JPH01314075A - Freely attachable and detachable adaptor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow an electronic device to execute a required operation even if neither input device nor a display device is arranged to the electronic device by providing the input device and the display device to an adaptor. CONSTITUTION:A reproduction adaptor 90 is provided with a liquid crystal display device 92, a forward feed switch 93, a reverse feed switch 94, a mode changeover switch 95, an erasure standby switch 98 and an erasure execution switch 97 in addition to a controller 91 and they are connected to the controller 91. The reproduction adaptor 90 sends the input signal by the switches 93-97 to a system controller 10 via a connector 23. A display data given from the system controller 10 together with a display command is displayed to the display device 92. Thus, if the electronic device has no space for providing the key input device and the display device, the adaptor is loaded as required to the electronic device and the key input device and the display device of the adaptor are utilized.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Summary of the invention - An adapter equipped with a key input device and a display device is provided.

When the electronic device for which the adapter is advertised does not have space for a key input device or display device, you can provide these devices on the adapter and attach the adapter to the electronic device as needed. Key input devices and display devices can be used for electronic devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an adapter that is detachably attached to the main body of an electronic device and is connected to a main control device within the electronic device so as to be able to communicate with each other.

Electronic devices generally have operation commands and operation mode settings.

It is equipped with input devices such as keys/switches and pushbuttons/switches for constant setting and other purposes. Also, the processing results and operating status of electronic devices.

Equipped with a display device to output warnings and other matters. Even if the main body of the electronic device is relatively small and there is little space to place input devices and display devices, the input devices and display devices that are essential for the main operations of the electronic device are It cannot be omitted.

The functions of electronic devices are generally the main ones.

There are some things that are auxiliary or desirable to have. In order to achieve the latter function, more switches and a larger display area are required, but in cases where there is little space for their arrangement, it is desirable to have an auxiliary or However, there may be times when we have no choice but to give up on adding new functions to electronic devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an adapter that is particularly useful in cases where an electronic device does not have sufficient space for an input device or a display device, or where it is not desirable to do so. .

The adapter according to the present invention is an adapter that can be detachably attached to an electronic device main body and can be connected to a main control device in the electronic device so as to be able to communicate with each other, and is an input means for inputting operation commands to the electronic device, The device includes a means for transmitting an input operation command to an electronic device, a means for receiving display-related commands and data transmitted from the electronic device, and a display device for displaying matters represented by the received data in accordance with the received command. It is characterized by

There are various ways to use the adapter according to the invention. As mentioned above, this adapter may be provided with the input device and display device necessary to achieve the auxiliary or desirable functions of the electronic device, or in some cases, the adapter may be equipped with the input device and display device necessary to achieve the auxiliary or desirable functions of the electronic device. The adapter may be provided with the necessary input and display devices to accomplish this.

In any case, according to the present invention, the input device and display device that should be provided in the electronic device are provided in the adapter. When the adapter is attached to an electronic device and electrically connected, the input device and display device provided on the adapter work as part of the electronic device. Therefore, even if it is not possible to secure sufficient space for arranging an input device and a display device in an electronic device, it is possible to make the electronic device perform the desired operation by using the input device 9 display device of the adapter. You will be able to do this.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a playback adapter that is attached to and detached from a still video camera having a playback function will be described in detail, but the present invention can also be applied to adapters that are detachably attached to other electronic devices. Needless to say, it is.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the system configuration of a still video camera with a playback function.

This still video camera has three controllers: system controller 10. It is controlled by the photographing control device 30 and the recording control device 70. These control devices to
, 30.70 each consist of a CPU (for example, a microprocessor), a memory (RAM, ROM, etc.) for storing its programs and necessary data, and necessary interface circuits. The CPU of the system control device 10 is the main CPU, and controls the overall operation of the still video camera. Shooting control device 3
The CPUs of 0 and recording control device 70 are sub-CPUs, and operate according to commands from the main CPU. The photography control device 30 controls focusing, aperture, shutter speed,
Performs control related to shooting such as zooming. Recording control device 7
0 controls recording of video signals on the video floppy 1 and playback of video signals from the video floppy 1, such as driving the disk motor 3, loading/unloading the magnetic head 2, and transporting the magnetic head 2. Let's do it. These control devices 1G, 30.70 are interconnected by serial transmission lines and communicate with each other.

As will be described later, the playback adapter 90 is detachable from the still/video camera body, and when attached, its control device 91 is connected to the system control device 10 through the connector 23.
It is connected by a serial transmission line so that it can communicate with. Of course, the installation of the playback adapter 90 (mechanical connection with the still video camera) and the electrical connection by the connector 23 may be accomplished separately. The control device 91 of the playback adapter 9o also includes a CPU, memory and necessary interface circuitry, and this CPU
is positioned as a sub CPU for the main CPU. The playback adapter 90 mainly shares input and output for achieving the playback function of a still/e-video camera. The details will be described later.

System control device 10. Photography control bag M 30. Recording control device 70. Communication between the control devices 91 of the playback adapters 90 by serial transmission can be realized using a known communication interface.

The still video camera is equipped with a packet that can be opened and closed, and the video floppy 1 is inserted into the opened packet, and when the packet is closed, the video floppy 1 is inserted into the disk motor 3. Chucked onto the spindle.

The video floppy 1 is provided with a plurality of (for example, 50) tracks (for example, a track pitch of 100 μm) concentrically, and depending on the shooting process, one or two tracks are provided.
1 field or 1 frame (1 frame) per track
An FM-modulated color video signal (including a luminance signal, a color difference signal, etc.) is magnetically recorded. The 50 tracks arranged concentrically on the magnetic recording surface 1- of the video floppy 1 are numbered 1 to 50 in order from the outside.
The track numbers up to this point are attached. The home position HP (origin position or standby position) is outside the track No. 1, and the end position EP is No.
, inside the 50 tracks.

The system control device 10 includes a power switch 1G, various mode switches 11 to 14. Switch input signals such as the shutter release button 15, detection signals of the packet switch 7 that detects the open/closed state of the packet containing the video floppy (and presence or absence of the video floppy, if necessary), and the mounting of the video floppy 1. A detection signal from a dew condensation sensor 8 that measures humidity near a location is input. mode·
The modes set by the switches 11 to 14 include a frame/field φ mode indicating frame recording or field recording, a normal mode for normal recording, a skip mode in which an empty track is not recorded on the video recorder floppy, and There is an edit mode in which recording is performed on empty tracks sandwiched between recorded tracks. These set modes, the track number to record or play, and other information are displayed on the LCD display 2.
1 is displayed. This display 21 is the system control device 1
It is connected to 0 by bus. Further, when dew condensation is detected or other abnormal conditions occur, the buzzer 22 sounds an alarm. The detection of dew condensation may be displayed on the display 21.

The shutter release button 15 is of a two-stage stroke type, in which the first stage of depression releases switch S1, and the second stage of further depression of button I5 causes switch S2.
are respectively turned on. When switch Sl is turned on, disk motor 3 is driven. After this, switch S2
When turned on, photographing and recording are performed.

The imaging optical system includes a zoom lens system 31. An imaging lens system 32 for forming a subject image. Aperture 33. a beam splitter 34 that deflects a portion of the incident light to make it incident on the AFJ optical element 51; It is composed of an infrared cutoff filter 35 and a shutter 36. The illuminance detection signal of the photometric element 51 is input to the photographing control device 30 via the logarithmic amplifier 52. By the shooting control device 30.

a? A process of calculating an aperture value and a shutter speed based on the incident light illuminance detected by the J optical filter 51.

The aperture 33 is controlled based on the determined aperture value, and the shutter 3B is opened and closed based on the similarly determined shutter speed. Opening and closing of the diaphragm 33 is performed by a diaphragm motor 48 driven by a driver 47. Aperture 33
A switch 49 is also provided for detecting the opening and closing limit positions of the opening and closing limits. Unlatching and winding of the leading and trailing curtains of the shutter 3B are performed by a shutter drive device including a shutter motor 54 driven by a driver 53. The rotation angle of the motor 54 is detected by a rotary fist encoder 55 and fed back to the device 30.

The color detection signal from the color sensor at is subjected to predetermined processing in a white balance processing circuit 62 and then input to the device 30. This white balance data is applied to the R in the variable gain amplification circuit described later in the signal processing circuit 71.
, G, and B signals for amplification gain control.

In order to measure the distance to the subject, an infrared light emitting diode 63 and a light receiving element 64 that receives the reflected light are provided, and a focusing processing circuit 65 indicates the distance to the subject based on the output signal of the light receiving element 64. Data is obtained. Using this data, an autofocus motor 46 is driven via a driver 45 under the control of the device 30 to perform focusing control.

Additionally, a tele to enter the degree of zoom.

The zoom is controlled by the controller 30 via the driver 4L in response to signals from the wide zoom buttons 38, 39.
The motor 42 is driven and a predetermined magnification is set. The rotation angle of the motor 42 is detected by a rotary encoder 43 and fed back to the device 30.

At the focal plane of the imaging optical system, a solid-state electronic imaging device 37 for three primary colors, which is composed of a two-dimensional imaging cell array such as a CCD, is arranged.

The image data accumulated in the imaging device 37 when the shutter 36 is opened is converted into serial still video signals (R, G, B) in synchronization with vertical and horizontal dot signals given from the signal processing circuit 71. The signal is read out and input to the signal processing circuit 71.

The signal processing circuit 71 includes an oscillation circuit, and generates and outputs a vertical reference signal VD and a reference clock signal from the output signal of the oscillation circuit. The vertical reference signal VD is given to the system control device IO2, the photographing control device 30, and the recording control device 70, and serves as a reference for the operation timing of these devices. The reference clock signal is provided to the servo control circuit 80. As will be described later, the phase pulse PG representing the reference phase of rotation of the video floppy 1 is transmitted to the signal processing circuit 71. It is provided to the system control device 1G, the recording control device 70, and the reproduction signal processing device 88. A reset signal given from the recording control device 70 adjusts the vertical reference signal VD in the signal processing circuit 71 so as to maintain a constant phase relationship with the phase pulse PC. The signal processing circuit 71 also generates vertical and horizontal synchronization signals that have a constant phase relationship with the phase pulse PG.

The signal processing circuit 7I further includes a preamplification circuit for input still video signals (R, G, B), a 61 variable gain amplification circuit (white balance adjustment circuit), and a process matrix circuit. In the process matrix circuit, a luminance signal Y and two color difference signals R-Y, B-Y
is created. These color difference signals R-Y and B-Y are then line-sequentialized for each IH in a line-sequentialization circuit 72. The luminance signal Y and the line-sequential color difference signal pass through a pre-emphasis circuit (shown in the figure), are FM modulated in different frequency bands in FM modulation circuits 73 and 74, and are combined in nine synthesis circuits 75.

It is also possible to record additional information signals on tracks of the floppy disk 1. The additional information signal is an acoustic signal (
narration, etc.) and display signals (representing voices such as narration, music, etc.)
For example, it means character information). This additional information signal is input to the signal processing circuit 71 from a microphone or other input device (as shown), converted into a predetermined format, and output to the luminance signal Y line. The additional information signal S may be superimposed on the luminance signal Y, or when only this signal S is recorded on a predetermined track of the video floppy 1, it is output alone.

Furthermore, data multiplex recording is also possible on video floppies. This multiple recorded data includes initial bits, field/frame data, track address (No.
, ) data, date data, and user usage data. These data are given from the system control device 10, and the signal processing circuit 71 processes them as D P S K (D
if'['erential PhaseShil't
Keying) is modulated, combined with the above-mentioned FM modulated video signal in a combining circuit 76, and input to a recording amplifier circuit 77.

For writing still-video signals, etc. of the photographed subject onto a predetermined track of video number floppy 1,
The magnetic heads 2 (two magnetic heads 2 are provided at intervals so that they are located in adjacent tracks to enable frame recording) for reading the still Φ video signal from a predetermined track of the floppy disk 1 are controlled by the transfer drive control device. video·
It is supported so as to be movable in the radial direction of the floppy disk 1, and its movement in the same direction is controlled. This transfer drive control device is
It includes a motor 87 and its driver 8B. The recording control device 70 gives instructions regarding the direction and amount of movement of the magnetic head 2 to the transfer drive control device. A home position switch 6 is also provided to detect that the magnetic herad 2 has reached the home position HP.
The detection signal is given to the recording control device 70.

A head loading device is provided to prevent marks on the floppy due to prolonged contact of the magnetic head 2 with the stopped video floppy 1. This device is a head load solenoid 85
Under the control of the recording control device 70, the magnetic disk drive 2 is operated only during recording or playback (when the video floppy 1 is rotating) or only while the power is turned on. The magnetic head 2 is displaced (advanced or retreated) so that it comes into contact with the video floppy 1, and at other times leaves it away from the floppy 1.

In order to improve the contact between the magnetic head 2 and the rotating video floppy 1, a regulating plate (path shown) is provided on the opposite side of the magnetic head 2 with the video floppy 1 in between. In addition, the core of Video Floppy 1 includes:
Detect leakage magnetic flux of permanent magnet for chucking and record video
A phase detector 5 that outputs a phase detection signal when the floppy disk 1 reaches a predetermined angular position is nearby. The output detection signal of the phase detector 5 is waveform-shaped by a phase pulse generation circuit (waveform shaping circuit) 82 and output as a phase pulse PG.
11 and a recording gate circuit 78 . One phase pulse PG is generated for each revolution of the video floppy I.

The disk motor 3 is driven by its driver 81. The rotational speed of the disc fist motor 3 is detected by a frequency generator 4 and output from the frequency generator 4.

A detection signal with a frequency proportional to the rotation speed of the motor 3 is input to the servo control circuit 80. The servo control circuit 80 controls the motor 3 based on the reference clock signal input from the signal processing circuit 71 and the frequency detection signal input from the detector 4.
The servo control circuit 80 also starts and stops the motor 3 in accordance with commands from the recording control device 70. Let's do it.

The still φ video signal etc. amplified by the recording amplifier circuit 77 is input to a recording gate circuit 78. and recording control device 7
When a recording command is given from 0, this gate circuit 78
opens its gate at the timing of the input phase pulse PG until the next phase pulse is input. As a result, video signals and the like are applied to the magnetic head 2, and recording of still video signals and the like onto predetermined tracks of the video floppy disk 1 is performed. This record is recorded on video meeting floppy 1.
This is done only while rotating. This is the case for field recording. In the case of frame recording, the gate circuit 78 opens its gate for two revolutions of the video floppy 1;
During the first rotation of the video floppy 1, one head 2 transfers the video signal of the first field to a certain track, and during the second rotation, the other head 2 transfers the video signal of the first field to the adjacent track. The video signals of each field are recorded.

Although not shown, a circuit for generating an erasing signal of a predetermined frequency or a swept frequency for erasing a recorded signal on a predetermined track of a video floppy is also provided, and this erasing signal is also used. When erase mode is set,
The magnetic head 2 passes through the amplifier circuit 77 and the gate circuit 78.
given to.

It is also possible to reproduce video signals etc. from the video floppy disk 1 using the magnetic head 2. The FM modulated video signal etc. read from the magnetic head 2 similarly passes through a gate circuit 78 and is amplified by an amplifier circuit 77 and sent to an envelope detection circuit 8.
3 and a reproduction signal processing circuit 88 . This reproduction is used for track search processing not only in the reproduction mode but also in the recording mode.

The envelope detection circuit 83 detects the envelope of the read signal of the magnetic helad 2, that is, the FM modulated video signal recorded on the track of the video disk floppy 1, and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to the envelope. circuit, including an A/D (analog/digital) conversion circuit. The voltage signal representing the envelope is converted into a digital quantity by an A/D conversion circuit, and is input to the recording control device 70 into an 8-bit digital signal representing, for example, 256 quantization levels.

The envelope detection signal is used by the recording control device 70 to determine whether a track of the video floppy 1-L is unrecorded or recorded (track search processing). If the level of the detected signal does not reach a predetermined threshold level when the magnetic head 2 is moved across the track, that track is unrecorded.
If the threshold level has been reached, the track has been recorded.

If necessary, the envelope detection signal is also used in the recording check process. The recording check process is to check whether the recorded still/video signal has been recorded on a predetermined track using the magnetic head 2 as described above, and whether the envelope detection signal has been recorded on a predetermined track. If it is above the threshold level, it is determined that recording has taken place.

The reproduction signal processing circuit 88 receives the F signal which is read by the magnetic head 2 in the reproduction mode and inputted through the amplifier circuit 77.
This is a device that reproduces and processes M-variable, low-level video signals, etc. under the control of the system control unit IO, and includes a separation circuit for luminance signal components and color difference signal components, a field/frame conversion circuit,
It includes an FM demodulation circuit, a synchronization circuit, a DPSK demodulation circuit, etc., and the reproduced still video signal is processed by this circuit 88 and output as an NTSC format video signal. This circuit 88 also outputs the additional information signal mentioned above. Further, in the reproduced signal processing circuit 88, data multiplexed and recorded is also demodulated and provided to the system control circuit IO.

In addition to the control device 91, the +li raw adapter 90 includes a liquid crystal display 92. Also, a forward switch 93 for inputting a command to move the magnetic head 2 one track in the forward direction, and a reverse switch 94 for moving the magnetic head 2 one track in the reverse direction. A mode changeover switch 95 for switching the still video camera from recording mode to playback mode, an erase standby switch 96 for setting an erase mode, and an erase execution switch 97 for executing erase are provided, and a control device g ! 191. This playback adapter 90
transmits the input signals from these switches 93 to 97 to the system control device 1O via the serial transmission line and connector 23, and displays display data given from the system control device 10 together with display commands on the display 92. .

FIGS. 2 to 4 show the appearance of the still/video ψ camera. A grip part 101 is provided on one side of the still/video camera body 100, and on the -L side of this grip part 101 are the mode switches 11 to 14 degrees, shutter release button +5. A power switch ta and a liquid crystal display 21 are arranged. Furthermore, zoom buttons 38 and 39 are provided on the side of the portion of the main body +00 that extends toward the front and houses the imaging optical system.

At the top of the main body 100, a strobe shoe 105 is arranged to removably attach and electrically connect a viewfinder 10B and a strobe device.

In terms of ease of operation, this still video camera has switches 11-14, 16. The most preferable location for providing input devices such as the buttons 15 and the display 21 is in the grip portion 101, but this portion has a small area and it is difficult to provide a large number of switches. Therefore, the input device 1 display device for the playback function of this camera is provided in the playback adapter 90 as described above. The playback adapter 90 is attached to the side surface of the camera body 100 opposite to the grip part 101, as shown by the chain line in these drawings.

A fixing screw hole 107 is bored in this side surface.

Further, a camera-side connector 23A constituting the connector 23 is provided.

FIG. 5 shows the reproduction adapter 90 attached to the video/still camera body 100, and FIG. 6 shows the reproduction adapter 90 partially cut away.

Referring also to these drawings, a four part 99b is formed in a part of the upper part of the reproduction adapter 90, and a fixing hole 99a is formed from this recessed part 99b to pass through the adapter 90 in the thickness direction. By inserting the fixing screw 98 into the fixing hole 99a and screwing it into the fixing screw hole 107 of the camera body 100, the playback adapter 90 is fixedly attached to the camera body +00. Camera body of playback adapter 90 +00
When the connector 23 is attached to the connector 23A, the connector on the adapter 90 side (the path shown in the figure) that constitutes the connector 23 is fixed.
electrically connected to.

The front surface of the reproduction adapter 90 is provided with the liquid crystal display a; 92 having a relatively large display surface and various switches 93 to 97.

For example, a track map as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 92. The track map shows the status of the tracks on the video floppy 1 loaded in the camera. Data representing the state of a track includes data indicating whether the track is unrecorded or recorded. This data is obtained by the track search process described in 1. As data indicating the contents of the recorded track in more detail, there is data indicating whether the recorded track is field recording or frame recording. This data is obtained by DPSK demodulating the data multiplexed and recorded in the reproduced signal processing circuit 88.

The track map is a type of table, and in Figure 7, 00 to 40 in the vertical direction represent the second digit of the track number, and 1 to 10 in the horizontal direction represent the first digit of the track number. . However, although IO in the horizontal direction is a two-digit number, it can be considered as something to be added to the number in the vertical direction. In this way, data representing the status of the tracks No., I to No. 50 is displayed in each section of the track map.

An example of displaying data representing the status of a track is shown in FIG. Each section of the track Φ map is composed of 5×7 pixels. FIG. 8(A) shows that the track is unrecorded. Figure 8 (B) shows the truck
This indicates that the information has been determined only through the search process and has already been recorded. FIGS. 8C to 8E show states determined based on data multiplexed recording data, and all represent recorded tracks. Figure 8(C) is the outer track of the two tracks for frame recording, and Figure 8(D) is the inner track of the same.
FIG. 8(H) each represents a field recording track.

Data regarding the status of such tracks is given from the system control device 10 of the still video camera to the control device 91 of the playback adapter 90.
All tracks of 0 are displayed on the display 92 in the form of a track map as shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows a processing procedure by the control device 91 of the reproduction adapter 9o. It is checked whether the switches 93 to 97 have been pressed (step 111), and if any switch is pressed, the control device 91 identifies the pressed switch and notifies the system control device 10 (step 1
12). When the system controller IO receives this notification, it performs an operation accordingly. For example, sequential switch 9
8 or reverse switch 94 is pressed, the system controller lO gives the data to the recording controller 7o, so that the magnetic head 2 can be moved forward or reverse under the control of this control bag Fj170. It is moved one track in the direction. This result is notified from the recording control device 70 to the system control device 1°, so that the display of the track number where the magnetic head 2 is located, which is displayed on the 1 display 21, is updated. Further, when the switch 97 is pressed and this fact is transmitted from the reproduction adapter 90 to the system control device 10, recording and erasing processing of the track on which the magnetic head 2 is located is executed.

The control device 91 of the playback adapter 90 also receives display commands and display data when they are transmitted from the system control device IO (step 113). Then, in response to the display command received at F8, the given display data is displayed on the display 92 and the display contents are updated (step 114). For example, when track map data is provided from the system controller IO, the track map is displayed on the display 92. Furthermore, when erasure is executed in response to the input of the above-mentioned erasure execution switch 97, the state of the erased track changes (from recorded to unrecorded), so the display change command regarding that track is sent to the system control device. The display of the corresponding track in the track map 1 and displayed on the display 92 is changed from the track map 1 given to the playback adapter 90 from the IO.

If necessary, the reproduced signal processing circuit 88 can also be connected to +l.
The read FM modulation video signal line and phase pulse PG line are connected to the connector 2.
3 may be used for connection.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of a still video camera. 2 to 4 show the external appearance of the still video camera, with FIG. 2 being a plan view, FIG. 3 being a front view, and FIG. 4 being a side view. FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the still video camera with the playback adapter attached, and FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway side view of the playback adapter. FIG. 7 shows a track map displayed on the display of the playback adapter, and FIGS. 8(A) to 8(E) show examples of track status displays. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure in the endogenous adapter.
It is a chart. 10... System control device. 23, 23A... Connector. 90...Reproduction adapter. 91...control device. 92...Displays 93-97...Various switches. 98...Fixing screw. 99a...fixing hole. 100...Still/video Φ camera body. 107...Fixing screw hole. Above Figure 2 Figure 7 Figure 8 (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
Figure 9

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An adapter that can be detachably attached to the main body of an electronic device and that can be connected to a main control device in the electronic device so as to be able to communicate with each other, comprising: an input means for inputting operation commands to the electronic device, and from the input means. A means for transmitting input operation commands to an electronic device, a means for receiving display-related commands and data transmitted from the electronic device, and a display device for displaying matters represented by received data in accordance with the received commands. Equipped with a detachable adapter.