JP2001298645A - Accessory device applied to electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an accessory device which improves the availability by selectively adding auxiliary functions or extended functions without damaging the portability of an electronic camera. SOLUTION: An accessory 100 can be selectively set to the rear face of an electronic camera main body 1 to add auxiliary functions or extended functions to the main function of the electronic camera. An auxiliary memory unit 101, an LCD unit 102, an auxiliary battery unit 103, or an extension unit 104 where an auxiliary battery and an LCD is provided as the accessory 100. The accessory 100 is provided with a notched part for detection so that the classification of the unit can be discriminated on the electronic camera side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an accessory device which is mounted on an electronic camera to realize an auxiliary function or an extended function for a main function required for a photographing operation of the electronic camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electronic camera, a battery serving as an operating power supply and a recording medium for recording image data obtained by photographing are mounted on a camera body. Here, the electronic camera includes a digital video camera having a main function of moving image shooting in addition to an electronic still camera which is also called a digital camera. The recording medium is an IC memory (EEP)
ROM), a hard disk drive, a magneto-optical disk (MO), and the like.

[0003] By the way, since an electronic camera is generally used for carrying and photographing, it is required to be small and lightweight. Therefore, it is not practical to mount a large-capacity battery or a memory (especially a plurality of memory cards, a large-capacity disk drive, or the like) in the camera body. On the other hand, depending on shooting conditions such as a trip or a business trip, a large capacity battery or memory may be required as the number of shots increases.

In order to cope with such a demand, there has been conventionally proposed a camera in which, for example, an auxiliary battery can be attached to and detached from the back of the camera body (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-146).
No. 468).

[0005]

In an electronic camera which emphasizes miniaturization and weight reduction, the capacity of a battery and a memory which can be mounted on the camera body is limited. For this reason, the user
You will carry extra batteries and memory and replace them as needed. However, such a thing is not only troublesome, but also has a risk of missing a photo opportunity at the time of replacement.
In addition, the above-described method of mounting the auxiliary battery on the camera body increases the size by the amount of the added auxiliary battery, and impairs the portability of the camera body.

[0006] In addition to the addition of auxiliary functions such as the addition of a battery and memory, for example, an LC with a remote control function is provided.
It is desirable to be able to add an extended function so that D can be attached as needed. However, the mere unit addition method impairs the portability of the camera body as described above.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the usability of an electronic camera by enabling an auxiliary function or an extended function to be selectively added to the main function of the electronic camera without impairing the portability of the electronic camera. It is to provide a useful accessory device.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an accessory device which can be selectively attached to an electronic camera main body and realizes an auxiliary function or an extended function which can be added to a main function of the electronic camera. The accessory device is specifically an auxiliary battery or an auxiliary memory card for realizing an auxiliary function, or a replaceable unit for realizing an extended function such as a remote controller.

In the present invention, an electronic camera in which an image display means such as an LCD is detachable from the camera body is assumed, and the accessory device is detachably attached to the camera body and can be used by exchanging the image display means. Configuration.

If the accessory device having such a configuration is used, a limited space (for example, the rear side) of the camera body is used.
With the help of, an auxiliary function or an extended function can be added to the main function of the electronic camera. In this case, since the accessory device is mounted on the camera body by replacing the LCD unit with the image display means, the size of the camera body does not increase, and the portability of the electronic camera can be maintained.

More specifically, when an accessory device, which is an auxiliary battery unit, is mounted, the power capacity of the main battery of the camera body can be increased by the auxiliary battery. Further, when an accessory device of a memory card for recording image data is attached, the capacity of the memory of the camera body can be increased, and as a result, the number of shots can be increased. Further, when an accessory device having a remote control function, which is not provided as a standard feature, is attached to the camera body, a kind of extended function can be realized for the electronic camera.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Configuration of Electronic Camera) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an electronic camera according to the embodiment.
The electronic camera according to the embodiment has an accessory 1 for adding an auxiliary function and an extended function in addition to the main function provided by the standard equipment.
Assume 00 available electronic still cameras (digital cameras).

As shown in FIG. 1, the camera body 1 is roughly divided into a photographing system 10, a storage system, a display system, a control / operation system, and a power supply system. The imaging system 10 includes an imaging lens system (including a zoom lens, an aperture unit, an autofocus lens, and the like) 11, an imaging element 12, and an imaging circuit 1.
3 and an A / D converter 14.

The image sensor 12 normally has a C of several million pixels.
It has a CD (charge coupled device) and photoelectrically converts a subject image incident through the photographing lens system 11. The imaging circuit 13 receives an imaging signal from the imaging device 12 and performs various signal processing such as gamma correction and white balance adjustment. The A / D converter 14 converts an imaging signal (an analog signal corresponding to the number of pixels) obtained from the imaging circuit 13 into a digital signal (image data).

The storage system has a recording medium unit 20 for storing image data, in addition to a built-in memory (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a buffer memory) 15 functioning as a buffer memory. The electronic camera of the embodiment has a recording medium unit 20 to which a plurality of types of recording media can be mounted. The recording medium unit 20 has a card slot 22 and an interface 23 in which a memory card 21 as a replaceable recording medium can be removably mounted. Here, a memory card 21 composed of a flash EEPROM is assumed as a recording medium, but an exchangeable magneto-optical disk (MO) or the like may be used. In this embodiment, as will be described later, when the memory card 21 is a standard main memory, an auxiliary memory can be added by the accessory 100.

The display system includes an LC for displaying a photographed image.
LCD for driving D (liquid crystal display)
It has a driver 16, a video memory (VRAM) 17 for storing display data, a video output circuit 18, and a video output terminal 19. Here, in the embodiment, as described later, the LCD includes a detachable unit (102) included in the accessory 100. The LCD unit (102) is detachably mounted on a mounting section (200) provided on the back side of the camera body 1, and mainly displays a captured image. The LCD unit (102)
May display a menu screen, operation information such as a continuous shooting mode, a strobe, and a white balance, in addition to the captured image. Further, a configuration may be provided in which a dedicated LCD for displaying only operation information is provided separately from the LCD (102).

The control and operation system is a system controller 3
0 and the operation unit 31. System controller 30
Is composed of a control CPU (microprocessor) and a memory storing the control program. The system controller 30 controls the photographing system 10 described above,
Various image processing such as image compression processing and image expansion processing of the image data stored in the buffer memory 15 is executed.
Further, the system controller 30 controls the strobe light emitting unit 4.
0, and accepts various inputs from the operation unit 31 and the remote control light receiving unit 41 and an input of a power supply switching signal from the power supply unit 50. Further, in the embodiment, the system controller 30 inputs a determination signal from a determination unit (consisting of a group of determination switches) 301 for determining the unit type of the accessory mounted on the mounting unit 200, and outputs the determination signal. Is executed (to be described later).

The operation unit 31 has a release (shutter) button 31A, a cross key for selection, and a dial for setting a mode (playback, photographing, power off, etc.). The remote control light receiving unit 41 receives an infrared signal from a remote control (included in the LCD unit 102 in the embodiment) included in the accessory, converts the infrared signal into an operation signal, and sends the operation signal to the system controller 30.

The power supply unit 50 supplies DC power from the main battery 51 and the external power input terminal 52 to each element in the camera body 1. The power supply unit 50 has a power supply switching unit 53 for switching power supply input. The power supply switching unit 53 includes the main battery 5
1. The power input from the external power input terminal 52 or the auxiliary battery (103, 104) mounted on the mounting section 200 is switched. In addition, the power supply unit 50 has a detection circuit for detecting the remaining capacity of the main battery 51 and the auxiliary batteries (103, 104), and has a function of notifying the system controller 30 of the detection result.

Further, the camera body 1 has an external interface 60 and an external output terminal 61 for outputting image data to the outside, and can transmit image data to, for example, a television or a personal computer.

As described above, the camera body 1 of the embodiment has a mounting section 200 for using the accessory 100.
Having. The accessory 100 includes a plurality of types of card units (101 to 1) for adding an auxiliary function or an extended function.
04), and the mounting section 200 is used as a common slot. Specifically, the card unit includes an auxiliary memory unit 101 functioning as an auxiliary memory when the memory card 21 is used as a main memory, an auxiliary battery unit 103 used as an auxiliary power supply of the main battery 51, an auxiliary battery and an LCD. An integrated extension unit 104 and LCD unit 102 are included.

The mounting section 200 is provided for each card unit (10
1 to 104) have a plurality of connectors 201 to 204 corresponding to the connectors provided. The determination unit 301
It has a sensor for detecting each card unit connected to each of the connectors 201 to 204 of the mounting unit 200, and sends out a determination signal of the type of the card unit mounted on the mounting unit 200 to the system controller 30.

More specifically, the connector 20 of the mounting section 200
1 is connectable to the connector 101A of the auxiliary memory unit 101 and is connected to the interface 23 of the recording medium unit 20. The connector 202 is an LCD
Connectable to the connector 102A of the unit 102 or the LCD connector 104A of the extension unit 104;
It is connected to the LCD driver 16. Connector 20
Reference numerals 3 and 204 denote connectors 10 of the auxiliary battery unit 103.
3A, 103B or connector 1 of extension unit 104
04B, 103C, and is connected to the switching unit 53 of the power supply unit 50.

(Structure of Camera Body and Mounting Portion) FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an appearance of the camera body 1 of the embodiment. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing the back side, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the front side.

As shown in FIG. 1B, a photographing lens system 11 is provided on the front side of the camera body 1. On the top side of the camera body 1, a release button 31A and other operation buttons 31B of the operation section 31, and a monochrome LCD 70 are provided. The LCD 70 is, for example, an LCD for displaying operation information.

On the other hand, on the back side of the camera main body 1, there is provided a mounting portion 200 formed of a concave part integrated with the main body 1. Shape and size (including depth) of the recess
Are the card units 101 to 10 of the accessory 100
4 is set to substantially match the outer shape and size (including the thickness). Inside the concave portion of the mounting section 200, connectors 201 to 204, sensors 210 to 212 included in the determination section 301, and a mechanical lock mechanism 220 are provided at predetermined positions.

Each of the sensors 210 to 212 detects a notch for detection provided in each of the card units 101 to 104, as described later. The determination unit 301 determines whether each sensor 2
The type of each of the card units 101 to 104 is determined based on the detection results from 10 to 212. Lock mechanism 22
0 locks to hold the card unit mounted in the recess. In addition, an eject button 230 for releasing the lock mechanism 220 and removing the mounted card unit is provided near the concave portion of the mounting section 200.

The camera body 1 is provided with an optical fan 71 and a selection cross key 31C included in the operation unit 31 on the rear side, and an external power input terminal 52 on the side.
And an external output terminal 61. Further, inside the camera body 1, a storage portion capable of storing a plurality of batteries (here, rechargeable batteries) as the main battery 51 is provided.

(Accessory Apparatus) FIGS. 4 to 7 are views showing the appearance of each card unit included in the accessory 100 of the embodiment.

FIG. 4A shows, for example, the front side of the rechargeable auxiliary battery unit 103 (a surface that forms the same plane as the rear side of the camera body 1). The same figure (B) shows the back side (mounting part 2).
00 recess side). In the groove 103E on the back side, connectors (contact portions) 103A, 1 for connecting (contacting) with the connectors (contact portions) 203, 204 of the mounting portion 200 are provided.
03B is provided. Further, on the back side, a notch 103D for detection corresponding to, for example, the sensor 212 included in the determination unit 301 is provided. Further, a lock portion 103C corresponding to the lock mechanism 220 of the mounting portion 200 is provided on the side surface portion.

FIG. 5A shows an LC having a remote control function.
The front side of the D unit 102 is shown. FIG. 7B shows the back side. In the groove 102D on the back side, a connector 102A for connecting to the connector 202 of the mounting section 200 is provided. Further, on the back side, for example, the detection notch 102 corresponding to the sensor 211 included in the determination unit 301.
B is provided. In addition, the mounting portion 200 is provided on the side surface.
A lock portion 102C corresponding to the lock mechanism 220 is provided.

Further, as shown in FIG.
An LED 11 for remote control is provided on the upper side of the unit 102.
2 are provided. The operation signal emitted from the LED 112 is received by the remote control light receiving unit 41 provided in the camera body 1. Also, near the LCD screen,
A remote control operation button 113 is provided.

The LCD unit 102 shown in FIG.
Is a unit having only an image display function without a remote control function, and components (112, 11) for realizing the remote control function.
Configurations other than 3) are the same.

FIG. 6A shows the auxiliary memory unit 101.
Is shown on the front side. FIG. 7B shows the back side. A connector 101A for connecting to the connector 201 of the mounting section 200 is provided in the groove 101B on the back side. Also, on the back side, for example, the sensor 21 included in the determination unit 301
The detection notch 101D corresponding to 0,212 is provided. Further, a lock portion 103D corresponding to the lock mechanism 220 of the mounting portion 200 is provided on the side surface portion.

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing the extension unit 104 in which the LCD unit 114A and the auxiliary battery unit 114B are integrally formed. This extension unit 10
Reference numeral 4 denotes an LCD unit 114A serving as a display on the front side (a surface forming the same plane as the back side of the camera body 1), and an auxiliary battery unit 114B on the back side. The auxiliary battery unit 114B is provided with connectors (contact portions) 203 and 204 of the mounting portion 200 and connectors (contact portions) 104A and 104B for connecting to the connector 202 and a connector 104A. A lock portion 104D corresponding to the lock mechanism 220 of the mounting portion 200 is provided on a side surface of the auxiliary battery unit 114B. The extension unit 104 may have a structure in which the LCD unit 114A and the auxiliary battery unit 114B can be separated.

FIG. 7B shows a kind of the auxiliary battery unit 103 in which a solar cell panel 400 is provided on a front side (a surface which is flush with the rear side of the camera body 1). On the back side, connectors (contact portions) 103A and 103B for connecting (contacting) with the connectors (contact portions) 203 and 204 of the mounting portion 200 are provided. Further, on the back side, a notch 103D for detection corresponding to, for example, the sensor 212 included in the determination unit 301 is provided. Further, a lock portion 103C corresponding to the lock mechanism 220 of the mounting portion 200 is provided on the side surface portion.

(Operation and Effect) By using the accessory 100 of the embodiment as described above, an auxiliary function and an extension function are added to the main function of the electronic camera, thereby improving the usability of the electronic camera. be able to. Further, each card unit of the accessory 100 has a structure in which the card unit is mounted on a mounting portion 200 which is a concave portion provided on the back side of the camera body 1 and is integrated with the camera body 1. Therefore,
There is no possibility that the external size of the original small and lightweight camera body 1 is increased and portability is impaired.

Specifically, when the photographed image is monitored by the LCD, the LCD unit 102 is attached to the mounting section 200.
It will be attached to. In this case, L with remote control function
The CD unit 102 may be used. When an auxiliary function for increasing the storage capacity of the main memory 21 or the power supply capacity of the main battery 51 is added, the auxiliary memory unit 10
1 or the auxiliary battery unit 103 is mounted on the mounting section 200. In addition, if the extension unit 104 in which the auxiliary battery unit and the LCD unit are integrated is used, it is possible to simultaneously realize the image display function of the LCD and the auxiliary function of increasing the power capacity of the main battery 51. .

(Charge Control) Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8,
Charge control will be described as a specific example of the auxiliary function when the auxiliary battery unit 103 including the solar cell panel 400 is used as the accessory 100.

The auxiliary battery unit 103 has a solar cell panel 400 in addition to the rechargeable auxiliary battery 403, and a solar cell panel 400 via a control unit 401 and a charging unit 402.
The auxiliary battery 403 can be charged with the power obtained by Further, the auxiliary battery unit 103
The connector (contact portion) when mounted on the mounting portion 200
Power supply unit 50 of camera body 1 via 103A and 103B
Connected to. Also, via the signal contact portion 103E,
The control unit 401 of the auxiliary battery unit 103 is configured to be connected to the system controller 30 of the camera body 1.

On the other hand, the power supply section 50 of the camera body 1 has a charging section 54 and a DC / DC converter 55 in addition to the switching section 53 described above. The DC / DC converter 55 converts the voltage from the input power supply switched by the switching unit 53 into
It is converted into the rated voltage for operation of the camera body 1. Charging unit 54
Charge the main battery 51 with the power of the input power supply by the switching unit 53.

With such a configuration, a specific example of charge control will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The system controller 30 of the camera body 1
Monitors the remaining capacity of the main battery 51 by a detection circuit (not shown) provided in the power supply unit 50.

When the system controller 30 determines that the remaining capacity of the main battery 51 of the camera body 1 is insufficient, the system controller 30 charges the main battery 51 using the attached auxiliary battery unit 103. (N in step S1
O). That is, the system controller 30 causes the switching unit 53 of the power supply unit 50 to supply power from the solar cell panel 400 via the control unit 401 of the auxiliary battery unit 103. Thus, in the power supply unit 50, the charging unit 54 charges the main battery 51 with the power from the solar cell panel 400 as the input power from the switching unit 53 (Step S4).

In the auxiliary battery unit 103, the control unit 40
If the remaining capacity of the auxiliary battery 403 is insufficient,
The auxiliary battery 403 is charged with electric power obtained by the solar cell panel 400 via the charging unit 402 (Step S)
2, S3). However, even when the remaining capacity of the auxiliary battery 403 is insufficient, when the remaining capacity of the main battery 51 of the camera body 1 is insufficient, the control unit 401 As described above, the electric power obtained by the solar cell panel 400 is used to control the charging of the main battery 51 preferentially.

As described above, when the auxiliary battery unit 103 having the solar cell panel 400 is used, the main battery 51 of the camera body 1 is charged using the power obtained by the solar cell panel 400. be able to. Further, it is needless to say that the auxiliary battery 403 of the auxiliary battery unit 103 can be used to supply operation power to the camera body 1 via the power supply unit 50 instead of the main battery 51.

(Modification) FIG. 9 is a view showing the appearance of a camera body and accessories according to a modification of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 9A, this modification is an electronic camera having a structure in which a disk recording unit 90 using a disk recording medium such as an MO is detachably provided on the back side of the camera body. . An LCD unit 91 included in the accessory as described above is detachably provided on the side surface of the camera body. Note that a photographing lens system 11 is provided on the front side of the camera body. Also, on the upper surface side of the camera body, various buttons 31B and a release button 31A of the operation unit 31, a monochrome LCD 70
And a pop-up strobe 94. Further, an optical finder 71 and an operation dial 93 are provided at predetermined positions on the back side.

As shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, a storage portion (mounting portion) 95 formed of a concave portion for storing the LCD unit 91 is provided on the side surface. The storage portion 95 has a holding recess (9) provided in the unit.
A holding projection 96 and a connector (or a contact point) 97 corresponding to 9) are provided. An eject button 92 for taking out accessories such as the LCD unit 91 is provided on the rear side near the storage section 95.

As an accessory, there is an auxiliary battery unit 98 in addition to the LCD unit 91 as shown in FIG. As described above, the auxiliary battery unit 98 has a built-in rechargeable auxiliary battery, for example, and has a holding recess 99 on the side surface.

The camera body having the structure of the present modification as described above has a recording medium, for example, a disk recording unit 90 on the back side, and a mounting section (storage section) for mounting accessories including an LCD unit 91 on the side. ). Therefore,
Compared with the camera body of the embodiment, the accessory mounting portion is provided on the side surface, so that the size is slightly larger, but the portability is not so much impaired, and replaceable accessories can be used. .

(Modification of Accessory) In this embodiment,
A discrimination method using a notch for detection for discriminating the type of the accessory (the type of each of the card units 101 to 104) is assumed. As a modified example of this determination method, a method using a recognition code set for each type of accessory may be used.

In this modification, a small battery is built in the accessory (each card unit), and a circuit for outputting a preset recognition code (for example, 3 bits) from the type detection connector is provided. ing. The type detection connector may be arranged as a dedicated connector in the vicinity of a signal connector (for example, 101A) (a common position of each accessory), or may be integrally formed with the signal connector.

The mounting section 200 has a connector corresponding to the type detection connector, and transfers a recognition code output from the mounted accessory to the system controller 30. The system controller 30 decodes the recognition code and determines the type of the accessory attached to the attachment unit 200.

With the discrimination method of the present modified example,
When the types of accessories are increased, there is an effect that it is possible to easily cope with the case where a method using a cutout portion for detection is used.

[0057]

As described in detail above, by using the accessory device of the present invention, it is possible to selectively add an auxiliary function and an extended function such as an auxiliary battery and an auxiliary memory to the electronic camera. Further, the usability of the electronic camera can be improved without impairing the portability of the electronic camera body.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing an example of an auxiliary battery unit related to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of the camera body related to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of an accessory related to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of an accessory related to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of an accessory related to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of an accessory related to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary flowchart showing the procedure of charge control when the auxiliary battery unit included in the accessory of the embodiment is used.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary perspective view showing a modification of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera main body 10 ... Photographing system 11 ... Photographing lens system 12 ... Image sensor 13 ... Imaging circuit 14 ... A / D converter 15 ... Internal memory 16 ... LCD driver 17 ... Video memory (VRAM) 18 ... Video output circuit 19 ... Video Output terminal 20 ... Recording medium unit 21 ... Memory card 22 ... Card slot 23 ... Interface 30 ... System controller 31 ... Operation unit 40 ... Strobe light emitting unit 41 ... Remote control light receiving unit 50 ... Power supply unit 51 ... Main battery 52 ... External power input terminal Reference Signs List 60 external interface 61 external output terminal 70 LCD (monochrome) 100 accessory 101 auxiliary memory unit 102 LCD unit 103 auxiliary battery unit 104 expansion unit 200 mounting part 201-204 connector 301 determination part

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 5/232 H04N 5/232 B F term (reference) 2H020 FB03 2H054 AA01 CD00 2H100 BB05 BB06 BB11 CC07 DD03 DD05 DD07 DD12 2H105 EE21 5C022 AB22 AB40 AB66 AC02 AC03 AC07 AC32 AC42 AC54 AC73 AC77 AC78

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An accessory device applied to an electronic camera having an image display means detachable from a camera body, the accessory device having a predetermined function related to a photographing operation of the electronic camera, and being exchanged with the image display means. An accessory device, wherein the accessory device is configured to be detachably attached to the camera body and to be usable. 2. An accessory device applied to an electronic camera having image display means detachable from a camera body, comprising: an auxiliary battery functioning as an auxiliary power supply for a main battery mounted on the camera body. An accessory device, wherein the accessory device is configured to be detachably attached to the camera body and to be usable by exchanging with a display means. 3. An accessory device applied to an electronic camera having image display means detachable from a camera body, comprising: a recording medium for recording image data obtained by a photographing means of the camera body; An accessory device, wherein the accessory device is detachably mounted on the camera body and can be used by exchanging means. 4. An accessory device applied to an electronic camera having image display means detachable from a camera body, wherein the image display unit displays an image based on image data obtained by a photographing means of the camera body. And an auxiliary battery that functions as an auxiliary power supply for a main battery mounted on the camera body, and is configured to be detachably attached to the camera body and usable when exchanged with the image display means. An accessory device, comprising: 5. An accessory device applied to an electronic camera having image display means detachable from a camera body, wherein the image display unit displays an image based on image data obtained by a photographing means of the camera body. And a recording medium for recording the image data, wherein the accessory device is configured to be detachably attached to the camera body and usable when exchanged with the image display means. 6. An accessory device applied to an electronic camera having image display means detachable from a camera body, wherein an auxiliary battery functioning as an auxiliary power supply for a main battery mounted on the camera body, and photographing of the camera body. An accessory having a recording medium for recording image data obtained by means integrated with the camera body and being detachably attached to the camera body in exchange for the image display means. apparatus. 7. An accessory device applied to an electronic camera having image display means detachable from a camera body, comprising: a solar cell that generates power by condensing light on a solar cell panel; An accessory device which is detachably attached to the camera main body and can be used by replacement of the accessory device. 8. An accessory device applied to an electronic camera having image display means detachable from a camera body, comprising: a remote controller for remotely operating an electronic camera; An accessory device, wherein the accessory device is configured to be detachably attached to the camera body and to be usable by replacement. 9. An accessory device applied to an electronic camera having image display means detachable from a camera body, obtained by a remote controller for remotely operating the electronic camera and a photographing means of the camera body. An image display unit for displaying an image based on image data is integrally provided, and is configured to be detachably attached to the camera body and usable when exchanged with the image display means. And accessory equipment. 10. An accessory device applied to an electronic camera having image display means detachable from a camera body, the accessory apparatus having a predetermined function related to a photographing operation of the electronic camera, and being exchanged with the image display means. An accessory device, wherein the accessory device is configured to be detachably attached to the camera body and usable, and further includes a determination unit configured to allow the camera body to determine the type of the function. 11. The accessory device according to claim 10, wherein said determining means outputs code information relating to a type of the accessory device to the electronic camera.