JP3300899B2 - Still video camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a still video camera, and more particularly to a still video camera using an IC memory card as a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, instead of a conventional silver halide film camera, an optical image from a subject is converted into an electric image signal by a photoelectric conversion element, and still image information of the subject is converted into an IC memory card corresponding to a conventional film. A still video camera having a configuration for recording on a (card-type semiconductor memory) has been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-10784).

[0003]

In the case where a magnetic disk is used as a storage medium, a disk drive is required. Although the magnetic disk itself is not so large in area and volume, an apparatus part for recording is used. Will occupy a considerable portion of the camera body.

On the other hand, if an IC card memory is used as a storage medium, a mechanism such as a disk drive is not required, so that the size of the camera can be reduced. However, for example, if an insertion slot for an IC memory card is provided in the camera body and the IC memory card is inserted into this insertion slot and attached, a dedicated space for accommodating the IC memory card in the camera body is provided. In other words, there is a limit in reducing the thickness and size of the camera body.

On the exterior of the still video camera, necessary elements such as a photographing lens, an operation unit, a finder window, a flash, and various terminals are arranged, and the battery case can be freely opened and closed to replace a power supply battery. Since the battery cover is provided, it is conventionally necessary to provide an IC memory card mounting portion avoiding these portions, and this also limits downsizing of the camera.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a still video camera using an IC memory card as a storage medium, the present invention pays particular attention to the existence of a battery cover.
An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a still video camera by devising a structure for mounting an IC memory card by associating a memory card with a battery case.

[0007]

Therefore, according to the present invention, a still image is photographed by using a photoelectric conversion element, and information of the photographed still image is recorded on an IC memory card which is detachably attached to a camera body. In the still video camera configured as described above, at least a part of the IC memory card forms a power supply battery case.

Here, it is preferable that one end surface of the IC memory card be a part of the exterior of the camera, and at least a part of the other end surface be an inner peripheral surface of the power supply battery case. Further, the IC memory card may be mounted on the camera body as a battery cover for covering the opening for battery replacement in the power battery case.

[0009]

According to the still video camera having the above construction, I
At least a part of the C memory card constitutes a power supply battery case, and a part of a dedicated component of the battery case becomes unnecessary, and an IC memory card is used instead. The size of the camera body can be reduced by the amount of the dedicated member.

In particular, if one end surface of the IC memory card forms a part of the exterior of the camera and at least a part of the other end forms the inner peripheral surface of the power supply battery case, the IC memory card becomes one of the exterior parts. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to downsizing of the camera main body as compared with a case where a card storage unit is provided in the camera main body. Furthermore, if the IC memory card is configured to be attached to the camera body as a battery cover for covering the opening for battery replacement in the power supply battery case, the size of the camera can be reduced, the battery cover parts can be omitted, and the number of parts can be reduced. Reduction can be achieved.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the main body of a still video camera viewed from the back side (the photographing lens side is the front side), and FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the still video camera shown in FIG. 1.

As will be described later, the still video camera of this embodiment is configured such that a still image is photographed using a photoelectric conversion element, and information of the photographed still image is detachably attached to the camera body. It is recorded on an IC memory card. 1 and 2, a case portion 4 for housing two power batteries 3 is provided on a back surface 2 of the camera body 1.
Are recessed. In this embodiment, no components are mounted on the front side of the camera of the case portion 4, and the bottom of the case portion 4 is constituted by a front cover of the camera body 1.

A pair of hook-shaped guide rails 5a, 5a,
5b are formed so as to protrude from the back surface 2 so as to face each other. The right end side of the guide rails 5a and 5b in the figure is closed like a door pocket, and the left end side of the guide rail 5 in the figure is opened to serve as an insertion port of the IC memory card 6.

Here, I
When the terminal side 6a of the IC memory card 6 is inserted from the open end sides of the guide rails 5a and 5b so that the C memory card 6 extends along the side, the side ends of the IC memory card 6 are guided by the guide rails 5a and 5b. Guided and supported by
The terminal 6a of the IC memory card 6 is
The camera body 1 and the IC memory card 6 are electrically connected to each other by fitting into a connector 7 provided at a door-sack-like portion on the right end side of the a and 5b.

In a mounted state in which the IC memory card 6 is fitted and supported by the connector 7, the IC memory card 6 covers an opening for battery replacement which is open on the back side of the camera of the battery case 4, and the IC memory card A closed space for housing the battery 3 is formed by the inner end surface of the battery 6 and the case 4. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, when the IC memory card 6 is removed, the case 4 is exposed and the battery 3 can be replaced.
As shown in FIG. 2, the battery case 4 is covered with the IC memory card 6, a part of the inner end surface of the IC memory card 6 constitutes the inner peripheral surface of the case 4, and the battery 3 is placed in the main body. The shape is stored.

A photographing lens 8 is mounted on the front side of the camera body 1 so as to be dropped from the front side. An optical image of a subject obtained by the photographing lens 8 is formed by a solid-state image pickup device 9 as a photoelectric conversion element. An image is formed on the light receiving surface, and the solid-state imaging device 9 converts the optical image into an electric image signal. And
The still image information obtained as the electric image signal is recorded in the semiconductor memory of the IC memory card 6 which is detachable from the camera body 1 by the above-described configuration.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a release button. According to such a configuration, the IC memory card 6 is attached to the camera body 1 as a part of the exterior, instead of storing the IC memory card 6 in the camera body 1. It functions as a lid member (battery lid) of the case portion 4. Therefore, in the basic configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a battery cover is separately provided, and
The thickness of the camera can be reduced by the amount of the battery cover and the back exterior cover as compared with the case where a back exterior cover that covers the storage section of the IC memory card 6 is provided. The thickness can be reduced to the required thickness.

Further, if the IC memory card 6 is mounted on the main body as a battery cover as in this embodiment, a dedicated component as the battery cover can be omitted, and the number of components can be reduced. Further, in the present embodiment, the battery 3 cannot be removed unless the IC memory card 6 is removed. Therefore, the battery 3 is inadvertently removed while the IC memory card 6 is energized. There is no danger of data being destroyed due to the addition of signals.

There is a case where the IC memory card 6 is replaced in a state where it is not necessary to replace the battery. At this time, if the battery 3 is easily dropped with the IC memory card 6 removed. Since it is inconvenient and may hinder the photographing, it is preferable to provide a holding spring 11 for preventing the battery 3 from dropping off as shown in FIGS.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a battery cover 12 is provided on the front side of the camera in addition to the configuration shown in FIGS.
Although the battery 3 can be replaced even when the IC memory card 6 is removed, the battery can be replaced even when the IC memory card 6 is mounted. The battery lid
The hinge 12 is supported by the hinge 13 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the main body 1, and is urged in the opening direction by a spring member (not shown). Then, a claw portion 12 provided at the tip of the battery lid 12
a is engaged with a lock button 14 provided on the main body 1 side, so that the battery cover 12 is held in a closed state. When the lock button 14 is pressed, the engagement is released. ,
The spring member is opened by the urging force of the spring member.

In the case of FIG. 3, the portion of the front cover member forming the case portion 4 is merely changed to the battery cover 12 which can be opened and closed. Therefore, the thickness of the camera in the front-rear direction does not increase. Therefore, the replacement workability of the battery 3 is improved. However, in this case, the battery can be replaced while the IC memory card 6 is mounted. Therefore, a switch 15 for detecting the operation of the lock button 14 is provided, and I
The transmission and reception of signals with the C memory card 6 may be stopped.

In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the mounting structure of the IC memory card 6 on the back of the camera shown in FIGS. The IC memory card 6 can be mounted on the back and the back, respectively. That is, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the case section 4 for the battery 3 has an open front and rear face in the camera body 1, and this open face has an IC memory card 6 mounted on the front and rear faces, respectively. The inner peripheral surface of the battery housing is constituted by two IC memory cards 6 and the camera body 1. Therefore, the battery 3 can be replaced by removing one of the IC memory cards 6, but here, the camera body 1 is replaced.
The battery cover 16 is provided on the upper surface of the IC card, and the battery 3 can be mounted even when the IC memory card 6 is mounted on the front and the back.
(See FIG. 5).

In this case, when the IC memory card 6 is mounted on the front of the camera, the photographing lens 8 is covered with the IC memory card 6 and the optical image of the subject cannot be guided to the photographing lens 8. An IC memory card 6 is used in which a through hole 6b is opened in a portion to be located in front of the taking lens 8. According to such a configuration, two IC memory cards 6 can be mounted without increasing the size of the camera, and a wide part of the exterior of the camera body 1 is covered with the IC memory card 6. Camera body 1 covered with card 6
The portion does not require strength, and the thickness of the cover member on the camera body side can be reduced.

In the fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, in a configuration in which a perforated IC memory card 6 is mounted on the front surface of the camera body 1, the other end of the IC memory card 6 fitted to the connector 7 is connected. The IC memory card 6 is held in the pull-out direction by engaging with the hook-shaped opening / closing door 17. The opening / closing door 17 is supported via a hinge 19 at the tip of an opening / closing door 18 for a battery case. Further, the base end of the opening / closing door 18 is located at the rear side corner of the left side of the camera body 1. Hinge 20
Supported by

The battery case 4 is open on the left side and the front side of the camera body 1, and the side is on the open / close door.
The front side is covered by the IC memory card 6 to form a closed space for storing the battery 3. Here, the opening / closing door 17 is opened around the hinge 19, and FIG.
7 allows the IC memory card 6 to be attached and detached, and by moving the open / close door 17 to the normal position as shown in FIG. Reliable fitting can also be performed.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Opening around 20 enables the battery 3 to be detached. still,
If the door 18 is opened around the hinge 20, the battery 3 can be replaced even when the IC memory card 6 is mounted. As shown in FIG. 7, a decorative sticker 6c is attached to the outer surface of the IC memory card 6 when the IC memory card 6 is mounted.
If a plurality of are prepared, the exterior of the still video camera can be easily changed.

If the IC memory card 6 is supported so as to be surrounded by the opening / closing door 17, the connector 7, and the guide rails 5a and 5b by the configuration shown in FIGS.
The peripheral edge of the memory card 6 other than the decorative seal 6c is protected, and even if the decorative seal 6c may be damaged, a new state can be restored by replacing the seal.

In place of the decorative seal 6c, an IC
Various printing may be performed on the surface of the memory card 6.

[0029]

As described above, according to the still video camera of the present invention, in a still video camera using an IC memory card as a storage medium, the mounting structure of the IC memory card is devised in association with a battery case. As a result, the size and thickness of the camera can be reduced, and the number of parts can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a still video camera showing a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the still video camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a still video camera showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a still video camera showing a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary perspective view showing a state in which the camera shown in FIG. 4 has a card attached;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the still video camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a still video camera showing a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a card attachment / detachment state in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a battery attachment / detachment state in the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera main body 2 Back surface 3 Battery 4 Case part 5a, 5b Guide rail 6 IC memory card 6b Through hole 7 Connector 8 Photographing lens 9 Solid-state image sensor (photoelectric conversion element) 12 Battery cover 17, 18 Opening / closing door

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A still image is photographed using a photoelectric conversion element,
In a still video camera configured to record information of a photographed still image on an IC memory card detachably attached to a camera body, at least a part of the IC memory card constitutes a power battery case. A still video camera. 2. The still video according to claim 1, wherein one end surface of said IC memory card forms a part of a camera exterior, and at least a part of the other end surface forms an inner peripheral surface of a power battery case. camera. 3. The still video camera according to claim 1, wherein said IC memory card is mounted on a camera body as a battery lid covering an opening for battery replacement in a power battery case.