DE4113548A1 - ELECTRONIC SINGLE IMAGE CAMERA - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an electronic single-image camera, in which a video signal is applied to a magnetic disk is drawn.

Electronic still cameras have become very popular, since the picture taken with them immediately after the Recording can be viewed. Another reason for that There is popularity of the electronic still camera in that as a recording medium a magnetic disk is used, which can be handled easily. If for example, a picture taken on a camera existing magnetic disk can be recorded this even with partially unused storage space from the Camera removed and inserted into a playback device be set to view the picture just taken.

The magnetic disk usually has 52 tracks, and Images or sound signals are recorded on the 1st to 50th track draws. The 52nd track is a director's track, it can be used for Record a code by which an image with a Sound signal is combined. There is no In on the 51st track formation recorded.  

However, such an electronic still camera can only Operations such as focal length adjustment and exposure control Execution that are predetermined. Therefore, the Users do not change these operations to a desired one Realize admission surgery.

The object of the invention is an electronic Single-camera to indicate the various operations can run freely and a simple mechanism contains.

According to the invention, a mag Net storage disk provided in an electronic Single-image camera is to be used. The magnetic disk has at least one memory track on which a video signal and / or an audio signal can be stored, and one Storage mechanism, the control data for controlling the elec tronic still camera stores. The storage mechanism mus is in at least part of the same memory track intended. The tax data are DPSK-modulated Data (phase difference modulation) stored.

The invention is also in an electronic single frame mera realized, in which a magnetic disk is arranged is. The camera contains a reading mechanism and one Control mechanism. The reading mechanism reads control data from the magnetic disk in the form of DPSK-modulated data. The Control mechanism controls the operation of the electronic Single image camera according to the control data.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing explained. In it show:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the control circuit for approximately an electronic still camera as exporting,

Fig. 2 disk is a schematic representation of a magnet,

Fig. 3 is a program diagram,

Fig. 4A shows the schematic representation of an example of photographic control data stored on the cherspur SpeI

FIG. 4B is a schematic representation of another example of photographic control data stored on the memory track,

Fig. 5 shows the diagram of an example of icons, which are displayed with a display device and call functions of the photographic control data,

Fig. 6 is a diagram of another example of symbols for the display device and

Fig. 7 is a flowchart of a preparation process for a photographic operation with the electronic still camera.

Fig. 1 shows the control circuit of an electronic single camera according to the invention, which includes a magnetic disk shown in Fig. 2.

The system controller 11 in Fig. 1 is a normal Mikrocom computer that controls the entire still camera. The system controller 11 consists of a central processing unit (CPU), a read-only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM) and is connected to various operating switches 12 . In a photographic operation, an object image is generated on a CCD element 15 (Charge Coupled Device) as a solid-state image carrier via an aperture (not shown) and a lens 14 . The CCD element 15 is connected to an image processor 17 via an imaging circuit 16 . The imaging circuit 16 and the image processor 17 are connected to the system controller 11 and are controlled by this. A diaphragm control circuit 13 is also connected to the system controller 11 and is controlled by it in accordance with information obtained from a light measuring device, not shown.

An image generated on the CCD 15 is input to the image processor 17 through the imaging circuit 16 . In the image processor 17 , the input image signal is divided into color difference signals and a luminance signal. The two color difference signals (RY, BY) are alternately arranged at 1H (horizontal scanning period).

A white balance sensor 21 is connected to the system controller 11 via a white balance processor 22 in order to obtain a correct color tone of the captured image.

The disk drive device contains a magnetic head 31 , a head driver 32 for controlling the magnetic head 31 , a spindle motor 33 for rotating a magnetic storage disk D, a motor driver 34 for controlling the spindle motor 33 and a pulse generator coil 35 for time evaluation of the rotation of the magnetic storage disk D. The pulse generator coil 35 is included the motor driver 34 connected, and this and the head driver 32 are connected to the system controller 11 .

The luminance signal and the two color difference signals contained in the image signal are frequency modulated, respectively. ID data such as recording data are DPSK modulated. The signals thus modulated in accordance with the ID data are multiplex recorded on one and the same track. For this purpose, a frequency modulation circuit 41 is connected to the image processor 17 , and a DPSK modulation circuit 47 and a DPSK demodulation circuit 49 are connected to the system controller 11 . The frequency modulation circuit 41 is connected to the magnetic head 31 via a head amplifier 43 and a switch 44 . The DPSK modulation circuit 47 is connected between the frequency modulation circuit 41 and the head amplifier 43 . The DPSK demodulation circuit 49 is connected to the magnetic head 31 via a low pass filter 48 , a head amplifier 45 and the switch 44 .

The switch 44 is optionally switched to the DPSK modulation circuit 47 or the DPSK demodulation circuit 49 , for which it is controlled by the system controller 11 . The switch 44 connects the head amplifier 43 of the frequency demodulation circuit 41 to the magnetic head 31 when image data is recorded on the magnetic disk D. As a result, the image data is frequency-modulated and ID data such as recording data are DPSK-modulated and recorded on the same magnetic disk D. On the other hand, as described above, the photographic control data are stored on the magnetic disk D and written into the system controller 11 , the switch 44 binds the head amplifier 45 of the DPSK demodulation circuit 49 with the magnetic head 31 . Accordingly, the control data of the magnetic disk D DPSK demodulated and entered into the system controller 11 .

A display device 51 for displaying the current state of the camera is connected to the system controller 11 .

Two types of magnetic storage disks can be used in the camera  be used, namely a normal magnetic disk, hereinafter referred to as the normal plate, which for recording serves an image, and a magnetic disk after the invention, d. H. on the photographic tax data ge be saved. Such a plate is also in the following referred to as a data disk.

Fig. 2 shows the magnetic disk D. This is like a 5 cm magnetic disk, as is usually used for an electronic single-image camera, and has 52 tracks. The 1st to 50th track D 2 , calculated from the outer circumference of the magnetic disk D. , are data tracks for recording image data, audio data and digital data such as recording data for a normal disk. The photographic control data includes an aperture value and a shutter speed that DPSK modulated and stored on the data tracks D 2 who the. The 52nd track D 1 is a director's track on which a director's signal is recorded. No signal is recorded on the 51st track.

Fig. 3 shows the relationship between aperture values and shutter speeds with the exposure value EV as a parameter, so it is shown a diagram of program S. On the data plate of this embodiment, reversal points and end points of the program diagram according to FIG. 3, ie point data P (eight points are shown in FIG. 3), identified by the symbol O, are stored as photographic control data DPSK-modulated. The photographic control data on the data disk are written into the RAM of the system control 11 . In this embodiment, an intermediate value is obtained from the inclination of the line between two point data P by interpolation, so that there is a current aperture value and a shutter speed according to the program diagram, without the accuracy of the process in the system controller 11 being impaired.

A photographic control date of the type described above is stored on each storage track. Usually several (e.g. 12) photographic control data are stored on a data disk. Memory tracks corresponding to the number of data are used to store the photographic control data. In the ROM of the system controller 11 , e.g. B. a program diagram as basic photographic control data stored.

In Fig. 4A and 4B, examples are shown of photographic control data stored on the memory track.

In the example shown in Fig. 4A, eight kinds of shutter speeds (1/8, 1/15, ..., 1/1000) are stored in the ROM of the system controller 11 , and aperture values corresponding to these shutter speeds are DPSK modulated and sequenced tially stored on the data plate D. In this exemplary embodiment, ten different aperture values can be stored in the RAM of the system controller 11 , and four bits are therefore sufficient to designate these different aperture values. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, eight different aperture values corresponding to the number of shutter speeds stored in the ROM of the system controller 11 are stored in DPSK modulation, and accordingly 8 × 4 = 32 bits are used for storing the photographic control data.

On the other hand, in the example shown in Fig. 4B, ten different aperture values (1, 4, 2, 2, 8, ..., 32) are stored in the ROM of the system controller 11 , and shutter speeds corresponding to these aperture values are DPSK modulated and sequentially the data disk D stored. In this embodiment, eight different shutter times can be stored, and therefore three bits suffice to designate the different shutter times. As described above, ten aperture values are stored in the ROM of the system controller 11 . Therefore, 3 x 10 = 30 bits are used to store the photographic control data of the example shown in Fig. 4B.

In addition to this program diagram, data for defining a vario range, data for defining an exposure type and data for defining an automatic focus can be stored on the data plate as photographic control data. For the zoom area, parameters indicating the width of the zoom area are stored on the data plate, and the system controller 11 determines the zoom area by reading these parameters. Similarly, the system controller 11 reads the parameters from the data plate in the case of exposure type and automatic focusing data and carries out a predetermined setting.

This embodiment is constructed so that the data of the program diagram, the zoom range, the exposure type and the automatic focusing are written in different areas of the RAM of the system controller 11 . In comparison with the photographic control data such as the program diagram are to set the photographic tax data such. B. less bits required for the zoom range. Therefore, data for specifying a certain type of photographic control data is included in data other than the program diagram. The CPU of the system controller 11 writes each type of data in a different area of the RAM of the system controller 11 depending on whether this decision data is included in the photographic control data and what decision they give before.

As described above, the amount of the respective photographic control data is small, it is 32 bits at most. The data capacity of a user area of a magnetic disk on which DPSK-modulated data can be recorded is 54 bits for one memory track each. Therefore, the capacity is so large that all photographic control data can be saved. The user area for recording the photographic control data is 24-bit or 22-bit, and enables information to be stored which specifies the function of the photographic control data and is DPSK-modulated. The system controller 11 recognizes the function of the photographic control data depending on this information and specifies a number, a symbol or a figure to display this function.

Fig. 5 shows the functions of the photographic control data, which are displayed with the display device 5 , that is, a number, a symbol or a figure, as shown here Darge, are shown on the display surface of the device 51 . If one of the photographic control data is selected, a lamp is switched on at a position corresponding to this selected date, so that the corresponding symbol is displayed.

The numbers 1 to 4 in the fields D 1 to D 4 each denote a program diagram. The figures at D5 to D7 each indicate a vario range. D 5 applies to the vario range 80 to 105 mm, D6 to the vario range 50 to 80 mm and D 7 to the vario range 35 to 50 mm. The figures at D 9 to D 10 each indicate an exposure type, namely the normal exposure and the night exposure. The figures at D 8 , D 11 and D 12 each denote the automatic focusing, a fixed focal length, normal operation and macro operation.

In this embodiment, one of the program diagrams (D 1 to D 4 ), one of the zoom ranges (D 5 to D 7 ), one of the exposure types (D 9 and D 10 ) and one of the focus modes (D 8 , D 11 and D 12 ) can be selected in each case.

This embodiment is constructed so that four under different program diagrams can be selected. Since 4th Bits to represent the numbers 0 to 9 are required you need 16 bits to represent four different ones Program diagrams by numbers. Three different vario rich ones can be chosen, and therefore two bits are for Representation of the vario areas required. Two difference Exposure types can be selected, and therefore 2 bits are required to display these types of exposure Lich. There are three different types of focus are selected, and therefore 2 bits are used to represent the These settings are required. That is why to represent the photographic control data in the user area in which DPSK-modulated data can be stored, 22 bits required.

Although FIG. 5 shows numbers, symbols and figures as examples, which are intended to characterize the functions of the photographic control data, the invention is not restricted to this. As shown in Fig. 6, the photographic tax data can also be displayed alphabetically. In this example, section E 1 denotes a program diagram, section E 2 a zoom range, section E 3 an exposure type and section E 4 a focusing mode. You need 5 bits to represent the complete alphabet from A to Z. Accordingly, 20 bits in the user area of the magnetic disk are required to display four different photographic control data.

Fig. 7 shows a flowchart for the operation of the electronic still camera.

In step 101 , a magnetic disk is inserted into the electronic still camera, and in step 102 , the magnetic disk is pre-read, and the data of each memory track is read. In step 103 it is determined, depending on step 102 , whether the magnetic disk in the camera is a data disk, ie it is determined whether the photographic control data is stored on this magnetic disk. If it is a data disk, step 111 and the following steps are carried out, but if it is a normal disk, steps 104 to 109 are carried out.

In the following the case is described that a nor malplatte is in the camera. If a data disk was previously inserted and step 111 and the following steps were carried out, photographic control data are stored in the RAM of the system controller 11 . If step 111 and the following steps have not been carried out, e.g. B. A program diagram, which is previously stored in the ROM as basic control data, is stored in the RAM. In step 104 , the current content of the RAM is displayed with the display device 51 . The numbers indicating the content of the photographic control data are stored in the RAM, and one of these numbers corresponding to the photographic control data is displayed in step 104 .

In step 105 , it is determined whether the photographic control data in the RAM matches the basic control data in the ROM of the system controller 11 . If so, control passes to step 106 , which is a photographic waiting state, and thus a photographic operation is possible in accordance with the basic control data currently in RAM.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 105 that the control data stored in the ROM and the RAM are different, it is determined in step 107 whether the photographic control data currently contained in the RAM should be used for the photographic operation. This determination is carried out by an operation in which the user zer an operation switch 12 a z. B. operated according to the display on the display device 51 .

If a photographic operation is performed using the control data currently in the RAM, control goes to step 106 . On the other hand, if the operation is not performed on this control data, control goes to step 108 and the data in an area of the RAM is cleared, where data is then written in step 109 . This is then the basic control data stored in the ROM. In step 110 , the contents of the RAM are displayed. The display device 51 does not display a number (corresponding to the fields D 1 to D 4 in Fig. 5), which means that the basic control data is stored in the RAM. Step 106 is then a photographic waiting state in which a photographic operation can be carried out with the basic control data newly stored in the RAM. When the camera shutter is released in this state, a photographic operation according to the basic control data results.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 103 that a data disk is present in the camera, step 111 and the following are carried out.

First, it is determined in step 111 which memory track of the magnetic disk is to be read. The command for this reading, the user enters by operating the operation switch 12 in step b 112th The photographic control data stored on the designated memory track are reproduced with the DPSK demodulation circuit 49 , and the figure or the like ( Fig. 5) for indicating the function of the photographic control data is displayed with the display device 51 .

Then, in step 113 , the user determines, depending on the display with the display device 51 , whether the photographic control data corresponds to the requirements and actuates the operating switch 12 a. If the control data does not meet the requirements, control returns to step 111 and the selection of the photographic control data is repeated. If the control data meet the requirements, steps 114 and 115 are carried out.

In step 114 , within the photographic control data just stored in the RAM of the system controller 11 , the data corresponding to the data reproduced in step 112 are deleted. For example, a program diagram is reproduced as photographic control data in step 112 , and in step 114 the program diagram previously stored in the RAM is deleted. Then, the photographic control data (e.g., a program diagram) reproduced in step 112 is read into the RAM of the system controller 11 .

Then, in step 133, it is determined whether the photographic control data selection operation has ended. For this purpose, the user operates the operating switch 12 c. When the control data selection is finished, this routine is ended. If the dialing has not ended, however, control returns to step 111 . For example, if a program diagram was selected in a previous operation to select the control data, e.g. B. a Variobe range can be selected by designating a predetermined memory track in step 111 in the next operation of selecting photographic control data.

By performing such an operation, the photographic control data for the program diagram, the name of the zooming area, the name of the exposure type and the name of the focus type are stored in the RAM of the system controller 11 . It is not necessary to read all of this data from a data disk. Instead of the control data that are not read from the data disk, data can also be used that were previously stored in the ROM of the system control 11 .

If it is determined in step 111 that commands designating a track to be read from the magnetic disk are not given, steps 121 and following are carried out, and the control data is reproduced for each track. It is then determined whether the control data meets the requirements, which is described below.

In step 121 , a counter t is set to 1, and in step 122 , the control data stored on the track t is produced with the DPSK demodulation circuit 49 re. A figure or the like ( FIG. 5) showing the function of the control data appears on the display device 51 . The user then in step 123 determined depending on the indication as to whether the control data to the requirements entspre Chen, and actuates the operating switch 12 a accordingly. If it is determined that the current control data meets requirements, steps 124 and 125 are performed. These steps correspond to steps 114 and 115 , however, the data stored in the RAM of the system controller 11 are deleted and new control data are read into the RAM.

If it is determined in step 123 that the current control data does not meet the requirements, control goes to step 131 , in which the counter t is incremented by 2. It is then determined in step 132 whether the counter t has a content greater than or equal to 49. If the content is less than 49, steps 122 and 123 are performed again. The next tax data is reproduced and it is determined whether it meets the requirements. The counter t is incremented by 2 in step 131 because the control data is stored on every other track.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 132 that the counter t has a content greater than or equal to 49, control returns to step 121 and the counter t is set to 1. Then steps 122 and following are carried out.

Since this embodiment works in such a way that steps 122 , 123 and 131 are carried out until it is determined in step 132 that the counter t has reached the content 49, a data plate 25 can store different control data. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, since twelve photographic control data are used, the routine proceeds to execute steps 122 , 123 and 131 until it is determined in step 132 that the counter t has reached the content 25 .

After step 125 , control goes to step 133 and it is determined whether the control data selection operation has ended. If this is the case, the routine is ended. If the dialing process has not ended, control returns to step 111 .

After the photographic control data has been read into the RAM of the system controller 11 , the user can insert a normal plate into the camera and carry out a photographic operation in accordance with the selected control data. If a change in the control data is required, the data disk is reinserted and the photographic operations described above are carried out.

In step 113 , it is determined whether the reproduced control data meets the requirements or not. This step can be omitted so that step 114 is then carried out immediately after step 112 .

The embodiment described here is structured that a photographic operation corresponding to that on the Memory tracks of the magnetic disk stored photo graphic control data is executed. Because e.g. B. 25 different The photographic control data stored on a data plate A photographic operation can be performed speaking control data that is different than that Basic control data is in the system control ROM. Therefore can perform various photographic operations will. Because the photographic control data from the magnet storage plate, the camera does not need any dedicated operating mechanism for storing the photographic tax data. Therefore their structure is united fold.

Furthermore, the embodiment is such that the photographic control data DPSK-modulated and stored on the magnetic storage disk. Therefore, only the DPSK modulation circuit 47 is basically necessary as a reproduction circuit for reading the photographic control data from the magnetic disk. Since DPSK modulation is carried out in a low-frequency band, the DPSK modulation circuit 47 is of simple construction, and therefore the construction of the control circuit ( FIG. 1) of this exemplary embodiment is very simple and inexpensive.

In contrast to a previously common camera, in which the photographic control data in the control panel ROM saved, you get the tax data at a Kame ra according to the invention of the magnetic disk. That's why the ROM for storing the control data does not have to be in the camera ra, or can be a storage area in the ROM for storing the photographic control data is omitted.

Claims (8)

1. Magnetic disk for an electronic single-image camera, with at least one memory track for a video signal or an audio signal, characterized by means for storing control data for controlling a photographic operation of the single-image camera on at least part of the memory track, the control data in the form DPSK-modulated data can be saved. 2. Magnetic disk according to claim 1, characterized records that several memory tracks are provided, each of which stores a type of control data. 3. Magnetic disk according to claim 1 or 2, characterized characterized that information about the function of the Control data are stored on the memory track where the tax data are stored. 4. Magnetic disk according to claim 3, characterized records that the information is DPSK-modulated ter data are stored. 5. Magnetic disk according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the tax data at least for controlling an exposure value, for Control a focal length and control a shot meart are provided. 6. Electronic single-image camera with a magnetic chip cherplatte according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by means for reading tax data from the magnetic disk in the form of DPSK-modulated Data and by means of controlling an operation of the  Camera according to the read control data. 7. Camera according to claim 6, characterized in that the Magnetic disk contains information that the Designate the function of the tax data and use the Mit tel to read the control data. 8. Camera according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the means of controlling an operation memory means for those stored on the magnetic disk contain tax data.