JP3207083B2 - Electronic development type camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera using a recording medium for electronically developing an image obtained by exposure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a photographic material capable of electronically developing an optical image obtained by a photographing lens is known. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-2280 discloses an electrostatic information recording medium and A recording medium combined with a holding medium is disclosed. In this specification, such a recording medium is called an electro-developing recording medium, and a camera using this electro-developing recording medium is called an electro-developing camera.

In the electro-developing recording medium described in the above publication, the electrostatic information recording medium has a photoconductive layer and an inorganic oxide layer, and the charge holding medium has a liquid crystal display element. With this configuration, when the electrostatic information recording medium is exposed while a voltage is applied to the electrostatic information recording medium and the charge holding medium, charges corresponding to the amount of incident light are generated on the electrostatic information recording medium.
Since the strength of the electric field applied to the liquid crystal display element arranged opposite to the electrostatic information recording medium changes according to the generated charges, an image corresponding to the light amount distribution is displayed on the liquid crystal display element, that is, the image is developed. .

An image developed by a liquid crystal display element can be detected using an optical element such as a line sensor. That is, the image is read by irradiating illumination light from the front of the electro-developing recording medium and scanning the line sensor behind the electro-developing recording medium.

[0005]

When a color image is picked up by an electro-developing type camera, for example, R (red), G (green) and B
A color separation filter having a (blue) filter element is provided. When reading an image on the electro-developing recording medium in such a camera, for example, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which one of the filter and the electro-developing recording medium is retracted so as not to face each other. However, if a device for retracting one of the filter and the electro-developing recording medium is provided, there arises a problem that the configuration of the camera is complicated and the size of the camera is increased.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electro-developing camera having a simple and compact structure, in which it is not necessary to retract the filter and the electro-developing recording medium in order to read an image developed by the electro-developing recording medium. It is an object.

[0007]

An electro-developing camera according to the present invention includes an electro-developing recording medium having a recording area for electronically developing an image, and scans along the electro-developing recording medium. By doing so, a sub-scanning mechanism that reads an image formed in the recording area, a color separation filter that is provided to face the electro-developing recording medium, and has color filter elements of three different primary colors, and a reading operation by the sub-scanning mechanism, A light source for irradiating the electro-developing recording medium with light having a predetermined wavelength distribution through a color separation filter; and a filter position control unit for moving the color separation filter. In operation, a predetermined color filter element of the color separation filter is opposed to the electro-developing recording medium, and the predetermined color filter element is substantially all of the light emitted from the light source. It is characterized by having a spectral characteristic as to transmit.

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. FIG. 1 is an external view of a still video camera to which one embodiment of the present invention is applied. This still video camera is an electro-developing camera, and is configured to develop an image using an electro-developing recording medium.

When the camera body 11 is viewed from the front, an image pickup optical system 12 having a photographing lens and the like is provided substantially at the center of the front surface, and a strobe 13 is provided above and to the right of the image pickup optical system 12. A release switch 14 is provided on the opposite side of the flash 13. The finder 15 is provided at the center of the upper surface of the camera body 11, and operation switches such as the scan start switch 16 are provided on the side of the finder 15. In order to output an image signal obtained by the camera to an external recording device or the like, the camera body 11
An output terminal 17 is provided at a lower portion of the side surface of the.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a still video camera. The system control circuit 20 is a microcomputer and controls the entire still video camera.

The imaging optical system 12 has a plurality of lens groups,
An aperture 12a is provided. The color separation filter 80 and the electro-developing recording medium 30 are disposed behind the imaging optical system 12, and the color separation filter 80 is located closer to the imaging optical system 12 than the electro-developing recording medium 30. Imaging optical system 12
A quick return mirror 21 is provided between the color filter 80 and the color separation filter 80, and a focus plate 23 a of the finder optical system 23 is provided above the quick return mirror 21. A shutter 22 is provided on the photographing optical system 12 side of the color separation filter 80 and the electro-developing recording medium 30.

Aperture 12a, quick return mirror 21
And the shutter 22 are provided in the iris drive circuit 2 respectively.
4. Driven by a mirror drive circuit 25 and a shutter drive circuit 26, and these circuits 24, 25 and 26 are controlled by an exposure control circuit 27. The exposure control circuit 27 operates according to a command signal output from the system control circuit 20. That is, at the time of exposure control, the photometric sensor 2
The aperture of the aperture 12a is adjusted by the iris drive circuit 24 under the control of the exposure control circuit 27 based on the output signal from the iris 8. The quick return mirror 21 is normally set at the down position (in an inclined state shown by a solid line), and guides the light that has passed through the imaging optical system 12 to the finder optical system 23. Accordingly, the mirror is driven upward by the mirror driving circuit 25 and is set to the up position (horizontal state indicated by a broken line). The shutter 22 opens and closes an optical path guided to the electro-developing recording medium 30, and is normally closed. However, during a photographing operation, the shutter 22 is opened for a predetermined time by a shutter driving circuit 26 under the control of an exposure control circuit 27. Light that has passed through the imaging optical system 12 is applied to the light receiving surface of the electro-developing recording medium 30.

The color separation filter 80 and the electro-developing recording medium 30 both have a disk shape, are coaxially arranged, and face each other. An output shaft 91 of a stepping motor 90 is connected to an axis of the color separation filter 80, and an output shaft 93 of a stepping motor 92 is connected to an axis of the electro-developing recording medium 30. Stepping motor 90,
92 denotes a color separation filter 80 and the electro-developing recording medium 30
Are located on opposite sides of each other. The stepping motor 90 is rotationally driven by a motor driving circuit 94 based on an output signal from the exposure control circuit 27, and the stepping motor 92 is rotationally driven by a motor driving circuit 95 under the control of the system control circuit 20.

Near the outer periphery of the color separation filter 80 and the electro-developing recording medium 30, an origin detector 96,
97 are provided. The origin positions of the color separation filter 80 and the electro-developing recording medium 30 are detected by the origin detectors 96 and 97, and a signal indicating the origin position is input to the system control circuit 20.

A voltage is applied to the electro-developing recording medium 30 under the control of the recording medium drive circuit 41, and the electro-developing recording medium 30 is exposed during the application of the voltage to thereby be exposed.
As described later, the image formed by the imaging optical system 12 is developed as a visible image, as described later. The recording medium drive circuit 41 operates according to a command signal output from the system control circuit 20.

A sub-scanning mechanism 50 is provided near the electro-developing recording medium 30. The sub-scanning mechanism 50 is located above the stepping motors 90 and 92, and retracts above the electro-developing recording medium 30 during an imaging operation by the electro-developing recording medium 30. The sub-scanning mechanism 50 moves close to the electro-developing recording medium 30 and moves along the arrow A in FIG. 2 (that is, sub-scanning) during an image reading operation on the electro-developing recording medium 30.

The sub-scanning mechanism 50 supports a light source 42 composed of an LED for outputting blue light, a scanner optical system 43, and a line sensor 44. Recording medium 30
Move along. The line sensor 44 is, for example, 200
A zero-pixel CCD one-dimensional sensor or the like can be used.
The light source 42 is movable along the front surface of the electro-developing recording medium 30, and the line sensor 44 is movable along the back surface of the electro-developing recording medium 30. Scanner optical system 4
3 is provided between the light source 42 and the line sensor 44. In the sub-scanning by the sub-scanning mechanism 50, the light source 42 is located on the side opposite to the line sensor 44 with respect to the electro-developing recording medium 30, so that the image developed by the electro-developing recording medium 30 is illuminated by the light source 42. Then, an image is formed on the light receiving surface of the line sensor 44 by the action of the scanner optical system 43. That is, the scanner optical system 43 is provided in the middle of the path of the light transmitted through the electro-developing recording medium 30, and the line sensor 44 moves on the image plane of the image formed by the scanner optical system 43.

The on / off control of the light source 42 is performed by an illumination light source driving circuit 45, and the control such as the reading operation of the pixel signal generated in the line sensor 44 is performed by a line sensor driving circuit 47.
It is performed by The movement of the sub-scanning mechanism 50 is controlled by the scanner drive circuit 46. These circuits 45,
46 and 47 are controlled by the system control circuit 20.

The pixel signal read from the line sensor 44 is amplified by an amplifier 61 and converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter 62. The digital pixel signal is subjected to processing such as shading correction, dropout correction, and gamma correction in the image processing circuit 63 under the control of the system control circuit 20, and then temporarily stored in the memory 64. The memory 64 may have a storage capacity for one horizontal scanning line output from the line sensor 44, or may be a memory having a storage capacity for one image. Further, the memory 64 may include an E ² PROM for storing correction values such as shading correction.

The pixel signal read from the memory 64 is
The image data is input from the image processing circuit 63 to the interface circuit 65, subjected to predetermined processing such as format conversion, and can be output to an external host computer (not shown) via the output terminal 17. The pixel signal output from the image processing circuit 63 is sent to the recording device control circuit 66 by the
A predetermined process such as image compression or format conversion is performed, and the image can be recorded on a recording medium such as an IC memory card in the image recording device 67. The interface circuit 65 and the recording device control circuit 66 operate according to a command signal from the system control circuit 20.

The system control circuit 20 includes a release switch 14 and a scan start switch 16.
An operation unit 71 having the same is connected. An image pickup operation is performed by operating the release switch 14, and a reading operation of an image signal from the electro-developing recording medium 30 is performed by operating the scan start switch 16.

The system control circuit 20 includes:
A display element 68 for displaying various setting states of the still video camera and the like, and a flash drive circuit 69 for controlling light emission of the flash 13 are connected.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the sub-scanning mechanism 50 and its vicinity. The moving member 52 of the sub-scanning mechanism 50 is slidably supported by the pair of guide shafts 51, 51 and has first and second legs 52a, 52b. The first leg 52a projects between the color separation filter 80 and the imaging optical system 12, and the second leg 52b projects on the back side of the electro-developing recording medium 30. Light source 42
Is provided on the first leg 52a, and illumination light from the light source 42 is applied to the electro-developing recording medium 30 through a collimator lens (not shown) attached to the leg 52a. The scanner optical system 43 is provided inside the second leg 52b, and the line sensor 44 is attached to the back of the second leg 52b. The light source 42 and the line sensor 44
Both extend in the horizontal direction. The rack 53 fixed to the moving member 52 meshes with the pinion 54, and the pinion 54
Are meshed with a gear 56 provided on the output shaft of the scan drive motor 55.

The color separation filter 80 is, as shown in FIG.
Color filter elements 80R, 80G, 80B of three different primary colors
Having. In other words, the color separation filter 80 is formed by three straight lines extending radially from the axis center by the R filter element 80R.
, A G filter element 80G and a B filter element 80B, and these filter elements 80R, 80G,
80B has a sector shape with a central angle of 120 degrees. A mask 81 for blocking light is formed on the outermost periphery of the B filter element 80B, and an origin detector 96 (photo interrupter) for detecting the mask 81 is provided on a portion facing the periphery of the color separation filter 80. Are arranged.

The B filter element 80B has a spectral characteristic that allows transmission of blue light and, in this embodiment, allows transmission of substantially all light emitted from the light source 42. That is, as indicated by reference numeral L1 in FIG. 5, the spectral characteristics of the B filter element 80B are slightly wider than the wavelength distribution L2 of the light emitted from the light source 42. The spectral characteristics of the B filter element 80B may be substantially the same as the wavelength distribution of the light emitted from the light source 42.

Referring again to FIG. 3, the electro-developing recording medium 30 has a first recording area 30R for forming an R (red) image and a second recording area 30G for forming a G (green) image. , B (blue) image. These recording areas 30R, 3R
0G and 30B have a rectangular shape, and are located between the imaging optical system 12 and the scanner optical system 43 when located at the uppermost position (see the recording area 30R in FIG. 3). Similarly to the color separation filter 80, the first recording area 30 of the electro-developing recording medium 30
A mask 82 is also formed at an outer peripheral position than R, and a mask 82 is formed at a portion facing the peripheral edge of the electro-developing recording medium 30.
Is provided with an origin detector 97 (photo interrupter) for detecting.

During the photographing operation, the color separation filter 80 is positioned so that any one of the filter elements 80R, 80G, and 80B is located behind the imaging optical system 12, that is, on the imaging optical axis. The recording area 30R, 30G, or 30B corresponding to the filter element is positioned so as to be located on the imaging optical axis. When the R image is developed in the first recording area 30R, this recording area 3
The filter element 80R is located in front of 0R, and when the G image is developed in the second recording area 30G, this recording area 3R
The filter element 80G is located in front of 0G, and when the B image is developed in the third recording area 30B, this recording area 3G
The filter element 80B is located in front of 0B. That is, the electro-developing recording medium 30 and the color separation filter 80 make one rotation during the imaging operation of one image.

When the scan start switch 16 is operated after the image pickup operation is completed, the scan drive motor 55
Is rotated, the moving member 52 is lowered, and sub-scanning is performed by the line sensor 44, and the line sensor 44 scans in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. The sub-scan is performed for the three recording areas 30R, 30G, and 30B, and at this time, the B filter element 80B is located in front of the recording areas 30R, 30G, and 30B. That is, during the sub scanning, the color separation filter 80 is stationary, and the electro-developing recording medium 30 makes one rotation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the structure of the electro-developing recording medium 30, which is the same as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-2280. That is, the electro-developing recording medium 3
0 denotes an electrostatic information recording medium 31, a charge holding medium 32, and a power supply 3
3 is provided. The electrostatic information recording medium 31 is
4, electrode layer 35, inorganic oxide layer 36, and photoconductive layer 37
And the photoconductive layer 37 is formed by polymerizing the charge generation layer 37a and the charge transport layer 37b. The charge holding medium 32 includes a liquid crystal 4 between the liquid crystal support 38 and the liquid crystal electrode layer 39.
0 is enclosed. The charge transport layer 37b of the electrostatic information recording medium 31 and the liquid crystal support 38 of the charge holding medium 32 face each other with a small gap.

The power supply 33 is turned on and off by a recording medium drive circuit 41. When the power supply 33 is in an on state, the electrode layer 3 is turned on.
5 and the liquid crystal electrode layer 39, that is, the electrostatic information recording medium 3
1 and a voltage are applied to the charge holding medium 32. When the electrostatic information recording medium 31 is exposed in this voltage applied state, charges corresponding to an image are generated on the electrostatic information recording medium 31. Since the intensity of the electric field acting on the liquid crystal 40 changes according to the charge, the image is displayed on the liquid crystal 40 as a visible image, and the subject image is developed. The charge holding medium 32 is a dispersion type liquid crystal display element, and the developed visible image is held even when the electric field is removed. The dispersion type liquid crystal display element can erase the developed visible image by heating to a predetermined temperature using a heating device (not shown). In this case, the same recording medium can be repeatedly used. it can.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of the imaging operation and the image reading operation. The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

When it is detected that the release switch 14 is depressed (reference S11), an output signal from the photometric sensor 28, that is, a photometric value is detected, and a photometric calculation is performed based on the photometric value (reference S12). . Based on the result of the photometric calculation, the opening of the aperture 12a changes from the fully opened state to a predetermined opening (reference S13). Next, the quick return mirror 21 changes from the down state to the up state (reference S14).

Change of Mirror 21 to Up State and Aperture 1
When it is confirmed that the opening adjustment of 2a is completed, the recording medium activation signal of the first recording area 30R of the electro-developing recording medium 30 is set to the ON state (reference S15), and the first recording area is set. A voltage is applied to 30R. At the same time, the shutter 22 is opened for the exposure time obtained by the photometric calculation (reference S12) (reference S16). The shutter 22
Prior to the opening operation of the color separation filter 80, the R filter element 80R of the color separation filter 80 faces the shutter 22 (reference S17),
The first recording area 30R of the electro-developing recording medium 30 faces the R filter element 80R (reference S18). Therefore, an R image is formed in the first recording area 30R.
The rotation angle positions of the electro-developing recording medium 30 and the color separation filter 80 are determined by the origin detectors 96 and 97 by the masks 81 and 8.
2 and a stepping motor 9 output from the motor drive circuits 94 and 95.
0, 92 based on the rotation command signal.

When the shutter 22 is closed, the color separation filter 80 and the electro-developing recording medium 30 rotate about 120 degrees.
Thereby, the G filter element 80G and the second recording area 30G of the electro-developing recording medium 30 are set at the upper position.
That is, the G filter element 80G faces the shutter 22 (reference S19), and the second recording area 30G faces the G filter element 80G (reference S20). In this state, the second
The recording medium activation signal of the recording area 30G is set to the ON state (reference S21), a voltage is applied to the second recording area 30G, and the shutter 22 is opened for the exposure time obtained by the photometry operation ( Symbol S22). This gives G
Is formed in the second recording area 30G.

When the shutter 22 is closed, the color separation filter 80 and the electro-developing recording medium 30 rotate again by about 120 degrees. Thereby, the B filter element 80B faces the shutter 22 (reference S23), and the third recording area 30B faces the B filter element 80B (reference S24). And the third
The recording medium activation signal of the recording area 30B is turned on (reference S25), a voltage is applied to the third recording area 30B, and the shutter 22 is opened for the exposure time obtained by the photometry operation ( Symbol S26). This gives B
Is formed in the third recording area 30B.

In this way, the recording areas 30R, 30G, and 30B of the electro-developing recording medium 30 are assigned R, G, and B, respectively.
Is developed, the mirror 21 changes to the down state (reference S27), and the aperture 12a is opened to the fully opened state (reference S28).

When the scan start switch 16 is operated and a scanner drive command signal is output (reference S3).
1) The illumination light source 42 is turned on (reference S
32), the shutter 22 is fully opened (reference S30). On the other hand, the color separation filter 80 is set at a position where the B filter element 80B faces the shutter 22 (reference numeral S33), and the electro-developing recording medium 30 is set at a position where the first recording area 30R faces the B filter element 80B. (Sign S3
4). In this state, the sub-scanning mechanism 50 is driven, and sub-scanning by the line sensor 44 is performed (reference S35). Since substantially all of the blue light output from the light source 42 passes through the B filter element 80B, it effectively irradiates the first recording area 30R, and the image of this recording area 30R is read by the line sensor 44. Are output from the line sensor 44 (reference S36).

When the output of the R image signal is completed, the electro-developing recording medium 30 rotates about 120 degrees, and the second recording area 30G faces the B filter element 80B of the color separation filter 80 (reference S37). In this state, the sub-scanning mechanism 50 is driven, sub-scanning is performed by the line sensor 44 (reference S39), and a G image signal is output from the line sensor 44 (reference S40).

When the output of the G image signal is completed, the electro-developing recording medium 30 further rotates by about 120 degrees, and the third recording area 30B faces the B filter element 80B (reference S41). In this state, the sub-scanning mechanism 50 is driven, and sub-scanning is performed by the line sensor 44 (reference S43).
The B image signal is output from the line sensor 44 (reference S44). When the R, G, and B image signals are read out in this manner, the light source 42 is turned off (reference S45), and the shutter 22 is closed (reference S46).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the LED for outputting blue light is provided as the light source 42, and when reading the image developed by the electro-developing recording medium 30, the light source 42 is used.
A B filter element 80 </ b> B that transmits substantially all components of the light is disposed in front of the electro-developing recording medium 30. Therefore, the R, G, and B images recorded on the electro-developing recording medium 30 can be read. When reading the image, one of the color separation filter 80 and the electro-developing recording medium 30 faces each other. There is no need to evacuate to avoid. That is, there is no need to provide a device for retracting one of the filter and the electro-developing recording medium, so that the configuration of the electro-developing camera does not become complicated or large.

In the above embodiment, when reading an image, the B filter element 80B is used. However, the filter element for transmitting the light emitted from the light source 42 is not limited to the B filter element 80B. It suffices if it has the spectral characteristic closest to the wavelength distribution of the 42 light.

The electro-developing recording medium 30 and the color separation filter 80 are not limited to those driven by rotation, but may be configured to move along a straight line.

The electro-developing recording medium 30 is not limited to the above-described configuration, but may have another configuration as long as an image is developed electronically.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to move the filter and the electro-developing recording medium to read the image developed by the electro-developing recording medium.
Therefore, in the electro-developing type camera having such a function, it is not necessary to complicate the configuration or to increase the size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a still video camera to which an embodiment of the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the still video camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a sub-scanning mechanism and a configuration near the sub-scanning mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arrangement of each filter element of a color separation filter.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating spectral characteristics of respective filter elements of a color separation filter.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electro-developing recording medium.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing an imaging operation and an image reading operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 30 electro-developing recording medium 30R, 30G, 30B recording area 50 sub-scanning mechanism 80 color separation filter

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Makoto Mogami, 2-36-9 Maenocho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahi Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tetsuya Abe 2-36-9, Maenocho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahi In Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Naoki Koshikawa 2-36-9 Maenocho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo Asahi Optical Industry Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-8-46979 (JP, A) JP-A-5 -1991813 (JP, A) JP-A-8-152505 (JP, A) JP-A-8-191375 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N ^9/ 04- 9/11

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electro-developing recording medium having a recording area for electronically developing an image, and by scanning along the electro-developing recording medium,
A sub-scanning mechanism that reads an image formed in the recording area; a color separation filter that is provided to face the electro-developing recording medium and has color filter elements of three different primary colors; and a reading operation by the sub-scanning mechanism. A light source that irradiates the electro-developing recording medium with light having a predetermined wavelength distribution through a color separation filter; and a filter position control unit that moves the color separation filter. During a reading operation by a mechanism, a predetermined color filter element of the color separation filter is opposed to the electro-developing recording medium, and the predetermined color filter element transmits substantially all light emitted from the light source. An electro-developing camera characterized by having such spectral characteristics. 2. The electro-developing camera according to claim 1, wherein the electro-developing recording medium has a disk shape and is rotatable around an axis. 3. The color separation filter has a disk shape and is rotatable around an axis. The electro-developing recording medium and the color separation filter are driven to rotate by different motors. An electro-developing camera according to claim 2. 4. The spectral characteristic of the predetermined filter element is:
2. The electro-developing camera according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength distribution of the light emitted from the light source is substantially the same. 5. The spectral characteristic of the predetermined filter element is:
The electro-developing camera according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength is wider than a wavelength distribution of light emitted from the light source. 6. The color separation filter includes R (red),
The electro-developing camera according to claim 1, further comprising G (green) and B (blue) filter elements. 7. An electro-developing recording medium, comprising: an electrostatic information recording medium on which an electric charge is generated in accordance with an image; and a charge retention capable of generating a visible image in accordance with the electric charge and retaining the visible image. The electro-developing camera according to claim 1, further comprising a medium. 8. The electro-developing camera according to claim 7, wherein the charge holding medium is a dispersion type liquid crystal display device.