JPH11266386A - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an electronic still camera which performs an error output that has detailed difference in accordance with usage by outputting information in a 1st output form in the case of switching to a 1st operation mode and controlling to output information in a 2nd output form in the case of switching to a 2nd operation mode. SOLUTION: Since an input port where a CPU exists is connected to power supply through a pull-up resistance, the port is always on a high level (H for short below), the state of which continues during a normal operation (1st operation mode). An input port of the CPU is made a low level (L for short below) by shirt-circuiting a connector at the time of adjustment and maintenance (2nd operation mode). If an error is produced, a port 26 for service correspondence is checked, user correspondence error display 29 is performed in the case of H and service correspondence display 30 is performed in the case of L. That is, it is possible to change the form of output information in accordance with an operation mode of an electronic still camera.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic still camera, and more particularly, to an error display in an electronic still camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic still camera. In this camera, the light beam transmitted through the lens 1 and introduced into the camera is reflected in the direction of arrow a when the quick return mirror 2 is at the position shown (down position), and is reflected by a finder optical system (not shown). ).

On the other hand, when photographing and recording with this camera, the quick return mirror 2 is raised (up) in the direction of arrow a by a mirror driving system (not shown). In this case, the luminous flux (image) transmitted through the lens 1 is transmitted through the mechanical shutter 3 without passing through the mirror 2, and a solid-state image sensor (hereinafter, referred to as “CCD”) located on the imaging surface of the optical system
4 and photoelectrically converted into a video signal.

An image signal from the CCD 4 is converted into an image signal processing circuit 5 for performing gamma correction and the like, and an emphasis / FM signal.
After being subjected to predetermined signal processing by a recording signal processing circuit 6 for performing modulation and the like, the signal is amplified by a head amplifier 7 and recorded on a magnetic disk 11 from a recording / reproducing magnetic head 10. Here, the head amplifier 7 has a recording terminal (not shown),
Only when a recording or reproduction control signal is given thereto, recording by the magnetic head 10 or reproduction described later is performed.

Next, at the time of reproduction, an output signal from the head 10 is amplified by the head amplifier 7 and supplied to a detection circuit (detection means) 15. The detection circuit 15 determines whether or not the track being reproduced is recorded, and the determination signal is given to the central processing unit (detection means) 9. In the above configuration, the opening and closing of the mechanical shutter 3 is controlled by the shutter drive circuit 8. The magnetic head 10 moves from one track to 50 tracks on the magnetic disk 11 under the control of the head moving circuit 13. Further, the magnetic disk 11
The servo circuit 1 rotates at a constant rotation speed (for example, 3600 rpm) via the rotation motor 12.
4.

A control signal to each of these circuits 8, 13, 14 and the above-mentioned recording / reproduction control signal and other timing signals necessary for each part of the camera are sent to a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as "CP").
U ") 9. Conventionally, when handling this kind of camera, a user error caused by a user's operation error and a small performance error caused inside the camera, for example, the quick return mirror 2 are increased. There are two types of non-user-related errors that are not related to the user, such as the motor not going down or the rotation motor 12 not reaching the fixed rotation speed. These errors are displayed on the LCD or the like to notify the user.

[0007]

Now, consider the case of adjustment and maintenance. Although the CCD 4 can be mounted and adjusted by itself, it cannot be checked after it is incorporated, and there is a problem that it is difficult to know what image is actually captured and whether the image is in focus.

[0008] Regarding the error display, small performance errors that occur inside the camera are inaccessible to the user, so that the quick return mirror 2 does not move up and down, and the rotation motor 12 remains constant. The same is true of not rotating at the speed. When all errors are displayed, it becomes troublesome as the number of types of errors increases. In addition, since there are more internal errors than mirrors due to operation errors, internal errors are collectively displayed on a specific display, and when that display appears, consult a service Take the form. However, the service wants to know the small errors inside the camera,
If the internal errors are displayed collectively, there is a problem in that it is difficult to find the location of the repair and it takes time to find the location of the error.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic still camera capable of outputting an error with different details depending on the application.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic still camera having imaging means for capturing a subject image and outputting a video signal. Switching means for switching between a first operation mode and a second operation mode; outputting first error information when the first operation mode is switched; and outputting second error information more detailed than the first error information when the second operation mode is switched. And control means for controlling so as to output.

The invention described in claim 2 is the first invention.
, The first operation mode is a normal mode, and the second operation mode is a maintenance mode. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic still camera according to the second aspect, the maintenance mode is an operation mode set when a service is supported.

The invention described in claim 4 is the first invention.
Wherein the second error information includes information indicating a location where an error has occurred.

[0013]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which the periphery of a CPU 9 is shown in an enlarged manner. CP
Since an input port of U9 is connected to a power supply via a pull-up resistor 20, the port is always at a high level (hereinafter abbreviated as H), and is in this state during normal operation. Connector 21 for adjustment and maintenance
Is short-circuited to bring the input port of the CPU 9 to a low level (hereinafter abbreviated as L), indicating that adjustment and maintenance are to be performed. It is assumed that this determination is given to the control program of the CPU 9 in advance.

FIG. 2 shows a flowchart for performing a video operation. First, the shooting mode of the block 22 will be described. The shooting mode is S. C. There are three types of CH modes. The S mode is a mode in which only one image can be shot when the shutter button is pressed, and the C mode and the CH mode are modes in which continuous shooting can be performed while the shutter button is pressed. The difference between the C mode and the CH mode is that the C mode can shoot four frames per second using a mechanical shutter, while the CH mode can shoot 20 frames per second because the electronic shutter of the CCD 4 is used. Further, C
In the mode, the quick return mirror 2 moves up and down, whereas in the CH mode, the quick return mirror 2 remains up.

The quick return mirror 2 must be in an up state as a condition for performing the video operation. Therefore, in the photographing mode selection of the block 22, the CH mode must be set. If the mode is other than the CH mode, the shooting operation 23 other than the CH mode is performed. If the shooting mode is the CH mode, then block 2
The presence or absence of the disk No. 4 is checked, and if a disk is inserted, shooting in the CH mode is performed in block 25. If no disk is inserted, the input port (service-compatible port) of the CPU 9 is determined in block 26. Is checked, if H, the valve operation of block 27 is performed, and if L, the video operation of block 28 is performed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for displaying an error. First, if an error occurs, the port corresponding to the service is checked in block 26.
9. Error display for user response of 9 is displayed.
A service correspondence error of 0 is displayed. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a user correspondence display, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a service correspondence error display.

In the display corresponding to the user shown in FIG. 5, errors in the camera are not touched at all, but are collectively represented by "EE", and it is recommended to consult a service. The service correspondence error display in FIG. 6 displays all errors that have occurred inside the camera. In addition, the camera can be provided with a self-diagnosis function, and a measured value of the diagnosis result, an error code, and the like can be taken out as a video output. The self-diagnosis function refers to a function in which the CPU checks each unit.For example, a continuity check, a check whether a sensor is working normally, or a check whether the magnetic head is operating correctly is performed by the CPU. Is the voltage value or port level (H or L)
Inspection is carried out as described above. Since the results obtained in this way can be known in considerable detail, they can be output as video output as character information and viewed on a monitor or the like, which is even easier to understand.

[0018]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the electronic still camera, the switching means for switching between the first operation mode and the second operation mode, and the switching means for switching to the first operation mode. Control means for outputting the first error information when the second operation mode is switched to the second operation mode, and outputting the second error information more detailed than the first error information when the operation mode is switched to the second operation mode. By switching, it is possible to output two pieces of error information having different details.

According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, it is possible to output detailed second error information at the time of maintenance by setting the second operation mode to a maintenance mode set at the time of service. Workability during maintenance and service can be improved. Further, according to the effect of the invention described in claim 4, since the second error information includes information indicating the location where the error has occurred, the location where the error has occurred can be easily specified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart when a video operation is performed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when an error is displayed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of the electronic still camera.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user response error display;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an error display for service correspondence.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9: CPU 20: Pull-up resistor 21: Connector

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 10, 1999

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic still camera having imaging means for capturing a subject image and outputting a video signal. Switching means for switching between an operation mode and a second operation mode; and information output by the electronic still camera to the operator when the operation mode is switched to the first operation mode. And control means for controlling the information to be output in the second output mode when it is switched to the second output mode. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic still camera according to the first aspect, the first operation mode is a normal mode for performing a shooting operation, and the second operation mode is a maintenance mode. . Further, the invention described in claim 3 is based on claim 1.
In the electronic still camera described in (1), the information is information on the content of an error generated in the electronic still camera. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic still camera according to the third aspect, the control means outputs the information regarding the content of the error by changing the degree of detail between the first output mode and the second output mode. It is characterized in that it is controlled so that The invention described in claim 5 is the same as the claim 2.
, The maintenance mode is an operation mode set when a service is supported.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0018

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0018]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in the electronic still camera, the switching means for switching between the first operation mode and the second operation mode, and the electronic still camera notifies the operator. Information is output in a first output mode when the information is switched to the first operation mode,
And control means for controlling to output information in the second output mode when the mode is switched to the second operation mode.
The form of the output information can be changed according to the operation mode of the electronic still camera.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, the first operation mode is a normal mode in which a photographing operation is performed, and the second operation mode is a maintenance mode. Workability at the time can be improved. . According to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, the information is information relating to the content of an error generated in the electronic still camera, and the control unit is configured to output the information relating to the content of the error in the first output mode and the second output mode. Since the control is performed so as to change the level of detail depending on the mode, it is possible to output error information having different details depending on the operation mode and application.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electronic still camera having an imaging unit for capturing a subject image and outputting a video signal, a switching unit for switching between a first operation mode and a second operation mode, and switching to the first operation mode. And the first error information, and when the mode is switched to the second operation mode, the first error information is output.
Control means for controlling to output second error information more detailed than the error information. 2. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the first operation mode is a normal mode, and the second operation mode is a maintenance mode. 3. The electronic still camera according to claim 2, wherein the maintenance mode is an operation mode set when a service is supported. 4. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the second error information includes information indicating a location where an error has occurred.