JPH04331584A - Still video camera apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To electrically transmit the still picture of high picture quality at real time, to deal with various telephone sets and to deal with emergency data transmission as well. CONSTITUTION:Light received by a CCD is converted to an electric signal. Corresponding to the switching control of switches 15 and 16 shared by a recording system 13 and a reproducing system 20, data are electrically transmitted from an electric transmission block 22 through a moduler jack 23 at real time. Further, it is monitored through a view finder driving block 24 at an electronic view finder 25.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a still video camera device that transmits still video images using a telephone line.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A still video camera device is called a so-called Mavica. This still video camera converts an arbitrary still image into a video signal using an imaging device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) through an optical system. Next, the converted video signal is recorded on a magnetic disk via a built-in recording system. This magnetic disk has an outer diameter of 47 mm and has 50 main tracks and a track dedicated to cue arranged concentrically. Information is recorded on this disk-shaped magnetic disk in response to an arbitrary shutter operation.

[0003] When a shutter is operated, one field or one frame of a video signal from an image pickup device is recorded on a magnetic disk. In the case of recording for one field, the video signal is recorded in one annular track. Therefore, 50 images can be captured on the magnetic disk. In addition, in the case of recording for 1 frame as described above, 2
Record 25 high-quality screens using book tracks. Note that this still video camera device can also record audio corresponding to still images.

In the reproducing system, a video signal of a recorded still image is formed by repeatedly reproducing one track or alternately reproducing two tracks. This video signal is supplied to, for example, a television receiver for monitoring, and a still image is reproduced on the screen. Further, this video signal can also be supplied to a so-called video printer and output on the screen.

[0005] Camera operators are under pressure to quickly send still images taken with this still video camera device to television stations, newspaper companies, and the like. Therefore, there are still image transmitters for transmitting and receiving still images using telephone lines. By using a still video camera device and a still image transmitter in this manner, it is now possible to immediately transmit a necessary still image to the other party using a telephone line even from a remote location.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above-mentioned still video camera device and still image transmitter are small and lightweight, so they have the advantage of being portable anywhere. However, in order to electronically transmit still images taken outdoors, for example, on the spot, it is necessary to carry the above two devices at all times. If the transmission requires a monitor television for checking in addition to the above, the system configuration will be quite large. Therefore, in this system, there is a distance between the shooting location where the user carries the camera and the location where the system consisting of the still image transmitter is moved and installed. In other words, this compromised the maneuverability of the system.

Furthermore, this still video camera device uses an analog signal recording method. For this reason, the signals captured by this still video camera device are deteriorated by being transmitted via the disk, for example, because recorded information in an analog system is reproduced and transmitted electronically once recorded on a disk or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a still video camera device which is small and lightweight and has good mobility, but which does not cause signal deterioration of captured still images. It is.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A still video camera device according to the present invention includes an image sensor, a camera block that converts an output signal of the image sensor into a video signal, and a recording signal that converts the output video signal from the camera block into a recording signal. a recording block for converting the output recording signal from the recording block into a magnetic disk, a recording/reproducing means for recording the output recording signal from the recording block onto a magnetic disk and reproducing the signal recorded on the magnetic disk, and converting the recorded signal reproduced from the magnetic disk into a video signal. a reproduction block for converting; a transmission block for transmitting the video signal via a telephone line; and a transmission block for supplying the output recording signal from the recording block to the recording means, and transmitting the output video signal from the camera block to the transmission block. a first switching position for supplying the recording signal reproduced from the magnetic disk to the reproduction block, and a second switching position for supplying the output video signal from the reproduction block to the transmission block; and switching means for selectively switching, and the switching means is supplied with an output video signal from the camera block when located at the first switching position, and is switched to the second switching position. The above-mentioned problem is solved by supplying the output video signal from the playback block when the camera is located at do.

0010

[Operation] The still video camera device according to the present invention is provided with the above-mentioned transmission block and viewfinder drive block to directly transmit high-quality still images.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a still video camera apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The still video camera device shown in FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram.

This charge coupled device (CCD) 1 shown in FIG.
1 converts the light captured by each pixel into an electrical signal and supplies this output signal to the camera block 12 . This camera block 12 converts the output signal of the image sensor into a video signal. The output video signal from this camera block 12 is supplied to a recording system 13. This recording system 13 is composed of a recording block, a switch 15, an amplifier 17, and a head 18.

First, the output video signal from the camera block 12 described above is supplied to a recording block 14 which converts it into a recording signal. This recording block 14 modulates the supplied output video signal from the camera block 12, outputs it as a recording signal, and supplies this signal to a terminal 15a of a switch 15 for selective switching. Here, the terminal 15a of this switch 15 corresponds to a first position which will be described later. In this way, the output recording signal of the recording block 14 is amplified by the amplifier 17, which is the recording means, via the switch 15, and is recorded on the magnetic disk, which is a recording medium, via the head 18.

On the other hand, the reproduction system 20 is composed of the above-mentioned head 18, amplifier 17, switch 15, and reproduction block 21 in the order of signal flow. In this reproducing system 20, a reproduced signal is extracted and supplied to an amplifier 17 via a head 18, which is a reproducing means for reproducing recorded information recorded on a magnetic disk. This amplifier 17 amplifies the supplied reproduction signal and supplies it to the switch 15. This output signal is selectively switched to the terminal 15b of the switch 15 as described later and is supplied to the reproduction block 21. This reproduction block 21 demodulates the reproduction signal supplied via the switch 15 and outputs a video signal. This output video signal is supplied to a terminal 16b of a selectively switching switch 16. The other end 15b of the switch 15 and the terminal 16b of the switch 16 described above correspond to a second switching position described later. In this still video camera device, the amplifier 17 and head 18 of the recording system 13 and the reproducing system 20 are used in common.

As described above, the output recording signal from the recording block 14 is supplied to the recording means, and the output video signal from the camera block 12 is supplied to the electric transmission block 22 for electric transmission via the telephone line. It is supplied to the terminal 16a of the switch 16. Here, the terminal 16a of the switch 16 corresponds to the first switching position. The output video signal is supplied to the electric transmission block 22 via this switch 16. This transmission block 22 modulates the supplied video signal into an audio band signal and outputs it to the modular jack 23. As will be described later, the modular jack 23 is connected to a public telephone and transmits the signal via the telephone line.

[0016] At this time, the photographed video signal can be directly transmitted electronically without causing the signal deterioration that occurs when it is once recorded on a recording medium. Here, the above-mentioned switches 15 and 16 are switched, for example, by providing a switch operating section on the outer casing of the camera body, and selectively interlocking the signals supplied to each block. At this time, the first switching position means that the output recording signal of the recording block 14 is transferred to the amplifier 17 as described above.
Terminal 15b of the switch 15 that supplies the output video signal of the camera block to the transmission block, and terminal 16a of the switch 16 that supplies the output video signal of the camera block to the transmission block. Also,
The second switching position refers to a position on the terminal 15b side of the switch 15 that supplies the above-mentioned reproduction signal to the reproduction block 21 and the terminal 16b side of the switch 16 that supplies the output video signal of the reproduction block to the transmission block. It is.

[0017] Furthermore, the switch 1 which is the above-mentioned switching means
5 and 16, when located at the first switching position,
When the output video signal of the camera block 12 is supplied and the camera block 12 is located at the second switching position, the output video signal of the reproduction block 21 is supplied. Finder 25
(hereinafter abbreviated as EVF) is also supplied to an EVF block 24 that drives the EVF. In the EVF block 24, the drive signal is
It is possible to display the image on the VF 25 and monitor still images during shooting or playback using the EVF 25. Note that the viewfinder section of the camera that monitors this still image is not limited to the EVF 25 mentioned above, but can be substituted by outputting to a small liquid crystal externally provided through an output terminal, or a television such as a cathode ray tube, for example. You may let them.

[0018] Furthermore, the recording medium for storing the recorded signal of the photographed image is not limited to a magnetic disk, but if the camera used for photographing is a digital still camera, a semiconductor memory or a magneto-optical disk may be used. good. With this configuration, this still video camera device can directly transmit a captured video signal by electronic means without signal deterioration caused by once recording it on a recording medium. Further, the configuration of the above-described still video camera apparatus can be changed to a block configuration in which the electric transmission block 22 is connected after the reproduction block 21 of the reproduction system 20 to transmit electric power, as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, parts common to the configuration of FIG. 1 described above are given the same reference numerals, and explanations thereof will be omitted. If an optical viewfinder was used in this still video camera device, it was not possible to monitor the still images taken by the camera itself during playback. Still images taken by the camera itself can be viewed on the EVF 25 provided on the camera body, which simplifies the effort of carrying the monitor.

[0020]Actually, how to use a still video camera apparatus having such a configuration will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. Further, the description will be made with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1 as necessary. The still video camera device 10 shown in FIG. 3 has a female modular jack 23 disposed on the side surface 10A of the main body. In the still video camera device, a female modular jack 23 is integrally embedded in the housing by insert processing and protrudes from the side surface 10A. The two female modular jacks 23 shown connect to male modular jacks 32A, 32B, respectively, provided by an external telephone 30 and a converter 31 that converts the telephone line to a modular jack. With this connection,
Video data photographed by the still video camera device 10 is transmitted via a telephone line.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the telephone side does not have the above-mentioned modular jack, for example, when transmitting data via the public telephone 35, the receiver 36 of the above-mentioned public telephone is connected to the coupler 37, and Data can also be transmitted from the still video camera device 10 by connecting the coupler 37 to a terminal (not shown) on the side surface 10B of the still video camera device 10.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, a digital public telephone 38 compatible with ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network)
When transmitting data via, for example, a cable stored in a recess with a lid (not shown) formed in the female modular jack 38A of the digital public telephone 38 and the side surface 10B of the still video camera device. 39 is pulled out and inserted and connected so as to be integrated with the male modular jack 38B provided at the tip of the cable. By connecting in this way, the still video camera device 10
Data can be sent electronically from

[0023] It is also possible to control a switch so that the operation of the power transmission block 22 is turned on when the cable is pulled out from the main body of the still video camera apparatus. Also, during this data transmission, the still video camera device 1
0 can transmit data while checking the data to be transmitted through the electronic viewfinder 24.

In addition, the still video camera device 10 has the following features:
Data can also be transmitted by outputting to a liquid crystal monitor, video camera recorder, etc. via an output terminal. Further, the still video camera device can not only directly record on a disc via the external output terminal, but also output to a video tape recorder or printer via the external output terminal.

A mechanism for connecting the still video camera device to the main body side using a modular jack will be described with reference to FIG. 6 and, if necessary, FIG. 3. Figure 6
1 shows the positional relationship between the microswitch 52 on the cable side and the still video camera side, which have a male modular jack 51 via a female modular jack 50.

As explained above with reference to FIG. 3, the female modular jack 23 is integrally embedded in the side surface 10A of the still video camera device by insert processing into the housing, and only the terminal portion 53 is inserted into the side surface 10A. It's on 10A. A microswitch 52 is provided inside the housing. The microswitch 52 includes, for example, a connection terminal portion 54 and a main body 55. The free end 54A side of the connection terminal portion 54 is shaped to bulge toward the female modular jack 50 side. The free end 54A side is disposed at the opening 56 inside the female modular jack 50. A male modular jack 51 is inserted into a female modular jack 50 from the outside and engaged internally.

At this time, the male modular jack 51
Due to this engagement, the tip portion 57 projects from the opening 56 of the female modular jack 50 and presses the free end 54A of the connection terminal portion 54 of the microswitch. The microswitch 52 has a spring (not shown) that biases in a direction opposite to the pressing direction. This press causes the microswitch 52 to be electrically turned on, for example. Further, when the male modular jack 51 is unplugged, the microswitch 52 is turned off by the bias of a spring installed inside the switch, and is electrically turned off, for example.

With such a mechanism, the still video camera apparatus does not need to perform data transmission processing when data transmission is not performed, that is, when the male modular jack 51 is not inserted and engaged. Taking this into consideration, power consumption is reduced by the operation of the microswitch 52 described above. With this configuration, high-quality still images can be transmitted as data in real time. Furthermore, this still video camera device is capable of various connections depending on the telephone line and telephone model used for data transmission, and is therefore very convenient when transmitting data to urgent media.

Furthermore, in a more preferred embodiment, a recess is formed in the bottom of the still video camera device in order to make it more compact, and the battery is engaged and disposed in this recess. The connection point of this recess is aligned with the position of the battery, and a power transmission adapter, which is a still image power transmitter, is sandwiched and connected between the battery and the recess of the still video camera apparatus main body.

A method for making the still image transmitter separable as a transmitter adapter and integrating it with a still video camera device will be described with reference to an exploded perspective view shown in FIG. A battery 60 is connected to one end of the still video camera device main body 10, and power is supplied to the still video camera device main body 10 by the battery 60. A transmission adapter 70 is provided for transmitting a video signal obtained from the still video camera body to the outside via a telephone line.

Specifically, the above-mentioned engagement arrangement is performed using a recess 10D formed in the bottom surface 10C of the still video camera device main body 10.
The mark 61 on the surface of the battery 60 is the installation guide 1.
It is arranged so as to face the 17C and 117D sides. In the electrical transmission adapter 70, the joint surface 71 with the battery 60 has the same shape as that of a battery with good shape and ease of use, such as NP-55 or NP-77 manufactured by Sony Corporation.

In this way, the still video camera device main body 1
By making the joint areas of the 0 batteries the same and using them in common, there is no need to newly secure extra space when arranging the power transmission adapter 70. Further, the structure of the electrical transmission adapter 70 can be simplified and engaged and arranged. Joint surface 71 of the electrical transmission adapter 70
On the side, electrodes 72, 73 and battery power lock installation guides 74A to 74D are provided as contacts for the battery power source. These two electrode contacts 72 and 73 are elastically supported. Therefore, the protruding electrodes 72 and 73 that are pressed when the battery 60 is attached are housed in the power transmission adapter 70 and are attached to the flat joint surface 7 of the power transmission adapter 70.
form 1. Further, the battery power lock installation guides 74A to 74D are connected to the joint surface 7 of the power transmission adapter 70.
An L-shaped claw protrudes from 1.

Next, this battery 60 is slid toward the lens 121 of the still video camera device 10. By this sliding, a recess (not shown) formed in the joint surface 62 of the battery 60 engages and integrates the battery power lock installation guides 74A to 74D. Further, in this integrated state, the elastically supported electrodes 72 and 73 are positioned opposite to the electrode surface (not shown) of the recess formed in the joint surface 62 of the battery. When the pressure is removed, the electrodes 72 and 73 are biased toward the joint surface 62 by a spring installed inside the power transmission adapter 70.
It is bonded to the electrode surface of the recess formed in.

Further, in the recess 10D, electrodes 110 and 111 are provided as contacts for the battery power supply, and a contact 112 for signal transmission is provided.
and electrical transmission adapter lock installation guide 117A~1
17D is installed. The signal transmission contact 112 consists of five contacts 112A to 112E. The electrodes 110 and 111 as contacts of the battery power supply and the contact 112 for signal transmission are elastically supported as described above. Therefore, the protruding electrode that is pressed when the power transmission adapter 70 is attached is housed within the still video camera device 10, and the bottom surface of the recess 10D becomes flat. The signal transmission contact 112 is a contact for outputting a video signal obtained from the still video camera device body 10 to the outside via a telephone line. Further, the electrical transmission adapter lock attachment guides 117A to 117D protrude from the bottom surface of the recess 10D in an L-shaped claw shape.

Next, this power transmission adapter 70 is slid in the direction of the lens 121 of the still video camera device 10. By this sliding, a recess (not shown) formed on the joint surface 71' of the electrical transmission adapter 70 engages with and integrates the electrical transmission adapter lock installation guides 117A to 117D. In addition, in this integrated position, the elastically supported electrodes 110 and 111 and the signal transmission contact 112 are connected to the recess (
(not shown), and is joined to the electrode surface of the concave portion formed in the joining surface 71' by the biasing force of a spring installed inside the still video camera apparatus main body 10.

In this way, the still video camera device 1
The battery 60 and the power transmission adapter 70 are integrated into the recess 10D formed in the bottom surface 10C of the camera 0, thereby reducing the size of the still video camera device 10 and transmitting data. The power transmission adapter 60 is attached to a side surface 70A, which is one side of the housing of the still video camera device, for example, to a telephone 3 shown in FIG.
Male modular jack 32 on the 0 side and the telephone line 31 side
Female modular jacks 75 and 76 are provided to engage with the connectors A and 32B.

Further, how to use the power switch of the power transmission adapter 70 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. As mentioned above, the electrical transmission adapter 7 shown in FIGS. 8 to 10
0 is a still video camera device main body 10 and a battery 60
It has an integrated structure sandwiched between the two. The switch 77 in the power transmission adapter 70 shown in FIG.
It is arranged between the input battery electrode contact 72 and the output battery electrode 79 in the power transmission adapter from the electrode surface 63 of the power transmission adapter, and is used as the main power switch of this still video camera apparatus.

This output battery electrode contact 79 is in contact with the battery electrode contact 110 of the still video camera device. Further, the other electrode surface 64 of the battery 60 is
Input battery electrode contact 73, output battery electrode contact 80
Still video camera device battery electrode contact 1 through
Connected to 11. When the switch 77 is turned on, power is supplied from the battery 60 to the still video camera apparatus main body 10 via the power transmission adapter 70. Upon receiving this power supply, the still video camera device main body 10
A switch 123 provided in the camera circuit 120 turns the power on and off. Further, although not shown, the still video camera device main body 10 has a decoder, a Y/C separation circuit, and an external input/output terminal, for example, a female modular jack, although not shown. Although this configuration increases the size of the still video camera device itself, it allows input/output to and from the outside without the need for the electrical transmission adapter 70.

Next, the switch 77 in the power transmission adapter 70 shown in FIG. 9 is arranged in parallel to the power line to the still video camera apparatus main body 10 when integrated to supply power. Further, the adapter internal circuit 78 built in the above-mentioned power transmission adapter 70 has a circuit configuration consisting of a decoder, a Y/C separation circuit, an external input/output terminal, etc. built in the still video camera device main body 10 shown in FIG. It has the same circuit. In this way, the switches 123 of the still video camera device main body 10 and the power transmission adapter 70,
77 is independent, so if data transmission is not necessary, turn off the switch 77 on the transmission adapter 70 side.
Power consumption can be reduced, and the still video camera device 10 can perform input/output with the outside at a low cost by simply adding an input/output terminal to the outside without the above-mentioned internal adapter circuit 78 for electrical transmission. can.

In addition, in the block diagram shown in FIG. 10, the power transmission adapter 70 does not include a switch, but a switch 123 that is provided in the still video camera device main body 10.
It also serves as a switch for the electrical transmission adapter. In order to use this method, power is supplied from one end of the in-camera circuit 120 to the in-adapter circuit 78 by connecting it to the electrode contact 82 of the power transmission adapter 70 via the electrode contact 118. In addition, the power line from the adapter internal circuit 78 is connected to the power contacts 73 and 8.
It is connected to the power line between 0 and 0.

[0041] With such wiring, the electrical transmission adapter 7
Since there is no need for a switch space within the power transmission adapter 70, the power transmission adapter 70 can be made smaller. The internal adapter circuit 78 built into this power transmission adapter 70 has the same circuit configuration as the decoder, Y/C separation circuit, external input/output terminal, etc. built into the still video camera device body 10 shown in FIG. It has a circuit.

Furthermore, when there is no need for data transmission, the still video camera device 10 can be inexpensively connected to the outside by simply adding an input/output terminal to the outside without the internal circuit 78 of the adapter for transmission, as described above. Input and output can be performed, and systemization is also possible. Like the power transmission adapter shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the power transmission adapter 70 has a built-in decoder, Y/C separation circuit, external input/output terminal, etc. in the adapter circuit 78, so the still video camera device main body 10 , can be made the most compact.

[0043] As described above, with the configuration in which the joint area of the batteries is shared and used, there is no need to secure extra space for arranging the power transmission adapter 70, and the structure of the power transmission adapter 70 can be simplified and the engaging arrangement can be performed. can do. In addition, it is a small and lightweight camera with good mobility and operability, and if the power transmission adapter is separated and used, it can be used as an even smaller camera.

[0044]

As is clear from the above description, the still video camera device of the present invention is equipped with an electric transmission block and a viewfinder drive block, and is capable of switching and controlling signals for transmitting data by controlling a switch. This makes it possible to transmit high-quality still images in real time. In addition, since the housing has a connector compatible with each telephone line and telephone model, it can be used with various telephones, and is very convenient when transmitting data to urgent media.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing an embodiment of a still video camera device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the still video camera device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a connection with a still video camera device when transmitting data via a telephone line.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a connection with a still video camera device when transmitting data via a public telephone.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a connection with a still video camera device when transmitting data via a digital public telephone.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the mutual positional relationship of a modular jack and a microswitch provided on the side surface of the still video camera device.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the battery, power transmission adapter, and still video camera device main body separated.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram in which a switch in the power transmission adapter is used as the main power switch of the still video camera device when the battery, power transmission adapter, and still video camera device are used together.

[Figure 9] When integrating a battery, a power transmission adapter, and a still video camera device to supply power, the switch inside the power transmission adapter is placed in the power line for the power transmission adapter and connected in parallel with the power line to the still video camera device. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing that when a battery, a power transmission adapter, and a still video camera device are integrated and power is supplied, a switch in the still video camera device main body is also used as a switch for the power transmission adapter.

[Explanation of symbols]

11・・・・・・・・・・・・CCD 12・・・・・・・・・Camera block 13...
...... Recording system 14... Recording blocks 15, 16
・・・・・・・・・Switch 20・・・・・・・・・・
...Reproduction system 21...Reproduction block 22...
・・・・・・・・・Electric transmission block 23・・・・・・・・・
...Modular jack 24...
・Electronic viewfinder block

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image sensor, a camera block that converts an output signal of the image sensor into a video signal, a recording block that converts an output video signal from the camera block into a recording signal, and an output recording from the recording block. a recording/reproducing means for recording signals on a magnetic disk and reproducing the signals recorded on the magnetic disk; a reproduction block for converting the recorded signal reproduced from the magnetic disk into a video signal; and a reproduction block for converting the recorded signal reproduced from the magnetic disk into a video signal; a first switching position for supplying the output recording signal from the recording block to the recording means and for supplying the output video signal from the camera block to the transmission block; A switching means for selectively switching between supplying the reproduced recorded signal to the reproduction block and a second switching position for supplying the output video signal from the reproduction block to the transmission block. A still video camera device featuring: 2. The switching means is supplied with an output video signal from the camera block when located at the first switching position, and is supplied with an output video signal from the reproduction block when located at the second switching position. 2. The still video camera device according to claim 1, further comprising a viewfinder drive block configured to supply an output video signal and display the video signal on a viewfinder.