Digital camera

The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a digital camera that records a photographed image by a card unit conforming to the PC card standard.

[0002] Conventionally, there is conventionally known a digital camera that captures a subject image with a CCD sensor, converts it into digital image data, and records the digital image data on a PC card. In such a digital camera, it is common to operate the camera such as a shutter release by a button switch provided on the camera body.

[0003] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when trying to miniaturize a camera, there is a limit to the miniaturization of the switch itself, and there is a problem that operability is sacrificed if the number is reduced. It was. In addition, in digital cameras that use the memory of the PC card standard, the PC card must be inserted and removed, and the size of the PC card is specified by the standard, so there is a limit to miniaturization.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and in a digital camera that records a photographed image on a recording medium of a PC card standard, the size of the camera body is reduced and the operability thereof is emphasized. The purpose is to provide a digital camera.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention causes an image pickup unit to have a card unit conforming to the PC card standard, and a part of the card unit is exposed from the image pickup unit. In a digital camera that is loaded into a digital camera, converts a subject image into image data by the imaging means of the imaging unit, and records the image data in the memory of the card unit, the card unit is required at the time of shooting.<u style="single">All of</u>It has a switch and a switch that is unnecessary at the time of shooting, and when the card unit is loaded into the image pickup unit, a switch necessary for shooting is provided in a portion of the card unit exposed from the image pickup unit. It is characterized in that an unnecessary switch is provided at the time of shooting in a portion inserted and hidden in the image pickup unit.

[0006] According to the present invention, since the switch required for shooting is provided in the portion exposed from the image pickup unit of the card unit, it is not necessary to provide the switch in the image pickup unit, and the shooting unit can be miniaturized. The entire camera can be miniaturized.

[Embodiments of the Invention] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the digital camera according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the digital camera of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the digital camera.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the digital camera according to the present invention includes a camera imaging unit 10 and a PC card standard camera card unit 12. At the time of shooting, the camera card unit 12 is loaded into the card loading unit 14 of the camera imaging unit 10, and as shown in FIG. 2, the card loading unit 14 and the camera card unit 12 are connected by a connector 16 for use.

[0009] The camera card unit 12 is equipped with a memory 32 capable of recording a plurality of captured images, and the captured images captured by the camera imaging unit 10 are recorded in the memory 32. Then, the captured image recorded in the memory 32 can be read and played back by the computer by inserting the camera card unit 12 into the PC card slot of the computer. Further, when the camera imaging unit 10 is provided with an image reproduction device such as a liquid crystal monitor, it is possible to reproduce the captured image recorded in the memory 32 of the camera card unit 12 on the spot where the image is captured.

[0010] The camera imaging unit 10 is provided with an optical finder 13 for observing the field of view of the image to be captured. The optical viewfinder 13 can also be an electronic viewfinder using a liquid crystal or other element. In this case, the electronic viewfinder can reproduce the captured image recorded in the memory 32 of the camera card unit 10. ..

[0011] Further, the camera image pickup unit 10 is provided with a photographing lens 20 and a solid-state image pickup device (CCD sensor) 22 as shown in FIG. The subject light imaged on the imaging surface of the CCD sensor 22 via the photographing lens 10 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD sensor 22 and sequentially read as a CCD output signal by the drive pulse applied from the CCD drive circuit 26. ..

[0012] Then, the CCD output signal is input to the signal processing circuit 24 inside the camera imaging unit 10, and the signal processing circuit 24 (Analog processing circuit such as CDS circuit, gain adjustment circuit and color balance adjustment circuit, brightness signal). Various signals are processed by a generation circuit, a color difference signal generation circuit, a digital processing circuit such as a gamma correction circuit, etc.). As a result, digital image data is generated, and the generated image data is output to the camera card unit 12. The drive pulse is output from the CCD drive circuit 26 based on the timing signal output from the timing generator 28, and the signal processing circuit 24 and the like are synchronized.

[0013] The camera card unit 10 is equipped with a memory 32 as shown in FIG. As described above, the image data generated by the camera imaging unit 10 is input to the signal compression circuit 30 of the camera card unit 12 via the connector 16, and after the signal is compressed, it is recorded in the memory 32. The memory 32 has a capacity for recording a plurality of image data.

A control circuit 34 is mounted on the camera card unit 12. The control circuit 34 controls and controls each circuit of the camera imaging unit 10 and each circuit of the camera card unit 12. At the time of shooting, the timing generator 28 of the camera imaging unit 10 is driven and controlled via the connector 16, the reading of image data from the CCD sensor 22 is controlled, and the memory control circuit 36 of the camera card unit 12 is controlled. Then, the writing of the image data to the memory 32 and the like are controlled.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the camera card unit 12 is provided with a sheet-shaped switch 38, a shutter switch 40, a GND terminal 42, and a liquid crystal display unit 44. The sheet-shaped switch 38 is a switch for managing the memory 32 and setting shooting conditions at the time of shooting, and the shutter switch 40 and the GND terminal 42 are switches for instructing the shutter release. In addition, the liquid crystal display unit 44 displays various information such as the number of remaining images that can be recorded in the memory 32 and the date and time.

[0016] Hereinafter, the sheet-shaped switch, the shutter switch 40, and the GND terminal 42 will be described. The sheet-shaped switch 38 is composed of a plurality of (for example, eight) switches (membrane switches) 38A, 38B, 38C, 38D, 38E, 38F, 38G, 38H arranged in two rows, and is a flat surface of the camera card unit 12. It is installed flat without protruding upward. Then, when the camera card unit 12 is loaded into the card loading section 14 of the camera imaging unit 10, the switches 38A and 38B in one row (left column in FIG. 1) on the connector side inserted into the card loading section 14 of the camera card unit 12. , 38C, 38D are housed in the card loading section 14, and the remaining one row (right column in FIG. 1) of switches 38E, 38F, 38G, 38H are exposed from the card loading section.

[0017] The switches 38A, 38B, 38C, and 38D housed in the card loading unit 14 are assigned functions that are not used during shooting. For example, it is a function for setting the date and time, initializing the card, formatting, and the like. If the power switch provided on the camera card unit 12 is turned on without the camera card unit 12 being loaded in the card loading unit 14, the date and time can be set, the memory 32 can be initialized, and the format can be set. When these switches 38A, 38B, 38C, 38D are operated while the camera card unit 12 is not loaded in the card loading unit 14, the control circuit 34 controls the memory control circuit 36 to control the memory 32. Initialize, format, etc.

On the other hand, the switches 38E, 38F, 38G, 38H exposed from the card loading unit are assigned functions to be used at the time of shooting. For example, it is a function for controlling camera functions, turning on / off the strobe, setting the self-timer, setting continuous shooting, setting the image quality mode, setting other shooting options, and the like. The camera function can be set by turning on the power switch with the camera card unit 12 loaded in the card loading unit 14. In the control circuit 34, when the power is turned on while the camera card unit 12 is loaded in the card loading unit 14, when these switches 38E, 38F, 38G, 38H are operated, the switches 38E, 38F, Each circuit is controlled based on the shooting conditions specified by 38G and 38H.

[0019] As described above, switches 38A, 38B, 38C, 38D that are not required for shooting when the camera card unit 1 is loaded in the card loading section 14 are housed in the card loading section 14, and are stored in the card loading section 14 during shooting. Since only the necessary switches 38E, 38F, 38G, and 38H are operably exposed, it is possible to prevent accidental operation of switches that are not necessary for shooting during shooting operations.

[0020] In order to reduce the number of sheet-shaped switches 38, it is electrically detected that the camera card unit 12 is loaded in the card loading unit 14, and the camera card unit 12 is loaded in the card loading unit 14. The function of the switch may be switched between the case and the case where the switch is not loaded. Figures 3 (A) and 3 (B) are examples showing the switch arrangement and switch function display in this case. In the example shown in the figure, the sheet-shaped switches 50A, 50B, and 50C are arranged in a row, and the switch functions are displayed on both sides of each switch 50A, 50B, and 50C. When the camera card unit 12 is not loaded in the card loading unit 14, the display of the switch function on the connector side (left side) to be inserted into the card loading unit 14 of the camera card unit 12 is valid among the display of these switch functions. .. At this time, when the switches 50A, 50B, and 50C are pressed, the switch functions displayed on the left side of these switches are executed. The switch functions displayed on the left side of these are functions that are not used during shooting.

[0021] On the other hand, when the camera card unit 12 is loaded in the card loading unit 14, the display of the switch function on the right side of each of the switches 50A, 50B, and 50C is valid. At this time, pressing each switch 50A, 50B, 50C executes the switch function displayed on the right side of these switches. The switch functions displayed on the right side of these are the functions used during shooting.

When the camera card unit 12 is loaded in the card loading unit 14, the shaded portion 52 shown in FIG. 3B is housed in the card loading unit 14, and the display of the switch function on the left side is masked. By exposing only the display of the switch function on the right side, it is possible to easily grasp what the currently active switch function is. Further, when the camera card unit 12 is not loaded in the card loading unit 14, the left and right switch function displays are exposed. Therefore, for example, the left and right switch function displays are distinguished by light and dark or coloring, and the left and right switch functions are displayed. When the display of the switch function is exposed, it may be possible to clearly grasp that the display of the switch function on the left side is effective.

[0023] Further, instead of displaying the switch function shown in FIG. 3, the switch function may be displayed on the liquid crystal screen. For example, when the liquid crystal screen 58 is provided on the right side of the sheet switches 56A, 56B, and 56C as shown in FIG. 4, and the camera card unit 12 is not loaded in the card loading unit 14 as shown in FIG. 4 (A). , The switch function that is not used during shooting is displayed, and the switch function that is used during shooting is displayed when the camera card unit is loaded in the card loading unit as shown in Fig. 4 (B). Although the switch function is indicated by characters in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B), it may be indicated by pictograms (icons).

[0024] Further, the camera card unit 12 is provided with a shutter switch 40 on the front surface and a GND terminal 42 defined by the PC card standard on the peripheral surface of the camera card unit. The shutter switch 40 is a touch switch such as a capacitance switch, and the control circuit 34 detects this when a finger touches it. By using a touch switch, the durability is increased and the durability is improved as compared with a general switch.

[0025] The shutter release at the time of shooting is executed by touching both the shutter switch 40 and the GND terminal 42 with a finger. The control circuit 34 shown in FIG. 2 detects the state of the shutter switch 40 and the GND terminal 42, and when it detects that both the shutter switch 40 and the GND terminal 42 are in the ON state (a state in which a finger is in contact), the control circuit 34 is determined. As described above, the subject image is imaged by the CCD sensor 22 of the camera imaging unit 10, and the image data is recorded in the memory 32 via the signal processing circuit 24, the connector 16, and the signal compression circuit 30.

[0026] As described above, when both the shutter switch 40 and the GND terminal 42 are touched, the shutter release is executed. Therefore, the shutter release is performed when the finger accidentally touches the shutter switch 40. Is being prevented. In this case, by combining the shutter switch 40 and the GND terminal 42, it is possible to make the half-press and full-press actions work like the shutter switch 40 of a normal camera. For example, when only the shutter switch 40 is pressed, distance measurement, metering, AWB, etc. are executed in the same way as when the shutter switch is half-pressed with a normal camera, and when the GND terminal 42 is further pressed in this state, the shutter release is executed. To do so.

[0027] Also, since it is difficult for the photographer to know when the picture was taken with the shutter release just touched, when the shutter release was performed, that is, both the shutter switch 40 and the GND terminal 42 were turned on. In this case, the shutter sound may be generated by an electronic sound (sound such as "beep" or "kasha") or the like, or a light emitting element such as an LED may be provided in the vicinity of the optical finder 13 and the light emitting element may emit light. It may indicate that the shutter release has been performed.

[0028] Further, when the shutter release is performed, the number of the remaining number display counters is reduced by 1 (in the case of the shutter number counter, the number is increased by 1), and the number of the counter of the liquid crystal display unit 44 is changed immediately after shooting. The numbers may be blinked for a few seconds or until the recording of the captured image is completed. In the above embodiment, the camera imaging unit 10 is provided with circuits such as the signal processing circuit 24 and the pulse generator 28. However, these circuits may be mounted on the camera card unit 12, or conversely, signal compression. The circuit 30 and the like may be mounted on the camera imaging unit 10.

[0029] Further, even if the camera card unit 12 is pulled out from the camera imaging unit 10 after the end of shooting, the operation may be continued (immediately after shooting, the recording of image data in the memory 32 may be continued). .. Further, in the above embodiment, the camera imaging unit 10 and the camera card unit 12 are combined for shooting, but as shown in FIG. 5, the camera card unit 70 alone may be used for shooting. The camera card unit shown in FIG. 5 includes the sheet-shaped switch 38 shown in FIG. 1, the shutter switch 40, the GND terminal 42, the liquid crystal display 44, the optical viewfinder 72, the photographing lens, the CCD sensor, and other images taken by the above-mentioned camera. The circuit mounted on the unit is mounted.

[0030] Further, in the above embodiment, the shutter release is performed by the shutter switch 40 and the GND terminal 42, but instead of using the GND terminal 42, another one is provided as in the shutter switch 40. You may also use a shutter switch. Further, as described above, the structure in which the switch is turned on / off using two touch switches can be used for applications other than the shutter switch of the camera. For example, it can be used as a switch for an IC-type recording device, and since it is necessary to touch two sides at the same time, reliable operation is possible without accidentally turning the switch on and off.

It is also possible to house the IC type recording device and the card type digital camera in the same housing.

[Effect of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, when the card unit is loaded into the image pickup unit, a part of the card unit is exposed and a switch necessary for shooting is set on the image pickup unit of the card unit. Since it is provided in the portion exposed from the image, it is not necessary to provide a switch in the imaging unit, the photographing unit can be miniaturized, and the entire camera can be miniaturized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a digital camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the sheet-shaped switch.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the sheet-shaped switch.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the digital camera according to the present invention.

[Description of Code] 10 ... Camera Imaging Unit 12 ... Camera Card Unit 13 ... Optical Viewfinder 14 ... Card Loading Unit 20 ... Shooting Lens 22 ... CCD Sensor 32 ... Memory 34 ... Control circuit 38 ... Sheet switch 40 ... Shutter switch 42 ... GND terminal 44 ... LCD display