Electronic camera

• US 4,456,931 A
• Filed: 10/29/1981
• Issued: 06/26/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Kotsu Kabushiki Kaisha (Nikon Corporation)
• Inventors: Ichihara, Yutaka, Toyoda, Kenji, Inoue, Hideya, Mizunoe, Katsumi, Kasuya, Atsumi, Miyaji, Akira, Watanabe, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., D.
• Application Number:
  US06/316,666
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 358/83, 358/310, 358/335, 358/906, 358/213, 358/22, 360/33.1, 360/35.1, 360/10.1, 360/10.2, 360/10.3
• US Class Current: 386/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2125 Display of information relating to the still picture recording
• 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 1/46 Colour picture communication systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0077 Types of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

Electronic camera comprises an image taking unit and a memory unit connected detachably. The image taking unit generates image signals corresponding to an object. The image signals are transmitted to the memory unit to be stored therein. The memory unit is detached from the image taking unit and connected to an external memory device such as a video tape recorder. The image taking unit has a monitor which can display the image signals in visual form before recording them in the memory unit.

Claims

1. An electronic still camera of a size suitable to be held in a hand of an operator, comprising:

(a) a camera housing;

(b) optical means disposed in said camera housing and forming an optical image of an object to be photographed on a predetermined surface positioned in said camera housing;

(c) image-sensing means arranged on said predetermined surface for converting said optical image into electronic data form;

(d) visual finder means for visually displaying said optical image, said finder means comprising a display monitor arranged on said camera housing;

(e) first storing means arranged in said camera housing for recording electronic data corresponding to a still image of said optical image;

(f) second storing means having at least one memory in which the electronic data corresponding to the still image of said optical image are recorded;

(g) first control means for reading out repeatedly at a predetermined cycle said electronic data of said image-sensing means and producing a first electronic image signal expressed as a continuation of said electronic data;

(h) second control means for transferring to said first storing means the electronic data corresponding to the still image out of the electronic data read out by said first control means;

(i) third control means for reading out repeatedly at a predetermined cycle the electronic data of said first storing means and transferring to said visual finder means a second electronic image signal expressed as a continuation of said electronic data; and

(j) fourth control means for transferring said second electronic image signal to said one memory of said second storing means.

2. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein said second storing means is disposed in said camera housing.

3. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein said camera housing comprises a first portion including at least said optical means, said image-sensing means and visual finder means and a second portion connectable electronically and mechanically to said first portion and wherein said second storing means is disposed on said second portion.

4. The electronic still camera according to claim 1, wherein said first control means transfers said first electronic image signal to said visual finder means so that said optical image is reproduced as a moving image on said display monitor.

5. An electronic still camera of a size suitable to be held in a hand of an operator, comprising:

(a) a camera housing;

(b) optical means arranged in said camera housing and forming an optical image of an object to be photographed on a predetermined surface positioned in said camera housing;

(c) image-sensing means positioned on said predetermined surface for repeatedly converting at a predetermined cycle said optical image into electronic data form and generating an electronic image signal expressed as a continuation of said electronic data;

(d) trigger switch means arranged on said camera housing for generating a first trigger signal and a second trigger signal in response to first operation by said operator and subsequent second operation by the operator, respectively;

(e) visual finder means for visually displaying said optical image, said visual finder means comprising a display monitor arranged on said camera housing;

(f) storing means arranged in said camera housing and including at least one memory for holding electronic data corresponding to a still image of said optical image; and

(g) control means having first means and second means, the first means driving said memory to write the electronic data corresponding to the still image out of said electronic image signal in response to said first trigger signal and repeatedly reading out the electronic data written in said memory at a predetermined cycle to transfer it to said visual finder means and the second means holding in said storing means the electronic data written in said memory in response to said second trigger signal.

6. The electronic still camera according to claim 5, wherein said storing means is provided with first storing means having a first memory and second storing means having at least one memory and wherein said means of said control means transfers the data in said first memory to said at least one memory to write therein.

7. The electronic still camera according to claim 5, wherein said optical means includes an objective lens facing outside of a forward wall of said camera housing and wherein said monitor means is positioned to face outside of a rearward wall of said camera housing.

8. The electronic still camera according to claim 5, wherein said trigger switch means comprises a displacing member permitting first and second displacements by said operator, means for producing said first trigger signal in response to said first displacement of said displacing member and means for generating said second trigger signal in response to said second displacement to said displacing member.

9. An electronic still camera of a size suitable to be held in a hand of an operator, comprising:

(a) a camera housing;

(b) optical means arranged in the camera housing and forming an optical image of an object to be photographed on a predetermined surface positioned in said camera housing;

(c) image-sensing means positioned on said predetermined surface, for repeatedly converting at a predetermined cycle said optical image into electronic data form and producing an electronic image signal expressed as a continuation of said electronic data;

(d) trigger switch means arranged on said camera housing for generating a first trigger signal and a second trigger signal in response to a first operation by said operator and subsequent second operation, respectively;

(e) visual finder means for visually displaying said optical image, said visual finder means comprising a display monitor arranged on said camera housing;

(f) storing means arranged in said camera housing and comprising at least one memory for writing electronic data corresponding to a still image of said optical image; and

(g) control means having first means and second means, the first means transferring said electronic image signal to said visual finder means in response to said first trigger signal and reproducing said optical image as a moving image on said display monitor, and the second means writing in said memory electronic data corresponding to the still image out of said electronic image signal in response to said second trigger signal, reading out repeatedly the electronic data written in said memory at a predetermined cycle to transfer it to said visual finder means and to reproduce said still image on said display monitor.

10. The electronic still camera according to claim 9, wherein said trigger switch means generates a third trigger signal in response to a third operation by said operator after said second operation by said operator and wherein said control means further includes third means for holding in said storing means the electronic data written in said memory in response to said third trigger signal.

11. The electronic still camera according to claim 9, wherein said trigger switch means comprises a displacing member permitting first and second displacements by said operator, means for producing said first trigger signal in response to said first displacement of said displacing member and means for generating said second trigger signal in response to said second displacement of said displacing member.

12. An electronic still camera of a size suitable to be held in a hand of an operator, comprising:

(a) a camera housing;

(b) optical means arranged in the camera housing and forming an optical image of an object to be photographed on a predetermined surface positioned in said camera housing;

(c) image-sensing means disposed on said predetermined surface, for repeatedly converting said optical image at a predetermined cycle into electrical data form and producing an electronic image signal expressed as a continuation of said electronic data;

(d) trigger switch means positioned on said camera housing for generating a trigger signal by an operation of said operator;

(e) storing means arranged in said camera housing and having a plurality of memories each of which records electronic data corresponding to a still image of said optical image;

(f) display means for reading out said electronic data from one of the plurality of memories of said storing means in response to said trigger signal and for visually displaying the still image corresponding to the read out electronic data, the display means comprising a display monitor arranged on said camera housing; and

(g) selection means positioned in said camera housing and operated by said operator in order to select either clearing of said one memory or holding in said one memory said electronic data corresponding to said still image shown on said display monitor.

13. An electronic still camera of a size suitable to be held in a hand of an operator, comprising:

(a) a camera housing;

(b) optical means arranged in said camera housing and forming an optical image of an object to be photographed on a predetermined surface positioned in said camera housing;

(c) image-sensing means positioned on said predetermined surface for repeatedly converting said optical image at a predetermined cycle into electronic data form and producing an electronic image signal expressed as a continuation of said electronic data;

(d) first storing means disposed in said camera housing for recording electronic data corresponding to a still image of said optical image;

(e) second storing means having a plurality of memories each of which records said electronic data corresponding to said still image of said optical image;

(f) display means for visually displaying said optical image, the display means comprising a display monitor arranged on said camera housing;

(g) first control means for recording in said first storing means the electronic data corresponding to the still image out of said electronic image signal, reading out repeatedly the data recorded in said first storing means at a predetermined cycle, transmitting the read out data to said display means and causing said display monitor to display the still image thereon;

(h) second control means for transferring the data in said first storing means to one of the plurality of memories in said second storing means; and

(i) clear means operable by said operator for clearing the data of said first storing means.

14. An electronic still camera of a size suitable to be held in a hand of an operator, comprising;

(a) a camera housing;

(b) optical means arranged in the camera housing and forming an optical image of an object to be photographed on a predetermined surface positioned in said camera housing;

(c) image-sensing means disposed on said predetermined surface for repeatedly converting said optical image at a predetermined cycle into electronic data form and generating a first electronic image signal expressed as a continuation of the electronic data;

(d) first and second storing means each of which is arranged in said camera housing, and in each of which the electronic data corresponding to a still image of said optical image is written and each of which produces second and third electronic image signals, respectively, expressed as a repetition of the written data at a predetermined cycle by electronic urging;

(e) visual finder means for visually displaying said optical image and comprising a display monitor arranged on said camera housing;

(f) first means for writing in said first storing means electronic data corresponding to a first still image out of said first electronic image signal;

(g) second means for writing in said second storing means electronic data corresponding to a second still image out of said first electronic image signal;

(h) means for forming a fourth electronic image signal which expresses a third still image different from each of said first and second still images, by synthesizing said second electronic image signal and said third electronic image signal in synchronization with each other; and

(i) means for transferring said fourth electronic image signal to said visual finder means and displaying said third still image on said display monitor.

15. The electronic still camera according to claim 14 further comprising third means for writing in said first storing means the electronic data corresponding to said third still image out of said fourth electronic image signal.

16. An electronic still camera of a size suitable to be held in a hand of an operator, comprising:

(a) a camera housing;

(b) optical means arranged in the camera housing and forming an optical image of an object to be photographed on a predetermined surface positioned in said camera housing;

(c) image-sensing means positioned on said predetermined surface for repeatedly converting said optical image at a predetermined cycle into electronic data form and producing a first electronic image signal expressed as a continuation of the electronic data;

(d) storing means in which the electronic data corresponding to a still image of said optical image is written, and which produces a second electronic image signal expressed as a repetition of the written data at a predetermined cycle by an electronic urging;

(e) visual finder means for visually showing said optical image and comprising a display monitor arranged on said camera housing;

(f) trigger switch means arranged on said camera housing for generating a first trigger signal at the time of an operation by said operator and which generates a second trigger signal after a predetermined lapse of time;

(g) first transfer means for transferring said first electronic image signal to said finder means, and for stopping transfer in response to said first trigger signal; and

(h) second transfer means for writing in said storing means the electronic data corresponding to the still image out of said first electronic image signal in response to said second trigger signal and transferring said second electronic image signal to said finder means.

17. An electronic still camera of a size suitable to be held in a hand of an operator, comprising:

(a) a camera housing;

(b) optical means arranged in the camera housing and forming an optical image of an object to be photographed on a predetermined surface positioned in said camera housing;

(c) image-sensing disposed on said predetermined surface for repeatedly converting said optical image at a predetermined cycle into electronic data form and producing a first electronic image signal expressed as a continuation of said electronic data;

(d) first and second storing means each of which is arranged in said camera housing, and in each of which the electronic data corresponding to a still image of said optical image is written and each of which produces by electronic urging second and third electronic image signals which are expressed as a repetition of the written data at a predetermined cycle;

(e) visual finder means for visually displaying said optical image and comprising a display monitor arranged on said camera housing;

(f) first control means for writing in said first storing means electronic data corresponding to a primary still image out of said first electronic image signal by a connection of said image-sensing means with said first storing means and transferring said second electronic signal to said visual finder means by a connection of said first storing means with said visual finder means thereby to display said primary still image on said display monitor;

(g) second control means for shifting electronic data stored in said first storing means to said second storing means by a connection of said first storing means with said second storing means;

(h) mixing means for synthesizing said second and third electronic image signals and forming a fourth electronic image signal expressing another still image different from each of two still images corresponding to said second and third electronic image signals respectively;

(i) third control means for writing in said first storing means electronic data corresponding to a secondary still image out of said first electronic image signal by a connection of said image-sensing means with said first storing means, and transferring said second electronic image signal to said mixing means by a connection of said first storing means with said mixing means; and

(j) fourth control means for transferring said third electronic image signal to said mixing means by a connection of said second storing means with said mixing means.

18. The electronic still camera according to claim 17 further comprising:

fifth control means for transferring said third electronic image signal to said first storing means by a connection of said second storing means with said first storing means.

19. An electronic still camera of a size suitable to be held in a hand of an operator, comprising:

(a) a camera housing having optical means which forms an optical image of an object to be photographed on a predetermined surface positioned in said housing, image-sensing means arranged on said predetermined surface, and which repeatedly converts said optical image at a predetermined cycle into electronic data form and which produces an electronic image signal expressed as a continuation of said electronic data, first storing means in which an electronic data corresponding to a still image of said optical image is written and the written data is repeatedly generated at a predetermined cycle, second storing means having a plurality of memories in each of which the electronic data corresponding to said still image is written, and display means for reproducing said optical image from said electronic data; and

(b) sequence control means having first connection means for reproducing as a moving image said optical image on said display means by a connection of said image-sensing means with said display means,

second connection means for reproducing as the still image said optical image on said display means by a connection of said image-sensing means with said first storing means and by a connection of said first storing means with said display means,

third connection means for transferring the electronic data stored in said first storing means to one of memories in said second storing means by a connection of said first storing means with said second storing means,

advance operation means arranged on said camera housing and which causes each of the first, second and third connection means to be operated in sequence in response to each of first, second and third operations by said operator, and

returning operation means disposed on said camera housing and which causes said third, second and first connection means to be operated in sequence in response to each of first, second and third operations by said operator.

20. An electronic still camera of a size suitable to be held in a hand of an operator, comprising:

(a) a camera housing having

optical means which forms an optical image of an object to be photographed on a predetermined surface positioned in said housing,

image-sensing means disposed on said predetermined surface for converting repeatedly said optical image at a predetermined cycle into electronic data form and producing an electronic image signal expressed as a continuation of the electronic data,

first storing means in which electronic data corresponding to a still image of said optical image is written and in which the written data is produced repeatedly at a predetermined cycle,

second storing means having a plurality of memories in each of which the electronic data corresponding to said still image is written, and

a display monitor for reproducing said optical image from said electronic data;

(b) control means having

first connection means for reproducing as a moving image said optical image on said display monitor by a connection of said image-sensing means with said display monitor,

second connection means for reproducing as the still image said optical image on said display monitor by a connection of said image-sensing means with said first storing means and by a connection of said first storing means with said display monitor, and

third connection means for reading out the electronic data in one of said memories and reproducing as the still image said optical image on said display monitor by a connection of said second storing means with said display monitor; and

(c) display means responsive to said first, second and third connection means for attaining the display to discriminate which electronic data of those in said image-sensing means, said first storing means and said second storing means, an image appearing on said display monitor is based.