JPH02312453A - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To recognize photographing mistake at a photographing site, to attain retrial of photographing and to use a picture recording medium efficiently by reproducing the recorded picture onto an electronic view finder when the mode is set to a mode enabling to erase the recorded picture and providing a means erasing the reproduced picture selectively. CONSTITUTION:A mode setting means E sets a recorded picture into an erasable state and a picture control means H reproduces a recorded picture onto an electronic view finder 5 by a reproducing means C. Then a reproducing picture selection means G selects a reproduced picture and an erasure trigger means F erases the reproduced picture from the recording means B selectively. The photographed picture is confirmed by the electronic view finder 5 and the picture after photographing and recording is erased from the recording medium selectively, the photographing mistake is recognized at the photographing site, retrial of the photographing is attained and the recording medium of the picture is used efficiently.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electronic still camera, and particularly to an electronic still camera that records an image photographed by an imaging means such as a solid-state image sensor on a recording medium.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, electronic still cameras have already been developed that combine a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD with a recording device using a rotating recording medium such as a magnetic disk, and record still images on the rotating recording medium, and playback the images on a monitor or printer. has been done.

This electronic still camera does not require chemical processing such as development, unlike cameras that use silver halide film (hereinafter referred to as silver halide cameras), and images taken can be viewed immediately on a monitor or in one place. It has many advantages, such as no need to shield the recording medium from light, and the recording medium can be reused.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In general, the image circle of a solid-state image sensor is smaller than that of a silver halide camera that uses 35 mm film.For this reason, the image circle of an electronic still camera is To have the same angle of view as a photographic optical system for a salt camera, the focal length must be shorter than that for a silver halide camera.And a photographic optical system with a small image circle and short focal length has a short back focus. Ba,
The aperture F number can be reduced, which means it can be brighter and more compact.

However, in a single-lens reflex type camera, if the finder is an optical finder like a conventional silver halide camera, it is necessary to install a reflective mirror between the image sensor and the photographing optical system, and the photographing optical system The puck focus must be maintained for a long time. This makes it difficult to design a compact short-focus imaging optical system.

Next, with cameras that have a viewfinder optical system separate from the photographic optical system, either the above problem does not occur, or if the subject distance is small, the parallax between the photographic optical system and the viewfinder optical system may be misaligned, and the photographic If the optical system is a zoom lens, the finder optical system must also be a zoom lens and be linked to the photographing optical system, making the structure of the finder complicated.

Therefore, by using an electronic viewfinder in an electronic still camera and projecting an image formed on a solid-state image sensor onto the finder, the above-mentioned design difficulties and structural complexity problems can be solved.

As described above, when an electronic viewfinder is used in an electronic still camera, the problems of the difficulty in designing a compact short-focus photographing optical system and the complicated structure of the finder are solved.

However, since still cameras usually use an optical viewfinder, you can see the subject through the viewfinder even when the camera's power switch is OFF.
Similar to still cameras, electronic still cameras that use an electronic viewfinder will quickly run out of power (battery) if the subject is always visible through the viewfinder, that is, if the camera's electrical circuit is kept running. There is a problem with storing it away.

Furthermore, even if an electronic still camera with an optical viewfinder is equipped with a playback function, it is not possible to check the playback image on the spot where it is shot without a monitor or printer. If you record the specified number of shots on the recording medium,
I replaced it with an unrecorded recording medium and continued shooting. However, even if a photographer makes a photographic error such as camera shake, there is a problem in that without a monitor or printer, it is impossible to discover the photographic error on the spot, confirm it, and retake the photograph.

Another problem is that when you don't have a lot of recording media on hand, you can't check and delete the parts you missed or unnecessary images, and then re-record them.

Therefore, once the recording medium has been used, even if the user encounters a scene that he or she would like to photograph, he or she will no longer be able to photograph it, resulting in the problem that the recording medium cannot be used efficiently.

This invention was made in order to solve the problems of the conventional methods as described above, and it is possible to check the captured image using an electronic viewfinder, and also to selectively erase the recorded image from the recording medium. The purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to know at the filming location that a photographing mistake has been made, to retake the photograph, and to efficiently use an image recording medium. Also,
The purpose is to prevent the electronic viewfinder from remaining lit and draining the power supply.

[Means to solve the problem]

Therefore, in the present invention, there is provided a photographing optical system, an imaging means for converting a subject image formed by the photographing optical system into an electrical image, a recording means for recording the video signal, and a recording means for recording the image signal in the recording means. a reproduction means for reproducing video; 1
) 7I In an electronic still camera comprising selective erasing means for selectively erasing recorded images and an electronic viewfinder, mode setting means for setting the recorded images in an erasable state; When a camera is set in the trigger means, the reproduction image selection means, and the mode setting means, the reproduction means reproduces the recorded image on the electronic viewfinder, and the reproduction image selection means reproduces the reproduction image. The above object is achieved by comprising an image control means for selectively erasing the reproduced image from the recording means using the erasure trigger means.

[Effect]

In the electronic still camera according to the present invention, the mode setting means sets the recorded image to an erasable state, the image control means reproduces the recorded image on the electronic viewfinder using the reproduction means, and the reproduction image selection means reproduces the recorded image on the electronic viewfinder. Select the playback image,
The erase trigger means allows the reproduced image to be selectively erased from the recording means.

(Example〕 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the concept of an electronic still camera which is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of this embodiment, and Fig. 3 shows power supply and mode switching of the switch 7 shown in Fig. 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a switch, and a flowchart for controlling the operation of this embodiment.

In FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, reference numeral A denotes an imaging means, which is composed of a COD control circuit 17 and an image sensor 4, and is a means for converting a subject image formed by the photographing optical system 1 into an electrical image. B is a recording means, which is composed of a recording section control circuit 14 and a recording section 11, and is a means for recording a video signal. Reference numeral C denotes a reproducing means, which is composed of a switch 7 and is a means for reproducing the video recorded in the recording means B. D is a selective erasing means, which is composed of a switch 7 and is a means for selectively erasing recorded images. Reference numeral E denotes a mode setting means, which is composed of a switch 7, and is a means for setting a recorded image in an erasable state. F is an erasing trigger means, which is composed of a release button (not shown) and is a means for causing erasure of the image from the recording medium.

Reference numeral G denotes a reproduction image selection means, which is composed of the camera control circuit 10 and is a means for selecting a reproduction image. H is an image control means, and when the camera is set in the mode setting means E, the recorded image is played back on the electronic viewfinder 5, the playback image is selected by the playback image selection means, and the playback image is played back by the erasure trigger means. This is means for controlling to erase an image.

Further, 2 is an aperture, which is controlled by the shutter control circuit 12. 6 is a lens of the finder section, and 7 is the lens of the finder section.
is the camera's power and mode switch,
As shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 3, the switch knob 21 and the 0FF
22. Erase 23, Regenerate 24. It consists of mode switching terminals for each of the recording devices 25 and a power supply connection terminal 26.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained using FIGS. 1 to 3.

When the switch 7 of the camera is operated to turn on the power and set the camera to recording mode, the camera control circuit 10 displays an image formed on the image pickup device 4 on the electronic viewfinder 5. At this time, the shutter 3 is in an open state. In addition, the aperture 2 controls the electric charge accumulated in the image sensor 4;
That is, the opening/closing operation is performed according to the amount of light incident on the image sensor 4, and adjustment is made so that a constant amount of light is incident on the image sensor 4. Here, when the photographer presses the release button (not shown) to compose the picture using the electronic viewfinder 5 and take a picture, the switch 1 (Fig. 2) is turned ON when the release button is pressed half a stroke. , the brightness of the subject is measured by a photometry unit (not shown). When the release button is pressed further, switch 2 (second
(Figure) turns ON. Then, when the camera control circuit 10 confirms that the switch 2 is in the ON state, a photographing operation is started. First, the aperture 2 is not moved so that the aperture value is determined based on the brightness of the subject or the aperture value is set in advance by the photographer. At the same time, the shutter 3 is closed and the charges accumulated in the image sensor 4 are discharged. and,
The shutter 3 is opened and closed, and the video signal accumulated in the image sensor 4 at this time is transferred to the recording section by the camera control circuit 10, and is recorded by the recording section control circuit 14 on the unrecorded part of the recording medium. Further, the shutter 3 is returned to the state before release, and photographing is completed.

Furthermore, when a camera operation member such as a release button is not operated for a certain period of time, the driving of the image pickup device 4 is stopped and the power to the electronic viewfinder 5 is turned off to prevent the power from being consumed. However, in this state, when the camera operation member is operated, the image sensor 4 is driven again and the electronic viewfinder 5 is turned on, returning to the original state.

When the switch 7 is set to the playback mode, a recorded image is displayed on the electronic viewfinder 5. At this time, by operating an image selection member (not shown),
The image displayed on the electronic viewfinder 5 can be switched to another recorded image.

A recorded image is also displayed on the electronic viewfinder 5 when the switch 7 is set to the erasable mode.

At this time, by operating the image selection member, the image displayed on the electronic viewfinder 5 can be switched to another recorded image. When the user presses a release button (not shown) while an image to be erased is displayed, the image is erased from the recording medium.

In this embodiment, a release button is used as the erasing trigger means F, but other operating members may be provided.

Next, regarding the control of the operation of this embodiment, the image control means H
This will be briefly explained again using the flowchart of FIG. 4, focusing on the following.

In the flowchart in Figure 4 of the drawing, turn the power ON/OFF.
The lever flowchart starts. First step 4
In step 1, it is determined whether the recording mode is set, and if it is, in step 42, the image sensor and electronic viewfinder are turned on.
The image is projected using L/, and the process proceeds to step 43. If it is not the image mode in step 41, the process advances to step 55. In the step 43, it is determined whether the switch 1 is ON, and if it is ON, in the step 44, photometry, distance measurement, voltage power supply confirmation and white balance adjustment are performed, and the process proceeds to step 45, where the shutter speed and aperture are adjusted. The value and the amount of optical movement are calculated, and the process proceeds to step 46. In step 46, it is determined whether switch 2 is pressed, and if it is pressed, the shutter is closed with step 47, and step 4
In step 9, the charge of the image sensor is discharged, the aperture is moved, and the optical system is moved.

Then, in step 50, the shutter is opened and closed, and in step 5
1 to transfer the charge, step 52 to record and step 5
Proceed to step 3. In step 53, it is determined whether the mode changeover switch has been operated, and if it has been operated, the process returns to step 41. If not operated, the shutter is opened in step 54 and the aperture movie is driven. Then, the process returns to step 43. Further, if switch 1 is not turned on in step 43, the process returns to step 43. Also, step 4
If the switch 2 is not pressed at step 6, the process proceeds to step 48, where it is determined whether the switch 1 is turned on.If it is turned on, the process returns to step 46, and if it is not turned on, the process returns to step 43.

Further, if it is the playback mode in step 55 described above, the process advances to step 56, and in step 56 n (recorded image sheet) is selected.
-1 and turn on the electronic viewfinder. Then, in step 57, the N=nth image record is copied, and the process proceeds to step 58, where it is determined whether the image selection member is being operated. If so, n is inputted in step 59, and the process proceeds to step 60. If the mode changeover switch has been operated in step 60, the process returns to step 41, and if it has not been operated, the process returns to step 57. If the playback mode is not selected in step 55, the process proceeds to step 61, where n=1 is set and the electronic viewfinder is turned on. Then, in step 62, the N (total number of images)=nth image record is copied and the process proceeds to Stellar Pro 3. In step 63, it is determined whether the switch 2 is turned on or not. If it is turned on, the process proceeds to step 64 to erase the N=nth image record, and returns to step 62. If the switch 2 is not turned on in step 63, the process proceeds to step 65, and it is determined whether the image selection member is operated. If it is operated, n is input manually in step 66, and the process proceeds to step 67, and in step 67, the mode selector is switched Determine whether the is being operated, and if so, return to step 41; if not, return to step 6
Return to 2. Further, if the image selection member is not operated in step 65, the process advances to step 67.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to check the captured image using the electronic viewfinder, and also to selectively delete the recorded image from the recording medium, so that it is possible to check the location of the photo if a mistake was made. This has the effect of making it possible to use the image recording medium more efficiently by knowing this information and retaking the image.

Also, the electronic viewfinder remains lit.
This has the effect of preventing power consumption from being consumed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the concept of an electronic still camera which is an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of this embodiment, and Fig. 3 shows the power supply and mode switching of the switch shown in Fig. 1. FIG. 4, which is an explanatory diagram showing the switch, is a flowchart for controlling the operation of this embodiment. A: Imaging means B: Recording means: C: Reproducing means: D: Selection erasing means: E: Mode setting means: F: ... Erasing trigger means G ... Reproduction image selection means H ... Image control means L ... Photography optical system 2 ... Aperture 3 ... ... Shutter 4 ... Image sensor 5 ... - Electronic view finder 7 ... Power supply and mode selection switch 21 ...
...Switch knob Note that the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A photographing optical system, an imaging means for converting a subject image formed by the photographing optical system into an electrical image, a recording means for recording the video signal, and an image recording means for recording the image recorded on the recording means. In an electronic still camera, the electronic still camera includes: a playback unit for playing back; a selective erasing unit for selectively erasing the recorded image; and an electronic viewfinder; means; erasing trigger means; reproduction image selection means; when the mode setting means is set to a camera, the reproduction means reproduces a recorded image on the electronic viewfinder; An electronic still camera characterized by comprising image control means for selecting the reproduced image and selectively erasing the reproduced image from the recording means using the erasure trigger means.