Electronic imaging system capable of recording/reproducing images with any one of several possible recording media

• US 5,376,965 A
• Filed: 05/25/1993
• Issued: 12/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Hidetoshi, Nagasaki, Tatsuo, Yunoki, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Cheryl
• Application Number:
  US08/067,215
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 358/209, 358/906, 348/232, 348/233
• US Class Current: 348/231.4
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• 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 5/9267 using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals

Abstract

An image pickup device electronically senses an object to be photographed and generates an electronic still image signal. An A/D converter converts the electronic still image signal generated by the image pickup device into a digital signal. An error correction coding section performs error correction coding for the digital signal obtained by the A/D converter. A recording modulation section performs recording modulation of an output from the error correction coding section so as to perform predetermined magnetic recording. A recording section records an output from the recording modulation section on a predetermined magnetic recording medium. Different recording media can be used, such as magnetic and semiconductor, provided on respective imaging sub-systems. A semiconductor imaging sub-system is provided with an I/O controller for establishing compatibility with signals of the magnetic imaging sub-system.

Claims

1. An electronic imaging system for recording or reproducing a picture utilizing an applied recording device or media comprising:

an imaging main system having a data processing means and one-side connector means, said data processing means generating a data signal to be recorded in said recording device or media inclusive of a digital image data signal corresponding to a previously picked-up image, or generating a signal of a form adapted to display an image on a display means based on a reproduced signal from said recording device or media, said one-side connector means connects any one of several predetermined imaging sub-systems applicable to the electronic imaging system with said imaging main system;

a plurality of first imaging sub-systems each one being formed as a unit and having a driver circuit means and an other-side connector means, said driver circuit means driving a magnetic recording device or media so as to record or reproduce said data signal supplied thereto or sent therefrom, while such first imaging sub-system is connected to said imaging main system by means of a connection between said one-side connector means of said imaging main system and said other-side connector means of such imaging sub-system;

a plurality of second imaging sub-systems each one being formed as a unit and having an I/O controller means and an other-side connector means, said I/O controller means controlling record and/or reproduction operations for an applied semiconductor memory as to said data signal supplied thereto or sent therefrom, while such second imaging sub-system is connected to said imaging main system by means of a connection between said one-side connector means of said imaging main system and said other-side connector means of such second imaging sub-system, said I/O controller means controlling transmission of said data signal conveyed through said other-side connector means of such second imaging sub-system to be compatible with said data signal conveyed through said other-side connector means of such first imaging sub-system.

2. An electronic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said imaging main system further comprises:

an image pickup means for generating an analog image signal depending on the photoelectric conversion of the image pickup means; and

digitizing means for converting said analog image signal outputted by said image pickup means to a digital form adapted to said storage device or media applied.

3. An electronic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of first imaging sub-systems further comprises:

a hard disk of a small size as said magnetic recording device.

4. An electronic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein each one of said plurality of second imaging sub-systems further comprises:

a card-shaped envelope containing said I/O controller means and said semiconductor memory.

5. An electronic imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the other-side connector means of the second imaging sub-systems has the same shape as the other-side connector means of the first imaging sub-systems.