JP2003304440A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera that can be used as a silver film camera and also as a digital camera without increasing the capacity of a memory provided in the main body of the camera. <P>SOLUTION: This camera is provided with a rewritable memory storing a program for silver film camera for operating the camera as the silver film camera; and a control section 40 which receives a program for digital camera for operating the camera as the digital camera from a digital bag 30, and replaces the program for silver film camera with the program for digital camera when the digital bag 30 is fitted to the main body 10 of the camera. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a camera that can be used as a silver salt film camera or a digital camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional cameras have been commercialized by mounting a microcomputer having a mask ROM and a rewritable memory. This microcomputer is generally equipped with one program for each product. For example, in a silver halide film camera, one program that meets the specifications of the camera is stored in the minimum necessary memory. In the case of a digital camera, the program is stored in a rewritable memory, and the version of the program can be upgraded to improve the function such as changing the firmware.

By the way, the back cover of the silver halide film camera is
It has been proposed that the electronic camera can be used as a digital camera by replacing it with a back cover (hereinafter referred to as "digital back") equipped with an electronic image pickup device.
In this case, if both a program for a silver salt film camera and a program for a digital camera with different specifications are stored in the memory of the camera body, a large capacity memory is required.

[0004]

However, when this camera is used only as a silver-salt film camera, the use of a large-capacity memory for unnecessary digital camera programs increases the price of the camera body. Become.

Therefore, a technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a camera which can be used as both a silver salt film camera and a digital camera without increasing the memory capacity of the camera body. .

[0006]

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a camera having the following configuration.

The camera is of a type that can be used as a digital camera by replacing the back cover when used as a silver salt film camera with a digital back equipped with an electronic image pickup device. The camera includes a memory and a control unit. The memory is rewritable,
A program for a silver salt film camera for operating the camera as a silver salt film camera is stored. The control unit receives a digital camera program for operating the camera as a digital camera from the digital back when the digital back is attached to the camera body, and the silver salt film stored in the memory. The camera program is replaced with the digital camera program.

In the above structure, when the program for a silver salt film camera is stored in the memory, the camera can be used as a silver salt film camera using a silver salt film. When the program for a digital camera is stored in the memory, the camera can be used as a digital camera.

According to the above arrangement, the memory of the camera body needs to store only one of the silver halide film camera program and the digital camera program. The memory capacity can be reduced.

Therefore, it can be used as both a silver salt film camera and a digital camera without increasing the memory capacity of the camera body.

[0012] Preferably, when the camera equipped with the digital back is used as a silver salt film camera, the control section stores a program for the silver salt film camera for operating the camera as a silver salt film camera. The program for the digital camera received from the bag and stored in the memory is replaced with the program for the silver salt film camera.

According to the above construction, the state in which the camera can be used as a digital camera can be returned to the state in which it can be used as a silver halide film camera. Therefore, it can be freely switched and used as a digital camera or a silver salt film.

Preferably, the control section transmits the program for the silver salt film camera stored in the memory to the digital back when the digital back is attached to the camera body. When the camera equipped with the digital back is used again as a silver salt film camera, the control unit receives the program for the silver salt film camera transmitted to the digital back from the digital back and stores the program in the memory. The stored program for the digital camera is returned to the program for the silver salt film camera.

According to the above construction, the silver halide film camera program is transmitted from the camera body to the digital back,
By returning it to the memory of the camera body from the digital back again, it is easy to restore the same state as the original state as a silver salt film camera.

Preferably, the control section receives the program for the digital camera or the program changed for the program for the silver salt film camera, and stores the program for the digital camera or the silver salt film stored in the memory. Replace the camera program with the above program.

According to the above arrangement, the program is transmitted from the digital back to the camera body and the program stored in the memory is rewritten. This makes it possible to easily change the program for the silver salt film camera or the program for the digital camera in order to upgrade the version for improving the performance.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In the camera of this embodiment, when the back cover 20 shown in the sectional view of the essential part of FIG. 8 is attached to the camera body 10 shown in the sectional view of the essential part of FIG. It can be used as a film camera. 9 and 10
As shown in the cross-sectional view of the main part, the digital camera can be used as a digital camera by mounting the digital back 30 on the camera body 10.

As shown in FIG. 7, a back cover 20 or a digital back 30 is mounted on the back surface of the camera body 10 (rearward of the shutter 19). Camera body 1
The back cover engaging portion 10 a and the adjusting terminal 46 are provided on the back surface of the No. 0. The back cover engaging portion 10a is, as described later, the engagement protrusion 2 of the back cover 20 or the digital back 30 when the mounted back cover 20 or the digital back 30 is closed.
The back cover 20 or the digital back 3 is engaged with 0a, 30a.
The closed state of 0 is maintained. In the vicinity of the back lid engaging portion 10a,
A back cover switch 57 for detecting opening / closing of the back cover 20 or the digital back 30 is provided. Adjustment terminal 46
Are used to communicate data with a machine for adjustment when the camera body 10 is assembled. Further, as will be described later, it is connected to the imprinting terminal 25 of the back cover 20 and the communication terminal 65 of the digital back 30. A DX terminal 55 and a power supply terminal 56 for detecting film information such as film sensitivity (ISO) and the number of sheets are projected in the cart chamber 18 for accommodating the film cartridge.

As shown in FIG. 8, the back cover 20 when used as a silver salt film camera has a pressure plate 29 for pressing the back side of the exposed surface of the silver salt film. An engagement protrusion 20a that engages with the back cover engagement portion 10a of the camera body 10 is provided at one end of the body 21, and a support portion 20b that is rotatably supported by the camera body 10 is provided at the other end. Has been. The back cover 20 is provided with an imprinting terminal 25 that is connected to a part of the adjustment terminal 46 of the camera body 10 when the back lid 20 is closed, and data such as the date imprinted on the film can be received from the camera body 10. It is like this.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a digital back 30 used when used as a digital camera.
Has an image sensor base plate 39 on which the image sensor is arranged.
The back cover engaging portion 10 of the camera body 10 is provided at one end of the body 31.
An engagement protrusion 30a that engages with a is provided, and a support portion 30b that is rotatably supported by the camera body 10 is provided at the other end. The digital back 30 is provided with a communication terminal 65 that is connected to the adjustment terminal 46 of the camera body 10 when the digital back 30 is closed, so that the camera body 10 and the digital back 30 can communicate with each other. . The digital bag 30 has a bulging portion 33 that is inserted into the cart chamber 18 of the camera body 10.
Terminals 68 and 69 connected to the power supply terminal 56 and the DX terminal 55 of the camera body 10 are provided.

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of the camera body 10.

The camera CPU 40 includes a display section 41, a photometry section 42, a light control section 43, a lens 44, and an external flash 4.
5, adjustment terminal 46, E ² PROM 47, DC / DC converter 48, battery check circuit 59, switches 50, diaphragm drive unit 51, shutter mechanical charge unit 5
2. The AF motor drive unit 53, the distance measuring sensor 54, and the DX terminal 55 are connected.

The camera CPU 40 is a microcomputer that controls all operations of the camera body 10 (photometry, distance measurement, exposure operation, etc.), and has a processor and a rewritable memory (RAM 40a and flash memory 40b) built therein. The camera CPU 40 operates according to a program stored in the flash memory 40b. Camera body 10
Is shipped as a product with the program for the silver halide film camera stored in the flash memory 40b. The program stored in the flash memory 40b is rewritten as necessary, as described later in detail. Data is temporarily stored in the RAM 40a.

The display section 41 is a section for displaying the state of the camera. The photometry unit 42 and the light control unit 43 obtain information on the exposure of the camera. The camera CPU 40 performs the exposure calculation based on the information. The lens 44 is a replaceable lens mounted on the camera body 10. Camera CPU 40
Can communicate with the control circuit in the lens 44 to obtain information such as aperture information and focal length information of the lens 44. The external flash 45 is a removable flash that is attached to the accessory shoe of the camera body 10. As described above, the adjustment terminal 46 is a communication portion with an external device (a machine for adjusting when assembling the camera body 10, the back cover 20, or the digital back 30). E
^The 2PROM 47 stores data such as adjustment values and correction values of the camera body 10. DC / DC converter 4
8 keeps the voltage of the power source supplied from the battery 49 constant. The battery check circuit 59 checks whether the battery 49 is usable.

The diaphragm drive unit 51 controls the diaphragm so that it has a set value during exposure. The shutter / mechanical charge unit 52 controls the shutter speed to be set at the time of exposure, moves the mirror up and down, and prepares the mechanical unit for the next exposure. The AF motor drive unit 53 drives the lens 44 based on the distance measurement start signal. The distance measuring sensor 54, based on the distance measurement start signal,
The focus position of the subject is detected. The DX terminal 55 is used as a terminal for reading film information such as film sensitivity and the number of sheets, and also used as a terminal for data communication with the digital back 30, and is also a terminal for detecting mounting of the digital back 30.

The switches 50 are S1, S2 and SCMA.
Includes IN, SRC, SCPU / DOWN, SISO.
S1 is a switch for starting the distance measuring and photometric operations. S2 is a switch for starting the exposure of the camera. SCMAIN is a switch that controls the power supply of the camera. The SRC is a switch that detects opening and closing of the back cover, and corresponds to the back cover switch 57. SCUP / DOW
N is a switch for changing camera settings (shutter speed, aperture, ISO, etc.). SISO is I
It is a switch that operates in conjunction with SCUP / DOWN when changing SO.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the digital back 30.

D for controlling the control system of the digital back 30
-The CPU 60 includes an electronic image pickup unit 61 including a CCD, SD
RAM 62, memory card 63, liquid crystal monitor 34, switches 64, communication terminal 65, DC / DC converter 6
6. A flash memory 67 is connected.

The D-CPU 60 converts the image data from the electronic image pickup section 61 including a CCD, and the known SDRAM 6
2 or memory in a memory card 63 (for example, CompactFlash (registered trademark) or smart media) which is a small-sized removable recording medium, and the captured image data is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 34. Play. Further, the communication terminal 65 is used to communicate with the camera body 10.

The D-CPU 60 uses the communication data from the camera body 10 to set DC / DC in the digital back 30.
The converter 66 is used to control the supply of power, control the timing of capturing image data during exposure, and control the screen display of the liquid crystal monitor 34. DC
The PU 60 operates according to a program stored in the rewritable flash memory 67. The flash memory 67 stores a digital camera program for the camera body 10 to operate as a digital camera, individual difference information regarding the digital back 30, and the like.

The switches 64 are SDMAIN and SPL.
Includes AY, SDUP / DOWN, SREC, SMODE. The SDMAIN is a switch that controls the power supply of the digital back 30. SPLAY is a switch for reproducing a captured image. SREC is a switch that enables digital exposure. SDUP / DOW
N is a switch for changing the contents of the digitally photographed image (for example, changing the page of the photographed image or changing information of the photographed image). SMOD
E changes the information of the captured image by SDUP / DOW
It is a switch operated in conjunction with N. SDUP / D
With the exception of OWN, these switches consist of a rotary dial with four positions.
One is always selected.

Next, the program rewriting operation of the camera of this embodiment will be described.

First, the digital back 3 is attached to the camera body 10.
The case of wearing 0 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a general flow of a program when the digital back 30 is attached to the camera body 10.

The camera CPU 40 of the camera body 10 and the D-CPU 40 of the digital back 30 have an adjustment terminal 46.
Communicate through. The silver halide film camera program stored in the camera CPU 40 (specifically, the flash memory 40b) is stored in the camera C as indicated by an arrow 80.
The data is transferred from the PU 40 to the D-CPU 40 and stored in the flash memory 67 of the digital back 30 as indicated by an arrow 82. Flash memory 67 of digital back 30
The D-CPU 40 reads out the program for the digital camera stored in, as indicated by arrow 84, and the arrow 8
As shown by 6, the data is transferred to the camera CPU 86.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the operation of the camera CPU 40 when the digital back 30 is attached to the camera body 10.

First, whether or not the back cover has changed from the open state to the closed state is determined by the change of the switch SRC (# 1
0). If the back cover has not changed from the open state to the closed state (NO in # 10), the camera CPU 40 shifts to the standby state (# 36).

When the back cover changes from the open state to the closed state (#
10 is YES), the camera CPU 40 assumes that the digital back 30 is attached to the camera body 10,
The DC / DC converter 66 is controlled to control the digital back 3
Power supply to 0 also starts, and DX terminal 5
5 is used to start communication (# 12).

Next, it is judged from the data read by the DX terminal 55 whether the digital back 30 is attached to the camera body 10 (# 14). If the digital back 30 is not attached (NO in # 14), the control signal for turning on the DC / DC converter 66 is turned off, and the camera CPU 40 shifts to the standby state (#
36). If the digital back 30 is attached (# 1
4), the D-CPU 60 via the adjustment terminal 46.
Between the camera body 10 and the digital back 30
Detailed data communication such as the state of the switches 64 is performed (# 16).

Next, from the information obtained in step # 16, it is judged whether or not it is the flash memory rewriting mode in which the program of the flash memory 40b is rewritten,
If it is not the flash memory rewrite mode (NO in # 18), the camera CPU 40 shifts to the standby state (# 36).

In the flash memory rewriting mode (YES in # 18), the camera CPU 40 causes the D-CPU 60 of the digital back 30 to execute the silver halide film camera program stored in the flash memory 40b via the adjusting terminal 46. (# 20), and waits for the end of transfer (# 22). At this time, if the communication is interrupted by some operation (for example, when the digital back 30 is opened), the processing is interrupted (not shown), the process proceeds to step # 36, and the camera CPU 40 shifts to the standby state. To do.

When the transfer is completed (YES in # 22), the camera CPU 40 sends the D-CPU 60 through the adjustment terminal 46.
To communicate with the flash memory 67 of the digital back 30.
The digital camera program stored in
It is read from the PU 60 (# 24), stored in the RAM 40a, and waits for the end of communication (# 26). The interruption at this time is also processed in the same manner as the case described above. The description of the processing when communication is interrupted will be omitted below.

When the communication is completed (YES in # 26), the camera CPU 40 loads the read program into the RAM4.
Write from 0a to a predetermined area of the flash memory 40b, and wait for the end of writing (# 30). When the writing is completed (YES in # 30), the written program is transferred to the D-CPU 60 of the digital back 30, and the D-CPU
At 60, a verify check (check whether the data match) is performed (# 32), and the end of communication is waited (# 34). If it is not written correctly (when the data does not match), read the digital camera program and check again. If it can be confirmed that the data has been written normally (YES in # 34), the communication ends.

FIG. 5 is a D-CPU of the digital back 30 when the digital back 30 is attached to the camera body 10.
It is a flow chart of operation of 60.

The D-CPU 60 of the digital back 30 is
The switches 64 of the digital back 60 are read at regular time intervals (# 40), and it is checked whether or not there is communication with the camera body 10 (# 42). If there is no communication from the camera body 10 (NO in # 42), processing is performed according to the read switch information (# 64).

If there is communication from the camera body 10 (# 42
YES), communication with the camera CPU 40 is performed via the adjustment terminal 46 (# 44). The communication at this time is the camera CP
This process is the same as step # 16 in the U40 flowchart.

Next, it is judged whether or not the flash memory rewriting mode is set (# 46). If it is not the flash memory rewriting mode (NO in # 46), the read switch information and the request from the camera body 10 are received. Processing is performed (# 64).

In the flash memory rewriting mode (YES in # 46), the silver halide film camera program stored in the flash memory 40b in the camera CPU 40 is read from the adjusting terminal 46 (# 4).
8) Then, the data is stored in the SDRAM 62 in the digital back 30 and waits for the end of transfer (# 50).

When the transfer is completed (YES in # 50), the loaded silver halide film camera program is loaded into SDRA.
The data is written from M62 to the rewritable flash memory 67 in the digital back 30 (# 52). Upon completion of writing, the digital camera program is read from the flash memory 67, transferred to the camera CPU 40 via the adjustment terminal 46 (# 54), and the end of communication is waited (# 56).

After communication is completed (YES in # 56), camera C
It waits until the program sent to the PU 40 is written to the flash memory 40b built in the camera CPU 40 (# 58). When writing is completed (Y in # 58
ES), receives the data from the camera CPU 40, compares the data with the data sent to the camera CPU 40 in step # 54, confirms whether they match (# 60), and waits for the end of communication (# 62). When communication is completed (# 62
YES), the camera CPU 40 is notified of the communication end check.

By the way, since the digital back 30 is equipped with various memories for processing digital image data, it is possible to rewrite the program by utilizing this.

The memory card 63 is, for example, a compact flash or smart media, has excellent portability, and can be easily read and written by a personal computer or the like. In recent years, the capacity has increased to several hundred megabytes. The digital camera is used to store image data, audio data, and the like, but here, the operation after inserting the program for the camera in the digital back 30 will be described.

The description of the case where the memory card 63 in which other data such as image data is stored is inserted will be omitted. In addition, the memory card 63 and D-CP
Detailed description of publicly known matters such as communication with U60 will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation when the program is read from the memory card 63 of the digital back 30 and written in the flash memory 67 to change the program (for example, upgrade).

First, it is judged whether or not it is in the memory card reading mode for reading the program of the memory card 63 (# 7
0), not in the memory card read mode (# 70
If NO, the process proceeds to a process corresponding to the state of the switches 64 (# 80).

In the memory card reading mode (#
(YES in 70), it is determined whether or not it is in the flash memory rewriting mode in which the data of the flash memory 67 in the digital back 30 is rewritten (# 72). If it is not the flash memory rewrite mode (NO in # 72), the process proceeds to the processing of the switches 64 (# 80).

In the flash memory rewrite mode (YES in # 72), the D-CPU 60 causes the memory card 6
The data (program) is read from No. 3, written in the flash memory 67 (# 74), and the end of writing is waited (# 76).

After completion of writing (YES in # 76), D-
The CPU 60 compares the program written in the flash memory 67 with the contents of the memory card 63, and confirms whether the program has been written normally (# 78).

After writing the program of the memory card 63 into the flash memory 67 in the digital back 30, the program of the flash memory 67 is sent to the camera body 10 as in the case of mounting the digital back, and the flash of the camera body 10 is flashed. By changing the program of the memory 40b, not only the program in the digital back 30 but also the program in the camera body 10 can be easily changed (for example, version upgrade).

When the program is returned, for example, when the program of the camera body 10 is for a digital camera but for a silver salt film camera, the switches 67 of the digital back 30 are operated. Similarly, the program is rewritten along the flow of FIGS. 4, 5, and 6.

As described above, by mounting the digital back 30 on the camera which can use the silver salt film,
The function of the camera body can be transferred from the silver salt film camera to the digital camera, and even when the digital back 30 is returned to the back cover 20 of the silver salt film camera, the program stored in the digital back 30 is stored in the camera body 10. It can be used as a silver salt film camera by returning to.

Since it is sufficient for the memory 40b of the camera body 10 to store only one of the silver halide film camera program and the digital camera program,
The capacity can be made smaller than the case where both programs are stored in the memory.

Furthermore, it is possible to easily change the program of the digital camera or the silver salt film camera (for example, upgrade the version to improve the performance).

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented in various modes.

For example, the digital back 30 may be provided with an input terminal so that the program can be input to the digital back 30 from an external device (for example, a personal computer). In this case, the digital back 30 may transfer the program to the camera body 10 without temporarily recording the program in the SDRAM 62, the flash memory 67, or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a camera body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a digital back according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a program transfer operation between a camera body and a digital back.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the camera CPU.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the D-CPU of the digital back.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a program changing operation.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the camera body.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts of a back cover when used as a silver salt film camera.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a digital bag.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts when a digital back is attached to the camera body.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 camera body 20 case back 30 digital back 40 Camera CPU (control unit) 40b flash memory (rewritable memory) 61 Electronic Imaging Unit (Electronic Imaging Device)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A camera, which can be used as a digital camera by replacing the back cover when used as a silver salt film camera with a digital back having an electronic image pickup device, operates the camera as a silver salt film camera. A rewritable memory storing a program for a silver salt film camera for causing the digital camera program for operating the camera as a digital camera when the digital back is attached to the camera body from the digital back. A camera which receives and replaces the program for the silver salt film camera stored in the memory with the program for the digital camera. 2. When the camera equipped with the digital back is used as a silver salt film camera, the control unit stores a program for the silver salt film camera for operating the camera as a silver salt film camera. The camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the program for the digital camera received from the computer and stored in the memory is replaced with the program for the silver salt film camera. 3. The control unit, when the digital back is attached to the camera body, transmits the silver halide film camera program stored in the memory to the digital back, and the digital back is attached. When the camera is used again as a silver salt film camera, the silver salt film camera program transmitted to the digital back is received from the digital back, and the digital camera program stored in the memory is stored in the silver salt film camera. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the program is returned to the program for a film camera. 4. The control unit receives the program for the digital camera or the program changed for the program for the silver salt film camera, and stores the program for the digital camera or the silver salt film camera stored in the memory. The camera according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a program for use is replaced with the program.