JP2890464B2 - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic still camera, and more specifically, a method of electromagnetically converting a still image signal to an image recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium or a solid-state memory device. Or, it relates to an electronic still camera for digital recording.

[Prior Art] As the electronic still camera as described above, a camera that uses a small magnetic floppy as an image recording medium and records an image signal from a CCD solid-state imaging device in an analog manner on the magnetic floppy is generally known. Have been. In the case where such an electronic still camera has an interval shooting function, that is, an interval recording function, conventionally, a dedicated setting unit for setting an interval time is provided.
An operation program for the setting was incorporated in the program control. In the latter case, for example, when the user wants to set the time interval of the interval recording, the “interval time setting mode” is called by any button operation, and the desired time setting up switch and down switch are used. Set the time interval.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above conventional example, not only a special operation mode such as an interval time setting mode, that is, a program routine must be incorporated, but also a switch for calling this mode is required. This has led to an increase in the size and complexity of the control program and an increase in the size of the control device hardware, which has been a factor that hinders downsizing and cost reduction of the camera.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the operation of setting the interval time is complicated and troublesome, and it is desired that the operation can be set more easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-described problems and to provide an electronic still camera which is inexpensive and small in size and can set the interval recording time by a simple operation.

[Means for Solving the Problems] An electronic still camera according to the present invention is an electronic still camera that records a captured image using an image recording medium that records a plurality of images, and performs playback in a playback mode. Specifying means for specifying numerical information corresponding to a power image, storage means for storing time interval information of an intermittent operation in an intermittent operation mode, and reproduction specified at that time in accordance with a predetermined operation exiting the reproduction mode Numerical information corresponding to an image to be used is set as the time interval information of the intermittent operation, and a storage control unit that stores the intermittent operation in the intermittent operation mode. And control means for executing the program.

[Operation] By the above means, it is not necessary to provide a special operation means for setting the time interval of the intermittent operation, for example, the interval photographing, so that the apparatus can be downsized and the control program can be prevented from being enlarged. Therefore, it can be manufactured at low cost.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a taking lens, 12 is a shutter, and a shutter 12
Are driven to open and close by a shutter driving device 13. The subject light from the photographing lens 10 enters the CCD solid-state imaging device 14 through the shutter 12, and is converted into an electric signal. Signal processing circuit
16 performs gamma correction and other known video signal processing on the output of the image sensor 14, and the FM modulation circuit 18 outputs the output of the signal processing circuit 16 to a frequency band suitable for recording on a small magnetic floppy 20 as a recording medium. FM modulation. A changeover switch 22 is connected to the contact a during recording, connected to the contact b during erasing, and connected to the contact c during reproduction. The output of the FM modulation circuit 18 is applied to a recording / reproducing head 24 via a switch 22, and is magnetically recorded on the floppy 20 by the recording / reproducing head 24.

The floppy 20 is rotationally driven by a spindle motor 26, and the spindle motor 26 is driven and controlled by a motor drive circuit 28 to rotate at a predetermined constant rotational speed. Further, the recording / reproducing head 24 is driven in the radial direction of the floppy 20 by the motor 32 controlled by the driving device 30, and is positioned at a designated track.

An erasing signal generating circuit 34 generates an erasing signal for erasing the recording signal of the floppy 24. Switch 22 in erase mode
Is connected to the contact b, and the erase signal generated by the erase signal generating circuit 34 is applied to the recording / reproducing head 24 via the switch 22. As a result, the signal of the track accessed by the recording / reproducing head 24 is erased.

During reproduction, the switch 22 is connected to the contact c, and the reproduction output of the recording / reproduction head 24 is applied to the reproduction circuit 36. The reproduction circuit 36 performs a known reproduction process such as FM demodulation, and outputs a video signal to a video output terminal 38.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a main control circuit that controls the above components as a whole,
Reference numeral 42 denotes a sub-control circuit for controlling various switch inputs, display outputs, and a power supply system. The sub-control circuit 42 constantly monitors the switch state, activates the main control circuit 40 when detecting a predetermined switch input, and transfers the obtained switch information to the main control circuit 40. The sub-control circuit 42 is always supplied with power by the sub-battery 44. Reference numeral 46 denotes a main battery, and its output voltage is supplied to a power input terminal of the main control circuit 40 and other circuits via a control switch 48 that is controlled to be opened and closed by the sub-control circuit 42.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a liquid crystal display device for performing various operation instructions and error display. 52 is a lock switch, 54 is a recording switch, 56 is a playback switch, these are the main switch
Configure the switch. 58 is a first release switch that closes with the first stroke of the release button, and 60 is a second release switch that closes with the second stroke of the release button.
Switch, 62 is a mode switch, 64 is a load switch indicating loading / unloading of the floppy 20, and 66 is a truck switch.
An up switch 68 for instructing an up operation, and a down switch 68 for instructing a track down operation.

Next, the operation related to the present invention will be described in detail. In addition,
In this embodiment, the sub-control circuit 42 has a battery-backed-up storage area for storing data defining an interval time. The storage area or contents will be described as INTTIME. FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the reproducing operation. The reproduction mode is set by turning on the reproduction switch 56. Up switch 66 and down switch
The track to be reproduced by the floppy 20 is designated by 68.
That is, the track number TRK is incremented in accordance with the up switch 66 (S3), and the head 24 is moved one track toward the inner peripheral side (S4). Also, the track number TRK is decremented in response to the down switch 68 (S7), and the head 24 is moved one track toward the outer circumference (S8). Of course, head 24
Is on the innermost or outermost circumference, and when the up switch 66 or the down switch 68 is turned on, respectively,
The head 24 is not moved (S2, 6).

While the reproduction switch 56 is on, the operation of the up switch 66 and the down switch 68 is received to reproduce the image signal of the designated track (S12). However, if the load switch 64 is off, indicating that the floppy 20 is not loaded (S9), playback is stopped (S10),
The process proceeds to a floppy-less display routine (S11).

When the reproduction switch 56 is turned off, that is, the recording switch 54
Alternatively, when the lock switch 52 is turned on (S12), the reproduction is stopped (S13), and the track number TRK is set to the sub control circuit.
It is transcribed to 42 INTTIME (S14). And record switch
If 54 is off (S15), it shifts to key lock (S1
6) If the recording switch 54 is ON, an empty track is searched for recording (S17), and the process proceeds to a recording standby routine (S18).

In this way, when exiting from the playback mode, the playback track number TRK at that point is set to the INTTIME of the sub control circuit 42.
Transcribed and memorized.

FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart of the sub control circuit 42 in the recording standby state. In the recording standby state, in order to reduce current consumption, the sub-control circuit 42 is usually in a sleep state, and wakes up by a timer set before sleep and enters an intermittent active state. Also, when the lock switch 52 is closed, it wakes up in response to the switch operation of the switches 58, 60, and 62, and operates intermittently.

Upon awakening, first, the SCAN signal is set to L (S20), and the recording switch 54, the reproducing switch 56, and the load switch 64 are checked. When the load switch 64 is off,
The flow shifts to a floppy-less display routine (S21, 22). If the reproduction switch 56 is on, reproduction is started (S23, S23).
24) If the recording switch 54 is ON, the key is locked (S25, 26). Further, the switches 58, 60 and 62 are checked, and if the switch 60 is on, the photographing is started (S27, 2
8) If switch 58 is on, preparation for shooting is started (S2
9, 30), and when mode switch 62 is on,
The process proceeds to the set routine (S31, 32).

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of the mode set routine. In the case of the interval mode, the interval mode is reset and the normal self-timer mode is set (S50, 51). If the mode is the single mode, the mode is set to the continuous mode. If the mode is the continuous mode, the mode is set to the self-timer mode. If the mode is the self-timer mode, the mode is set to the single mode (S52 to S57). After that, the timer is cleared (S58), and it waits for the mode switch 62 to be turned off. If the mode switch 62 is on for more than 3 seconds (S59, 60), the mode is set to the interval mode, and The mode is set (S61). When the mode switch 62 is turned off, the interval timer is cleared (S62), and the process returns to the recording standby routine of FIG.

In the recording standby routine of FIG.
In the mode (S33), the interval mark is blinked on the display device 50 (S34 to S36), and the interval timer is counted up (S37). Then, the INTTIME set in FIG. 2 is compared with the interval timer (S38), and if they match, an image is taken (S39),
If they do not match, the SCAN signal is returned to H (S40), and sleep is performed (S41).

In this way, interval shooting is performed at time intervals according to INTTIME set in FIG. For example, if the track accessed immediately before exiting the reproduction mode is the tenth track, interval shooting is performed at intervals of about 10 minutes, and if the track is the twentieth track, interval shooting is performed at intervals of about 20 minutes.

In other words, in other words, the time interval of the interval shooting can be set substantially by the up switch 66 and the down switch 68, and even if there is no special operation switch for setting the interval period, the same function can be obtained. Function can be realized.

The interval mode is reset in each routine such as reproduction start, key lock, shooting preparation, and the like. In addition, by adjusting the unit of the interval timer, it is possible to execute shooting just every INTTIME minutes (or seconds or hours).

In FIG. 1, the power for operating the sub-control circuit 42 is supplied by the sub-battery 44, but it is of course possible to supply the power from the main battery 46. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the modified embodiment. The same reference numerals are given to the same circuit elements as in FIG. The stabilization circuit 70 converts and stabilizes the output voltage of the main battery 46 into a power supply voltage suitable for the sub-control circuit 42, and supplies the power supply terminal of the sub-control circuit 42. Other circuit configurations are the same as those in FIG.

In the above-described embodiment, the case of interval shooting has been described as an example. However, in the operation of sequentially playing back the recorded images on the recording medium at predetermined intervals, the playback time interval is similarly set using the up switch 66 and the down switch 68. Can be set.

In the present embodiment, a magnetic floppy is used as an image recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration using a solid-state memory device as a recording medium and a configuration for analog or digital recording of an image signal are used. Needless to say, this can also be applied. When the solid-state memory device is used as a recording medium, the interval period can be set in a similar manner by means for designating a section divided for recording an image for recording, reproducing, or erasing.

[Effects of the Invention] As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, a special operation routine and a special operation means for setting an interval period of an intermittent operation become unnecessary.
Therefore, the device can be miniaturized and manufactured at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a reproducing operation, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a sub-control circuit 42 in a recording standby mode, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a modified embodiment of the present invention when the switch 62 is on. 10: photographic lens, 12: shutter, 20: magnetic floppy, 24:
Recording / playback head, 38: video output terminal, 40: main control circuit,
42: sub control circuit, 44: sub battery, 46: main battery, 50: liquid crystal display device, 52: lock switch, 54: record switch, 56:
Playback switch, 58: 1st release switch, 60: 2nd release switch, 62: Mode switch, 64: Load switch
Switch, 66: Up switch, 68: Down switch

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic still camera for recording a captured image using an image recording medium for recording a plurality of images, comprising: a designation unit for designating, in a reproduction mode, numerical information corresponding to an image to be reproduced; Storage means for storing time interval information of the intermittent operation in the intermittent operation mode; and, in accordance with a predetermined operation exiting from the reproduction mode, numerical information corresponding to an image to be reproduced specified at that time is stored in the intermittent operation time. An electronic device comprising: a storage control unit that stores interval information in the storage unit; and a control unit that executes an intermittent operation in the intermittent operation mode in accordance with the time interval information stored in the storage unit. Still camera.