JPH10313422A - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform continuous photographing just before pressing a shutter button by providing a touch button on a pressure plane of the shutter button and continuously starting photographing at the on timing of a touch switch. SOLUTION: A pressure plane 2a of a shutter button 2 is provided with a touch switch 5 that comprises a pressure sensitive membrane switch. When the button 2 is pressed and a subject is photographed, the switch 5 that is attached to the plane 2a of the button 2 is turned on just before that, and photographing starts at this instance. Further, the switch 5 also functions as an operation switch for automatic focusing and automatic photometry. Videos of plural frames before and after the button 2 is pressed are stored on a memory card through an image pickup device and a video processing part. Because of this arrangement, photographing starts just before the button 2 is pressed, and a desired video is acquired without missing a good opportunity for a photograph.

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 capable of continuously photographing immediately before a shutter button is pressed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an example of this kind of electronic still camera, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-284079. In this method, a subject is continuously photographed in a continuous shooting mode by pressing a shutter button.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned conventional configuration,
Continuous shooting is performed after the shutter button is pressed. When the shutter button is pressed, a photo opportunity may be missed due to a time lag.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera capable of continuously photographing immediately before a shutter button is pressed in view of the above-mentioned conventional disadvantages.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when a shutter button is pressed, an image of a subject photographed via an image sensor is subjected to data processing by a video processing unit. In an electronic still camera in which the data processed image is stored in a memory card, a touch switch is provided on a pressing surface of the shutter button, and shooting is continuously started from the time when the touch switch is turned on. It is characterized by:

In the above arrangement, when a subject is photographed by pressing the shutter button, a touch switch provided on the pressing surface of the shutter button is turned on immediately before the photographing, and photographing is continuously started from that point, and the shutter button is released. The images of a plurality of frames before and after the pressing are stored in the memory card via the image sensor and the image processing unit.

In this case, since the photographing is started immediately before the shutter button is pressed, a desired image can be obtained without missing a photo opportunity.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a buffer memory for temporarily storing an image data processed by the image processing unit is provided, and the data processing is performed from the buffer memory to the memory card. It is characterized in that the input image is input.

[0009] According to the above configuration, after the data-processed video is temporarily stored in the buffer memory having a short access time, the data-processed video is input from the buffer memory to the memory card. You can shoot continuously.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the shutter button, the image sensor, the video processing unit, the memory card, the touch switch, and the buffer memory are controlled by a control unit including a microcomputer. , Starting the shooting via the image sensor from the time when the touch switch is turned on, processing the video of the captured subject by the video processing unit, storing the processed video in the buffer memory, and pressing the shutter button. It is determined from the point in time whether the number of frames of the video already stored in the buffer memory is larger than a predetermined number, and when the number of frames is the same or less, the video of the number of frames already stored is When a predetermined number of frames after pressing the shutter button is stored in the memory card, and the number of frames is large, Is characterized in that the number of protruding frames is erased, and the image of the number of frames remaining after the erasure and the image of a predetermined number of frames after pressing the shutter button are stored in the memory card. .

According to the above configuration, the time interval from the time when the touch switch is turned on to the time when the shutter button is pressed is long, and even when a large number of frames of video are continuously shot, the time when the shutter button is pressed is used as a reference. Since only a few frames of the previous image are left and the other images are erased, only a few necessary images before and after pressing the shutter button can be stored in the memory card.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a monitor including a liquid crystal screen for displaying an image of a subject photographed through the image sensor. The backlight is turned on only when the touch switch is on.

According to the above configuration, the backlight of the monitor is turned on only when necessary, thereby preventing the battery from being consumed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a monitor comprising a liquid crystal screen for displaying an image of a subject photographed through the image sensor. It is characterized in that there is provided a video clipping means for clipping and saving only a necessary portion of the projected video.

According to the above configuration, by cutting out only a necessary portion of the video, it is possible to store a larger number of frames of video than when storing the entire video in the memory card. In addition, the operation of synthesizing and editing video can be easily performed, and the transfer time of video data can be reduced.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 4 or 5.
In the invention described above, a light-shielding hood is detachably attached around the monitor of the camera body.

According to the above configuration, the monitor screen can be clearly seen by the light shielding hood so that light does not directly hit the monitor screen.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the light-shielding hood is provided with a light-transmitting portion, and the light-shielding hood with the light-transmitting portion is detachably mounted around a lens of the camera body. It is characterized in that it is also attached and serves also as a spacing member for keeping the spacing to the subject constant.

According to the above construction, the spacing member formed of the light-shielding hood attached to the periphery of the lens is brought into contact with a subject, for example, a document, to keep the distance between the lens and the document constant, By irradiating the original with light through the provided light transmitting portion, the original can be used as a scanner for clearly photographing the original. Further, since the light shielding hood also serves as the spacing member, the number of components is reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the light shielding hood is detachably mounted around a lens of the camera body to maintain a constant distance to a subject. Also serves as a holding member,
An optical fiber for projecting light from the backlight of the monitor in a photographing direction is provided, and a light shielding member for blocking light passing through the optical fiber is provided.

According to the above configuration, when used as a scanner, the light-shielding member is opened and the light of the backlight of the monitor is irradiated on the subject, for example, the document through the optical fiber, so that the document is clearly photographed. Since the backlight also serves as an illumination device for a scanner, the number of parts is reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an electronic still camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. On an upper surface of a camera body 1, a shutter button 2 and a power switch 3a are provided.
And an operation unit 3 such as a liquid crystal display.

As shown in FIG. 2, a touch switch 5 composed of a pressure-sensitive membrane switch is provided on the pressing surface 2a of the shutter button 2. This is because a printed circuit board 5a and a ring-shaped space 5 are provided on the printed circuit board 5a.
b, and is fixed to the pressing surface 2a by a fixing ring 6 screwed onto the upper part of the shutter button 2. When the film 5c is touched, the film 5c is Deflected, the film 5
The electrode provided on the lower surface of c and the electrode provided on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 5a contact each other, and the circuit 7 is closed. In addition to the pressure-sensitive type membrane switch, various touch switches such as a capacitance type switch and a mechanical switch which operates with light pressure may be used.

In the above arrangement, when the subject is photographed by pressing the shutter button 2, immediately before that, the touch switch 5 provided on the pressing surface 2a of the shutter button 2 is turned on, and photographing is continuously started from that point. You. In addition,
The touch switch 5 also serves as an operation switch for automatic focusing and automatic photometry.

As shown in FIG. 3, the shutter button 2, power switch 3a, touch switch 5, monitor 4
In addition, an image sensor 8 for photographing a subject, a video processing unit 9 for data processing of a video of the subject photographed via the image sensor 8, and a video temporarily processed by the video processing unit 9 are temporarily stored. And a memory card 11 for storing a data-processed image input from the buffer memory 10 are controlled by a control unit 12 including a microcomputer.

FIG. 4 shows an image stored in the buffer memory 10, and an image of a plurality of frames before and after the image B [in this embodiment, three images are displayed based on the image B shot when the shutter button 2 is pressed. (A1 to A3, C1 to C3)]
Control unit 12 so that only
Is set to

The operation of the control unit 12 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. When the subject is photographed by pressing the shutter button 2, immediately before that, the touch switch 5 provided on the pressing surface 2a of the shutter button 2 is turned on. (S1), shooting is continuously started from that point in time, the shot image of the subject is subjected to data processing by the image processing unit 9 via the imaging device 8, and the processed image is stored in the buffer memory 10;
(S2).

Next, when the shutter button 2 is pressed (S3),
It is determined whether or not the number of frames of the video already stored in the buffer memory 10 is larger than a predetermined number (three frames) (S
4) If the number of frames is the same or small, that is, if only images (A1 to A3) of three frames or less have been taken from the time when the touch switch 5 is turned on to the time when the shutter button 2 is pressed, The images of the stored number of frames (A1 to A3 and B) and 3 after pressing the shutter button 2
The frames (C1 to C3) are stored in the memory card 11 (S6).

If the number of frames is large, that is, from the time when the touch switch 5 is turned on to the time when the shutter button 2 is pressed, for example, four frames of video (A1 to A4) or five frames of video (A1 to A5) are displayed. When shooting, the protruding video (A4, A5) is erased (S5), and the remaining number of frames (A1 to A3 and B) and the three frames after pressing the shutter button 2 are deleted. (C1 to C3) are stored in the memory card 11 (S6).

According to the above configuration, the photographing is started immediately before the shutter button 2 is pressed, so that a desired image can be obtained without missing a photo opportunity. In addition, since the processed video is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 10 having an earlier access time, the processed video is input from the buffer memory 10 to the memory card 11, so that high-speed continuous shooting is possible. Can be. Further, the time interval from the time when the touch switch 5 is turned on to the time when the shutter button 2 is pressed is long, and even when a large number of frames of images are continuously shot, the time before the shutter button 2 is pressed can be used as a reference. Only a few frames of images (A1 to A3) are left, and the other images (A
4, A5) are erased, so several really necessary images (A1 to A1) before and after pressing the shutter button 2 are displayed.
A3, B, C1 to C3) can be stored in the memory card 11. When the mode switch 3b of the operation unit 3 is pressed to switch to the single shooting mode, shooting can be performed only when the shutter button 2 is pressed.

As shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable that the backlight 4a of the monitor 4 is turned on only when the touch switch 5 is turned on. This can prevent battery consumption.

FIG. 6 shows an electronic still camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a track ball 14a, a mode switching key 14b, and an execution key 14c are provided on the back of the camera body 1. By pressing the mode switching key 14b, a cursor 15 appears on the monitor 4 as shown in FIG. 7, and the cursor 15 is moved by rotating the trackball 14a, as shown in FIG. By specifying a necessary part a of the video projected on the monitor 4 and pressing the execution key 14c, only the necessary part a can be cut out and stored in the memory card 11. Note that a tablet may be used instead of the trackball 14a. Since the configuration other than the above is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

According to the above configuration, by cutting out only the necessary portion a of the video, it is possible to store a larger number of frames of video than when the entire video is stored in the memory card 11. In addition, the operation of synthesizing and editing video can be easily performed, and the transfer time of video data can be reduced.

FIGS. 8 to 10 show an electronic still camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which rectangular projections 1a, 1a,
A light-shielding hood 16 detachably attached to the light-shielding hood 1b and covers the periphery of the monitor 4 or the lens 1c.
18 is fitted. Configurations other than the above are shown in FIGS.
Are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

According to the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 8, the light-shielding hood 16 is attached to the rear side projection 1a of the camera body 1 so that light does not directly hit the screen of the monitor 4, and 4 can be seen clearly.

As shown in FIG. 10, a light-shielding hood 16 is attached to the front projection 1b of the camera body 1, and the light-shielding hood 16 is attached to, for example, a document (subject) 19.
, The distance h between the lens 1c and the original 19 is kept constant, and the original 19 is sharpened by irradiating the original 19 with light through the light transmitting plate 18 provided on the light shielding hood 16. It can be used as a scanner for taking pictures. Further, since the light-shielding hood 16 also functions as the spacing member, the number of parts is reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

FIG. 11 shows an electronic still camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
a light-introducing chamber 21 formed by partially bending the protective case 20 outward, and a lens 1c on the front wall of the camera body 1.
An optical fiber 23 is disposed between the light guiding chamber 22 formed by partially bending the vicinity inward, and a convex lens 24 is fitted into the light guiding chamber 22 to introduce light into the protective case 20. A light shielding member 25 for opening and closing the chamber 21 is slidably provided, and the substantially L-shaped operating rod 2 of the light shielding member 25 is provided.
5 a is disposed in a concave portion 26 formed on the side surface of the camera body 1. Structures other than those described above are almost the same as those of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, and therefore, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

In the above configuration, when used as a scanner, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 11, the light-shielding hood 16 attached to the front projection 1b of the camera body 1 is brought into contact with the original 19, and By pulling the light-shielding member 25a to open the light-shielding member 25, the light of the backlight 4a is irradiated in the photographing direction through the optical fiber 23 and the convex lens 25, and the document 19 can be clearly photographed.

By pushing the operating rod 25a to close the light shielding member 25, the light introduction chamber 21 can be closed and light passing through the optical fiber 23 can be blocked (see the phantom line in FIG. 11).

In this case, since the backlight 4a also serves as an illumination device for the scanner, the number of parts is reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0041]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since photographing is started immediately before the shutter button is pressed, a desired image can be obtained without missing a photo opportunity.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, after temporarily storing the data-processed video in the buffer memory having a short access time, the data-processed video is input from the buffer memory to the memory card. Therefore, continuous shooting can be performed at high speed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the time interval between the time when the touch switch is turned on and the time when the shutter button is pressed is long. With only a few frames before the shutter button pressed, only a few necessary frames before and after pressing the shutter button are stored in the memory card. be able to.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the battery from being exhausted by turning on the backlight of the monitor only when necessary.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by cutting out only a necessary portion of the video, it is possible to store the video of a larger number of frames than when the entire video is stored in the memory card. In addition, the operation of synthesizing and editing video can be easily performed, and the transfer time of video data can be reduced.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the light is prevented from directly shining on the monitor screen by the light shielding hood.
You can see the monitor screen clearly.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the spacing member formed of the light shielding hood attached to the periphery of the lens is brought into contact with a subject, for example, a document, so as to maintain a constant distance between the lens and the document. By irradiating the document with light through a light-transmitting portion provided in the light-shielding hood, the document can be used as a scanner for clearly photographing the document. Also,
Since the light-shielding hood also serves as the spacing member, the number of parts is reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, when used as a scanner, the light shielding member is opened, and the light of the backlight of the monitor is irradiated on the subject, for example, the original through an optical fiber, so that the original can be used. Since a clear image can be taken and the backlight also serves as an illumination device for a scanner, the number of parts can be reduced and the production cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic still camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the vicinity of the shutter button.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control state of the control unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an image stored in the buffer memory.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control state of the control unit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an electronic still camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the monitor screen.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway plan view of an electronic still camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the light-shielding hood.

FIG. 10 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the light shielding hood as a spacing member.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an electronic still camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera body 2 Shutter button 2a Shutter button pressing surface 4 Monitor 4a Backlight 5 Touch switch 8 Image sensor 9 Image processing unit 10 Buffer memory 11 Memory card 12 Control unit 14 Image cutting means 16 Light shielding hood 18 Light transmitting plate (light transmitting plate) Part) 19 original (subject) 23 optical fiber 25 light shielding member

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An electronic still camera in which, when a shutter button is pressed, an image of a subject taken through an image sensor is subjected to data processing by an image processing unit, and the processed image is stored in a memory card. A touch switch is provided on a pressing surface of the shutter button,
An electronic still camera, wherein photographing is continuously started from the time when the touch switch is turned on. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a buffer memory for temporarily storing the video data processed by the video processing unit, wherein the video processed data is input from the buffer memory to the memory card. Item 3. The electronic still camera according to Item 1. 3. The shutter button, the image sensor, the video processing unit, the memory card, the touch switch, and the buffer memory are controlled by a control unit including a microcomputer, and from the time when the touch switch is turned on, via the image sensor. The shooting is started, the image of the photographed subject is subjected to data processing by the image processing unit, and the data processed image is stored in the buffer memory. It is determined whether the number of frames is greater than a predetermined number.If the number of frames is the same or less, the image of the already stored number of frames and the image of the predetermined number of frames after pressing the shutter button are compared. Is stored in the memory card, and when the number of frames is large, the number of protruding frames is deleted. 3. An image having a predetermined number of frames and an image having a predetermined number of frames after a shutter button is pressed are stored in the memory card.
An electronic still camera as described. 4. A monitor comprising a liquid crystal screen for displaying an image of a subject photographed through the image pickup device, wherein a backlight of the monitor is turned on only when the touch switch is turned on. The electronic still camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: 5. A monitor comprising a liquid crystal screen for displaying an image of a subject photographed via the image sensor, and an image clipping means for cutting and storing only a necessary portion of the image projected on the monitor. The electronic thrill camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: 6. The electronic still camera according to claim 4, wherein a light-shielding hood is detachably mounted around the monitor of the camera body. 7. A light-shielding hood is provided with a light-transmitting portion, and the light-shielding hood with the light-transmitting portion is detachably attached around a lens of the camera body to maintain a constant distance to a subject. 7. The electronic still camera according to claim 6, wherein the electronic still camera also serves as a spacing member. 8. The monitor light-shielding hood is detachably attached to a periphery of a lens of the camera body and serves also as an interval holding member for maintaining an interval to a subject constant. 7. The electronic still camera according to claim 6, further comprising: an optical fiber for projecting the image in the photographing direction; and a light blocking member for blocking light passing through the optical fiber.