JPH0497673A - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid trouble and time for the entry of a retrieval code by setting the retrieval code when a setting condition used for image pickup is detected and a signal is outputted and writing the retrieval code onto a recording medium. CONSTITUTION:An electronic still camera 2 is designed to be of recording reproduction integrated type, an image pickup lens 3, a finder window 4, a white balance window 5 and a strobo 6 are provided to its front face, a release button 7, a power supply switch 8, a sequential feed button 9, a reverse feed button 10, and a display window 11 are provided to an upper side and a remote cartridge 12 as a recording medium is loaded to a rear side. When the setting condition used for image pickup is detected and a signal is outputted, a retrieval code is set corresponding to the signal and the retrieval code is written on a recording medium. Thus, a trouble of reproducing a picture frame by frame on a monitor television receiver and writing the retrieval code while confirming the picture is avoided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electronic still camera in which a search code can be written.

[Conventional technology]

Images taken with an electronic still camera are converted to video signals and written to a video floppy.

In addition to a video signal equivalent to 50 frames of images, search codes and the like can be written on this video floppy. After recording the video signal, an arbitrary search code can be written for each frame using a personal computer or the like. A video floppy with a search code written in this way is convenient because it allows you to immediately display any image on a monitor TV without having to display each of the 50 frames one by one on the monitor TV for confirmation. .

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional search code input method described above, 50 frames of images on a video floppy are displayed one frame at a time on a monitor TV, and a search code is input each time on a computer, etc. Since post-processing is required, there is a problem in that it takes time and effort.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera in which a search code can be written at the time of photographing.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electronic still camera with a detection means for detecting setting conditions used for photographing and outputting a signal, and a search code setting means for setting a search code in response to the signal. and a recording means for writing this search code on a recording medium.

[Operation] According to the above configuration, when the detection means detects the setting conditions used for photographing and outputs a signal, the search code setting means sets the search code. This search code is written to a recording medium by a recording circuit.

[Example] FIG. 2 shows an electronic still camera of the present invention,
This electronic still camera 2 is of an integrated recording/reproducing type, and has a photographing lens 3 on the front. Finder window 4. White balance window 5. A strobe 6 is provided. On the top of the electronic still camera 2, there is a release button 7 and a power switch 8.
．． Forward button 9. A reverse button 10 and a display window 11 for displaying the number of frames to be photographed, etc. are provided. Furthermore, a memory cartridge 12 as a recording medium is loaded on the rear surface of the electronic still camera 2. This memory cartridge 12 has a built-in IC memory, and digitized video signals are recorded therein.

Note that the power switch 8 may vary depending on its sliding position.
You can select recording and playback modes.

In FIG. 1 showing the electrical configuration of the above-mentioned electronic still camera, a variable aperture 15. CCD
16 are arranged. A video signal processing circuit 17 composed of a process circuit, a matrix circuit, an encoder, etc. is connected to the CCD 16, and this video signal processing circuit 17 separates a luminance signal and an RGB signal from the signal charge read out by the CCD 16. and convert them into video signals.

A recording circuit 18 is connected to this video signal processing circuit 17, and the recording circuit 18 digitizes the video signal.
This is written into the memory cartridge 12. Further, a search code output circuit 19, which will be described in detail later, is connected to the recording circuit 18, and the search code output from the search code output circuit 19 is written into the memory cartridge 12 by the recording circuit 18.

Further, an AF control section 25 and an exposure control section 26 are connected to the video signal processing circuit 17, and the luminance signal is outputted to these. The AF control unit 25 detects focus by evaluating the spatial frequency of the subject image obtained from the luminance signal.

The AF control unit 25 includes an AF control unit that moves the photographing lens 8.
A motor 28 is connected via a driver 27, which is rotated at the timing when the release button 7 is pressed halfway to extend the photographing lens 8 from the infinity position.

During this feeding process, the spatial frequency is monitored, and when the peak value is detected, the rotation of the AF motor 28 is stopped, and the photographing lens 8 is controlled to stop at the in-focus position, as well as corresponding to the feeding amount. Outputs the distance signal.

The exposure control section 26 includes an aperture driver 29. Via the driver 30, the motor 31. A strobe 6 and a microcomputer 32 are connected to each other. Then, the exposure control section 26 calculates an AE signal from the luminance signal, and controls the emission of the strobe 6 and the CC signal.
The reading time of D16 is set and the variable aperture 15 is driven via the motor 31.

A release switch 7a provided on the release button 7 is connected to the microcomputer 32. When the release button 7 is pressed halfway, the microcomputer 32 opens the variable diaphragm 15 via the exposure control section 26 and operates the CCD 16 and the video signal processing circuit 17.
Output the luminance signal. Further, when the release button 7 is fully pressed and a release signal is output from the release switch 7a, the microcomputer 32 outputs a release signal to the exposure control section 26 and drives the CCD 16 for the reading period to perform reading. .

Behind the white balance window 5, red illumination light,
A color temperature sensor 35 for detecting blue color is arranged.

This color temperature sensor 35 is connected to the video signal processing circuit 17 via a gain control 36. This gain control 36 calculates the red and blue component ratio corresponding to the signal output from the color temperature sensor 35, and based on this calculates the color correction signals R and B which respectively amplify the R and B signals of the RGB signals mentioned above. This outputs the following.

The AF control section 25. Exposure control section 26. The gain control 36 is connected to the search code output circuit 19 via comparison calculation units 40 to 42, respectively. The comparison calculation unit 40 performs an AE multiplied signal comparison, and for example, when the subject brightness is high, "01" is set, and when the subject brightness is low, ri is set.
Furthermore, when the brightness of the subject is low and it is necessary to emit strobe light, 2-bit digital data of "11" is output to the search code output circuit 19. The comparison calculation unit 41 compares the distance signals, and when the subject distance is longer than, for example, 5 m, "rol", when the subject distance is short distance, for example, less than 1.5 m, "11", and when the subject distance is 1. .5～
If the length is 5 m, digital data of "10" is output to the search code output circuit 19. In addition, the comparison calculation unit 42
Then, compare the color correction signals R and B, and if the light source of the illumination light is the sun, rol..., if the light source is a tungsten bulb, barl OJ, and if the light source is a fluorescent lamp, "11"
The digital data is output to the search code output circuit 19.

A ROM 43 in which a search code is written is connected to this search code output circuit 19. The search code output circuit 19 reads search codes corresponding to the respective digital data outputted from the comparison calculation units 40 to 42 from the ROM 43 and outputs them to the recording circuit 18.

The operation of the electronic still camera of the present invention configured as described above will be explained. When the power switch 8 is switched to recording mode, the power is turned on and the color temperature sensor 35 is activated. Thereafter, framing is performed through the viewfinder 4, and when the release button 7 is pressed halfway, the microcomputer 32 activates the CCD 16 video signal processing circuit 17. Then, from the video signal processing circuit 17 to the AF control section 25. A brightness signal is output to the exposure control section 26.

For example, when photographing the main subject from a close distance under clear skies, the AF control section 25 controls the AF motor 2 via the driver 27.
8 to move the photographing lens 8 to the in-focus position, a distance signal is output to the comparison calculation section 41, and "11" is outputted from the comparison calculation section 41 to the search code output circuit 19. Further, the exposure control unit 26 sets the reading time of the CCD 16 to be short and outputs an AE multiplied signal to the aperture driver 29 and the comparison calculation unit 40. As a result, the variable aperture 15 is narrowed down, and the comparison calculation section 40 outputs "01" to the search code output circuit 19.

The gain control 36 outputs the color correction signals R and B when the light source is the sun to the video signal processing circuit 17 and the comparison calculation section 42, and the comparison calculation section 42 outputs the color correction signals R and B when the light source is the sun. 01" is output.

When the release button 7 is pressed all the way, the microcomputer 32
D16 and the search code output circuit 19 are driven, and the CCD
16 performs reading for recording, and the search code output circuit 19 outputs the search code ``011101.+'' to the recording circuit 18.The signal charge read out by the CCD 16 for recording is It is converted into a video signal by the signal processing circuit 17 and output to the recording circuit 18.The video signal is then digitized by the recording circuit 18 and then written to the memory cartridge 12.Also, the search code "r011101" is left unchanged. The data is written into the index area of the memory cartridge 12 by the recording circuit 18 . This search code ro11101J is used when reproducing images written in the memory cartridge 12 on a monitor television.

Hereinafter, a method of using the above-mentioned search code will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows a playback device using a memory cartridge. The playback device 50 connects the monitor television 51 . It is connected to a digital tape recorder 52. The memory cartridge 12 is loaded into the playback device 50 as shown in the figure. In addition, a main switch 53 is provided on the top surface of the playback device 50.
Frame advance button 54. Operation buttons such as an automatic frame advance button 55, a numeric keypad button 56, and a search button 57 are provided. A cassette loading port 58 is formed on the front surface of the digital tape recorder 52, and a power switch 59 and control buttons 60 for recording, playback, etc. are provided on the top surface of the cassette loading port 58.

FIG. 4 shows the above-mentioned search button, which is composed of nine buttons. top 3
On the buttons 57a to 57c, bright, dark, and strobe marks corresponding to, for example, high brightness, medium brightness, and low brightness are displayed from the left so that a search can be performed by subject brightness. In addition, the three buttons 57d to 57f in the middle row are for example long distance and medium distance from the left so that you can search by subject distance.

Nearby marks are displayed. Furthermore, the three buttons 57g to 57i at the bottom allow you to search by type of light source: solar, tungsten electric light.

A fluorescent light mark is displayed.

When the memory cartridge 12 is loaded into the playback device 50 and the power is turned on, the image of frame number 1 is displayed on the monitor television 51. Note that this memory cartridge 12
contains multiple frames of scenes such as a sports day held under clear skies and scenes inside a limestone cave. When searching for the scene of the sports day, press the button 57g and the one-frame forward button 54, the search code "...01" will be searched, and the scene of the sports day photographed under sunlight will be displayed on the monitor TV 51. The included image will be displayed. Thereafter, each time the one-frame advance button 54 is pressed, images with the search code "...01" written thereon are displayed on the monitor television 51 in the order of frame numbers. At this time, by operating the digital tape recorder 52, the images of the sports day sequentially displayed on the monitor television 51 can be easily edited onto a cassette tape.

Note that this search can be canceled by pressing rQ on the numeric keypad button 56.

By the way, the buttons 57a and 57g and the one-frame forward button 5
If you press 4, for example, search code "01...OIJ
A more limited search can be performed such that images taken under high brightness and sunlight are displayed on the monitor television 51. Furthermore, if it is desired to display an image taken in the limestone cave on the monitor television 5I, the button 57C and the frame advance button 54 may be pressed.

At this time, the search code "11 . . . " is searched, and the strobe-shot image is displayed on the monitor television 51.

In this embodiment, an electronic still camera using a memory cartridge has been described, but the present invention can also be applied to an electronic still camera using a video floppy.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, the electronic still camera of the present invention includes a detection means that detects the setting conditions used for shooting and outputs a signal, and sets a search code corresponding to this signal. Since the search code setting means for setting the search code and the recording means for writing the search code on the recording medium are provided, it is possible to save the trouble of playing back the images one frame at a time on a monitor TV and writing the search code while checking the images.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an electronic still camera according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the electronic still camera of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a playback device and a monitor television. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the search button of the playback device. 12 ・ ・ 18 ・ ・ l 9 ・ ・ 25 ・ ・ 26 ・ ・ 36 ・ ・ 40~4 Electronic still camera, memory cartridge, recording circuit, search code output circuit, exposure control section, AF control section, gain control 2... - Comparison calculation section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In an electronic still camera that converts an optical image into a video signal and writes this to a recording medium, a detection means that detects the setting conditions used for imaging and outputs a signal, and corresponding to the signal, An electronic still camera comprising: a search code setting means for setting a search code; and a recording circuit for writing the search code on the recording medium.