JPH02223941A - Memory card and electronic camera using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make an electronic camera thinner by providing a memory card with at least one transmitting means for an optical signal. CONSTITUTION:For the memory card 1 whose substrate 2 is made of resin and which houses a semiconductor memory element, backup power source, etc., in its interior, the transmitting means, for example, a hole 3, is provided in the geometric center of the top surface of the substrate 2 so that light is transmitted through the substrate 2. In this manner, since an optical signal is transmitted through the transmitting means 3, the optical signal can not be intercepted even if the memory card 1 is arranged in an optical path. Thus, the electronic camera can be made thinner since the memory card can be arranged in an optical path.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a memory card for recording still images, and an electronic camera using the memory card.

(Prior Art) In recent years, CCD (Charge Coupled Device) has been introduced as an alternative to cameras using photographic film.
e) solid-state imaging device and rotating magnetic recording medium (
An electronic camera using a floppy disk (floppy disk) has been proposed. As shown in FIG. 9, the basic configuration of this electronic camera is as follows. Photoelectric conversion is performed by a T-CCD 94 via a lens 91, an aperture 92, and a shutter 93, and the image signal is sent to a signal processing circuit 95. The signal is separated into a luminance signal and a color difference signal, subjected to signal processing suitable for magnetic recording (FM modulation, etc.) by a recording circuit 96, and recorded on a rotating magnetic recording medium 98 via a magnetic field 97. Further, the rotating magnetic recording medium 98 receives rotational force from a motor 99.

In this method, it is necessary to provide a driving device such as the motor 99 within the electronic camera. However, although cameras usually have to withstand use under harsh conditions with regard to vibrations, etc., it is important to ensure that the rotating magnetic recording medium 98 rotates stably and maintains good contact between the magnetic head 97 and the rotating magnetic recording medium 98. It was a long shot.

Therefore, recently, electronic cameras using solid-state image sensors and memory cards have been proposed. This electronic camera performs A/D conversion on an image signal that has been subjected to photoelectric conversion and signal processing using a solid-state image sensor, and records the image signal as a digital signal in a semiconductor storage device in a memory card. If a memory card is used in this manner, unlike an electronic camera using a rotating magnetic recording medium, there is no need to provide a driving device, and the camera is resistant to vibrations.

Cross-sectional view of a conventional electronic camera using a memory card t-@
It is shown in Figure 8. Note that only the optical circuit system of the electronic camera is illustrated here, and other parts are omitted. In the figure, an image from a subject that enters a lens 82 and a spot camera 81 passes through an aperture 83 and a shutter 84 and reaches a solid-state image sensor 85. The image signal photoelectrically converted by the solid-state image sensor 85 is recorded on a mesori card 86 located at the farthest position from the lens 82.

In the electronic camera configured as shown in the same figure, compared to the conventional example shown in FIG. and the thickness of the memory card 86.

It has been decided that the harmony with Here, the optical path length is the focal length, and this length Llt cannot be easily shortened. It is considered appropriate to place Therefore, in consideration of making the electronic camera thinner, it has been considered that the configuration as shown in FIG. 8 is most appropriate.

This also applies to other image forming apparatuses.

(Electrification to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, conventional electronic cameras have been made thinner with the configuration shown in FIG. An object of the present invention is to provide a memory card that allows an electronic camera to be made even thinner, and the electronic camera.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a memory card that records optical signals as electrical signals is provided with at least one optical signal transmitting means. Furthermore, in an electronic camera that has a lens that captures optical signals and an image sensor that converts the optical signals into electrical signals, a memory card that records the electrical signals obtained by the image sensor is placed on the optical path of the optical signals. I made it possible to do so.

(Function) By doing the above, the optical signal passes through the transmitting means, so even if the memory card is placed on the optical path, the optical signal will not be interrupted. Furthermore, by placing the memory card on the optical path, the Shimiko camera can be made thinner.

(Example) The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top view showing a memory card of the present invention. In a memory card l whose base body 2 is made of resin or the like and which houses a semiconductor memory element, a backup power supply, etc., a hole 3 is formed on the top surface of the base body 2 as a transmission means so that light can pass through the base body 2. located at the geometric center of Further, FIG. 87 is a sectional view showing how the memory card is arranged in the electronic camera II. Optical signals from the subject are converged through a lens 12 and transmitted to a solid-state image sensor 15 through an aperture 13 and a shutter 14.

Furthermore, a mechanism is provided between the shutter 14 and the solid-state image sensor 15 to allow a memory card to be placed therein. If the memory card is placed in the optical path in this way, the thickness will depend only on the thickness of the electronic camera 11.

Moreover, if the memory card 1 shown in FIG. 1 mentioned above is placed,
Since the optical signal is not blocked by providing the hole 3, the memory card 1 can be easily placed on the optical path of this optical signal.

This allows the electronic camera 11 to be made thinner than the conventional example shown in FIG. 8, making it convenient to carry and handle.

In the above embodiment, by providing the hole 3 at the geometric center of the upper surface of the base 2, there is no need to consider the direction of the hole when manufacturing the base 2, and the process is simplified. (-However, it is of course possible to provide the hole 3 at the bottom of the drawing as in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2. By doing this,
The electronic components within the base body 2 are arranged so as to be gathered in one place, and the space is efficiently utilized.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing a memory card according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment differs from the above embodiments in that the hole 3 is provided at the end of the base 2.

Further, although not shown in the above embodiment, a connector 4 (image signal capture means) for capturing all image signals from the solid-state image sensor 15 is provided at a position farthest from the hole 3 here.

With this arrangement, the wiring area of the electronic circuit near the connector 4 will not be invaded. In addition, if you check the hole #30 with your fingertip before placing it in the electronic force camera 11, you can prevent the memory card 1 from being placed upside down and left and right, even when shooting in a dark place. It doesn't take much time.

In the above embodiment, there is a possibility that the lenses and other optical systems of the electronic camera 11 must be placed at the corners of the electronic camera 11 so that the optical paths intersect at the ends of the memory card 1. The fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is a memory card 1 in which the right and left directions can be confirmed by the position of the hole 3, and the entire vertical direction can be confirmed by the shape of the hole 3.
The optical system can be easily arranged. of course,
If the shape of the hole can be determined in both the vertical and horizontal directions, the hole can be provided at the geometric center of the base as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing a memory card according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a hole 5, which is a second transmitting means, is newly provided in order to transmit an optical signal that reaches a finder (not shown) of an electronic camera 11. The hole 3 is provided, for example, at the bottom of the drawing, and the hole 5 is provided, for example, at the upper left end of the drawing. In this way, photography can be performed as long as the subject can be seen through the finder, so that incorrect placement of the card 1 can be detected with certainty.

FIG. 6 is a top view showing a memory card according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a lens 6 having a predetermined curvature is used as the transmitting means, and is fixed in the base body 2. Note that the hole 51 is also used as the second transmission means. By using the lens 6 in this way, it can be used as a part of the optical system of the all-electronic camera 11, so the electronic camera 11 can be made even thinner. Furthermore, if the arrangement is as shown in FIG. 6, there is a risk that the vertical direction will be reversed, but since the image of the subject that reaches the finder will be blurred by the influence of the lens 6, incorrect arrangement can be easily confirmed. The memory card 1 can also be used as a general magnifying glass.

As for the above-mentioned transmission means, as the size of the transmission means increases, the area for mounting the semiconductor memory element inside the base body becomes smaller, and the storage capacity also decreases accordingly. Taking advantage of this fact, the number of images that can be photographed may be displayed according to the size of the total transmission means.

Furthermore, the number of images that can be taken may be expressed based on the size of the base.

In addition, the size of the memory card is determined by taking into account the size of the semiconductor storage device housed in the base, etc., and the surface dimensions (85, 85,
6W x 54. If you use Oms),
These devices can be easily connected to external storage devices such as office automation equipment that are already in use, and are also convenient to carry.

Although several embodiments have been described above, the present invention can be modified in several other ways. For example, in addition to holes and lenses, transparent resin or glass may be used as the transmission means. Moreover, a notch in the base body may be used as the transmission means instead of the hole.

The shape of the transmission means may be any shape, including one that indicates a direction as described above. It is also possible to provide as many transmission means as necessary.

Further, the connector etc. may be provided at any position on the base body. Note that the memory card of the present invention can also be applied to image forming apparatuses other than electronic cameras.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, a memory card and an electronic camera are realized which make the electronic camera even thinner.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 6 are top views showing the memory card of the present invention, FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of electronic cameras showing the present invention and the conventional example, and FIG. 9 shows the conventional image recording method. It is a diagram. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Memory card, 2... Base, 3.5... Hole (transmission means), 4... Connector, 6... Lens (transmission means), 11... Electronic camera. Agent: Patent Attorney Nori Chika, Tama Mitsuyuki Matsuyama, /81

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A memory card that records an optical signal as an electrical signal, and is further provided with at least one transmitting means that transmits the optical signal. (2) The memory card according to claim 1, wherein a hole is provided as the transmission means. (3) The memory card according to claim 1, wherein a lens is provided as the transmitting means. (4) In an electronic camera having a lens that captures an optical signal and an image sensor that converts the optical signal into an electrical signal, a memory card that records the electrical signal obtained by the image sensor is connected to a memory card that records the electrical signal obtained by the image sensor. An electronic camera characterized by being placed on an optical path. (5) Claim 4 characterized in that the memory card is provided with at least one transmitting means that transmits the optical signal.
Electronic camera as described.