Electronic still video camera having electro-developing recording medium

• US 5,805,945 A
• Filed: 12/22/1995
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Aoki, Harumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Eddie C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chizmar, John
• Application Number:
  US08/577,153
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 396/30, 396/429, 396/48, 396/303, 396/389, 396/391, 396/392, 396/284, 396/285, 348/64, 348/108, 348/110, 348/220, 348/209, 348/231
• US Class Current: 396/429
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/006 with video camera or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00129 with a display device, e.g. CRT or LCD monitor with a television apparatus H04N1/00283; arrangements for control of display devices G09G
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00249 with a photographic apparatus, e.g. a photographic printer or a projector photographic apparatus per se G03B, G03D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00257 with an electro-developing recording medium, e.g. generating image signals by reading such a medium in a still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0405 Different formats, e.g. A3 and A4
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1013 with sub-scanning by translatory movement of at least a part of the main-scanning components H04N1/107 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• 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 1/2307 Circuits or arrangements for the control thereof, e.g. using a programmed control device, according to a measured quantity H04N1/27, H04N1/29 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0049 By wire, cable or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

An electronic still video camera has an electro-developing recording medium. As soon as an optical image is formed on the medium, the image is recorded and developed as a visible image therein. The developed image is electronically read as image data by a line sensor, and the read image data may be stored in an IC memory card, a floppy disk, a hard disk or the like. Optionally, the read image data may be transferred from the camera to an external device such as a computer, a TV monitor or the like. The developed image can be thermally erased from the medium by using an electric heater. One of these operations is executed by a depression of a single switch in accordance with a mode-selection switch.

Claims

1. An electronic still video camera having an electro-developing recording medium, comprising:

a photographing mechanism that forms an optical image on said electro-developing recording medium to record and develop said optical image therein;

an image-sensing mechanism that optically senses and obtains image data from said recorded optical image of said electro-developing recording medium;

an image data storage mechanism that stores said image data sensed from said recorded optical image of said electro-developing recording medium;

an operation-mode selection mechanism that selects one of a first operation-mode, a second operation-mode, and a third operation-mode; and

an operation-commanding mechanism that executes an operation in a mode selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism,

wherein;

when said first operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, an operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes an execution of a formation of said optical image on said electro-developing recording medium;

when said second operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, an operation executed by said operation-commanding means includes an execution of said formation of said optical image on said electro-developing recording medium, an execution of said sensing of said image data from said recorded optical image of said electro-developing recording medium, and an execution of said storage of said sensed image data in said image-data storage mechanism, said executions of said second operation-mode being sequentially carried out; and

when said third operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, an operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes an execution of said sensing of said image data from said recorded optical image of said electro-developing recording medium.

2. An electronic still video camera as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a determination mechanism that determines whether said electro-developing recording medium has said image recorded therein;

a mechanism that disables respective operations executed by said operation-commanding mechanism based upon said first and second operation-modes, when said determination mechanism determines that said electro-developing recording medium has said image recorded therein; and

a mechanism that disables the operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism based upon said third operation-mode, when said determination mechanism determines that said electro-developing recording medium does not have said image recorded therein.

3. An electronic still video camera having an electro-developing recording medium, comprising:

a photographing mechanism that forms an optical image on said electro-developing recording medium to record and develop said optical image therein;

an image-sensing mechanism that optically senses and obtains image data from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium;

an image-data storage mechanism that stores said image data sensed from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium;

an operation-mode selection mechanism that selects one of a first operation-mode, a second operation-mode, a third operation-mode, a fourth operation-mode, and a fifth operation-mode; and

an operation-commanding mechanism that executes an operation in a mode selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, wherein;

when said first operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, the operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes the formation of said optical image on said electro-developing recording medium;

when said second operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selecting mechanism, the operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes the formation of said optical image on said electro-developing recording medium, and an execution of said sensing of said image data from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium;

when said third operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, the operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes an execution of the formation of said optical image on said electro-developing recording medium, an execution of said sensing of said image data from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium, and an execution of said storage of said sensed image data in said image-data storage mechanism, said executions of said third operation-mode being sequentially carried out;

when said fourth operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, the operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes an execution of said sensing of said image data from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium; and

when said fifth operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, the operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes said sensing of said image data from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium, and an execution of said storage of said sensed image data in said image-data storage mechanism.

4. An electronic still video camera as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:

a determination mechanism that determines whether said electro-developing recording medium has said image recorded therein;

a mechanism that disables respective operations executed by said operation-commanding mechanism based upon said first, second, and third operation-modes, when said determination mechanism determines that said electro-developing recording medium has said image recorded therein; and

a mechanism that disables respective operations executed by said operation-commanding mechanism based upon said fourth and fifth operation-modes, when said determination mechanism determines that said electro-developing recording medium does not have said image recorded therein.

5. An electronic still video camera having an electro-developing recording medium, comprising:

a photographing mechanism that forms an optical image on said electro-developing recording medium to record and develop said optical image therein;

an image-sensing mechanism that optically senses and obtains image data from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium;

an image data storage mechanism that stores said image data sensed from said recorded optical image of said electro-developing recording medium;

an image-erasure mechanism that erases said recorded image from said electro-developing recording medium;

an operation-mode selection mechanism that selects one of a first operation-mode, a second operation-mode, a third operation-mode, and a fourth operation-mode; and

an operation-commanding mechanism that executes an operation associated with a mode selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism,

wherein;

when said first operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, the operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes said formation of said optical image on said electro-developing recording medium;

when said second operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, the operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes an execution of said formation of said optical image on said electro-developing recording medium, an execution of said sensing of said image data from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium, and an execution of said storage of said sensed image data in said image-data storage mechanism, said executions of said second operation-mode being sequentially carried out;

when said third operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, the operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes said sensing of said image data from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium; and

when said fourth operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, the operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes said erasing of said recorded image from said electro-developing recording medium.

6. An electronic still video camera as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

a determination mechanism that determines whether said electro-developing recording medium has said image recorded therein;

a mechanism that disables respective operations executed by said operation-commanding mechanism based upon said first and second operation-modes, when said determination means determines that said electro-developing recording medium has said image recorded therein; and

a mechanism that disables said respective operations executed by said operation-commanding mechanism based upon said third and fourth operation-modes, when said determination mechanism determines that said electro-developing recording medium does not have said image recorded therein.

7. An electronic still video camera as set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

a power source mechanism that includes an internal power source, a detection circuit for detecting one of an input and connection of an external power source thereto, and a switching circuit for switching one of said internal power source and said external power source ON to energize said electronic still video camera; and

a mechanism that disables said operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism based upon said third operation-mode, when one of said input and said connection of said external power source is not detected by said detecting circuit.

8. An electronic still video camera having an electro-developing recording medium, comprising:

a photographing mechanism that forms an optical image on said electro-developing recording medium to record and develop said optical image therein;

an image-sensing mechanism that optically senses and obtains image data from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium;

a transfer mechanism that transfers said sensed image data to an external device; and

an operation-mode selection mechanism that selects one of a first operation-mode, a second operation-mode, a third operation-mode, a fourth operation-mode, and a fifth operation-mode;

an operation-commanding mechanism that executes an operation associated with a mode selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism,

wherein;

when said first operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, said operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes said formation of said optical image on said electro-developing recording medium;

when said second operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, said operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes said formation of said optical image on said electro-developing recording medium, and an execution of said sensing of said image data from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium;

when said third operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, said operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes an execution of said formation of said optical image on said electro-developing recording medium, an execution of said sensing of said image data from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium, and an execution of said transfer of said sensed image data to said external device, said executions of said third operation-mode being sequentially carried out;

when said fourth operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, said operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes said sensing of said image data from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium; and

when said fifth operation-mode is selected by said operation-mode selection mechanism, said operation executed by said operation-commanding mechanism includes an execution of said sensing of said image data from said recorded image of said electro-developing recording medium, and an execution of said transfer of said sensed image data to said external device.

9. An electronic still video camera as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

a determination mechanism that determines said electro-developing recording medium has said image recorded therein;

a mechanism that disables respective operations executed by said operation-commanding mechanism based upon said first, second, and third operation-modes, when said determination mechanism determines that said electro-developing recording medium has said image recorded therein; and

a mechanism that disables respective operations executed by said operation-commanding mechanism based upon said fourth and fifth operation-modes when said determination mechanism determines that said electro-developing recording medium does not have said image recorded therein.

10. An electronic still video camera as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

a power source mechanism that includes an internal power source, a detection circuit for detecting one of an input and a connection of an external power source thereto, and a switching circuit for switching one of said internal power source and said external power source ON to energize said camera; and

a mechanism that disables an execution of said transfer of said image data to said external device when said detecting circuit does not detect one of said input or said connection of said external power source.

11. An electronic still video camera as set forth in claim 10, wherein said external device comprises an image data processor device for processing said transferred image data.

12. An electronic still video camera as set forth in claim 10, wherein said external device comprises a monitor device for reproducing said optical image on the basis of said transferred image data.