JPH01277076A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record an image photographed by an image pickup part as a voice signal by providing a modulation circuit to convert input information to the voice signal and to output it setting at a recordable state by a recording means, and an image controller part, etc. CONSTITUTION:In the case of recording the image photographed by the image pickup device 12 and stored in a memory 15, a recording start key 20a on a key pad 20 is operated, and an indication signal to indicate the start of recording is sent to a CPU18. Next, the CPU18 stops write on the memory 15 by controlling an image controller 14, and sends picture information stored in the memory 15 to the modulation circuit 16. And the circuit 16 outputs information read out by the controller 14 as the voice signal, and the output signal is reorded on a cassette tape recorder 17. In other words, it is possible to record an image-picked up image on the recorder 17 as the voice signal, and to move a recorded medium easily, and also, to transmit the picture information made into the voice signal to a remote place by using a television telephone system via a telephone line.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electronic still camera, and particularly to an electronic camera with improved image signal recording means.

[Prior Art] Electronic cameras are generally known that are capable of processing images obtained by an imaging unit using an electric circuit and displaying the processed images on a display.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 62-269581. In the figure, (1) is the electronic camera body, (2) is the lens of the imaging section, (
3) is a shutter that instructs the start of shooting, (4) and (7)
) are an imaging device and a signal processing circuit, respectively, which take images and output them as image data for one screen.

(8) is an image encoder which compresses the image information from the signal processing circuit (7) and outputs a digital image signal. (10) is a memory pack, and image encoder (8)
Stores digital image signals from.

(6) is a system control circuit, which controls the operation of the imaging device (4) and the memory pack (10) via the drive circuit (5) and the drive circuit (9).

The memory pack (10) is composed of a writable and erasable digital semiconductor memory, and is attached to the camera body (1).
It is provided in a detachable manner.

The above-mentioned electronic camera takes and records still images electronically. That is, the image encoder (8) compresses the image information for one screen obtained by the imaging device (4). A digital recording method is adopted in which the images are stored as digital image signals in the memory pack (10).

Therefore, since there are no moving parts, it is possible to record with high reliability and less likely to cause deterioration of image quality, and furthermore, image processing is facilitated.

-Furthermore, the memory pack (10) is configured to be detachable, and by carrying the memory pack (10), the captured and recorded images can be played back on a playback device at another location.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the conventional electronic camera described above, the digital image signal written in the memory pack (10) can be reproduced at any location by moving the memory pack (10). However, the memory pack (10) is composed of a digital semiconductor memory, and in order to reproduce the recorded contents, the image signal that has been demodulated through D/A conversion must first be displayed on the display. Therefore, a dedicated playback machine was required.

Therefore, when trying to send images taken with this electronic camera to a remote location via a telephone line,
By performing complex modulation processing using a modulation circuit,
The digital signal from the memory pack (10) must be converted into a predetermined analog signal that can be transmitted over the telephone line.

Therefore, with current general videophone devices, it is difficult to transmit the output from the memory pack (10) to a remote party with a simple operation.

Therefore, it is difficult to transmit the information recorded in the memory pack (10) by telephone communication, so it is necessary to send the memory pack (10) itself in order to send the recorded contents to a remote location.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera that can record an image photographed by an imaging section as an audio signal.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve the above object, the electronic camera according to the present invention has the following features:
An imaging unit that photographs an image and outputs image data corresponding to the photographed image, and converts the image data from this imaging unit into screen information and stores it in a storage unit, and is capable of sequentially reading out the stored image information. an image controller section, a modulation circuit section that converts predetermined still screen information read by the image controller section into an audio signal, a recording means that records the audio signal output from the modulation circuit section, and an operator's operation. a recording instruction section that issues an instruction signal to start recording an audio signal based on the recording instruction section, and controls the image controller section, modulation circuit section, and recording means based on the instruction signal from the recording instruction section, and controls one still screen photographed by the imaging section. It is characterized by including a central control unit that records information.

[Operation] According to the above configuration, an image photographed by the imaging section is temporarily stored as screen information in the storage section by the operation of the image controller section. Then, based on a recording start instruction signal from the recording instruction section, the central control section causes the image controller section to read out one screen's worth of screen information from the storage section.

Further, under the control of the central control section, the image controller section sends the read information to the modulation circuit, and the modulation circuit converts this manual information into an audio signal and outputs it in a state that can be recorded by the recording means.

Then, by recording the output signal of the modulation circuit section by the recording means, one still screen of the image photographed by the imaging section can be recorded as an audio signal.

Therefore, by inputting the output from the recording means to the video telephone device, image information converted into audio signals can be transmitted to a remote party via a telephone line without any particular signal conversion. Furthermore, since the videophone device is already equipped with a signal conversion means for converting the audio signal into a signal for displaying on the display, by manually inputting the output of the recording means to the signal conversion means of the videophone device, it is possible to It is also possible to quickly display an image taken with the electronic camera on a screen provided on the telephone device.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

A characteristic feature of the present invention is that an image controller section is provided that can convert image data from the imaging section into screen information, temporarily store it in a storage section, and sequentially read out the stored screen information. The present invention is provided with a modulation circuit section for converting one still screen information read by the controller section into an audio signal, and a recording means for recording the output audio signal from the modulation circuit section.

In this embodiment, the imaging section is composed of a lens (11), an imaging device (12), and a signal processing circuit (13), and this configuration is the same as that of the conventional example shown in FIG.

Next, an image controller (14) serving as an image controller section is arranged so that the output from the signal processing circuit (13) of the imaging section can be manually controlled. An image memory (15) as a storage section and a modulation circuit (16) are connected to this image controller (14).

This modulation circuit (16) is equipped with a cassette tape recorder (16) as a recording means for recording the output signal.
7) is connected.

Furthermore, (18) is a CPU as a central control unit,
Each component is controlled according to a program stored in a program memory (19).

(20) is a keypad, and is provided with a recording start key (20a) for starting recording by the cassette tape recorder.

In this embodiment, a display device (21) for sequentially displaying images taken by the imaging unit and a microphone (2) for recording audio on a cassette tape recorder (17) are used.
2) is provided. Further, the display device (21) is composed of, for example, a CRT.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

First, an image signal obtained by photographing with an imaging device (12) is processed by a signal processing circuit (13) and sent as image data to an image controller (14). The image controller (14) quantizes this image signal as information corresponding to the pixels of the display device, and stores it in the image memory (15) as screen information. Then, the stored screen information is sequentially read out and displayed on the display device (21).

Then, when the operator wants to record the captured image,
Operate the recording start key (20a) on the keypad (20). By operating this recording start key (20a), the CPU
An instruction signal to start recording is sent to (18), and the CPU (
18) controls the image controller (14) to stop writing to the image memory (15), and reads and outputs the screen information currently stored in the image memory (15) as still screen information. This read screen information is sent to the modulation circuit (16). Then, a variable one-round circuit (16
), under the control of the CPU (1g), the information read and output by the image controller (15), that is, the quantized signal, is modulated with an audio frequency carrier and output as an audio signal.

This output signal is recorded on a cassette tape recorder (17).

In addition, when the operator records a predetermined voice using the microphone (22), the CPU
(18), the CPU (1g) stops the output from the modulation circuit (16) to the cassette tape recorder, activates the microphone (22), and records the audio on the cassette tape recorder (17). is possible.

In addition, after recording the audio, the cassette tape recorder (17)
When recording image information, the CPU (18) then records a header indicating that image information modulated into an audio signal is recorded.

Therefore, the image that the operator desires among the images photographed by the imaging unit is selected by the cassette tape recorder (1) based on the instruction.
7) can be recorded as an audio signal. Furthermore, since the present embodiment is provided with a display device (21), the image controller (14) sequentially reads out the screen information stored in the image memory (15), so that the image capturing unit can take pictures. It is possible to always display the image that is displayed. The operator can select an image to be recorded on the cassette tape recorder (17) by looking at the images displayed on the display device (21).

Furthermore, since a microphone (22) is provided, a message from the operator or surrounding noise B can be recorded before recording an image.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained below, according to the electronic camera according to the present invention, a photographed image can be recorded as an audio signal by a recording means, and the recording medium can not only be easily moved but also Image information converted into an audio signal using a telephone device can be easily transmitted to a remote location through a telephone line.

Furthermore, by using the audio signal to image signal conversion device and display device that the videophone device has,
Images recorded on the recording means can be easily and quickly displayed on the display device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a conventional device. In the figure, (12) is an imaging device, (13) is a signal processing circuit, (14) is an image controller, (15) is an image memory, (16) is a modulation circuit, (17-) is a cassette tape recorder, (18) is is cpU, (20) is keypad, (20a) is recording start key, (21) is display device,
(22) is a microphone, and (23) is a voice input instruction key. Note that the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or corresponding parts. Agency Lenth attorney Masuo Oiwa (2 others) 1 ゜ 1 ゜ FF1Q Figure Figure Figure 2 Supplementary equipment (spontaneous) Electronic camera 3 2-2-3 Marunouchi Ward. Name (601) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Representative Moriya Shiki 4, Agent

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An imaging unit that photographs an image and outputs it as image data; converting the image data from the imaging unit into screen information and storing it in a storage unit; and sequentially reading out the stored screen information. an image controller section that can perform operations, a modulation circuit section that converts the still screen information read by the image controller section into an audio signal, a recording means that records the output audio signal from the modulation circuit section, a recording instruction section that issues an instruction signal to start recording an audio signal based on the instruction signal; and a recording instruction section that controls the image controller section, the modulation circuit section, and the recording means based on the instruction signal from the recording instruction section, and controls one still screen information photographed by the imaging section. An electronic camera comprising: a central control unit for recording; and a central control unit for recording.