JPH01186081A - Still video camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent current flowing without will of use of camera and to avoid waste current consumption by devising the camera such that the power supply for each circuit is applicable only when a memory unit is set to the camera main body. CONSTITUTION:Only when a memory unit 2 is set to the camera main body 1 to use the camera, a pushbutton 12a of a sub switch 12 is pushed by the end of the unit 2 and the switch 12 is turned on to apply the power supply of each circuit. The unit 2 not set to the main body 1 indicates it that there is no will to use the camera. When the use of camera is not desired, even if the main switch 11 is applied in error or the switch 11 is left unswitched after the use of the camera, when the unit 2 is not set, no current flows and waste power consumption is avoided.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a still video camera that uses a semiconductor memory as a storage means for electrical image signals obtained by an image sensor, and particularly relates to a still video camera that uses a semiconductor memory as a storage means for electrical image signals obtained by an image sensor. Regarding structural improvements.

(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 CCI.
) J? ) Photoelectric conversion is performed with a solid-state image sensor such as MOS, and the electrical image signal obtained by the conversion is subjected to color separation, gamma conversion,
After matrix processing, FM modulation, etc. are performed by analog processing, the data is electromagnetically converted using a magnetic head or the like and 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 that can be freely attached to and detached from the camera body (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. According to this method, it is possible to prevent signal deterioration due to analog processing, and there is no need for a drive mechanism as in the case of magnetic disks, so cameras, The monitor can be made smaller and lighter, and costs can be reduced.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> By the way, in a still video camera using such a conventional semiconductor memory, a CCD, a CC as an image sensor, etc.
The main switch turns on and off the power to each circuit, including the D driver circuit, A/D converter, semiconductor memory, program IC, and CPU.

Therefore, when the main switch is turned on, the power is turned on and current flows even though the CPU, which starts the photographing sequence control, is not activated by the ON operation of the release switch.

As a result, if you do not intend to use the camera, in other words, if you accidentally turn on the main switch or forget to turn off the main switch after using the camera, unnecessary current consumption will occur, especially if you do not intend to use the camera. If the main switch remains turned on for a long period of time, the power is completely consumed, resulting in a large waste, which is economically disadvantageous.

Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned conventional situation, the present invention focuses on the fact that the camera body and memory unit can be freely attached and detached in the target still video camera, and only when the memory unit is set in the camera body, each An object of the present invention is to provide a still video camera in which circuit power can be turned on.

Means for Solving the Problems> Therefore, the present invention provides a means for turning on and off the power of each circuit in a still video camera using a semiconductor memory by attaching and detaching the camera body and the memory unit. The configuration is as follows.

In this configuration, each circuit is electrically connected when the memory unit is attached to the camera body, and at the same time, the power of each circuit can be turned on.

Here, for example, in a camera equipped with a main switch, turning on the main switch turns on power to each circuit and prepares to start photographing.

In this way, if you intend to use the camera and set the memory unit in the camera body, it is possible to turn on the power to each circuit, and if you do not intend to use the camera and remove the memory unit from the camera body, it is possible to turn on the power to each circuit. As a result of making it possible to release the power supply to each circuit in such a case, there is no unnecessary current consumption when the camera is not in use.

<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 memory unit 2 that can be freely attached to and detached from the camera body l.

The camera body 1 (!Ill) 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, cci:
A color filter is integrally attached to the +4 light receiving surface. The image sensor is a MOS, which is a solid-state imaging device like COD.

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
, the CPU 9 and the semiconductor memory 8, each having a built-in battery 13 for supplying power to each circuit through a main switch 11 and a sub-switch 12, which will be described later.

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

The sub-switch 12 is configured as a means for turning on and off the power of each circuit when the camera body 1 and the memory unit 2 are attached and detached. Both are arranged on the mutual movement route, and the details will be described later.

The battery 13, main switch 11, and sub switch 12 are connected in series, and this connection circuit is a CCD
4, CCD driver circuit 5, A/D converter 6, CPU 7
and are connected in parallel to each circuit of the 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 backup of the core semiconductor memory 8 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, NMOS is used as a device that can stabilize digital signals.
RAM, C-MOS, RAM, etc. may be used.

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 the memory unit 10 formed in a card shape is fitted is formed on the side of the camera body l, and the memory unit 2 is inserted into the recess 16.
A socket terminal 15b is provided which fits into a pin terminal 15a of the electrical connector 15 formed on the side.

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, the main switch 11, and the sub-switch 12 is connected in parallel to the semiconductor memory 8.

Here, the sub-switch 12 is a button type switch, and the button 12a is connected to the camera body 1.
The recess 16 is formed on the side of the camera body 1 and is built into the side of the camera body l so as to protrude from the inner end surface of the recess 16 .

Therefore, by attaching the memory unit 2 to the camera body 1, the button 12 of the sub switch 12
a is pressed by the end of the memory unit 2, and the sub-switch 12 is turned on. By detaching the memory unit 2 from the camera body 1, the sub switch 1
The second button 12a is released and the sub switch 12 is turned off.

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, and at the same time, the pushbutton 12a of the sub-switch 12 is pushed by the end of the memory unit 2. The safety switch 12 is turned on, and the power to each circuit becomes ready to be turned on. 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 IO 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 exposure for any number of seconds.

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 Tb, the normal driving state is resumed and frame images are output for a period of 2 seconds.

As described above, only when the memory unit 2 is set in the camera body 1, the button 12a of the sub-switch 12 is pressed by the end of the memory unit 2, and the sub-switch 12 is turned on. As a result of enabling each circuit to be powered on, current can be prevented from flowing as follows.

That is, setting the memory unit 2 in the camera body 1 indicates that the user intends to use the camera, and at this time, the power can be turned on. If you do not set the memory unit 2 in the camera body, it means that you have no intention of using the camera, and at this time it will be impossible to turn on the power. Even if the switch 11 is turned on by mistake or the main switch 11 is forgotten to be turned off after using the camera, no current flows and no unnecessary current consumption occurs.

In this embodiment, the sub-switch 12 is built into the side of the camera body 1 with its button 12a protruding from the inner end surface of the recess 16 formed on the side of the camera body 1. However, it is not limited to this,
It is sufficient that it is disposed on the movement path of the camera body 1 and the memory unit 2 when they are attached to and detached from each other. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the sub-switch 12, but any means may be used as long as it enables the power of each circuit to be turned on and off by attaching and detaching the camera body 1 and the memory unit 2.

<Effects of the Invention> As explained above, according to the present invention, focusing on the fact that the camera body and memory unit can be freely attached and detached in the target still video camera, only when the memory unit is set in the camera body Since it is possible to turn on the power to each circuit, if you do not intend to use the camera, in short, if you accidentally turn on the main switch for those that have a main switch, or if you turn off the main switch after using the camera. Even if you forget, the current will not flow,
There is no needless current consumption, and economic losses can be prevented.

[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. It is a chart. 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... Sub switch
13...Battery patent applicant Konica Co., Ltd. agent Patent attorney Fujio Sasashima 2nd prisoner 3rd cause

Claims (1)

[Claims] The optical image signal of the subject obtained by the optical lens attached to the camera body is converted into an electrical image signal by the image sensor, and the digital image signal obtained by A/D conversion by the A/D converter is sent to the camera body. In a still video camera configured to store data in a semiconductor memory built in a removably formed memory unit and take pictures, the power of each circuit can be turned on and off by attaching and detaching the memory unit to the camera body. A still video camera characterized by being provided with a means for.