JPH01186072A - Still video camera and semiconductor memory unit therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability by adopting the constitution such that a lens constituting part of an optical lens device is loaded/unloaded to/from the camera main body by loading/unloading of the memory unit of the semiconductor memory. CONSTITUTION:A camera main body 1 is framed nearly to be a pyramid, a light receiving window 20 of a CCD is opened in its front face, and a basic lens 21 of the optical lens device is arranged to the light receiving window 20. On the other hand, a memory unit 2 of a semiconductor memory is formed as a card, a window 27 penetrating to the front and rear face is formed to the plane of the unit 2, and a telescopic adaptor lens 25 and a wide angle adaptor lens 29 are fitted to the window part 27. The unit 2 is loaded to the main body 1 by fitting the lower end to the recessed part 16 of a memory mount part 25 of the main body 1. Then the lenses 21, 28 and 29 are combined to constitute the standard lens device, the telescopic lens device and the wide angle lens device, thereby improving the operability.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a still video camera and a semiconductor memory unit for a still video camera as a storage means for an electrical image signal obtained by an image element.

(Prior art) In recent years, in place of conventional optical cameras, still video cameras have been developed which have a configuration in which an optical image signal from a subject is converted into an electrical image signal by an image sensor, and the electrical image signal is stored in a memory equivalent to film. Cameras have been developed, and electrical image signals stored in memory can be played back on a monitor or printed on a printer.

Currently, magnetic disks are generally used as memory for such still video cameras, and in this case, for example, optical image signals obtained by passing through an optical lens are transferred to a CCD.
After photoelectric conversion is performed using a solid-state imaging device such as MOS or MOS, the electrical image signal obtained by the conversion is subjected to analog processing such as color separation, gamma, color signal line sequentialization, and FM modulation. It is converted and magnetically recorded on a magnetic head.

Also, during playback, the magnetic signals stored on the magnetic disk are electromagnetically converted, processed into analog signals, and displayed on the monitor.

However, this method of magnetically recording on a magnetic disk requires analog processing and electromagnetic conversion of the signal, which tends to cause signal deterioration.Also, since both the camera and monitor require a rotation drive mechanism for the magnetic disk, it is difficult to use large-sized devices. As a result, it is inevitable that the technology and cost will increase, which is delaying its widespread use not only for professional use but also for amateur use.

In view of this, the applicant has proposed a device in which a digital signal obtained by A/D converting an electrical image signal obtained by an image sensor is stored in a semiconductor memory unit that can be freely attached to and detached from the camera body (particularly Kaisho 59-183
579 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 183582/1982), it is possible to prevent signal deterioration due to analog processing, and since there is no need for a drive mechanism like in the case of magnetic disks, it is possible to reduce the size of cameras and monitors. Weight saving.

Cost reduction can be achieved.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> Incidentally, a still video camera using such a conventional semiconductor memory is equipped with an optical lens device for obtaining an optical image signal of a subject which is manually input to the image sensor.

Similar to the interchangeable lens device in an optical camera, such an optical lens device can be used to completely replace the standard lens device with a telephoto lens device or wide-angle lens device, or to add a telephoto adapter lens or wide-angle lens device to the standard lens device, depending on the application. By combining an adapter lens, a standard lens device can be converted into a telephoto lens device or a wide-angle lens device.

On the other hand, a semiconductor memory unit for storing images can be replaced and attached to the camera body.

However, in such a configuration that various lens devices, adapter lenses, and memory units are replaced in the camera body, these lens devices cannot be replaced.

The problem is that it is necessary to attach and replace both the adapter lens and the memory unit, which is time-consuming and results in missed opportunities to photograph the subject.

There is also the problem that the number of parts that need to be replaced is large and that it takes time and effort to manage them.

Therefore, the present invention is based on the above-mentioned conventional situation and aims to provide a still video camera that can eliminate the work of replacing parts of the lens device, adapter lens, and memory unit 7). .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a memory unit that can achieve the purpose of the still video camera.

Means for Solving the Problems> Therefore, the still video camera of the present invention is a still video camera using a semiconductor memory, in which the lens constituting at least a part of the optical lens device can be attached to the camera body by attaching and detaching the memory unit. It is configured so that it can be attached and detached.

Further, the semiconductor memory unit for a still video camera of the present invention has a structure in which a lens constituting at least a part of an optical lens device is integrally attached.

According to the still video camera of the present invention, the lens constituting at least a part of the optical lens device is replaced at the same time as the memory unit for the camera body is replaced,
There is no need to attach or replace both the optical lens device, adapter lens, and memory unit, which saves time and effort, and allows you to never miss a chance to capture the subject in its closest shadow.

Further, according to the semiconductor memory unit for a still video camera of the present invention, since the function of a lens constituting at least a part of an optical lens device is added, it is not necessary to prepare an optical lens device or an adapter lens separately from the memory unit. This reduces the number of parts that need to be replaced and reduces the effort required to manage them.

<Example> Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a still video camera has a camera body 1
and a semiconductor memory unit 2 that can be freely attached to and detached from the camera body l.
It consists of

The camera body 1 side is equipped with the following circuits in addition to an optical lens device 3 that forms an optical image of a subject.

That is, 4 is a CCD as the most image element, and upon receiving a drive signal from a CCD driver circuit 5 to be described later, the optical lens device 3 photoelectrically converts the optical image formed on the light receiving surface. Output as an analog signal. In addition, C
A color filter is integrally attached to the light receiving surface of the CD4. As the image pickup device, in addition to MOS and CPD, which are solid-state imaging devices like CCD, various image pickup tubes may be used.

6 is an A/D converter, which converts the analog signal output from the CCD 4 into a digital signal at high speed.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a CCD driver circuit, which operates the CC as described above in accordance with a photographing sequence control signal from the CPU 7, which will be described later.
While driving D4, the digital signal from the A/D converter 6 is read into a semiconductor memory 8 built in the memory unit 2, which will be described later.

7 is a CP as a control circuit for controlling the photographing sequence.
It is U.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a CPU that starts photographing sequence control when the release switch 10 is turned on.

Furthermore, the camera body l with such a configuration has a CCD
4, CCD driver circuit 5, A/D converter 6, CPU 7
, a battery 13 for supplying power to each circuit of the CPU 9 and the semiconductor memory 8 via a main switch 11 described later.
is built-in.

Here, the main switch 11 is installed in the camera body 1.

The battery 13 and the main switch 11 are connected in series, and this connection circuit is connected in parallel to each circuit of the CCD 4, CCD driver circuit 5, A/D converter 6, CPU 7, and CPU 9.

In addition, a shutter, a diaphragm, etc. are built into the camera body 1, but illustrations and descriptions thereof are omitted here for the sake of brevity.

On the other hand, the memory unit 2 side has a built-in battery 14 for a back amplifier of the semiconductor memory 8 that freely rewrites and stores the digital signal from the A/D converter 6. As the semiconductor memory 8, for example, N-MOS can be used as a device that can stabilize digital signals.
RAM, C-MOS RAM, etc. may be used.

Here, by attaching and detaching the memory unit 2, a lens forming at least a part of the optical lens device 3 is attached to and detached from the camera body 1.

That is, in FIG. 2, the camera body 1 is formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a light receiving window 20 of the CCD 4 is opened in the front surface of the camera body 1, and a basic lens 21 constituting a part of the optical lens device 3 is installed in the light receiving window 20. is installed. A corner of one side of the upper part of the camera body 1 is cut out in the shape of a rectangle, and a rectangular frame part 23 is formed on the rear surface of the notch 22 located on the extended surface of the rear surface of the camera body 1, and the finder eyepiece A lens 24 is fitted therein. Camera body 1
The above-mentioned release switch lO is located at the rear corner of the upper part.
is installed. A memory mounting portion 25 is formed at the lower end of the front surface of the camera body 1 in the shape of an oblong box with an open top surface.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a grip portion for holding the camera provided on the bottom surface of the camera body.

On the other hand, the memory unit 2 is formed into a card shape, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A window portion 27 penetrating the front and rear surfaces is formed in the plane portion of the memory unit 2.
A telephoto adapter lens part 28 (FIG. 3) and a wide-angle adapter lens part 29 (FIG. 4), which constitute a part of the optical lens device 3, are attached to the window part 27. or,
A rectangular finder window 30 is provided at one corner of the upper end of the memory unit 2. The window portion 30 of the memory unit 2 provided with the telephoto adapter lens portion 28 is formed small, whereas the window portion 30 of the memory unit 2 provided with the wide-angle adapter lens portion 29 is formed large.

Although not shown in the drawings, the memory unit 2 is provided with a standard adapter lens section.

The memory unit 2 having such a structure is attached to the front surface of the camera body 1 by fitting its lower end into the recess 16 of the memory attachment portion 25 of the camera body 1, as shown in FIG. In this case, a telephoto or wide-angle adapter lens part 28, 29 is located in the light receiving window 20 of the camera body 1, and a finder window part 30 is located on the optical axis of the lens 24 as a finder eyepiece of the camera body 1. .

Then, the basic lens 21 on the camera body 1 side and the standard adapter lens section or telephoto lens section on the memory unit 2 side,
By combining the wide-angle adapter lens units 28 and 29, a standard lens device, a telephoto lens device, and a wide-angle lens device are configured, respectively, and by replacing the memory unit 2, it is possible to take pictures using different types of lens devices. .

The camera body 1 and memory unit 2 configured as above include:
An electrical connector 15 is provided which can be attached and detached by attaching and detaching the two.

To explain this with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the pin terminal 15 of the electrical connector 15 is formed in the recess 16 of the memory mounting portion 25 of the camera body 1 on the side of the memory unit 12.
A socket terminal 15b that fits into the terminal a is provided.

When the memory unit 2 is attached to the camera body 1, the terminals 15a and 15b of the electrical connector 15 are connected to the A/D converter 6, the CCD driver circuit 5, and the CPU 7.
The signal lines between each circuit and the semiconductor memory 8 are connected, and the series connection circuit of the battery 13 and the main switch 11 is connected to the semiconductor memory 8 in parallel.

Next, the operation of the still video camera having such a configuration will be explained.

First, by attaching the memory unit 2 to the camera body 1, each circuit is electrically connected as described above. Here, by turning on the main switch 11, power is turned on to each circuit, and preparations are made to start photographing.

Next, press the release switch 10 and turn it on.
Each circuit is activated, and the CPU 7 controls the photographing sequence while driving the CCD driver circuit 5 and the like according to the photographing sequence program.

A specific example of photographing sequence control will be described below with reference to the time chart shown in FIG. 8.

First, when the release switch 10 is pressed (T1), the charge in the photodiode section of the CCD 4 immediately before exposure is read in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal VP (T2) input immediately after that, and the charge between T3 and T4 is read. Perform an arbitrary shank second time exposure.

Next, in order to remove dark current components and smear components generated during the exposure period from T4 to T6, T.

-T, high-speed sweeping drive is performed.

After T, the normal driving state is returned and frame images are output for a period of 2 seconds.

According to the still video camera having such a configuration, the adapter lens parts 28 and 29 constituting at least a part of the optical lens device 3 are replaced simultaneously with the replacement of the memory unit 2 in the camera body 1, and the adapter lens parts 28 and 29 forming at least a part of the optical lens device 3 are replaced.
There is no need to replace both the 8.29 and the memory unit 2, the work is time-consuming, and the opportunity to photograph the subject is not missed.

In addition, according to the memory unit 2 having such a configuration, the function of an adapter lens that constitutes at least a part of the optical lens device 3 is added, so there is no need to prepare an adapter lens separately from the memory unit 2 (no need to replace it). The number of parts that need to be handled is reduced, and the effort required to manage them can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the camera body 1 side is provided with the basic lens 21, and the memory unit 2 is provided with an adapter lens section 28 that is combined with the basic lens 21.
29 is provided, but by providing a standard lens device on the camera body 1 side and combining this standard lens device with the memory unit 2, the standard lens device can be converted into a telephoto or wide-angle lens device. An adapter lens section may also be provided. In this case, the memory unit 2 used when photographing using a standard lens device is one without a lens attached to the window 27.

Further, the light receiving window 20 on the side of the camera body 1 is not provided with any lens device, and the memory unit 2 is pre-installed with a standard lens device, a telephoto lens device, and a wide-angle lens device. You can also do it.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the memory unit 2 is formed into a card shape, and the adapter lens portion 28.2 is attached to the memory unit 2.
9 and an optical lens device, as shown in FIG.
The memory unit 32 may be formed into a cylindrical shape, and the adapter lens portion 33 and the optical lens device may be integrally provided therein.

In this case, a socket terminal 15b is provided around the light-receiving window 20 at the front of the camera body 1 to fit with a bin terminal 15a formed on the memory unit 32 side.

Furthermore, in this example, lenses with different focal lengths, such as a telephoto adapter lens section and a wide-angle adapter lens section, were used as lenses constituting a part of the optical lens device, but in order to obtain special effects, A combination of various filters and prisms may be applied.

In this way, special effects can be stored in separate memory units, so even if you want to create special effects at the shooting location, it will not take much time, and the photos after shooting will be stored in memory units for each special effect. Since it can be stored, it is convenient for organizing and classifying.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, according to the still video camera of the present invention, the lens constituting at least a portion of the optical lens device can be replaced at the same time as the memory unit for the camera body is replaced, and the optical lens device and the adapter lens can be replaced simultaneously. There is no need to attach or replace both the camera and the memory unit, which saves time and prevents you from missing the opportunity to carve your subject in stone.

Further, according to the semiconductor memory unit for a still video camera of the present invention, since the function of a lens constituting at least a part of an optical lens device is added, it is not necessary to prepare an optical lens device or an adapter lens separately from the memory unit. This reduces the number of parts that need to be replaced and reduces the effort required to manage them.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of a still video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main body structure of the same still video camera, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are memory A perspective view showing the structure of the unit, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the above memory unit attached to the above camera body, and FIGS. 6 and 7 show other embodiments of the memory unit and camera body, respectively. The perspective view shown in FIG. 8 is a time chart showing an example of photographing sequence control of the above still video camera. 1...Camera body 2...Memory unit 3...
・Optical lens device 4...CCD 5...C
CD driver circuit 6... A/D converter 7...
・CPU 8...Semiconductor memory 9...CP
U13...Battery 20...Light receiving window 21...
Basic lens 25...Memory mounting part 27...
Window section 28...Telephoto adapter lens section 29...
・Wide-angle adapter lens section 32...Memory unit 33...Adapter lens section Patent applicant Konica Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney Fujio SasashimaFigure 2Figure 3Figure 4Figure 8

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) The optical image signal of the subject obtained by the optical lens device is converted into an electrical image signal by the image sensor, and then
In a still video camera configured to record a digital image signal obtained by A/D conversion by a /D converter in a semiconductor memory built in a memory unit that is freely removably formed in a camera body, the memory A still video camera characterized in that the lens constituting at least a part of the optical lens device can be attached to and detached from the camera body by attaching and detaching the unit. (2) It is detachably attached to the still video camera body and converts the optical image signal of the subject obtained by the optical lens device into an electrical image signal by the image sensor, and further converts it into an electrical image signal.
A still video camera, which is a semiconductor memory unit that stores a digital image signal obtained by A/D conversion by a converter, and is characterized in that a lens constituting at least a part of the optical lens device is integrally attached. semiconductor memory unit.