Electronic camera

• US 5,170,262 A
• Filed: 02/13/1991
• Issued: 12/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kinoshita, Takao, Takishima, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): MCELHENY JR, DONALD E
• Application Number:
  US07/653,998
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 360/33.1, 360/35.1, 358/335, 358/906, 358/909
• US Class Current: 386/314
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/006 with video camera or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2137 with temporary storage before final recording, e.g. in a frame buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2158 using a detachable storage unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

An electronic camera electronically records an optical image by using a non solid-state memory and includes an image pickup element, an image pickup section, and an external recording section. The image pickup section includes a solid-state memory means for digital-recording at least one-frame image signals supplied from the image pickup element. The external recording section includes a non solid-state memory means, and a D/A converter for analog-recording a digital image signal supplied from the image pickup section on the non solid-state memory means. The image pickup section and the external recording section are detachable.

Claims

1. An electronic camera system comprising:

(a) an image pickup section outputting digital signals and including;

an image pickup element;

an A/D converter for converting analog signals outputted from said image pickup element into digital signals;

solid-state memory means, integral with said image pickup section and having a storage capacity and a first rising time which is required to start recording, for digitally recording at least one frame of digital image signals supplied from said image pickup element; and

output means for outputting the digital signals recorded in said solid-state integral memory means; and

(b) an external recording section including;

a D/A converter for converting input digital signals into analog signals; and

analog memory means, having a storage capacity larger than said solid-state integral memory means and having a second rising time longer than said first rising time, for storing the analog signals corresponding to the digital signals output by said image pickup section output means;

wherein said external recording section is removably mounted on said image pickup section; and

wherein said D/A converter converts the digital signals supplied from said image pickup section output means into the analog signal to be stored in said analog memory means.

2. An electronic camera system according to claim 1, wherein said external recording section further comprises monitor means.

3. An electronic camera system according to claim 1, further comprising control means for causing said solid-state integral means to temporarily store the digital image signal, in order to permit corrections of the digital image signal on a time base, and then to transfer the digital image signal to said external recording section through said output means.

4. An electronic camera system according to claim 1, wherein when said image pickup section and said external recording section are connected to each other, the content of said solid-state integral memory means is automatically transferred to said external recording section.

5. An electronic camera system according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup section displays the number of possible recording frames upon transfer of the content of said solid-state integral memory means to said external recording section.

6. An electronic camera system according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup section generates an alarm when the number of recording frames of said solid-state integral memory means has reached a predetermined-value.

7. An electronic camera system according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup section and said external recording section are connected by wiring means.

8. An electronic camera system according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup section and said external recording section are connected by wireless means.

9. An electronic still camera system comprising:

(a) a portable image pickup device outputting digital signals and including;

an image pickup element; and

an A/D converter for converting analog signals outputted from said image pickup element into digital signals;

recording means for temporarily recording digital image signals produced in said A/D converter, said recording means having a rising time which is required to start recording and a storing capacity; and

(b) a recording device, detachably mounted to said image pickup device and including a D/A converter which converts the digital signals output from said portable image pickup device into analog image signals for recording said analog image signals corresponding to the received digital signals, said recording device having a longer rising time and a larger storing capacity than said recording means.

10. An electronic still camera system according to claim 9, wherein said recording means includes a digital memory.

11. An electronic still camera system according to claim 10, wherein said image pickup device includes output means for outputting from said image pickup device an output of said recording means as a digital signal.

12. An electronic still camera system according to claim 9, wherein said detachable recording device includes an analog memory for recording the analog signal converted by said converter.

13. An electronic still camera system according to claim 9, wherein said image pickup device includes monitor means for visually monitoring said image signals.

14. An electronic still camera system according to claim 9, wherein said detachable recording device includes monitor means for visually monitoring said image signals.