as an image memory is incorporated, the magnetic recording / reproducing device need not necessarily be incorporated. Conversely, the signal form from the external input / output device is
For example, if it is possible to record the still image or the moving image on the magnetic recording device as it is, only the magnetic recording and reproducing device may be provided, and the image memory may not be built in.
Further, in one embodiment, an example has been described in which two-way communication is performed between the camera and the lens or the external input / output device. However, one-way communication may be performed.

[0023]

As described above, in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, the electric contact used for signal communication with the lens unit during the normal photographing operation is set to the external signal when the photographing is not performed. In this case, it is not necessary to separately provide an input / output terminal for the communication, and an effect is obtained that a small-sized imaging device having good operability can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1-1,

FIG. 1-2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a still image magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to one embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lens part 2 Aperture 3 Camera body part 4a Contact 4b Contact 6 Lens mount 8a Signal pin 8b Signal pin 26 Magnetic head 28 Magnetic medium 36 External input / output adapter

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. An imaging apparatus in which a camera body and a lens are detachably mounted, wherein the camera body is provided on the lens in a state where the lens is mounted on the camera body. A second electrical contact group for making contact with the first electrical contact group to perform signal communication with the lens unit, wherein the second electrical contact group is in a non-wearing state of the lens unit; An imaging apparatus characterized in that it can be used as a group of electrical contacts for communication of information signals with the outside of the camera body. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera body includes a controller configured to control an operation of the entire image capturing apparatus, a signal processor configured to convert subject information taken from the lens unit into an electric signal and process the electric signal, A part of the second group of electrical contacts is connected to the control unit in the mounted state, and a part of the second group of electrical contacts is connected to the signal processing unit in the non-mounted state of the lens. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a changeover switch. 3. The camera body further comprises an image memory in the middle of the signal processing means, and when the lens unit is not mounted, a part of the second electric contact group by switching the changeover switch. 3. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the device is connected to the image memory. 4. A signal communicated between the first electrical contact group and the second electrical contact group is used to control the photographing operation during normal photographing in which subject information is taken in as light from the lens unit. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the signal is a signal required for performing the operation. 5. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the information signal is an image signal. 6. The camera body section has a mounting section for mounting the lens section, and a signal line mounted on the mounting section for performing communication of the information signal with the outside is connected to the second section.
The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising an adapter for connecting to the group of electrical contacts.