JPH0610917B2 - Still video camera with continuous shooting mode - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION When a disk pack containing a magnetic disk is loaded into a camera, first, all tracks of the magnetic disk are searched for recorded or unrecorded, and the search result is obtained. Is memorized. When the continuous shooting mode is set, the magnetic head is moved in the forward direction from the home position and positioned on the track next to the last recorded track. Since all the remaining tracks from the positioned track to the final track are unmemorized, the magnetic head feed during the continuous shooting operation is simplified (simply one track for each shooting).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a still video camera (electronic still camera) for shooting a subject with an electronic imaging device and recording the still video signal on a magnetic disk, and more particularly to a still video camera having a transfer mode. .

The operation of the still video camera in the transfer mode is
While the shutter release button is being pressed, the subject is imaged at fixed time intervals (for example, 1/6 second, 1/10 second) and the still video signal is sequentially recorded on each track of the magnetic disk. It is a thing. Therefore, it is necessary to open and close the shutter and adjust the squeezing for each photographing, but the transfer and positioning of the magnetic head to the next unrecorded track, which takes the longest time and is complicated, are also performed at the above fixed time. Must be done. The sequence is relatively simple if the magnetic head is only moved to the adjacent track for each shooting, but if it is not known whether or not the next track has been recorded, the check must be performed. If it has been recorded, the next unrecorded track must be searched, so
Not only does the process become complicated, but it also takes time, and it is not always possible to complete these processes within the above-mentioned fixed time. Then, the shooting interval in the transfer mode becomes long.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention secures continuous end recording tracks for recording captured still images in the transfer mode,
The purpose is to simplify the magnetic head feed sequence.

A still video camera having a transfer mode according to the present invention comprises a magnetic head transfer device for transferring a magnetic head in a radial direction of a magnetic disk and positioning it on a predetermined track, a transfer mode setting means, and an output signal of the magnetic head. Track discriminating means for discriminating whether the track is a recorded track or a final recorded track based on the above, and at the time of initial processing, the magnetic head is moved over all tracks of the magnetic disk by the above-mentioned transfer device
In the case where the continuous search mode is set by the transfer mode setting means and the track search means for storing the determination result by the track determining means in the memory for each track, based on the determination result stored in the memory There is provided means for controlling the transfer device so as to find a track next to the last recorded track when the magnetic head is transferred in the forward direction and position the magnetic head on the found track.

The above-mentioned initial processing is most commonly and basically the time when the disk pack containing the magnetic disk is loaded into the camera, but the track search is also performed when the power switch is turned on. You may make it process. Preferably, this track search processing is performed regardless of the type of setting mode, but it may be performed only when the continuous shooting mode is set.

The most basic operation mode of the steal video camera is a single shooting mode in which a still image for one frame is shot and recorded when the shutter release button is pressed.
In either the single shooting mode or the continuous shooting mode, the magnetic head may be positioned on the track next to the last recorded track. Alternatively, when the single shooting mode is set, the magnetic head may be moved in the forward direction and positioned on the first unrecorded track.

According to the present invention, all tracks of the magnetic disk are searched in advance, it is determined whether or not all tracks have been recorded, and the results are recorded in the memory. In the transfer mode, the magnetic head is positioned on the track next to the final recorded track based on this search result. All tracks from the track where the magnetic head is positioned to the last track of the magnetic disk are unrecorded. Therefore, in the continuous shooting operation, the magnetic head only has to be moved to the next track for each shooting, and this processing routine is simplified.

Description of Embodiments FIG. 1 schematically shows a part of the electrical configuration of a still video camera having a continuous shooting mode.

The magnetic disk 11 is built in a disk pack that houses it in a rotatable state. The still video camera is provided with a bucket that can be opened and closed. When the disk pack is inserted into the opened bucket and the bucket is then closed, the magnetic disk 11 becomes the spindle of the disk motor 33. Be chucked.

The magnetic disk 11 is provided with a plurality of tracks (for example, 50 tracks) (for example, a track pitch of 100 μm) concentrically, and each track is FM-modulated for one field or one frame (for one frame) by a photographing process. The generated color video signal (including a luminance signal, a color difference signal, etc.) is magnetically recorded.

Concentric circles were provided on the magnetic recording surface of the magnetic disk 11.
As shown in Fig. 2, the 50 tracks have track numbers No. 1 to No. 50 in order from the outer one. Is attached. The home position HP (origin position or standby position) is outside the No. 1 track. The home position HP is detected by the home position switch 55. This switch 55 is specifically designed for the magnetic head 31.
Alternatively, it is a limit switch, photoelectric switch, or other switch that detects the part associated with it. truck
The direction from the No. 1 track to the No. 50 track is the forward direction, and the opposite direction is the reverse direction.

The control device 30 controls the operation and overall operation of each part of the still video camera. This controller 30
Is composed of a central processing unit, preferably a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as CPU), a memory for storing its program and necessary data, and an interface with peripheral elements, circuits, devices and the like.

A magnetic head 31 for writing a still video signal of an imaged subject on a predetermined track of the magnetic disk 11 is movably supported in the radial direction of the magnetic disk 11 by its transfer drive control device 35 and is transfer-controlled in the same direction. To be done. The control device 30 gives an instruction to the device 35 about the transfer direction and the transfer amount of the magnetic head 31. The device 35 includes a step motor, and the magnetic head 31 is transferred in proportion to the rotation angle of the step motor. For example, for each drive pulse of the step motor, this motor rotates about 15 °, so that the magnetic head 31 is moved by about 4.2 μm. Therefore, the transfer of the magnetic head 31 is performed very accurately.

In order to improve the touching between the magnetic head 31 and the rotating magnetic disk 11, a regulation plate 28 is provided on the opposite side of the magnetic head 31 with the magnetic disk 11 interposed therebetween. In addition, a phase detector 32 that generates one pulse for each rotation of the magnetic disk 11 is close to the core of the magnetic disk 11.

The detection pulse from the phase detector 32 is input to the servo control circuit 34 and the control device 30. The disk motor 33 is rotated by the servo control circuit 34 at a constant rotation speed, for example, 3,600 rp.
The feed back is controlled so that it rotates at a constant speed at m.
The servo control circuit 34 also starts and stops the motor 33 according to a command from the control device 30.

The image pickup optical system 8 is composed of an image pickup lens system 41 for forming a subject image, a diaphragm 42, and an optical shutter 43. The diaphragm 42 is a light receiving element (not shown) arranged in the optical path.
The optical shutter 43 is controlled by the control device 30 based on the received light signal level of the shutter release button 6
In response to the input from the switch 56 that is turned on by pressing, the control device 30 controls the setting mode (single shooting, continuous shooting mode).

On the focal plane of the optical system 8, a solid-state image pickup device 44 including a two-dimensional image pickup cell array such as CCD is arranged. The video data accumulated in the image pickup device 44 is vertical,
The video signal is read out as a serial video signal in synchronization with the horizontal synchronizing signal, the luminance signal component and the color difference signal component are FM-modulated by the recording signal processing circuit 45, and these modulation signals are combined and sent to the drive circuit 46. While the magnetic disk 11 is rotating at the above-mentioned constant number of rotations, the FM head modulated still video signal is written by the magnetic head 31 on the predetermined track.

In the track search processing or the like, the read signal of the magnetic head 31 is sent to the envelope detection circuit 37 via the preamplifier 36. The envelope detection circuit 37 is a detection circuit that detects the read signal of the magnetic head 31, that is, the envelope (envelope) of the FM-modulated video signal recorded on the track of the magnetic disk 11 and outputs a voltage signal corresponding to this. is there. The voltage signal representing the envelope is sent to an analog / digital converter (A / D converter) 38, for example 256
Is converted into an 8-bit digital signal representing the quantization level of and input to the control device 30.

The envelope detection signal is used to determine whether the track on the magnetic disk 11 is unrecorded or recorded. If the level of the detection signal does not reach the predetermined threshold level when the magnetic head 31 is transferred across the track, the track is unrecorded,
If the threshold level has been reached, the track has been recorded.

This still video camera has a single-shot mode in which a still image for one frame is recorded on the magnetic disk 11 each time the shutter release button 6 is pressed, and while the shutter release button 6 is pressed. , Fixed time (eg 1 /
There is a continuous shooting mode in which one frame is taken every 6 seconds or 1/10 second) and the still images are sequentially recorded on the magnetic disk 11. A single shooting mode switch 51 and a continuous shooting mode switch 52 are provided to select these modes. It is also possible to provide only the continuous shooting mode selection switch and automatically set the single shooting mode when there is no switch input.

The control device 30 controls the rotation of the magnetic disk 11, the recording control of the video signal, the track search control, the reading of various switches, and the control of the camera operation based on the reading result.

In addition to the mode switches 51 and 52 described above, the various switches are of particular relevance to the present invention, where the magnetic disk 11 in the bucket will be reliably mounted on the spindle of the disk motor 33. Load end switch 53 to detect that the bucket is closed up to, pack switch 54 to detect that the disk pack is stored in the closed bucket, and the home switch described above.
There is a position switch 55, etc. The control device 30 performs a key scan routine at regular intervals (for example, 1/60 seconds), and in this key scan routine, the control device 30 sends a key scan pulse to the above-mentioned switch group, and this pulse is transmitted. The on / off state of the switch is detected depending on whether or not it has returned, and the result is stored in memory. The state of the shutter switch 56 linked to the shutter release button 6 may also be detected by this key scan routine.
The ON signal at 56 may interrupt the CPU of device 30.

The transfer and positioning of the magnetic head 31 at the time of photographing are performed as follows.

When the disk pack containing the magnetic disk 11 is inserted into the bucket and the bucket is closed (loading of the magnetic disk), the process shown in FIG. 3 is started. FIG. 2 shows the movement of the magnetic head 31 in this process.

The loading of the magnetic disk 11 is detected when both the load end switch 53 and the pack switch 54 have changed from the off state to the on state (step 61).

The magnetic head 31 in the home position HP or returned to the home position HP is transported in the forward direction, and all the tracks from No. 1 to No. 50 are
It is determined whether the track is recorded or not, and the result is stored in the memory (steps 62 and 63). The magnetic head is returned to the home position. It is assumed that it is determined by this track search that the tracks No. 1 to No. 6 and No. 10 to No. 12 have been stored (hatched portion in FIG. 2).

It is determined whether the setting mode is the single shooting mode or the continuous shooting mode (step 64). In the single shooting mode, the magnetic head 31 is moved in the forward direction from the home position HP and the first unrecorded track ( It is sent to the No. 7 truck in Fig. 2) and stops there (step 65). In the continuous shooting mode, the magnetic head 31 is moved in the forward direction from the home position HP, and the track next to the last recorded track (track No. 12 in FIG. 2) (track No. 13). ) To stop (step 66).

In this way, the magnetic head 31 is positioned, and shooting and recording processing is performed according to the mode set when the shutter release button 6 is pressed. In the single shooting mode, a video signal for one still image is recorded on the No. 7 track, and then the magnetic head 31 is positioned on the next track (No. 8 track). In the continuous shooting mode, the still video signal is first recorded on the No. 13 track, the magnetic head is moved to the next No. 14 track, and the No. 14
Recording is performed on the track, and the magnetic head is moved to the next track. While the shutter release button 6 is being pressed, shooting and recording are sequentially performed on the magnetic head 31 at regular intervals. It is performed while advancing each track. Since the magnetic head 31 is positioned at the track next to the last recorded track (No. 13 track), all tracks from this track to the last track (No. 50 track) of the magnetic disk 31 are unrecorded. Therefore, the transfer control of the magnetic head 31 may be simplified by transferring the tracks one track at a time.

Even in a camera where the magnetic head 31 returns to the home position when the main power is turned off before the magnetic head 31 reaches the No. 50 track (after a certain time after turning off the main power). , The data stored in the memory in step 63 and the track number of the track that has been recorded as a result of shooting. If the data relating to is not erased but remains in the memory, the track search of step 62 can be omitted the next time the main power is turned on. of course,
Each time the main power supply is turned on, the processing from step 62 onward in FIG. 3 may be performed.

In general, a still video camera includes a main power supply for each drive circuit and an auxiliary power supply for holding the control device 30 in a standby mode (only a minimum necessary function such as a clock function works). When the main power is off, the above key scan routine is not generally performed. Therefore, when the magnetic disk is replaced or loaded while the main power is off, the determination in step 61 becomes impossible. In this sense, it is preferable that the processing from step 62 onward be performed whenever the main power supply is turned on.

Alternatively, when the main power supply is off, the fact that the magnetic disk has been replaced or loaded is mechanically stored, and when the main power supply is turned on, the state of the mechanical storage means is read and step 61 The judgment may be made (see Japanese Patent Application No. 61-10985), or the loading of a magnetic disk or the like may be electrically stored by the power of an auxiliary power source, or the main power source may be temporarily turned on. It may be stored electrically, and when the main power supply is turned on, this electrical storage may be checked to make the judgment in step 61 (Japanese Patent Application No.
-See 10984).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a part of the electrical structure of a still video camera, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing movement of a magnetic head in track search processing and subsequent magnetic head transfer processing, and FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a track search process and a subsequent magnetic head transfer process. 11 …… Magnetic disk, 30 …… Control device, 31 …… Magnetic head, 35 …… Magnetic head transfer drive controller, 37 …… Envelope detection circuit, 52 …… Continuous shooting mode switch.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kazuya Oda 2-26-30 Nishiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Fuji Shashin Film Co., Ltd. (56) Bibliography Sho 62-85069 (JP, U)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic head transfer device for transferring a magnetic head in a radial direction of a magnetic disk and positioning it on a predetermined track, a continuous shooting mode setting means, and a recorded track or final recording based on an output signal of the magnetic head. Track discriminating means for discriminating whether the track is a track, a track searching means for transporting the magnetic head to all the tracks of the magnetic disk to the transport device at the time of initial processing, and storing the discriminated result by the track discriminating means in a memory for each track; When the transfer mode is set by the transfer mode setting means, the next next recorded track when the magnetic head is moved in the forward direction based on the determination result stored in the memory. A track is found, and the transfer device is controlled to position the magnetic head on the found track. Still video camera with transfer mode equipped with control means. 2. The control means controls the transfer device so as to position the magnetic head on a track next to the last recorded track in both the single-shot mode and the transfer mode. Still video camera having a transfer mode according to item (1). 3. The control means controls the transfer device so as to transfer the magnetic head in the forward direction and position the magnetic head on the first unrecorded track when the single shooting mode is set. A still video camera having a transfer mode according to claim (1) for controlling.