JPH0310577A - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent consumption of power for a camera more than required by driving an image pickup means as a center except at image pickup recording when the pickup state is set with a remote control setting means and turning off the electronic view finder. CONSTITUTION:After a camera is fixed stable, a pickup mode changeover switch 8 is switched to set the remote control image pickup mode. In this case, a drive stop turn-off control means D turns off an electronic view finder 5. Then except for a release button 14 of a remote control operation member depressed for image pickup recording, the drive of the image pickup device 4 is stopped. When the camera is in the remote control image pickup mode and the release button of the operation member 13 is depressed, the release button 14 is pressed down by half a stroke and a signal representing half a stroke depression is sent. When the camera main body 9 senses the signal, the image pickup device 4 is driven.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an electronic still camera, and more particularly to an electronic still camera that records images captured by an imaging means such as a solid-state imaging device on a recording medium.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, electronic still cameras have 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. ing.

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 as a single copy. It has many advantages, such as no need to shield the recording medium from light, and the recording medium can be reused.

Furthermore, since electronic still cameras input images through an image sensor, the finder can be an electronic viewfinder. When an electronic viewfinder is used in an electronic still camera, there is no need to install a quick return mirror etc. between the photographing optical system and the image sensor. problems such as the parallax deviation between the photographic optical system and the finder optical system, and the need for a complicated interlocking mechanism between the photographic optical system and the finder optical system when the photographic optical system is a zoom lens. It has the advantage that it does not occur.

However, the electronic viewfinder of a conventional electronic still camera has the disadvantage that it consumes a large amount of power, unlike an optical viewfinder.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional example, when an electronic viewfinder is used in an electronic still camera, the electronic viewfinder consumes a large amount of power, which significantly shortens the life of the power supply. There was a problem with that.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. During remote control, the driving of the imaging means is stopped and the electronic viewfinder is turned off except when shooting and recording, so that the camera's power supply is not used more than necessary. The purpose is to prevent wear and tear.

[Means to solve the problem]

Therefore, in the present invention, there are provided a photographing optical system, an imaging means for converting a subject image formed by the photographing optical system into an electrical video signal, a recording means for recording the video signal, and a photographing means for recording the image when photographing is possible. In electronic viewfinders that project images by means of means, and electronic still cameras that have remote control shooting functions,
a remote control setting means for setting the camera to a remote control shooting state; and a remote control setting means for stopping driving of the imaging means except during shooting recording when the setting means sets the camera to a remote control shooting state; and an electronic view; Stopping the drive to control the viewfinder to turn off.
The above object is achieved by comprising a lights-off control means.

Further, in the above invention, the remote control setting means includes a remote control operation member that can be engaged with the camera body, and an engagement confirmation means that confirms engagement between the camera body and the remote control operation member, and In the enable state, when the engagement confirmation means confirms that the remote control operating member is removed from the camera body, the camera is set to a remote control shooting state;
This aims to achieve the above objective.

Further, in the above invention, the remote control setting means can be set to the remote control shooting mode when the camera body is in a shooting ready state by a remote control shooting mode setting switch disposed on the camera body, and the remote control setting means is provided separately from the camera body. The above objective is achieved by enabling the remote control photography using the remote control member.

(Function) In the electronic still camera according to the present invention, the camera is set to a remote control shooting state by a remote control setting means, and when set to remote control, the driving stop/light-off control means is used to turn off the imaging means except when shooting and recording. Stop driving and turn off the electronic viewfinder.

Further, in the remote control setting means for an electronic still camera according to the present invention, in the photographing enabled state, the attachment confirmation means confirms that the remote control operating member is removed from the camera body, and sets the camera to the remote control photographing state. Set.

Further, the remote control setting means for an electronic still camera according to the present invention sets the remote control shooting mode in a shooting enabled state by a remote control shooting mode setting switch, and performs remote control using a remote control member separate from the camera body. You can take pictures.

〔Example〕

Two embodiments of this invention will be described below based on the drawings.

First, regarding the first embodiment of the present invention, FIGS.
This will be explained using figures.

Figure 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electronic still camera which is a first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of this embodiment, and Figure 3 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of this embodiment. The flowchart and FIG. 4 are perspective views of the electronic still camera during remote control photography, with FIG. 4(a) showing the main body and FIG. 4(b) showing the remote control operation member. In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, A indicates the image sensor 4 and the CCD control circuit 54 (second
It is a means for converting a subject image formed by the photographing optical system 1 into an electrical video signal. B is a recording means, which is composed of a recording section 58 and a recording section control circuit 55 that controls the recording section 58, and is a means for recording the video signal. C is a remote control setting means (hereinafter referred to as remote control setting means), and remote control setting means C is composed of a shooting mode changeover switch 8 and a remote control operation member (hereinafter referred to as remote control operation member) 13 (FIG. 4), This is means (details will be described later) for setting an electronic still camera (hereinafter referred to as a camera) to a remote control (hereinafter referred to as a remote control) shooting state. D is to stop driving.
It is a light-off control means, and is composed of an electronic viewfinder control circuit 53 (FIG. 2) that controls the electronic viewfinder 5 and a camera control circuit 50. This is means for controlling the viewfinder to turn off (details will be described later).

Further, in FIG. 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 2 denotes an aperture, which is controlled by an aperture control circuit 56 (FIG. 2).

3 is a shutter, which is controlled by a shutter control circuit 52 (FIG. 2). 4 is the above-mentioned image sensor, and camera #
It is connected to the control circuit 50 by an electric signal line. 6 is a lens in the finder section. 7 is a power switch for the camera.

Also, in Figure 4 of the drawing, 9 is the camera body, 10 is the release button, 11 is the finder window, and so on. 2 is a tripod, 1
3 is a remote control operating member, and 14 is a release button provided on the remote control operating member 13.

Next, FIG. 1 shows the operation of this first embodiment.

This will be explained using FIGS. 2 and 4.

First, normal photographing operation will be explained.

In FIG. 1, when the switch 7 of the camera is operated to turn on the power and the shooting mode changeover switch 8 is set to the normal shooting state, the camera control circuit 50 converts the image formed on the image sensor 4 into an electronic view. The image is displayed on the viewfinder 5. At this time, the shutter 3 is in an open state.

Further, the diaphragm 2 opens and closes in accordance with the charge accumulated in the image sensor 4, that is, the amount of light incident on the image sensor 4, and is adjusted so that a constant amount of light is incident on the image sensor 4. In this normal shooting state, when the photographer decides on the composition using the electronic viewfinder 5 and presses the release button 10 (FIG. 4) to take a photo, the release switch 1 is pushed in half a stroke. (FIG. 2) is turned ON, the image sensor 4 is driven, and the brightness of the subject is measured by a photometry unit (not shown). Furthermore, when the release button is pressed, release switch 2 (second
) is turned ON. When the ON state of this switch 2 is confirmed by the camera control circuit 50, a photographing operation is started.

First, the aperture 2 is moved so that the aperture value is determined depending 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. Then, open and close the shutter 3,
At this time, the video signal accumulated in the image sensor 4 is transferred to the recording section 58 by the camera control circuit 50, and is recorded by the recording section control circuit 55 on an unrecorded part of the recording medium. Further, the shutter 3 is returned to the state before release, and photographing is completed.

Further, when a camera operating member such as a release button is not operated for a certain period of time, 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 electronic viewfinder 5 is turned on again to return to the original state. The above is the operation for normal shooting.

Next, the operation of remote control photography will be explained, partially overlapping the above-mentioned normal photography.

In the same way that the photographer decides on the composition during normal shooting, in this case, the photographer decides on the composition for remote control shooting, and after fixing the camera, switches the shooting mode switch 8 to perform remote control shooting. Set to state.

In this case, the electronic pico-finder is turned off by the driving stop/turn-off control means, and the release button 14 of the remote control operation member 13 (FIG. 4(b)) is pressed, except when 2"L photographic recording is performed. The driving of the image sensor is also stopped. When the camera is in the remote control shooting state, when the release button 14 of the remote control operating member 13 is pressed, the camera is released by the remote control operating member 13 in a known manner when the release button 14 has not been pushed in half a stroke. A signal indicating that the release button 14 has not been pressed half a stroke is sent to the main body 9 (FIG. 4(a)), and when the camera main body 9 senses this signal, the image sensor f4 is driven and the photometry unit (not shown) is activated. Furthermore, when the release button 14 is pressed in its entire stroke, a signal is sent from the remote control operating member 13 to the camera body 9 indicating that the release button 14 has been pressed in its entire stroke. When the control circuit of the camera body 9 detects this signal, the shooting operation starts.First, the aperture is adjusted to an aperture value determined by the brightness of the subject or an aperture value preset by the photographer. 2. At the same time, the shutter 3 is closed and the charge accumulated on the image sensor 4 is discharged.Then, the shutter 3 is opened and closed, and the video signal accumulated on the image sensor 4 at this time is recorded by the camera control circuit 50. 58, and is recorded in the unrecorded area of the recording medium by the recording unit control circuit 55, and the photographing is completed.Furthermore, when the photographing mode changeover switch 8 is switched from this state to return to the normal photographing state, the image sensor 4, the electronic viewfinder 5 lights up and an image is projected by the image sensor 4.

Next, the operation control flow of this first embodiment will be briefly explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3, focusing on the light-off control means.

In FIG. 3, the power is turned on and the flow starts. In step 101, it is determined whether the shooting mode is the remote control shooting mode, and if it is not the remote control shooting mode, the process proceeds to step 102, and in the remote control shooting mode, the process proceeds to step 116. ONL, open the shutter, drive the aperture movie, and proceed to step 103. In step 103, it is determined again whether it is remote control shooting mode, and if it is not remote control (hereinafter referred to as remote control) shooting mode, proceed to step 105, and start remote control shooting. If mode, step 1
Proceed to 04. In step 105, it is determined whether the release switch (hereinafter referred to as switch) 1 is ON. If it is ON, the process proceeds to step 106; if not, the process returns to step 103. In step 106, the subject is photometered.

Distance measurement, confirmation of power supply voltage, and white balance are performed, and then, in step 107, shutter speed, aperture value, and optical system movement amount are calculated, and the process proceeds to step 108. In step 108, it is determined whether the release switch (hereinafter referred to as the switch) 2 is ON. If it is ON, the shutter is closed in step 110. In step 111, the charge of the image sensor is discharged, the aperture is moved, and the optical system is moved.
The shutter is opened and closed at step 113, and the charge is transferred at step 113.
Recording is performed in step 114, the shutter is opened in step 115, the aperture is driven, and the process returns to step 103. Further, in step 116 proceeding from step 101, it is determined whether the mode is remote control shooting mode, and if it is the remote control shooting mode, the process proceeds to step 117.
Step 1 if not in remote control shooting mode
Return to 02. In step 117, it is determined whether the release button 14 has been pushed in by a half stroke. If it has been pushed in, the process advances to step 118; if it has not been pushed in, the process returns to step 116. In step 118, subject photometry,
Measure the distance, check the voltage power supply, and check the white balance. Then, in step 119, the shutter speed is
The aperture value and the amount of movement of the optical system are calculated, and the process proceeds to step 120. In step 120, it is determined whether the release button 14 has been pressed down the entire stroke, and if it has been pressed in, the process advances to step 122, and if it has not been pressed in, step 12
1, it is determined whether the release button 14 has been pushed in half a stroke, and if YES, the process returns to step 120, and if NO, the process returns to step 116.

In steps 1 and 2 above, the image sensor is driven.

The shutter is closed, and in step 123, the charge of the image sensor is discharged, the aperture is moved, and the optical system is moved, and in step 124
The shutter is opened and closed at step 125, and the charge is transmitted at step 125.
Recording is performed in step 126, and the image sensor is set to 0FFL in step 127. Step! Return to 16. Furthermore, in step 104, the image sensor and electronic viewfinder are turned off.
Then, the aperture drive is stopped and the process proceeds to step 117.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7.
This will be explained using figures.

Figure 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second embodiment of an electronic still camera according to the present invention, Figure 6 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of the second embodiment, and Figure 7 is a diagram showing the operation of the second embodiment. This is a flowchart for input.

In FIG. 5 of the drawing, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 indicate the same or corresponding parts. Further, 15 is a remote control operation member that is detachable from the camera body, 16 is a release button provided on the remote control operation member 15, and 17
is an engagement confirmation unit between the camera body and the remote control operation member 15 provided on the camera body. Also,
E is an engagement confirmation means, which includes the engagement confirmation unit 17,
Remote control operating member engagement state confirmation circuit 60 (
6), and is a means for confirming that the remote control operating member 15 is removed from the camera body.

Next, FIG. 5 shows the operation of this second embodiment.

This will be explained using FIGS. 6 and 7.

When the remote control photographing member 15 is attached to the camera, it is the same as in the first embodiment, but will be explained again.

In FIG. 5, first, when the switch 7 is operated and the power is turned on, an image formed on the image pickup device 4 is displayed on the electronic viewfinder 5 by the camera control circuit 5°. At this time, the shutter 3 is in an open state. Further, the diaphragm 2 opens and closes depending on the charge accumulated in the image sensor 4, that is, the amount of light incident on the image sensor 4, and is adjusted so that a constant amount of light is incident on the image sensor 47. Here, the photographer decides on the composition using the electronic viewfinder 5, and presses the release button 10 to take a picture.
(Fig. 4(a)), the release button 10 is pressed half a stroke and the switch 1 (Fig. 6) is turned on, the image sensor 4 is driven, and the brightness of the subject is measured by the photometry unit (not shown). be measured. When the release button 10 is further pressed, the switch 2 (FIG. 6) is turned on, and when the ON state of the switch 2 is confirmed by the camera control circuit 50, the photographing operation is started. First, the aperture 2 is moved to an aperture value determined based on the brightness of the subject or an aperture value preset by the photographer. At the same time, the shutter 3 is closed and the charges accumulated in the image sensor 4 are discharged. Then, the shutter 3 is opened and closed, and at this time, the video signal accumulated in the image sensor 4 is transferred to the recording unit 58 by the camera control circuit 50, and is recorded by the control circuit 55 between the recording units on the unrecorded part of the recording medium. .

Further, the shutter is returned to the state before the release, and the photographing is completed.

Further, when the camera operation member such as the release button 10 is not operated for a certain period of time, 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 electronic viewfinder 5 is turned on again to return to the original state.

The above is the normal operation.

Next, the operation of remote control photography will be explained.

In the same way as the photographer determines the composition during normal photography, in this case, the photographer determines the composition for remote control photography, fixes the camera, and then removes the remote control operation member 15 from the camera. This disconnection is confirmed by the connection confirmation unit 17 of the remote control operating member 15, the camera is set to the remote control shooting state, and the electronic viewfinder 5
is turned off, and the driving of the image pickup device 4 is stopped except when the release button 16 (corresponding to 14 in FIG. 4(b)) of the remote control operating member 15 (corresponding to FIG. 4, 13) is pressed to perform photographing and recording. When the camera is in the remote control shooting state, when the release button 16 of the remote control operating member 15 is pressed, the release button 16 is pushed in half a stroke, and then the remote control operating member 15 moves the release button 1 to the camera body using a known method.
A signal indicating that 6 has been pushed in by a half stroke is sent, and when the camera body senses this signal, the image sensor 4 is driven and the brightness of the subject is measured by a photometry unit (not shown).

Furthermore, when the release button 16 is pressed in its entire stroke, a signal indicating that the release button 16 has been pressed in its entire stroke is sent from the remote control operating member 15 to the camera body, and the control circuit of the camera body receives this signal. When detected, the shooting operation starts.

The subsequent operations are the same as those for normal photographing, but will be explained again.

First, the aperture 2 is moved to an aperture value determined based on the brightness of the subject or an aperture value preset by the photographer. At the same time, the shutter 3 is closed, and the video signal accumulated in the image sensor 4 is transferred to the recording section 5 by the camera control circuit 55.
8, and the recording unit control circuit 55 transfers it to the unrecorded area of the recording medium.
The image is recorded and shooting ends. In this state, when the remote control operating member 15 is attached to the specified position of the camera and this is confirmed by the alignment confirmation unit 17, the normal shooting state returns and the electronic viewfinder 5 lights up and the image sensor 4 Project the image.

Next, the operation control of this second embodiment is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The difference between the flowchart in FIG. 7 and the flowchart in FIG. 3 is that steps 101 and 103 in FIG.
, 116 are steps 101A, 103A, 116, respectively.
A, and the content is that the "remote control shooting mode" in Figure 3 has changed to "the remote control operating member has been removed from the camera", and both are functions that set the bottom control shooting mode as described above. This is the same as the operation control in which "remote control shooting mode" in the explanation of the operation control flow of the first embodiment is replaced with "the remote control operating member is removed from the camera." Duplicate explanation of the operation control of the second embodiment will be omitted. Also, Fig. 3 Step 1
20° 121 release buttons 14 and the seventh
The release buttons 16 of the steps 120A and 121A in the figure are corresponding parts as described above.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, during remote control shooting, driving of the imaging means is stopped and the electronic viewfinder is turned off except when shooting and recording, thereby preventing the camera's power source from being consumed more than necessary. There is an effect that can be done.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electronic still camera which is the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of the first embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a control diagram of the operation of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electronic still camera during remote control photography, with FIG. 4(a) showing the main body and FIG. 4(b) showing the remote control operation member. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the electronic still camera according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit configuration of the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the operation of the second embodiment. It is a flowchart. A-1 Imaging means B-1 Recording means C--Remote codon roll setting means m-Driving stop/turn-off 111a1 means E--Engagement confirmation means 1-m-Photographing optical system 2--1 aperture 3-- Shutter 4--Image sensor 5--Electronic viewfinder 6--Lens 8.--Photo mode switch 9...-Camera body 10.14.16--Release button 50.
・Camera control circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) a photographing optical system; an imaging means for converting a subject image formed by the photographing optical system into an electrical video signal; a recording means for recording the video signal; and a recording means for recording an image by the imaging means when photographing is possible. In an electronic still camera having an electronic viewfinder as a viewfinder and a remote control shooting function, a remote control setting means for setting the camera to a remote control shooting state; and when the setting means sets the camera to a remote control shooting state. 1. An electronic still camera comprising: a driving stop/light-out control means for controlling the driving of the imaging means to be stopped and the electronic viewfinder to be turned off except when shooting and recording. (2) The remote control setting means is composed of a remote control operation member that can be engaged with the camera body, and an engagement confirmation means that confirms the engagement of the camera body and the remote control operation member, and in a state where photography is possible. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising means for setting the camera to a remote control shooting state when the engagement confirmation means confirms that the remote control operation member is removed from the camera body. still camera. (3) The remote control setting means is a remote control shooting mode that can be set to remote control shooting mode when the camera body is ready for shooting using a remote control shooting mode setting switch provided on the camera body, and is a remote control that is separate from the camera body. 2. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the member enables remote control photography.