JP3350732B2 - Still video camera and method of controlling still video camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a shooting operation of a still video camera having a recording / reproducing function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, instead of a conventional film camera, a light image signal from a subject is converted into an electric image signal by a photographing element, and the electric image signal is recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic disk corresponding to the conventional film. A still video camera having a configuration for recording on a computer has been put to practical use, and an electric image signal recorded on a recording medium is viewed on a monitor display (television) or hard copied by a printer.

[0003] Still video cameras having a recorded image monitor, a display for displaying data, and the like have also been developed, and some have a configuration in which these displays can be stored in the camera.

[0004]

A conventional still video camera cannot take a picture while displaying an image on a display, and is very inconvenient for an operator.

Further, since these displays are all fixed so that the photographer can easily see them, there is a problem that the display cannot be confirmed from the subject side.

Further, when the display is stored in the camera,
There were many problems, such as forgetting to turn off the power and wasting the battery.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a still video camera according to the first invention is capable of obtaining image information based on a light image from a subject. Photographing means for generating, first storage means for storing the image information, image display means for displaying an image based on the image information, and image information for displaying the image on the image display means A second storage unit, comprising a control unit for controlling each of the units, wherein the control unit transmits the image information stored in the first storage unit to the second storage unit after transmitting the image information to the second storage unit. To prevent transmission from the storage means to the second storage means,
Thereafter, control is performed so that the image information from the photographing unit can be stored in the first storage unit while an image based on the image information in the second storage unit is displayed on the image display unit. It is characterized by performing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a still video camera control method, comprising: a photographing means for generating image information based on a light image from a subject; a first storage means for storing the image information; A method for controlling a still video camera, comprising: an image display means for displaying an image based on a video signal; and a second storage means for storing image information for displaying the image on the image display means, wherein the first storage means Means for preventing transmission from the first storage means to the second storage means after transmitting the image information stored by the means to the second storage means, and thereafter, The image information from the photographing means can be stored in the first storage means while an image based on the information is displayed on the image display means.

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

1 and 2 show a still video camera 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as camera) according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view when the tiltable display 2 is turned down and stored in the main body of the camera 1. The tiltable display 2 (hereinafter, abbreviated as a display) is a flat, small-sized device such as a liquid crystal, and is housed on one surface of a rectangle of the camera 1. 3 is a photographing lens, 4
Is an objective lens for a finder, 5 is a release, 6 is a reproduction switch, 7 is a data changeover switch, and 8 is an auto switch. Also, on the opposite side of the finder objective lens,
There is an eyepiece not shown on the side. When the display 2 is erected as shown in FIG. 2, the micro switch 9 which has been pressed by the frame portion 10 of the display 2 at the time of storage and the power has been cut off is released, the power of the display 2 is automatically turned on and the operating state is established. Becomes The display 2 is mounted in a direction that is easy to see from the subject N side as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the display 2 displays a recorded image and data in two modes, a multi mode and a single mode. When the normal playback switch 6 is pressed, the multi mode is set. As shown in FIG. 4, the display 2 displays data such as the shooting date D1, the playback screen number D2, the remaining number of recordable images D3, and the like on the display 2 in a superimposed manner. Is displayed. Each time the reproduction switch 6 is pressed, the next image is displayed. When the reproduction switch 6 and the data changeover switch 7 are simultaneously pressed, a single mode is set, and as shown in FIG. 5, every time the data changeover switch 7 is depressed, a display 5a of only an image and a display 5b of only data are switched. . Each time the reproduction switch 6 is pressed, the next recorded image is displayed. If the reproduction switch 6 and the data changeover switch 7 are simultaneously pressed, the multi mode is set again. Thus, the recorded image reproduced and the data relating to the image can be checked at a glance, and the entire camera can be made small and lightweight.

Next, in order to confirm the recorded image photographed immediately before the subject and proceed to the photographing operation, the image is temporarily stored in the sub-recording device 19 for one image constituted by a RAM or the like built in the camera 1. The operation of recording and reproducing information will be described.

As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 6, in the photographing unit 11, the image signal that has passed through the CCD from the lens 3 is subjected to signal processing, and is input to the A terminal of the selector 12.
Then, from the terminal B, the signal enters the main recording device 17 such as a floppy disk via the FM modulator 13 and the recording amplifier 15, and many photographed images are recorded here. The image signal read from the main recording device 17 is connected to the terminal C of the selector 12 via the reproduction amplifier 16 and the FM modulator 14. From the terminal D of the selector 12, the image signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 18 and recorded in the sub-recording device 19 such as a RAM. Then, the output is converted again into an analog image signal by the D / A converter 20, and the image is displayed on the display through the signal processing 22. Alternatively, the image signal is output via the signal processing 21 and the output circuit.

At the time of photographing, the terminals A and B of the selector 12 are connected, and the photographed image is recorded in the main recording device 17. However, when the reproduction switch 6 is pressed, the terminals A and B are cut off and the terminals A and B are disconnected. C and the terminal D are connected, and the main recording device 17 is connected.
A / D conversion of the image signal from
Recorded at 9. When this recording operation is completed, the terminals C and D of the selector 12 are cut off again, the terminals A and B are connected, and the photographer is ready to take a picture. On the other hand, the image recorded in the sub-recording device 19 is displayed on the display 2 via the A / D converter 18 and an image signal is output. These controls are all performed by the CPU.

As described above, when taking a picture while changing the state of the subject little by little, it is not necessary to switch to the playback mode one by one to check the subject, and perform the next shooting operation while checking the previous recorded image. Can be done. The electronic circuit may have a slightly different configuration. In the block diagram of FIG. 7, an image output circuit is connected to the terminal E of the selector 12, and the terminal C, the terminal D, and the terminal E of the selector 12 are connected at the time of reproduction, and only one image is output. afterwards,
The terminal C, the terminal D, and the terminal E are cut off, and the terminal A and the terminal B are connected to each other. Then, the video output is output from the output circuit 24 only while the terminal E is connected to the terminal C. Therefore, in order to continuously output the video output, it is necessary to prepare a mode in which the terminal E and the terminal C are kept connected. However, in this mode, it is not possible to shoot while reproducing the image. Further, by connecting the terminals A and D, the display can be used as an electronic viewfinder. Further, since the A / D conversion is performed in the block diagram of FIG. 8 before the data is input to the selector 12, the digital signal is recorded even in the main recording device.

Next, means for changing the direction of the camera will be described. As shown in FIG. 10, when the auto switch 8 of the camera 1 is set to the automatic mode and the release 5 (shutter release) is operated with the remote control toward the subject, the camera 1 completes the shooting, enters the playback mode, and displays the recorded image. At the same time as the reproduction display, the direction is changed to the direction of the photographer M. When the release 5 is pressed again, the camera 1 turns to the direction of the subject N. When the release 5 is further pressed, the shutter operates to repeat the above-described shooting operation. The flowchart of this operation is shown in FIG.
Shown in That is, it is determined whether or not the camera is in the auto mode, and if it is in the auto mode, the position of the camera is initialized and it is determined whether or not the shutter has operated. Next, after determining and confirming whether or not the photographing is completed, the drive motor is rotated forward or backward to move the camera position. Then, the movement is stopped at a predetermined position, and the image is reproduced and displayed. This operation is performed by the CPU, and the drive system for moving the camera is shown in FIG. That is, the combination of the rotation switch 30 and the rotation gear 31 corresponding to the moving position and the tripod seat 32 rotating coaxially with the combination are connected to the drive motor 33 via the intermediate gear.
It is configured to be driven by. By incorporating the entire drive system into the camera body, the desired operation can be performed. Even if this drive system is separately mounted on a tripod, the still video camera body is electrically connected to this tripod, and the tripod is controlled by an electric signal from the still video camera body, the same purpose is achieved. Can be done.

[0020]

As described above, conventionally, the problem that photographing cannot be performed during image display can be solved, and a user-friendly still video camera can be provided. Conventionally, in still video cameras with a built-in display, there were also problems such as forgetting to turn off the power, and the camera was fixed at the time of shooting and the photographer had to move to check on the display. According to the present invention, these problems can be solved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view when a tiltable display of the present invention is housed in a still video camera body.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the still video camera when the tiltable display is raised.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a display and a checker.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a display when data and images are multi-displayed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a display when data and an image are independently displayed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an example of an electronic circuit of the camera.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of another example of the electronic circuit of the camera.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of another example of the electronic circuit of the camera.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a camera moving operation.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a relationship between a camera, a subject, and a photographer.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a drive system for moving the camera.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Camera body 2 ... Display 3 ... Lens 4 ... Finder objective lens 5 ... Release 6 ... Reproduction switch 7 ... Data changeover switch 8 ... Auto changeover switch 9 ... Micro switch 11 ... Shooting unit 12 ... Selector 13,14 ...
FM modulator 16 ・ ・ ・ Main recording device 18 ・ ・ ・ A / D
Converter 19 ・ ・ ・ Sub recorder 30 ・ ・ ・ Rotation switch 31 ・ ・ ・ Gear 32 ・ ・ ・ Tripod seat 33 ・ ・ ・ Drive motor

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-262676 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/222-5/257

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] A photographing means for generating image information based on a light image from a subject; a first storage means for storing the image information; an image display means for displaying an image based on the image information; A second storage unit for storing image information for displaying the image on the image display unit; a control unit for controlling each of the units; and the control unit stores the image information in the first storage unit. After the image information is transmitted to the second storage unit, the transmission from the first storage unit to the second storage unit is prevented from being performed, and thereafter, the image based on the image information in the second storage unit is stored. A still video camera, wherein control is performed such that image information from the photographing means can be stored in the first storage means while the image is displayed on the image display means. 2. A still video camera according to claim 1, further comprising transmission switching means for transmitting image information of said photographing means to said second storage means without passing through said first storage means. . 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls transmission of said image information by a selector.
Still video camera described in 1. 4. The still video camera according to claim 1, wherein said image display means includes a tiltable display which is visible from the subject side when standing up. (5) 6. The still video camera according to claim 5, wherein the power of the display is turned on only when the display is standing up. 7. A photographing means for generating image information based on a light image from a subject, a first storage means for storing the image information, an image display means for displaying an image based on the image information, A control method for a still video camera having a second storage unit for storing image information for displaying the image on the image display unit, wherein the image information stored in the first storage unit is stored in the second storage unit. Means for transmitting the second data from the first storage means to the second storage means.
The image information from the photographing means is not transmitted to the first storage means while the image based on the image information in the second storage means is being displayed on the image display means. A method for controlling a still video camera, characterized in that the method can be stored in the storage means.