JPH11243501A - Card type camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the card-type camera having good operability, without losing the carrying performance and the operability at photographing as an overall camera. SOLUTION: This card-type camera which is loadable to a slot 20 for a card type recording medium of an external device 23 consists of an image-pickup section 4, including a photographic optical system 5 and an image-pickup element 41 that converts optical information via the photographic optical system 5 into an electrical signal, and of a camera main body 1 including an image signal processing sections 11-17 that process the electrical signal from the image- pickup element 41. When the image-pickup section 4 and the camera main body 1 are united, the shape of the entire camera is nearly the same as that of the card-type recording medium, the image-pickup section 4 and the camera main body 1 united with each other are loaded in the slot 20 and then the image-pickup section 4 and the camera main body 1 are formed separately.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a storage device such as a flash memory for storing a captured image captured by an image sensor, and is used for a card-type storage medium (hereinafter, PC card) in an external device such as a personal computer. The present invention relates to a card-type camera that can be directly loaded into a slot.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is known an electronic still camera in which a part or the whole thereof can be inserted into a PC card slot of a personal computer. JP-A-8-9215 discloses a PC card unit 1 having a built-in PC card unit 110 that can be inserted into a PC card slot and an image pickup unit 111 including a photographic optical system and an image sensor.
There has been proposed a card-type camera having a shape in which a camera body box 112 thicker than 10 is connected. Imaging unit 111
Is connected to the internal circuit with the cord 113 and the box 1
12, it is possible to take pictures in any direction with the PC card unit 110 loaded in the PC card slot (FIG. 9).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-69969 discloses an image pickup section 114 and a liquid crystal display section 115 as shown in FIG.
There has been disclosed a card-type camera provided with a box section 116 thicker than a PC card section, and a camera in which the entire camera is a card type. Here, the shape of the PC card portion means that the outer dimensions satisfy any of the dimensional standards of types I, II, III, and IV of an IC memory card or an I / O card of the PCMCIA / JEIDA standard. For example, the external shape of the type II PC card portion has a width of 54.0 ± 0.1 mm and a length of 85.6.
± 0.2mm, thickness is 3.3 ± 0.
It is 1 mm and the main body has a maximum thickness of 5.0 mm.

[0004]

In the camera disclosed in JP-A-8-9215, the imaging unit 111 housed in the box unit 112 can be separated from the camera body.
External walls are required inside the box unit 112 and outside the imaging unit 111, respectively. Further, since the connection code 113 is also built in, the imaging unit 111 is provided inside the box unit 112.
In addition to the above storage space, a storage space for the folded cord is also required, and the box portion 112 becomes large accordingly, which impairs the portability of the camera as a whole and the operability during shooting.

On the other hand, in the camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-69969, since the image pickup
Is small, and in some cases, it is excellent in portability and operability in the sense that a complete card-type camera as shown in FIG. 10 can be realized. However, there is a restriction in framing and the like, and the optical system does not have a space margin such as zooming, and only a single focus type can be incorporated.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a card-type camera which does not impair the portability of the camera as a whole and has good operability at the time of photographing.

[0007]

In order to solve such a problem, a card type camera according to the first aspect of the present invention can be loaded into a card type recording medium slot (20) of an external device (23). In a card-type camera, a photographing optical system (5) and an image sensor (41) that converts light information transmitted through the photographing optical system into an electric signal.
And a camera body (1) including an image signal processing unit (11-17) for processing an electric signal from the image sensor (41), and the imaging unit and the camera body are combined. When the image pickup unit and the camera main body are united so that they can be loaded into the slot in a state where the card type recording medium is inserted, the shape of the entire camera is formed to be substantially the same as the card type recording medium. And the camera body are configured to be separable.

The card type camera according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the imaging section can be replaced with one having a different focal length of the imaging optical system. In the card-type camera according to the first aspect of the present invention, the notch (4a) into which the imaging unit is mounted is provided in the camera body.
Wherein the camera body and the image pickup unit are combined into a card when the camera unit and the image pickup unit are combined.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the card type camera, the imaging section has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.
A connector part (4b) is provided on one end face in the longitudinal direction, a photographing lens system (5) is provided on the other end face, and a coupling means (4c) for coupling with the camera body is provided on a side face. I do.
The card-type camera according to claim 4 according to the invention of claim 5 includes a cord (6) for electrically connecting the imaging unit and the camera body to perform photographing when the camera unit is separated. Features.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a card type camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are external views when the imaging unit 4 is detached from the camera body 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an external view of a connection cord 6. The camera body 1 of the card type camera has a connector 1d for making an electrical connection when inserted into a card slot of a personal computer or the like.
A release switch 2 for starting photographing, an LCD display (monitor) 3 having the function of an external electronic finder composed of a liquid crystal display device, and an imaging unit 4 having a photographic lens 5 and an imaging device (for example, a CCD device). And
When the release switch 2 is half-pressed, the power of the camera is turned on. If there is no operation, power is supplied for a predetermined time by a power timer, and the power is automatically turned off. Then, when the release switch 2 is fully pressed, shooting is started. When the imaging unit 4 and the camera body 1 are combined, the card-type camera can be loaded into a slot of a personal computer or the like with the imaging unit 4 and the camera body 1 combined. Is formed in substantially the same shape (flat plate shape) as the card-type recording medium, and the imaging section 4 and the camera body 1 are configured to be separable.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the imaging section 4 is separated from the camera body 1. The imaging unit 4 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, is provided with a connector protrusion 4b on one end surface in the longitudinal direction, is provided with a photographing lens 5 on the other end surface, and is connected to the connection protrusion 1c of the camera body 1 on the side surface. It has a coupling hole 4c. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the imaging unit 4 separated from the camera body 1 is connected to the camera body 1 by a connection cord 6. Both ends of the connection cord 6 are a connector projection 6b joined to the connector recess 1b of the camera body and a connector recess 6c joined to the connector projection 4b of the imaging unit 4 (FIG. 4). Transmission and reception of output signals and power are performed. In the state as shown in FIG. 3, the photographing can be performed by directing only the imaging unit 4 toward the subject, so that a small space in which only the imaging unit 4 can enter, such as a thin gap where the camera body 1 does not enter or the other side of the hole, is photographed. be able to. When the camera 3 has the monitor 3, so-called face-to-face photographing of photographing the user himself while checking the monitor image can be performed without providing a special mechanism such as a rotation mechanism.

Normally, an output signal from the imaging unit 4 is generated by joining a connector projection 4b on the surface of the imaging unit 4 opposite to the photographing lens 5 with the connector recess 1b on the opposite surface of the camera body 1. It is sent to the image processing circuit (image signal processing unit) shown in FIG. 5 in the camera body. Coupling projection 1
“c” is a coupling portion that couples with the coupling hole 4c of the imaging unit 4. At the time of photographing, the image pickup unit 4 is detached from the camera body 1, and FIG.
In this state, the photographing lens 5 of the imaging section 4 is pointed at the subject, the composition is checked on the monitor 3, and then the release switch 2 is pressed. It should be noted that shooting can be performed even when the imaging section 4 and the camera body 1 are connected. The overall size and shape of the combined camera body 1 and imaging unit 4 are the same as a PC card formed with a uniform thickness.

As described above, only the image pickup unit 4 can be separated from the camera body 1, so that it has the same outer shape as the image pickup unit 4,
For example, if another imaging unit 4 having only a different focal length of the photographing lens 5 is connected to the camera body 1, the overall shape of the camera is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and only the focal length of the photographing lens (photographing optical system) is different. A different card-type camera can be used, and the same effect can be obtained as if the lens of the card-type camera were changed. In general, the longer the focal length, the longer the entire length of the imaging optical system. However, by using a reflective imaging optical system, it is possible to realize a long focal length optical system without increasing the overall length (Toshiba Review, Vol. 51). No. 10) is possible.

The image pickup section 4 is a part separated from the camera body 1 by a boundary line 4a and the like, and comprises a photographing lens 5, an image pickup device and peripheral circuits. As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, these are miniaturized in "Technique for miniaturizing a camera head using a bare chip CCD" (Television Society Journal Vol. 47, No. 2) and the like. (5 mm for type II) and a shape as shown in FIG. 1 can be sufficiently realized.

Next, an electric circuit system of the card type camera shown in FIG. 1 of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 shows a circuit block diagram of the card type camera. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the card-type camera is mounted on a personal computer. 7 and 8 are detailed diagrams of the imaging unit 4. FIG. FIG.
, The imaging unit 4 includes a photographing lens 5 and a photographing lens 5
CCD element 4 which is an image sensor through which the subject image is formed through
1 and other peripheral circuits.

The camera body 1 includes a CPU 11, a storage device 12, a battery 13, an A / D conversion circuit 14, and a signal processing circuit 1.
5. Image compression circuit 16, PC card interface circuit (PC card I /
F circuit) 17 and a bus 18 for electrically connecting them. The CPU 11 is a central processing circuit and controls various circuits of the entire camera. The storage device 12 stores an image signal of a video captured by the imaging unit 4. The power supply 13 supplies power to various circuits of the entire camera. For example, it is appropriate to use a polymer lithium-ion secondary battery or the like that can be reduced in size and thickness as a power source for a card-type camera, and a package of electronic components to be mounted on a substrate has a size substantially equal to that of an IC chip. Ultra-small package (chip scale pac)
kage). The A / D conversion circuit 14 converts a photoelectric signal from the CCD element 41 into a digital signal. The signal processing circuit 15 converts a digital signal from the A / D conversion circuit 14 into an image signal. For example, processing such as color conversion, pixel interpolation, horizontal and vertical contour enhancement, and gamma correction is performed. The image compression circuit 16 compresses the image signal output from the signal processing circuit 15. For example, compression processing in the JPEG format is performed. The PC card interface circuit 17 is, for example, an IC memory card interface or an I / O card interface of the PCMIA / JEIDA standard, and performs a protocol conversion process with the storage device 12.

In FIG. 6, the card type camera of FIG.
By being inserted into the PC card slot 20 of the personal computer 23, the captured image signal can be used by the personal computer 23. The personal computer 23 includes an image display unit 21, an eject button 22, and the like. FIGS. 7 and 8 show details of the imaging unit 4. The imaging unit 4 includes a CCD element 41 (CCD chip 41a, glass substrate 41).
b, a sealing resin 41c), a chip component 44, a ceramic substrate 43, and a transmission cable 44. These components are mounted on the flexible printed circuit board 45 as shown in FIG. Further, an optical filter 42 is provided between the taking lens 5 and the glass substrate 41b.

[0018]

According to the first and third aspects of the present invention,
The imaging unit and the camera body can be separated, and the outer wall of the imaging unit is integrated with the outer wall of the camera body so that the overall appearance of the camera is almost the same as that of the card-type recording medium. Can be improved.

Further, according to the second, fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, the image pickup section can be separated without providing a special storage section for the image pickup section in the camera body. By exchanging the imaging unit, the same effect as the lens exchange can be obtained, and the effect that the operability at the time of photographing is good can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a card-type camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the card-type camera according to the present invention when the imaging unit 4 is detached from the camera body 1;

FIG. 3 is an external view of the card-type camera according to the present invention when the imaging unit 4 is detached from the camera body 1;

FIG. 4 is a connection cord 6 for connecting the camera body and the imaging unit.
FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a circuit block diagram of a card-type camera.

FIG. 6 is an external view when a card-type camera is mounted on a personal computer.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of an imaging unit 4 of the card-type camera.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of an imaging unit 4 of the card-type camera.

FIG. 9 shows an external view of a conventional card-type camera.

FIG. 10 shows an external view of a conventional card-type camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera body 2 ... Release switch 3 ... Monitor 4 ... Imaging part 6 ... Connection cord

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A card-type camera which can be inserted into a card-type recording medium slot of an external device, comprising: a photographing optical system; and an image pickup unit including an image pickup device for converting optical information via the photographing optical system into an electric signal; A camera body including an image signal processing unit for processing an electric signal from an image sensor, wherein the imaging unit and the camera body are mounted in the slot in a state where the imaging unit and the camera body are combined. When the camera is combined, the overall shape of the camera is formed to be substantially the same as the card-type recording medium, and the imaging section and the camera body are configured to be separable. 2. The card-type camera according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup unit can be replaced with one having a different focal length of said photographing optical system. 3. The camera body according to claim 1, wherein the camera body has a cutout portion into which the image pickup unit is loaded, and the camera body has a card shape when the camera body and the image pickup unit are combined. The card-type camera as described. 4. An image pickup unit having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, a connector part on one end surface in a longitudinal direction, a photographing lens system on the other end surface, and coupling means for coupling to the camera body on a side surface. The card-type camera according to claim 3, further comprising: 5. The card-type camera according to claim 4, further comprising a cord for electrically connecting the image pickup unit and the camera body when the camera unit is separated.