Image sensor

• US 6,292,272 B1
• Filed: 08/01/1996
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nabetani, Hitoshi, Okauchi, Shigeki, Murakami, Taro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Cheukfan
• Application Number:
  US08/690,812
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 358/474, 358/471, 358/473, 358/400, 358/500, 358/505, 358/906, 358/909.1, 358/909.5, 358/442, 348/333, 348/334, 348/207, 348/552, 348/373, 348/375, 348/376, 348/220, 348/221, 395/892, 395/893
• US Class Current: 358/471
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/203 for portable computers, e.g. for laptops
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

A card-type image sensor used upon being inserted into the card slot of an external device such as a computer includes an image sensor head having image sensing device such as a CCD. A control panel having a zoom switch and a focus switch is provided on the image sensor head, which is rotatably attached to the rotary support portion of a card body having a main board. The control panel is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the image sensor head so that no portion of the image sensor head will project from below the lower side of the card body when the image sensor head is turned. In addition, a desk or the like will not interfere with the image sensor head when the head is turned. The results is improved operability. Further, the card body is provided with a finger catch used when the image sensor is detached from the external device. A frame wall, a frame portion and upper and lower covers are provided so as cover a main board, and a rib is provided between frame wall and the frame portion. There is less likelihood that image sensor will malfunction even if the image sensor head is detached by pulling it out of the external device without pressing an eject button.

Claims

1. An image sensor comprising:

an image sensor head having image sensing means for photoelectrically converting a light image and producing an electrical image information signal;

a control panel provided on said image sensor head for setting image sensing conditions of said image sensing means; and

a main body having an image processor for processing the image information signal to produce a predetermined image signal, and a connector portion for outputting the image signal to an external device;

wherein said image sensor head is rotatable relative to said main body and said control panel is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said image sensor head.

2. The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation is substantially parallel to a direction in which said connector portion is inserted into the external device.

3. The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the main body includes a PCMCIA card.

4. The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein said control panel includes a zoom switch.

5. The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein said control panel includes a focus switch.

12. The image sensor according to claim 5, wherein said finger catch is spaced from said external device, when said image sensor is inserted into the slot of the external device.

6. An imaging sensor comprising:

an image sensor head having image sensing means for photoelectrically converting a light image and producing an electrical image information signal; and

a substantially card-shaped main body comprising a signal processor for processing the image information signal to produce a predetermined image signal, and a connector portion for outputting the image signal to an external device;

wherein said image sensor head is rotatable relative to said main body and has an axis of rotation extending longitudinally of said main body, and no portion of said image sensor head projects from below a lower side of said main body, based upon the axis of rotation, dimensions of said image sensor head and range of rotation of said image sensor head, when said image sensor head is turned, the axis of rotation of said image sensor head being substantially parallel to a direction in which said connector portion is inserted into the external device.

7. The image sensor according to claim 6, wherein the main body includes a PCMCIA card.

8. The image sensor according to claim 6, wherein the range of rotation of said image sensor head is determined by a projection and a guide groove, one of them provided to said image sensor head and another of them provided to the main body.

9. An image sensor comprising:

image sensing means for photoelectrically converting a light image and producing an electrical image information signal;

an image sensor head having said image sensing means;

a signal processor for processing the image information signal to produce a predetermined image signal;

a connector portion for outputting the image signal to an external device; and

a main body having said signal processor and said connector portion,

wherein said main body has a card-shaped structure insertable into a slot of the external device and a finger catch rigidly formed on an end portion of the card-shaped structure and projecting out of the slot of the external device said finger catch having a thickness greater than that of said card-shape structure, and said image sensor head is rotatively mounted to said finger catch.

10. The image sensor according to claim 9, wherein said finger catch is formed to have a size equal to or greater than that of the image sensor head.

11. The image sensor according to claim 9, wherein the main body includes a PCMCIA card.

13. An image sensor comprising:

image sensing means for photoelectrically converting a light image and producing an electrical image information signal;

an image sensor head having said image sensing means;

a signal processor for processing the image information signal to produce a predetermined image signal;

a connector portion for outputting the image signal to an external device;

a board on which the signal processor and connector portion have been mounted; and

a frame-shaped frame covering said board wherein a support portion for supporting said image sensor head is formed as an integral part of said frame.

14. The image sensor according to claim 13, wherein said frame formed to include said support portion as an integral part thereof is provided with a rib.

15. An image sensing system comprising a card-type image sensor having a rotatable image sensor head and a connector portion, and an external image processing apparatus capable of being detachably connected to said connector portion, wherein operating means for operating said image sensor head is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to said card-type image sensor on a side thereof opposite that inserted into said image processing apparatus.

16. The image sensing system according to claim 15, wherein said connector portion includes a PCMCIA card.

17. The image sensing system according to claim 15, wherein said operating means includes a zoom switch.

18. The image sensing system according to claim 15, wherein said operating means includes a focus switch.

19. An image sensing system comprising a card-type image sensor having a rotatable image sensor head and a connector portion, and an external image processing apparatus capable of being detachably connected to said connector portion, wherein axis of rotation, dimensions and range of rotation of said image sensor head are set in such a manner that part of said image sensor head will reside above a lower side of said image processing apparatus when said image sensor head has been rotated, the axis of rotation of said image sensor head being substantially parallel to a direction in which said connector portion is inserted into the external image processing apparatus.