JPH09270944A - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To operate an electronic still camera by a battery as long as possible, by saving power of the electronic still camera. SOLUTION: The electronic still camera in which an image picked up by optical system 2 is converted into an electric video signal by an image pickup means 3 and recorded by a recording means 5, displayed on an internal display means 6, further, outputted externally by an output means 7, is provided with a detection means 10 that detects it that an external display means 9 displaying the video signal is connected to the output means 7, a control circuit 11 controlling the internal display means 6 so as not to display when the external display means 9 is connected to the output means 7 so that when the external display means 9 is connected to the output means 7, no video signal is displayed on the internal display means 6, thereby preventing useless consumption of a battery by the internal display means 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic still camera, and more particularly, it is suitable for use in an electronic still camera used as a finder for connecting a TV monitor or a personal computer to determine composition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic still camera captures an image with a solid-state image pickup device to generate image data, and records the generated image data in a recording medium such as a floppy disk or a memory card. The device is effective for later reading the recorded image data from the recording medium, reproducing the image data for viewing, and loading it into a personal computer. Therefore, some of the electronic still cameras have a video output terminal and a connector for connecting to a personal computer.

In addition, many of them are designed to operate on a battery in consideration of outdoor photography, and have been miniaturized for convenience of carrying. Further, as a finder for determining the composition, there is also one having an electronic viewfinder and a liquid crystal display.

[0004]

When the electronic still camera constructed as described above is used, if it is connected to an external display means such as a TV monitor or a personal computer while being operated by a battery, it is a little long. It is required to operate for hours. Therefore, in the case of the electronic still camera, it is necessary to devise a power saving method.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the power consumption of an electronic still camera so that the electronic still camera can be operated by a battery for as long as possible.

[0006]

An electronic still camera according to the present invention comprises an image pickup optical system for forming a subject image and an image pickup means for converting the subject image formed by the image pickup optical system into a video signal. In an electronic still camera provided with a recording means for recording the video signal and an internal display means for displaying the video signal, an output means capable of outputting the video signal to the outside, and an output means for outputting the video signal from the output means. Detecting means for detecting whether or not the external display means capable of displaying the video signal is connected to the output means, and the detecting means detects that the external display means is connected to the output means. And a control means for controlling so that the video signal is not displayed by the internal display means.

Another feature of the present invention is that
The control means controls a signal processing circuit provided to convert the video signal so as to match the recording means, the internal display means, and the output means, and the signal processing circuit controls the video signal for internal display. The internal display means does not display the video signal by not performing the conversion process.

Another feature of the present invention is that the control means does not supply power to the internal display means so that the internal display means does not display the video signal. Is characterized by.

Another feature of the present invention is that the internal display means is a liquid crystal display device.

Another feature of the present invention is that the control means turns off the backlight of the liquid crystal display device so that the liquid crystal display device does not display a video signal. There is.

[0011]

Since the present invention comprises the above technical means, when an external display means such as a TV monitor or a personal computer is connected to the output means in a state of being operated by a battery, it is detected by the detection means, and as a result, Since the video signal is not displayed on the internal display means, it is possible to prevent the internal display means from wasting the battery unnecessarily, and it is possible to operate the battery for a long time.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of an electronic still camera of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an electronic still camera according to the present embodiment, 2 is an image pickup optical system including a zoom, lens, diaphragm, shutter, etc., 3 is a subject image formed by the image pickup optical system 2 into an electrical video signal. It is an image pickup means for conversion.

Reference numeral 4 is a signal processing circuit for converting the video signal obtained by the image pickup means 3 into a signal suitable for the recording means, the internal display means and the output means, and 5 is a signal processing circuit 4
The recording means 6 records the video signal converted for recording by the recording means 6, and the internal display means 6 displays the video signal converted by the signal processing circuit 4 for the internal display.

Reference numeral 7 is output means for outputting the video signal converted by the signal processing circuit 4 for external output, and 8 is output means 7.
And 9 is an external display means such as a TV monitor or a personal computer, 10 is detection means for detecting that the external display means 9 is connected, and 11 is the electronic still camera 1. It is a control circuit for controlling.

In the electronic still camera 1 of this embodiment having the above-described structure, when a single image is to be taken, the zoom magnification and the angle of view can be adjusted while looking at the internal display means 6 including an electronic viewfinder and a liquid crystal display. Decide and shoot. However, when the external display means 9 such as a TV monitor or a personal computer is connected to the connection portion 8, the operation can be performed while watching the screen of the external display means 9.

Therefore, the detecting means 1 detects that the external display means 9 such as a TV monitor or a personal computer is connected to the connecting portion 8.
When detected by 0, the control circuit 11 is notified that the external display means 9 is connected.

The control circuit 11 includes the external display means 9
When the detection means 10 reports that the is connected, the internal display means 6 is controlled not to display the video signal. As a result, power saving in the electronic still camera 1 is realized, and the time for operating with the battery can be significantly extended.

Various methods are conceivable as a method for preventing the internal display means 6 from displaying a video signal. For example, it is conceivable to control the signal processing circuit 4 so as not to convert the video signal for internal display.

Further, it is possible to not supply power to the internal display means 6, or to turn off the backlight when the internal display means 6 is composed of a liquid crystal display device.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the electronic still camera of the present invention will be described. 2 is the second
It is a block diagram explaining the embodiment of. In FIG. 2, blocks common to those of the first embodiment are given the same numbers. In order to enable the electronic still camera 1 of the present embodiment to be controlled by the remote control transmitter,
The remote control receiving means 12 is provided. Further, in the present embodiment, the TV monitor 13 is connected to the connection section 8 as the external display means 9.

In the present embodiment, since the remote control receiving means 12 is provided, by using the electronic still camera 1 and the platform (not shown) which can be controlled by the remote control transmitter (not shown), While viewing the screen of the TV monitor 13, it is possible to determine the zoom magnification and the angle of view by remote control and shoot.

In this case as well, since the display of the video signal by the internal display means 6 is not necessary, the TV monitor 13 is connected when the detection means 10 detects that the TV monitor 13 is connected to the connection portion 8. The control circuit 11 is informed of this.

When it is reported that the TV monitor 13 is connected, the control circuit 11 controls so as not to display the video signal on the internal display means 6. As a result, power saving of the electronic still camera 1 can be realized, and the time for operating with the battery can be extended.

As an application example of the present embodiment, it is considered to use a surveillance camera to record a necessary image, or to photograph a document or the like as an electronic OHP. Further, it can be applied to recording of microscopic images and electronic conferences.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the electronic still camera of the present invention will be described. FIG.
It is a block diagram explaining the embodiment of. In this embodiment, blocks common to the first embodiment are given the same numbers. The connection part 8 of the electronic still camera 1 of the present embodiment is a connector connectable to a personal computer, and the personal computer 14 and the personal computer monitor 15 are connected via the connection part 8.
Are connected to the electronic still camera 1.

When connected to the personal computer 14, not only the video signal is sent to the personal computer 14, but also the operation of the electronic still camera 1 can be controlled from the personal computer 14. Therefore, by using the electronic still camera 1 of the present embodiment and the pan head that can be controlled by the personal computer, it is possible to determine the zoom magnification and the angle of view by remote control while taking a picture while viewing the screen of the personal computer monitor 15. .

In this case as well, since it is not necessary to display the video signal by the internal display means 6, when the detection means 10 detects that the external display means 9 such as a TV monitor or a personal computer is connected to the connection portion 8. Informs the control circuit 11 that the external display means 9 is connected.

When it is reported that the external display means 9 is connected, the control circuit 11 controls so as not to display the video signal on the internal display means 6. As a result, the power saving of the electronic still camera 1 can be realized, and the battery operating time can be extended.

Note that this embodiment can also be favorably applied to monitoring cameras, electronic OHPs, recording of microscope images, electronic conferences, etc., as in the second embodiment.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, when an external display means such as a TV monitor or a personal computer is connected to the output means while operating on a battery, the internal display means is operated. Since the video signal is not displayed, it is possible to prevent the battery from being wasted by the internal display means, and it is possible to greatly extend the operable time of the battery.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an electronic still camera of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an electronic still camera showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an electronic still camera showing a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic still camera 2 Imaging optical system 3 Imaging means 4 Signal processing circuit 5 Recording means 6 Internal display means 7 Output means 8 Connection part 9 External display means 10 Detection means 11 Control circuit 12 Remote control reception means 13 TV monitor 14 Personal computer 15 Personal computer monitor

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Akira Suga 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Masao Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seiichi Ozaki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Koichi Sono 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An imaging optical system for forming a subject image, an imaging means for converting the subject image formed by the imaging optical system into a video signal, a recording means for recording the video signal, and In an electronic still camera having an internal display means for displaying a video signal, an output means capable of outputting the video signal to the outside and an external display means capable of displaying the video signal output from the output means are When the external display means is connected to the output means by the detection means for detecting whether or not it is connected to the output means, the internal display means displays the video signal. An electronic still camera, comprising: a control unit that controls not to perform. 2. The control means controls a signal processing circuit provided for converting the video signal so as to match the recording means, the internal display means, and the output means, and the signal processing circuit is for internal display. 2. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the internal display means does not display the video signal by not converting the video signal. 3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control means prevents the internal display means from displaying the video signal by not supplying electric power to the internal display means. Still camera. 4. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the internal display means is a liquid crystal display device. 5. The control means prevents the liquid crystal display device from displaying a video signal by turning off a backlight of the liquid crystal display device.
Electronic still camera according to 1.