JPH0237879A - Video still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To monitor a picture with a camera single body before and after photographing by providing an indicator and a buffer memory to store once picture data from a solid-state image pickup element and displaying either of the picture of the solid-state image pickup element, the buffer memory and a storing means. CONSTITUTION:A storing means 31 to store picture data from a solid-state image pickup element 14, a control means 37 to control a solid-state image pickup element 14 and the storing means 31 are provided. A camera enclosure is made into a flat plate shape, an indicator 7 is provided at one-side surface and a buffer memory 42 to store once the picture data from the solid-state image pickup element 14 is provided. A control means 37 reads the picture data stored into the storing means 31, displays this at the indicator 7, stores the picture grasped by the solid-state image pickup element 14 into the buffer memory 42 once and can display it at the indicator 7. Thus, the stored picture can be monitored and the picture grasped by the solid-state image pickup element 14 can be monitored and confirmed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (a) Industrial Application Field This invention relates to a video still camera that uses a solid-state image sensor to convert an image into an electrical signal, and electromagnetically stores and stores the same. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, video still cameras have been developed that electromagnetically record and store images in place of still cameras that photochemically record images using film. This video still camera includes a solid-state image sensor (CCDSBBD), an optical system that focuses an image of a subject on the solid-state image sensor, and a storage means (floppy disk, memory card, etc.) that stores image data from the solid-state image sensor. and a control circuit for controlling the solid-state image sensor and the storage means.

(c) Problems to be Solved by the Invention The conventional video still camera described above does not have a monitor display on the camera itself, so it is difficult to display the captured images.
There was a problem that the video still camera 7 alone could not perform clt:,'p. In addition, there are cases where you want to check how the image is captured by the solid-state image sensor before it is damaged, but with conventional video still cameras, there are 51 points that can only be checked using the viewfinder.

Furthermore, if you can confirm the composition of the subject, it will be easier to add facial expressions and poses. However, in conventional video still cameras, only the photographer decides on the composition while looking through the viewfinder, which again poses the problem of not being able to meet the above requirements.

This invention was made in view of the above, and it is possible to monitor stored images, and it is also possible to check images presented by a solid-state image sensor on a monitor display, and also to monitor them from the side of the subject. It is intended as a culm for a video still camera.

(d) Means and operation for solving the problems In order to solve the above problems, the video still camera of the present invention includes a solid-state image sensor, an optical system that focuses an image of a subject on the solid-state image sensor, A camera casing is provided with a storage means for storing image data from the solid-state ↑D image element, and a control means for controlling the solid-state image sensor and the storage means, wherein the camera casing has a flat plate shape. , a display device is provided on one side thereof, and a buffer memory for temporarily storing image data from the solid-state image sensor is provided, and the control means:
The present invention is characterized in that any one of the image captured by the solid-state image sensor, the image stored in the buffer memory, or the image stored in the storage means is displayed on the display.

Therefore, the image data stored in the storage means can be read out and displayed on the display for confirmation on the spot. Furthermore, the image captured by the solid-state image sensor can be stored in the -H buffer memory, and the image stored in this buffer memory can be displayed on the display. Furthermore, since the camera casing is flat, a relatively large display can be used, and since this is provided on one side of the camera casing, the image captured by the solid-state image sensor can be seen by the subject. can be monitored.

(e) Examples An embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a video still camera l according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same video still camera l.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a housing of the video still camera 1, which has a substantially flat plate shape. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 2 is formed by joining a front housing 3 and a rear housing 4, and includes a display section 2a and a grip section 2b.

A lens/finder section 10, a playback button 5a, and a date button 5b are provided on the display section 2a. The lens finder section 10 is rotatably attached to the housing 2 by holding the small diameter section 11a of the cylindrical case Il between the mounting section 3a of the front housing 3 and the mounting section 4a of the rear housing 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lens/finder section 10 includes a case 11 formed by joining a front case 12 and a rear case 13, a CCD 14, a fixed focus lens (optical system) 15 for the CCD 14, and a finder 16. (Lens 1
6a, 16b, and 16C). , 12a is a window for a fixed focus lens, 12b
is the window on the objective side of the finder 16, and 13a is the finder 1
This is the window on the tangent side of 6.

Inside the display section 2a, from the front, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 7,
The F and L light emitting sections 8 and the printed circuit board (PCB) 9 are stored in an overlapping manner. The LCD 7 is located in the window 3b of the front case.
PCB! ') The light-receiving element 39 on the top still faces forward through the small window 3c of the front cover.The playback button 5a and the date button 5b are the PCR microswitch 45a
45b.

Furthermore, the display section 2a has a front cover 6a made of transparent resin.
, covered with a rear cover 6b.

On the other hand, the remote control unit 20 is removably mounted inside the grip part 2b from above, and the bubble memory/battery unit 30 is mounted from below.As shown in FIG. A printed circuit board 23, a light emitting element (for example, a light emitting diode) 26, and a button-shaped battery 27 are built into a case 22. Notches 22c are formed in the side surface of the case 22, and a transparent plate 28 is fitted into these notches 22c, so that the light from the light projecting element 26 is irradiated to the outside.

The upper part of the case 22 is open, and there is a pause button 29a.
, and a memory button 29b are provided.

The bottom surfaces of these buttons 29a and 29b are respectively connected to the PCB 2.
It is in contact with the microswitch 24a124b provided on 3. In addition, on the r'CB23, there is a transmission image f of the role description.
f125 is provided.

A bubble memory 31 and a battery 32 are housed in the bubble memory/battery unit 30 (see Figure 11 of ffi5). This bubble memory/battery unit 1-30 is connected to the PCr 39 through a contact not shown.

FIG. 5 shows a circuit block diagram of the video still camera I of the embodiment. The output of the CCD 14 is converted into a parallel signal by a serial/parallel (S/P) converter 36 and input to a CPU 37. Also, CPU3
7 is through the L CD/E L drive circuit 3,
Display the image on CD7, and also display ET, Nakobe 8, and LC.
r) Drive so that 7 is illuminated from behind.

A light receiving element (for example, a photodiode) 39 receives the signal light from the light projecting element 26.

When the remote control unit 20 is attached to the housing 2, this light receiving element 39 passes through the notch 4b of the rear housing 4 (see FIG. 2), and when the remote control unit 20 is removed from the housing 2, the light receiving element 39 , receives the light from the light projecting element 26 through the small window 3C.

The light reception signal of the light receiving element 39 is transmitted through the receiving circuit 40 to the C
It is taken into PU37. Note that, when the switch 24a or 24b is pressed, the transmitting circuit 25 of the remote control unit 20 drives the light projecting element 26 to generate a signal light indicating that the pause button 29a or the memory button 29b has been pressed.

41 is a date/time circuit unit that counts the date and time. This date/time circuit section 41 is
If there is a command from CP tJ 37, the current date or time is transmitted to CPU 37.

42 stores one image in a buffer memory. The CPU 37 also has a bubble memory 3 in the bubble memory/battery unit 30 via an input/output (Ilo) device.
1 is connected. Further, the CPU 37 is connected to an electronic buzzer 44 and the microswitches 45a and 45b.

The battery 32 in the bubble memory/battery unit 30 is
It is connected to the circuit on the PCBQ, and its on/off is performed by a power switch 46. Although not shown in FIG. 2, this TL source switch 46 is linked to the rotation of the lens/finder section IO, and is turned OFF when the window 12a rotates downward and is hidden within the housing 2. Become.

Next, the operation of the video still camera 1 of this embodiment will be explained below with reference to FIG.

First, the shadow mode will be explained. First, the lens
Rotate the finder section 10 and turn on the power. When the power is turned on, the number n of captured images up to now becomes the maximum number n of images that can be stored in the bubble memory 31. Determine whether it is smaller than 0 [step (hereinafter referred to as ST) 101
, see FIG. 6(a)]. If this determination is NO, a warning process is performed, for example, by sounding the buzzer 44 or displaying on the LCD 7 that the bubble memory capacity has been exceeded (ST110).
).

If the determination of s'riot is YES, the image in which the CCD 14 has added 1 is displayed on the LCD 7 (ST102
), as shown in FIG. 1, when the window 12a faces forward, the LCD 7 can be monitored from the subject side. Rotate the lens/finder section 10 to close the window t2a.
When facing backwards (or in the -hi direction), the photographer can monitor the LCD 7.

At 5T103, it is determined whether the pause switch 24a is turned on. If this judgment is YES, 5TI
Proceed to step II, store both images captured by the CCD 14 in the buffer memory 42, and further store this (7) M image in the L CD 7.
2 display (STI 12), 5T113, it is determined again whether the pause switch 24a is turned on,
If the determination is No, the CPU 37 continues to display the image, and if the determination is YES, the process returns to 5TIOI.

On the other hand, if the determination of 5T103 is NO, 57104
It is determined whether the memory switch 24b is turned on. If this determination is NO, ST 102 is performed again.
Return to

If the judgment of 5T104 is YF, S, CPU
37 stores the image captured by the CCD 14 in the buffer memory 4.
2 (ST105), and further stores it in buffer memory 4.
5T106) to transfer the image data stored in 2 to the bubble memory 31), and make the electronic buzzer 44 sound for a short time (S106).
T107'), the image stored in the buffer memory 42 is displayed on the LCD 7 (ST10B).

At 5T109, it is determined again whether the memory switch 24b is turned on, and if this determination is NO, the image stored in the buffer memory 42 is continued to be displayed, and Y
In case of F or S, return to 5TIOI.

Note that when the date switch 45b is turned on once, the date mode is entered, and when the date switch 45b is turned on again, this date mode is canceled. In the date mode, the current time or date is displayed superimposed within the image, and when the memory switch 24b is turned on in the date mode, the image with the current time or date imposed is transferred to and stored in the bubble memory 31. Ru.

On the other hand, when the playback switch 45a is turned on, the mode is switched to the playback mode. In the playback mode, first, the control parameter m is set to n, that is, the number of images taken so far (ST201, Fig. 6(a)).
reference). Next, the mth stored image is transferred from the bubble memory 31 to the CP tJ37 (ST202),
This image is stored in the buffer memory 42 (ST203
) is further displayed on the LCD 7 (ST204).

In ST205, it is determined whether either the pause switch 24a or the memory switch 24b has been pressed. If this determination is YES, the process returns to the shooting mode. 5
If the determination in T205 is No, proceed to ST206,
It is determined whether the playback switch 45a is turned on. If this determination is NO, return to ST205,
In the case of Y F', S, m through IX (ST207
), the process returns to 5T202. ST202~ST204
As a result of the process, the image stored immediately before the previously displayed image is displayed on the LCD 7.

The video still camera 1 of this embodiment is provided with a tablet and a printer with a unified design. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the handwriting input tablet 50 is coupled to the video still camera l. The tablet 50 is
A stylus pen 53 is provided in a housing 51 comprising a human power section 51a and a grip section 51b. By tracing the manual part 52 with this squirrel pen 53, pictures and characters can be written on the image displayed on the LCD 7. Of course, it is possible to store images with pictures and characters written on them in the bubble memory.

Figure 'PR8 is a perspective view showing the state in which the blink 60 is connected to the video still camera. This printer 60 also has a casing 61 similar to the casing 2, and this casing 61 is composed of a circuit storage section 61a and a printing mechanism section 61b. The printer 60 can print the image stored in the bubble memory 31 in color on the PC 62.

Furthermore, the video still camera 1 is provided with a guide back (not shown). This guide back can be attached to the video still camera 1 in place of the bubble memory/battery unit 30. Guide back attachment T
When you turn on the playback switch 45a with I,
The usage method of this video still camera 1 is displayed on the LCD 7, so that even beginners can easily understand the usage method.

(to) As described in detail, the video still camera of this invention is
The camera casing has a flat plate shape, a display is provided on one side thereof, and a buffer memory for temporarily storing image data from the solid-state image sensor is provided, and the control means controls the image captured by the solid-state image sensor and the buffer memory. The display device is characterized in that either the image stored in the storage means or the image stored in the storage means is displayed on the display device.

Therefore, it has the advantage that the captured image can be monitored by the video still camera alone, and that the image captured by the solid-state image sensor can be displayed on the display to check the shooting status before shooting. Furthermore, it has the advantage that the image captured by the solid-state image sensor can also be monitored from the subject side.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a video still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the video still camera, and FIG. 3 is a lens and a lens of the video still camera.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the remote control unit of the video still camera; FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the circuit configuration of the video still camera;
FIG. 6(a) is a flowchart explaining the operation of φh in the shooting mode of the same video still camera, and FIG. 6('b) is a flowchart explaining the operation of the playback mode of the same video still camera. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the video still camera and a tablet are combined, and FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing a state in which the video still camera and printer 7 are combined. 1: Video still camera, 2: Housing, 7: LCD,
14: CCD. 15: Fixed focus lens, 31: Bubble memory, 37:
CPU. 42: Buffer memory. Patent issuer: Ikuo Kobayashi, agent
Patent Attorney Shigeru Nakamura Figure 1 Figure 4 Figure 9a Figure (a) Figure (b)

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A solid-state image sensor, an optical system that forms an image of a subject on the solid-state image sensor, a storage device that stores image data from the solid-state image sensor, and a control that controls the solid-state image sensor and the storage device. and a video still camera provided in a camera casing, the camera casing having a flat plate shape, having a display on one side thereof, and having a buffer memory for temporarily storing image data from the solid-state image sensor; The video is characterized in that the control means causes the display to display any one of the image captured by the solid-state image sensor, the image stored in the buffer memory, and the image stored in the storage means. still camera.