JPH01176174A - Picture signal recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To extend the storage capability of a picture data by supplying a power supply only to a memory storing a picture data for a required minimum quantity in plural memories storing the picture data and not supplying power supply to a memory not storing the picture data. CONSTITUTION:The storage content of a register 112 is constituted so as to be inputted to a power supply controller 401 and the power supply controller 401 controls the power supply to each memory chip 402 based on the storage content of the register 112. That is, since it is required to store the data in a memory chip storing the picture data even partly, switching control is applied to supply the power to the memory chip by the power controller 401. Moreover, the switching control is applied to interrupt the power supply to a memory chip not storing any picture data by the power controller 401. Thus, the backup power supply supplied to the memory is stored for a time as long as possible.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image signal recording system for storing image signals.

[Conventional technology] Conventionally, CCD (Charge Coupled D
2. Description of the Related Art Electronic still cameras are known as devices that record still images captured by an image sensor such as an MO5 solid-state image sensor or an MO5 type solid-state image sensor on a recording medium. This type of electronic still camera is a device that performs FM modulation on a still image signal obtained from an image sensor and records it on a small magnetic floppy disk.

However, since this electronic still camera records still image signals on a rotating small magnetic disk, it inevitably requires a mechanical mechanism, and there are certain limits to its reliability against vibrations and shocks of the camera body. Also, since it is magnetic recording, it is a magnetic head.

Due to the friction of the magnetic floppy, signal deterioration occurs during long periods of recording and playback. Furthermore, there is a limit to how small the mechanical mechanism can be made to be, and there is a limit to how small the camera can be made to be.

However, with the recent progress in IC memory, an image signal recording device that does not use a magnetic floppy and generates an image signal in the IC memory has been proposed (Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-4).
(Refer to Publication No. 3393 "Camera"), this image signal recording device converts a still image signal obtained from an image sensor such as a CCD or MOS image sensor into a digital signal using an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. , I.C.
It records the digitized still image signal as digital data on a recording medium such as a card that is a hybrid of IC memory, and has the following advantages over the electronic still camera using the magnetic floppy described above. It has points.

(1) Hybridization of the imaging section and recording section and L
It is possible to implement SI, and the device can be made smaller and lighter.

(2) Since the still image signal is digitized and recorded, signal deterioration does not occur during recording/playback or stationary dubbing.

(Because the device does not contain any complicated mechanical mechanisms, it is highly reliable against vibrations and impacts.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the above-mentioned image signal recording device. Third
In the figure, 10 and 20 surrounded by broken lines are a camera section and a memory section, respectively. In addition, 30 is the camera section 1
0 and the memory section 20, and (:T, , C70 are the connector sections 30 and 30, respectively).
This is a connection terminal provided on the The camera unit IO includes an optical system lens 201. Solid-state image sensor 202. Sample and hold circuit 203. Signal processing circuit 204゜Three A/D converters 205 and 2 for luminance signals and color signals
06,207. Switch S1. and a battery (T, including a source circuit) 208, and the memory section 20 has an IC memory 2
10 and a secondary battery (including a power supply circuit) 211.

Next, the operation of the image signal recording apparatus shown in FIG. 3 will be explained.

In FIG. 3, the solid-state image sensor 20 is
The image formed on the imaging surface 2 is captured as a still image by the solid-state image sensor 202 by a mechanical shutter JN (not shown) or an electronic shutter function of the solid-state image sensor 202. Note that since the solid-state image sensor 202 is provided with a color filter (not shown), the solid-state image sensor 202
Then, the amount of incident light is converted into an electrical signal, for example, R, G.
, B signals are sequentially output, and in synchronization with a transfer lock signal generated from a synchronization signal generation circuit (not shown), the sample-and-hold circuit (S/) 203 receives the R, G, B signals.
Outputs a signal electrical signal. A sample and hold circuit (S/H) 203 samples and holds the output of the solid-state image sensor 202 in synchronization with the transfer lock signal.

A signal processing circuit 20 including a well-known matrix circuit
In step 4, the R, G, and B signals from the solid-state image pickup device obtained as described above are used to generate a luminance signal, that is, a Y signal, and color difference signals, that is, an RY signal and a BY signal. . The Y signal, R-Y signal and B-Y signal are sent to A/D converters 205, 206 and 20.
7, each sample is converted into a digital ray word of 8 or 6 bits per sample. Then, by sequentially switching and outputting these signals in the switch circuit S+, digital Y, R-Y, B-Y
The signals are multiplexed in a time-division manner, and
connection terminal CT.

is supplied to the IC memory 210 of the memory unit 20 via
be remembered.

In addition, in this image signal recording device, the camera section 10 and the memory section 20 can be separated by a connector section 30,
Furthermore, the memory section 20 has a rechargeable secondary battery 211, and when the camera section 10 and the memory section 20 are separated, a power supply switching circuit (not shown) connects the battery provided in the camera section 10. At the same time when a decrease in the supply voltage from 208 is detected, the secondary battery 211 of the memory unit 20
It is designed to act as a backup power source for the entire system. Furthermore, in a state where the camera unit IO and the memory unit 20 are connected, the memory unit 20 is connected to the camera unit 10.
In addition to receiving power supply from the battery 208 of the secondary battery 208,
11 can also be charged (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 57-910
79).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional image signal recording device described above, the IC memory for storing image data is EEPROM, EPROM, or bipolar R in terms of storage capacity.
Since it is difficult to use nonvolatile IC memory such as OM, that is, the memory contents are preserved even when the power is turned off, MO5RAM such as static RAM or dynamic RAM must be used.

Therefore, when the memory unit 20 is removed from the camera unit 10, the secondary battery 211 in the memory unit 20 is removed from the IC memory 210.
It becomes necessary to use it as a backup power source for
Since there is a limit to the data retention time, it is necessary to maintain the data retention time as long as possible.

An object of the present invention is to focus on the above-mentioned conventional problems, and to solve the problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image signal recording system in which the backup power supply supplied to the memory is maintained for as long as possible. be.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The image signal recording system of the present invention includes an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject and generates an image signal corresponding to the captured image of the subject, and a unit that is detachably attached to the imaging unit. and a storage section having a plurality of memories for storing image signals generated from the imaging section, and an image signal storage only for the memory storing the image signal among the plurality of memory means of the storage section. The device is equipped with a power supply section that supplies backup power for use.

[Function] According to the above-mentioned configuration, the power supply section supplies power only to the memory that stores the image signal, so even when the storage section is removed from the imaging section, the operation time is sufficiently longer than before. , it becomes possible to extend the storage retention time of image signals.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail and specifically using an example of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a recording device in an image signal recording system as an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is the first
3 is an operation flowchart of the recording apparatus shown in the figure.

In FIG. 1, 1 and 2 surrounded by broken lines are a camera section and a memory section, respectively. Also, 3 is the camera section 1
CT3. CT4 and CT are connection terminals provided in the connector section 3. The camera section 1 includes a lens 101, a solid-state image sensor 102. Sample and hold circuit 103.
Signal fi embedded circuit 104. A/D converters 105.108 and 107. Switch circuit S2 and further system controller (syscon) 109 and battery (including power supply circuit)
It has 108. Further, the memory section 2 includes an IC memory 11
It has zero and secondary batteries (including a power supply circuit) 111 and a register 112 that stores the usage status of the IC memory chip in the IC memory 110.

Next, the recording operation in the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be explained using the operation flowchart shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 1, the solid-state image sensor 10 is
The image formed on the imaging surface 2 is captured as a still image on the solid-state image sensor 102 by a mechanical shutter mechanism (not shown) or an electronic shutter function of the solid-state image sensor 102. Note that since the solid-state image sensor 102 is provided with a color filter (not shown), the solid-state image sensor 102
The incident light is converted into electrical signals, and R, G, and B signals, for example, are sequentially output, and are output to the sample-and-hold circuit 103 in synchronization with a transfer lock signal generated by a synchronization signal generation circuit (not shown). The sample and hold circuit IO3 samples and holds the output signal from the solid-state image sensor 102 in synchronization with the transfer lock signal. Based on the R, G, and B signals from the solid-state image sensor 102 obtained in this manner, the signal processing circuit 104 generates a Y signal, a R-Y signal, and a B-Y signal, and these signals are respectively A/ Each sample is converted into an 8-bit to 6-bit digital signal in the D converters 105 to 107, and the switch circuit S2 sequentially switches and outputs these signals to create a digital Y signal.
.

The n-Y and B-Y signals are time-division multiplexed and further supplied onto the IC memory 110 provided in the memory section 2 through the connection terminal CT3 of the connector section 3 (step #l).

#2) and stored (step #3).

The system controller 109 controls these overall operations and at the same time tells the register 112 which memory chip to store the image data among the plurality of memory chips 402 arranged as shown in FIG. 2 in the IC memory 110. As directed step #4), for example, when an IR image is performed,
The captured image number is stored in the register 112 of the memory section 2, together with the number of the memory chip in which the image data is stored, prior to storing the image data. Note that the contents stored in the register 112 are always sent to the IC memory 110.

Next, the operation of supplying power to the ICC meso 110 will be explained with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, S denotes a power supply switch to each memory chip 402, and 401 denotes a power supply controller that controls the power supply switch S to each memory chip 402 in a 0N10FF manner. Here, the memory contents of the register 112 are configured to be manually inputted to the power supply controller 401, and the power supply controller 401 supplies power to each memory chip 402 based on the memory contents of the register 112 as described above. control.

In other words, a memory chip that stores even a portion of image data needs to retain data. jff F
The controller 401 performs switching control so that power is supplied to the memory chip.

Further, switching control is performed by the power supply controller 401 to cut off the power supply to the memory chips that do not store any image data (step #5).

Further, when the next recording operation is subsequently performed, the above-mentioned operation is repeated (step #6).

In FIG. 1, the camera section 1 and the memory section 2 can be separated via the connector section 3, but the memory section 2 has a rechargeable secondary battery 111. , when the camera section 1 and the memory section 2 are separated, a drop in the supply voltage from the battery 108 on the camera section 1 side is detected, and at the same time, the secondary battery 111 on the memory section 2 side disconnects the entire memory section 2. It is designed to act as a backup power source for the Furthermore, when the camera section 1 and the memory section 2 are connected, the memory section 2 is connected to the camera section 1.
It receives power supply from the battery 108 on the side, and also charges the secondary battery 111.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, among the plurality of memories storing image data, power is supplied to only the memory in which image data is stored, and the minimum amount of power is supplied to the memory that stores the image data. Since power is not supplied to memory that is not stored in the memory, there is no need to waste power to hold image data, and the lifespan of the image data holding capacity can be rationally extended. Become.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a recording device in the image signal recording system of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a memory in the recording device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a conventional image signal recording system. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the apparatus. FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Camera part, 2... Memory part, 3... Connector part, 101... Lens, 102... Solid-state image sensor, 103... Sample and hold circuit, 104...
- Signal processing circuit, 105-107... A/D converter, 108... Battery, CT1-CT, connection terminal, 110-... Memory, 111... Secondary battery, 112... Register, 401...Power controller, 402...Memory chip, S...Switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An imaging unit that captures a subject image and generates an image signal corresponding to the captured subject image; and an image signal that is detachably attached to the imaging unit and that is generated by the imaging unit. a storage unit having a plurality of memories for storing the image signal; and a power supply supplying backup power for storing the image signal only to the memory storing the image signal among the plurality of memory means of the storage unit. An image signal recording system comprising: