JPH0328111B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an imaging device such as an exchangeable video adapter having a solid-state imaging device, which can be attached to a camera by replacing the back cover, for example.

In recent years, solid-state imaging devices such as CCD type and MOS type have been used in various fields.

Furthermore, large-area solid-state imaging devices using amorphous silicon or the like have also been proposed.

These solid-state imaging devices can obtain image information corresponding to a subject by controlling the storage time of image information.

On the other hand, when obtaining image information using photosensitive materials such as film, it is necessary to control the amount of exposure with a shutter, and with ordinary single-lens reflex cameras, slit exposure is required at high shutter speeds, so this is especially important for the imaging means. On the other hand, if this is used as is, the exposure accuracy will be significantly reduced.

The present invention is aimed at eliminating such drawbacks of the conventional technology, and is capable of disposing an area-type solid-state image sensor on the focal plane of the imaging lens by providing it replaceably on, for example, the exchangeable back cover of the camera. Image information corresponding to the subject is photoelectrically converted and stored, and magnetically recorded via a video information recording device, so that the magnetically recorded image information can be displayed on, for example, a television receiver.

Further, there is provided an imaging device which is configured to be able to be attached to a camera having an exposure time control means for controlling the exposure time of a shutter and to which a silver halide film can be attached instead of the silver halide film, an imaging means for converting an optical image through an imaging optical system of the camera into an electrical signal when attached to the camera;
a signal transmitting means that is connected to the camera when attached to the camera and transmits a signal regarding the operation timing of the exposure time control means of the camera, and a signal transmitting means that is connected to the camera when the imaging device is attached to the camera, drive timing control means for controlling the drive timing of the imaging means in synchronization with the operation timing of the exposure time control means transmitted by the image pickup means.

As a result, it is possible to obtain an imaging device in which the operating timing of the camera's exposure time control means and the drive timing of the imaging means can be easily matched.

The present invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a single-lens reflex camera to which an interchangeable video adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention can be attached.

LS is the imaging lens, AS is the aperture, QM is the quick return mirror, FS is the focus plate, CL is the condenser lens, PR is the pentaprism, EL is the eyepiece lens, SP is the photoelectric conversion element for photometry, and MT is the current for exposure display. ST is the shutter, FP is the film positioning rail, and CT is the connection terminal on the camera side. The items described below constitute a replacement video adapter, where SM is an area type solid-state image sensor, DM is a drive circuit for the solid-state image sensor as a drive timing control means, AM is a replacement back cover, and CM is a replacement video adapter. Connect terminals on the adapter side, CB1 and CB2 are connection capes, CK1 is a video recording device, and CK2 is a display device such as a television receiver.

Normally, the film is placed on the rail surface FP for setting the film position via a back cover with a film pressure plate (not shown), but in this figure, the solid-state image sensor SM of the replacement video adapter is placed on the focal plane. The camera is configured to transmit electrical information between the camera and the adapter via the connection terminals CT and CM.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an electric circuit of a camera having a shutter control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This diagram assumes a shutter-priority single-lens reflex camera, where LM is a photoelectric conversion element SP for measurement, an operational amplifier MP1 for photometry, and a logarithmic conversion element.
This is a photometry circuit consisting of an LD, SV is an exposure information setting circuit for setting film sensitivity information, and TV is shutter speed information.

The outputs of LM, TV, and SV are summed by operational amplifier OP1 to output aperture information, and the aperture display ammeter
The aperture value is displayed on the MT, and the aperture control circuit
The aperture is set using magnet Mg1 via ASK.

When the first step of the shutter release button (not shown) is pressed down, the photometry power switch SW1 is turned on, power E1 is supplied to the photometry and display circuit system, and exposure information is displayed. Next, by pressing down the shutter release button to the second stage, the imaging power switch SW2 is turned on, and power supply to the aperture and shutter control circuits is started.

Shutter time setting means Shutter time setting resistor VR1 linked to TV, time integration capacitor C1, count switch SW5 that turns off almost at the same time as the shutter starts to open, and shutter trigger circuit SHT act as exposure time control means. Forms a time constant circuit for controlling the shutter. When the aperture control is completed via magnet Mg1,
The quick return mirror QM rises and the shutter begins to open. SW5 turns off and time control of the shutter control time circuit starts. When the potential of C1 exceeds a certain value, the shutter trigger circuit
SHT is reversed and the shutter control magnet Mg
2 is turned off, the shutter closes and the exposure when using regular film is completed. Next, a circuit consisting of transistors Tr1 and Tr2, resistors R1 to R3, and a switch SW6 that is turned on when the shutter is fully opened and turned off when the shutter is closed or wound is used to control the time setting circuit for controlling the shutter when the replacement video adapter of the present invention is used. This is a circuit for controlling to switch the start timing of

Connect terminal CT1 between camera and adapter,
When connected via CM1; CT2, CM2; CT3, CM3;, the pull-down resistor on the adapter side
Since transistor Tr2 is turned on by _R10 , transistor Tr1 is also turned on, and both terminals of _C1 are short-circuited. Therefore, even if the count switch SW5 is turned off in synchronization with the start of the shutter opening, _C1 will not be charged.

When the SW6 is turned on in conjunction with the full opening of the shutter, the transistor Tr1 is turned off, and the time-setting control of the shutter control time-setting circuit is started. The drive circuit DM starts accumulating image information corresponding to the subject in the solid-state image sensor SM. When the potential of _C1 exceeds a certain value, the Schmitt trigger circuit SHT is inverted, and the storage of image information in the solid-state image sensor SM is completed by the drive circuit DM of the solid-state image sensor via the connection terminals CT2 and CM2, and the shutter is activated. The control magnet Mg2 is turned off, and the exposure to the solid-state image sensor SM is completed.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, when an exchangeable video adapter is used, the film sensitivity information on the camera side is switched to the sensitivity of the solid-state image sensor. In other words, in Figure 2, when the replacement video adapter is connected to the camera, the pull-down resistor is connected via the connect terminals CT1 and CM1.
Since the transistor Tr15 is turned on by _R10 , the transistor Tr16 is turned on, and the transistor Tr17 is turned off via the inverter IN.The sensitivity information VS of the solid-state image sensor is input to the operational amplifier OP1 instead of the film sensitivity information SV, and the solid-state image sensor The aperture is set to suit the sensitivity.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the shutter control method in the camera of the present invention, in which the aperture is determined after the imaging power switch SW2 is turned on when replacing the video adapter, and the shutter is operated until the shutter is fully opened. This is a method in which the time of the shutter control is delayed in advance through a delay circuit, and the output of the delay circuit starts the time setting control of the shutter control time setting circuit.

The capacitor C ₂ , the resistor R ₁₀ , and the transistor Tr6 constitute a reset circuit for initially resetting the charge of the time setting capacitor C ₃ of the delay circuit in synchronization with the turning on of the imaging power switch SW2.
R ₂₁ is a resistor for controlling the time constant current of the delay circuit. Only when a replacement video adapter is attached, transistor Tr5 is turned on, and after the time constant current flows and the shutter is fully opened, the potential of C ₃ changes to the resistor R. ₂₃ and _R24 , comparator CP1 is inverted, transistor Tr7 is turned on via resistor _R25 , transistor Tr1 is turned off, time control of the shutter control time circuit is started, and the shutter control becomes constant. After a certain period of time, the Schmitt circuit SHT is reversed, the shutter is closed, and the exposure to the solid-state image sensor is completed.

In this embodiment, a shutter-priority type camera has been described, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly applied to a shutter control time circuit of an aperture-priority type camera that controls the shutter speed based on a photometric calculation value. stomach. Further, although the shutter control time-setting circuit is illustrated as an analog one, the same applies to a digital time-setting circuit using a counter.

FIG. 4 shows a specific embodiment of a solid-state imaging device SM suitable for the present invention.

A ₁ ,..., An;...; Z ₁ ,..., Zn are photosensitive pixel parts having a charge accumulation function; CA1,..., Cn;...; CZ ₁ ,
..., CZn is an integral clear gate for clearing the charge accumulated in the photosensitive pixel section, FA1, ...,
FAn;...;FZ1,..., FZn is a vertical analog shift register VS1,..., for transferring the image information accumulated in the photosensitive pixel portion corresponding to the subject to charge transfer.
The charge transfer gate for transferring to VSn, HS is an analog shift register for horizontal charge transfer, and these vertical and horizontal shift registers are driven by clock pulses Vφ ₁ , Vφ ₂ , Hφ ₁ , Hφ _{2 .} Ru. The image information transferred to the vertical shift register is transferred via the vertical shift register and the horizontal shift register in a known manner, and the image information transferred to the right end of the horizontal shift register is transferred to the field effect transistor (FET) FC1, Through a charge voltage conversion circuit consisting of FC2 and resistors R ₃₀ to R ₃₂
It is sequentially output as voltage information from the VF terminal.

When the shutter on the camera side is fully opened, SW6 is turned on and transistor Tr1 is turned off, so the time-setting control of the shutter control time-setting circuit is started, and the CT3 terminal becomes zero level, and the drive circuit DM
The ICG terminal, which had discharged unnecessary charges in advance, is reversed to the low level side, the integral clear gates CA1,...,CAn;...; _CZ1 ,...,CZn are turned off, and the photosensitive pixel portions _A1,... , CZn are turned off. …,An;…;Z ₁ ,…,
Accumulation of image information corresponding to the subject begins in Zn. When the timed control of the shutter control timed circuit is completed, the shutter trigger circuit SHT is reversed.
The CT2 terminal becomes high level and a pulse is generated at the SH terminal via the drive circuit DM, causing the charge transfer gate FA1,
…, FAn; …; FZ ₁ , …, FZn are turned on, the image information accumulated in the photosensitive pixel portion is transferred to the analog shift registers VS1, …VSn, the accumulation of image information is completed, and reading of image information is started. Ru.

In this embodiment, a video adapter is assumed, but it goes without saying that the entire adapter may be included in the camera.

As described above, the present invention provides an imaging camera having an exposure time control means for controlling the exposure time of a shutter and configured to be able to be attached in place of a silver halide film to a camera to which a silver halide film can be attached. The device includes an imaging means for converting an optical image through an imaging optical system of the camera into an electrical signal when attached to the camera, and an image capturing means connected to the camera when attached to the camera and an exposure device for the camera. a signal transmission means for transmitting a signal regarding the operation timing of the time control means; and a signal transmission means for transmitting a signal regarding the operation timing of the time control means; It has a drive timing control means for controlling the drive timing of the imaging means, so not only can a general silver halide camera be transformed into an electronic camera with a single touch, but also there is no need for manual adjustment on the imaging device side. It is also possible to capture images at the optimal drive timing that matches the camera's exposure control timing.

Further, there is no need for any manual adjustment on the imaging device side to adjust the timing of reading out the electrical signal formed by imaging from the imaging element and the timing of closing the shutter, and smear etc. can be reliably prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the camera system of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit related to the camera according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second example of the same circuit, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an imaging means applicable to the present invention. ST...shutter, SM...imaging means, VR1,C
1... Time constant circuit for exposure control, Mg2... Magnet for shutter closing, DM... Imaging element drive circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Exposure time control means SW5, SW6, R1 to R3 for controlling the exposure time by shutter ST;
An imaging device configured to be able to be attached to a camera having VR1, Tr1, Tr2, C1, SHT, and Mg2 and to which a silver halide film can be attached, in place of the silver halide film, the image pickup device being able to be attached to the camera. An imaging means SM for converting an optical image through an imaging optical system of the camera into an electrical signal, and a signal related to the operation timing of an exposure time control means connected to the camera when attached to the camera. a signal transmission means for transmitting the image; and a drive for controlling the drive timing of the imaging means in synchronization with the operation timing of the exposure time control means transmitted via the signal transmission means when the imaging device is attached to a camera. An imaging device having a timing control means DM.