JPH1079913A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a waiting time for reproduction display of an image pickup image that is recorded in a recording medium in an LCD display part and to quicken the content confirmation of an image pickup image. SOLUTION: A camera body part 2 is provided with an LCD display part 10, and an image recorded in an IC card 18 can be reproduced and shown. A thumbnail image of an image pickup image and a compressed image compressed in a JPEG system are recorded in the card 18. When the reproduction of recorded images is instructed, a controlling part 211 reads a thumbnail image from the card 18, performs expansion processing of it, after that, transfers it to image memory 210, shows it in the part 10, then, reads a compressed image from the card 18, transfers it to the memory 210 after performing extension processing, and shows it in the part 10. In the reproduction of a recorded image, the waiting time for reproduction processing is reduced and the confirmation of reproduced images is quickened by showing a thumbnail image before showing an compressed images.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera that photoelectrically converts a still object light image into an image signal, captures the image signal, and records the image signal on a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory. The present invention relates to a digital camera having display means for reproducing and displaying an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital camera, a captured image is generally converted to a JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts Group) from the viewpoint of effective use of the memory capacity of a recording medium.
The data is compressed by a predetermined compression method such as the p) method and recorded on a recording medium. Further, when a compressed image of a captured image is recorded on a recording medium, a thumbnail image used as an index image of the captured image recorded on the recording medium is generated and recorded on the recording medium together with the compressed image. . This thumbnail image is a small-sized uncompressed image generated by thinning out the number of data of the captured image.

A digital camera having an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display unit functioning as an electronic viewfinder has been conventionally known. In this digital camera, the captured image recorded on the recording medium can be reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit, and the recorded image can be displayed on the LCD display unit.
It can be reproduced and confirmed on the D display unit.

[0004]

When a compressed image recorded on a recording medium is reproduced and displayed on an LCD display of a digital camera, the decompression process requires a long time, and the LCD display is performed after a reproduction instruction is issued. A waiting time of about several seconds occurs until the display of the entire image is completed in the copy unit. During this waiting time, the entire image area cannot be seen, which gives the user a feeling of irritation, which is not preferable. In particular, when the compression ratio of the compressed image is high or the data capacity is large, the waiting time becomes considerably long. Therefore, it is desirable to display some information on the LCD display unit to reduce the frustration to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and reduces a waiting time that occurs when a compressed image recorded on a recording medium is reproduced and displayed on a display unit, and promptly confirms the reproduced image. It is intended to provide a digital camera capable of performing such operations.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a display means for displaying an image, a first image and a second image having a longer reproduction processing time on the display means than the first image. A digital camera which reads out a captured image of a designated frame from a storage unit storing the captured images of a plurality of frames, and displays the captured image on the display unit; When a frame to be designated is specified, a display control means is provided for displaying a first image of the frame on the display means and then displaying a second image of the frame on the display means.

According to the above arrangement, when a frame to be reproduced is instructed by the instruction means, a first image of the frame is displayed on the display means, and thereafter, a second image of the frame is displayed on the display means. Is displayed. That is, as for the image of the frame to be reproduced, a first image having a short reproduction processing time is displayed, and then a second image having a long reproduction processing time is displayed.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A digital camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera. 3 to 5 are a top view, a right side view, and a bottom view of the digital camera, respectively.

The digital camera 1 comprises a box-shaped camera body 2 and a rectangular parallelepiped imaging section 3. The imaging unit 3 is detachably mounted on the right side of the camera body 2 when viewed from the front, and is rotatably mounted in a plane parallel to the right side. Further, as described later, the imaging unit 3 can be connected to the camera body 2 via a dedicated connection cable.

The front end of the imaging section 3 is parallel to the upper surface of the camera body 2 as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 4 when the end face provided with the lens window (the upper end face in FIG. 1) is the front end. A position (a position where the imaging direction is the direction A in FIG. 4; this position is hereinafter referred to as a rotation reference position) is referred to as approximately ± (90).
+ Α) °. When the imaging unit 3 is directly connected to the camera body 2, the main power of the digital camera 1 is turned ON / OFF by the rotation of the imaging unit 3, and the imaging unit 3 is set to the rotation reference position. In the state shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the main power supply is turned off. This is a configuration in which the digital camera 1 is the most compact. Since the digital camera 1 is usually stored in this state, the main power supply is automatically turned off to facilitate the operation of the main power supply switch. It is like that.

The image pickup section 3 has an image pickup device including a photographing lens formed by a macro zoom and a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and converts an optical image of a subject into an image formed by an electric signal (each pixel of the CCD). The image is converted into an image composed of photoelectrically converted charge signals and is taken in. On the other hand, the camera body 2 is an LCD (Liquid Cry
stal display), a mounting section 17 for an IC card 18 (see FIG. 8), and a connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected. After performing signal processing, processing such as display on the LCD display unit 10, recording on the IC card 18, and transfer to a personal computer is performed.

The image pickup section 3 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having substantially the same length as the length of the camera body 2 in the height direction and having substantially the same dimension as the width of the camera body 2. The image pickup section main body 3A is provided with a mounting section 3 for mounting the image pickup section 3 to the camera body section 2 on one side surface of the image pickup section main body 3A.
B is protruded. The imaging section 3 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape in which the imaging section main body 3A is long in one direction, and can be set along the side surface of the camera main body 2 during storage. It is possible to use a zoom lens that is long in the axial direction. A mechanism for mounting the imaging unit 3 to the camera body 2 by the mounting unit 3B will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 6, a macro zoom lens 301 is provided inside the image pickup section main body 3A, and an image pickup circuit 302 having a CCD color area sensor 303 at an appropriate position behind the macro zoom lens 301. Is provided. In addition, a dimming circuit 304 including a dimming sensor 305 that receives the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is provided at an appropriate position in the imaging unit 3. The light control sensor 305 is
It is arranged at an appropriate position on the front end face of the mounting portion 3B.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a side parallel to the rear surface of the camera body 2 (the upper side when the image pickup section 3 is rotated + 90 ° from the rotation reference position) is provided outside the imaging section main body 3A, as shown in FIG. A zoom lever 306 for changing the zoom ratio of the macro zoom lens 301 and switching between zoom and macro is provided on the side).
A lock release lever 307 that allows the image pickup unit 3 to be detached from the camera body 2 is provided at a position further obliquely forward and to the right.

The zoom lever 306 is moved in the horizontal direction (the imaging unit 3).
With a lever that can slide in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of
The zoom ratio of the macro zoom lens 301 is changed by sliding the zoom lever 306 laterally left and right at the zoom position PZ. When the zoom lever 306 is slid rightward beyond the zoom position PZ and set to the macro position PM, the macro zoom lens 301 is switched to the macro lens. At the macro position PM, an image can be taken as close to the subject as about 50 cm.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the front surface of the camera body 2, a grip 4 is provided at an appropriate position at the left end, and a built-in flash 5 is provided at an appropriate upper portion at the right end. As shown in FIG. 3, on the upper surface of the camera body 2, switches 6 and 7 for frame advance for reproducing a recorded image are provided substantially at the center. The switch 6 is a switch (hereinafter referred to as an UP switch) for advancing the recorded image in a direction in which the frame number increases (the direction of the photographing order), and the switch 7 is a direction in which the frame number of the recorded image decreases. (Hereinafter referred to as a DOWN switch). An erasing switch 8 for erasing an image recorded on the IC card 18 is provided on the left side of the DOWN switch 7 when viewed from the rear side, and a shutter button 9 is provided on the upper right of the UP switch 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the back of the camera body 2, an LCD display for displaying a monitor of a photographed image (corresponding to a viewfinder) and reproducing and displaying a recorded image is provided substantially at the center of the left end. 10 are provided. Also, L
The F related to the flash emission is located above the CD display unit 10.
An L mode setting switch 11 is provided.
A compression ratio setting switch 12 for switching and setting a compression ratio K of image data recorded on the IC card 18 and a connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected are provided below the 0. FL mode setting switch 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes a push switch, and the compression ratio setting switch 12 includes a two-contact slide switch.

The digital camera 1 has an "automatic flash mode" in which the built-in flash 5 is automatically fired in accordance with the subject brightness as a mode relating to flash emission, and a "forced" mode in which the built-in flash 5 is forcibly fired regardless of the subject brightness. There are provided a "flash mode" and a "flash disabled mode" for inhibiting the flash of the built-in flash 5, and each time the FL mode setting switch 11 is pressed, the "auto flash" and the "forced flash"
And the mode of “light emission prohibition” is cyclically switched, and one of the modes is selectively set. In addition, the digital camera 1 has 2/8 and 1/20.
The type of compression ratio K can be selected and set. For example, when the compression ratio setting switch 12 is slid to the right, the compression ratio K = 1
/ 8 is set, and when it is slid to the left, the compression ratio K = 1 /
20 is set. In the present embodiment, two types of compression ratios K can be selectively set. However, three or more types of compression ratios K may be selectively set.

Further, a photographing / playback mode setting switch 14 for switching between a "photographing mode" and a "playback mode" is provided at the upper right end of the rear surface of the camera body 2.
The photographing mode is a mode for taking a photograph, and the reproduction mode is a mode in which a photographed image recorded on the IC card 18 is displayed on the LCD.
This is a mode for reproducing and displaying on the display unit 10. The shooting / playback mode setting switch 14 also includes a two-contact slide switch. For example, sliding to the right sets the playback mode, and sliding to the left sets the shooting mode.

As shown in FIG. 8, a battery loading chamber 16 for a power supply battery E and a card loading chamber 17 for an IC card 18 are provided on the bottom of the camera body 2, and loading slots for both loading chambers 16 and 17 are provided. Is closed by a clamshell-type lid 15, as shown in FIG. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment includes four AA batteries E1.
To E4 are connected in series, and four cylindrical loading chambers in which the batteries E1 to E4 are loaded are arranged in a row below the camera body 2. A battery loading chamber 16 is disposed laterally at a position slightly shifted to the right from the center of the lower surface. Further, a card loading chamber 17 having a band-shaped loading port is provided in front of the battery loading chamber 16 in parallel with the battery loading chamber 16.

At the back of the lid 15 (the surface facing the loading chambers 16 and 17), the battery E is located at a position facing the battery loading chamber 16.
1, E2 and a conductive connecting piece 15a and a battery E3.
A conductive connection piece 15b for connecting E4 is provided, and when the lid 15 is closed, the connection pieces 15a and 15b and the batteries E1 to 15b are closed.
The power supply battery E is configured by contact with E4.

In the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, as described above, since the lid of the battery loading chamber 16 and the lid of the card loading chamber 17 are shared, the arrangement of both loading chambers becomes compact. Thus, the protection of the IC card 18 at the time of attachment and detachment can be surely performed. That is, I
When the C card 18 is mounted, the power supply battery E is connected to the internal circuit by closing the lid 15 after the IC card is mounted, and when the IC card 18 is removed, the lid 15 is opened before the IC card is removed. The connection of the power supply battery E to the internal circuit is released by the
In this state, the IC card 18 can be inserted and removed.

The battery loading chamber 16 and the card loading chamber 1
8 is not limited to those arranged in the width direction of the camera main body 2 as shown in FIG. 8, and for example, as shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. May be arranged in two rows, and the battery loading chamber 16 'and the card loading chamber 17 are arranged in the horizontal direction. in this case,
It is preferable to use the example of FIG. 9 in which the battery loading chamber 16 ′ is on the right end side of the card loading chamber 17. Since the opening of the lid 15 increases toward the right end of the camera body 2, the batteries E1 to E
This is because the mounting and dismounting of No. 4 becomes easy.

At an appropriate position on the inner wall of the battery loading chamber 16, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12, a friction member 20 made of rubber, resin, or the like is provided. The friction member 20 prevents the batteries E1 to E4 from dropping when the lid 15 is opened with the lower surface of the camera body 2 facing downward, and facilitates removal of the batteries E1 to E4. The batteries E1 to E
13 in place of the friction member 20 as the fall prevention member of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 14, a spring member 21 may be provided, and as shown in FIG. 14, a stopper mechanism using a friction ball 22 may be provided.

The stopper mechanism shown in FIG. 14 operates when the opening of the battery loading chamber 16 is upward (FIG. 14A).
Since the friction ball 22 is located on the bottom side of the conical ball holding portion 16a and a gap is formed between the friction ball 22 and the battery E2, the battery E2 can be easily pulled out. When facing downward ((b) in the figure),
The friction ball 22 moves toward the head of the ball holding portion 16a, and is interposed between the ball holding portion 16a and the battery E2 to prevent the battery E2 from dropping.

Next, a mechanism for mounting the image pickup unit 3 to the camera body 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, on the right side of the camera body 2 when viewed from the front, a connection plate 23 to which the imaging unit 3 is detachably mounted is rotatably provided in a plane parallel to the right side. ing. The rotation of the connection plate 23 causes the imaging unit 3 attached to the camera body 2 to rotate within a range of approximately ± (90 + α) ° with respect to the rotation reference position.

On the mounting surface 308 of the mounting portion 3B, as shown in FIG.
A rectangular hole 309 having a projecting portion d is provided. The connection plate 23 is fitted into the hole 309 so that the imaging unit 3 is mounted on the camera body 2.

As shown in FIG. 17, a key member 311 for locking the connection plate 23 mounted on the mounting surface 308 is provided on the rear surface of the lock release lever 307 so as to protrude. The lock release lever 307 connects the key member 311 to the mounting portion 3B.
And is attached to the mounting portion 3B while facing the hole 309 side. In addition, the lock release lever 307
Is mounted so as to be movable in a direction in which the key member 311 comes into contact with or separates from the opening surface of the hole 309. Lock release lever 3
07 by operating the key member 311
9 can be moved to a lock position provided on the opening surface side and a lock release position provided on the back side of the opening surface. The lock release lever 307 is urged to a locked position by a spring 312.
When it is moved to the unlock position against the urging force, the imaging unit 3 mounted on the camera body 2 can be detached via the connection plate 23.

A plurality of connection terminals 234 are provided on the mounting surface of the connection plate 23, while holes 309 of the mounting portion 3B are provided.
Inside, a plurality of connection terminals (not shown) are provided facing the connection terminals 234 on the mounting surface of the connection plate 23.
When the imaging unit 3 is attached to the camera body 2 via the
The imaging unit 3 and the camera body 2 are electrically connected via the connection terminal 234.

The connection plate 23 is provided with rectangular recesses 231a and 231b at appropriate positions on both long sides thereof.
(Hereinafter, this surface is referred to as a back surface).
A groove is formed at each of two corners of the mounting portion 3B and at a position continuous with the recesses 231a and 231b.
10a to 310d are respectively engaged with engaging portions 232a,
232b, 232c and 232d are provided. In addition, a groove is formed at an appropriate position on the long side where the concave portion 231a is formed on a surface on which the connection terminal 234 is provided (hereinafter, this surface is referred to as a surface), and the key member 311 of the mounting portion 3B is engaged. An engaging portion 233 to be combined is provided.

The mounting section 3B of the imaging section 3 is mounted on the connection plate 23 of the camera body 2 in the following procedure. That is, first, the mounting surface 308 of the mounting portion 3B is arranged in parallel with the connection plate 23 such that the engagement claws 310c and 310d of the hole 309 face the recesses 231a and 231b of the connection plate 23, respectively. Is pressed against the connection plate 23. At this time, the engagement claws 310c and 310d
3 while the key member 311 is pressed against the surface of the connection plate 23 and the spring 312 is pressed.
Moves to the unlock position against the urging force of
Is pressed until the back surface of the connection plate 23 becomes the same as the mounting surface 308 of the mounting portion 3B. Thereafter, when the mounting portion 3B is moved to the rear end side (the direction B in FIG. 16), the engaging claws 310a to 310d of the mounting portion 3B engage with the engaging portions 232a to 232d of the connection plate 23, respectively. Portion 3B is connection plate 2
3, the key member 311 is moved to the lock position by the urging force of the spring 312 and fitted into the engagement portion 233, and the state of attachment of the imaging unit 3 to the connection plate 23 is locked.

When removing the imaging section 3 from the connection plate 23, the key member 311 is moved to the unlock position by operating the lock release lever 307 in the direction away from the mounting surface 308 (direction C in FIG. 17). Key member 311 and engaging portion 23
3 is released, and the mounting portion 3B is connected to the connection plate 2 in this state.
3 is performed by moving the mounting portion 3B in a direction away from the connection plate 23.

Next, a structure for attaching the connection plate 23 to the camera body 2 will be described. FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the connection plate unit. The connection plate unit is a connection plate 2
3, a substrate 24, a reinforcing plate 25, a sliding ring 26, a rotation support member 27, and a click member 28.

A concave portion 235 is provided on the back surface of the connection plate 23, and the substrate 24 on which the connection terminal 234 and the signal line connected to the connection terminal 234 are formed is accommodated in the concave portion 235. Further, on the back surface of the connection plate 23, a column-shaped female screw in which a part of a side surface is cut at a position eccentric in a downward direction on the longitudinal central axis and a female screw (not shown) is formed on the central axis. A part 236 is provided in a protruding manner.

The side cut portion of the female screw portion 236 is for providing a space for guiding the signal line into the camera body 2. Further, the female screw portion 2 in the connection plate 23
The eccentricity of the position 36 below the center ensures the stability of the camera posture even when the digital camera 1 is placed on a desk or the like with the imaging unit 3 rotated from the rotation reference position. That's why.

That is, in FIG. 22, when the center of gravity of the imaging unit 3 and the camera main body is substantially on the center line M in the vertical direction of the camera main body when the imaging unit 3 is at the rotation reference position, for example, 3 +90 from the rotation reference position
When rotated to a rotated position (hereinafter, this position is referred to as a front imaging position), the position G of the center of gravity of the imaging unit 3 moves forward of the camera from the center line M in the width direction of the camera. Camera body 2
A moment that rotates forward with the bottom surface of the as a fulcrum acts.

The female screw portion 236 of the connection plate 23 serves as a rotation axis of the image pickup section 3 connected to the camera body 2, and as shown in FIG. As the moment comes closer to the bottom surface of the camera body 2 serving as a fulcrum, the moment becomes smaller and the stability becomes higher. In this embodiment, the female screw 236 of the connection plate 23 is connected to the right side of the camera body 2 as much as possible. It is shifted downward from the center position N in the longitudinal direction.

In the present embodiment, the image pickup section 3 is formed in a vertical rectangular parallelepiped shape and employs an image pickup optical system that is long in the optical axis direction. The moment increases. Therefore, with the above configuration, the camera posture can be stably held even when the digital camera 1 is placed on a desk or the like and an image is taken with the imaging unit 3 set to the front imaging position.

Returning to FIG. 18, the reinforcing plate 25 seals the concave portion 235 of the connecting plate 23 in which the substrate 24 is stored, and reinforces the connecting plate 23. A through hole 2 through which the female screw portion 236 of the connection plate 23 passes
51 is formed, and an engagement hole 252 is formed at an appropriate position below the through hole 251 to be engaged with an engagement protrusion 264 projecting from a flange portion 262 of the slide ring 26.

The sliding ring 26 regulates the rotation angle of the connection plate 23 in the rotation operation. Sliding ring 2
Reference numeral 6 is a disc-shaped ring member having a flange 262 having a step at one end of the side surface. Assuming that the stepped side of the sliding ring 26 is the front surface, a notch 261A is formed at an appropriate position on the surface side of the center ring portion 261 of the sliding ring 26 as shown in FIG. A C-shaped groove 263 is formed in the flange portion 262 along the side surface of the ring portion 261 over an angle of ± (90 + α). The notch 261A is provided for a click member 2 described later.
The engaging projections provided on 8 are engaged. The groove 263 is a guide groove into which a guide pin 275 provided on the rotation support member 27 described later is loosely fitted.

A notch 262A is formed on the surface of the periphery of the flange 262 in the same direction as the notch 261A, and the notch 262B is shifted in the + 90 ° direction toward the center O from the notch 262A. Is formed. The notch 262A is for detecting that the imaging unit 3 attached to the connection plate 23 has been set to the rotation reference position and turning off the main power supply.
Is set to the front imaging position, and its imaging (optical axis) direction is the light emission (optical axis) of the built-in flash 5.
This is for detecting that the direction is parallel to the direction. An engagement projection 264 that engages with the engagement hole 252 of the reinforcing plate 25 is provided at an appropriate position on the back surface of the flange 262 in a direction opposite to the notch 261A.

The rotation support member 27 is a member for supporting the rotation of the connection plate 23 and for attaching the connection plate unit to the right side surface of the camera body 2. Rotation support member 2
Numeral 7 is a rectangular plate-shaped mounting portion 272, 272 'formed above and below a disk-shaped support portion 271.
The connection plate unit is attached to the right side of the camera body 2 by screwing the four corners of 2,272 '. Assuming that the upward direction (the direction D in FIG. 18) of the longitudinal axis of the rotation support member 27 passing through the center of the support portion 271 is the reference direction, the rotation support member 27 sets the reference direction to the imaging unit 3 with respect to the camera body 2. Rotation reference direction (direction A in FIG. 4)
And attached to the camera body 2.

A hole 273 through which the ring portion 261 of the sliding ring 26 passes is formed in the support portion 271 of the rotation support member 27. An annular edge 274 protrudes around a hole 273 on a surface of the support 271 facing the inside of the camera body 2 (the left surface in FIG. 18, hereinafter referred to as an inner surface). A concave portion (not shown in FIG. 18) into which the flange portion 262 of the sliding ring 26 is fitted is formed on a surface facing outward (hereinafter, referred to as an external surface).

U-shaped small grooves 274a to 274c are formed at positions of ± 90 ° and 180 ° with respect to the reference direction on the outer peripheral surface of the edge portion 274. This small groove 274
a to 274c indicate the rotation operation of the imaging unit 3 mounted on the connection plate 23 by ± 90 ° with respect to the rotation reference position and the rotation reference position.
This is for temporarily stopping at the rotated position.

At the appropriate position in the reference direction on the inner side surface of the support portion 271, the connecting plate 23 is oriented in the same direction as the rotation supporting member 27 (the central axis direction of the connecting plate 23 in the longitudinal direction (direction E in FIG. 18)). A switch 29 for turning off the main power supply at a position corresponding to the direction D) and a switch 30 for detecting that the connection plate 23 is at a position rotated by + 90 ° with respect to the rotation support member 27 are provided. ing. The position where the connection plate 23 is in the same direction as the rotation support member 27 is the position where the imaging unit 3 mounted on the connection plate 23 is set at the rotation reference position, and the connection plate 23 is positioned at +90 with respect to the rotation support member 27. The rotated position is a position where the imaging unit 3 mounted on the connection plate 23 is set to the front imaging position.

Accordingly, the switch 29 turns off the main power supply when the imaging unit 3 is set at the rotation reference position, and turns on the main power supply when the imaging unit 3 is set at a position other than the rotation reference position. The switch 30 is a switch that detects that the imaging unit 3 has been set to the front imaging position.

A guide pin 275 that fits loosely into the groove 263 of the slide ring 26 is provided at an appropriate position in the reference direction of the recess formed on the outer surface of the support portion 271.

Here, the operation of detecting the positions of the switches 29 and 30 will be briefly described. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a position detection state of the switch 29, and FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a position detection state of the switch 30.

Each of the switches 29 and 30 is a momentary push switch. When the slide ring 26 is fitted in the recess of the rotation support member 27, the lever 29A of the switch 29 is connected to the notch 26 of the flange 262 of the slide ring 26.
2A, the lever 30A of the switch 30 is positioned on a track passing through a notch 262B of a flange 262 of the slide ring 26 (see TR1 in FIG. 19).
2)).

When the connection plate 23 is at a position other than the rotation reference position, the lever 29A is immersed in the switch body 29B by the flange portion 262 and is in the ON state (see FIG. 21). When the lever 23 moves to the rotation reference position, the lever 29A is fitted into the notch 262A and protrudes from the switch body 29B, so that the lever 29A is turned off (FIG. 2).
0). The switch 29 is connected to a main power supply (power supply battery E).
In the on state, the power supply line is opened to supply power, and in the off state, the power supply line is closed to cut off the power supply.

Similarly, when the connection plate 23 is at a position other than the front imaging position, the lever 30A is immersed in the switch main body 30B by the flange 262, and the switch 30 is turned on (see FIG. 20). When the connection plate 23 is moved to the front imaging position, the lever 30A is fitted into the notch 262B and protrudes from the switch main body 30B, so that the connection plate 23 is turned off (see FIG. 21). It is detected that there is.

In this embodiment, a mechanical switch is used as a detection element for detecting the front imaging position of the connection plate 23, but the rotational position of the connection plate 23 is detected using an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor. Is also good. Further, an arbitrary rotation position of the connection plate 22 may be detected by an encoder.

Returning to FIG. 18, the click member 28 rotatably supports the connection plate 23 and the slide ring 26 on the support portion 271 of the rotation support member 27. The click member 28 is formed of a cylindrical member, and an engagement protrusion 281 that engages with the notch 261 </ b> A of the slide ring 26 is provided on the periphery of one end, and a connection plate is provided at a position opposite to the engagement protrusion 281. When the reference numeral 23 is set to the rotation reference position and the front imaging position, a protrusion 282 is provided which immerses into the small grooves 274a to 274c provided in the support portion 271 of the rotation support member 27 to give a click feeling. Further, the protrusion 28 of the cylindrical body is used.
The wiring holding portion 283 having a U-shaped cross section is
Are formed. The wiring holding portion 283 is provided between the camera body 2 and the hole 273 of the rotation support member 27, the sliding ring 2.
6 to guide and hold a signal line wired to the connection plate 23 through the through-hole 251 of the reinforcing plate 25 and the ring portion 261.

The through hole 284 of the click member 28 is provided with a step 284a at a position near one end.
Is screwed into the female screw portion 236 of the connection plate 23 so that the click member 28 and the connection plate 23 are fixed.

In the above configuration, the substrate 24 is
And a connecting plate 23 to which a reinforcing plate 25 is attached
The sliding ring 26 is attached by inserting the female screw portion 236 into the ring portion 261 and engaging the engagement protrusion 264 with the engagement hole 252, and furthermore, in this state, the support portion 27
The ring portion 261 of the slide ring 26 is fitted into the hole 273 so that one guide pin 275 passes through the groove 263, and is attached to the outer surface of the rotation support member 27.

The engaging projection 281 is engaged with the notch 261A of the sliding ring 26 through the hole 273 on the inner surface of the rotation supporting member 27, and the projection 282 is connected to the supporting section 27.
1 in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the edge portion 274, and in this state, the screw 31 is inserted into the through hole 284, and the screw 31 is connected to the connection plate 2.
The click portion 28 and the connection plate 23 are fixed to the rotation support member 27 so as to be integrally rotatable by being screwed into the third female screw portion 236, thereby completing the connection plate unit. And
The connection plate unit is provided on the right side of the camera body 2 when viewed from the front, with the mounting portions 272 and 272 ′ of the rotation support member 27.
Can be attached by screwing both corners.

When the connection plate 23 is at the rotation reference position with the connection plate unit attached to the right side of the camera body 2, the switch 29 is turned off as described above, so that the imaging unit 3 is rotated. The main power is automatically turned off by setting to the reference position, and the main power is automatically turned on by setting the imaging unit 3 to a position other than the rotation reference position.

When the imaging unit 3 is rotated from the rotation reference position, the connection plate 23, the sliding ring 26, and the click member 28
Rotate integrally, and reach a position rotated by ± 90 ° from the rotation reference position, the protrusion 282 of the click member 28 enters the small groove 274a or the small groove 274b of the rotation supporting member 27, and the imaging unit 3 is held at that position. You.

As described above, the free rotation of the imaging unit 3 is stopped at the rotation reference position and the position rotated by ± 90 °, and the stopped state is maintained. The posture of the digital camera 1 can be kept stable by timer shooting.

When the imaging unit 3 is rotated to the front imaging position, an off signal is output from the switch 30 as described above, and the imaging direction of the imaging unit 3 is changed according to the off signal as described above. Is detected. The output signal from the switch 30 is used for controlling the light emission of the built-in flash 5 of the digital camera 1 as described later, and when an off signal is output from the switch 30 (that is, the imaging direction of the imaging unit 3 is changed to the built-in flash 5). ), The light emission of the built-in flash 5 is permitted, and when an ON signal is output (that is, the imaging direction of the imaging unit 3 is set to a direction different from the light emission direction of the built-in flash 5). ), The emission of the built-in flash 5 is prohibited.

When the imaging section 3 is not set to the front imaging position, the light emission of the built-in flash 5 is forcibly prohibited. In the present embodiment, the built-in flash 5 is provided in the camera body 2. Therefore, when the imaging direction and the flash emission direction do not match, the range where the image is captured and the range where the flash is irradiated are deviated. This makes it impossible to perform suitable flash photography.

When the imaging unit 3 is rotated by a predetermined angle α ° beyond ± 90 ° from the rotation reference position, the guide pins 275 of the rotation support member 27 abut against and connect both ends of the groove 263 of the slide ring 26. The rotation of the plate 23 is restricted, so that the imaging unit 3 can rotate within the range of the rotation reference position ± (90 + α) °.

In the present embodiment, the imaging section 3 is mounted on the right side of the camera main body 2, but may be mounted on the left side of the camera main body 2.

In the above description, the imaging unit 3 is directly mounted on the camera body 2. However, the imaging unit 3 is connected to the camera body 2 via a dedicated connection cable. can do.

FIG. 24 is an external view of a connection cable for connecting the connection section 3 to the camera body 2.

The connection cable 32 has a connection portion 322 having the same connection structure as the connection plate 23 at one end of a cable 321 having a cable length of 1 m to several meters, and a mounting portion 3B of the imaging unit 3 at the other end. A connection portion 323 having the same connection structure as that of FIG. As shown in FIG. 25, inside the connection section 322 connected to the mounting section 3B of the mounting section 3 and the connection section 323 connected to the connection plate 23, a buffer amplifier 33 is provided on the imaging signal line. For example, an amplification circuit 34 having a gain of 6 dB is provided. The buffer amplifier 33 and the amplifier circuit 34 are connected to the camera body 2
The driving power is supplied from a power supply line for supplying power to the imaging unit 3 from. The resistance R
1 and R2 are resistors for impedance matching.

The buffer amplifier 33 converts the impedance of the output of the imaging unit 3 to reduce the waveform distortion of the imaging signal during transmission through the cable 321. The amplification circuit 34 attenuates the imaging signal due to impedance matching. Is to compensate. That is, the buffer amplifier 33
Is not provided, as shown in FIGS. 26A and 26C, the imaging signal S _G2 at the output end of the cable 321 is
Distortion significantly waveform compared to the sensed signal S _G1 at the input end of the cable 321, but becomes attenuated, by providing the buffer amplifier 33 and the amplifier circuit 34, together with the waveform distortion is reduced, the level decreases Since the compensation is made, the image pickup signal at the output end of the cable 321 can be improved as shown by S _G2 ′ in FIG. Thus, A / D conversion and other signal processing of an image pickup signal in the camera main body 2 are easily and accurately performed, and deterioration of the image quality of a picked-up image is prevented.

The buffer amplifier 33 and the amplifier circuit 3
4 may be provided inside the imaging unit 3 and the camera body 2, respectively. However, in this case, the circuit configurations in the imaging unit 3 and the camera body 2 increase, and Since power is supplied to the buffer amplifier 33 and the amplifier circuit 34 irrespective of the presence or absence of the cable, unnecessary power is consumed. Therefore, it is preferable that the power supply be provided in the connection cable as in the present embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram of the digital camera 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram when the camera body 2 and the imaging unit 3 are connected by a connection cable 32. In the figure, the same members as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 and 15 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The macro zoom lens 301 in the image pickup section 3 is provided with an aperture member (fixed aperture) having a fixed aperture. The signal processing circuit 313 and the timing generator (TG) 314 are components of the imaging circuit 34. CCD area sensor 303 (hereinafter referred to as CCD)
303. ) Is an image sensor composed of a CCD color area sensor, which converts the light image of the subject formed by the macro zoom lens 301 into R (red), G (green), B
The image signal is photoelectrically converted into an image signal of a (blue) color component (a signal composed of a signal sequence of pixel signals received by each pixel) and output. The timing generator 314 generates various timing pulses for controlling driving of the CCD 303.

The exposure control in the image pickup section 3 is performed by adjusting the exposure amount of the CCD 303, that is, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 303 corresponding to the shutter speed, since the stop is a fixed stop. If you cannot set an appropriate shutter speed when the subject brightness is low,
By adjusting the level of the image signal output from 303, improper exposure due to insufficient exposure is corrected. That is, when the luminance is low, the exposure control is performed by combining the shutter speed and the gain adjustment. The level adjustment of the image signal is performed in the gain adjustment of the AGC circuit in the signal processing circuit 313 described later.

The timing generator 314 is based on the reference clock CLK0 transmitted from the camera body 2 via the connection cable 32 or the connection plate 23, and the CCD 3
03 is generated. The timing generator 314 is, for example, a timing signal of integration start / end (exposure start / end), a read control signal of a light receiving signal of each pixel (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.).
, And outputs it to the CCD 303.

The signal processing circuit 313 performs predetermined analog signal processing on an image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 303. The signal processing circuit 313
It has a DS (correlated double sampling) circuit and an AGC (auto gain control) circuit. The CDS circuit reduces the noise of the image signal, and the level of the image signal is adjusted by adjusting the gain of the AGC circuit. The gain of the AGC circuit is automatically set by the control unit 211 via the connection cable 32 or the connection plate 23.

The light control circuit 304 controls the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 in flash photography to a predetermined light emission amount set by the control unit 211 via the connection cable 32 or the connection plate 23. In flash photography, the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is received by the light control sensor 305 at the same time as the start of exposure, and when the received light amount reaches a predetermined light emission amount, the light control circuit 304 sends the connection cable 32 or the connection plate 23. Camera body 2 through
A flash stop signal ST is supplied to an FL control circuit 214 provided therein.
P is output. The FL control circuit 214 forcibly stops the light emission of the built-in flash 5 in response to the light emission stop signal STP, whereby the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled to a predetermined light emission amount.

The switch S _MACRO is a switch for detecting that the macro zoom lens 301 has been switched to the macro lens. Switch S _MACRO is a zoom lever 3
When 06 is set to the macro position PM, it turns on.

A switch S _MAIN is a power switch of the digital camera 1 and corresponds to the switch 29 described above. The switch S _MAIN is turned off when the imaging unit 3 is set at the rotation reference position, and turned on when the imaging unit 3 is set at a position other than the rotation reference position.

A switch S _CPOS is a switch for _detecting that the imaging section 3 is set to the front imaging position.
This corresponds to the switch 30. Switch S
_CPOS is _turned on when the imaging unit 3 is set to the front imaging position. The detection signals of the switches S _MAIN , S _MACRO , and S _CPOS are input to the control unit 211 via the connection cable 32 or the connection plate 23.

The connection cable 32 is provided with a grounded connection terminal f1. The connection terminal f1 is for inputting a connection signal of the connection cable 32 to the control unit 211. That is, the terminal d to which the connection terminal f1 of the control unit 211 is connected is set to a high level when power is supplied to the control unit 211, and the connection cable 32 is connected to the camera body 2. Then, a low-level connection signal is input. The control unit 211 identifies the connection of the connection cable 32 based on the low level state of the terminal d.

In the camera body 2, the A / D converter 205 converts each pixel signal of the image signal input from the imaging unit 3 via the connection cable 32 into a 10-bit digital signal. The A / D converter 205 has an A / D converter
Each pixel signal (analog signal) is converted into a 10-bit digital signal based on the A / D conversion clock CLK2 input from the D clock generation circuit 203.

The camera body 2 has a reference clock CL
A reference clock generation circuit 201 for generating K0, a TG clock generation circuit 202 for generating a clock CLK1 for the timing generator 314, and the A / D converter 2
An A / D clock generation circuit 203 that generates a clock CLK2 for the clock signal 05 is provided. Further, the A / D clock generation circuit 203 includes a delay circuit 204 therein.

Reference clock generation circuit 201, TG clock generation circuit 202, and A / D clock generation circuit 203
Is controlled by the control unit 211. The TG clock generation circuit 202 generates a clock CLK1 based on the reference clock CLK0, and outputs the cook CLK1 to the timing generator 314 in the imaging unit 3 via the connection plate 23 or the connection cable 32.

The A / D clock generation circuit 203
When the imaging unit 3 is connected to the camera main unit 2 via the connection plate 23, the A / D is output based on the reference clock CLK0.
A conversion clock CLK2 is generated.
K2 is output to the A / D converter 205, and when the imaging unit 3 is connected to the camera body 2 via the connection cable 32, the A / D clock generation circuit 203 outputs the clock signal from the clock CLK2 based on the reference clock CLK0. Predetermined time Δt
A clock CLK 2 ′ delayed by only this time is generated, and this clock CLK 2 ′ is output to the A / D converter 205. Information on the presence or absence of the connection cable 32 is input from the control unit 211 to the A / D clock generation circuit 203, and the A / D clock generation circuit 203 generates either the clock CLK2 or CLK2 'based on this information.

The delay time Δt is determined by the image signal S input to the A / D converter 205 when the connection cable 32 is not provided.
_G2 A / D converter 20 when there is (the image signal S _G1 substantially the same signal output from the imaging unit 3) and the connecting cable 32
5 is a time corresponding to the phase difference between the image signal S _G2 ′ and the phase difference. This delay time Δt is constant if the length of the connection cable 32 is constant, and is therefore set in the delay circuit 204 in advance.

Therefore, when the image pickup unit 3 is connected to the camera body 2 via the connection cable 32, as shown in FIG. 28, it is input to the A / D converter 205 when there is no connection cable 32. Image signal S input to A / D converter 205 when image signal _SG2 and connection cable 32 are present
_G2 ', the phase difference .theta.
2 ′ is delayed from the clock CLK2 by θ and synchronized with each pixel signal of the image signal S _G2 ′,
A / D conversion of the image signal _SG2 can be accurately and reliably performed.

In FIG. 28, g (i) (i = 1,
2,...) Indicate image signals constituting the image signal. A / D conversion is performed on clocks CLK2 and CLK2 '.
Of the clock CLK2, C
LK2 'is input to the A / D converter 205 such that the rising timing is substantially at the center of each pixel signal g (i). In the present embodiment, the cable length is one type. However, when a plurality of connection cables 32 having different lengths are prepared, the phase difference θ differs for each connection cable 32. A plurality of delay times Δ corresponding to the connection cable 32
It is preferable to store t in the delay circuit 204 and selectively set the delay time Δt of the delay circuit 204 according to the connection cable 32 connected. In this case, each connection cable 32 is provided with two or more connection terminals f1, f2,...
The type of the connection cable 32 connected is identified from the ground information of... And the delay time Δt of the delay circuit 204 is automatically set to a predetermined time corresponding to the connection cable 32 connected. For example, when two connection terminals f1 and f2 are provided, the ground side of the connection terminals (f1 and f2) is “1”,
When the open side is represented by “0”, (f1, f2) = (1,
(0), (0, 1), and (1, 1), three types of connection cables 32 having different lengths are identified from the ground information of the connection terminals (f1, f2), and the connection is established. The delay time Δt corresponding to the used connection cable 32 can be automatically set based on the ground information of the terminals (f1, f2).

In this embodiment, the clock CLK
2, the clock CLK2 'is generated by delaying the clock CLK2. However, the clock CLK2' may be generated by shifting the phase of the clock CLK2.
2 'may be directly generated.

The black level correction circuit 206 corrects the black level of the A / D converted pixel signal (hereinafter referred to as pixel data) to a reference black level. The WB circuit 207 performs level conversion of pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components so that the white balance is also adjusted after the γ correction. The WB circuit 207 uses the level conversion table input from the control unit 211 to convert the level of the pixel data of each of the R, G, and B color components. Note that the conversion coefficient (characteristic slope) of each color component in the level conversion table is set by the control unit 211 for each captured image.

The γ correction circuit 208 corrects γ characteristics of pixel data. The γ correction circuit 208 has six types of γ correction tables having different γ characteristics, and performs γ correction of pixel data using a predetermined γ correction table according to a shooting scene and shooting conditions. Γ = 0.4 in the γ correction table.
5 and γ = 0.55, and the γ correction circuit 208
In the release standby state, when the captured image is displayed on the LCD display unit 10 on the monitor, the γ correction of the captured image is performed with the γ characteristic of γ = 0.45, and the captured image after release is stored in the IC card 18. When recording, the γ correction of the captured image is performed with the γ characteristic of γ = 0.55. This is L
While the CD display unit 10 has the γ characteristic of γ = 2.2, the image recorded on the IC card 18 usually has γ = 1.8.
This is because the reproduced image is often reproduced and displayed on the display device of the personal computer 19 having the γ characteristic described above, so that the image quality becomes suitable in accordance with the display device on which the captured image is reproduced.

In the γ correction processing, 10-bit pixel data is converted into 8-bit (256 gradation) pixel data. The reason why the image data before the γ correction processing is 10-bit data is to prevent the image quality from deteriorating when the γ correction is performed with the highly nonlinear γ characteristic.

The image data of each of the R, G, and B color components has been subjected to a predetermined level conversion in the WB circuit 207, and these image data are respectively subjected to the gamma correction by the above-mentioned gamma correction table, thereby achieving the gamma correction. WB adjustment is performed simultaneously.

The image data of each of the R, G, and B color components has been subjected to a predetermined level conversion in the WB circuit 207, and these image data are respectively subjected to the gamma correction by the above-mentioned gamma correction table, thereby achieving the gamma correction. WB adjustment is performed simultaneously.

The image memory 209 is a memory for storing the pixel data output from the gamma correction circuit 208. The image memory 209 has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, when the CCDC3 has n rows and m columns of pixels, the image memory 209 has a storage capacity of pixel data of n × m pixels, and each pixel data G (i, j) (i =
, N, 1, 2,... M) correspond to pixel positions (i,
j).

The image memory 210 is a buffer memory for image data reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. The image memory 210 has a storage capacity of image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD display unit 10.

In the shooting standby state, each pixel data of the image picked up by the image pickup unit 3 every 1/30 (second) is A
After being subjected to predetermined signal processing by the / D converters 205 to γ correction circuit 208, the signals are stored in the image memory 209, transferred to the image memory 210 via the control unit 211, and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. You. Thus, the photographer can visually recognize the subject image from the image displayed on the LCD display unit 10. In the playback mode,
After the image read from the IC card 18 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the control unit 211, the image is transferred to the image memory 210 and reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

The card I / F 212 is an interface for writing image data to the IC card 18 and reading image data. Also, communication I / F2
Reference numeral 13 denotes an interface compliant with, for example, the RS-232C standard for externally connecting the personal computer 19 so that communication is possible.

The FL control circuit 214 has a built-in flash 5
This is a circuit for controlling the light emission. The FL control circuit 214
Based on a control signal from the control unit 211, the presence / absence of light emission of the built-in flash 5 is controlled based on a light emission stop signal STP input from the dimming circuit 304 via the cable 32 or the connection plate 23. The light emission amount of the flash 5 is controlled.

The switch S _UP , switch S _DOWN and switch S _DEL are switches corresponding to the UP switch 6, the DOWN switch 7, and the erase switch 8, respectively. A switch S _REL is a switch for detecting a release operation of the shutter button 9. A switch S _FL , a switch S _COMP and a switch _{SP / R} are an FL mode setting switch 11, a compression ratio setting switch 12, This is a switch corresponding to the reproduction mode setting switch 14.

The control section 211 is composed of a microcomputer, and controls the driving of each member in the image pickup section 3 and the camera main body section 2 in an organic manner so as to control the photographing operation of the digital camera 1 overall. .

Further, the control section 211 has a luminance determination section 2 for setting an exposure control value (shutter speed (SS)).
11a and a shutter speed setting unit 211b. In the photographing standby state, the luminance determination unit 211a
The brightness of the subject is determined by using an image captured by the CD 303 every 1/30 (second). That is, the luminance determination unit 211a determines the brightness of the subject using the image data that is renewedly stored in the image memory 209.

The luminance determining section 211a is provided with an image memory 209.
Storage area is divided into nine blocks, for example, calculates the average value of the pixel data G _R color component of G (green) included in each block B as a luminance data representing the block. Then, the brightness of the subject is determined using the nine pieces of luminance data.

[0102] Incidentally, R, G, pixel data G _R of the respective color components B, G _G, may be calculated luminance data representative of each block using the G _B. That is, pixel data G _R , R, G, and B for each color component at each pixel position (i, j)
G _G, the G _B predetermined ratio (for example _{G R: G G: G B} = 4:
5: 1) and the luminance data BV (i, j) at the pixel position (i, j) (= 0.4 _{G R} +0.5 _{G G} +0.1 _G )
_B ) may be calculated, and the brightness data of each block may be calculated by calculating the average value of the brightness data BV (i, j).

The shutter speed setting section 211b sets the shutter speed (the integration time of the CCD 303) based on the result of the brightness determination of the subject by the brightness determination section 211a. Shutter speed setting section 211b
Has a table of shutter speed SS.

The shutter speed SS is initially set to a predetermined value (for example, 1/128 (second)) when the camera is started, and in a shooting standby state, the shutter speed setting unit 211b
Changes from the initial value to the high-speed side or the low-speed side step by step according to the result of the determination of the brightness of the subject by the luminance determining unit 211a.

As a result, if the brightness of the subject determined based on the image captured at the initial shutter speed SS is too bright, for example, the shutter speed SS is increased by one step (for example, The next image is captured (set to 1/144 (second)), and the brightness of the subject is determined again based on this image. If the determination result is still too clear, for example, the shutter speed SS is further increased by one step (for example, 1/161).
The next image is picked up (set to (seconds)), and after that, the appropriate shutter speed SS is set after a certain period of time in which the subject brightness determination and the resetting of the shutter speed SS are alternately repeated. .

In the photographing mode, when photographing is instructed by the shutter button 9 in the photographing mode, the control unit 211 displays the thumbnail image of the image taken in the image memory 209 after the photographing instruction and the compression ratio K set by the compression ratio setting switch 12. By JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts Grou
p) and a compressed image that has been compressed by the method, and both images are indexed together with index information (frame number, exposure value, shutter speed, compression ratio K, etc.) regarding the captured image.
It is stored in the C card 18.

As shown in FIG. 29, the storage area of the IC card 18 is mainly divided into three areas: a TAG area AR1, a thumbnail image area AR2, and a main image area AR3. In the TAG area AR1, the thumbnail image area AR2, and the main image area AR3, index information, a thumbnail image, and a compressed image for each frame are recorded.

The thumbnail image is a small image obtained by thinning out the pixel data of the photographed image and reducing the resolution. For example, the total number of pixel data constituting a captured image is 480 × 64
If there are no thumbnail images, the thumbnail images are generated by reducing the number of pixels both vertically and horizontally to １ ／. Therefore, the number of pixels constituting the thumbnail image is 1/64 of the original photographed image.
Note that the number of data actually recorded on the IC card 18 compresses the original captured image, so the number of data of the thumbnail image is not 1/64 of the compressed image. For example, when the compression ratio K = 1/8, the number of data of the thumbnail images is 1/8 (= 8/64) of the compressed image, and the compression ratio K
In the case of = 1/20, the number of data of the thumbnail image is 1 / 3.2 (= 20/64) of the compressed image.

The control unit 211 includes a filter unit 211c for performing a filtering process and a recorded image generating unit 211d for generating a thumbnail image and a compressed image in order to perform the recording process of the photographed image. In order to reproduce the reproduced image on the LCD display unit 10, a reproduction image generation unit 211e that generates a reproduction image is provided.

The filter section 211c corrects high-frequency components of an image to be recorded by a digital filter to correct image quality related to contours. Filter section 211
c denotes a digital filter for performing standard contour correction for each of the compression ratios K = 1/8 and 1/20, and two types of digital filters for enhancing the contour and the contour for the standard contour correction. A total of five types of digital filters, two types of digital filters to be weakened, are provided.

The above five types of digital filters are prepared for each of the compression ratios K = 1/8 and 1/20, because the JPEG method uses irreversible conversion.
The reproduced image of = 1/20 has a smaller high-frequency component than the reproduced image of the compression ratio K = 1/8 and is slightly out of focus. Therefore, filtering is performed by a digital filter having the same filter coefficient. If compression ratio k = 1
This is to prevent such adverse effects because a striped pattern may appear in the reproduced image of / 20.

[0111] The recording image generation unit 211d includes the image memory 2
Pixel data is read from the image data 09 and a thumbnail image and a compressed image to be recorded on the IC card 18 are generated. The recording image generation unit 211d reads pixel data for every eight pixels in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction while scanning from the image memory 209 in the raster scanning direction, and sequentially reads the IC card 1
The thumbnail image is transferred to the thumbnail image area AR2 of FIG.

The recording image generation unit 211d reads out all pixel data from the image memory 209, and converts these pixel data into JPE data such as two-dimensional DCT transform and Huffman coding.
A predetermined compression process according to the G method is performed to generate image data of a compressed image, and the compressed image data is recorded in the main image area AR3 of the IC card 18. The index information is generated by an unillustrated index information generation unit,
TA before or after the recording process of the thumbnail image and the main image
It is recorded in the G area AR1.

[0113] The reproduced image generation unit 211e is provided with the IC card 1
The image data is read out from the display unit 8 and a thumbnail image to be reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10 and a main image are generated. IC
Since the image recorded on the card 18 has been γ-corrected by the γ coefficient (= 0.55) for the monitor television, if this recorded image is reproduced on the LCD display unit 10 as it is, the γ coefficient and the γ The reproduced image generation unit 211e re-corrects the γ characteristic of the reproduced image when generating the reproduced image of the thumbnail image and the main image because the image quality becomes strong and the contrast is strong due to the mismatch with the coefficient (= 0.45). I do.

That is, the reproduced image generation unit 211e
The image data read while scanning in the raster scanning direction from the thumbnail image area AR2 of the C card 18 has γ =
After performing γ correction with a γ characteristic of 0.82 (= 0.45 / 0.55), display pixel data (pixel data obtained by interpolating missing pixel data) in units of horizontal lines based on this image data Is generated and sequentially transferred to the image memory 210 to reproduce and display the thumbnail images on the LCD display unit 10.

The reproduced image generating section 211e expands pixel data of the compressed image read from the main image area AR3 of the IC card 18 in units of horizontal lines to generate pixel data for display. After performing γ correction with the γ characteristic of γ = 0.82, the image is sequentially transferred to the image memory 210 and the main image is reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

Next, the operation control of the digital camera 1 in the shooting / reproduction mode will be described.

FIG. 30 is a main routine for controlling the operation of the digital camera 1. When the main power supply is turned on, the state of the shooting / playback mode setting switch 14, that is, the state of the switch _{SP / R} is detected to determine the mode setting state (# 2), and the mode setting state is determined. If the playback mode is (#
2 is YES), the "reproduction mode" shown in FIGS.
The reproduction mode process is performed according to the subroutine of (3). If the mode is the photography mode (NO in # 2), the photography mode process is performed according to the subroutine of "photography mode" shown in FIG.

In the reproduction mode, first, the initial value of the counter for counting the number of frames n is set to "1"(# 10), and the thumbnail image of the first frame is displayed on the LCD display section 10. (# 12 to # 16). That is, IC
The thumbnail image of the first frame is read from the thumbnail image area AR2 of the card 18 (# 12), and the thumbnail image is γ-corrected with the γ characteristic of γ = 0.82 and enlarged to the display size of the LCD display unit 10. After that (# 14), the thumbnail image is transferred to the image memory 210 and the thumbnail image is displayed on the LCD display unit 10 (# 1).
6).

Thereafter, an image compressed by the JPEG method of the first frame (hereinafter, referred to as a main image) is displayed on the LCD display unit 10.
Will be displayed. That is, the first frame main image is read out from the main image area AR3 of the IC card 18 in line units (# 18), and the line image is expanded and γ =
After the γ correction with the γ characteristic of 0.82 (# 20), the image is transferred to the image memory 210 and the main image is displayed on the LCD display unit 10 (# 22).

As described above, in the present digital camera 1, when the recorded image of each frame is reproduced and displayed on the LCD display section 10, the main image is displayed after the thumbnail image is displayed. As described above, the thumbnail image is displayed before the main image is displayed, whereas the display processing of the thumbnail image takes about 0.5 seconds while the display processing of the entire main image requires about 2 seconds. Since the thumbnail image can be displayed until the entire main image is displayed, the waiting time of the user in the reproduction process can be reduced.

The display of the main image is performed in units of lines.
As shown in FIG. 33, the progress of the reproduction process of the main image can be understood by the user by replacing the thumbnail image with the main image in line units.

In FIG. 14, (a) shows a state in which a thumbnail image is displayed, (b) shows a state in which the thumbnail image is changed to a main image in line units, and (c) shows a state in which the thumbnail image is displayed. This shows a state where the entire image is displayed. The recorded image of each frame includes the frame number, title,
This information is displayed together with information such as the shooting date, and these information
The information is displayed in an information display area 40 provided above the display area of the CD display unit 10. For example, the frame number is displayed at the left end of the information display area 40, and the shooting date is displayed at the right end of the information display area 40.

Subsequently, the on / off state of the UP switch 6, the DOWN switch 7, and the erase switch 8 are sequentially determined (# 24 to # 28). If the UP switch 6 is on (YES in # 24), The frame number n is incremented by 1 (# 32), and if the DOWN switch 7 is on (YES in # 26), the frame number n is decremented by 1 (# 34), and the process proceeds to # 38, where n frames are used. The thumbnail image of the eye is displayed on the LCD display unit 10 (# 3)
8 to # 42).

On the other hand, if the erase switch 8 is on (#
(YES at 28), the image data of the displayed frame number is erased according to the subroutine "Erase Image" shown in FIG. 34 (# 36), and all of UP switch 6, DOWN switch 7 and erase switch 8 are turned off. If it is (NO in # 28), it is determined whether or not the reproduction mode is held (that is, whether or not the shooting / reproduction mode setting switch 14 is operated) (# 30), and the reproduction mode is started. If the mode is switched to the shooting mode (N in # 30)
O), the process returns to exit the playback mode process. If the playback mode is held, the process returns to # 24, and the current frame number is maintained until one of the UP switch 6, the DOWN switch 7, and the erase switch 8 is operated. Is continued to be displayed on the LCD display section 10 (loop of # 24 to # 30).

In steps # 38 to # 42, the thumbnail image of the n-th frame is read from the thumbnail image area AR2 of the IC card 18 in the same manner as the thumbnail image of the first frame (# 3).
8), gamma correction and enlargement processing (# 40) are performed, and the thumbnail image is displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

Subsequently, after a waiting time of 0.5 seconds (# 4)
3) During the display processing of the thumbnail image of the n-th frame, the on / off state of the UP switch 6 or the DOWN switch 7 is sequentially determined (# 44, # 46), and if the UP switch 6 is on (# 44). And the number of frames n is incremented by 1 (# 48), and if the DOWN switch 7 is on (YES in # 46), the number of frames n is decremented by 1 (# 50) and the process proceeds to # 38. The thumbnail image of the (n + 1) th frame or the (n-1) th frame is displayed on the LCD display unit 10 (# 38 to # 43).

The processes of # 38 to # 50 are performed by the UP switch 6 or the DOWN switch 7 before the main image is displayed.
When the UP switch 6 or the DOWN switch 7 is continuously operated, the thumbnail image of each frame becomes approximately 1 second. It will be displayed every second.

If neither the UP switch 6 nor the DOWN switch 7 is operated during the display processing of the thumbnail image of the n-th frame (# 46), the display to the LCD display section 10 of the main image of the n-th frame currently displayed. Is performed (# 52 to # 58).

In steps # 52 to # 58, the main image area AR3 of the IC card 18 is set in the same manner as the thumbnail image of the first frame.
The readout of the compressed image of the nth frame from (# 52), the processing of decompression and γ correction (# 54) are performed for each line, and the main image is displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

The determination at step # 58 is for performing processing when the UP switch 6 or the DOWN switch 7 is operated during the display processing of the main image in line units. If it is not displayed (# 5
8; NO), returning to # 44, UP switch 6 or DOW
The operation state of the N switch 7 is determined. # 44
When the UP switch 6 or the DOWN switch 7 is operated during the display processing of the main image in line units by the loop from # 58 to # 58, the display processing of the main image is stopped and # 38 to #
At 42, the thumbnail image of the (n + 1) th frame or the (n-1) th frame is displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

On the other hand, if the display of the entire main image on the LCD display section 10 has been completed (YES in # 58), the process proceeds to # 24.
In response to the operation of the UP switch 6, the DOWN switch 7, and the erase switch 8, the frame number of the display image is updated or the display image is erased.

Next, regarding the image erasing process of # 36,
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the on / off state of the erase switch 8 is determined (# 60). If the erase switch 8 is on (YES in # 60), the display images on the LCD display unit 10 are erased line by line in order from the top (# 62). That is, the image data stored in the image memory 210 is erased in units of one line from the top.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the display image on the LCD display section 10 has been completely erased (# 66). If the display image is being erased, the process proceeds to # 60, and the erase switch 8 is turned off. Unless otherwise, the process of deleting the displayed image is continued (loop of # 60 to # 66).

On the other hand, if the erase switch 8 is turned off during the erase processing of the display image (NO in # 60), the LCD display unit 1
The deletion of the display image of 0 is stopped, and the image of the already deleted portion is displayed again on the LCD display unit 10 (# 64), and the process returns.

When the display image on LCD display section 10 is completely erased (YES in # 66), IC card 18 is displayed.
The image data corresponding to the currently displayed image recorded in the main image area AR3 is deleted (# 68), and the routine returns.

As described above, when deletion of image data is instructed by the deletion switch 8, the image displayed on the LCD display section 10 is deleted, and then the image data in the IC card 18 is deleted. Is to prevent the image data in the IC card 18 from being accidentally erased due to the user's operation error of the erase switch 8.

Further, the display image on the LCD display section 10 is erased in units of lines because a grace period for the operation error is provided, and the erasure operation of the image data is provided to the user by using the grace period. This is for visual notification. The user can confirm that the erasing process of the image data is being performed based on the erasing state of the display image on the LCD display unit 10 on a line basis, and turn off the erasing switch 8 in the case of an operation error. Thus, erroneous erasure of image data can be easily avoided.

Next, the photographing mode process of # 6 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the photographing mode, an image is picked up by the CCD 303 (# 70), and while this picked-up image is being subjected to predetermined image processing in the camera body 2, an image pick-up section is generated based on a detection signal from the switch 30. It is determined whether or not 3 is set to the front imaging position (# 72). If the imaging unit 3 is set to the front imaging position (YE in # 72)
S) The captured image is displayed on the LCD display unit 10 (#
74), if the imaging unit 3 is not set to the front imaging position (NO in # 72), the LCD display unit 10 displays the captured image and a warning display indicating that the emission of the built-in flash 5 is prohibited. Is performed (# 76).

FIG. 36 shows a display example of the LCD display unit 10 when the imaging unit 3 is set to the front imaging position. FIG. 37 shows the LCD when the imaging unit 3 is not set to the front imaging position. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a display unit 10.

In an information display area 40 provided above the display area of the LCD display section 10, information such as a frame number and a photographing date and time are displayed, and the flash light emission mode is displayed by a symbol mark of a light emitting arrow. . The flash mode is displayed at the center of the information display area 40, and the shooting date and time is displayed at the right end of the information display area 40. The shooting date and time display area is also the warning display area.

Therefore, when the imaging section 3 is not set to the front imaging position, as shown in FIG. 37, the display area of the shooting date and time indicates the “light emission disabled” in which the light emitting arrow and the character “OFF” are combined. The mark M is displayed as a warning.

In this embodiment, the warning is given by the display. However, the warning may be given by a warning sound such as a buzzer, or the warning may be given by both the sound and the display.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the release switch S _REL is turned on (# 78). If the release switch S _REL is off (NO in # 78), the process goes to # 7.
The display returns to 0, and the display of the captured image or the warning of prohibition of flash emission on the LCD display unit 10 is continued (# 70 to ##).
78 loops). Note that this display state is a shooting standby state, in which the LCD display unit 10 is operating as an electronic viewfinder.

In the photographing standby state, when the release switch S _REL is turned on (YES in # 78), it is sequentially determined whether or not photographing is performed by flash emission and whether or not the imaging section 3 is set to the front imaging position. (# 80, # 8
2) In the case of shooting without flash emission (#
80 (NO at # 82) or when the imaging unit 3 is not set to the front imaging position (NO at # 82),
(# 86), and if the image is captured by flash emission and the imaging unit 3 is set to the front imaging position (YES in # 80 and # 82), the built-in flash 5 is emitted. Then, imaging is performed (# 84).

Subsequently, the taken image is subjected to predetermined image processing for display in the camera body 2 and then the LCD display 1
0 (# 88), and after the predetermined image processing for recording is performed, it is recorded on the IC card 18 (# 9).
0), thereby ending the shooting operation for one image. And
The process returns to # 70 to capture the next image.

[0148]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A captured image of a specified frame from a storage unit in which a plurality of captured images including a first image and a second image longer than the first image in the reproduction processing time on the display unit are stored. Is a digital camera that reads out and displays it on a display means, and displays a first image with a short reproduction processing time and then displays a second image with a long reproduction processing time when reproducing and displaying the captured image of each frame. For example, by displaying an uncompressed thumbnail image before displaying a high-quality compressed image, it is possible to reduce the waiting time from the start of the reproduction process until the entire range of the image is reproduced. Can be reduced. Further, the content of the captured image of each frame can be quickly confirmed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an internal light image of an imaging unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where a lid of a power supply battery and an IC card is opened.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a first example of an arrangement of a loading chamber for a power supply battery and an IC card.

FIG. 9 shows a second arrangement of the power supply battery and the IC card loading chamber.
It is a figure showing the example of.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third example of the arrangement of the power supply battery and the IC card loading chamber.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a battery loading chamber provided with a friction member for preventing a battery from dropping;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a battery loading chamber in which a friction member is provided.

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a battery loading chamber provided with a spring member for preventing a battery from falling.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a battery loading chamber provided with a stopper mechanism using a friction ball for preventing the battery from falling.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a camera body.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a connection mechanism between the imaging unit and the connection plate.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a structure of a lock release lever.

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the connection plate unit.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a sliding ring.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a detection state of a switch that detects that the connection plate is at the rotation reference position and turns off the main power.

FIG. 21 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a detection state of a switch for detecting that the connection plate is at the front imaging position.

FIG. 22 is a right side view illustrating the position of the rotation axis of the imaging unit with respect to the camera body.

FIG. 23 is a front view showing the position of the rotation axis of the imaging unit with respect to the camera body.

FIG. 24 is an external view of a connection cable that connects an imaging unit and a camera body.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration in an imaging unit of a connection cable.

26A and 26B are diagrams showing a waveform of an image signal, wherein FIG. 26A is a waveform diagram of an image signal at an input end of a connection cable, FIG. 26B is a waveform diagram of an image signal at an output end of the connection cable having a buffer circuit, 3C is a waveform diagram of an image signal at the output end of the connection cable having no buffer circuit.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a waveform diagram of an image signal and an A / D conversion clock input to an A / D converter when a cable is connected and a cable is not connected.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a configuration of a storage area of the IC card.

FIG. 30 is a main flowchart showing control of a shooting / playback operation of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing control of a reproduction mode process.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing control of a reproduction mode process.

33A and 33B show display examples when a recorded image is reproduced and displayed on an LCD display unit, where FIG. 33A shows a state in which thumbnail images are displayed, and FIG. FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a state in which thumbnail images are displayed.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating control of an image erasing process.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating control of a shooting mode process.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a state in which a subject image is displayed on a monitor on an LCD display unit.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a state in which a warning of flash emission prohibition based on a mismatch between the flash emission direction and the imaging direction is displayed on the lCD display unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 2 Camera main body 211 Control part (display control means) 3 Imaging part 4 Grip part 5 Built-in flash 6 UP switch (instruction means) 7 DOWN switch (instruction means) 8 Erase switch 9 Shutter button 10 LCD display part (display) Means) 11 FL mode setting switch 12 Compression ratio setting switch 13 Connection terminal 14 Shooting / playback mode setting switch 15 Lid 16 Battery loading room 17 Card loading room 18 IC card (storage means) 19 Personal computer 23 Connection plate 29 Switch 30 Switch 32 Dedicated cable S _MACRO , S _MAIN , S _CPOS switch S _REL , _{SP / R} , S _UP , S _DOWN , S _FL , S _DEL , S _COMP
switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus for displaying a plurality of frames, comprising a display means for displaying an image, and a first image and a second image having a longer reproduction processing time on the display means than the first image. A digital camera for reading a captured image of a designated frame from a storage unit in which an image is stored and displaying the image on the display unit, wherein an instruction unit for designating a frame to be reproduced; And a display control unit for displaying a first image of the frame on the display unit and then displaying a second image of the frame on the display unit.