JP3077682B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera for recording image information on a recording medium. 2. Description of the Related Art Magnetic disks are generally used as recording media for electronic cameras. When recording a photographed still image on the magnetic disk, the magnetic disk is mechanically rotated. [0003] However, under shooting conditions in which disturbance such as vibration or shock is applied to the camera body for some reason, the rotation of the magnetic disk is affected by the disturbance, and the quality is poor. There is a disadvantage that constant speed rotation of the magnetic disk, which is a premise of good image recording, is not guaranteed. [0004] In order to improve such disadvantages, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 57-69499. This is to detect a deviation from the constant speed rotation of the magnetic disk due to a disturbance and give a warning to the photographer to that effect. However, this means does not fundamentally solve the inconvenience, but leaves a problem that images stored in the image sensor are wasted. For example, when a recording medium having a low recording speed such as a magnetic disk is used, or when predetermined image processing is performed before recording on the recording medium, the recording of image information captured first is performed. After the image processing is completed, a new image has to be taken. The present invention has been made in view of the above point.For example, when a recording medium such as a magnetic disk that is inexpensive and large-capacity recording medium is used although it is vulnerable to disturbance, information of a captured image is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera that can record images with good quality. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera capable of performing new image capturing without waiting for completion of image processing of previously captured image information and recording on a recording medium. is there. According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic camera comprising: an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject and outputting the image information as image information; and a semiconductor memory capable of temporarily storing a plurality of the image information at the same time. A recording medium for recording the image signal output from the semiconductor memory, a continuous shooting mode for continuously recording image information output from the imaging unit while a predetermined operation is being performed, and A switching unit for switching between a single shooting mode for recording a single image information output from the imaging unit each time the operation is performed, and a plurality of the semiconductor devices for outputting the image information continuously output in the continuous shooting mode. A storage unit for storing the image information in the memory and a recording unit for recording the plurality of pieces of image information stored in the semiconductor memory on the recording medium are provided. According to the present invention, in an electronic camera, an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject and outputting it as image information, a semiconductor memory capable of temporarily storing a plurality of the image information, and the image signal output from the semiconductor memory A recording medium for recording, a photographing start command signal generating means for generating a photographing start command signal, and the image information for a plurality of images continuously output from the image pickup means in response to the photographing start command signal. A storage means for storing the image information in the semiconductor memory and a recording means for recording the image information for a plurality of images stored in the semiconductor memory after the generation of the photographing start command signal on the recording medium. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a drive circuit 12 is connected to an image pickup unit 10 composed of an image pickup device such as a CCD.
Is performed. For example, the driving circuit 12 includes a crystal oscillator, and the imaging unit 10 is driven in a standard television signal format such as the NTSC system based on a signal having a stable frequency. ing. Next, the output side of the image pickup unit 10 is subjected to A / D conversion via an amplifier 14 for amplifying a signal to a predetermined level.
Input side of converter 16 and 2-input analog switch 18
Are connected to one input side 18A. And
The input side of the frame memory 20 is connected to the output side of the A / D converter 16. This frame memory 20
It has a storage capacity for at least one still image frame. The output side of the frame memory 20 is connected via a D / A converter 22 to the other input side 18 B of the analog switch 18. That is, the image information output from the imaging unit 10 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 16 and stored in the frame memory 20. After being read from the frame memory 20, the D / A converter 22 Is converted into an analog signal, and the reproduced image information is output to the analog switch 18. Image information output from the imaging unit 10 is also input to the analog switch 18, and one of them is selected and output. Next, the output side of the analog switch 18
It is connected to a recording device 26 via a signal processing circuit 24. Among them, the signal processing circuit 24 performs color signal processing and γ correction of input image information, and is connected to an electronic viewfinder (EVF) as necessary. In this case, during shooting, a luminance signal or a composite color signal obtained by processing the output signal of the imaging unit 10 via the analog switch 18 is input to the electronic viewfinder, so that the shot image can be visually recognized. I have. When the image pickup section 10 is a single-chip color image pickup device, the signal processing circuit 24 performs color separation processing to obtain a luminance signal and a color signal, and a composite color signal can be easily obtained. Next, the recording device 26 is for recording on a recording medium such as a magnetic disk which is inexpensive but large in capacity but is vulnerable to disturbance. A control circuit 28 is connected to the drive circuit 12, the analog switch 18, the frame memory 20, the signal processing circuit 24, and the recording device 26 described above. A release switch 30, a continuous shooting single shooting changeover switch 32, and an image confirmation switch 34 are connected to the control circuit 28, and input from the drive circuit 12 in accordance with the ON / OFF state of these switches. A necessary timing signal is output to each section based on the clock signal and the synchronization signal, and the operation is controlled. The recording device 26 includes a disk drive device, and an FG signal (pulse train signal at intervals according to the rotation of the disk) from the disk drive device is input to the detection device 40. Next, the overall operation of the above embodiment will be described. First, the case of the single shooting mode will be described.
First, when a power switch (not shown) is turned “ON”, the input side 18A of the analog switch 18 is connected to the output side as shown in FIG. 2A, and the output signal of the imaging unit 10 is transmitted through the signal processing circuit 24. Is output to the electronic viewfinder as indicated by an arrow FA, and the image captured by the imaging unit 10 is displayed on the electronic viewfinder. Next, when the composition is determined and the release switch 30 is pressed to “ON” at a photo opportunity, the output of the image pickup unit 10 is controlled by the control circuit 28 as shown by an arrow FB in FIG. A certain image signal is A / D
The data is digitized by the converter 16 and stored in the frame memory 20. Then, immediately after the storage, the image is reproduced immediately, the input side 18B of the analog switch 18 is connected to the output side, and the image based on the image information stored in the frame memory 20 is reproduced as a still image on the electronic viewfinder. At the same time, the reproduced image information is also output to the recording device 26, and the recording is started. When a disturbance occurs during the recording operation and the pulse interval of the FG signal is disturbed to such an extent that the recording is adversely affected, the detection is detected by the detecting device 40 and a signal indicating that the recording is unsuccessful is output to the control circuit 28. Under the control of the control circuit 28, image information is recorded on the same track again.
Before re-recording, the previous recording is usually erased. This recording is repeated a plurality of times within a certain time range. If recording cannot be performed without being affected by disturbance during this time, a warning to that effect is given by, for example, a warning unit (not shown), and the photographer It is possible to know that the entire apparatus should strive to achieve a state with less disturbance. Normally, the writing of image information to the recording medium by the recording device 26 is almost satisfactorily performed, and after the recording is completed, the state shown in FIG. Note that FIG.
In the state shown in FIG. 3A, when the image confirmation switch 34 is turned on, the input side 18B of the analog switch 18 is connected to the output side as shown in FIG. The image in the frame memory 20 that has been photographed earlier is
Only during "N" is output and displayed on the electronic viewfinder as indicated by the arrow FC. At this time, the recording on the recording medium by the recording device 26 has not been performed because it has already been completed. Further, in such a case, if the recording device 26 has a reproducing function, when the image confirmation switch 34 is turned on after the recording is completed, the image in the recording medium is displayed by an arrow in FIG. If the information is reproduced and displayed on the electronic viewfinder as shown by the FD, it is possible to confirm whether or not the recording has been performed well, and the detection device 40 can have a different configuration from the above. That is, the recording device 26
And immediately after the completion of the recording on the recording medium, the detection device 40 detects the quality of the reproduced signal and makes a judgment. In this case, if the recording is not successful no matter how many times, there is a possibility that the disk is defective. Next, the case of the continuous shooting mode will be described. In this case, the continuous shooting single shooting switch 32 is set to “O
N ", and the continuous shooting is started when the release switch 30 is pressed. That is, the release switch 30
Are taken and recorded at fixed time intervals while is ON. At this time, at predetermined time intervals, imaging is performed at the initial timing, image information is stored in the frame memory 20, and the recording device 26 performs a recording operation on the recording medium at a subsequent timing. Alternatively, the analog switch 18 is connected to 18A, and the output of the image pickup unit 10 is sent directly to the recording device 26 to perform recording. Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the above-described embodiment, when performing continuous shooting, the frame memory 20 is not effectively used, and even if the recording operation of any image is incomplete, the next image must be recorded. According to this embodiment, there is no such inconvenience, and it is possible to satisfactorily record image information even in continuous shooting. In the present embodiment, the storage capacity of the frame memory 50 is configured to be equal to the storage capacity of the recording medium in the recording device 26. Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. Regardless of single shooting or continuous shooting, as shown by arrows FE1, FE2, FE3,... In FIG. Are sequentially stored in the frame memory 50. The image information stored in the frame memory 50 is reproduced at the end of an appropriate photographing operation, for example, at the end of continuous shooting, and is indicated on a recording medium in the recording device 26 by an arrow FF in FIG. Is recorded as follows. In this embodiment, although the frame memory 50 is expensive, it can be considered that it has the same operation as the recording medium in the recording device 26, and when the frame memory 50 becomes full of image information, The recording may be performed by setting the magnetic disk in the apparatus main body. At this time, the image in the frame memory 50 may be checked with the electronic viewfinder, and only the necessary image may be recorded on the recording medium. Of course, the storage capacity of the frame memory 50 is not necessarily equal to the storage capacity of the recording medium in the recording device 26, and may be slightly smaller. Note that the detection circuit 40 is not limited to the above-described one. For example, an acceleration detection device may be used, and if this output becomes a certain value or more at the time of recording, a signal of a recording failure may be automatically output. good. As described above, according to the present invention,
Since a semiconductor memory capable of storing a plurality of pieces of image information is provided, new image information can be stored even in a state where previously captured image information remains in the semiconductor memory.
New image capturing is possible without waiting for image processing of previously captured image information and recording on a recording medium, and an electronic camera that does not miss a photo opportunity can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment. [Description of Signs] 10 imaging unit 12 drive circuit 18 analog switch 20 frame memory 24 signal processing circuit 26 recording device 28 control circuit 40 detection circuit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5 / 765,5 / 781,5 / 91 G11B 20/10 311

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] Image capturing means for capturing an image of a subject and outputting the image information as image information; a semiconductor memory capable of simultaneously storing a plurality of the image information; a recording medium for recording the image signal output from the semiconductor memory; And a continuous shooting mode for continuously recording image information output from the imaging unit, and a single recording mode for recording single image information output from the imaging unit every time the predetermined operation is performed. Switching means for switching between a shooting mode; storage means for storing a plurality of the image information continuously output in the continuous memory mode in the semiconductor memory; and a plurality of the image information stored in the semiconductor memory. And a recording means for recording the information on the recording medium. 2. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor memory stores newly imaged second image information in a state where the first image information captured earlier is stored in the semiconductor memory. camera. 3. The electronic camera according to claim 2, wherein the semiconductor memory stores the second image information before the first image information is recorded on the recording medium. 4. The electronic camera according to claim 2, wherein the semiconductor memory stores the second image information in preference to the first image information being recorded on the recording medium. 5. 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores image information at regular time intervals while the predetermined operation is performed in the continuous shooting mode. 3. 6. Image processing means for performing predetermined image processing on the image signal stored in the semiconductor memory, wherein the recording means records the image signal image-processed by the image processing means on the recording medium. The electronic camera according to claim 1. 7. 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit records the plurality of pieces of image information stored in the semiconductor memory on the recording medium after the predetermined operation is completed. 8. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium can be set in the electronic camera. 9. Imaging means for imaging a subject and outputting the image information as image information; a semiconductor memory capable of temporarily storing a plurality of the image information; a recording medium for recording the image signal output from the semiconductor memory; A photographing start command signal generating means for generating a signal; a storing means for storing, in the semiconductor memory, the image information for a plurality of images continuously output from the imaging means in response to the photographing start command signal; Recording means for recording the image information of a plurality of images stored in the semiconductor memory on the recording medium after the generation of the photographing start command signal. 10. A first imaging mode in which the image information for a plurality of images continuously output from the imaging unit is stored in the semiconductor memory in response to the imaging start instruction signal, and the imaging is performed in response to the imaging start instruction signal Storing the image information for one image output from the means in the semiconductor memory;
10. The electronic camera according to claim 9, further comprising switching means for switching between the photographing modes. The electronic camera according to claim 9, wherein the storage unit stores the image information at fixed time intervals in accordance with the shooting start command signal. 12. 10. The electronic camera according to claim 9, wherein the photographing start command signal generating means continuously generates the photographing start command signal while a release button is continuously pressed. 13. A photographing stop command signal generating unit that generates a photographing stop command signal, wherein the storing unit stores the image information for a plurality of images continuously output from the imaging unit in response to the generation of the photographing stop signal. The electronic camera according to claim 9, wherein the operation stored in the semiconductor memory ends. 14． 14. The photographing start signal generating means generates the photographing start signal when a release button is pressed, and the photographing stop signal generating means generates the photographing stop signal when the release button is released. An electronic camera according to claim 1. 15. The electronic camera according to claim 9, wherein the recording medium can be set in the electronic camera.