JPH0698251A - Electronic still camera and operating method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To turn off the power source circuit of a block not being required for processing. CONSTITUTION:When a photometric processing is performed, a switch circuit group 3 and an image pickup system power source circuit 5 in an image pickup block 20, and a switch circuit group 43 and a photometric system power source circuit 45 in a photometric block 40 are turned on. A switch circuit group 33 and a recording/reproducing system power source circuit 35 in a recording/ redproducing block 30 are turned off. When a recording processing is performed, the switch circuit group 3 and the image pickup system power source circuit 5 in the image pickup block 20, and the switch circuit group 33 and the recording/reproducing system power source circuit 35 in the recording/ reproducing system block 30 are turned on. The switch circuit group 43 and the photometric system power source circuit 45 in the photometric block 40 are turned off.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention captures a subject, converts a video signal representing a still image of the subject into a predetermined recording signal,
Electronic stills for recording on recording media such as video floppy (magnetic disk) and memory cards (semiconductor memory)
Regarding the camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Features of a conventional camera using a silver salt film for capturing a still image, and a VTR for electronically capturing and recording the video signal electronically or magnetically.
Since an electronic still camera having the characteristics of a camera is required to be portable, a battery is built in the electronic still camera, and the battery serves as a driving power source to image a subject and record it on a recording medium. However, since the electronic still camera is required to be small and lightweight, the battery that can be incorporated is also limited. Therefore, it is essential to reduce the power consumption of electronic still cameras.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to turn off a power supply circuit of a block which is not necessary for processing, thereby reducing the power consumption of an electronic still camera.

The electronic still camera of the present invention records a photometric block for measuring the brightness of an object, an imaging block for imaging the object and outputting a video signal representing the object, and a video signal representing the object output from the imaging block. A recording block to be processed and recorded on a recording medium, a photometric timing pulse to be supplied to the photometric block, an imaging timing pulse to be supplied to the imaging block,
And a timing pulse generating circuit for generating a recording timing pulse to be supplied to the recording block, and a photometric timing pulse for controlling the supply of the photometric timing pulse from the timing pulse generating circuit to the photometric block Control switch means, the above timing
Imaging timing pulse control switch means for controlling the supply of the imaging timing pulse from the pulse generation circuit to the imaging block, and controlling the supply of the recording timing pulse from the timing pulse generation circuit to the recording block When the recording timing / pulse control switch means and the photometry mode for measuring the brightness of the object are set, the photometry timing / pulse control switch means and the imaging timing / pulse control switch means are turned on respectively to perform the recording. Timing pulse control switch means is turned off, and when the recording mode for recording the recording signal on the recording medium is set, the imaging timing pulse control switch means and the recording timing pulse control switch means are turned on respectively. And above Switch control means for respectively controlling the photometric timing / pulse control switch means, the imaging timing / pulse control switch means, and the recording timing / pulse control switch means so as to turn off the photometric timing / pulse control switch means. It is characterized by having.

The present invention further includes a photometry block for measuring the brightness of an object, an imaging block for imaging the object and outputting a video signal representing the object, and a recording process for the video signal representing the object output from the imaging block. In an electronic still camera equipped with a recording block for recording on a recording medium,
Timing metering pulse control switch means for controlling pulse supply, imaging timing pulse control switch means controlling supply of imaging timing pulse to the imaging block, and recording timing pulse for the recording block Recording timing and pulse control switch means for controlling the supply are respectively provided, and when the photometry mode for measuring the subject brightness is set, the photometry timing and pulse control switch means and the imaging timing and pulse control switch means are provided. When each is turned on, the recording timing pulse control switch means is turned off, and the recording mode for recording the recording signal on the recording medium is set, the imaging timing pulse control switch means and the recording timing pulse Control switch hand Each turned, characterized in that it turns off the timing pulse control switch means for the metering.

In the image pickup block, recording block and photometric block, timing pulses are applied to each block in order to perform the operation of each block. A predetermined operation is performed in response to each timing pulse in the block to which the timing pulse is applied.

In the electronic still camera, in order to save power when divided by functions such as imaging, recording, and photometry,
During each process of the image pickup process, the recording process, or the photometric process, it is preferable to turn off the power supply circuit of a block unnecessary for each process. However, when the power supply circuit of the block is turned off, a timing pulse may be input to the block whose power supply circuit is turned off. When a timing pulse is input to a block whose power supply circuit is turned off, an excessive current may flow in that block and destroy the circuit of that block.

According to the present invention, the photometry timing pulse control switch means for controlling the supply of the photometry timing pulse to the photometry block, and the imaging timing for controlling the supply of the imaging timing pulse to the imaging block. The pulse control switch means and the recording timing pulse control switch means for controlling the supply of the recording timing pulse to the recording block are provided. Depending on the setting of various modes, timing pulses are supplied only to blocks required for the functions of the set mode, and timing pulses are not supplied to blocks unnecessary for the functions of the set mode. Each timing / pulse control switch means is on / off controlled.

Therefore, when the power supply circuit of a block which is unnecessary for the function of the set mode is turned off, no timing pulse is given to the block of the power supply circuit which is turned off. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an excessive current from flowing due to the timing pulse input to the block in which the power supply circuit is turned off.

For example, when the photometry mode for measuring the subject brightness is set, the above-mentioned photometry timing /
Pulse control switch means and the timing for imaging
A pulse control switch means is turned on, a photometry timing pulse is supplied to the photometry block, and an imaging timing pulse is supplied to the imaging block, and a recording mode for recording the recording signal on the recording medium is set. When set, the image pickup timing / pulse control switch means and the recording timing / pulse control switch means are turned on respectively, and the image pickup timing pulse is recorded in the image pickup block and the recording timing pulse is recorded in the recording block. Each pulse is delivered.

It is possible to turn off the power supply circuits of the blocks which are not necessary for the set mode processing, and to save power. For example, when the photometric mode is set, the recording timing pulse control switch means is turned off,
The operation power of the recording block is turned off. When the recording mode is set, the photometry timing pulse control switch means is turned off, and the operation power supply of the photometry block is turned off.

The electronic still camera may have a reproducing function, and the circuit included in the reproducing block for performing the reproducing process may be common to the circuit included in the recording block. Therefore, the electronic still camera has a recording / reproducing function. It can be positioned as a recording / playback block.

In the electronic still camera having the recording / reproducing block, the timing pulse control switch means is controlled so that the timing pulse is applied to the recording / reproducing block when the reproducing mode is set. The power supply circuits of the imaging block and the photometry block are turned off.

In the above description, for example, the timing pulse for photographing includes the charge transfer pulse of the solid-state electronic image pickup device, the timing pulse for recording includes the horizontal synchronizing pulse, and the timing pulse for photometry includes the horizontal synchronizing pulse. Pulse included.

Further, in the above, turning off the power supply circuit includes both stopping the supply of voltage from the power supply and stopping the output of the power supply circuit. It also includes turning off the switching regulator included in the power supply circuit.

[0016]

1 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of a digital still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The entire digital still camera is controlled by the controller 2.

The digital still camera has an image pickup block 20 for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a video signal representing a still image of the subject, converting the video signal into a predetermined recording signal and recording it on a recording medium, and A recording / reproduction block 30 for reproduction and a photometry block 40 for photometry of subject brightness are included.

The imaging block 20 includes an imaging system power supply circuit 5 which supplies an operating voltage to each circuit included in the imaging block 20, and the recording / reproducing block 30 supplies an operating voltage to each circuit included in the recording / reproducing block 30. Recording / playback power supply circuit
35, and the photometry block 40 includes a photometry system power supply circuit 45 that supplies an operating voltage to each circuit included in the photometry block 40.

A voltage is supplied to each of these power supply circuits 5, 35 and 45 from a main power supply (not shown). Power circuit 3,35
When and 45 are turned off, the supply of voltage from the main power supply to each power supply circuit 5, 35 or 45 is stopped by a switch circuit or the like. However, the output of the voltage from each power supply circuit 5, 35 or 45 may be stopped, and each power supply circuit 5, 35 or 45
The transistor of the switching regulator included in 45 may be turned off.

Further, a voltage is also supplied to the CG 1, the controller 2 and the distance measuring sensor 51 by the main power source. CG
1, a voltage is always supplied to the controller 2 and the distance measuring sensor 51 by turning on a power switch (not shown) of the digital still camera. The controller 2 is always supplied with a voltage from an auxiliary power supply (not shown) and is backed up.

The circuit included in each block operates in accordance with a given timing pulse. As a circuit that generates timing pulses, a digital still
The camera has a clock signal generation circuit (hereinafter referred to as CG) 1
It is included.

CG1 is a vertical transfer pulse φV for driving the vertical transfer path of CCD 4, a horizontal transfer pulse φH for driving the horizontal transfer path of CCD 4, double sampling pulses DS, R for correlated double sampling.
Color separation sampling pulse SP for color separation of (red), G (green), B (blue) signals, sample hold pulse SH for resampling the RGB signals after color separation, analog of video signal / Outputs AD clock pulse ADCLK for digital conversion. These pulses are used as the imaging timing pulses for the imaging block.
20 is provided to the imaging block via the switch circuit group 3.
Given to each of the 20 circuits.

The CG1 outputs an index R signal IXR for identifying the R signal, a 27 MHz clock signal, a horizontal synchronizing signal HD, and a field index signal FI for identifying the A field and the B field. These signals and the AD clock signal are applied to the recording / reproducing block 30 as recording / reproducing timing pulses, and are applied to the respective circuits of the recording / reproducing block 30 via the switch circuit group 33.

Further, CG1 outputs an X timing pulse XTM as a timing signal for strobe emission. X
The timing pulse XTM is given to the photometric block 40 as a photometric timing pulse together with the horizontal synchronizing signal HD and the field index signal FI, and is given to each circuit of the photometric block 40 via the switch circuit group 43.

The switches included in these switch circuit groups 3, 33 and 43 can be realized by, for example, semiconductor switching elements.

Further, the digital still camera includes a distance measuring sensor 51 for measuring the distance to the subject, and the distance information is given to the controller 2. An imaging lens (not shown) is positioned at the in-focus position based on the distance information.

The digital still camera is capable of both recording image data in the memory card 32 and reproducing image data recorded in the memory card 32.
Recording / playback switch 52 for setting recording or playback
It is included. In addition, the digital still camera includes a shutter release button 53. The shutter release button 53 is of a two-stroke type. When the shutter is pressed in the first step, photometry and exposure control based on photometry and focus control based on distance measurement and focus detection are performed. By lowering, the image data is recorded in the memory card 32.

The vertical transfer pulse φV and the horizontal transfer pulse φH are applied to the CCD 4.

In the CCD 4, interlace photographing is performed by the substrate extraction pulse, the A field vertical transfer pulse, the B field vertical transfer pulse and the horizontal transfer pulse H, and the A field and B field video signals (GR
GB color sequential signals) are alternately generated for each one field period and sequentially read out. The driving of the CCD 4 (imaging and reading of a video signal) is performed at least at the time of photographing and in the photometric processing prior thereto.

The double sampling pulse DS is given to the correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) 7.

The video signals of the A field and the B field output from the CCD 4 are given to the correlated double sampling circuit 7, and the correlated double sampling processing is performed from the GRGB color sequential signal input according to the double sampling pulse DS. Is applied to the color separation circuit 8.

The color separation circuit 8 has a sampling pulse S.
P is given.

The color separation circuit 8 separates the video signal into color signals of three primary colors, G, R and B, which represent a subject image, based on the sampling pulse SP.

The color signals G, R and B are subjected to color balance adjustment by a gain control circuit (hereinafter referred to as GCA) 9 and then gradation correction is performed by a gamma correction circuit 10 to obtain a resampling circuit. Enter in 11.

A sample and hold pulse SH is applied to the resampling circuit 11.

The resampling circuit 11 has three color signals R, G, B based on the sample and hold pulse SH.
Are resampled to be converted into color sequential signals of GRGB. This color sequential signal is given to the A / D converter 13.

An AD clock pulse ADCLK is given to the A / D converter 13.

In the A / D converter 13, the color sequential signal is converted into digital image data in synchronization with the AD clock pulse ADCLK.

When the recording mode is set by the recording / reproducing switch 52, as will be described in detail later, the shutter release button 53 is pressed down in the first stage to enter the photometric mode, and the photometric processing and the photometric value are performed prior to photographing. The exposure control (control of the aperture and the shutter speed) is performed based on. This photometric processing is performed based on the output signal of the GCA 9. After such photometry processing and exposure control, distance measurement sensor 51 performs distance measurement processing, and focus control of the imaging lens is performed. Then, when the shutter release button is pressed in the second step, the image pickup mode is set, and the video signal obtained from the CCD 4 by the image pickup is the above-mentioned circuits 10, 11,
After passing through 12 and 13, it becomes digital image data and is given to the recording / reproducing processing circuit 31 of the recording / reproducing block 30.

The recording / reproducing processing circuit 31 is supplied with an index R signal IXR, an AD clock signal, a 27 MHz clock signal, a horizontal synchronizing signal HD and a field index signal FI.

The color reproduction digital image data of GRGB ...
Luminance (Y) and color (C) data is generated from color sequential digital image data based on the XR and clock signals. The generated digital luminance data and digital color data are DCT processed by the recording / reproducing processing circuit 31.
(Discrete Cosine Transformation) transformation, Huffman coding, run length coding, etc. are performed to compress image data. The compressed digital image data is the horizontal synchronizing signal HD and the field index signal FI.
Based on this, each field image is given to the memory card 32 and recorded.

The digital still camera records /
When the reproduction mode is set by using the reproduction switch 52, the reproduction mode is set, and the digital image data recorded in the memory card 32 can be read and reproduced to be output as an analog reproduction signal.

The compressed digital image data recorded on the memory card 32 is given to the recording / reproducing processing circuit 31. The recording / reproducing processing circuit 31 performs the decoding of the digital image data, the inverse DCT conversion, etc., and the D / A
It is converted and output as a reproduction signal. The reproduction signal is visually displayed by being applied to a television device or the like.

First, the photometric processing will be described. For the photometric processing, each circuit included in the imaging block 20 and the photometric block 40
Each circuit included in the switch circuit group 3 and
43, the imaging system power supply circuit 5, and the photometry system power supply circuit 45 are all turned on by the controller 2. In the photometric processing, each circuit included in the recording / reproducing block 30 does not need to operate, so the switch circuit group 33 and the recording / reproducing system power supply circuit 35 are turned off by the controller 2.

For photometric processing, a Y _L combining circuit 14, a gate circuit 15, an integrating circuit 16 and an amplifying circuit 17 are provided. The controller 2 outputs a window signal WIND that controls the gate circuit 15 and a reset signal HLRST that resets the integration circuit 16. The timing of these signals WIND and HLRST will be described later. Further, in this embodiment, the CPU 41 has a built-in A / D converter 48.

The CPU 41 is supplied with the horizontal synchronizing signal HD, the field index signal FI and the X timing signal XTM via the switch circuit group 43. C
In PU41, these horizontal sync signals HD and field
Based on the index signal FI, predetermined data is added for each horizontal line according to each field, and photometric calculation processing is performed.

The color signals R, G and B output from the gain control circuit 9 are added by the Y _L synthesizing circuit 14,
A relatively low frequency luminance signal Y _L (hereinafter simply referred to as luminance signal Y _L
Is generated). The luminance signal Y _L passes through the gate circuit 15 while the window signal WIND is being applied in the required horizontal scanning period. The integrating circuit 16 is reset when the reset signal HLRST is given,
After that, the luminance signal Y _L input from the gate circuit 15 is integrated. The integrated signal of the integrating circuit 16 is amplified by the amplifying circuit 17, and immediately before the integrating circuit 16 is reset, the A /
Converted to digital integral data by D converter 48,
It is taken in by the CPU 41.

In this embodiment, average photometry for measuring the average brightness in the visual field (hereinafter referred to as AV photometry) and spot photometry for measuring the brightness of the main subject in the visual field (hereinafter referred to as SP photometry). ) And are possible. SP
Photometry is particularly useful when the brightness of the main subject and the background in the field of view differ and it is necessary to set appropriate exposure conditions accordingly. Since it is considered that the A field image and the B field image forming one frame represent the field images at almost the same points, the A field video signal is used for AV photometry, and the B field video signal is used for SP photometry. It is better to use each for.

Further, in this embodiment, the integration by the integration circuit 16 and the A / D conversion operation and the addition processing by the A / D converter 18 are alternately performed every horizontal scanning period.

FIG. 2 shows an AV photometric area and an SP photometric area set within the photographing area 50 of the CCD.

The AV photometric area is basically set over almost the entire photographing area 50. In this embodiment, the AV photometric area is set in the horizontal direction for a period of 40 μs (first photometric period) after 16 μs has elapsed from the fall of the horizontal synchronizing signal HD (at the start of the horizontal scanning period), and the vertical direction. Is set from the 35th horizontal scanning line to the 246th horizontal scanning line (second photometric period).

The SP photometric area is set as a small area at an arbitrary position within the photographing area 50. In this embodiment, the SP photometric area is set at the center of the photographing area 50, and the horizontal direction is 15 μs after the lapse of 28.5 μs from the fall of the horizontal synchronizing signal HD (first photometric period). It is set between the 87th horizontal scanning line and the 194th horizontal scanning line (second photometric period).

As shown in FIG. 3, in AV photometry in the A field period, a window signal WIND having a pulse width of 40 μs is applied to the gate circuit 15 16 μs after the trailing edge of the 35th horizontal synchronizing signal HD. While this window signal WIND is given, the gate circuit 15
It passes the luminance signal Y _L for inputting the luminance signal Y _L
Is input to the integrating circuit 16.

The integrating circuit 16 has already been reset in the preceding field, and integrates the luminance signal Y _L which has passed through the gate circuit 15 and is input. Window signal WIND
Becomes L level and the input of the luminance signal Y _{L to} the integrating circuit 16 is stopped, the integrated output of the integrating circuit 16 is held as it is and the integrated output of the integrating circuit 16 is A / D converted in the CPU 41. Converted into digital data by the device 48. In this embodiment, the time required for A / D conversion is
15 μs. After this, the integrator circuit 16 is operated by the controller 2
The signal is reset by the horizontal line reset signal HLRST given from the above to prepare for the next integration operation.

A memory attached to the CPU 41 (for example, RA
The AV integrated data storage area M) is cleared in synchronization with the 34th horizontal synchronizing signal HD. The integrated value converted into digital data by the A / D converter 48 is this A
It is added to the previous data (which is zero in the first case and is zero) and stored in the V integrated data storage area.

The A / D conversion by the A / D converter 48, the reset of the integrating circuit 16 and the addition processing of the integrated data are performed as follows.
It is performed in the 36th horizontal scanning period.

As described above, the integration of the luminance signal Y _L by the integrating circuit 16 on one horizontal scanning line in the AV photometric area and the integration signal A obtained by this integration are performed.
The / D conversion, the reset of the integrating circuit 16 and the addition of the integrated data to the memory are alternately repeated every horizontal scanning period. Then, this repetition is performed until the 246th horizontal scanning period, that is, over the entire AV photometry area.

When SP photometry is performed, the pulse width is 15
The window signal WIND of μs is given to the gate circuit 15 28.5 μs after the fall of the 87th horizontal synchronizing signal HD, and the integrating circuit 16 integrates the input luminance signal Y _L during this period. The window signal WIND is performed every other horizontal scanning period until the 193rd horizontal scanning period. The A / D conversion of the integrated signal output from the integrating circuit 16 into the integrated data, the resetting of the integrating circuit 16 and the addition of the integrated data in the memory are performed in the same horizontal scanning operation as the above-mentioned AV photometry. Will be held during the period.

FIG. 4 shows the overall operation of recording or reproducing processing in the digital still camera.

When a power switch (not shown) of the digital still camera is turned on, power is supplied to the CG 1 and the controller 2 and it is determined whether recording or reproduction is set (step 61).

When recording is set by the recording / reproducing switch 52, it is judged whether or not the shutter release button 53 is pushed down in the first step (step 62). When the shutter release button 53 is pressed in the first step (YES in step 62), the metering mode is set.

The image pickup block 20 and the photometric block 40 are necessary for the photometric processing, and the recording / reproducing block 30 is unnecessary for the photometric processing. In the photometry mode, the switch circuit groups 3 and 43, the imaging system power supply circuit 5, and the photometry system power supply circuit 45
Are turned on, and the switch circuit group 33 and the recording / reproducing system power supply circuit 35 are turned off (step 6).
3).

Subsequently, as described above, a luminance signal is extracted from the RGB signal output from the GCA 9 by the Y _L synthesizing circuit 14 and is given to the CPU 41 via the circuits 15, 16 and 17 to measure the subject luminance (step 64). ). Based on the measured subject brightness, the aperture value of the aperture (not shown) and the shutter speed are controlled so that the proper exposure amount is obtained.

When the exposure control process is completed (in step 65,
YES), shift to distance measurement processing.

Distance information to the object output from the distance measuring sensor 51 is given to the controller 2. Based on the distance information to the subject, the controller 2 positions the imaging lens (not shown) at the in-focus position (step
66). When the focusing control is completed (YES in step 68), the operation of the camera is in the standby state until the shutter release button 53 is pressed in the second step.

When the photographer presses the shutter release button 53 in the second step (step 68)
YES), switch to recording mode. The image pickup block 20 and the recording / reproducing block 30 are necessary for recording the image data in the memory card 32, and the photometry block 40 is not necessary.
Therefore, when the recording mode is entered, the switch circuit groups 3 and 33, the imaging system power supply circuit 5 and the recording / reproducing system power supply circuit 35 are turned on, and the switch circuit group 43 and the photometry system power supply circuit 45 are turned off (step 69).

Subsequently, a recording process is performed (step 7
0), the image data representing the subject image passes through the CCD 4, circuits 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 and the recording / reproducing processing circuit 31.
Then, the recording / reproduction processing circuit 31 performs predetermined processing such as data compression and records the data on the memory card 32.

At the time of reproduction, the recording / reproduction block 30 is necessary, and the image pickup block 20 and the photometry block 40 are not necessary. Therefore, when the reproduction is set by the recording / reproducing switch 52 (step 61), the reproducing mode is set, and the switch circuit group 33 and the recording / reproducing system power supply circuit 35 are turned on.
The switch circuit groups 3 and 43, the imaging system power supply circuit 5, and the photometry system power supply circuit 45 are turned off (step 71).

Next, the image data of the frame designated by the user of the camera is read from the memory card 32,
Decoding, inverse DCT conversion provided to the recording / reproducing processing circuit 31,
D / A conversion and the like are performed and output as a reproduction signal (step 72). When the reproduction signal is given to the television device, it is visually displayed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a video camera.

FIG. 2 shows a photometric area set within a shooting area.

FIG. 3 is a time chart in the case of performing average photometry.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when performing recording and reproduction processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CG 2 controller 3, 33, 43, switch circuit group 5 imaging system power circuit 20 imaging block 30 recording / reproducing block 35 recording / reproducing system power circuit 40 photometric block

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A photometry block for measuring the brightness of an object, an imaging block for imaging the object and outputting a video signal representing the object, and a video signal representing the object output from the imaging block for recording and recording it on a recording medium. Recording block, timing pulse for photometry to be supplied to the photometric block, timing pulse for imaging to be supplied to the imaging block, and timing to generate timing pulse for recording to be supplied to the recording block A pulse generating circuit, a photometric timing pulse control switch means for controlling the supply of a photometric timing pulse from the timing pulse generating circuit to the photometric block, for imaging from the timing pulse generating circuit to the imaging block Imaging timing to control timing pulse supply The pulse control switch means, the recording timing pulse control switch means for controlling the supply of the recording timing pulse from the timing pulse generating circuit to the recording block, and the photometric mode for measuring the subject brightness are set. In some cases, the photometric timing / pulse control switch means and the imaging timing / pulse control switch means are turned on, the recording timing / pulse control switch means is turned off, and the recording signal is recorded on the recording medium. Is set, the image pickup timing / pulse control switch means is turned on and the recording timing / pulse control switch means is turned on, and the photometry timing / pulse control switch means is turned off. Sui Chi means,
An electronic still camera comprising: the image pickup timing / pulse control switch means and the switch timing control means for controlling the recording timing / pulse control switch means. 2. The recording block is a recording / reproducing block capable of reproducing a recording signal recorded on the recording medium to obtain a reproducing signal, and the timing pulse generating circuit supplies the recording / reproducing block to the recording / reproducing block. The recording / reproducing timing pulse to be generated is generated, and the recording / timing pulse control switch means controls the supply of the recording / reproducing timing pulse from the timing / pulse generating circuit to the recording / reproducing block. When the reproduction mode for obtaining the reproduction signal is set by the switch control means, the recording / reproduction timing
2. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the pulse control switch means is turned on and the photometric timing pulse control switch means and the imaging timing pulse control switch means are turned off. 3. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the timing pulse for photographing includes a charge transfer pulse of a solid-state electronic image pickup device. 4. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the recording timing pulse includes a reference clock pulse and a horizontal synchronizing pulse. 5. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the photometric timing pulse includes a horizontal synchronizing pulse. 6. A photometry block power supply circuit for applying an operating voltage to the photometry block, an imaging block power supply circuit for providing an operation voltage to the imaging block, a recording block power supply circuit for providing an operating voltage to the recording block, and the photometry. When the mode is set, the photometry block power supply circuit and the imaging block power supply circuit are turned on, respectively, and the recording block power supply circuit is turned off, and when the recording mode is set, the imaging block power supply circuit and the imaging block power supply circuit are turned on. A power supply circuit control means for controlling the power supply circuit for the photometric block, the power supply circuit for the imaging block and the power supply circuit for the recording block so as to turn on the power supply circuit for the recording block and turn off the power supply circuit for the photometry block; The electronic still camera according to claim 1, further comprising: 7. A photometry block power supply circuit for applying an operation voltage to the photometry block, an imaging block power supply circuit for applying an operation voltage to the imaging block, a recording / playback block power supply circuit for applying an operation voltage to the recording / playback block, and A power supply circuit control means for controlling to turn on the power supply circuit for the recording / reproducing block and turn off the power supply circuit for the photometric block and the power supply circuit for the imaging block when the reproduction mode is set. Item 2. The electronic still camera according to item 2. 8. A metering block for metering subject brightness,
In an electronic still camera provided with an imaging block for imaging a subject and outputting a video signal representing the subject, and a recording block for recording the video signal representing the subject output from the imaging block and recording it on a recording medium. , A photometry timing pulse control switch means for controlling the supply of the photometry timing pulse to the photometry block, an imaging timing pulse control switch means for controlling the supply of the imaging timing pulse to the imaging block, and the above Recording timing pulse control switch means for controlling the supply of the recording timing pulse to the recording block are provided respectively, and when the photometry mode for measuring the subject brightness is set, the timing pulse control switch means for photometry and Timing / pulse control switch for imaging When the recording mode for recording the recording signal on the recording medium is set, the imaging timing / pulse control switch means and the recording timing / pulse control switch means are turned on. Turn on the timing pulse control switch means,
A method of operating an electronic still camera, wherein the timing pulse control switch means for photometry is turned off. 9. The recording block is a recording / reproducing block capable of reproducing a recording signal recorded on the recording medium to obtain a reproducing signal, and the recording timing / pulse control switch means is the recording / reproducing unit. It controls the supply of the recording / reproducing timing pulse to the block, and when the reproducing mode for obtaining the reproduced signal is set, the recording / reproducing timing pulse control switch means is turned on, and the photometric timing 9. The method of operating an electronic still camera according to claim 8, wherein the pulse control switch means and the imaging timing pulse control switch means are turned off. 10. The electronic still camera according to claim 8, wherein the timing pulse for photographing includes a charge transfer pulse of a solid-state electronic image pickup device. 11. The electronic still camera according to claim 8, wherein the recording timing pulse includes a reference clock pulse and a horizontal synchronizing pulse. 12. The electronic still camera according to claim 8, wherein the photometric timing pulse includes a horizontal synchronizing pulse. 13. A photometry block power supply circuit for applying an operation voltage to the photometry block, an imaging block power supply circuit for applying an operation voltage to the imaging block, and a recording block power supply circuit for applying an operation voltage to the recording block. In the electronic still camera, when the photometry mode is set, the photometry block power supply circuit and the imaging block power supply circuit are turned on, and the recording block power supply circuit is turned off.
9. The method of operating an electronic still camera according to claim 8, wherein when the recording mode is set, the imaging block power supply circuit and the recording block power supply circuit are turned on and the photometry block power supply circuit is turned off. 14. A photometry block power supply circuit for applying an operation voltage to the photometry block, an imaging block power supply circuit for applying an operation voltage to the imaging block, and a recording / playback block power supply circuit for applying an operation voltage to the recording / playback block. 10. The electronic still camera further provided, wherein when the reproduction mode is set, the recording / reproducing block power supply circuit is turned on, and the photometry block power supply circuit and the imaging block power supply circuit are turned off. How to operate the described electronic still camera.