JPS6230484A - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability of a camera remarkably by knowing remaining number of frames of a magnetic disk that can be photographed, the state of use of a track, position of a magnetic head etc. required by a user immediately after mounting the magnetic disk to a camera. CONSTITUTION:An RF detecting circuit 130 detects high frequency signals in each track of a magnetic disk and detects presence of record, and transmits to a camera sequence control CPU 122. The CPU 122 that generates signals for controlling whole sequence of the camera and a multiplexer circuit 127 receive status signals and signals from an operation setting section 104, and gives control command as camera function. Furthermore, the block generates a source signal of camera status body display 124 to report the state of the camera to the user. A multiplex data generating circuit 129 generates signals of distinction of field/frame picture recording as recording data, track number of tracks to be recorded, month, day etc. from signals from the circuit 127 and by a timer circuit etc., and modulates them to signals for recording to make multiplex recording with video signals on the magnetic disk, and outputs them to an MIX circuit 132.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Technical field of invention) The present invention relates to an electronic still camera.

(Background of the Invention) In recent years, electronic still cameras that record images purely electronically without using silver halide film have been attracting attention.

Electronic still cameras have been proposed that use a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD in the photosensitive section, and a memory without moving parts such as semiconductor memory or magnetic bubble memory for the recording section, but small magnetic disks A common configuration is to rotate the disk at a constant speed and record using a magnetic head. By performing analog recording on a small magnetic disk, the entire recording device can be made smaller, making it possible to create an electronic still camera that is approximately the same shape as a conventional still camera using silver halide film. became.

Compared to still cameras that use silver halide film, such electronic still cameras have the following advantages: 1) No development is required and they can be viewed immediately on a monitor.

2) Discs can be easily removed and replaced midway.

3) Magnetic disks can be erased and reused.

4) It is possible to record signals other than image signals, such as audio signals and various data, so it can be used for a variety of purposes.

With silver halide cameras, functions that are impossible or extremely difficult can be easily realized, but at the same time, new problems different from those of conventional cameras arise. for example,
Because the disk can be easily removed and replaced midway through, when a magnetic disk, etc. that has been used halfway or only towards the end is inserted into the camera, double writing may occur in the previously used section. A recorded situation occurs. The user also wonders how many more frames the attached disk can record (in this case, if the camera is capable of recording either field or frame recording,
The number of shadow pieces will differ depending on which one you choose).
For example, it cannot be known in advance.

(Objective of the Invention) An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide an electronic still camera with better operability and higher functionality than conventional silver halide cameras.

(Example) FIG. 1 is a complaint correspondence diagram.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an optical system, 2 is a solid-state image sensor, 3 is a signal processing means, 4 is a recording means, 5 is a storage means, 6 is a control means, 7 is an automatic address mechanism, and 8 is a display means. be.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. Mainly shows electrical circuit blocks, but blocks indicated by double lines mean that they are blocks that convert electrical signals into mechanical movement, or convert mechanical movement into electrical signals. .

Each block and signal flow will be explained.

Light from the subject is input through the lens (101),
Normally (before photography), light is guided to the finder by a reflecting mirror (106), and provides luminance information to a photometric silicon photodiode (SPD) (105). (2) During shadowing, the reflecting mirror (106) operates and the shutter (111)
) guides the total luminous flux to Here, the shutter (111) may be a mechanical shunter or a shutter using an electro-optical element, but any type may be used.

The light passing through the shutter (111) is converted into a time-series electric signal by a CCD image sensor (112). Although a COD is used as an image sensor in this embodiment, a solid-state image sensor such as a MOS may be used, and any type may be used.
The CCD image sensor (112) is a driver (118) for driving the vertical transfer CCD and the horizontal transfer COD.
With the H driver (119) for driving the
Operate. ■Driver (11B) and H driver (1
19) is supplied with signals formed at each operation timing from a timing generation circuit (120). The timing generation circuit (120) receives a source signal from the synchronization signal generation circuit (125) and generates the timing signal necessary for each block.

The synchronization signal generation circuit (125), which is the source of all signals, is equipped with an oscillator that oscillates stably, such as a crystal oscillator, and processes the oscillation waveform by frequency division, waveform transformation, etc., and outputs it to each block. ing. On the other hand, CCD image sensor (11
2) The video signal output from the signal processing circuit (121
) is entered.

This signal processing circuit (121) first receives the input 13''
Gff! (1,a@+[No.18'°94・Orthopedic 16・
,.

Furthermore, each signal is subjected to clamp processing, limiter processing, γ-correction, etc., and then outputted to the matrix circuit (126). The matrix circuit (126) recombines signals into the signal form (luminance signal, color difference signal) required for signal processing in the next block.The recording signal processing circuit (131), which is a zero-order block, This is a block that converts signals into a signal format that can be recorded on. AGC amplification, pre-emphasis, white/dark clipping, FM modulation, etc. are applied to the signal from the previous block.

Therefore, the video signal is FM-modulated to become an FM-modulated video signal, which is mixed with necessary data in a MIX circuit (132) and input to a recording amplifier (133). Data is recorded on a magnetic disk by a magnetic head in a mechanical block. The magnetic disk is driven by a servo control motor, and its control and drive circuit blocks are a disk motor drive circuit (134) and a disk motor servo circuit (135). The rotational state of the magnetic disk is detected by an FG or PC signal, and the disk motor servo circuit (135) transmits a control signal to the disk motor drive circuit (134) so that the magnetic disk rotates at a specified constant speed. Based on this signal, the motor that rotates the magnetic disk is controlled in a closed loop, resulting in highly accurate constant speed rotation (NT
3600rpm) in the SC version. The signals serving as the reference for these controls are supplied from a synchronizing signal generating circuit (125) as shown. Ultimately, it is necessary to write signals to the magnetic disk and control the magnetic head (approach/retract from the magnetic disk, track movement), and the block that performs this function is the magnetic head drive circuit (128). The source signal is inputted from a camera sequence controller (122) that controls the overall sequence control of the camera and a multiplexer circuit (127), and these two blocks will be described later. Now, the luminance signal of the subject obtained by the photometric silicon photodiode (SPD) (105) is input to the photometric and logarithmic compression circuit (107), where it is logarithmically compressed and current-voltage conversion is performed. The luminance signal is input to the next block as a voltage signal.

The luminance signal input to the A/D conversion and exposure control calculation CPU (108) is immediately A/D converted and treated as digital data. This block is a part that calculates exposure based on each piece of information and generates a source signal for driving the exposure control member. Each piece of information is subject brightness information, lens aperture information, and shutter speed information. The subject brightness information is input as described above. Although the aperture information is not shown, it is input as digital data by a ROM 5 CPU installed in the lens. The shutter speed information is input as digital data by the operation setting section (104). With these data, CCD
The optimal exposure conditions for the image sensor (112) are calculated using the same calculations as the exposure modes (manual, aperture priority auto, shutter speed priority auto, program auto) realized in conventional silver halide cameras. , it goes without saying that control is possible.

When controlling the aperture, through the aperture control mechanism (103),
Aperture is controlled. Since various methods for this mechanism have been proposed in the past, it is sufficient to adopt the optimal method under the constraints of the camera.

Control of shutter time is controlled by a shutter control mechanism (114) via a shutter control charge circuit (115).

When a mechanical shutter is installed, a commonly used mechanism is to control the shutter time by the time when an electromagnetic magnet is energized. Further, in the case of a shutter such as a liquid crystal shutter or a PLZT shutter that utilizes an electro-optical effect, it is also possible to directly control the shutter time using an electric signal.

In addition to the above-mentioned shutter control, the shutter control charge circuit (115) also includes a circuit for driving a mechanism for shutter charging when a mechanical shutter is installed.

Control by the A/D conversion and exposure control calculation CPU (108) is performed as described above, and exposure information is displayed in the viewfinder to convey calculation results and control values to the user. This is the viewfinder exposure display (110), which is displayed using a liquid crystal element, but the drive signal, conversion circuit, etc. necessary for display are controlled by the viewfinder display decoder and drive circuit (109).

The camera sequence control WCPU (122) generates signals for controlling the entire camera sequence.
This block, which is a multiplexer circuit (127) associated therewith, receives status signals of each block and signals from the operation setting section (104) and issues control commands for functioning as a camera. Furthermore, a camera status body display (124) is provided to inform the user of the camera status.
is provided in an easily visible part of the body, separate from the viewfinder display, and this block also generates the source signal for this display.

Similar to the viewfinder display, the body display decoder drive circuit (123) is in charge of drive signals, conversion circuits, etc. necessary for driving the body display liquid crystal display element.

The multiplex data generation circuit (129) functions like a data back in a silver halide camera.

In this circuit, a multiplexer circuit (127) sends signals such as field/frame recording distinction, recording trunk track number, year, month, day, etc. as recording data.
A recording signal (D P SK signal) for multiplex recording with a video signal on a magnetic disk is generated, and is modulated into a MIX circuit (1
32).

The RF detection circuit (130) is a block that has a function of detecting the presence or absence of recording on the magnetic disk attached to the camera.

High frequency signal (RF) in each track of a magnetic disk
The presence or absence of recording is detected by detecting.

The detection results are transmitted to the camera sequence control 1cPU (122). This camera has the function of recording video and reproducing the video recorded on the magnetic disk, and the reproducing circuit (136) fulfills this function.

When the camera is set to playback mode using the operation setting section (104), the attached magnetic disk rotates and the terminal (
138), the playback output video signal is output. It also uses a method that automatically adjusts white balance by detecting the color temperature of the camera when shooting.

First, the white balance sensor (102)! l<Receives the light of the subject during photography, calculates color temperature information, and transmits the information to the white balance control circuit (113).

The white balance control circuit (113) generates a color balance adjustment signal based on the information, and COD
A white balance adjustment and control signal is given to a signal processing circuit (121) that processes a video signal from an image sensor (112) so that the white balance is adjusted to an appropriate white balance and the color signal is processed.

If you want to fix the white balance when shooting sunset scenes, etc.,
In the operation setting section (104), it is also possible to easily manually set outdoor and indoor use.

The block that supplies power to each of the blocks above is the DC-DC converter (116), which receives power from the battery (117), converts it into the voltage necessary for each block, and supplies it. .

Voltage still cameras consume an order of magnitude more power than conventional silver halide cameras, so they require highly efficient DC-DC converters.

Now, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the camera operation mode setting operation switch of the operation setting section (104) in FIG. 2.

Explain the operation.

First, if you want to take a picture, turn the main switch (201) to
NL...Next, set field recording or frame recording using the recording selection switch (202).

Furthermore, in order to set the recording mode, it is sufficient to press the Record switch (203) and start photographing.

Next, if you want to erase the recorded track on the loaded magnetic disk and shoot and record on the same track, you can set the mode to track erase mode I.

It requires a Record switch (203) and an Eras
Setting is made by turning on the e-switch (205) at the same time. Then, by pressing the track access up/down buttons (206, 207) and moving the magnetic head to a desired track and performing a shooting operation, the selected trunk is first erased and a new shooting signal is recorded on that track. It becomes an action.

It is also possible to play back the video on the magnetic disk, just by setting it to playback mode. Just by pressing the Play button (204), a reproduction signal can be obtained from the attached magnetic disk.

At that time, to select the desired track, press the track access up/down button (206) as described above.
(207).

If you want to erase recordings while viewing the playback image, set to track erase mode ■.

Select the playback image to be erased in playback mode using the trunk access amplifier down button (206) (20"l), and press the Play switch (204) and the Eras
By pressing the e-switch (205) at the same time, the video of that track is erased.

The above is the general operation in camera operation mode.
The operation will be described later.

Figure 4 shows the camera status body display (12
This is an example of 4).

In the case of portable devices such as cameras, it is necessary to reduce power consumption as much as possible, so display using a liquid crystal display element is suitable.In the normal state, that is, when a magnetic disk is attached to the camera, the display is at the center. The 7-segment display section (303) displays the remaining number of frames that can be photographed. At this time, the display section (302) shows "R" which means the remaining
"e1Ilains" is also displayed.Of course, in order to calculate the remaining number of frames, the condition of whether to perform field recording or frame recording must be input, but this is shown in Figure 2. This can be input using the recording selection switch (202).

Therefore, according to the setting of the recording selection switch (202), either Field or Frame is displayed on the display section (305), and the remaining number of frames that can be shot in that selection is displayed on the display section (303) using the 7 segments. indicate.

The warning display section (301) indicates a warning “-arning”.
”, and three items are listed in this embodiment.

“Disk” flashes when the erroneous recording prevention claw of the installed magnetic disk is broken, “Erase” flashes when the above-mentioned trunk erase mode I is set, and “Ba
"ttery" blinks when the battery voltage drops below the specified voltage, and is off in other cases.

The camera operation mode settings are displayed on the display section (304).
It is displayed in the part indicated by "de".

If the recording mode is set, the display section (304) will show “
If "Record" is lit and set to playback mode, "Play" is lit and track erase mode is set, and "Record" is lit to alert you before shooting.
rd” lights up and “Erase” in the warning display section (301)
” flashes. The lower bar graph (30B) shows that the magnetic disk has 50 recordable tracks, so it is divided into 50 parts and 1 element is 1 track. In other words,
For trunks that have already been recorded, the element of the bar graph (308) lights up to inform the user that the trunk has been recorded.

The number (309) below the bar graph (308) represents the track number.

When the trunk erase mode I is set, if the trunk on which the magnetic head is stopped is a recorded track, the bar graph element (30B>) indicating the trunk flashes.

Furthermore, the two arrows (307) above the bar graph (30B)
) indicates which track the magnetic head is stopped at.

In the figure, the head is stopped at a location corresponding to trunks 33 and 34.

Therefore, the user can select the bar graph (308) and the arrow (307).
), it is easy to grasp at a glance the use status of the magnetic disk trunk and the stop position of the magnetic head, and also the number of remaining frames that can be photographed. Naturally, since the arrow (307) has two magnetic heads for frame recording, the arrow (307) also has two magnetic heads.
It is one. Display section with 7 segments (303)
Although the year, month, date, hour, minute, and second display (306) directly below is not shown in Figure 3, it can be displayed in 7 segments by turning on the switch for checking and correcting the recorded contents of the multiplex data record. (303) to display the data contents sequentially in the order of year, month, day, hour, minute, and second.
As mentioned above, the recorded data also includes the field/frame recording distinction and the recording track trunk number, but there is no need for the user to input this information, and the camera sequence control CPU (122) Since the source signal is generated, modulated into a recording signal by the multiplexing data generation circuit (129), and recorded, no display is provided for correction, confirmation, etc.

Next, each operation of the electronic still camera (hereinafter referred to as camera) of this embodiment will be explained using a flowchart.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing each operation when replacing a magnetic disk. Similarly, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing each operation when replacing a magnetic disk, but the operations are somewhat different. However, since there is no functional difference between them, either one may be adopted. It should be determined based on other constraints and the like.

First, FIG. 4 will be explained.

In order to replace the magnetic disk, the lock is released by operating the opening/closing knob or lever of the MM, and at the same time, the switch linked thereto is turned off.

In response, the control system related to magnetic disk replacement
S turns on. Furthermore, in order to prevent the camera from operating in a manner that could cause a malfunction even if the camera's electrical manual members are operated, the camera is placed in a state in which input signals from the operating members are not accepted.

Next, the magnetic head moves to the innermost track,
Stop.

As an electrical operation, the memory of the track usage state of the previously installed magnetic disk is erased, and the accompanying body display of the track usage state is also erased.

After these operations, the control system power is turned off.

Until now, the operation was instantaneous, and the back cover opened after this.

When the back cover is opened, the magnetic disk also moves, and the erroneous recording prevention claw attached to the magnetic disk moves away from the detection switch on the camera body, which turns on the erroneous recording prevention switch.

Furthermore, the presence switch of the magnetic disk is also turned off for the same reason.

The user takes out the magnetic disk, inserts a new magnetic disk, and closes the back cover.At the same time, the disk presence switch is turned on in the opposite operation to the above, and the erroneous recording prevention switch is activated to prevent erroneous recording on the disk. If there is a prevention claw, turn it off.

The back cover is locked and the linked switch is turned on.

As a result, the rotation of the control system's ONL and magnetic disks starts.

The magnetic head on the innermost track contacts the disk,
Is the signal recorded for each track? iu+mF
``'y −/ ') !111- to J
1 At this time, the magnetic head detects the presence or absence of the RF multiplied signal, and stores the result and the detected track number in the memory in the camera sequence control CPU (122).

This memory is a magnetic disk trunk usage status:.

(7)m! l 't"!at!t4c, a""6・
:The magnetic head finishes scanning up to the outermost track of the magnetic disk.

f%ic! i! r''1''1''(y+;6<ONゝ7°゛'ゝ3"Hetffil operation is not possible, so the magnetic head immediately retreats from the magnetic disk, moves to the innermost track, and stops briefly. At the same time, the magnetic disk also stops rotating.A body display indicating the state of use is performed, and "Disk" on the warning display section flashes.

Naturally, you cannot take pictures, so the release is locked, but it becomes possible to input electricity from other manual components of the camera, and the track usage status of the magnetic disk is displayed, completing the disk exchange.

If the erroneous recording prevention switch is OFF, recording is possible, but the camera sequence system 1cPU (122) determines whether there is a track that can be recorded in either frame or field recording according to the recording selection switch (202).
searches for information in memory. If it is set to field recording, it will search for the tracks from the lowest track number without the RF double signal, and if it is set to frame recording, it will search from the lowest track number without the RF double signal in the trunk. This is to search a truck to see if there is a corresponding trunk.

If there is no corresponding track, it is not possible to take pictures, so the procedure is the same as when the erroneous recording prevention switch is set to ○N, and the disc exchange is completed.

If the corresponding trunk is found, the magnetic head moves to that track and checks once again to see if there is an RF signal, that is, whether it is recorded.

If for some reason (error in the control system, etc.) the magnetic head is recorded, the magnetic head moves to the innermost track and sends the RF multiplied signal of each track to the outermost trunk again without any effect. Perform scanning.

The subsequent operations are performed as described above, and the presence or absence of the RF multiplied signal on the corresponding track is checked again.

If RFli is detected again, there is a very high probability that the camera is malfunctioning, so an abnormality warning operation, such as flashing the entire body display, will be performed to warn the user, and at the same time The magnetic head is retracted from the magnetic disk, and the rotation of the disk is stopped.

The presence or absence of the RF multiplied signal on the corresponding track is checked, and if there is no RF multiplied signal, it is possible to photograph and record, so the magnetic head retreats from the magnetic disk and waits at the location corresponding to that track.

The rotation of the disk stops. Camera sequence control CP
U (122) calculates how many more frames can be recorded in the recording format according to the recording selection switch from the information in the memory, and displays the number of remaining frames that can be recorded on the camera status body display according to the bar graph (30B). Displays the track usage status of the magnetic disk, magnetic head stop position, mode display, etc.

At this time, the operating mode of the camera is automatically set to a recording mode in which a photographing operation can be performed.

Then, electrical input through the input member of the camera becomes possible, and the control system power that was previously required for drive is turned off, completing the disk replacement.

Figure 6 also shows a flowchart of each operation associated with replacing the disk, but the magnetic head scans each track of the magnetic disk to detect the presence or absence of the RF multiplied signal, and the confirmation operation is different from Figure 4. ing.

First, when taking out a disk, the magnetic head moves to the outermost track and stops, and at the same time as a new magnetic disk is installed, the signal is recorded on each track from the outermost track to the innermost track. The presence or absence of a signal is detected, and the result and the detected track number are stored in the memory within the camera sequence control CPU (122).

This memory content is tentatively called memory (N).

When the scanning is completed up to the innermost trunk, scanning starts again from the innermost track to the outermost track, and the results are similarly stored in the memory in the camera sequence control CPU (122).

This content is called memory (n).

When scanning is completed, the magnetic head retreats to the outermost trunk and waits, and the magnetic disk stops rotating.

In the camera sequence control CPU <+22), memory (1) and memory (II) are sequentially compared for the presence or absence of an RF multiplied signal of the same track number.

If they do not match, there is a very high probability that the camera is out of order as described in FIG. 4, so an abnormality warning operation is performed to warn the user.

If they match, since memory CI) and memory [■] have the same content, one of them (here memory [■]) is selected.
■]) will be deleted, and the remaining memory contents will be used as data for controlling camera operation.

According to the recording selection switch (202), a recordable track is searched, and the magnetic head is moved to the selected track for 8 seconds and is put on standby.

Other operations, such as calculating and displaying the remaining number of frames that can be photographed, are the same as those shown in FIG. 4, so a description thereof will be omitted.

In the following explanation of the operation, the magnetic disk is mounted according to the operation flow shown in FIG.

Figure 7 shows the track access up/down buttons (
206) - This is a flow chart of the camera operation when pressing (207). A disk is loaded by the operation shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, and the mode is set to recording mode.

Track access up or down button (206)
Or if you press either (207), - 1. Here, suppose you press the up button (206) □ Camera sequence system? ) II CPU (122) receives the information and sets the recording selection switch (20
Check whether there are any trunks that can be recorded in the recording format specified in 2) using the memory that stores the presence or absence of RF damage signals for each trunk.

If there is no recordable track, the magnetic head remains stationary without moving. If there is a recordable track, the magnetic head moves to that trunk and stops.

If the access button is further pressed, the camera sequence control CPU (122) searches for a recordable track with an even higher number.

If there is a recordable trunk, move the magnetic head there.

While the trunk access up button (206) is pressed, the above operation is repeated continuously at a speed that the user can recognize until there are no more recordable tracks.

When the down button (207) is pressed, the search is similarly performed in the direction of the smaller number, and the magnetic head is moved.

As the magnetic head moves, it goes without saying that the arrow (30
7) also displays a position corresponding to movement.

Next, Figure 8 shows the case where the camera operation mode is set to track erase mode ■, and further shows the camera operation including the operation when the track access up/down buttons (206) and (207) are pressed. This is a flowchart.

When a magnetic disk is installed in the camera, the camera's operation mode is automatically set to recording mode, but in this state, by turning on the Record switch (203) and Erase switch (205) at the same time, you can switch to trunk erase mode I. is set, and the warning display part (3) of the body display
“Erase” in 01) flashes to indicate that the mode has been set.

To select the track to be erased, operate the track access up/down buttons (206, 207) and move the magnetic head to the desired track position.
:Stop.

The camera sequence system (ICPU (122)) investigates whether or not the track on which the magnetic head is stopped is being recorded, based on information in the memory.

If the trunk has no records, there is no need to delete the trunk.
When the magnetic disk is rotated, the magnetic disk rotates and the magnetic disk contacts the CCD image sensor (112), which is exposed to light under predetermined conditions.
Record image information from.

If the track has already been recorded, the element corresponding to the 8th track on the body display bar graph (308) flashes to give the user a strong impression of the trunk number to be erased.

(When you release the camera in this state, the magnetic disk rotates, the magnetic head contacts the magnetic disk, first erases the recorded signal, and then records the signal obtained by shooting.

When a recording operation is performed, unrecorded tracks become recorded, so this information is stored in the camera sequence system? is transmitted to the fllCPU (122), and the CP
The contents of the memory of the track usage state in U are changed, that is, the RF multiplied signal of the track number corresponding to the recorded track is changed from "absent" to "presence".

Immediately after the recording operation is completed, the track erase mode (2) is canceled, the recording mode is automatically set, the magnetic head is retracted from the magnetic disk, and the rotation of the magnetic disk is stopped.

During this time, the camera sequence control CPU (122)
Using the trunk usage state memory in the PU, a search is made for the trunk with the smallest trunk number among tracks that can be recorded in the recording format (field recording or frame recording) according to the recording selection switch (202).

If there is no corresponding trunk, the magnetic head is moved to the innermost track and stopped.

The body display indicates that the number of remaining frames to be photographed is 0, and the camera remains in the recording mode on standby.

If there is a corresponding track, the magnetic head moves to the corresponding track position, stops, and stands by in recording mode. The above is the operation of the camera when trunk erase mode ■ is set.

Now, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the flow of camera operations when the playback mode and the trunk erase mode (2) are set from the playback mode.

I will explain according to the diagram.

First, when the magnetic disk has been installed, the camera is set to recording mode as a standard state, so in order to perform playback operation with the camera, you need to go to the operation setting section (10
4) Press the play switch (204) to set the playback state.

When the camera enters the playback state, the body display shows the remaining number of frames (302) and (303) that can be photographed, and the mode setting display (304) lights up.

The bar graph (308) and the arrow (
307) always continues to be displayed as described above, and in this case, the user can know the track position and number being reproduced depending on which track position the magnetic head is located.

When the play switch (204) is turned on, the camera sequence control CPU (122) searches for the recorded track closest to the track on which the magnetic head is currently stopped, based on the track usage state memory.

If there is no corresponding track, it means that no data has been recorded on the attached magnetic disk, and the playback mode is canceled and the recording mode is automatically set to a standby state.

If there is a corresponding trunk, the rotation of the magnetic disk starts, the magnetic head moves to the corresponding track position, stops, and contacts the magnetic disk.

Therefore, the reproduced image can be viewed by connecting a monitor or the like to the terminal (138) after receiving the reproduced signal.

The user presses the trunk access amplifier down buttons (206) and (207) to search for the screen he or she wants to view.
You can move the magnetic head by pressing .

If I press the amplifier button (206), will it be a camera sequence system? The CPU 311 (122) searches the memory for track usage status to see if there is a track that has been recorded on a trunk with a larger trunk number than the track currently being reproduced by the magnetic head.

If there is no recorded track, the magnetic head does not move and continues playing at the same position.

If there is a recorded track, the magnetic head moves to the corresponding trunk position, stops, and plays that track.

If the amplifier button (206) is further pressed, the above operation is repeated.

The same operation occurs when you press the down button (207).

However, this time, the magnetic head moves from the trunk currently being reproduced to the track recorded on track number 2, which has a smaller track number, and reproduces the data.

Further, regardless of whether field recording or frame recording is performed during recording, the field/frame identification signal in the multiplexed data of the reproduction signal is used to identify the field/frame identification signal during reproduction, and automatic switching reproduction is performed.

The movement of the magnetic head is also controlled in accordance with the identification signal so that it moves in a predetermined manner during frame reproduction.

In order for the user to know whether it is field playback or frame playback during playback, the body display indicator (305) Field/
Just check which frame is lit.

Next, if the user is looking at the playback screen and there is a video that he or she wants to erase, he or she can set the trunk erase mode H to erase the recording.

It has trunk access up/down buttons (20
6) - Use (207) to play the video of the trunk you want to erase, and press the Play switch (204) and Era
When the se switch (205) is turned on at the same time, the recording of that track is erased.

As soon as the switch is turned on, the image being reproduced on the monitor etc. disappears, and the screen becomes dark for a few seconds to indicate that the erasing operation has been performed.

Camera sequence control C while the playback screen is dark
Since the recorded trunk has been erased and recording is now possible, the PU (122) changes the RF multiplication signal of the corresponding track in the memory that stores track usage state information from ``present'' to ``absent''.

Furthermore, using the same memory, a search is made to see if there is a recorded track on the side with a higher trunk number than the track on which the magnetic head is currently stopped.

If there are no recorded tracks, the search will be performed from now on on the side with the smaller trunk number. If there is a recorded trunk on either side, the magnetic head is moved to that trunk position, the screen is darkened for a few seconds as described above, and then the playback screen of that track is displayed.

If there are no recorded tracks, or if the user wants to switch from playback mode to record mode, press the Record switch (
203), the magnetic head is retracted from the magnetic disk and the rotation of the disk is stopped. The camera sequence control CPU (122) searches the memory of the track usage state for a track that can be recorded in the recording format specified by the recording selection switch (202) and that has the smallest possible trunk number.

If there is no corresponding track, the magnetic head moves to the innermost trunk position, stops, and waits.

If there is a corresponding track, the magnetic head moves to the corresponding trunk position, stops, and waits.

The camera operation mode is set to recording mode in either case.

The operations of the camera when various operations are performed in each operation mode have been described above using flowcharts. Ascertaining the usage status of the magnetic disks installed in the trunk in this way and controlling the camera's operation based on this information will be extremely efficient and will greatly improve operability.

In this example, the presence or absence of the RF multiplied signal was investigated as information on the track usage status of the magnetic disk, but since it is possible to write audio signals, digital data signals, etc. in addition to video signals on the magnetic disk, It not only investigates the presence or absence of the RF signal but also the type of recorded signal, stores this information, and allows the user to easily know what type of signal is written on the magnetic disk through the body display. It is also possible to make it recognizable.

This can be realized by operating the reproducing circuit (136) of this embodiment shown in FIG. 2 when the magnetic disk is mounted.

When the magnetic head scans each track and investigates the track usage status, the reproducing circuit (136) is operated, and for recorded trunks, the signal is reproduced to determine what type of signal is recorded. Camera sequence system for detected, classified, and coded information? ! jcPU(122)
stored in internal memory.

This stored information is used to display the trunk usage status on the body display.

In order to avoid complicating the display pattern and display information as multiplexed as possible, for example, the display color of each element of the bar graph (308) may be changed depending on the type of recorded signal.

For example, the bar graph (308) element corresponding to the trunk where audio is recorded is displayed in red, the bar graph (308) element corresponding to the track where digital data is recorded is displayed in green, and the video signal is recorded. It would be easier to recognize if the element of the bar graph (30B) corresponding to the track being displayed is configured to change to blue or the like.

In addition, in this embodiment, once the recording format is determined by the recording selection switch (202) that specifies field recording or frame recording, unless the switch is changed, recording will be performed in the designated recording format. If the magnetic disk you are using records on every other track or records only in the middle, if you record using frame recording, the trunk in the middle of the disk may not be able to be recorded and may be omitted.

In order to use the magnetic disk efficiently in such cases, it is necessary to switch the recording selection switch (302) each time to record while looking at the trunk usage status bar graph (30B), which is extremely troublesome. be. Regardless of the recording format, if you want to use the disc efficiently, you can also set the recording selection switch (202) to auto-select recording.If you set the switch to this position, you can record mainly frame recording. (However, if there is a track that has already been recorded on the way, and frame recording cannot record one trunk and is omitted, it will automatically switch to field recording.), perform yield recording, and record the frame. Once recording has reached a state where no track is missing, the operation of returning to frame recording can be easily realized by investigating and storing information on the usage status of the trunk in advance.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the information required by the user, such as the number of remaining frames on the magnetic disk that can be photographed, the usage status of the trunk, the position of the magnetic head, etc., can be transmitted to the camera using the magnetic disk. Immediately after the camera is installed (almost at the same time as the installation is complete), the camera's operability is greatly improved.

In addition, the operation control becomes quick, and since the operation is simple, reliability and reliability can be improved as well as efficient sequence control is possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a complaint response diagram, Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic still camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a diagram showing camera operation mode setting operation switches, and Fig. 4 is a camera state. A figure showing an example of the body display. Figure 5.6 is a flowchart of each operation when replacing a magnetic disk. Figure 7 is a flowchart of camera operation when recording mode is set. Figure 8 is a flowchart of camera operation when set to track erase mode. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the camera operation when the playback mode and the track erase mode (2) are set. (Explanation of symbols of main parts) 1-・----------Optical system 2...-- Solid-state image sensor 3---------- Signal processing means 4--・−・
-Recording means 5--Storing means 6--Controlling means 7--Automatic address mechanism 8--
-・-Display means applicant Nippon Kogaku Kogyo Co., Ltd. Agent Patent attorney Takao Watanabe/J201

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1.) An optical system that forms a subject image, a solid-state image sensor provided near the image-forming surface of the optical system, and a signal processing means that processes image signals from the solid-state image sensor. and a recording means for recording the image signal and other signals from the signal processing means on a removable recording medium, an electronic still camera comprising: when the recording medium is attached, the presence or absence of a recorded signal on the attached recording medium. 1. An electronic still camera comprising: storage means for investigating the type of recorded signal and storing the investigation results; and control means for controlling various functions according to the output of the storage means. (2.) The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the control means includes an automatic address mechanism that addresses the recording means to a recordable area of the loaded recording medium. (3.) The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the control means includes a display means for calculating and displaying the remaining number of frames that can be photographed. (4.) The control means includes display means for displaying the recording state of the recording medium.
The electronic still camera described in Section 1. (5.) The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein the storage means changes the stored contents in response to the operation of the electronic still camera.