JPH0269085A - Solid-state camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and quickly perform solid-state memory cartridge exchanging works at the upper section of the camera main body in the rightward direction by respectively providing 1st signal transmitting means to the camera main body and memory cartridge and at least one 2nd signal transmitting means to the camera main body side. CONSTITUTION:The guide groove 48 of a memory cartridge 42 allows the cartridge 42 to be inserted into an inserting port 44 from the rear side and the inserting direction of the cartridge 42 can be selected in two directions. When the cartridge 42 is inserted in the direction shown in the figure, the connector 52 of the cartridge 42 is electrically connected with the connector 50 of a camera main body 50. When the cartridge 42 is inserted into the port 44 from the rear side, on the other hand, the connector 52 is electrically connected with the other connector 54 of the main body 50. Therefore, when the position of the guide groove 48 is confirmed, the cartridge 42 can be inserted into the camera main body 50 and, since the groove 48 can be confirmed by the feel, cartridges can be exchanged easily and quickly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to solid-state cameras, and more particularly to electronic cameras that use a removable solid-state memory device as a recording medium.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional cameras that record still images include film cameras that use silver salt sensitive materials and electronic still video cameras that use magnetic disks.

Furthermore, in recent years, against the backdrop of higher integration and lower prices of semiconductor memories, electronic still video cameras (hereinafter referred to as solid-state cameras) have been proposed that use semiconductor memory devices as recording media in the form of cartridges or cards. . A solid-state camera has the advantage that images can be recorded stably and at low cost because the recording section does not have a chemical process, a moving part, or an electromagnetic conversion system that is susceptible to external influences.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a conventional solid-state camera. However, the mounting portion of the memory cartridge is shown in a transparent state for ease of understanding.

10 is a camera body, 12 is a memory cartridge that can be detachably attached to the camera body 10, and 14 is a memory cartridge 1.
Insertion port 16 when attaching 2 to the camera body 10
18 is a guide for regulating the insertion direction of the cartridge 12;
is a guide groove that fits the guide 16. When the memory cartridge 12 is inserted through the insertion port 14, the guide 16 on the camera body 10 side and the guide groove 18 on the memory cartridge 12 side are engaged, and the memory cartridge 12 is installed in the camera body 10 in the proper direction.

In the installed state, the connector 20 of the cartridge 12 is electrically connected to the connector 22 on the camera body 10 side, and the electric circuit inside the camera body 10 is connected to the electric circuit inside the memory cartridge 12. Image recording becomes possible. After shooting a predetermined number of images, the memory cartridge 12 is removed from the camera body 10 and connected to an image reproduction (display) device to reproduce the recorded images on a printer or television device, or to transmit them to a remote location.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of the electric circuit inside the camera body 10. As shown in FIG. 24 is a photographing lens, 26 is a solid-state image sensor,
28 is a video signal processing circuit that performs white balance processing, etc.; 29 is an A/D converter; and 30 is an interface circuit with the memory cartridge 12. Image sensor 26
converts the optical image taken by the photographing lens 24 into an electrical signal.

The output signal of the image sensor 26 is subjected to known video signal processing in a video signal processing circuit 28, re-digitized by an A/D converter 29, and stored in memory and in an interface circuit 30.
The data is converted into a format suitable for recording on the cartridge 12 and recorded on the memory cartridge 12.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional example described above, the memory cartridge 12 can be inserted into the camera body 10 in only one orientation, and when replacing the memory cartridge 12, the insertion orientation must always be confirmed.

Therefore, the replacement work becomes complicated, and during the replacement work, it is necessary to temporarily look away from the subject to check the orientation of the cartridge 12, which tends to result in a missed photo opportunity. For example, when photographing animals, there is a problem in that the subject may be lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a solid-state camera in which the memory cartridge can be easily and quickly replaced.

[Means to solve the problem]

The solid-state camera according to the present invention is a solid-state camera that uses a solid-state memory cartridge that is detachably attached to the camera body as a recording medium, and the camera body and the solid-state memory cartridge are each provided with a first signal transmission means. The camera is further characterized in that at least one second signal transmission means is provided on the camera body side to enable signal transmission between the solid-state memory cartridge and the camera body in different mounting states of the solid-state memory cartridge in the camera body. do.

[Effect]

By providing the second signal transmission means, there is flexibility in the insertion direction of the solid state memory cartridge, and it becomes possible to replace the solid state memory cartridge without looking at its orientation. Therefore, cartridge replacement work becomes easy and can be done quickly.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. 40 is a camera body, 42 is a memory cartridge that can be attached to and removed from the camera body 40, 44 is an insertion port for the memory cartridge 42, 46 is a guide having the same shape as the guide 16 in FIG. 4, and 4B is compatible with the guide 16. This is a guide groove. However, the guide groove 48 is
2 from the front to the rear, and as long as the guide groove 48 is facing up, the memory cartridge 12 can be inserted into the insertion port 44 either from the front or the rear. 50 is a connector similar in shape to the connector 22 in FIG. 3, 52 is a connector similar to the connector 20 in FIG. 3, and 54 is a second connector attached to the camera body 40, which connects the memory cartridge 42. It is arranged so as to properly face the connector 52 when inserted into the insertion port 44 from the side.

Since the insertion port 44, connector 50, and guide 46 of the camera body 40 are the same as those of the conventional example shown in FIG. 3, it is also compatible with the conventional memory cartridge 12.

The memory cartridge 42 is functionally the same as the conventional memory cartridge 12, but the guide groove 48 is different from the conventional guide groove 18 and is connected to the insertion port 44 from the rear side of the memory cartridge 42. Since the insertion of the memory cartridge 42 is allowed, two insertion directions of the memory cartridge 42 can be selected. Memory cartridge 42 in the direction shown in FIG.
When the memory cartridge 42 is inserted into the receptacle 44 from the rear side, the connector 52 is electrically connected to the connector 50. On the other hand, when the memory cartridge 42 is inserted into the receptacle 44 from the rear side, the connector 52 is electrically connected to the connector 54. . Therefore,
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a memory.

When inserting the cartridge 42 into the camera body 40, it is only necessary to confirm that the guide groove 48 is on the top, and since this can be seen by the touch, the cartridge can be replaced easily and quickly.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

60 is the camera body, 62 is a memory cartridge, 64
is the memory cartridge 62 insertion port, and 66 is the third slot.
The conventional camera body 10 (i.e., its guide 16) shown in the figure
68 is a connector provided in the same position as the connector 20 in FIG. 3, 70 is a connector provided in the same position as the connector 22 in FIG. 3, 72, 74 . Reference numeral 76 denotes a connector that faces the connector 68 and is electrically connected when the memory cartridge 62 is inserted from the insertion port 64 with the upper, lower, left, and right sides changed. That is, the camera body 60 has guides 16 and 46.
There is no guide member corresponding to the connector 68, and when the memory cartridge 62 is inserted from the insertion port 64 in any direction, the connector 68 is connected to the connector. 0,72.74.7
It is designed to connect to any one of 6.

Note that the above embodiment takes into consideration compatibility with the conventional example shown in FIG. Regarding the arrangement position, etc., it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated position. Also,
In the above description, an electric signal transmission method using a connector was taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, optical signals may be used as a transmission medium in part or in whole.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, flexibility is achieved in the insertion direction of the memory cartridge, and the work of replacing the memory cartridge can be performed easily and quickly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional example, and Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of an electric circuit of a solid-state camera. It is a configuration block diagram. 10, 40. 6 (L-m-Camera body 12,4
2.62--Memory cartridge 14,44.
64--Cartridge insertion port 16.46--
・・Guide 18.48.66-・Guide groove 20.22
, 50° 52.6B, 70.72.74.7 connector Fig. 3 Fig. 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] A solid-state camera that uses a solid-state memory cartridge as a recording medium that is removably attachable to a camera body, the camera body and the solid-state memory cartridge each having a first signal transmission means, and further comprising: a first signal transmission means; Solid-state memory in different installation states
A solid-state camera characterized in that at least one second signal transmission means for enabling signal transmission between the cartridge and the camera body is provided on the camera body side.