JPS63272289A - Still picture recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To record lots of still pictures with very less memory capacity by storing a digital still picture data into a semiconductor memory and recording a still picture signal sequentially on a VTR tape based on the digital still picture data stored therein. CONSTITUTION:An insertion hole 8 through which an IC card memory 7 is inserted is provided to an upper face of a camera case main body 1 and when the IC card memory 7 is inserted in the inside of the insertion hole 8, a contact provided in the inside and an electric connection terminal 9 of the IC card memory 7 are in electric contact with each other. Then a digital still picture data stored in a RAM of the IC card memory 7 is stored on a tape of the VTR. Thus, the still picture data recorded in the semiconductor memory is recorded on the tape sequentially to record the still picture newly in the semiconductor memory thereby reducing the size of the recorder itself.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to still images (
The present invention relates to a still image recording device that converts a still image into a video signal and stores it.

[Prior art and its problems] Conventionally, there is an electronic still camera that uses a magnetic disk as a recording medium. The video signal of a still image stored on a magnetic disk is a signal obtained by FM modulating an analog video signal. For example, in the case of field recording, 50 still images can be stored on one magnetic disk.

However, since this type of electronic still camera uses a magnetic disk, its drive circuit and drive mechanism are large, making it difficult to make the camera itself smaller and thinner. Ta.

Therefore, it has been considered to convert the video signal into a digital signal and store it in a semiconductor memory such as a RAM so as to eliminate the need to use a magnetic disk. However, in order to store image data in a semiconductor memory, an extremely large memory capacity is required. For example, in order to store one still image, a capacity of 2 to 3 megabits is required. Therefore, like a magnetic disk, 5
If an attempt is made to store 0 still images, an extremely large amount of memory is required, which has the disadvantage that the device cannot be miniaturized. An object of the present invention is to provide a still image recording device capable of recording images.

[Summary of the Invention] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention stores digital still image data in a semiconductor memory, and
Based on this stored digital still image data, VT
The gist is that still image signals are sequentially recorded on the tape of an R (video tape recorder).

[Embodiment of the Invention] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an external view of an electronic still camera as a still image recording device of the present invention, in which 1 indicates a camera case body;
2 is an optical system having a lens, aperture, shutter, etc. inside, 3 is a finder, 4 is a release switch (shaft switch), and 5 is a liquid crystal display device ff (LCD).
), which displays various information about the camera. In addition, an insertion hole 8 into which the IC card memory 7 is inserted is provided on the top surface of the camera case body, and when the IC card memory 7 is inserted into the insertion hole 8, the contacts provided inside (not shown) and the electrical connection terminal 9 of the IC card memory 7 are brought into contact and electrically connected. Reference numeral 10 denotes a mode changeover switch, which is a three-contact slide switch, and is configured to switch between a photographing mode, a reading mode, and an erasing mode at each position. Also, although not shown in Figure 1 above,
A setting switch is provided to set various information regarding the camera, such as shutter speed and aperture information, as well as various sensors for photometry, distance measurement, etc.
It is also provided with output terminals and the like for electrical connection to the TR via a cord.

FIG. 2 shows the circuit configuration of the electronic still camera shown in FIG. It is controlled by an optical system control section 23 that is driven.

Further, 24 is an imager (imaging device) that stores a still image of an external image formed through the optical system 21;
For example, it consists of a COD, MO3 type imager, etc., and the driver (drive circuit) 2 is responsible for reading out and erasing the formed image.
9. This imager 24
The still image data formed on the image is sent to the video signal processing circuit 25.
After being converted into an analog still image signal, it is converted into a digital still image signal by an A/D (analog music digital) conversion circuit 26, and then sent to a gate circuit 27.
．． It is recorded in the IC card memory 7 via the card interface 28. This IC card memory 7 is RAM7
This RAM 7a is, for example, a 4 megabit RAM.
It is equipped with four memory cards and can store about eight pieces of still image data.

30 is a timing signal generation circuit having a crystal oscillator 31, and outputs a timing signal to the aforementioned control unit 22, driver 29, and other circuits. A control unit 22 to which the timing signal from the timing signal generation circuit 30 is applied.
is a CPU that controls the operation of each circuit. This control unit 22 includes switch signals 1o (recording mode) and I+ (reading mode) of the mode changeover switch 10 described above.
, I2 (erase mode) is input, and switch input is performed by pressing the release switch in the first and second steps, respectively.Signals 13 and I of the switches SWI and SW2 are input.
4. and the detection signal I5 of the sensor 32 that measures the illuminance and distance to the object). A signal controller 6 is input from a setting switch 33 for setting shutter speed, aperture information, etc. Although not shown, the LCD 5 displays various information.
(Fig. 1) is also provided.

However, the signal 1. from the slide switch 10. When there is (
When the release switch 4 is operated (when the recording mode is set), the switch SWI is first turned on, and the output signal 01 is output from the control section 22 to the optical system control section 23. This output signal 01 is output from the sensor 32. Signal I5 from setting switch 33. I6 is used to control the aperture and lens position n of the optical system 21. When the release switch is further pushed in and the switch SW2 is turned ON, the signal 01 is transmitted to the shutter film (not shown) of the optical system 21. ) is output for a pre-calculated period of time, so that the methyl image of the external image incident through the optical system 21 is focused on the imager 24. After this, from the control unit 22,
A read command signal is supplied to the driver 29 and the still image data on the imager 24 is transferred to the video signal processing circuit 25.
At the same time, the analog still image signal processed by the video signal processing circuit 25 is supplied to the A/
A
At the same time, the gate 27 is opened by the q number o5, the card interface is operated by the signal 01, and the digital still image data converted by the A/D converter 26 is stored in the IC card 7. By such a storage operation, the 16 megabit RAM 7a of the IC card memory 7 stores data in units of 2 megabits, so that a total of eight (Thursday) still image data can be stored.

The digital methyl image data stored in this way is sent to R via the card interface 28 and gate 34.
It is stored in AM35. This RAM35 is 1 piece (book)
It has a storage area for seven still image data, that is, about 2 megabits, and the RAM control section 36 performs address designation (signal 36b) and read/write control (signal 36c). This RAM control section 36 operates upon input of signals o6, o8, and o9 from the control section 22, and its operation will be described later.

When one tree's worth of still image data is stored in the RAM 35, a signal 36a is output from the RAM control section 36, causing the flip-flop 37 to be set. The set signal (Q terminal output) of this flip-flop 37 is sent to the control unit 2.
2 as a signal I7, the AND gate 38 is opened, and the other input signal of the AND gate 38, for example, a signal every second (IH, signal), is supplied to the timer section 39. The timer unit 39 counts signals every second and outputs a time-up signal 39a when a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds has elapsed. This time-up signal 39a is sent to the control unit 22 as a signal I8, and is also sent to the flip-flop 3.
7 reset terminal. This flip flop 3
The reset signal No. 7 is given to the timer section 39 as a reset signal. The digital still image data stored in the RAM 35 is supplied to an external digital VTR via a terminal 40. Further, the control unit 22 supplies the control signal 01G to the terminal 41 in accordance with the timing of the supply to the terminal 40, and the VTR side receives the control signal 010 from the terminal 41 and provides the control signal 01G through the terminal 40. Digital still image data is recorded on tape.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the above-mentioned digital VTR. In FIG. 3, 50 is a switch section for controlling recording, playback, etc., and 5 is an input terminal for an analog video signal.

Further, 52 is an output terminal for an analog video signal, which is connected to an external display device such as a television receiver, and is used to display the video signal. 53 is control Wf
fi, converts the analog video signal input from the terminal 51 into a digital video signal during recording, and then performs various processing for digital recording.
Digital recording is performed on tape 55 via 4. Further, during reproduction, the digital video signal on the tape 55 is converted into an analog video signal, outputted to the terminal 52, and displayed on the TV receiver.

Note that the signal 53a is a signal for operating a servo system for driving the tape.

However, the control unit 53 receives digital still image data from the terminal 56, that is, still image data sent via the terminal 40 in FIG. A control signal 0+o is supplied through a terminal 41 of tp, and the digital still image data from a terminal 56 is sequentially recorded on the tape 55 while the control signal 0+0 is being received. There is.

However, in order to record the digital still image data recorded in the RAM 7a of the IC cart memory 7 onto the tape 5542, the following operation is performed.

That is, the slide switch 10 is set to the read mode, the signal switch 1 is supplied to the control unit 22 as shown in FIG. 4(a), and the release switch S4 is operated in this state y5.

As a result, the switch S W + is set to ONI as shown in FIG. 4(b), and the read operation is then started. That is, the control unit 22 outputs the signal 07 to sequentially read digital still image data of the first recorded still image from the RAM 7a of the IC card memory 7 via the card interface 28. At the same time as this.

Signal 06 is output as shown at 41st Δ(C).

The gate 34 is opened and the signal is supplied to the RAM address control section 36 as a write operation signal. As a result, the digital still image data read from the IC cart memory 7 is recorded in the RAM 35. When one still image data is stored, a signal 36a is output as shown in FIG. 4(d), and the flip-flop 37 is set as shown in FIG. 4(e). By setting the flip-flop 37, the output of the signals 07 and 06 is stopped, and the signal 08 is sent to the RAM control section 36. This signal 08 causes the still image data recorded in the RAM 35 to be sequentially and continuously output many times.
If the JW unit 36 repeats reading of the methyl image data from the FIAM 35.

Therefore, the same still image data is continuously supplied to the terminal 40. Further, a control signal 010 shown in FIG. 4(h) is applied to the terminal 41 in synchronization with the signal 08. However, after the flip-flop 37 is set, the timer section 39
starts counting the IHz signal from the AND gate 38, and outputs a signal 39a as shown at 0141J(g) after counting for 10 seconds. In response to this signal 8, the control section 22 stops outputting the signals 08 and 09.

In this way, the same still image data is output from the RAM 35 for 10 seconds, and this data and signal 010 are sent to the terminals 56 and 57 of the digital VTR shown in FIG. 3 via the terminals 40 and 41. The signal is sent to the control unit 53 via the head 54 and recorded on the tape 55 via the head 54.

However, returning to FIG. 2, when the signal engineer 8 is input, the control section 22.

Output signal 07.06 to RAM of IC card memory 7
The second still image data stored in 7a is read out and stored in the RAM 35, and further.

The still image data is read out from the RAM 35 for 10 seconds. Thereafter, when the eight still image data stored in the RAM 7a are read out and stored on the tape of the VTR, the end detection unit 42 Now, this is detected, the signal engineer 9 is sent to the control section 22, and the read operation is completed.

After being recorded on the tape of the external VTR in this way, the signal 07 can be released by operating the release switch 4 with the mode selector switch set to the erase mode and the signal generator 2 being supplied to the control unit 22. , signal 08, etc. are output, the contents of the RAM 7a and the RAM 35 can be erased, and a new still image can be photographed and recorded.

In the above embodiment, the control signal from the control unit 22 is
Although each of the signal lines 010 to 010 is shown as a single line in the drawing, each signal line performs a large number of controls as described above, and is not limited to one line. In addition, multiple common signal lines,
For example, it is possible to use eight signal lines and perform various controls digitally based on combination data of each of these signal lines.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which a digital recording VTR was used as the external VTR, but a VTR that records analog video signals may also be used. FIG. 5 shows this example, and the same components as those in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. However, RAM
Digital still image data output from 35 is D/A
After being converted into an analog video signal by the (digital fist analog) converter 44, the terminal 40 and the liquid crystal display device 4
Sent to 3. Therefore, the still image data read out from the RAM 35 can be recorded on the VTR while being checked on the liquid crystal display device "j!143."

In this case, the terminal 56 shown in FIG. 3 is not required on the VTR side, and it is sufficient to connect the analog still image data from the terminal 41 to the terminal 51. Of course, the control unit 53 only records analog video data input from the terminal 51 on the tape 55, and does not require a circuit for digital conversion.

In this way, in the above embodiment, the methyl image data recorded in the semiconductor memory can be sequentially recorded on the tape.
A new methyl image can be recorded in the semiconductor memory, and the device itself can be made smaller. Furthermore, since still images taken with an electronic still camera can be sequentially recorded on one tape, if a 90-minute videotape is used, for example, one still image can be recorded for 10 seconds each as in this embodiment. In this case, 540 still images can be stored. Of course, the recording time on the tape can be designed arbitrarily, and if it is 5 seconds, more than 1000 tapes can be recorded. Further, for example, still image data can be outputted from the terminal 41 and recorded for a desired time by manually operating a recording switch on the VTR side. When playing back, if the still image data on the tape is played back on a VTR and displayed on a television receiver, the still images will be switched and displayed in sequence every 10 seconds if the data was recorded for 10 seconds. [Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, photographed still image data can be stored in a semiconductor memory, and this stored still image data can be stored in an external VTR. Therefore, not only can the recording device itself be made smaller, but also the photographed methyl images can be stored on a single videotape, which has the effect of making storage extremely easy.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration,
Figure 3 is a block diagram of an externally connected video-tape recorder, Figure 4 is a time chart of each part, and Figure 5 is a block diagram of a video tape recorder connected to the outside.
The figure shows another embodiment of the invention. 1... Camera case body, 4... Release switch, 7... IC card memory, 7a
, 35...RAM, lO...mode changeover switch, 22...control unit, 24...
- Imager, 36...RAM control unit. Patent Applicant Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Machi 1) Tadashi Toshi-, '-'-2.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An image sensor on which a still image is formed, a conversion means for converting the still image data read from the image sensor into digital still image data, and a semiconductor for storing the digital still image data from this conversion means. memory and
A still image recording device comprising: storage control means for reading out the digital still image data stored in the semiconductor memory and storing the still image data in a VTR (video tape recorder). (2) The still image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor memory is provided in an IC card that is removably attachable to the converting means.