JP3721658B2 - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic still camera, and more particularly to an electronic still camera including a camera exterior part and a camera body part.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In conventional electronic still cameras, an imaging unit can be attached to and detached from the camera body, and an imaging unit can be made optional and replaced with a common camera body so that an electronic still camera can be constructed according to user requirements. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-95458).
[0003]
The electronic still camera can perform data processing suitable for the mounted imaging unit even when various imaging units having different pixel arrangements and the number of pixels of the solid-state imaging device are mounted on the camera body.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-mentioned conventional electronic still camera can replace the image pickup unit with various image quality levels from low-priced models to high-end models, but the appearance of the camera cannot be changed according to hobbies. Since the shutter release button is provided on the camera body side, there is a problem that the operation system such as the shutter release button cannot be changed.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera capable of selecting an appearance of the camera and an operation system such as a shutter release button according to preference.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electronic still camera comprising a camera body and a camera exterior that is mounted so as to cover a part or all of the camera body and can change the appearance of the camera. , the camera exterior portion includes at least a photographing lens, an imaging device, and operating means including a sheet catcher jitter release button, an operation signal from the image signal and the operating means are obtained through the photographing lens and the image sensor A first connector for outputting, and the camera body includes at least a second connector connected to the first connector when mounted on the camera exterior, and a signal processing means for processing the image signal. And a control means for recording an image signal processed by the signal processing means on a recording medium upon receiving an operation signal from the operation means.
[0007]
That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to attach a camera exterior part that suits the user's preference to one camera body part, thereby changing the appearance of the camera according to the age, hobbies or mood of the user, The operation system such as the release button and the grip can be made easy to use for children and women.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an electronic still camera according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of an electronic still camera according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the electronic still camera shown in FIG. As shown in these drawings, the electronic still camera includes a camera exterior part 10 and a camera body part 20.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 1, the camera exterior 10 is mounted so as to cover the camera body 20 so that the appearance of the camera can be changed (changeable). The single focus lens 12, the optical viewfinder 14, and the shutter release. A connector 19 (see FIG. 2) for transmitting / receiving signals to / from the button 16, the image sensor (CCD) 18 and the camera body 20 is provided. The camera exterior 10 shown in FIG. 1 is designed to be preferred by children, for example, and the operation system is simplified so that the children can easily operate, and is made of cloth so that it can be easily gripped.
[0010]
On the other hand, the camera body 20 is mounted with the camera exterior 10 described above, but can also be mounted on another camera exterior 30 (see FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. A connector 21 connected to 10 connectors 19, an A / D converter 22, a signal processing circuit 23, a system control circuit 24, a memory control circuit 25, and an image memory 26 such as a flash memory for storing a plurality of frames of image data. Has been.
[0011]
Next, a case where the camera exterior part 10 is mounted on the camera body part 20 will be described.
In this case, when the subject is determined by the optical finder 14 and the shutter release button 16 is pressed, the subject image formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 18 through the lens 12 is photoelectrically converted and sequentially read out as a CCD signal. . The CCD signal is analog processed by an analog processing circuit (not shown) and then applied to the A / D converter 22 on the camera body 20 side via the connectors 19 and 21. The A / D converter 22 converts the input analog CCD signal into a digital signal and applies it to the signal processing circuit 23.
[0012]
The signal processing circuit 23 includes a luminance signal generation circuit, a color difference signal generation circuit, a gamma correction circuit, a compression circuit, and the like, and outputs image data processed by these circuits to the memory control circuit 25. The memory control circuit 25 performs system control. The image data to be input is recorded in the image memory 26 based on the write command from the circuit 24. The system control circuit 24 controls and controls each circuit of the camera. The system control circuit 24 performs control until the image data is recorded in the image memory 26 by an input signal from the shutter release button 16, and an external unit (not shown). Controls the transfer of image data to a file device or printer.
[0013]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of an electronic still camera according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the electronic still camera shown in FIG. As shown in these drawings, this electronic still camera is different from that shown in FIG. 1 only in the camera exterior part 30.
The camera exterior part 30 is a kimono that is mounted so as to cover the camera body part 20 in the same manner as the camera exterior part 10 shown in FIG. 1 and can change the appearance of the camera. LCD) 32, LCD drive circuit 33, display light emitting diode 34, shutter release button 35, zoom lever 36, CCD 37, and connector 38 for transmitting / receiving signals to / from camera body 20 are provided.
[0014]
Next, the operation of the electronic still camera will be described with reference to FIG. 4, but the description of the parts common to FIG.
The LCD drive circuit 33 on the camera exterior unit 30 side can receive image data output from the signal processing circuit 23 or image data output from the image memory 26 via the memory control circuit 25. Therefore, the LCD 32 can display a real-time image (moving image) and can also display a still image recorded in the image memory 26 for shooting confirmation.
[0015]
The zoom lever 36 optically zooms the zoom lens 31 in a low magnification range, for example. When the zoom lever 36 is operated to the high magnification side beyond the above range, a zoom signal for performing electronic zoom is transmitted to the camera body 20. Output to the side. When the system control circuit 24 receives a zoom signal from the zoom lever 36, the signal processing circuit 23 causes the electronic zoom process to be performed. Furthermore, the system control circuit 24 performs lighting control of the display LED 32 as necessary.
[0016]
In this embodiment, the power source has not been described. However, a power source may be provided only on the camera body side, and the power may be supplied to the camera exterior side. Alternatively, a power source may be provided only to supply the power to the camera body. Further, the shape of the camera body may be formed in the same form as a PC card such as a PCMCIA card, for example, so that it can be directly inserted into a card slot of a notebook computer or the like.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the electronic still camera of the present invention, it is possible to attach a camera exterior unit that suits the user's preference to a single camera body unit, thereby making it possible to control the appearance of the camera with the age of the user and It can be changed according to hobbies or moods, and an operation system such as a shutter release button, a grip, and the like can be easily used for children and women. In addition, the camera exterior can be changed in various ways, from low-priced machines to high-end machines.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of an electronic still camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the electronic still camera shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of an electronic still camera according to the present invention.
4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the electronic still camera shown in FIG. 3. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 30 ... Camera exterior part 12 ... Single focus lens 14 ... Optical finder 16, 35 ... Shutter release button 18, 37 ... Image pick-up element (CCD)
19, 21, 38 ... connector 20 ... camera body 22 ... A / D converter 23 ... signal processing circuit 24 ... system control circuit 25 ... memory control circuit 26 ... image memory 31 ... zoom lens 32 ... liquid crystal display (LCD)
36 ... Zoom lever

Claims (2)

An electronic still camera comprising a camera body and a camera exterior that is mounted so as to cover part or all of the camera body and can change the appearance of the camera,
The camera exterior part, at least a photographing lens, an imaging device, and operating means including a sheet catcher jitter release button, an operation signal from the image signal and the operating means are obtained through the photographing lens and an image pickup element output A first connector that includes:
The camera body receives at least a second connector connected to the first connector when mounted on the camera exterior, a signal processing unit that processes the image signal, and an operation signal from the operation unit Then, a control means for recording the image signal processed by the signal processing means on a recording medium,
This is an electronic still camera. 2. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a built-in memory provided in the camera body or a memory card attached to and detached from the camera body.

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