JPH11223876A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a device attachable to a photographic camera in order to pick up an electronic image. SOLUTION: An image pickup accessory 20 is constituted by housing an image pickup mechanism 38 picking up the image, a state display part 50 displaying the state of the device and a recording part 44 recording picked-up image data which can be viewed on the display part 50 and also transmitted to an external equipment such as a computer in the cartridge housing part of the photographic camera. The accessory 20 is provided with a charge type battery 48 as a power source and equipped with AC-DC conversion circuit so that it is connected to an AC power source and used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus mounted on a photographic camera and capable of electronically picking up an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In addition to a camera using a film (hereinafter referred to as a "photo camera"), a digital electronic camera which records data of an image photographed by an image sensor on a recording medium has begun to spread. Digital electronic cameras can take pictures, just like ordinary photo cameras. That is, in a digital electronic camera, instead of transferring the image to a photographic film, the image is converted to a digital image, and the digital image is recorded on a built-in recording medium. These digital images are downloaded to a computer for image processing, displayed on a display screen provided in a digital electronic camera, and further displayed on a display device such as a television receiver via a predetermined adapter. Is done.

[0003]

The digital electronic camera has various advantages, for example, such that a photographic film is not required, and that a photograph does not need to be read by a scanner for image processing. Digital electronic cameras, on the other hand, also have many disadvantages. For example, if you currently own a photo camera but want to take pictures electronically, you must buy a new set of digital electronic cameras, and the price is Higher than a set of cameras.

[0004] For example, digital electronic cameras are generally point-and-shoot cameras.
And the function is the same, and the focal length and the aperture are fixed. Some types of digital electronic cameras have a zoom function and an autofocus function, but these functions are limited and automatically controlled because they cannot be operated manually. As a result, current digital electronic cameras cannot adjust these functions.
The user cannot upgrade the digital electronic camera, for example, by replacing it with a wide-angle lens, and can use only the functions built into the digital electronic camera from the beginning.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device which can be mounted on a conventional photographic camera for taking an electronic image.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an image pickup means for taking an image when mounted on a photographic camera; a recording means for recording an image picked up by the image pickup means; Power supply means for supplying The imaging device is detachable from the photo camera, and can be attached to any photo camera. This imaging device
Further, when a photographic camera is used, there are provided pseudo film feeding means for feeding a photographic film in a pseudo manner, and status display means for displaying various operation states of the apparatus.

Power supply means for supplying power to the apparatus main body includes a rechargeable battery and an alternating current power supply (Alternating Current Power Supply).
and a charging circuit for charging the rechargeable battery when connected to ource. Further, the imaging device can display the recorded image data on the status display unit, and can transmit the image data to a computer or a predetermined display device. The transmission of the image data is performed, for example, via a communication circuit provided in the recording unit.

The main feature of the image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is that an ordinary photograph camera can be easily changed to a digital electronic camera by mounting the image pickup apparatus of the present invention on a photographic camera instead of a photographic film. . Therefore, users do not need to buy a new digital electronic camera,
Also, there is no need to learn a new operation method. Instead of using photographic film, the user can continue to use his own photographic camera, and can take all images electronically using the imaging device according to the present invention.

Further, according to the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, there are no restrictions as in a compact camera. That is, this imaging apparatus is a single-lens reflex camera (Single-Lens R
eflex Type), even if it is a small compact camera, if it is a photographic camera using 35 mm film,
It can be used for any photographic camera. Therefore,
A user can use a photographic camera equipped with an imaging device as a camera that can set a focal length and an aperture that cannot be performed by a digital electronic camera that is currently widely used.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an imaging accessory to be mounted on a photographic camera to which the imaging device according to the present invention is applied. The imaging accessory to which the present invention is applied includes a front half 22 and a pseudo film feeding mechanism 3.
0, an image capturing mechanism 38 for capturing an image, a recording unit 44 for recording data of a captured image, and a power supply unit 46 of the apparatus.
And a rear half 54. The front half 22 and the rear half 54 constitute a housing for housing the internal components of the imaging accessory 20. The front half 22 has an opening 24 facing the pseudo film feed mechanism 30 and an imaging mechanism 38.
And a film speed contact 28 for supplying information for setting the film speed to the photographic camera. Rear half 54
Are provided with an operation button opening 56 for exposing the operation button to the outside and an opening 58 for exposing the state display section 50 to the outside.

The contact 28 provided on the front half 22 is a DX (Data Excha) of 35 mm film currently used.
nge) The DX code recorded on the film is output in a pseudo manner. Specifically, in a DX code system, these information are usually transferred to a photographic camera whose film speed, film type, and exposure time are automatically controlled. The contact 28 simulates the transfer of the DX code to a photographic camera loaded with DX film. In a manual camera, the contact 28 does not function because adjustment of the film speed, the type of film, and the exposure time must be performed manually.

The simulated film feed mechanism 30 has a first roller 34, a second roller 36, and a belt 32. The belt 32 includes a first roller 34 and a second roller 3.
6 and rotate. A part of the belt 32 faces outward from the opening 24 of the front half 22. The opening 24 is located at a position corresponding to a photographic film feed roller of the photographic camera 80 when mounted on the photographic camera 80. Therefore, the imaging accessory 20 can also be used in a photographic camera that locks the shutter until the photographic film is advanced to the next frame to prevent double exposure.

The image pickup mechanism 38 is a CCD (Charge-Coupled).
An imaging panel 40 including an imaging device such as a device (Device) and a processor 42. The imaging panel 40 is provided with minute light receiving portions that continuously receive light. The imaging panel 40 converts incident light that has entered through the lens of the camera,
Instead of transferring the image to photographic film, processor 4
The image data is binarized by 2 to generate image data. Further, the processor 42 transmits a series of DX codes to the photographic camera 80 from the contact 28 provided on the front half 22. When the image is captured by the imaging panel 40, the processor 42
The image data is recorded in the recording unit 44.

The recording section 44 has a recording circuit for recording data, such as a RAM, and a data port (not shown). This data port is used to transfer image data recorded in the recording unit from the imaging accessory 20 to another external device such as a computer or a display device. This data port is a standard serial data port and is accessed using a standard data cable. Note that this serial data communication is not limited to this, and wireless or wired communication using, for example, infrared rays may be performed.

The imaging accessory 20 has a status display unit 50. The status display unit 50 is an LCD (Liquid Crys
tal Display) type display screen. The status display unit 50 is not limited to the LCD type display screen. The status display unit 50 is provided for the imaging accessory 20.
Displays the status of. For example, the status display unit 50 displays DX
The setting of ISO (In-ternational Standards Organization) (setting of film sensitivity etc.), the number of shots, the remaining number of shots, the charging status when connected to AC power, the communication status of image data, date, etc. are displayed. . The state display unit 50 may display the image data recorded in the recording unit 44 so that the user can see it. In this way, the user can decide whether to keep, delete, or retake the captured image data.

The function of the imaging accessory 20 is the operation button 52
Is controlled by The operation button 52 includes three push buttons, and is used to execute a predetermined function. Of course,
The operation button 52 may be used as another appropriate input interface. The circuit board 60 includes a processor 42,
The recording unit 44 and the power supply unit 46 of the imaging accessory 20 are incorporated. The imaging panel 40 and the status display unit 50 are connected to the circuit board 60 via flat cables 62 and 64 for easily connecting the processor 42, the recording unit 44, and the power supply unit 46. Of course, by changing the arrangement of the internal components in the front half 22 and the rear half 54, the processor 42, the recording unit 44, and the power
And the circuit board 60 may be connected.

The power supply section 46 has a direct current power source composed of, for example, a battery 48, and a voltage conversion circuit (not shown) for supplying necessary power to the imaging accessory 20. The battery 48 is of a rechargeable type, but is not limited thereto as long as it is a DC power supply. In particular, the power supply unit 46 performs AC-DC operation for a user who uses an AC power supply to operate the imaging accessory 20 while performing communication of large data between the imaging accessory 20 and another device such as a computer. It has a conversion circuit. In addition, the AC-DC conversion circuit is used to charge the rechargeable battery using the charging circuit provided in the power supply circuit without removing the rechargeable battery.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are views showing a housing in which the front half 22 and the rear half 54 are combined. Front half 22
And a housing configured by combining the rear half 54,
As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, a flat portion 70 facing the shutter 84 and a cylindrical portion 72 corresponding to the patrone of the photographic film are provided. As shown in FIG.
An imaging panel 40 is disposed at the center, and a belt 32 of the pseudo film feeding mechanism 30 is provided around the imaging panel 40 through the opening 24.
Part of it is coming.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the photographic camera 80 and the imaging accessory 20. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the photographic camera 30 has a camera body. Although not shown, a lens is attached to the front side of the camera body, and a patrone storage section for storing a photographic film is provided on the back side of the camera body. 82 are provided. The patrone storage section 82 is closed by a back panel 86 so as not to expose the stored photographic film.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cylindrical portion 72 of the imaging accessory 20 is housed in a patrone housing portion 82 of the photographic camera 80, and the flat portion 70 has a shutter so that the imaging panel 40 faces the shutter 84. The status display unit 50 is disposed on the back of the photo camera 80 when the back panel 86 of the photo camera 80 is opened. in this way,
The imaging accessory 20 equipped with the photographic camera 80 simulates the operation of feeding the photographic film on the shutter 84.

When the imaging accessory 20 is mounted on the photographic camera 80, settings necessary for operating the mounting device 20, such as ISO settings, resolution settings, and date settings, are performed via the operation buttons 52. Will be And photo camera 8
The photo camera 80 is used like a normal photo camera by closing the back panel 86 of No. 0. Thus, the imaging accessory 20 allows the user to use an ordinary photographic camera as the digital electronic camera without the user being limited to the limited functions of the digital electronic camera. Further, when the imaging accessory 20 is used, the photographic camera 80 can be used with the back panel 86 opened since no photosensitive photographic film is used. The adjustment can be easily performed, and the status display section 50 can be seen. Further, the imaging accessory 20 can be used for all photo cameras.

For example, a single-lens reflex camera is used to take a high-quality photograph taken in a studio by adjusting the depth of focus, the aperture, and the shutter speed. However, a single-lens reflex camera requires a lot of time to take a picture, and may miss a photo opportunity. On the other hand, a compact camera can take a picture with a simple operation, and can take a picture efficiently in a short time. By using the imaging accessory 20 of the present invention, the photographer can take a picture like a studio picture using a single-lens reflex camera, and can take a snap picture like a compact camera. Furthermore, the imaging accessory of the present invention can be used in the same way as an existing photographic camera, so that the user does not need to learn how to operate a new camera system.

As described above, the imaging accessory to which the present invention is applied has been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0024]

According to the present invention, by mounting the image pickup device according to the present invention on a photographic camera instead of a photographic film, a normal photographic camera can be easily changed to a digital electronic camera. In this way, the user does not need to buy a new camera and does not need to learn a new operation method. Instead of using photographic film, the user can continue to use his own photographic camera, and can take all images electronically using an imaging device to which the present invention is applied. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an imaging accessory to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the imaging accessory.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the imaging accessory.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the imaging accessory.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a use state of the imaging accessory.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 20 imaging accessory, 22 front half, 24 opening, 28 contacts, 30 pseudo film feed mechanism, 32
Belt, 34 first roller, 36 second roller, 3
8 imaging mechanism, 40 imaging panel, 42 processor,
44 recording section, 46 power supply section, 48 battery, 50 status display section, 52 operation button, 54 rear half, 60 circuit board, 62 flat cable, 70 flat section, 72
Cylindrical part, 80 Photo camera, 82 Patrone storage part,
84 shutter, 86 back panel

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup apparatus comprising: an image pickup means for taking an image when loaded in a photographic camera; a recording means for recording an image picked up by the image pickup means; and a power supply means for supplying power to an apparatus body. An imaging device mounted on a photographic camera, wherein the means, the recording means, and the power supply means are disposed in a housing detachable from the photographic camera. 2. An image pickup apparatus mounted on a photographic camera according to claim 1, further comprising a pseudo film feeding means for simulatingly feeding a photographic film when the photographic camera is loaded in the photographic camera. 3. An image pickup apparatus mounted on a photographic camera according to claim 1, further comprising status display means for displaying an operation state of said apparatus. 4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said power supply means has a battery. 5. The imaging device according to claim 4, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery. 6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said power supply means has a charging circuit for charging said rechargeable battery. 7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is provided with an input interface for inputting user settings. 8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the setting of the user includes setting of an ISO speed. 9. An imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording means has a communication circuit for transmitting the recorded image data to an external device.