JPH01186080A - Semiconductor memory unit for still video camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To hold a camera stably and to pick up a stable picture by providing a grip part to a semiconductor memory unit fitted attachably and detachably to a still video camera main body and storing a picked-up digital picture signal. CONSTITUTION:The grip part 12 is formed to one side of a memory unit 2. The grip part 12 is formed to the front face of the side opposite to the side of the loading side of the unit 2 to the camera main body 1 with extension and formed to be nearly semi-cylindrical around the axis extended along the direction of the extended side and formed to have the same length as that of the side. A recessed part 16 fitting the end of the unit 2 to be of card shape of the side of the main body 1 and a pin terminal 15a of the electric connector 15 formed to the unit 2 and a socket terminal 15b fitted thereto are provided in the recessed part 16. Thus, the camera is supported stably and the picture obtained by an optical lens 3 is stored in the semiconductor memory of the unit 2 via the terminals 15a, 15b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Field of Application> The present invention relates to the structure of a semiconductor memory unit in a still video camera as a storage means for electrical image signals obtained by an image sensor.

<Prior Art> In recent years, in place of conventional optical cameras, still video cameras have been developed 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, a magnetic disk is generally used as memory for such still video cameras, and in this case, for example, an optical image signal obtained by passing through an optical lens is transferred to a CCD.
Photoelectric conversion is performed using a solid-state imaging device such as a MOS or MOS, and the electrical image signal obtained by the conversion is subjected to analog processing such as color separation, gamma conversion, matrix processing, and FM modulation, and then electromagnetic conversion is performed using a magnetic head, etc. magnetically recorded on a magnetic disk.

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

However, this method of magnetically recording onto a magnetic disk requires analog processing and electromagnetic conversion of the signal, which tends to cause signal deterioration.Also, both the camera and monitor require a mechanism to drive the rotation of the magnetic disk, resulting in large transformation,
Unavoidable increases in costs have delayed 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> By the way, in a still video camera using such a conventional semiconductor memory, it is possible to stably hold the camera and shoot a stable image by holding the camera with both hands when shooting. However, if a semiconductor memory unit is attached to one side of the camera body, for example, the semiconductor memory unit must be supported by hand.

However, since such a semiconductor memory unit is card-shaped and has a thin structure, it has the disadvantage that it is difficult to support, making it impossible to take stable images.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, an object of the present invention is to improve the structure of a semiconductor memory unit so that a camera can be held stably and stable images can be taken.

Means for Solving the Problems> For this reason, the present invention is configured to convert an optical image signal of a subject obtained by an optical lens into an electrical image signal using an image sensor, which is detachably attached to a still video camera body, and which further converts an optical image signal of a subject obtained by an optical lens into an electrical image signal. A grip portion is provided on at least one side of a semiconductor memory unit that stores a digital image signal obtained by A/D conversion by a D converter.

In this configuration, by adding a grip part to the memory unit, it becomes easier to support the memory unit when holding the camera during shooting, so that the camera can be held stably and a stable image can be taken. become.

<Example> Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on 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 1.
It consists of

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

That is, 4 is a CCD as an image sensor, and CCD, which will be described later,
Upon receiving a drive signal from the CD driver circuit 5, the optical lens 3 photoelectrically converts the optical image formed on the light receiving surface and outputs it as an analog signal. In addition, CCD4
A color filter is attached to the light-receiving surface of the device.

The image sensor is a MOS, which is a solid-state image sensor like a CCD.

In addition to the CPD, 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.

Further, the camera body 1 having such a configuration includes 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, an aperture, and an optical or electronic finder are built into the camera body 1, but illustrations and explanations 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 bank-up 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, a grip portion is formed on at least one side of the memory unit 2.

In this embodiment, this grip portion 12 is shown in FIG.
), the front side of the memory unit 2 on the side opposite to the side on which it is attached to the camera body 1 is formed to protrude.

The grip portion 12 is formed into a substantially semi-cylindrical shape centered on an axis extending along the direction in which the side portion extends, and is formed to have the same length as the side portion.

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.

This is shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, which shows the structure of a still video camera.
To explain with reference to the figure, a recess 16 into which the end of a card-shaped memory unit 10 is fitted is formed on the side of the camera body 1, and a recess 16 is formed in the recess 16 on the side of the memory unit 2. A socket terminal 15b that fits into the pin terminal 15a of the electrical connector 15 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 l, 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.

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 (Tz) input immediately after that, and the charge between T3 and T4 is read. Perform an exposure for any number of seconds.

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

~T6, high-speed sweeping drive is performed.

After T6, the normal driving state is resumed, and frame images are output for 2 hours.

According to this configuration, when taking pictures, it is only necessary to support the end of the camera body 10 opposite to the memory unit 2 and the grip part 12 of the memory unit 2 with each hand, and the structure is card-like and thin. By providing the grip portion 12, the memory unit 2 can be easily supported by the hand, and the camera can be held stably, so that stable images can be taken.

In this embodiment, the grip portion 12 is formed on one side of the memory unit 2 to have the same length as this side, but as shown in the grip 22 shown in FIG.
It may be formed to be shorter than one side.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the grip portion 32 may be formed into an oval shape or the like and may be formed over two sides of the memory unit 2.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, according to the present invention, by adding the grip portion to the memory unit, the memory unit can be easily supported when holding the camera during shooting, and the camera can be held stably. It becomes possible to take stable images.

[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 shows the structure of the same still video camera, and (a) shows a structure in which the camera body and a semiconductor memory are connected. (b) is a side view of the camera body, (C) is a perspective view showing the structure of the connection end of the memory unit, and Figure 3 is a time view showing an example of shooting sequence control of the still video camera. Chart, Figure 4(a),
(b) is a perspective view showing other embodiments. 1...Camera body 2...Memory unit 3...
・Optical lens 4...CCD 5...CCD
Driver circuit 6...A/D converter 7...C
PU8...Semiconductor memory 9...CPU 1
1... Main switch 12, 22. 32... Grip part 13... Battery patent applicant Konica Co., Ltd. agent Patent attorney Fujio Sasashima

Claims (1)

[Claims] A digital image signal that is detachably attached to the still video camera body and is obtained by converting the optical image signal of the subject obtained by the optical lens into an electrical image signal by the image sensor, and then A/D conversion by the A/D converter. 1. A semiconductor memory unit for a still video camera, the semiconductor memory unit having a grip portion on at least one side.