JPH0227871B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic camera that records a subject image as a video signal, and more particularly to an electronic still camera that records still images in a memory cell such as a semiconductor memory or a magnetic bubble.

Various electronic cameras that record still images on magnetic tapes, magnetic drums, etc. have already been proposed. Furthermore, if a solid-state memory is used as the recording medium, no movable parts are required, and the camera can be made smaller. Hereinafter, a camera that records a plurality of still images using such an electronic recording medium will be referred to as an electronic still camera. To explain this using an example using solid-state memory,
The electronic still camera has a built-in solid-state memory that has multiple memory cells (an area of the storage medium for one screen of still images), and each time a photograph is taken, one memory cell is selected as appropriate, and it stores one screen of still images (one frame). If you record images for 1 minute), you can store multiple frames of still images. However, if the photographer is allowed to arbitrarily select which memory cell to store the image in, if the selected memory cell is already a used cell, that is, a cell that already stores the image,
There is a risk that the stored image may be erased. In addition, if solid-state memory is built into a removable memory section in the camera body, and the memory section can be replaced at any time during shooting, the memory section newly installed in the camera body will have unused memory cells. If you don't know if there are any left, you may lose valuable photo opportunities. Of course, this is not limited to the case where a solid-state memory is used as the recording medium, and even other recording media can be used in electronic still cameras that can store multiple still images in any storage area, that is, any memory cell. I have a similar problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to list the usage status of the memory cells of the storage unit when the storage unit has a storage unit that can store multiple frames of still images, and one frame of the still image can be stored in any memory cell. An object of the present invention is to provide a display device for an electronic still camera that can display images. Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the appearance of an embodiment of an electronic still camera using the present invention. The camera includes an imaging section 1 that photoelectrically converts a subject image into a still image signal, and a storage section 2 that includes memory cells for storing one frame of still image information for 20 frames. Both parts are separable as shown in Figures 3a and b.

A photographic lens 10 is attached to the front surface of the imaging section 1, and as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. do. Lens 10 has aperture 1
0a, a mosaic filter 11a for color separation is arranged in front of the image sensor 11. Furthermore, the imaging section 1 is provided with a finder 12 that penetrates from the front surface to the rear surface to define a photographic field of view, and as shown in FIG. An accessory shoe 14 and a release button 15 are provided. When the release button 15 is pressed lightly, a power supply switch inserted into the power supply circuit is turned on, and power is supplied. Along with this, a photometric operation is performed. When the release button 15 is pressed deeply, the power supply switch remains on and the photographing sequence is further started. Once the photographing sequence is started, it does not stop even if the release button 15 is released midway through. Also, the power supply switch remains ON until the shooting sequence ends. In FIG. 2, on the rear surface of the imaging unit 1 is a mode selection lever 16 for selecting one of a mode for automatically accessing memory cell addresses in the storage unit 2, a mode for manual access, and a mode for multiple exposure.
A push button 17 for manual access, a 7-segment display device 18 such as a liquid crystal display for displaying the address of the memory cell currently being accessed, and a switch 19 for disabling the audible notification device are provided. There is. Further, on the side surface of the imaging unit 1, there are mounting screws 100 for attaching external accessories such as a data imprinting device or an electronic monitoring device for monitoring a subject image, and a connector 13 for the accessories.
0 are arranged respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, on the rear surface of the memory section 2, there is a display device 201 such as a liquid crystal or electrochromic device for displaying the addresses of used memory cells, and a display device 201 such as a liquid crystal or electrochromic device for displaying the addresses of used memory cells, and a display device 201 for displaying the memory capacity (the total number of memory cells, that is, the number of memory cells that can be stored). A label 202 on which information such as the number of frames) is printed is provided.
Further, there is a detachable slider 203 on the side as shown in FIG. 3b. When this is slid to the right, the attachment/detachment key 204 protruding from the top surface of the storage section 2 slides in the same direction, and the locking key 204, which is not shown in the corresponding part of the imaging section 1, is disengaged and the storage section 2 can be removed from the imaging section 1. There is a T-slot 2 in the storage section 2.
05, which engages with the guide member 131 on the imaging section side and guides it during attachment and detachment.
Also, on the top surface of the storage unit 2, there is a connector 206 and a pin 2.
07 is erected. The connector 206 is connected to a corresponding connector (not shown) of the imaging unit 1 to mutually transmit electrical signals. The pin 207 mechanically transmits the storage capacity of the storage unit 2 to the imaging unit 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates the internal structure of the imaging element 11 of the imaging section 1. This is a CCD image sensor that uses a so-called interline charge-coupled device (CCD).
Light receiving element a ₁

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An imaging unit including an image sensor that converts a subject image formed by a photographing lens into an electrical signal; and a storage unit including a plurality of memory cells that store a still image signal of one frame of the subject image. , an electronic still camera comprising: a detection means for detecting the usage status of all memory cells in the storage section; and a display means for displaying a list of usage status of all the memory cells according to the output of the detection means. A display device for an electronic still camera, characterized by comprising: 2. Claim 1, wherein the imaging section and the storage section are configured to be detachable, the detection means is provided in the imaging section, and the memory cell and display means are provided in the storage section. A display device for the electronic still camera described above. 3. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the imaging section and the storage section are configured to be detachable, and the detection means, display means, and memory cell are provided in the storage section. Display device. 4. The display means includes an electrochromic device, and when the storage section is separated from the imaging section, the display content is retained and displayed using the storage function of the electrochromic device. A display device for an electronic still camera according to claim 2 or 3.