JP3012247B2 - Electronic camera system - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera system in which a block including an imaging function unit and a block including a power supply and an image display can be combined and separated.

[Prior Art] In recent years, various types of electronic cameras have been proposed. In order to configure an imaging unit as an independent and lightweight unit, a block including an imaging function unit and an image recording / reproducing unit, etc. An electronic camera system and the like configured to be able to be combined with and separated from other functional blocks has been proposed. On the other hand, there is also a device using a solar cell as disclosed in JP-A-63-91641 and JP-A-61-95425.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the electronic camera system configured to be able to combine and separate the imaging function block and other function blocks as described above, the function division and operation between the blocks are performed. No system has been proposed that sufficiently satisfies the user in terms of ease of use even for details such as a power supply method.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is an electronic camera system in which a block including an imaging function unit and a block including a power supply and an image display are configured to be connectable and separable. An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera system of this kind that can sufficiently satisfy users in terms of ease.

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems] In the present invention, for convenience of understanding, reference numerals of corresponding parts in the illustrated embodiment are shown in parentheses. The first configured respectively
Block (Fig. 7: 20) and Block 2 (Fig. 7: 30)
Wherein the first block (20) is provided on the side of the second block (30), wherein the first block (20) is an imaging function unit for generating an electric signal corresponding to imaging light from a shooting lens. Predetermined opening (31a)
And a signal between the second block (30) and the coupling portion, which is formed so as to be suitable for performing the coupling through the second block (30) and can maintain the photographing lens exposed to the outside even when the coupling is performed. A first signal transmission unit (56a, 56b) for transmitting and receiving the second block (30), wherein the second block (30) includes the first block (20).
Power supply means for supplying power to the first block, an insertion opening (31a) for accommodating the coupling portion by accommodating the coupling portion on the first block side, and the first signal transmission portion (56a, 56b), a second signal transmission unit (17'a, 1) for exchanging signals with the first block (20) side.
7'b), a display (35) for displaying an image based on a signal received through the second signal transmission unit, and a display (35 ') received through the second signal transmission unit (17'a, 17'b) It is characterized by comprising a recording medium accommodation section (31b) for recording a signal on a recording medium applied to itself.

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

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of an electronic camera 20 as a first block in an electronic camera system as one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic camera 20. The electronic camera 20 has a main body formed of a transparent material, a main body front frame 1 and a main body rear frame 2 which are exterior bodies on which an imaging optical member is provided, and a back portion and a rear frame 2 of the front frame 1. Solar cells (solar cells) 3 and 4 installed in front of the solar cell, and connected to these solar cells 3 and 4, the output is connected to each IC and electric circuit, etc., and memory backup A secondary battery 5 which is a nickel cadmium battery for charging also serving as a power source or a lithium battery;
An AE sensor 3a, which is a photometric sensor, and a W / B sensor 3b, which is a white balance sensor for measuring the color distribution of incident light, which are integrally provided on the wafer of the solar cell 3.
3c, 3d, an IR (infrared) cut filter 9 disposed on the upper surface of the AE sensor 3a, and the W / B sensors 3b, 3c, 3
d, red R, green G, and blue B color filters 10a, 10b, and 10c, respectively, and a camera electric circuit 60.
And a light receiving element SPD 56a and a light emitting element LED 56b, which are optical information transmitting means for communicating photographing information with the outside.

The main body front frame 1 has a photographic lens 1a, a finder lens 1b, a photometric window 1c, and a white balance window 1d as optical members. As shown in FIGS. 1 (A), 1 (B) and 1 (C), On the inner surface of the bottom wall 1e, a condenser lens 1f for optical communication is formed corresponding to the SPD 56a and the LED 56b. Further, a finder eyepiece 2a is formed on the rear frame 2 of the main body as an optical member at a position corresponding to the finder lens 1b. Note that a light-shielding tube 8 is disposed between the photographing lens 1a of the front frame 1 of the main body and an image pickup device CCD7 disposed behind the photographing lens 1a to block light other than the photographing light flux.

The electric circuit 60 of the camera is formed on the printed circuit board 6 as shown in FIG.
3, 4 and the secondary battery 5 are connected as the driving power supply. That is, the output terminals of the solar cells 3 and 4 and the battery 5 are:
The output is connected to the input terminal of the DC / DC converter 5 connected to each IC and electric circuit, the system controller 51 and the memory 55. The system controller 51 controls imaging and recording processing, memory storage processing, photometry and white balance processing, and reproduction signal output processing, which will be described later.

The imaging light from the photographing lens 1a is a CCD7
Is converted into an electric signal, and further converted by the imaging processing circuit 52 into a video signal composed of a Y + S signal as a synchronizing signal, a (RY) and a (BY) color difference signal, and output. . The video signal is subjected to SVF recording format conversion for modulation and memory storage by a recording processing circuit 53, and is converted to a digital signal by an A / D conversion circuit 54, and the digitized video signal is stored in a solid-state memory 55. It is memorized.

Also, the outputs of the W / B sensors 3b, 3c, 3d are processed by a W / B IC 58 for white balance processing, and are used as a red / green component ratio R / G and a blue / green component ratio B / G of the color distribution signal. It is input to the imaging processing circuit 52. On the other hand, the output of the AE sensor 3a is
The signal is processed by the AE IC 57 for automatic exposure processing, and is input to the imaging processing circuit 52 as an exposure time control signal of the CCD 7.

On the other hand, the optical transmission means of the playback signal of the camera will be described.An optical signal of a playback command from an external playback device is received by the light receiving element SPD56a disposed on the printed wiring board 61,
The signal is transmitted to the system controller 51 via the optical communication circuit 56. Then, in accordance with a command signal from the system controller 51, the storage data of the video in the memory 55 is output to the LED 56b of the light emitting element for transmission arranged on the substrate 6 'via the optical communication circuit 56, and the data is externally flashed by the LED 56b. To the receiving means of the playback device.

The configuration of the electronic camera 20 configured as described above will be further described. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the electronic camera 20. As can be seen from FIG. 3, not only the respective lens surfaces of the main body frame 1 or 2 but also the solar cell mounting portion does not have a joint portion, nor does it have a battery replacement lid or the like. Therefore, the improvement of waterproofing or airtightness after assembling can be achieved very easily because only the sealing of the parting surfaces of the main body frames 1 and 2 needs to be considered. The parting surfaces of the main body frames 1 and 2 can be made waterproof and airtight by using, for example, a packing material or by bonding with an adhesive or by ultrasonic welding.

Next, the power supply in the electronic camera 20 will be described. When light is irradiated on the solar cells 3 and 4 via the transparent main body frames 1 and 2, the solar cells 3 and 4 drive the camera electric circuit 60. At the same time, the secondary battery 5 is charged. When light irradiation is not obtained, the circuit 60 is driven by the lithium battery 5. Therefore, replacement of batteries is not required, the structure of the body frames 1 and 2 is simplified, the waterproofness is improved as described above, and maintenance is facilitated. Solar cells 3 and 4 are 2
It is also possible to have an integral structure with the secondary battery 5, in which case the assembly and structure are simplified.

Further, the structure of the solar cells 3 and 4 and each of the sensors 3a to 3d will be described in detail. The circuit configuration of that part is as shown in FIG. First, for solar cells 3 and 4, the output voltage value of the battery is determined by the number of elements connected in series, and the current capacity is determined by the number of lines connected in parallel. Note that this output voltage has a fluctuation of, for example, 2 to 3 V.
Is controlled to a single voltage of 5V and supplied to each IC. However, if the permissible power supply voltage of each connected IC is 2-3 V, the converter 50
Becomes unnecessary.

The AE sensor 3a for observation and the W / B sensors 3b, 3c, 3d for white balance can be shared because the solar cells 3, 4 are composed of silicon photodiodes SPD or amorphous silicon solar cells. (1) The solar cell 3, the AE sensor 3a, and the W / B sensors 3b, 3c, 3d can be arranged on one wafer. Therefore, there is an advantage in cost, and the arrangement space is also advantageous. Since the green G filter 10b of the AE sensor 3a can also serve as the IR cut filter 9 for photometry, the output of the W / B sensor 3c is used as the output of the AE sensor 3a, and the AE sensor 3a is omitted. It is also possible.

Then, an image is taken by the electronic camera 20 and the memory 55
In order to take out the video signal stored in the storage unit, an optical information transmission / reproduction unit (not shown) having a receiving unit as shown in FIG. 6 is used. That is, the receiving section is provided with a condenser lens 14a provided in the housing section 14 into which the lower end including the bottom wall 1e of the electronic camera 20 is inserted, and further provided with a receiving section provided corresponding to the lens 14a. It comprises a light emitting element SPD 17a and LED 17b.
Then, a transfer command signal including a video number (corresponding to a track number) of the stored video data is given to the electronic camera 20 from the reproducing means to the electronic camera 20 via the LED 17b to the light receiving element SPD56a on the camera side. The data is transferred as optical information to the outside via the light emitting element LED 56b on the camera side. The transfer data is received by the SPD 17a, and further transferred to the reproducing means to be reproduced.

Next, regarding the electronic camera system of the present invention,
This will be described with reference to the drawings. The second block of the system,
The charging device 30 having a function of reproducing and recording video has a housing 31 provided with an insertion port 31a of the electronic camera 20 as a first block and a floppy disk insertion port 31b. As shown in the figure, the first block (electronic camera 20) includes a photographic lens, and further connects with the charging device 30 through the opening (insertion port 31a) provided on the second block (charging device 30) side. A coupling portion formed so as to be suitable for performing the coupling and capable of maintaining a state in which the photographic lens is exposed to the outside even when the coupling is performed (a portion where the photographic lens is disposed as shown in the drawing and its vicinity) (A part relatively thinner than the part). Second block charging device 30
A light source having a spectrum close to sunlight, such as an incandescent lamp, is provided inside the insertion port 31a. That is, the insertion slot
When the electronic camera 20 is inserted from 31a,
Light emitting units 32 and 33 are provided at positions corresponding to the solar cells 3 and 4, respectively, and are configured to be capable of supplying power to the electronic camera 20 via the solar cells 3 and 4.
A liquid crystal monitor LC for displaying an image with its own display surface exposed on the side of the light emitting section 32 opposite to the camera side.
D35 is provided. Between the LCD 35 and the light emitting section 32, a diffusion plate 34 for a backlight of the LCD 35 is provided. In a state where the electronic camera 20 is inserted and mounted from the insertion opening 31a, optical information transmission means as a first signal transmission unit on the electronic camera 20 side (for example, the light receiving elements 56a, An optical information transmitting means as a second signal transmitting section, which is an input / output section of the reproducing means (reproducing function section) of the second block (30), corresponds to the receiving / emitting section of the light emitting element 56b). A constituent lens unit 14a and light receiving / emitting elements 17'a and 17'b are provided. Further, a video magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus (FIG. 1) for recording a signal received through the second signal transmission section (17'a, 17'b) on a recording medium (floppy disk 40 in this example) applied to itself. (Not shown).

Next, the operation of the electronic camera system configured as described above will be described. The electronic camera 20 is normally charged by sunlight, but when it is necessary to charge the battery quickly, such as at night, the electronic camera 20 is charged using the charging device 30 of the present embodiment. The charging method is as follows. When the electronic camera 20 is inserted from the insertion opening 31a of the device 30 and a power switch (not shown) is turned on, the light emitting units 32 and 33 emit light, and the irradiation light of the Charging of the secondary battery 5 via the cells 3 and 4 is started.

On the other hand, the charging device of the present embodiment also has a function of reproducing and recording images, and is inserted into the charging device 30 through the insertion port 31a in the same manner as when charging the electronic camera 20. Then, a reproduction command signal is transmitted to the light receiving unit SPD56a of the electronic camera 20 via the light emitting element 17'b serving as the transmitting unit. Then, the video data stored in the memory 55 is output to the LED 56b of the light emitting element of the transmission unit according to the control signal of the system controller 51 of the camera 20. The data is transferred to the SPD 17'a of the receiving unit of the charging device 30 on the playback device side by the blinking of the LED 56b. Then, the video signal is converted into a video signal by a reproducing device built in the charging device 30, and the video is reproduced on the liquid crystal monitor 35 in which the light of the light emitting section 32 acts as a backlight. The video data can also be recorded on the floppy disk 40 inserted through the insertion port 31b via the recording unit of the playback device. Conversely, it is also possible to write the video data recorded on the floppy disk 40 to the memory 55 of the electronic camera 20 via the above-mentioned optical transceiver. As described above, the charging device 30 as the second block in the electronic camera system according to the present embodiment is capable of performing image processing over multiple functions other than the charging function.

[Effects of the Invention] In the electronic camera system of the present invention, the first block (imaging function unit) having the imaging function unit and the second block are connected to each other through the (first and second) signal transmission units in the first state. The image signal picked up by the block is transferred to the second block and can be observed on the display unit of the second block. In this state, the power supply means on the second block side supplies power to the first block. Can be performed,
Withstands long-term image display and observation. Further, on the second block side, a signal received through the signal transmission unit can be recorded on a recording medium applied to the recording medium storage unit. Therefore, by making the recording capacity of the recording medium sufficient, Even if the recording capacity (or primary storage capacity) on the first block (imaging function unit) side is relatively small, it is possible to sequentially transfer the captured image signals to the second block and perform sufficient recording. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A, 1B, and 1C are cross-sectional views showing an example of an electronic camera serving as a first block in an electronic camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1B, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line ZZ of FIG. 1A of the electronic camera, FIG.
FIG. 1C is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 1B, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic camera of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view of the electronic camera of FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the electronic camera of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a solar cell of the electronic camera of FIG. 1;
6 is a circuit diagram of a sensor and a W / B sensor, FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of an optical information transmitting means used in the electronic camera of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the electronic camera system. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the electronic camera system shown in FIG. 7 when both blocks are combined. 20 First block (electronic camera) 30 Second block (charging device)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic camera system comprising a first block and a second block, each of which has a housing which can be connected to each other, wherein the first block captures an image from a photographing lens. An imaging function unit for generating an electric signal corresponding to light, the imaging lens is formed so as to be adapted to perform coupling through a predetermined opening provided on the second block side, and the photographic lens is also formed when the coupling is performed; A coupling unit capable of maintaining a state exposed to the outside, and a first signal transmission unit for transmitting and receiving a signal to and from the second block side, wherein the second block includes the first signal transmission unit. A power supply means for supplying power to the block, an insertion port for accommodating the coupling portion by accommodating the coupling portion on the first block side, 1st block A second signal transmitting unit for transmitting and receiving a signal to and from the side, a display for displaying an image based on a signal received through the second signal transmitting unit, and a signal received through the second signal transmitting unit An electronic camera system, comprising: a recording medium accommodation unit for recording a signal on a recording medium applied to the electronic camera.