JPS6262674A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the size of an entire of a camera compact, prevent a delay of a shutter chance, lower power consumption and lower cost by individually providing an image pickup part having a solid-state memory for recording at least one picture of a picture signal and an external recording part having non-solid-state memory to freely attach and detach the image pickup part and the external recording part. CONSTITUTION:An electronic camera basically consists of an image pickup part 1 and a disk recording part 2. In the image pickup part 1, a frame memory 7 stores one frame period of a picture signal digitized from an A/D converter. Then, in the disk recording part 2, a recording signal processing circuit 19 supplies the picture signal on the frame memory 7 converted into an analog signal by a D/A converter to a recording disk. In this manner, the camera is divided into the image pickup part 1 and the disk recording part 2 and a picture is stored in the frame memory 7 once, thereafter its picture signal is transferred to the disk recording part 2, so that the shutter change is not missed. The image pickup part 1 cannot be made compact and light but also a power source load of the image pickup part 1 can be reduced.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an electronic camera, that is, a camera that electronically records an optical image, and particularly an electronic camera having a recording section using a non-solid memory such as a disk as a recording means. It's about cameras.

[Prior Art] A conventional device of this type has been comprised of an imaging section that converts an optical image into an electrical signal, and a disk recording section that records the electrical signal electronically or magnetically.

Alternatively, in order to compensate for the shortcomings of this type of device, a solid-state memory has been used instead of a disk recording section as a recording means.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above conventional techniques have the following drawbacks.

First of all, the disadvantages of using a disk recording section as a recording means are as follows.

(1) The recording disk and the disk drive that drives it have a certain size, and there is a limit to miniaturizing the entire camera.

(2) When recording an image, a certain amount of time is required for the disk rotation and rotation to start up, making it impossible to send the image to the timing of shooting.

(3) The current consumption required for the disk servo is relatively large, and the operation time unnecessary for recording is long.

(4) Due to the necessity of replacing the disk, the camera housing must be made waterproof and dustproof, which increases costs.

On the other hand, the disadvantages of electronic cameras using solid-state memory as recording means are as follows.

(1) It is difficult to increase the memory capacity beyond a certain amount, and the limit value of the number of images to be taken is smaller than that using a disk.

(2) There is a limit to reducing the cost of photographing due to the limit of reducing the cost of memory.

(3) Semiconductor memories require electric power to retain optical image data once recorded, and it is difficult to permanently store that data.

(4) If the memory pack is replaced in order to exceed the limit on the number of shots, the camera casing must be made waterproof and dustproof, which increases costs.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Accordingly, the present invention provides an imaging unit including an image sensor, a solid-state memory means for recording at least one screen worth of image signals from the image sensor, and an external unit including a non-solid-state memory means. A recording section is provided separately, and the imaging section and external recording section are detachable.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention.

The electronic camera of this embodiment basically consists of an imaging section 1 and a disk recording section 2.

In the imaging section 1, 3 is a lens, and 4 is an imaging element that forms an optical image from the lens 3 and converts it into an electric signal to produce an image signal, and is composed of other well-known imaging means such as COD, MOS, or an imaging tube. There is. 5 is a signal processing circuit that processes an image signal from an image sensor.

6 is an A/D converter, and 7 is a frame memory for storing one frame period of the digitized image signal from the A/D converter. The frame memory 7 may be a field memory if necessary.
A volatile DRAM is suitable for this, and therefore a changeover switch 8 is provided between the A/It converter 6 and the frame memory 7. Contact a is turned on'°
If it is necessary to keep the recorded signal as it is, turn the contact ``on'' to circulate the recorded signal.

A D/A converter 8 converts the digitized image signal read out from the frame memory 7 into an analog signal.

10 is a monitor that displays the image signal as a visible image.

11 is a second changeover switch, and when contact a is turned on, the image signal of 1 raw imaged by the image sensor 4 and successively sent through the signal processing circuit 5 is sent to the monitor lO. Display the feed. At this time, the monitor 10 functions as a camera finder.

On the other hand, when the contact is turned on, the image signal in the frame memory 7 is sent to the monitor 10 via the D/A converter 9 and displayed on the monitor 10.

12, the clock pulse from the clock generator 13 is applied to the image sensor 4. Signal processing circuit5. ^/D converter 6
, frame memory? , a clock driver that distributes and supplies data to the D/A converter 9, monitor 10, etc.
Each device within the imaging unit 1 is driven and operated by this.

A system controller 14 controls switching of the contacts of the changeover switch 8 and the second changeover switch 11 in accordance with timing given by the release switch 15. The system controller 14 is also driven by the clock from the clock generator 13.

, 16 is a main switch that controls starting and stopping of the system controller.

17 is a power supply; 18 is a power switch; power from the power supply 17 is supplied to the imaging section 1 and the disk recording section 2;

Next, in the disc recording unit 2, a recording signal processing circuit 19 performs signal processing for converting the image signal on the frame memory 7 into an analog signal using a D/A converter and supplying it to a recording disc to be described later.

20 is a recording disk. A magnetic sheet is used as the disk medium, but other media, such as an optical recording medium or a magneto-optical recording medium, may also be used.

21 is F)! When the recording disk is a magnetic medium in the modulator, the analog image signal from the D/^ converter 9 is sent to the recording disk 20 as a signal.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a recording/reproducing amplifier, which is used for amplifying a signal when recording a signal on the magnetic disk 20 and for amplifying a signal when reproducing a signal, which will be described later.

Here, when recording the signal, we have to go to the trouble of calling 111/
The A converter 8 does not convert the image signal to an analog signal,
It is also possible to record the digital signal as it is. At that time, the signal to be recorded is directly supplied to the disc recording section 2 without passing through the D/A converter 9.

When directly recording a digital signal onto the recording disk 20, the recording signal processing circuit 18 performs signal processing necessary to process the DC component in the signal.

In this case, the FM modulator 21 can be omitted. Recording image signals as digital signals provides better image quality than recording as analog signals, and the equipment can be simpler.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a reproducing head during recording, which is used for inputting and outputting signals to and from the recording disk 20.

Reference numeral 24 denotes an FM modulator for demodulating the FM signal of the reproduced signal from the recording/reproducing amplifier 22, and its output, an analog image signal, is supplied to the camera signal processing circuit 5 of the imaging section 1. Therefore, the reproduction signal reproduced from the recording disk 20 can be displayed on the monitor 10 in the same way as the image signal from the image sensor 4.

FIG. 2 shows the external shape of the electronic camera of the present invention, and each part is designated by the same number as that shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, 25 is a joint that includes a group of contacts 28 that electrically connects the imaging section 1 and the disk recording section 2. As shown in FIG.

Since the electronic camera of the present invention is configured as described above, it operates as follows.

The operation will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3(a).

First, in step #1, the main switch 16 is turned on to enable the system controller 14 to operate.

Next, in step 2, turn on the power switch 18.
°, and the changeover switch 8 and the second changeover switch 1 are connected to contact a. Here, power is supplied from the power supply 17 to each part, and each part starts to operate.

At this time, when an optical image of the outside world is projected onto the image sensor 4 through the lens 3, it is converted into an electrical image signal, and the image signal is supplied to the monitor 10 through the contact a of the second changeover switch 11. and displayed on the screen of the monitor IO.

That is, at this stage, the monitor 10 functions as a camera finder.

On the other hand, in the system controller 14, a synchronization signal is generated by the clock signal from the clock generator 13, and as shown in FIG. 3(b), the vertical synchronization signal VD is generated every frame period V. ing.

When the frame memory 7 is a field memory, the cycle of generation of the vertical synchronization signal VD is set to 1/2V.

Here, in step t3, the release switch 15 is
“When the switch is on, the system controller 14 is driven and the vertical synchronization signal VD is supplied to the changeover switch 8 and the second changeover switch 11. Here, the vertical synchronization signal VD
falls (step s4), selector switch 8
The second changeover switch 11 switches its contact to the b side (step #5), and then the frame memory 7
The above signal data will now circulate through the contacts,
The image is fixed, resulting in a so-called image freeze state. This frozen image is transferred to the second selector switch 1.
The signal is supplied to the monitor 10 through the contact point 1 and displayed.

At the same time, the image is sent to the disk recording section 2 via the D/A converter 9, and the frozen image for one frame is recorded on the recording disk 20.

When trying to capture the next image again,
When the release switch 15 is pressed (step 1G), the state returns to the state where step spirit 1 has ended. Release 15 again
When it is turned ON, the operations are performed in sequence according to the procedure described above, and the next screen is recorded on the recording disk 20.

The storage capacity of the frame memory 7 is limited to a very limited number of frames, but if the memory capacity increases dramatically in the future, more than a few dozen equinox images will be recorded.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, since the image recorded on the recording disk 23 can also be displayed on the monitor 10 via the signal processing circuit 5, the image stored on the recording disk 23 can also be observed.

In the electronic camera of this embodiment, as described above, the image is stored in the -H frame memory 7 in the image pickup section 1 and the disk recording section 2, and then the image signal is transferred to the disk recording section 2. As a result, you will not miss a photo opportunity due to a delay in the start-up timing of the recording disk 23. In addition, not only can the imaging section 1 be made smaller and lighter, but also the peak power consumption can be reduced due to the need to reduce the power supply load of the imaging section 1. When reducing the number of images, the signal can be read out from the image sensor 4 at a low speed and stored in the -H frame memory 7, so the number of images that can be taken can be increased compared to the conventional method even if the same capacity battery is used. Once stored in the frame memory, the imaging section 1 and the disk recording section 2 are combined, and the image in the frame memory 7 can be transferred to the recording disk 19 at normal speed.

Furthermore, since the contents of the frame memory 7 can be reproduced and displayed on the monitor 10 via the D/A converter 8, if an image is found to be unnecessary, a new image can be inserted into that part of the recording disk 20. It is also possible.

Next, a second embodiment is shown in FIG. The parts designated by the same numbers as in FIG. 1 operate in the same manner as in the first embodiment, so the description thereof will not be repeated. Although some of the necessary circuits shown in detail in FIG. 1 are omitted, the configuration and operation of the imaging section 1 are the same as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows an external view of the second embodiment. Figures 4 and 5
In the figure, reference numeral 27 denotes an output terminal for taking out an image signal to the outside, and the same image signal displayed on the monitor 10 can be taken out via a cable 28 and reproduced and displayed on the television monitor 28.

The switch 30 is a switch that controls activation of the recording Φ reproducing amplifier 22, and is used to select whether or not to record the image on the frame memory 7 of the imaging section 1 on the disk 23. For example, if you press it lightly, it will move to the next image in the frame memory 7, and if you press it hard, the current image in the frame memory 7 will be transferred, and both the frame memory 7 and the recording disk 20 will capture and record a new image. to shift the behavior.

Of course, if the imaging section 1 and the disk recording section 2 are combined,
The contents of the frame memory 7 of the imaging section may be immediately and automatically transferred sequentially.

In such a case, it is easy to increase the number of recordable frames in the frame memory 7 and display them. Although the connection between the imaging section 1 and the disk recording section 2 is particularly illustrated, it goes without saying that either wire connection or wireless connection may be used.

In this embodiment, the monitor 10 is provided in the disc recording section 2.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a reproduced signal processing circuit which processes the reproduced image signal from the FM demodulator 24, the image signal on the frame memory 7 from the D/A converter 9, and the image sensor 4 via the signal processing circuit 5.
An input image signal supplied from the monitor 10 and an output terminal 27 are supplied.

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

Also here, the parts given the same numbers as those in the first embodiment are the same, so the explanation will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the third embodiment, and FIG. 7 is an external view.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, 32 is a microphone, and 33 is an audio processing circuit that performs processing such as time-base compression of the audio signal from microphone a2.

34 is a speaker for reproducing audio signals. In this embodiment, it is possible to record and record audio signals as well as image signals.

That is, the audio signal picked up by the microphone 32 is time-domain compressed by the audio processing circuit 33 and converted into a time-domain compressed audio signal having the same frequency band as the image signal from the image sensor 4.

This time-base compressed audio signal contains the same amount of information in a short time as an audio signal with a longer time, and this signal is
The signal is converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter 6 and recorded in the frame memory 7.

Furthermore, this time-base compressed audio signal is transferred to the recording disk 20 in the same manner as the image signal.

When reproducing the image signal, the FM demodulator 2
4, it is extracted as a time-axis compressed audio signal, and is time-axis expanded in the reproduction signal processing circuit 31, and in a normal band,
The audio signal is then restored to a normal length audio signal and reproduced by the speaker 34.

Here, it goes without saying that the microphone 32 and the monitor 10 may be provided in either the imaging section 1 or the disk recording section 2, or both.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 9 is an external view. Portions denoted by the same numbers are the same as those of the other embodiments, so explanations thereof will be omitted.

35 is a telephone transmission section, 36 is a member that connects the imaging section 1 and the telephone transmission section 35, and 37 is a group of contacts for electrical connection.

38 and 39 are terminals for interfacing with the telephone receiver 40, respectively, and are connected to the audio couplers 41 and 42 which are in contact with the receiver 40, respectively. tc continues.

The telephone transmission section 35 includes a terminal 43 for data input/output.
It is possible to control the frame memory 7 via the transmission signal processing circuit 44 and output the image signal data in the frame memory 7.

This part 43 may be a general microcomputer terminal,
It can be combined with a microcomputer display, printer, disk memory, etc. by a known method.

The audio signal from the microphone 32, the image signal from the image sensor 4, the image signal recorded in the frame memory 7, and the time-axis compressed audio signal pass through a transmission signal processing circuit 44, and are modulated by a modulation 9 demodulation circuit 45. It is converted to a carrier signal for telephone transmission via terminals 38 and 38.

Similarly, image signals captured at other points.

When the picked up audio signal is transmitted through the telephone line, it is inputted from the terminals 38 and 38, demodulated by the modulation/demodulation circuit 45, converted to baseband, and then transmitted via the transmission signal processing circuit 44. It arrives at the imaging section 1.

The image pickup unit 1 records the image in the frame memory 7, and then displays the recording as described above.

Although an example in which the imaging section 1 and the telephone transmission section 35 are connected has been described here, it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if the disk recording section 2 and the telephone transmission section 35 are connected.

Note that the solid-state memory is one in which access for recording and reproduction is performed non-mechanically, and includes things such as magnetic bubble memories.

Furthermore, non-solid memory is memory that is accessed mechanically for recording and reproduction, and includes VTRs and the like.

[Effects] As explained above, according to the present invention, the imaging section having a frame memory and the disk recording section can be separated, so
It has the following effects.

(1) The camera that photographs the optical image, that is, the imaging section, can be configured in a small size.

(2) Since a non-solid-state memory such as a disk is not driven during photographing, it is possible to prevent delays in photographing timing, that is, photo opportunities.

(3) Since a non-solid memory such as a disk is not driven each time a photograph is taken, power consumption can be reduced.

(4) Waterproof and dustproof structure can be easily achieved.

(5) Photography, image/audio playback, and dubbing.

Easy filing and monitoring of each stage.

(8) Expansion to audio recording, 71i story transmission, and data recording can be easily achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a block diagram of the second embodiment, Figure @5 is its external view, and Figure 8 is a block diagram of the third embodiment. , Figure 7 shows its external appearance. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 8 is an external view thereof. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Imaging unit, 2... Disk recording unit, 3... Lens, 4... Image pickup element, 5... Signal processing circuit, 6... A/D converter, 7... Frame Memory, 8... Selector switch, 9... D/A converter, lO... Monitor, 11... Selector switch, 12... Clock driver, 13... Clock generator. 14... System controller, 15... Release switch, 1B... Main switch, 17... Power supply, 18... Power switch, 18... Recording signal processing circuit, 20... Recording disk, 21... FM modulator, 22... Recording/playback amplifier, 23... Recording/playback head, 24... FM demodulator, 25... Joint 2. 26... Contact group, 27... Output terminal, 28... Cable. 29... Television monitor, 30... Switch, 31... Playback signal processing circuit, 32... Microphone, 33... Audio processing circuit, 34... Speaker, 35... Telephone transmission unit, 36... Member, 37... Contact group, 38. 39... Terminal, 40... Receiver, 41. 42... Audio coupler, 43... Data input/output terminal, 44... Transmission Signal processing circuit, 45...Modulation/demodulation circuit. Figure 2 Figure 4 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) An imaging section including an imaging device and a solid-state memory means for recording at least one screen worth of image signals from the imaging device, and an external recording section including a non-solid-state memory means are provided separately. . An electronic camera, characterized in that the imaging section and the external recording section are detachable. 2) In the electronic camera according to claim 1,
The electronic camera is characterized in that the imaging section has a sorting section that transfers the image signal on the solid-state memory section to the external recording section as needed. 3) In the electronic camera according to claim 1,
The electronic camera is characterized in that the imaging section has an A/D converter for recording an image signal as a digital signal in the solid-state memory means. 4) In the electronic camera according to claim 1,
An electronic camera characterized in that the imaging section has a monitor means. 5) In the electronic camera according to claim 4,
An electronic camera characterized in that the monitor means can be switched to the output of the image pickup device during photographing and to the output of the solid-state memory means during signal reproduction. 8) In the electronic camera according to claim 1,
An electronic camera characterized in that the imaging section has an audio pickup means, and the audio signal from the audio pickup means is compressed on a time axis and recorded in the solid-state memory means. 7) In the electronic camera according to claim 1,
The electronic camera is characterized in that the imaging section has an interface means for exchanging image information between the solid state memory means and an external circuit.