JPH08298612A - Still picture camera and still picture photographing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make it possible to directly transmit picture data from a still picture camera to a digital printer and to improve operability for photographing a subject and printing of a picture. CONSTITUTION: When a release button on a remote controller 11 is depressed, a microcomputer (MC) 14 transmits a release signal to an MC 21 through a cable 18. At the time of receiving the release signal, the MC 21 controls a memory controller 26 so as to store picture data transmitted from a solid state image pickup element 17 in a picture memory 22. When a print button is depressed, the MC 14 transmits a print signal to an MC 28. At the time of receiving the print signal, the MC 28 controls the controller 26 so as to read out picture data from the memory 22 and transmits the picture data to a digital printer 50 through an SCSI interface 27. At the time of receiving the picture data, the printer 50 prints out a still picture based upon the picture data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a still picture camera and a still picture photographing system, and more particularly to a still picture camera which transmits an image pickup signal obtained by the still picture camera directly to a printer and prints out an image based on the image pickup signal. Related to image capturing systems, etc.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image pickup signal of a subject captured by a still image camera is transmitted to a digital printer via a computer and printed by the digital printer (hereinafter
A still image capturing system for printing out is known.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, in the conventional still image photographing system, a still image camera 2 and a digital printer 3 are connected to a computer 1 via a SCSI bus 4 and a SCSI bus 5, respectively. Has been done. In this case, the computer 1 is an initiator in the SCSI interface, and the still image camera 2 and the digital printer 3 are targets in the SCSI interface, respectively. Here, SCSI interface (SCSI: Small Computer System Interfac
e) is an interface for peripheral equipment of small computers registered in ANSI (American National Standards Institute), and is used for peripheral equipment such as optical disk drives and image scanners.

Next, the operation of this still image photographing system will be described.

The still image camera 2 generates an image pickup signal according to a subject and performs so-called process processing on the generated image pickup signal. When the release button 2a is pressed,
The still image camera 2 converts the image pickup signal into image data,
It is stored in a built-in image memory (not shown).

The computer 1, which is the initiator of the SCSI interface, selects the still image camera 2 as a target when the photographer performs a printout operation as necessary. When the communication between the computer 1 and the still image camera 2 becomes possible, the image data read from the image memory of the still image camera 2 is transmitted to the computer 1 via the SCSI bus 4, and the image memory in the computer 1 is transmitted. (Not shown).

Next, the computer 1 uses the SCSI bus 5
, And the digital printer 3 is selected as a target. When the communication between the computer 1 and the digital printer 3 becomes possible, the image data read from the image memory of the computer 1 is transmitted to the digital printer 3 via the SCSI bus 5, and the digital printer 3 converts the image data into the image data. Print out the image based on it.

[0008]

As described above, in the conventional still image photographing system, in order to print out the image data obtained by the still image camera from the digital printer as a still image, the still image camera and the digital camera are used. I had to intervene a computer between the printers. That is, the photographer had to prepare an expensive computer even when simply printing out an image shot by a still image camera.

Further, there is an inconvenience that the photographer has to operate the computer and acquire a special operation procedure.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a still image shooting system and the like in which an image taken by a still image camera can be printed out by a digital printer without using a computer. The purpose is to

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a still image camera according to the present invention provides an image pickup means for taking an image of a subject and generating an image pickup signal, and an image pickup signal generated by the image pickup means. The image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that stores a still image as an image pickup signal, an output unit that outputs the image pickup signal read from the storage unit via a SCSI bus, and a control unit that causes the output unit to operate as an initiator in a SCSI interface.

[0012]

According to the present invention, the image pickup means photographs an object to generate an image pickup signal, the storage means stores the image pickup signal as a still image pickup signal, and the output means reads out from the storage means. The image pickup signal is output to the printer via the SCSI bus. At this time, the control means operates the output means as an initiator in the SCSI interface. The printer receives the image pickup signal supplied via the SCSI bus as a target in the SCSI interface, and prints out an image based on the received image pickup signal.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a still image camera and still image photographing system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

A still image camera to which the present invention is applied, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a video camera 10 for photographing a subject and outputting an image pickup signal, and an image pickup signal from the video camera 10 is converted into image data. A digital processor 20 for storing still images as image data, a monitor receiver 42 for displaying still images based on the image data,
And a viewfinder 41. The video camera 10 and the digital processor 20 are connected by a cable 18. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the still image camera is provided with a remote controller (hereinafter, simply referred to as a remote controller) 11, which can be remotely operated.

As shown in FIG. 1 described above, the video camera 10 converts an operation unit 12 for a photographer to set the setting conditions of the video camera 10 and a release signal from the remote controller 11 into data. An analog / digital converter (hereinafter referred to as an A / D converter) 13, a microcomputer (hereinafter simply referred to as a microcomputer) 14 that controls the entire video camera 10, a character generator 15, a video lens 16, A solid-state image sensor 17 that receives reflected light from a subject through the video lens 16 and outputs an image pickup signal.

The digital processor 20 is the same as that shown in FIG.
, An A / D converter 21 for converting the image pickup signal from the video camera 10 into image data, and the A / D converter
Image memory 22 for storing image data from converter 21
And a D / A converter 24 for converting image data into an image pickup signal
And the character generator 25 and the image memory 2
2 and a small computer system interface (Small) that outputs the image data stored in the image memory 22.
Computer System Interface: Hereinafter referred to as SCSI interface. ) 27, and a microcomputer 28 for performing control such as operating the still image camera as an initiator. The image memory 22 is composed of a plurality of frame memories 22a, and one frame memory 22a stores image data of one still image.

The remote controller 11 described above is, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a mode button 11a for switching operation modes described later, a release button 11b, a print button 11c for instructing printout,
A selection button 11d for switching the frame memory described later is provided.

A still image photographing system to which the present invention is applied is
As shown in FIG. 1 described above, the digital printer 50 is provided, and the SCSI interface 27 of the digital processor 20 and the SCSI interface (not shown) of the digital printer 50 are connected via the SCSI bus 30.

In these still image cameras and still image photographing systems, an image corresponding to the subject is displayed on the viewfinder 41 or the like, and when the photographer presses the release button 11b of the remote controller 11 while looking at the viewfinder 41, The image pickup signal is converted into image data, and the image memory 22
Is stored. If necessary, the image data stored in the image memory 22 is stored in the SCSI interface 27.
The image is transferred to the digital printer 50 through the digital printer 50, and the digital printer 50 prints out a still image based on the image data.

Specifically, the solid-state image pickup device 17 receives the reflected light from the subject through the video lens 16 and outputs the image pickup signals of the three primary colors obtained by photographing the subject to the cable 18.
Is supplied to the A / D converter 21 via.

The A / D converter 21 converts the image pickup signal from the solid-state image pickup device 17 into image data, supplies the image data to the image memory 22, and D / A converts it via the image synthesizing circuit 23. Supply to the container 24. D / A converter 2
Reference numeral 4 converts this image data into an image pickup signal and supplies it to the viewfinder 41 and the monitor receiver 42. As a result,
The photographer can view the moving image shot by the video camera 10 on the viewfinder 41 or the monitor receiver 42.

The image synthesizing circuit 23 is supplied with characters for a normal menu from the character generator 15 of the video camera 10 or the setup menu from the character generator 25 of the digital processor 20 in order to set the photographing conditions of the subject. For the character supplied. The image synthesis circuit 23 synthesizes the supplied character and the image data from the A / D converter 21,
It is supplied to the D / A converter 24.

As a result, the viewfinder 41 and the monitor receiver 42 have an image in which a character indicating the aperture value and the like is combined with a moving image taken by the video camera 10, and a menu for setting the shooting conditions. Is displayed.

Therefore, the photographer is required to view the viewfinder 41.
The focus and the like can be adjusted while checking the moving image displayed on the monitor receiver 42, and the aperture value and the like can be confirmed. Further, the photographer can easily set the photographing conditions by operating the buttons of the operation unit 12 while watching the menu display displayed on the viewfinder 41 and the monitor receiver 42.

This still image camera has two operation modes, a camera mode and a memory mode, and the photographer must set the still image camera to the camera mode before taking a picture of a subject. Remote control 11 to switch modes
This can be done by pressing the mode button 11a.

For example, when the photographer presses the mode button 11a in the memory mode, the still image camera enters the camera mode, and the mode button 11a in the camera mode.
Press to enter memory mode. Here, the camera mode is to display a moving image captured by the video camera 10 in the state where the aperture of the video lens 16 is opened as it is on the monitor receiver 42 or the like, and when the release button 11b or the like is pressed, the aperture ( After setting (not shown) as a set value, the image data is taken into the image memory 22. Further, the memory mode refers to a method of displaying a still image based on the image data stored in the image memory 22 on the monitor receiver 42 or the like.

When the mode button 11a is pressed to set the still image camera to the camera mode, the microcomputer 14 sends a signal to the microcomputer 28 indicating that the mode button 11a has been pressed. Upon receiving this signal, the microcomputer 28 controls the memory controller 26 to instruct the one frame memory 22a for taking in the image data.

The frame memory 22 in the image memory 22
The selection of a can be performed using the selection button 11d of the remote controller 11. Specifically, when the selection button 11d is pressed, the microcomputer 14 supplies a frame memory switching signal to the microcomputer 28. Based on this frame memory switching signal, the microcomputer 28 controls the memory controller 26 so as to select, for example, the previous or next frame memory 22a. The memory controller 26 sets the frame memory 22a for storing image data to another frame memory 22a according to an instruction from the microcomputer 28.

When the photographer presses the release button 11b of the remote controller 11 or the release button (not shown) of the operation unit 12 after setting the photographing conditions, the microcomputer 14 confirms that the release button has been pressed. Then, the release signal is transmitted to the microcomputer 28 via the cable 18.

Upon receiving the release signal from the microcomputer 14, the microcomputer 28 controls the memory controller 26 so that the image data is taken into the image memory 22. The memory controller 26 controls the image data supplied from the A / D converter 21 to be stored in the designated frame memory 22a according to an instruction from the microcomputer 28.

Next, when the mode button 11a is pressed to set the still image camera to the memory mode,
The microcomputer 14 transmits to the microcomputer 28 a signal indicating that the mode button 11a has been pressed. The microcomputer 28
When this signal is received, the memory controller 26 is controlled and one frame memory 22a in the image memory 22 is controlled.
Read image data from. The read image data is supplied to the monitor receiver 42 or the like via the image synthesizing circuit 23 and the D / A converter 24, and the still image taken is displayed on the monitor receiver 42.

Therefore, the photographer is required to view the viewfinder 41.
Also, the image of the subject displayed on the monitor receiver 42 can be observed to judge the quality of the captured still image.

When the photographer presses the selection button 11d on the remote controller 11, the microcomputer 14 supplies a frame memory switching signal to the microcomputer 28. The microcomputer 28 controls the memory controller 26 based on this frame memory switching signal. The memory controller 26 selects another frame memory 22a according to an instruction from the microcomputer 28 and reads other image data. As a result, the still image displayed on the monitor receiver 42 or the like is switched.

By the way, this still image camera is provided with a switch 31. For example, when the switch 31 is turned on, the SCS
It becomes an initiator in the I interface, and becomes a target when the switch 31 is turned off. Specifically, when the switch 31 is turned on, the microcomputer 28 executes a program stored in the ROM 29 in advance, and the SCSI interface 27 is set to SCSI.
Set to the initiator on the interface.

Next, when the photographer presses the print button 11c of the remote controller 11, the microcomputer 14 confirms that the print button 11c has been pressed and sends a print signal to the microcomputer 28.

Upon receiving the print signal from the microcomputer 14, the microcomputer 28 controls the memory controller 26 to read the image data from the image memory 22.
The memory controller 26 uses the frame memory 2 instructed from the image memory 22 according to an instruction from the microcomputer 28.
2a is selected to read the stored image data. The SCSI interface 27 transmits the read image data to the SCSI interface (not shown) in the digital printer 50 via the SCSI bus 30. The digital printer 50 prints out a still image based on the transmitted image data.

As described above, in this still image photographing system, the still image camera can be used as the initiator of the SCSI interface, and the photographed still image can be printed out without using a computer like the conventional device. You can In other words, in the present invention, a computer is not required, a still image capturing system that is less expensive than a conventional device can be configured, and the photographer does not need to acquire a computer operation procedure.

By the way, this still image camera becomes a target of the SCSI interface when the switch 31 is turned off. Therefore, similarly to the conventional device, a still image can be printed out from this still image camera through the computer.

[0039]

As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, the image pickup means shoots a subject to generate an image pickup signal, the storage means stores the image pickup signal as a still image pickup signal, and the output means. Outputs the image pickup signal read from the storage means via the SCSI bus. At this time, the control means operates the output means as an initiator in the SCSI interface, so that the image data obtained by the still image camera can be directly transmitted to the printer without passing through the computer, and the photographed still image is printed out. can do. In other words, according to the present invention, a computer is not required, an inexpensive still image capturing system can be configured, and the photographer does not need to acquire a computer operation procedure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific circuit configuration of a still image shooting camera and a still image shooting system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an arrangement of buttons of a remote controller of the still image camera.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional still image capturing system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Video Camera 16 Video Lens 17 Solid-state Image Sensor 20 Digital Processor 22 Image Memory 26 Memory Controller 27 SCSI Interface 28 Microcomputer 50 Digital Printer

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject to generate an image pickup signal, a storage means for storing the image pickup signal generated by the image pickup means as a still image pickup signal, and read from the storage means. A still image camera comprising: output means for outputting an image pickup signal via a SCSI bus; and control means for operating the output means as an initiator in a SCSI interface. 2. A still image camera operating as an initiator in a SCSI interface, an image pickup signal supplied from the still image camera via a SCSI bus as a target in the SCSI interface, and an image based on the received image pickup signal is received. A still image capturing system, comprising: a printer that prints out.