JPH0322678A - Camera integrated video tape recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce power consumption by providing a means driving a camera power supply circuit section for a video recording period when a view finder means is not connected to a camera section in response to a view finder connect signal and a control command. CONSTITUTION:When a NAND gate 9 is in use, a camera power supply OFF signal (c) is easily generated from a view finder connect signal (b) supplied via an input terminal 8 and a video recording wait signal (a) supplied from a microcomputer in a movie drive control circuit 1. A camera power circuit 4 receiving a camera power drive signal (e) selects the camera power mode. That is, the camera power circuit 4 is operated so as to switch the ON and OFF period alternately to a camera control circuit 5 in response to the camera powre drive signal (e). Thus, while the view finder is removed from the main body in the video recording standby time, the power is not automatically supplied to the camera control circuit 5.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a camera-integrated videotape recorder,
In particular, the present invention relates to a camera-type video tape recorder that has an intermittent recording function and can reduce power consumption during operation of the function.

[Prior Art] Camera-integrated video tape recorders have become widely accepted by general users, and various models have appeared and their ease of use has improved. Along with this, the time required for recording by users is also becoming considerably longer. However, rather than continuing the recording operation, the user alternates between recording time and recording standby time to avoid wasteful consumption of recording media, such as video tape, and to record only the subject the user desires. To achieve this,
This is an intermittent recording function that a camera-integrated video tape recorder has, and when this intermittent recording function is working, the camera-integrated video tape recorder is said to be in intermittent recording mode.

In the intermittent recording function, the recording time and the recording standby time are alternately repeated at regular intervals by a microcomputer control included in the camera-integrated video table recorder. Therefore, it is often used to record objects that change very slowly over a long period of time, such as observing the flowering of plants or observing changes in the weather. Further, the intermittent recording function can be designated via an external switch provided in the camera-integrated video tape recorder.

Conventionally, power consumption during the intermittent recording mode has been reduced by temporarily stopping the drum motor of the video table recorder section of the camera-integrated video table recorder during recording standby in the intermittent recording mode.

The drum motor has the function of driving the drum of the recording section, and the drum is wound so that the video head records signals on the video tape and the tape is pressed down from above in order to retrieve the signals again. The video head rotates integrally with the video head.

Control of the drum mode according to the mode is performed by a microcomputer $IJIll included in the recording section.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when shooting using the intermittent recording function of a conventional camera-integrated video tape recorder, the recording time often extends to a considerably long time.

At this time, the power source for shooting is an AC power source, or a battery if outdoors.

1! When a battery is used as a power source, the only way to save power is to pause the videotape during recording standby, which does not contribute to recording, by pausing the drum motor. There was a problem in that power was wasted in other parts, and the number of times the battery had to be charged increased, which was troublesome. On the other hand, when an AC power source is used, unlike batteries, there is no trouble associated with charging, but there is also the problem of increased costs due to wasteful power consumption during recording standby.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera-integrated videotape recorder that can further reduce power consumption during operation of the intermittent recording function.

[Means for solving the problems] The camera-integrated video table recorder according to the present invention has the following features:
A camera-integrated videotape recorder including a camera section and a recording section, the camera power supply circuit section electrically energizing the camera section and the recording section driving the recording section in an intermittent recording mode. means for giving a control command for alternately instructing a standby time; a viewfinder means to be connected to the camera section; and a viewfinder connect signal generated in response to connection of the viewfinder means to the camera section. and means for driving the camera power supply circuit section only during the recording time period when the viewfinder means is not connected to the camera section in response to the viewfinder connect signal and the control command. be intimidated.

C Effect] The camera-integrated video table recorder according to the present invention has the following features:
A camera power supply circuit unit that includes a camera unit and a recording unit, electrically energizing the camera unit, and control that alternately commands a recording time and a recording standby time to drive the recording unit in an intermittent recording mode. means for issuing a command; viewfinder means to be connected to the camera section; and means for generating a viewfinder connect signal in response to connection of the viewfinder means to the camera section; In response to the signal and the control command, the camera power supply circuit operates to drive the camera power supply circuit section only during the recording time period when the viewfinder means is not connected to the camera section. Therefore, it is possible to reduce power consumption in the intermittent recording mode of the camera-integrated video tape recorder.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1'fgJ is a schematic block diagram showing the functional structure of a camera-integrated video tape recorder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the camera-integrated video tape recorder includes a movie drive control circuit 1 that includes a microcomputer and controls the overall operation of the camera-integrated video tape recorder, and a movie drive control circuit 1 that controls a series of movie operations. a camera-side power supply control circuit 3 that controls the presence or absence of power supply to the camera side, and a camera power supply circuit 4 that supplies a specified voltage to the camera side in response to a control signal from the camera-side power supply control circuit 3. , a camera control circuit 5 that includes an optical system and performs imaging operations, and a power input terminal 6 that is a human power terminal for powering the entire camera-integrated video table recorder.
, a movie power supply circuit 7 that operates to supply power supplied from the power input terminal 6 to the entire camera-integrated videotape recorder, and a viewfinder connect signal input terminal that is a signal for determining whether or not a viewfinder is connected. Contains 8.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a time chart of the camera-integrated video tape recorder shown in FIG. 1 in an intermittent recording mode.

In FIG. 2, the intermittent recording mode is divided into a period T1 and a period T2. A period T1 indicates a period during which the viewfinder is connected to the main body, and a period T2 indicates a period during which the viewfinder is removed from the main body.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, processing operations in the intermittent recording mode of the camera-integrated video tape recorder shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

First, the user starts shooting after specifying intermittent recording mode using an external switch (not shown) provided on the camera-integrated video table recorder.At first, the user looks into the viewfinder to check the subject, but after that, Assume that you removed the viewfinder from the main body because you no longer needed it.

In response to the user's mode designation by operating an external switch, the microcomputer in the movie drive control circuit 1 determines that the intermittent recording mode is designated, and the entire camera-integrated video table recorder is controlled in advance by the microcomputer control. Shifts to intermittent recording mode processing. In response, the movie drive control circuit 1 outputs a recording standby signal a to the movie mechanical unit 2, which repeats at regular intervals a signal indicating that it is recording time and a signal indicating that it is recording standby time. . Accordingly, the moviemecha unit 2 operates to perform normal recording processing during the recording time, and during the recording standby time,
As in the conventional case, the recording operation is temporarily stopped, that is, the drum mode of the recording section is temporarily stopped to reduce power consumption. This situation is shown in the time chart of FIG. 2, and it can be seen that the recording standby signal a is generated in accordance with the intermittent recording mode.

By the way, during the period T1 when the intermittent recording mode is specified and the viewfinder is connected to the main body, the level of the viewfinder connect signal b is "LOW".
is set to Thereafter, in period T2, the user removes the viewfinder from the main body because it is no longer necessary to look into the viewfinder, and accordingly, the signal level of the viewfinder connect signal b is set to "HIGH".

Generation of the above-mentioned viewfinder connect signal b will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of viewfinder connect signal generation.

In FIG. 3, when the viewfinder is connected to the movie main body through the connector, the 1st pin and 2nd pin of the connector are short-circuited at the viewfinder side connector, and a signal to the GND level is fed back to the movie main body side. Therefore, the viewfinder connect signal b has a signal level of "LOW" and is input to the movie drive control circuit 1 via the human input terminal 8. Conversely,
When the viewfinder is removed from the movie main body, the short circuit between pins 1 and 2 of the connector is released, and the signal level of the viewfinder connect signal b becomes “H”.
IGH” and is input to the movie drive control circuit 1 via the input terminal 8.

Further, whether or not the viewfinder is connected can also be known by detecting the current of the viewfinder supply power.

In response to the input of the viewfinder connect signal b as described above, the movie drive control circuit 1 controls the camera power OFF signal C so that the signal level is "HIGH" only during the recording time, as shown in FIG. , and operates so as to be output to the camera-side power supply control circuit 3. The camera-side power supply circuit 3 at the next stage inputs the camera power OFF signal C and the power supply signal d, and outputs the camera power supply circuit drive signal e to the camera power supply circuit 4. This situation is shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the camera power OFF signal generation circuit and the camera side power control circuit, which is as follows.
It is configured in the movie drive control circuit 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, if a NAND gate 9 is used, a camera power OFF signal C can be obtained from a recording standby signal a given by the microcomputer in the movie drive control circuit 1 and a viewfinder connect signal b given via the input terminal 8. can be easily generated.

Furthermore, the camera-side power supply control circuit 3 can also be easily configured using resistors and transistors.

Therefore, the NAND gate 9 can be easily integrated into an IC, and the camera power OFF signal C may be generated by a microcomputer program having the same function as the NAND gate 9.

Next, the camera power supply circuit 4 to which the camera power supply drive signal e is input switches the camera power supply mode, as shown in FIG. That is, the camera power supply circuit 4 operates to alternately switch the ON period and OFF period of power supply to the camera control circuit 5 in response to the camera power drive signal e. Therefore, during the period when the viewfinder is removed from the main body and during the recording standby time, power is automatically stopped being supplied to the camera control circuit 5. It is also possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption in the camera section.

[Effects of the Invention] In the camera-integrated videotape recorder according to the present invention, if connection of the viewfinder is not detected during the recording standby period in the intermittent recording mode, power is automatically supplied to the camera control circuit. Since the intermittent recording mode is operated to cut off the power consumption of the camera unit, it is possible to reduce the power consumption in the intermittent recording mode in accordance with the conventional recording unit. In particular, when a battery is used as the power supply, the operating time per battery can be extended, and the number of batteries to be carried can be reduced when shooting outdoors for a long time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the functional configuration of a camera-integrated video table recorder according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a time chart when the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is in an intermittent recording mode. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of viewfinder connect signal generation. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a camera power OFF signal generation circuit and a camera side power control circuit. In the figure, a is a recording standby signal, b is a viewfinder connect signal, C is a camera power OFF signal, 1 is a movie drive control circuit, 3 is a camera side power control circuit, 4 is a camera power supply circuit, 5 is a camera control circuit and 8 is a viewfinder connect signal manual terminal. In each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] A camera-integrated videotape recorder including a camera section and a recording section, comprising: a camera power supply circuit section that electrically energizes the camera section; and a camera power supply circuit section that drives the recording section in an intermittent recording mode. means for providing a control command for alternately instructing a recording time and a recording standby time; a viewfinder means to be connected to the camera section; and a viewfinder means to be connected to the camera section; means for generating a finder connect signal; and means for driving the camera power supply circuit section only during the recording time period when the view finder means is not connected to the camera section in response to the view finder connect signal and the control command. A video tape recorder with an integrated camera.