JPH02153333A - Solid-state camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save trouble in checking and replacing a battery by providing both a camera main body and a reproducer with required contact, and supplying electric power from the reproducer to the camera main body and transmitting signals to the camera main body when the camera is mounted on the reproducer. CONSTITUTION:The reproducer 22 and a solid-state camera main body 20 are provided with the contacts 26 and 24 respectively. When the main body 20 is connected to the reproduce 22, at the same time the electric power is supplied from the reproducer 22 to the main body 20 through these contacts 26 and 24, the signals are exchanged between the main body 20 and the reproducer 22. Under this constitution, the electric power is supplied to charge the battery of the main body everytime the camera is connected to the reproducer, therefore, troubles in checking and replacing the battery can be saved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a system configuration of a solid-state camera that uses a solid-state memory device as a recording medium for captured images.

[Conventional technology]

An electronic still camera (hereinafter referred to as a solid-state camera) that uses a memory element that does not require a moving mechanism to record and reproduce information is a camera that follows silver halide still cameras and video floppy electronic still cameras. is attracting attention. In electronic still cameras, by handling image information electronically, it becomes easy to immediately play back captured images, transmit images, process images by computer, and electronically file images. However, when using a small magnetic sheet called a video floppy as a recording medium, a rotating mechanism for the magnetic sheet and a head feeding mechanism for positioning the magnetic head with an accuracy of 9 tracks and a pitch of several tens to 100 μm are required. The need for moving parts increases the manufacturing cost of the camera and limits the operating environment and operating speed. These also apply when a magneto-optical recording medium is used as the recording medium.

Solid-state cameras have been proposed as a solution to these drawbacks. FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of a solid-state camera system. 10 is a camera body of a solid-state camera; 12 is a memory pack that is removable from the camera body 10 and stores image information; and 14 is a playback device that plays back information stored in the memory pack 12. The memory pack 12 consists of IC memory elements, memory control circuits, and their backup power supplies. The memory pack 12 and the camera body 10 can be connected by a conventional metal connector, a transmit coil, an optical coupler, etc. Images taken by the camera body 10 are stored in the memory pack 12 in a predetermined format. By connecting the memory pack 12 to the playback device 14 and playing back the stored images, the playback device 14 can display the TV monitor, link,
Electronic image data can be sent to transmitters, filing devices, etc.

Furthermore, it is quite inconvenient for the user to have to remove the memory pack 12 from the camera body 10 and connect it to the reproduction device 14 each time when reproducing images recorded in the memory pack 12. Therefore, a configuration has been proposed in which the camera body 10 and the playback device 14 are provided with contacts for signal transmission, the camera body 10 is directly connected to the playback device 14, and recorded images are played back.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The camera body 10 requires a power source to operate various signal processing circuits and exposure control means such as a lens drive means and an aperture drive means.
Management work such as checking the voltage and replacing the power supply battery of the camera body 10 becomes essential, which puts a considerable burden on the user. Even if the power supply capacity within the camera body 10 is increased, this management work basically does not disappear, and there is a drawback that the camera body 10 becomes larger due to the increase in capacity.

The present invention therefore aims to present a solid-state camera system that overcomes this drawback.

[Means to solve the problem]

A solid-state camera system according to the present invention is a solid-state camera system comprising a camera device equipped with a solid-state memory and a playback device that plays back images recorded in the solid-state memory. Equipped with a power source and an external terminal for signal transmission and charging of the rechargeable power source,
The playback device is characterized in that it includes a power supply circuit and an external terminal for transmitting signals with the camera device and supplying power to the camera device when the camera device is attached.

[Effect]

With the above means, the camera device is powered by the playback device each time the camera device is connected to the playback device in order to play back images recorded in the solid-state memory of the camera device. Therefore,
There is no need to unnecessarily increase the power supply capacity of the camera device, and since it is charged at any time, the power supply voltage is less likely to drop significantly.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

20 is a camera body, and 22 is a playback device. In this embodiment, the memory pack is used to play back images recorded in the memory pack.
A plurality of contacts 24 and 26 are provided on each of the camera body 20 and the player 22 so that the pack does not need to be removed from the camera body 20 and so that a battery (not shown) of the camera body 20 can be charged from the player 22. It is. 28 is a display means such as an LED indicating that photography is possible; 30 is a regulating member that regulates the attachment direction when the camera body 20 is attached to the playback device 22; and 32 is either the camera body 20 or the playback device 2.
2, a display member such as an LED or an LCD indicating that power is being supplied to the camera body 20 while connected to 34;
is a transmission switch for transmitting information in the solid-state memory attached to the camera body 20 to the playback device 22 side.

The operation shown in FIG. 1 will be explained. When shooting, the camera body 20
The display member 28 confirms that there is a battery capacity (2) that can be photographed. When the battery capacity is insufficient, the display member 28
will be displayed, and the camera will not take a picture even if you press the release button. The captured image (i.e.
When playing back images recorded in the memory pack (images recorded in the memory pack), connect the camera body 2 to the contact 24 or the corresponding contact 26.
After attaching the O to the playback device 22 and checking that the display member 32 indicates that the attachment is complete, operate the transmission switch 34 to release the camera body 20.
The images stored in the memory pack are transmitted to the playback device 22. The regulating member 30 allows the camera body 20 to be attached to the player 22 in an appropriate direction. In this installed state, the battery of the camera body 20 is charged by the player 22 via the contacts 24 and 26. The display member 32 displays whether charging is in progress or when charging is complete. When the battery in the camera body 20 is charged to a predetermined voltage, the display member 28 displays a display indicating that photography is possible.

A circuit configuration block diagram of the camera body 20 is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Figure 2A shows the video signal processing system, 40
is a photographing lens, 42 is an aperture, 44 is a solid-state image sensor, 46
is a video signal processing circuit, 48 is an A/D converter, 50 is a buffer memory, 52 is a solid-state memory in the memory pack,
54 is a signal contact which is a part of the contact 24. The image sensor 44 converts the optical image taken by the photographing lens 40 into an electrical signal. The output of the image sensor 44 is subjected to known video signal processing in a video signal processing circuit 46, digitized by an A/D converter 48, and then stored in the buffer memory 26. Data stored in buffer memory 26 is read and recorded in solid state memory 52 at a data transfer rate suitable for writing to solid state memory 52 of the memory pack. The recorded image in the solid-state memory 52 is sent to the reproducing device 22 via the signal transmission contact 54.

FIG. 2B shows a power supply system, where 56 is a power supply contact forming part of the contact 24, 58 is a rechargeable battery, and 59 is a rechargeable battery 58.
60 is a DC-DC converter, and 62 is a camera processing section consisting of the circuit shown in FIG. 2Δ. Electric power from the regenerator 22 is supplied to the battery 5 via a contact 56.
Charge 8.

The voltage of the battery 58 is boosted by a DC-DC converter 60 and becomes operating power for the camera processing section 62. When the output voltage of the rechargeable battery 58 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value, the monitoring circuit 59 instructs the display member 28 to display the information and disables the release button (not shown).

The power supply system of the playback device 22 for supplying power to the camera body 20 uses an AC-DC power source for the playback device 22.
Converter or DC-DC converter converts it into a desired DC voltage, and connects it to the camera body 20 via a power supply contact.
feed on the side.

Although the above embodiment has a configuration in which the camera body 20 is directly connected to the player 22 for playback by the player 22, the present invention is not limited to this, and the memory pack can be removed from the camera body 20 and played back. It can also be applied to a system connected to the machine 22.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, each time the camera device is connected to the playback device for playing back images recorded in the solid-state memory of the camera device, the power supply of the camera device is supplied by the playback device. This saves you the trouble of checking and replacing batteries.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a configuration block diagram of the signal processing system of the camera body 20, FIG. 2B is a configuration block diagram of the power supply system of the camera body 20, and FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional example of a solid-state camera system. 10.20: Camera body 14.22: Playback device 24.2
6: Contact 28.32 + table not shown 30 regulation member 34
: Transmission switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] A solid-state camera system comprising a camera device equipped with a solid-state memory and a playback device that plays back images recorded in the solid-state memory, wherein the camera device has a rechargeable power source and a signal transmission and rechargeable power source. The playback device is equipped with an external terminal for charging, and the playback device is equipped with a power supply circuit and an external terminal for charging.
A solid-state camera system comprising an external terminal for transmitting signals with the camera device and supplying power to the camera device when the camera device is attached.