JP3409599B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera for photoelectrically converting a still optical image of a subject into an image signal and capturing the image signal and recording the image signal in a recording medium such as a semiconductor memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital camera, the captured image is JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts Group).
It is recorded on the recording medium after being compressed by a predetermined compression method such as p) method. Further, the digital camera is provided with an image data erasing switch so that the image data already recorded on the recording medium can be erased to newly record the imaged image data.

Conventionally, when an image erasure switch is instructed to erase image data, a digital camera which displays a message confirming image data erasure on a display unit provided in the camera body so that the image data is not erroneously erased. It has been known.

[0004]

In the conventional digital camera, the image data erasing process is performed only by the interactive confirmation work. Therefore, for example, the image to be erased already erased in the erasing mode is erased and the recording medium is erased. When organizing data, there is no particular problem in workability, but the recorded image is displayed on the display means, and while confirming the image contents, the image data in the recording means corresponding to the displayed image is displayed if necessary. When erasing, it is difficult to quickly judge whether data can be erased.
It may be tempting to withdraw the erasure instruction.

In such a case, when an erasing instruction is made by visually recognizing the displayed image, the user can erase the data by displaying a state in which the image is actually erased rather than reconfirming the erasing instruction with a confirmation message. In some cases, it may be possible to more accurately make a final judgment as to whether or not the erase instruction is appropriate within the erase time of the displayed image by transmitting the image.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a digital camera capable of reducing erroneous deletion of image data in a recording medium.

[0007]

The present invention provides a display means for reproducing and displaying an image recorded in a storage means, and an instruction to erase an image in the recording means corresponding to the image displayed in the display means. The deletion instruction means, the display control means for deleting the image displayed on the display means stepwise when the deletion of the image is instructed by the deletion instruction means, and the deletion of the image displayed on the display means are completed. After that, an erasing control means for erasing the image stored in the storage means corresponding to this image is provided. According to the above configuration, when the image erasing is instructed in the state where the image stored in the storage is reproduced and displayed on the display, the image displayed on the display is erased step by step, and this display is displayed. After the deletion of the image is completed, the image corresponding to this display image stored in the storage means is deleted. Therefore, if the erase instruction is canceled during the erase operation of the display image, the image corresponding to the display image stored in the storage means is not erased. Also, the present invention
The display control means is displayed on the display means.
It is advisable to sequentially delete the images in line units (claim 2).

In the present invention, the display control means is
While performing the stepwise deletion of an image, the deletion instruction means
When the instruction to delete the image is canceled, the image is deleted.
Stop and redisplay the part of the image that has already been erased.
(Claim 3)

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A digital camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera. 3 to 5 are a top view, a right side view, and a bottom view of the digital camera, respectively.

The digital camera 1 is composed of a box-shaped camera body 2 and a rectangular parallelepiped image pickup unit 3. The imaging unit 3 is detachably attached to the right side surface of the camera body 2 when viewed from the front, and is rotatably attached in a plane parallel to the right side surface. Further, the image pickup section 3 can be connected to the camera body section 2 via a dedicated connection cable as described later.

When the end face provided with the lens window (upper end face in FIG. 1) is the front end of the image pickup unit 3, the front end is parallel to the upper surface of the camera body 2 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. The position (the position where the imaging direction is the direction A in FIG. 4; hereinafter, this position is referred to as the rotation reference position) is approximately ± (90.
It can rotate in the range of + α) °. When the image pickup unit 3 is directly connected to the camera body unit 2, the rotation operation of the image pickup unit 3 turns on / off the main power source of the digital camera 1, and the image pickup unit 3 is set to the rotation reference position. The main power supply is turned off (in the states of FIGS. 1 to 5). This is a configuration in which the digital camera 1 is the most compact, and the digital camera 1 is normally stored in this state. Therefore, the main power supply is automatically turned off to facilitate the switch operation of the main power supply. It was done like this.

The image pickup section 3 has an image pickup device formed of a macroscopic zoom taking lens and a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and an optical image of an object is formed by an image formed of electrical signals (each pixel of the CCD It is converted into an image composed of photoelectrically converted charge signals) and is taken in. On the other hand, the camera body 2 has an LCD (Liquid Cry)
stal display), a mounting portion 17 of the IC card 18 (see FIG. 8), and a connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected. After the signal processing is performed, processing such as display on the LCD display unit 10, recording on the IC card 18 and transfer to a personal computer is performed.

The image pickup section 3 has a lengthwise rectangular parallelepiped shape having a length dimension substantially the same as the height dimension of the camera body 2 and a width dimension substantially the same as the width dimension of the camera body 2. The image pickup unit main body 3A is provided, and the attachment unit 3 for attaching the image pickup unit 3 to the camera main body unit 2 is provided on one side surface of the image pickup unit main body 3A.
B is projected. Since the image pickup unit 3 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape whose image pickup unit body 3A is long in one direction and can be set along a side surface of the camera body unit 2 during storage, the width of the digital camera 1 does not increase. It is possible to use a zoom lens that is long in the axial direction. The mounting mechanism of the imaging unit 3 to the camera body 2 by the mounting unit 3B will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 6, a macro zoom lens 301 is disposed inside the image pickup unit main body 3A, and an image pickup circuit 302 having a CCD color area sensor 303 at a proper position behind the macro zoom lens 301. Is provided. Further, a dimming circuit 304 including a dimming sensor 305 that receives the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is provided at an appropriate position in the image pickup unit 3. The dimming sensor 305 is
It is arranged at a proper position on the front end surface of the mounting portion 3B.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, on the outside of the image pickup unit main body 3A, the side face is parallel to the back surface of the camera main unit 2 (upward when the image pickup unit 3 is rotated by + 90 ° from the rotation reference position). A side face) is provided with a zoom lever 306 for changing the zoom ratio of the macro zoom lens 301 and for switching between zoom and macro.
A lock release lever 307 that allows the imaging unit 3 to be detached from the camera body 2 is provided at a position diagonally to the right front.

The zoom lever 306 is moved in the lateral direction (image pickup unit 3
The lever is slidable in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of
The zoom ratio of the macro zoom lens 301 is changed by sliding the zoom lever 306 laterally left and right at the zoom position PZ. Further, when the zoom lever 306 is slid rightward beyond the zoom position PZ to set the macro position PM, the macro zoom lens 301 is switched to the macro lens. At the macro position PM, it is possible to shoot a subject up to about 50 cm.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the front surface of the camera body 2, a grip portion 4 is provided at a proper position on the left end, and a built-in flash 5 is provided at a proper position on the upper end at the right end. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, on the upper surface of the camera body portion 2, switches 6 and 7 for frame advance when reproducing a recorded image are provided substantially at the center. The switch 6 is a switch (hereinafter, referred to as an UP switch) for advancing the recorded image in the direction of increasing the frame number (direction of shooting order), and the switch 7 is the direction of decreasing the recorded image in the frame number. This is a switch for frame-by-frame advance (hereinafter referred to as DOWN switch). Further, an erasing switch 8 for erasing an image recorded in the IC card 18 is provided on the left side of the DOWN switch 7 when viewed from the rear side, and a shutter button 9 is provided on the upper right of the UP switch 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the rear surface of the camera body 2, an LCD display unit for displaying a photographed image on a monitor (corresponding to a viewfinder) and reproducing and displaying a recorded image is formed at a substantially center of a left end portion. 10 are provided. Also, L
F related to flash emission above the CD display unit 10
The L mode setting switch 11 is provided, and the LCD display unit 1
At a position below 0, a compression rate setting switch 12 for switching and setting the compression rate K of image data recorded in the IC card 18 and a connection terminal 13 to which a personal computer is externally connected are provided. FL mode setting switch 1
Reference numeral 1 is a push switch, and the compression ratio setting switch 12 is a two-contact slide switch.

The digital camera 1 has an "automatic light emission mode" in which the built-in flash 5 automatically emits light according to the subject brightness as a mode related to flash emission, and a "forced" mode in which the built-in flash 5 is compulsorily emitted regardless of the subject brightness. A "flash mode" and a "flash prohibit mode" for prohibiting the flash of the built-in flash 5 are provided, and "automatic flash" and "forced flash" each time the FL mode setting switch 11 is pressed.
Each mode of "light emission inhibition" and "light emission prohibition" is cyclically switched, and one of the modes is selectively set. In addition, the digital camera 1 has 2 of 1/8 and 1/20.
The compression rate K of each type can be selectively set. For example, when the compression rate setting switch 12 is slid to the right, the compression rate K = 1.
/ 8 is set and slide to the left, compression rate K = 1 /
20 is set. In the present embodiment, two types of compression rates K can be selectively set, but three or more types of compression rates K may be selectively set.

Further, a shooting / playback mode setting switch 14 for switching and setting the "shooting mode" and the "playback mode" is provided on the upper right end of the rear surface of the camera body 2.
The shooting mode is a mode for taking a picture, and the reproduction mode is for displaying a shot image recorded in the IC card 18 on the LCD.
This is a mode for reproducing and displaying on the display unit 10. The shooting / playback mode setting switch 14 is also a two-contact slide switch. For example, sliding to the right sets the playback mode, and sliding to the left sets the shooting mode.

As shown in FIG. 8, a battery loading chamber 16 for the power supply battery E and a card loading chamber 17 for the IC card 18 are provided on the bottom surface of the camera body 2, and the loading ports of both loading chambers 16, 17 are provided. Is closed by a clamshell type lid 15, as shown in FIG. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment includes four AA dry cells E1.
A power source battery E formed by connecting E4 to E4 in series is used as a driving source, and four cylindrical loading chambers in which the batteries E1 to E4 are loaded are arranged in a row at the bottom of the camera body 2. The battery loading chamber 16 is laterally arranged at a position slightly shifted to the right from the center of the lower surface. In addition, a card loading chamber 17 having a belt-shaped loading port is arranged in front of the battery loading chamber 16 in parallel with the battery loading chamber 16.

The battery E is provided on the rear surface of the lid 15 (the surface facing the loading chambers 16 and 17) facing the battery loading chamber 16.
1, E2 for connecting the conductive connecting piece 15a and the battery E3
A conductive connection piece 15b for connecting E4 is provided, and when the lid 15 is closed, the connection pieces 15a, 15b and the batteries E1 to E1 are connected.
The power source battery E is configured by making contact with E4.

In the digital camera 1 according to this embodiment, as described above, the lid of the battery loading chamber 16 and the lid of the card loading chamber 17 are made common, so that the placement of both loading chambers is compact. The IC card 18 can be surely protected when it is attached / detached. That is, I
When the C card 18 is attached, the power supply battery E is connected to the internal circuit by closing the lid 15 after the IC card is attached. When the IC card 18 is attached / detached, the lid 15 should be opened before the IC card attachment / detachment. As a result, the connection with the internal circuit of the power supply battery E is released.
In this state, the IC card 18 can be attached / detached.

The battery loading chamber 16 and the card loading chamber 1
The positional relationship of 7 is not limited to those arranged in the width direction of the camera body 2 as shown in FIG. 8, and for example, as shown in FIG. 9 or 10, four cylindrical battery loading chambers are provided. The battery loading chamber 16 'and the card loading chamber 17, which are arranged in two rows, may be arranged side by side. in this case,
It is preferable to adopt the example of FIG. 9 in which the battery loading chamber 16 ′ is on the right end side with respect to the card loading chamber 17. Since the opening of the lid 15 increases toward the right end of the camera body 2, the batteries E1 to E
This is because it becomes easy to attach and detach the No. 4 unit.

At an appropriate position on the inner wall of the battery loading chamber 16, FIG.
Further, as shown in FIG. 12, a friction member 20 made of rubber, resin or the like is provided. The friction member 20 prevents the batteries E1 to E4 from falling when the lid 15 is opened with the lower surface of the camera body 2 facing downward, and facilitates the removal of the batteries E1 to E4. The batteries E1 to E
13 in place of the friction member 20 as the fall prevention member of FIG.
14, a spring member 21 may be provided, and as shown in FIG. 14, a stopper mechanism by a friction ball 22 may be provided.

The stopper mechanism shown in FIG. 14 has a structure in which the opening of the battery loading chamber 16 faces upward ((a) in the same figure).
Since the friction ball 22 is on the bottom side of the conical ball holding portion 16a and a gap is created between the friction ball 22 and the battery E2, the battery E2 can be easily pulled out, but the opening of the battery loading chamber 16 is When facing down ((b) in the figure),
The friction ball 22 moves to the head side of the ball holding portion 16a and is interposed between the ball holding portion 16a and the battery E2 to prevent the battery E2 from falling.

Next, a mounting mechanism of the image pickup section 3 to the camera body section 2 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 15, on the right side surface of the camera body 2 when viewed from the front, a connection plate 23 to which the image pickup section 3 is detachably mounted is rotatable in a plane parallel to the right side surface. It is provided in. By the rotation of the connection plate 23, the image pickup unit 3 attached to the camera body 2 is rotated within a range of approximately ± (90 + α) ° with respect to the rotation reference position.

On the mounting surface 308 of the mounting portion 3B, as shown in FIG. 16, four engaging claws 310a to 310 are provided at appropriate positions on the periphery.
A rectangular hole 309 having a protruding d is provided, and the connection plate 23 is fitted into the hole 309 so that the image pickup unit 3 is mounted on the camera body 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, a key member 311 for locking the connection plate 23 mounted on the mounting surface 308 is provided on the back surface of the unlocking lever 307 so as to project. The lock release lever 307 attaches the key member 311 to the mounting portion 3B.
Is attached to the mounting portion 3B by penetrating the side wall of the above, facing the hole 309 side. In addition, the lock release lever 307
Is attached such that the key member 311 is movable in a direction in which the key member 311 comes in contact with and separates from the opening surface of the hole 309. Lock release lever 3
When the key member 311 is operated by operating 07,
It is movable to a lock position provided on the opening surface side of 9 and an unlock position provided on the back side of the opening surface. The lock release lever 307 is biased to the lock position by the spring 312.
When moved to the unlocked position against the urging force of the camera body 2, the imaging unit 3 mounted on the camera body 2 can be detached via the connection plate 23.

A plurality of connecting terminals 234 are provided on the mounting surface of the connecting plate 23, while the holes 309 of the mounting portion 3B are provided.
A plurality of connection terminals (not shown) are provided inside the connection plate 23 so as to face the connection terminals 234 on the mounting surface of the connection plate 23.
When the image pickup section 3 is attached to the camera body section 2 via 3,
The image pickup section 3 and the camera body section 2 are electrically connected to each other via the connection terminal 234.

The connection plate 23 is provided with rectangular recesses 231a and 231b at appropriate positions on both long sides, and the connection terminal 234 is formed.
Surface not provided with (hereinafter, this surface is referred to as the back surface)
The engaging claws 3 of the mounting portion 3B are formed by forming grooves at positions which are continuous with both corners of one side and the recesses 231a and 231b.
Engaging portions 232a to which 10a to 310d engage,
232b, 232c, 232d are provided. Further, on the surface provided with the connection terminal 234 (hereinafter, this surface is referred to as the surface), a groove is formed at an appropriate position on the long side where the recess 231a is formed, and the key member 311 of the mounting portion 3B is fitted. A mating engagement part 233 is provided.

The mounting portion 3B of the image pickup portion 3 is attached to the connection plate 23 of the camera body portion 2 in the following procedure. That is, first, the mounting surface 308 of the mounting portion 3B is arranged parallel to the connection plate 23 so that the engaging claws 310c and 310d of the hole 309 face the recesses 231a and 231b of the connection plate 23, respectively, and then the mounting portion 3B. Is pressed against the connection plate 23. At this time, the engaging claws 310c and 310d are respectively connected to the connecting plate 2.
3, the key member 311 is pushed by the surface of the connecting plate 23 and the spring 312
It moves to the unlocked position against the urging force of the
Is pressed until the back surface of the connection plate 23 becomes the same as the mounting surface 308 of the mounting portion 3B. Then, when the mounting portion 3B is moved to the rear end side (direction B in FIG. 16), the engaging claws 310a to 310d of the mounting portion 3B engage with the engaging portions 232a to 232d of the connection plate 23, respectively. Part 3B is connection plate 2
3, the key member 311 is moved to the lock position by the urging force of the spring 312 and fitted into the engaging portion 233, and the attachment state of the imaging unit 3 to the connection plate 23 is locked.

To remove the image pickup unit 3 from the connection plate 23, the lock release lever 307 is operated in the direction away from the mounting surface 308 (direction C in FIG. 17) to move the key member 311 to the lock release position. Key member 311 and engaging portion 23
3 is released, and in this state, the mounting portion 3B is connected to the connecting plate 2
After performing relative movement in the direction opposite to the B direction with respect to 3, the mounting portion 3B is moved in a direction away from the connection plate 23.

Next, the mounting structure of the connection plate 23 to the camera body 2 will be described.

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the connection plate unit. The connection plate unit includes a connection plate 23, a board 24, a reinforcing plate 25, a sliding ring 26, and a rotation support member 27.
And a click member 28.

A concave portion 235 is provided on the back surface of the connecting plate 23, and the substrate 24 in which the connecting terminal 234 and the signal line connected to the connecting terminal 234 are formed is housed in the concave portion 235. In addition, on the back surface of the connection plate 23, a columnar female screw having a side surface partially cut at a position eccentric downward on the central axis in the longitudinal direction and a female screw (not shown) formed on the central axis is formed. The portion 236 is provided so as to project.

The side surface cut portion of the female screw portion 236 is for providing a space for guiding the signal line into the camera body 2. In addition, the female screw portion 2 in the connection plate 23
The position of 36 is decentered downward from the center so that the stability of the camera posture is ensured even when the digital camera 1 is placed on a desk or the like while the image pickup unit 3 is rotated from the rotation reference position. This is because.

That is, in FIG. 22, when the image pickup unit 3 is at the rotation reference position, and the position of the center of gravity of the image pickup unit 3 and the camera body is substantially on the vertical center line M of the camera body unit, for example, the image pickup unit is taken. +90 from the rotation reference position
When rotated to a rotated position (hereinafter, this position is referred to as a front imaging position), the center of gravity position G of the imaging unit 3 moves in front of the camera from the center line M in the width direction of the camera, whereby the camera body 2 Against the camera body 2
A moment that rotates forward with the bottom of the fulcrum as a fulcrum acts.

The female screw portion 236 of the connection plate 23 serves as a rotation shaft of the image pickup unit 3 connected to the camera body 2. As shown in FIG. 23, the position N'of this rotation shaft is referred to as the moment. The closer to the bottom surface of the camera body 2 which is the fulcrum, the smaller the moment and the higher the stability. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the female screw portion 236 of the connection plate 23 is located on the right side surface of the camera body 2 as much as possible. It is designed to be displaced downward from the center position N in the longitudinal direction.

In the present embodiment, the image pickup section 3 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape in the vertical direction and the image pickup optical system which is long in the optical axis direction is employed. The moment increases. Therefore, with the above configuration, the camera posture can be stably maintained even when the digital camera 1 is placed on a desk or the like and an image is taken with the image pickup unit 3 set to the front image pickup position.

Returning to FIG. 18, the reinforcing plate 25 seals the recess 235 of the connection plate 23 in which the substrate 24 is housed and reinforces the connection plate 23. A through hole 2 through which the female screw portion 236 of the connecting plate 23 penetrates at an appropriate position of the reinforcing plate 25.
51 is provided, and an engaging hole 252 with which an engaging protrusion 264 protruding from the flange portion 262 of the sliding ring 26 engages is formed at an appropriate position below the through hole 251.

The sliding ring 26 regulates the rotation angle of the connecting plate 23 in the rotating operation. Sliding ring 2
6 is a disk-shaped ring member having a flange 262 having a step at one end of the side surface. Assuming that the stepped side of the sliding ring 26 is the surface, a notch 261A is formed at an appropriate position on the surface side of the center ring portion 261 of the sliding ring 26, and the notch 261A is used as a reference, as shown in FIG. A C-shaped groove 263 is formed in the collar portion 262 along the side surface of the ring portion 261 over an angle of ± (90 + α). The notch 261A has a click member 2 described later.
The engaging projections provided on the No. 8 are engaged. The groove 263 is a guide groove into which a guide pin 275 provided on a rotation support member 27 described later is loosely fitted.

Further, a notch 262A is formed on the surface of the peripheral edge of the flange 262 in the same direction as the notch 261A, and a notch 262B is formed by shifting the position toward the center O from the notch 262A in the direction of + 90 °. Has been formed. The cutout 262A is for detecting that the image pickup unit 3 attached to the connection plate 23 is set at the rotation reference position and turning off the main power source, and the cutout 262B is for the connection plate 23.
The image pickup section 3 mounted on the camera is set to the front image pickup position, and the image pickup (optical axis) direction is the light emission (optical axis) of the built-in flash 5.
It is for detecting that it is parallel to the direction. In addition, an engaging projection 264 that engages with the engaging hole 252 of the reinforcing plate 25 is provided at a proper position on the back surface of the collar portion 262 in a direction opposite to the notch 261A.

The rotation support member 27 is a member for supporting the rotation of the connection plate 23 and for attaching the connection plate unit to the right side surface of the camera body 2. Rotation support member 2
7 is formed by forming rectangular plate-shaped mounting portions 272 and 272 'above and below a disc-shaped supporting portion 271.
The connection plate unit is attached to the right side surface of the camera body 2 by screwing the four corners of 2,272 '. When the upper direction of the central axis in the longitudinal direction of the rotation support member 27 that passes through the center of the support portion 271 (the direction D in FIG. 18) is the reference direction, the rotation support member 27 uses the reference direction as the imaging unit 3 for the camera body 2. Rotation reference direction (direction A in Fig. 4)
And is attached to the camera body 2.

The support portion 271 of the rotation support member 27 is provided with a hole 273 through which the ring portion 261 of the sliding ring 26 passes. An annular edge 274 is projectingly provided around the hole 273 on a surface of the supporting portion 271 facing the inside of the camera body 2 (a surface on the left side in FIG. 18, which will be referred to as an inner surface hereinafter). A concave portion (not visible in FIG. 18) into which the flange portion 262 of the sliding ring 26 is fitted is formed on the surface facing the outside (hereinafter, referred to as the outside surface).

U-shaped small grooves 274a to 274c are formed at positions of ± 90 ° and 180 ° with respect to the reference direction of the outer peripheral surface of the edge portion 274. This small groove 274
a to 274c indicate the rotation operation of the image pickup unit 3 mounted on the connection plate 23 by ± 90 ° with respect to the rotation reference position and the rotation reference position.
It is for temporarily stopping at the rotated position.

At a proper position on the inner surface of the support portion 271 in the reference direction, the connection plate 23 is in the same direction as the rotation support member 27 (the central axis direction of the connection plate 23 in the longitudinal direction (E direction in FIG. 18) is the rotation support member 27). A switch 29 for turning off the main power source at a position corresponding to the D direction) and a switch 30 for detecting that the connection plate 23 is in a position rotated by + 90 ° with respect to the rotation support member 27. ing. The position where the connection plate 23 is in the same direction as the rotation support member 27 is a position where the imaging unit 3 mounted on the connection plate 23 is set to the rotation reference position, and the connection plate 23 is +90 relative to the rotation support member 27. The rotated position is a position where the image pickup unit 3 mounted on the connection plate 23 is set to the front image pickup position.

Therefore, the switch 29 turns off the main power source when the image pickup unit 3 is set to the rotation reference position, and turns on the main power source when the image pickup unit 3 is set to a position other than the rotation reference position. Further, the switch 30 is a switch that detects that the image pickup unit 3 is set to the front image pickup position.

A guide pin 275 that is loosely fitted in the groove 263 of the slide ring 26 is provided at a proper position in the reference direction of the recess formed on the outer surface of the support portion 271.

Here, the position detecting operation of the switches 29 and 30 will be briefly described.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing the position of the switch 29, and FIG. 21 is a sectional view showing the position of the switch 30.

The switches 29 and 30 are momentary push switches. When the slide ring 26 is fitted in the recess of the rotation support member 27, the lever 29A of the switch 29 is provided with the notch 26 of the flange 262 of the slide ring 26.
2A is located on a track (see TR1 in FIG. 19), and the lever 30A of the switch 30 passes through the notch 262B of the collar portion 262 of the sliding ring 26 (TR in FIG. 19).
2)).

When the connection plate 23 is not in the rotation reference position, the switch 29 is in the ON state because the lever 29A is retracted into the switch body 29B by the collar portion 262 (see FIG. 21). When 23 is moved to the rotation reference position, the lever 29A is fitted into the notch 262A and protrudes from the switch body 29B, so that the lever 29A is turned off (FIG. 2).
0). Switch 29 is the main power supply (power supply battery E)
It is provided on the power supply line of (1) and opens the power supply line to supply power in the on state, and closes the power supply line in the off state to cut off power supply.

Similarly, when the connection plate 23 is not in the front image pickup position, the switch 30 is in the on state because the lever 30A is retracted into the switch main body 30B by the collar portion 262 (see FIG. 20). When the connection plate 23 moves to the front imaging position, the lever 30A fits into the notch 262B and projects from the switch main body 30B, so that the switch 30 is turned off (see FIG. 21), and the off signal causes the connection plate 23 to move to the front imaging position. Is detected.

In this embodiment, a mechanical switch is used as a detection element for detecting the front imaging position of the connecting plate 23, but the rotational position of the connecting plate 23 is detected by using an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor. Good. Further, the encoder may detect an arbitrary rotational position of the connection plate 22.

Returning to FIG. 18, the click member 28 rotatably supports the connection plate 23 and the sliding ring 26 on the support portion 271 of the rotation support member 27. The click member 28 is formed of a tubular member, and an engaging protrusion 281 that engages with the notch 261A of the sliding ring 26 is provided on the peripheral edge of one end of the click member 28. When 23 is set to the rotation reference position and the front image pickup position, a protrusion 282 is provided that immerses in the small grooves 274a to 274c provided in the support portion 271 of the rotation support member 27 and gives a click feeling. In addition, the protrusion 28 of the tubular body
The wiring holding portion 283 having a U-shaped cross section is provided on the side surface provided with
Are formed. The wiring holding portion 283 is formed from the camera body 2 to the hole 273 of the rotation support member 27 and the sliding ring 2.
The signal line routed to the connection plate 23 is guided and held through the ring portion 261 of No. 6 and the through hole 251 of the reinforcing plate 25.

The through hole 284 of the click member 28 is provided with a step 284a near the one end thereof.
The screw 31 inserted into the screw is screwed into the female screw portion 236 of the connecting plate 23 so that the click member 28 and the connecting plate 23 are fixed to each other.

In the above structure, the substrate 24 is formed in the recess 235.
Connection plate 23 in which the reinforcing plate 25 is attached
Attaches the slide ring 26 by penetrating the female threaded portion 236 through the ring portion 261 and engaging the engagement protrusion 264 with the engagement hole 252. Further, in this state, the support portion 27 is provided.
The ring pin 261 of the slide ring 26 is fitted into the hole 273 so that the first guide pin 275 penetrates the groove 263, and is attached to the outer surface of the rotation support member 27.

On the inner surface of the rotation support member 27, the engaging projection 281 is engaged with the notch 261A of the sliding ring 26 through the hole 273, and the projection 282 is provided on the support portion 27.
1 is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the edge portion 274, and in this state, the screw 31 is inserted into the through hole 284, and the screw 31 is connected to the connecting plate 2
The click portion 28 and the connecting plate 23 are screwed into the female screw portion 236 of No. 3 so as to be integrally rotatable with the rotation supporting member 27, whereby the connecting plate unit is completed. And
This connecting plate unit is mounted on the right side surface of the camera body 2 when viewed from the front, and has mounting portions 272, 272 'of the rotation support member 27.
Can be attached by screwing both corners.

When the connecting plate unit is attached to the right side surface of the camera body 2 and the connecting plate 23 is in the rotation reference position, the switch 29 is turned off as described above, so that the image pickup unit 3 is rotated. The main power source is automatically turned off by setting the reference position, and the main power source is automatically turned on by setting the image pickup unit 3 to a position other than the rotation reference position.

When the image pickup unit 3 is rotated from the rotation reference position, the connecting plate 23, the sliding ring 26 and the click member 28 are rotated.
Is rotated integrally and reaches a position rotated by ± 90 ° from the rotation reference position, the projection 282 of the click member 28 is recessed in the small groove 274a or the small groove 274b of the rotation support member 27 and the image pickup unit 3 is held at that position. It

As described above, the free rotation of the image pickup unit 3 is stopped at the rotation reference position and the position rotated by ± 90 °, and the stopped state is held, so that the self-shooting at the time of storage or at the front image pickup position is performed. The posture of the digital camera 1 can be kept stable by the timer photographing.

When the image pickup unit 3 is rotated to the front image pickup position, the switch 30 outputs the OFF signal as described above. The OFF signal causes the image pickup direction of the image pickup unit 3 to be the light emission direction of the built-in flash 5. Is detected. The output signal from the switch 30 is used to control the light emission of the built-in flash 5 of the digital camera 1, as will be described later, and when an off signal is output from the switch 30 (that is, the imaging direction of the imaging unit 3 is the built-in flash 5). Is set), the light emission of the built-in flash 5 is permitted, and when the ON signal is output (that is, the image pickup direction of the image pickup unit 3 is set to a direction different from the light emission direction of the built-in flash 5). ), The flash of the built-in flash 5 is prohibited.

In the present embodiment, the built-in flash 5 is provided in the camera body 2 to forcibly prohibit the light emission of the built-in flash 5 when the image pickup unit 3 is not set to the front image pickup position. Therefore, if the shooting direction and the flash emission direction do not match, the captured range and the flash illuminated range will shift, so the subject within the shooting range should be illuminated with the flash light evenly. This is because it is impossible to perform suitable flash photography.

When the image pickup unit 3 is rotated from the rotation reference position by more than ± 90 ° and is rotated by a predetermined angle α °, the guide pins 275 of the rotation supporting member 27 are brought into contact with both ends of the groove 263 of the sliding ring 26 to be connected. The rotation operation of the plate 23 is restricted, so that the imaging unit 3 can rotate within the range of the rotation reference position ± (90 + α) °.

In the present embodiment, the image pickup section 3 is attached to the right side surface of the camera body section 2, but it may be attached to the left side surface of the camera body section 2.

In the above description, the image pickup unit 3 is directly attached to the camera body unit 2, but the image pickup unit 3 is connected to the camera body unit 2 via a dedicated connection cable. can do.

FIG. 24 is an external view of a connection cable for connecting the connection section 3 to the camera body section 2.

The connecting cable 32 has a connecting portion 322 having the same connecting structure as the connecting plate 23 at one end of the cable 321 having a cable length of 1 m to several m, and the mounting portion 3B of the image pickup portion 3 at the other end. The connection portion 323 having the same connection structure as the above is provided. Inside the connecting portion 322 connected to the attaching portion 3B of the attaching portion 3 and the connecting portion 323 connected to the connecting plate 23, as shown in FIG. For example, an amplifier circuit 34 having a gain of 6 dB is provided. The buffer amplifier 33 and the amplification circuit 34 are provided in the camera body 2
Drive power is supplied from a power supply line for supplying power to the image pickup unit 3. The resistance R
Reference numerals 1 and R2 are resistors for impedance matching.

The buffer amplifier 33 performs impedance conversion of the output of the image pickup section 3 to reduce the waveform distortion of the image pickup signal during transmission through the cable 321, and the amplifier circuit 34 attenuates the image pickup signal due to impedance matching. Is to compensate. That is, the buffer amplifier 33
26A and 26C, the image pickup signal S _G2 at the output end of the cable 321 is
The waveform is significantly distorted and attenuated as compared with the image pickup signal S _G1 at the input end of the cable 321, but the provision of the buffer amplifier 33 and the amplifier circuit 34 reduces the waveform distortion and lowers the level. Since the compensation is performed, the image pickup signal at the output end of the cable 321 can be improved as shown by S _G2 ′ in FIG. This facilitates A / D conversion and other signal processing of the image pickup signal in the camera body 2 and prevents deterioration of image quality of the picked-up image.

The buffer amplifier 33 and the amplifier circuit 3
Either one or both of 4 may be provided inside the image pickup section 3 and the camera body section 2, respectively, but in this case, the circuit configuration inside the image pickup section 3 and the camera body section 2 increases and the connection is increased. Power is supplied unnecessarily to the buffer amplifier 33 and the amplifier circuit 34 regardless of the presence or absence of the cable, so that the power is unnecessarily consumed. Therefore, it is preferable to provide the buffer amplifier 33 and the amplifier circuit 34 in the connection cable as in the present embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram of the digital camera 1.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram when the camera body 2 and the image pickup unit 3 are connected by a connection cable 32. In the figure, the same members as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 and 15 are designated by the same reference numerals.

The macro zoom lens 301 in the image pickup section 3 is provided with a diaphragm member (fixed diaphragm) whose aperture amount is fixed. The signal processing circuit 313 and the timing generator (TG) 314 are constituent elements of the image pickup circuit 34. CCD area sensor 303 (hereinafter, CCD
It is abbreviated as 303. ) Is an image pickup device composed of a CCD color area sensor, and the optical image of the subject formed by the macro zoom lens 301 is displayed in R (red), G (green), and B.
An image signal of a (blue) color component (a signal composed of a signal sequence of pixel signals received by each pixel) is photoelectrically converted and output. The timing generator 314 generates various timing pulses for controlling the driving of the CCD 303.

Since the diaphragm is a fixed diaphragm, the exposure control in the image pickup unit 3 is performed by adjusting the exposure amount of the CCD 303, that is, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 303 corresponding to the shutter speed. If the shutter speed cannot be set properly when the subject brightness is low, the CCD
By adjusting the level of the image signal output from 303, the improper exposure due to insufficient exposure is corrected. That is, when the brightness is low, exposure control is performed by combining shutter speed and gain adjustment. The level adjustment of the image signal is performed in the gain adjustment of the AGC circuit in the signal processing circuit 313 described later.

The timing generator 314 uses the CCD 3 based on the reference clock CLK0 transmitted from the camera body 2 via the connection cable 32 or the connection plate 23.
03 drive control signal. The timing generator 314 is, for example, a timing signal of integration start / end (exposure start / end), a read control signal (horizontal synchronization signal, vertical synchronization signal, transfer signal, etc.) of a light reception signal of each pixel.
A clock signal such as is generated and output to the CCD 303.

The signal processing circuit 313 subjects the image signal (analog signal) output from the CCD 303 to predetermined analog signal processing. The signal processing circuit 313 is C
It has a DS (correlated double sampling) circuit and an AGC (auto gain control) circuit, the noise of the image signal is reduced by the CDS circuit, and the level of the image signal is adjusted by adjusting the gain of the AGC circuit. The gain of the AGC circuit is automatically set by the control unit 211 via the connection cable 32 or the connection plate 23.

The dimming circuit 304 controls the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 during flash photography to a predetermined light emission amount set by the control unit 211 via the connection cable 32 or the connection plate 23. In flash photography, the reflected light of the flash light from the subject is received by the light control sensor 305 at the same time when the exposure is started. Through the camera body 2
A light emission stop signal ST is sent to the FL control circuit 214 provided inside.
P is output. The FL control circuit 214 forcibly stops the light emission of the built-in flash 5 in response to the light emission stop signal STP, whereby the light emission amount of the built-in flash 5 is controlled to a predetermined light emission amount.

The switch S _MACRO is a switch for detecting that the macro zoom lens 301 has been switched to the macro lens. Switch S _MACRO is the zoom lever 3
When 06 is set to the macro position PM, it is turned on.

The switch S _MAIN is a power switch of the digital camera 1 and corresponds to the switch 29. The switch S _MAIN is turned off when the image pickup unit 3 is set at the rotation reference position, and is turned on when the image pickup unit 3 is set at a position other than the rotation reference position.

The switch S _CPOS is a switch for _detecting that the image pickup section 3 is set to the front image pickup position.
It corresponds to the switch 30. Switch S
_{The CPOS} is _turned on when the image pickup unit 3 is set to the front image pickup position. The detection signals of the switches S _MAIN , S _MACRO and S _CPOS are input to the control unit 211 via the connection cable 32 or the connection plate 23.

The connection cable 32 is provided with a grounded connection terminal f1. The connection terminal f1 is for inputting a connection signal of the connection cable 32 to the control unit 211. That is, the terminal d to which the connection terminal f1 of the control unit 211 is connected is set to a high level when power is supplied to the control unit 211, and the connection cable 32 is connected to the camera body 2. And a low-level connection signal is input. The control unit 211 identifies the connection of the connection cable 32 based on the low level state of the terminal d.

In the camera body 2, the A / D converter 205 converts each pixel signal of the image signal input from the image pickup unit 3 via the connection cable 32 into a 10-bit digital signal. The A / D converter 205 is
Each pixel signal (analog signal) is converted into a 10-bit digital signal based on the A / D conversion clock CLK2 input from the D clock generation circuit 203.

In the camera body 2, the reference clock CL
A reference clock generation circuit 201 that generates K0, a T / G clock generation circuit 202 that generates a clock CLK1 for the timing generator 314, and an A / D converter 2
An A / D clock generation circuit 203 for generating a clock CLK2 for 05 is provided. Further, the A / D clock generation circuit 203 has a delay circuit 204 inside.

Reference clock generation circuit 201, T / G clock generation circuit 202 and A / D clock generation circuit 203
The drive of is controlled by the control unit 211. The T / G clock generation circuit 202 generates a clock CLK1 based on the reference clock CLK0 and outputs the cook CLK1 to the timing generator 314 in the image pickup unit 3 via the connection plate 23 or the connection cable 32.

Further, the A / D clock generation circuit 203 is
When the image pickup section 3 is connected to the camera body section 2 via the connection plate 23, the A / D is set based on the reference clock CLK0.
A clock CLK2 for conversion is generated, and this clock CL
When K2 is output to the A / D converter 205 and the image pickup unit 3 is connected to the camera body 2 via the connection cable 32, the A / D clock generation circuit 203 outputs the clock CLK2 based on the reference clock CLK0. Predetermined time Δt
A clock CLK2 'delayed only by this is generated, and this clock CLK2' is output to the A / D converter 205. Information regarding the presence / absence of the connection cable 32 is input from the control unit 211 to the A / D clock generation circuit 203, and the A / D clock generation circuit 203 generates either the clock CLK2 or CLK2 'based on this information.

The delay time Δt is the image signal S input to the A / D converter 205 when the connection cable 32 is not provided.
A / D converter 20 when there is a _G2 (substantially the same signal as the image signal S _G1 output from the image pickup unit 3) and the connection cable 32
5 is the time corresponding to the phase difference from the image signal S _G2 ′ input to _S5 . This delay time Δt is constant if the length of the connection cable 32 is constant, and is therefore preset in the delay circuit 204.

Therefore, when the image pickup section 3 is connected to the camera main body section 2 via the connection cable 32, as shown in FIG. 28, it is input to the A / D converter 205 when the connection cable 32 is not provided. The image signal S input to the A / D converter 205 when the image signal S _G2 and the connection cable 32 are present
_A phase difference θ occurs between _G2 'and the clock CLK
2 ′ is delayed from the clock CLK2 by θ so as to be synchronized with each pixel signal of the image signal S _G2 ′.
A / D conversion of the image signal S _G2 can be performed accurately and reliably.

In FIG. 28, g (i) (i = 1, 1
2, ...) Indicate image signals forming the image signal. In addition, A / D conversion uses clocks CLK2 and CLK2 '.
Is performed at the rising timing of clocks CLK2, C
The LK2 'is input to the A / D converter 205 so that the rising timing is approximately in the center of each pixel signal g (i).

Although the present embodiment is one in which the cable length is one, a plurality of connection cables 3 having different lengths are used.
When 2 is prepared, since the phase difference θ is different for each connection cable 32, a plurality of delay times Δt corresponding to each connection cable 32 are stored in the delay circuit 204, and the connected connection cables 32 are connected. The delay time Δt of the delay circuit 204 may be selectively set in accordance with the above. In this case, each connection cable 32 is provided with two or more connection terminals f1, f2, ... Partially or wholly grounded, and the type of the connection cable 32 connected from the ground information of the connection terminals f1, f2 ,. The delay time Δt of the delay circuit 204 is identified.
May be automatically set at a predetermined time corresponding to the connected connection cable 32. For example, when two connection terminals f1 and f2 are provided, if the ground side of the connection terminals (f1, f2) is represented by “1” and the open side is represented by “0”, then (f1, f2)
2) = (1,0), (0,1), three types of combinations of (1,1) are conceivable, so the connection terminals (f1, f2)
3 types of connection cables with different lengths from the grounding information of
And the delay time Δt corresponding to the connection cable 32 used can be automatically set based on the grounding information of the connection terminals (f1, f2).

Further, in this embodiment, the clock CLK
However, the clock CLK2 'may be generated by shifting the phase of the clock CLK2. Alternatively, the clock CLK2' may be generated by shifting the phase of the clock CLK2.
2'may be generated directly.

The black level correction circuit 206 corrects the black level of the A / D converted pixel signal (hereinafter referred to as pixel data) to a reference black level. The WB circuit 207 performs level conversion of pixel data of R, G, and B color components so that the white balance is also adjusted after γ correction. The WB circuit 207 converts the level of the pixel data of each color component of R, G, B using the level conversion table input from the control unit 211. The conversion coefficient (gradient of the characteristic) of each color component of the level conversion table is set by the control unit 211 for each captured image.

The γ correction circuit 208 corrects the γ characteristic of pixel data. The γ correction circuit 208 has six types of γ correction tables having different γ characteristics, and performs γ correction of pixel data by a predetermined γ correction table according to a shooting scene and shooting conditions. In the above γ correction table, γ = 0.4
5 and γ = 0.55 are included, and the γ correction circuit 208
In the release standby state, when the captured image is displayed on the LCD display unit 10 as a monitor, γ correction of the captured image is performed with the γ characteristic of γ = 0.45, and the captured image after the release is displayed on the IC card 18. When recorded, γ correction of the captured image is performed with a γ characteristic of γ = 0.55. This is L
While the CD display unit 10 has the γ characteristic of γ = 2.2, the recorded image of the IC card 18 is normally γ = 1.8.
This is because the reproduced image is often reproduced and displayed on the display device of the personal computer 19 having the γ characteristic, so that the captured image has a suitable image quality according to the display device to be reproduced.

In this γ correction process, 10-bit pixel data is converted into 8-bit (256 gradations) pixel data. The image data before the γ correction processing is 10-bit data in order to prevent the image quality from being deteriorated when the γ correction is performed with the γ characteristic having a strong non-linearity.

The WB circuit 207 performs a predetermined level conversion on the image data of each of the R, G, and B color components, and the γ correction is performed by performing γ correction on each of these image data by the γ correction table. WB adjustment is performed at the same time.

Further, the WB circuit 207 performs a predetermined level conversion on the image data of each of the R, G, and B color components, and the γ correction is performed by γ-correcting each of these image data with the γ-correction table. WB adjustment is performed at the same time.

The image memory 209 is a memory for storing the pixel data output from the γ correction circuit 208. The image memory 209 has a storage capacity for one frame. That is, when the CCD C3 has pixels of n rows and m columns, the image memory 209 has a storage capacity of pixel data of n × m pixels, and each pixel data G (i, j) (i =
1,2 ... n, 1,2, ... m) corresponds to pixel positions (i,
j).

The image memory 210 is a buffer memory for image data reproduced and displayed on the LCD display section 10. The image memory 210 has a storage capacity of image data corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD display unit 10.

In the photographing standby state, each pixel data of the image picked up by the image pickup unit 3 every 1/30 (second) is A
After being subjected to predetermined signal processing by the / D converter 205 to the γ correction circuit 208, it is stored in the image memory 209, transferred to the image memory 210 via the control unit 211, and displayed on the LCD display unit 10. It As a result, the photographer can visually recognize the subject image by the image displayed on the LCD display unit 10. Also, in playback mode,
The image read from the IC card 18 is subjected to predetermined signal processing by the control unit 211, transferred to the image memory 210, and reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

The card I / F 212 is an interface for writing image data to the IC card 18 and reading image data. In addition, communication I / F2
Reference numeral 13 is an interface compliant with, for example, the RS-232C standard for externally connecting the personal computer 19 in a communicable manner.

The FL control circuit 214 uses the built-in flash 5
Is a circuit for controlling the emission of light. The FL control circuit 214 is
Based on the control signal of the control unit 211, the presence or absence of light emission of the built-in flash 5, the light emission amount, the light emission timing, and the like are controlled, and the light emission stop signal STP input from the dimming circuit 304 via the cable 32 or the connecting plate 23 is incorporated. The amount of light emitted from the flash 5 is controlled.

The switch S _UP , the switch S _DOWN and the switch S _DEL are switches corresponding to the UP switch 6, the DOWN switch 7 and the erase switch 8, respectively. Further, the switch S _REL is a switch for detecting a release operation of the shutter button 9, and the switch S _FL , the switch S _COMP, and the switch S _{P / R} are the FL mode setting switch 11, the compression ratio setting switch 12, and the shooting / shooting mode, respectively. This is a switch corresponding to the reproduction mode setting switch 14.

The control section 211 is composed of a microcomputer, and organically controls the driving of the respective members in the image pickup section 3 and the camera body section 2 described above to integrally control the photographing operation of the digital camera 1. .

The control unit 211 also controls the brightness determining unit 2 for setting the exposure control value (shutter speed (SS)).
11a and a shutter speed setting unit 211b.

The brightness determining unit 211a determines the brightness of the subject by using the image captured by the CCD 303 every 1/30 (second) in the photographing standby state. That is, the brightness determination unit 211a uses the image memory 20.
The brightness of the subject is determined using the image data that is updated and stored in FIG.

The brightness determining section 211a is connected to the image memory 209.
The storage area is divided into nine blocks, and the average value of the pixel data G _R of the G (green) color component included in each block B is calculated as the luminance data representing that block. Then, the brightness of the subject is determined using the nine pieces of brightness data.

[0109] Incidentally, R, G, pixel data G _R of the respective color components B, G _G, may be calculated luminance data representative of each block using the G _B. That is, the pixel data G _R of each color component of R, G, B at each pixel position (i, j),
A predetermined ratio of G _G and G _B (for example, G _R ; G _G ; G _B = 4:
5: 1) and the luminance data BV (i, j) (= 0.4G _R + 0.5G _G + 0.1G) at the pixel position (i, j)
_B ) may be calculated and the average value of these brightness data BV (i, j) may be calculated to calculate the brightness data of each block.

The shutter speed setting unit 211b sets the shutter speed (integration time of the CCD 303) based on the result of the brightness determination of the subject by the brightness determination unit 211a. Shutter speed setting unit 211b
Has a table of shutter speeds SS.

The shutter speed SS is initially set to a predetermined value (for example, 1/128 (seconds)) when the camera is activated, and in the shooting standby state, the shutter speed setting section 211b.
Changes from the initial value to the high speed side or the low speed side step by step according to the result of the brightness determination of the subject by the brightness determination unit 211a.

As a result, when the brightness of the subject determined based on the image captured at the initial shutter speed SS is, for example, too bright, the shutter speed SS is increased by one step (for example, The next image is captured (set to 1/144 (seconds)), and the brightness of the subject is determined again based on this image. Then, when the result of this determination is still too clear, for example, the shutter speed SS is further increased by one step (for example, 1/161).
The next image is picked up (set to (seconds)), and thereafter, the appropriate shutter speed SS is set after the elapse of a certain time period in which the brightness determination of the subject and the resetting of the shutter speed SS are alternately repeated. .

In the shooting mode, when shooting is instructed by the shutter button 9, the control section 211 displays a thumbnail image of an image captured in the image memory 209 after the shooting instruction and the compression rate K set by the compression rate setting switch 12. JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts Grou
The compressed image compressed by the p) method is generated, and both images are I-indexed together with index information (frame number, exposure value, shutter speed, compression rate K, etc.) related to the captured image.
It is stored in the C card 18.

As shown in FIG. 29, the storage area of the IC card 18 is mainly divided into three areas of a TAG area AR1, a thumbnail image area AR2 and a main image area AR3. In the TAG area AR1, the thumbnail image area AR2, and the main image area AR3, index information regarding the captured image of each frame, a thumbnail image, and a compressed image are recorded.

The thumbnail image is a small image in which the pixel data of the photographed image is thinned out to make the resolution coarse. For example, if the total number of pixel data forming a captured image is 480 × 64
If the number is 0, the thumbnail image is generated by reducing the number of pixels to 1/8 in both the vertical and horizontal directions. Therefore, the number of pixels forming the thumbnail image is 1/64 of the original captured image.
Note that the number of data actually recorded in the IC card 18 compresses the original captured image, so the number of data of thumbnail images is not 1/64 of the compressed image. For example, when the compression rate K = 1/8, the number of thumbnail image data is 1/8 (= 8/64) of the compressed image, and the compression rate K
In the case of = 1/20, the number of thumbnail image data is 1 / 3.2 (= 20/64) of the compressed image.

The control unit 211 includes a filter unit 211c for performing a filtering process and a recorded image generation unit 211d for generating a thumbnail image and a compressed image in order to perform the recording process for the photographed image, and the control unit 211 records the image on the IC card 18. In order to reproduce the reproduced image on the LCD display unit 10, a reproduced image generation unit 211e that generates a reproduced image is provided.

The filter section 211c corrects the high frequency component of the image to be recorded by the digital filter to correct the image quality relating to the contour. Filter unit 211
c is a digital filter that performs standard contour correction for each of the compression rates K = 1/8 and 1/20, and two types of digital filters that enhance the contour and a contour for the standard contour correction. A total of 5 types of digital filters, 2 types of weakening digital filters, are provided.

The above five kinds of digital filters are prepared for each of the compression rates K = 1/8 and 1/20 because the JPEG method is an irreversible conversion and therefore the compression rate k
The reproduced image of = 1/20 has less high-frequency components than the reproduced image of compression ratio K = 1/8, and the image is slightly out of focus, so filtering is performed with a digital filter having the same filter coefficient. Compression rate k = 1
This is because there is a possibility that a striped pattern will appear in the reproduced image of / 20, and this is to prevent such an adverse effect.

The recorded image generating section 211d is used for the image memory 2
The pixel data is read from 09 to generate a thumbnail image and a compressed image to be recorded in the IC card 18. The recorded image generation unit 211d scans the image memory 209 in the raster scanning direction, reads out pixel data for every 8 pixels in both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and sequentially reads the pixel data.
By transferring to the thumbnail image area AR2 of No. 8, thumbnail images are generated and recorded in the IC card 18.

Further, the recorded image generating section 211d reads all pixel data from the image memory 209, and uses these pixel data in JPE such as two-dimensional DCT conversion and Huffman coding.
Image data of a compressed image is generated by performing a predetermined compression process by the G method, and this compressed image data is recorded in the main image area AR3 of the IC card 18. The index information is generated by an index information generation unit (not shown),
TA before or after recording the thumbnail image and main image
It is recorded in the G area AR1.

The reproduced image generator 211e is used for the IC card 1
The image data is read from 8 and thumbnail images and main images to be reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10 are generated. IC
Since the image recorded on the card 18 is gamma-corrected by the gamma coefficient (= 0.55) for the monitor TV, if this recorded image is reproduced on the LCD display unit 10 as it is, the gamma coefficient and the gamma for LCD display are used. Due to the mismatch with the coefficient (= 0.45), the image quality is strong and has a strong contrast. Therefore, when the reproduced image of the thumbnail image and the main image is generated, the reproduced image generation unit 211e recorrects the γ characteristic of the reproduced image. To do.

That is, the reproduced image generating section 211e is
The image data read while scanning in the raster scanning direction from the thumbnail image area AR2 of the C card 18 has γ =
After performing γ correction with a γ characteristic of 0.82 (= 0.45 / 0.55), pixel data for display is displayed in horizontal line units based on this image data (pixel data obtained by interpolating insufficient pixel data). Are generated and sequentially transferred to the image memory 210 to reproduce and display the thumbnail images on the LCD display unit 10.

Further, the reproduced image generating section 211e decompresses the pixel data of the compressed image read from the main image area AR3 of the IC card 18 in horizontal line units to generate pixel data for display. After γ correction with the γ characteristic of γ = 0.82, the images are sequentially transferred to the image memory 210 and the main image is reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

Next, the operation control of the digital camera 1 in the shooting / playback mode will be described.

FIG. 30 is a main routine of operation control of the digital camera 1. When the main power source is turned on, the state of the shooting / playback mode setting switch 14, that is, the state of the switch _{SP / R} is detected to determine the mode setting state (# 2). , In playback mode (#
2 is YES), and the "playback mode" shown in FIGS. 31 and 32.
The reproduction mode process is performed in accordance with the sub-routine, and if it is the photographing mode (NO in # 2), the photographing mode process is performed in accordance with the sub-routine of the "photographing mode" shown in FIG.

In the reproduction mode, first, after the initial value of the counter for counting the number of frames n is set to "1"(# 10), the thumbnail image of the first frame is displayed on the LCD display section 10. (# 12 to # 16). That is, IC
The thumbnail image of the first frame is read from the thumbnail image area AR2 of the card 18 (# 12), and this thumbnail image is γ-corrected by the γ characteristic of γ = 0.82 and enlarged to the display size of the LCD display unit 10. After that (# 14), the thumbnail image is transferred to the image memory 210 and displayed on the LCD display unit 10 (# 1).
6).

Thereafter, the image compressed by the JPEG method for the first frame (hereinafter referred to as the main image) is displayed on the LCD display unit 10.
Is displayed in. That is, the main image of the first frame is read line by line from the main image area AR3 of the IC card 18 (# 18), the line image is expanded, and γ =
After γ correction with the γ characteristic of 0.82 (# 20), it is transferred to the image memory 210 and the main image is displayed on the LCD display unit 10 (# 22).

As described above, in the present digital camera 1, the reproduction display of the recorded image of each frame on the LCD display unit 10 is such that the thumbnail image is first displayed and then the main image is displayed. In this way, the thumbnail image is displayed before the main image is displayed because it takes about 2 seconds to display the entire main image, while the thumbnail image is displayed in about 0.5 second. Since the thumbnail image is displayed before the entire main image is displayed, the user's waiting time in the reproduction process is reduced.

The main image is displayed line by line,
As shown in FIG. 33, the thumbnail image is replaced with the main image on a line-by-line basis so that the user can know the progress state of the reproduction process of the main image.

In the figure, (a) shows a state in which thumbnail images are displayed, (b) shows a state in which thumbnail images are changed to main images in line units, and (c) shows main images. The state where the whole image is displayed is shown. In addition, the recorded images of each frame are frame number, title,
It is displayed together with the information such as the shooting date.
The information is displayed in the information display area 40 provided above the display area of the CD display unit 10. For example, the frame number is displayed at the left end of the information display area 40, and the shooting date is displayed at the right end of the information display area 40.

Subsequently, the on / off states of the UP switch 6, the DOWN switch 7 and the erase switch 8 are sequentially determined (# 24 to # 28), and if the UP switch 6 is on (YES in # 24), When the frame number n is incremented by 1 (# 32) and the DOWN switch 7 is turned on (YES in # 26), the frame number n is decremented by 1 (# 34), and the process proceeds to # 38 to move to n frames. The thumbnail image of the eye is displayed on the LCD display unit 10 (# 3
8 to # 42).

On the other hand, if the erase switch 8 is on (#
28 is YES), the image data of the frame number displayed according to the "image deletion" subroutine shown in FIG. 34 is deleted (# 36), and all of the UP switch 6, the DOWN switch 7 and the deletion switch 8 are turned off. If so (NO in # 28), it is determined whether or not the reproduction mode is held (that is, whether or not the shooting / reproduction mode setting switch 14 is operated) (# 30), and the reproduction mode is started. If it is switched to the shooting mode (# 30
O), the process returns to exit the reproduction mode process, and if the reproduction mode is held, the process returns to # 24 and the current frame number is displayed until one of the UP switch 6, the DOWN switch 7 and the erase switch 8 is operated. Is continuously displayed on the LCD display unit 10 (loop of # 24 to # 30).

In # 38 to # 42, like the thumbnail image of the first frame, the thumbnail image of the nth frame is read from the thumbnail image area AR2 of the IC card 18 (# 3
8), γ correction and enlargement processing (# 40) are performed, and the thumbnail image is displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

Then, after a waiting time of 0.5 seconds (# 4
3), the ON / OFF state of the UP switch 6 or the DOWN switch 7 is sequentially determined during the display process of the thumbnail image of the nth frame (# 44, # 46), and if the UP switch 6 is on (# 44). YES), the frame number n is incremented by 1 (# 48), and if the DOWN switch 7 is on (YES in # 46), the frame number n is decremented by 1 (# 50) and the process proceeds to # 38. , (N + 1) th frame or (n-1) th frame thumbnail image is displayed on the LCD display unit 10 (# 38 to # 43).

The processes of # 38 to # 50 are performed by the UP switch 6 or the DOWN switch 7 before the main image is displayed.
Since it takes about 0.5 seconds to display the thumbnail image in the processing when the is operated, the thumbnail image of each frame is displayed as approximately 1 when the UP switch 6 or the DOWN switch 7 is operated continuously. It will be displayed every second.

If neither the UP switch 6 nor the DOWN switch 7 is operated during the display processing of the thumbnail image of the n-th frame (# 46), the main image currently displayed on the LCD display unit 10 of the n-th frame is displayed. Is displayed (# 52 to # 58).

In # 52 to # 58, like the thumbnail image of the first frame, the main image area AR3 of the IC card 18 is displayed.
From the nth frame to the compressed image (# 52), expansion and γ correction processing (# 54) are performed line by line, and the main image is displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

The determination of # 58 is for performing the processing when the UP switch 6 or the DOWN switch 7 is operated during the display processing of the main image in units of lines, and the entire main image is displayed on the LCD display unit 10. If it is not displayed (# 5
No in 8), return to # 44, UP switch 6 or DOW
The operation state of the N switch 7 is determined. # 44
According to the loop of # 58 to # 58, if the UP switch 6 or the DOWN switch 7 is operated during the process of displaying the main image in units of lines, the process of displaying the main image is stopped and # 38 to # 38 are executed.
At 42, the thumbnail image of the (n + 1) th frame or the (n-1) th frame is displayed on the LCD display unit 10.

On the other hand, when the display of the entire main image on the LCD display unit 10 is completed (YES in # 58), # 24
Returning to, the frame number of the display image is updated or the display image is erased according to the operation of the UP switch 6, the DOWN switch 7 and the erase switch 8.

Next, regarding the image erasing process of # 36,
It will be described according to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the on / off state of the erase switch 8 is determined (# 60). If the erase switch 8 is on (YES in # 60), the display image on the LCD display unit 10 is erased line by line from the top (# 62). That is, the image data stored in the image memory 210 is erased line by line from the top.

Subsequently, it is judged whether or not the display image on the LCD display unit 10 is completely erased (# 66). If the display image is being erased, the process proceeds to # 60 and the erase switch 8 is turned off. Unless otherwise, the display image erasing process is continued (# 60 to # 66 loop).

On the other hand, when the erasing switch 8 is turned off during the process of erasing the display image (NO in # 60), the LCD display unit 1
The deletion of the display image of 0 is stopped, the image of the already deleted portion is displayed again on the LCD display unit 10 (# 64), and the process returns.

When the display image on the LCD display section 10 is completely erased (YES in # 66), the IC card 18
The image data corresponding to the currently displayed image recorded in the main image area AR3 is erased (# 68), and the process returns.

As described above, when the erasing switch 8 instructs the erasing of the image data, the image displayed in the LCD display unit 10 is erased and then the image data in the IC card 18 is erased. Is for preventing the image data in the IC card 18 from being accidentally erased by the user's mistaken operation of the erase switch 8.

Further, the display image on the LCD display unit 10 is erased line by line because the grace time for the above operation error is provided and the erasure time is used to allow the user to erase the image data. This is for visually notifying. The user can confirm that the image data erasing process is being performed by the erasing state of the display image on the LCD display unit 10 line by line, and in the case of an operation error, turn off the erasing switch 8. Thus, it is possible to easily avoid erroneous deletion of image data.

Next, the photographing mode process of # 6 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the photographing mode, the CCD 303 picks up an image (# 70), and the picked-up image is picked up based on the detection signal from the switch 30 while the picked-up image is being processed in the camera body 2. It is determined whether or not 3 is set to the front imaging position (# 72). If the imaging unit 3 is set to the front imaging position (YE in # 72)
S), the photographed image is displayed on the LCD display unit 10 (#
74), if the image pickup unit 3 is not set to the front image pickup position (NO in # 72), the LCD display unit 10 displays a display of the photographed image and a warning display indicating that the built-in flash 5 is prohibited from emitting light. Is performed (# 76).

FIG. 36 shows a display example of the LCD display unit 10 when the image pickup unit 3 is set to the front image pickup position, and FIG. 37 shows an LCD when the image pickup unit 3 is not set to the front image pickup position. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of the display unit 10. FIG.

In the information display area 40 provided above the display area of the LCD display unit 10, information such as the frame number and the shooting date and time is displayed, and the flash light emission mode is displayed by a symbol mark of a light emitting arrow. . The flash emission mode is displayed in the center of the information display area 40, and the shooting date and time is displayed at the right end of the information display area 40. The shooting date and time display area also serves as the warning display area.

Therefore, when the image pickup unit 3 is not set to the front image pickup position, as shown in FIG. 37, the display of the shooting date and time indicates that "light emission is disabled", which is a combination of the light emitting arrow and the character "OFF". The mark M is displayed as a warning.

In this embodiment, the warning is given by the display. However, the warning may be given by a warning sound such as a buzzer, or the warning may be given by both the sound and the display.

Subsequently, it is judged whether or not the release switch S _REL is on (# 78), and if the release switch S _REL is off (NO in # 78), # 7
Returning to 0, the display of the above-mentioned captured image or the warning of prohibiting flash emission on the LCD display unit 10 is continued (# 70 to #).
78 loops). It should be noted that this display state is a shooting standby state, and the LCD display unit 10 is operating as an electronic viewfinder.

When the release switch S _REL is turned on in the photographing standby state (YES in # 78), it is sequentially determined whether or not photographing is performed by flash light emission and whether or not the image pickup unit 3 is set to the front image pickup position. (# 80, # 8
2) In case of shooting without flash emission (#
(NO in 80) or when the image pickup unit 3 is not set to the front image pickup position (NO in # 82), the built-in flash 5
If the image pickup is performed without emitting light (# 86), and the image pickup unit 3 is set to the front image pickup position (YES in # 80 and # 82), the built-in flash 5 is emitted. Then, imaging is performed (# 84).

Subsequently, the captured image is subjected to predetermined image processing for display in the camera body 2, and then the LCD display 1
While it is displayed at 0 (# 88), it is recorded on the IC card 18 after the predetermined image processing for recording is performed (# 9).
0), which completes the shooting operation for one image. And
The process returns to step # 70 to capture the next image.

[0156]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In the digital camera, when an instruction is issued to erase the image stored in the storage means corresponding to the display image in the state where the image is reproduced and displayed on the display means, the image displayed on the display means is erased step by step. After deleting the displayed image,
Since the corresponding image in the storage means is deleted,
It is possible to actually feel the image erasing from the erasing state of the displayed image, and it is possible to easily and surely confirm whether or not the image erasing instruction that has already been performed is appropriate. This can reduce erroneous deletion of important images. Further, according to the present invention, the display control hand
The columns are the images displayed on the display means arranged line by line.
In order to erase the next time, give a grace period for operation mistakes.
The operator can use the grace period of
You can confirm that it has been erased,
If an operation mistake is noticed during this erase operation, the erase process
The reason can be stopped (Claim 2). Also, the present invention
The display control means is performing the stepwise deletion of the image.
In the meantime, the instruction to erase the image by the erase instruction means was canceled.
Image is erased, the image deletion is canceled and the
Image data is erased from the storage means to redisplay the image.
You can feel that it is not (claim 3).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an internal light image of an imaging unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which a power battery and an IC card lid are opened.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a first example of the arrangement of the loading chambers for the power battery and the IC card.

FIG. 9 is a second layout of a power supply battery and an IC card loading chamber.
It is a figure which shows the example of.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third example of the arrangement of the loading chambers for the power battery and the IC card.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of a battery loading chamber provided with a friction member that prevents a battery from falling.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a battery loading chamber in which a friction member is provided.

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of a battery loading chamber provided with a spring member that prevents a battery from falling.

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of a battery loading chamber provided with a stopper mechanism using friction balls for preventing a battery from falling.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a camera body.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view for explaining a connection mechanism between the image pickup unit and the connection plate.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing the structure of a lock release lever.

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a connection plate unit.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a sliding ring.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing a detection state of a switch which detects that the connection plate is at the rotation reference position and turns off the main power supply.

FIG. 21 is a main-portion cross-sectional view showing a detected state of a switch which detects that the connection plate is at the front imaging position.

FIG. 22 is a right side view showing the position of the rotation axis of the imaging unit with respect to the camera body.

FIG. 23 is a front view showing the position of the rotation axis of the imaging unit with respect to the camera body.

FIG. 24 is an external view of a connection cable that connects the imaging unit and the camera body.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration in an imaging unit of a connection cable.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a waveform of an image signal, (a) is a waveform diagram of an image signal at an input end of a connection cable, (b) is a waveform diagram of an image signal at an output end of a connection cable having a buffer circuit, FIG. 3C is a waveform diagram of the image signal at the output end of the connection cable having no buffer circuit.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a waveform diagram of an image signal input to the A / D converter and a clock for A / D conversion when the cable is connected and when the cable is not connected.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a configuration of a storage area of an IC card.

FIG. 30 is a main flowchart showing control of shooting / playback operation of the digital camera of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing control of reproduction mode processing.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing control of reproduction mode processing.

FIG. 33 shows a display example when a recorded image is reproduced and displayed on an LCD display unit, (a) shows a state in which thumbnail images are displayed, and (b) shows thumbnail images in line units. FIG. 6C is a diagram showing a state in which the thumbnail images are displayed, and FIG.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing control of image erasing processing.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing control of shooting mode processing.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a state in which a subject image is displayed on the LCD display unit as a monitor.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a state where a flash light emission prohibition warning is displayed on the lCD display unit based on a mismatch between the flash light emission direction and the imaging direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Digital Camera 2 Camera Main Unit 211 Control Unit (Display Control Unit, Erase Control Unit) 3 Imaging Unit 4 Grip Unit 5 Built-in Flash 6 UP Switch 7 DOWN Switch 8 Erase Switch (Erase Instructing Means) 9 Shutter Button 10 LCD Display Part ( Display means) 11 FL mode setting switch 12 Compression ratio setting switch 13 Connection terminal 14 Shooting / playback mode setting switch 15 Lid 16 Battery loading chamber 17 Card loading chamber 18 IC card (storing means) 19 Personal computer 23 Connection plate 29 Switch 30 switch 32 Dedicated cables S _MACRO , S _MAIN , S _CPOS switches S _REL , S _{P / R} , S _UP , S _DOWN , S _FL , S _DEL , S _COMP
switch

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/76-5/956 H04N 5/225-5/243 H04N 101: 00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A display means for reproducing and displaying an image recorded in a storage means, an erase instruction means for instructing to erase an image in the recording means corresponding to the image displayed on the display means, and the erase instruction. When the image erasing is instructed by the means, the display control means for erasing the image displayed on the display means stepwise and the image corresponding to the image displayed on the display means after the erasing of the image are completed A digital camera, comprising: an erasing control means for erasing an image stored in the storage means. 2. The display control means displays on the display means.
The feature is that the displayed images are erased line by line.
The digital camera according to claim 1, which is a characteristic. 3. The display control means is for gradually erasing the image.
While the image is being erased, the image is erased by the erase instruction means.
When the instruction of is canceled, the image deletion is
Claim to re-display the image of the removed part
Item 1. The digital camera according to Item 1 or 2.