JPH0832007B2 - Electronic still camera - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an electronic still camera.

[Prior art]

A video signal obtained by picking up an optical image of an object with an image pickup device is easy to edit, trim, and perform other image signal processing, and is recorded / reproduced using a reversible recording member capable of erasing a roughly recorded signal. However, the imaging device that has been generally used for the generation of a video signal has a characteristic that a subject imaged on a photoelectric conversion unit in an image sensor by an imaging lens is used. The photoelectric image of the image sensor is converted into electrical image information corresponding to the optical image of the subject by the photoelectric conversion unit of the image sensor, and the electrical image information can be output as a serial video signal on the time axis. It is well known that various image pickup tubes and various solid-state image pickup elements have been conventionally used as the above-mentioned image pickup elements in the configuration of the image pickup apparatus. By the way, in order to obtain a high-quality / high-resolution reproduced image, an image pickup device capable of generating a video signal capable of reproducing a high-quality / high-resolution reproduced image is required. In an image pickup device in which an image pickup tube is used as an image pickup element, there is a limit to the miniaturization of the electron beam diameter in the image pickup tube, so that it is not possible to expect high resolution due to the miniaturization of the electron beam diameter. Since the target capacity of the tube increases in correspondence with the target area, it is not possible to realize high resolution by increasing the target area. Further, for example, in the case of a moving image pickup device, high resolution is required. As a result, the frequency band of the video signal becomes several tens of MHz to several hundreds of Hz or more, which causes a problem in terms of S / N.
It is difficult to generate a video signal that can reproduce a high-resolution reproduced image. In addition, the imaging device used in the conventional imaging device is:
It has such a structure that a video signal corresponding to a new optical image of the subject can be generated after the electric signal generated by photoelectrically converting the optical information to be recorded is transmitted as a video signal. Therefore, if the image pickup apparatus itself does not have a function of storing electric signals generated corresponding to sequential subject images, the electric information signal obtained by image pickup is conventionally recorded. If it is required, the video signal generated by the imaging device is recorded by using, for example, a magnetic recording device. In view of its usefulness in terms of points, the advent of a device having a recording function in the image pickup device itself has been desired. The Applicant Company proposes, as one of the devices capable of satisfying the above-mentioned demands, a device capable of capturing image information and recording the image information on a recording medium as a high-definition charge image (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. HEI-2) -29081 gazette).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

The above-mentioned generally proposed imaging device is configured as, for example, an electronic still camera, or is configured as a photographing device for capturing a moving image, so that a high-resolution still image which is difficult to obtain by a conventional device is obtained. (Still image)
It is possible to easily obtain a high-resolution charge image corresponding to a moving image. However, when the high resolution image information recorded in the form of an electric charge image on a recording medium is to be obtained as a visible image as a soft copy or a hard copy, it is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
As described in the upper right column on page 7 to the lower left column on the same page of 29081 publication, a read head or an optical modulation material to which an electrostatic detection method for a charge image recorded on a recording medium is applied is used. Due to the need to read using read heads to which the previously mentioned optical detection methods have been applied, the image in the read state will be less than the resolution in the state of the charge image. That is, the electric field from the charge image is read by the gap existing between the read head used for reading the charge image and the recording medium, or the charge image is read by the thickness of the components of the read head. It is unavoidable that the electric field is read as being in an expanded state, and therefore the image in the read state inevitably becomes an image with a resolution lower than the resolution in the state of the charge image. In particular, this is a problem when obtaining a still image that requires high resolution.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The present invention relates to an imaging lens, a photoelectric conversion unit that includes a photoconductive layer member on which an optical image of an object is formed by the imaging lens, and converts the optical image of the object into a charge image, and a charge image of the optical image of the object. A visible image corresponding to a charge image obtained by the above-mentioned photoelectric conversion means, in the case of information recording using a polymer-liquid crystal composite film for recording information by a light scattering effect corresponding to an electric field and a memory effect. There is provided an electronic still camera including at least a means for recording information on the information recording medium.

[Action]

An optical image of the subject is formed by an imaging lens on the photoconductive layer member in the photoelectric conversion means including the photoconductive layer member, and the optical image of the subject is converted into a charge image by the photoelectric conversion means. An information recording medium using a polymer-liquid crystal composite film as a recording layer for recording information by a light scattering effect and a memory effect corresponding to the electric field due to the electric charge image corresponds to the electric charge image when light is applied. Then, the information is recorded on the information recording medium in a state where the light intensity of the light can be changed. Therefore, since the image information recorded on the recorded information recording medium can be reproduced only by irradiating the recorded information recording medium with light, the recorded information recording medium itself is a hard copy. Available,
Further, it is also easy to make a hard copy of the image information reproduced by irradiating the information recording medium with light, and after reading the information recorded on the recorded information recording medium, It is also easy to obtain a hard copy after processing the information.

【Example】

Hereinafter, specific contents of the method for recording electromagnetic radiation information of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First
FIG. 11 to FIG. 11 are block diagrams of an embodiment of the electronic still camera of the present invention. 1 to 11, O is an object, TL is an imaging lens, RM is an information recording medium, BP and BP1 are transparent substrates (eg glass substrates), BP2 is a substrate, Et1, Eta, Etb are transparent electrodes, and Et2 is Et2. Electrodes, PCL is a photoconductive layer member, CML is a recording layer member in an information recording medium, E, Ec, Ep are power supplies, CSA is a three-color separation optical system, RM
Is an information recording medium. First, in FIGS. 1 to 6, a power source E is connected between the transparent electrode Et1 and the electrode Et2 so that a predetermined electric field is generated between the transparent electrode Et1 and the electrode Et2. Has been done. Although not shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the electric field generated between the transparent electrode Et1 and the electrode Et2 causes the power source E and the transparent electrode Et1 and the electrode Et2 to be generated. A switch (electronic shutter) provided in the circuit is controlled so as to meet the recording conditions of the information recording medium, or the amount of light from the subject is controlled by an optical shutter. It is a desirable embodiment to have a configuration in which an image of a subject is captured under favorable exposure conditions. As the transparent substrate (for example, glass substrate) BP1 and the transparent electrode Et1 (for example, ITO) described above, those having a spectral transmission characteristic capable of transmitting light in a wavelength band of optical information to be imaged are used. To be done. Further, as the photoconductive layer member PCL, when a high-definition optical image is given to one end surface of the photoconductive layer member PCL, a high-definition image is applied to the other end surface under application of an electric field of appropriate strength. It is possible to use a material made of a photoconductor material (for example, amorphous silicon) having a property capable of generating a charge image. Further, as the recording layer member CML in the information recording medium, the intensity distribution of the electric field applied to it is stored as a form of change in optical properties, and when light having a constant intensity distribution is given to it, A material capable of producing light showing an intensity distribution according to the stored content,
That is, a polymer-liquid crystal composite film can be used. Polymer-liquid crystal memory film used as the recording layer member CML described above, for example, methacrylic resin, polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, vinyl chloride resin, polyamide resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin,
Volume resistivity like polystyrene resin and silicone resin
A liquid crystal phase at room temperature in a myriad of minute pores formed in a randomly distributed state in a porous polymer material film of 10 ¹⁴ Ωcm or more, for example, pores with a diameter of about 0.5 micron or less. And a nematic liquid crystal having a high volume resistivity or a smectic liquid crystal is enclosed. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an information recording medium RM having a constitution in which an electrode Et2 and a recording layer member CML are laminated is used, and as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. In the embodiment described above, the information recording medium RM has a configuration in which the electrode Et2, the recording layer member CML, the photoconductive layer member PCL, and the transparent electrode Et1 are laminated. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the electrode Et2, the recording layer member CML, and the photoconductive layer member PCL are used as the information recording medium RM.
A transparent electrode Et1, a color separation filter F, and a transparent substrate BP are laminated, and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the electrode Et2 is used as the information recording medium RM.
, Recording layer member CML, color separation filter F, photoconductive layer member PCL
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a substrate BP2, a color separation filter F and electrodes are used as the information recording medium RM. A structure in which Et2 and the recording layer member CML are laminated is used. The above-mentioned information recording medium can have any shape such as a disc shape, a tape shape, or a sheet shape, and the information recording medium can be transported in a predetermined phase. Good. WH shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 are write heads, respectively, and the write head shown in FIG.
The WH is configured as a configuration mode in which the transparent electrode Et1 and the photoconductive layer member are laminated, and the writing head WH shown in FIG. 6 has a transparent substrate BP1, a color separation filter F and a transparent substrate BP1. The configuration is such that the electrode Et1 and the photoconductive layer member PCL are laminated. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an optical image of O of the subject is formed on the photoconductive layer member PCL by the imaging lens TL via the transparent electrode Et1, and FIGS. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the optical image of the object O formed by the imaging lens TL is image-formed on the photoconductive layer member PCL in a state of being color-separated by the color-separation system. In the three-color separation optical system CSA shown in FIG. 3, DP is a dichroic prism, Mr and Mb are total reflection surfaces, and P
r and Pb are optical path correction prisms, and among the light of the subject incident on the dichroic prism Dp, green light travels straight through the dichroic prism Dp and forms an optical image of the subject green light on the photoconductive layer member. . Also, of the light of the subject incident on the dichroic prism Dp, red light is reflected by the dichroic prism Dp toward the optical path correction prism Pr, and then totally reflected by the total reflection surface Mr and transmitted through the optical path correction prism Pr. Then, an optical image of the red light of the subject is formed on the photoconductive layer member, and the blue light of the light of the subject incident on the dichroic prism Dp is reflected by the dichroic prism Dp toward the optical path correction prism Pb. Then, the light is totally reflected by the total reflection surface Mb, is transmitted through the optical path correcting prism Pb, and forms an optical image of blue light of the subject on the photoconductive layer member. Then, as described above, an image forming surface of an optical image of green light of the subject formed on the photoconductive layer member, an image forming surface of an optical image of red light of the subject, and an optical image of blue light of the subject. The image plane is formed in a state of being juxtaposed adjacent to the photoconductive layer member. The information recording medium RM used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 has a configuration mode in which the information recording medium RM itself is provided with a color separation filter F as color separation means. is there. As described above, the color separation filter F used as a constituent member of the information recording medium RM and the color separation filter F used as a constituent member of the writing head WH shown in FIG. In addition to the strips (for example, strips of red, green, blue, or magenta, cyan, yellow, etc.) arranged in a predetermined repeating order, the filter pieces of each color are island-shaped. In the configuration mode, the configuration modes are arranged in a predetermined repeating order, and other arbitrary configuration modes may be used. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the writing head WH also
The color separation filter F corresponding to the color separation filter F in the information recording medium RM is used as a component. Now, in the embodiments shown in each of FIGS. 1 to 6, a predetermined voltage is applied between the transparent electrode Et1 and the electrode Et2 from the power source E (recording on the recording layer member CML of the information recording medium RM. In the state in which a threshold voltage value for generating the electric field required for good recording of the targeted information between the transparent electrode Et1 and the electrode Et2) is applied, Recording corresponding to the optical image of the subject formed on the photoconductive layer member PCL is performed on the recording layer member CML in the information recording medium RM. That is, in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when a light flux from the subject passes through the transparent electrode Et1 through the imaging lens TL and enters the photoconductive layer member PCL to form an image, The electric resistance value of the photoconductive layer member PCL changes according to the amount of light of the light flux incident on it and formed an image.
The electric resistance value of each part of L is changed corresponding to the light quantity of each part of the subject. Further, in the embodiment shown in the third illustration, the light flux from the subject is transmitted through the imaging lens TL and the three-color separation optical system CSA to the transparent electrode E.
When the light is transmitted through t1 and enters the photoconductive layer member PCL to form an image,
The electric resistance value of the photoconductive layer member PCL changes according to the light amount of the light flux incident on it, and the electric resistance value of each part of the photoconductive layer member PCL changes corresponding to the light amount of each part of the subject. It is done in the state of being. Further, in the embodiment shown in the fourth illustration, when a light flux from the subject enters the photoconductive layer member PCL through the imaging lens TL, the transparent substrate BP, the transparent electrode Et1, and the color separation filter F to form an image, The electric resistance value of the layer member PCL changes according to the amount of light of the light flux that is incident on the layer member PCL and forms an image.
The electric resistance value of each part of the PCL is changed corresponding to the light amount of each part of the subject. Furthermore, in the fifth embodiment, the image pickup lens
When a light flux from the subject enters the photoconductive layer member PCL via the TL, the electrode Et2, the recording layer member CML, and the color separation filter F, the electric resistance value of the photoconductive layer member PCL is incident on it and forms an image. Depending on the light intensity of the photoconductive layer member PCL
The electric resistance value of each part of the image is changed corresponding to the light amount of each part of the subject, and in the embodiment shown in the sixth illustration, the imaging lens TL, the transparent substrate BP1, and the color separation filter F are used.
When the light flux from the subject enters the photoconductive layer member PCL and forms an image via the transparent electrode Et1 and the transparent electrode Et1, the electric resistance value of the photoconductive layer member PCL changes according to the light amount of the light flux incident on the photoconductive layer member PCL and imaged. Then, the electric resistance value of each part of the photoconductive layer member PCL is changed to correspond to the light amount of each part of the subject. Therefore, between the transparent electrode Et1 and the electrode Et2 described above, a predetermined voltage (with respect to the recording layer member CML of the information recording medium RM,
A voltage value of a predetermined voltage value is applied between the transparent electrode Et1 and the electrode Et2 to generate the electric field required for good recording of the information to be recorded. In this case, the recording layer member in the information recording medium RM is generated by the electric field due to the charge image generated corresponding to the state of the change in the electric resistance value in the photoconductive layer member PCL described above.
A change in the state corresponding to the optical image of the subject occurs in the CML, and the change in the state is stored. The above points will be specifically described as follows. Recording layer member CML using the polymer-liquid crystal composite film described above
Is a polymer material in which high-resistance liquid crystal is dispersed. For example, polyester resin, polycarbonate resin, vinyl chloride resin, polyamide resin, polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polystyrene resin, silicone resin, etc. A liquid crystal phase is exhibited at room temperature in a polymer material film having a volume resistivity of 10 ¹⁴ Ωcm or more, and
A nematic liquid crystal or a smectic liquid crystal having a high volume resistivity is dispersed. Now, when an electric field having an intensity distribution corresponding to the charge distribution of the charge image is applied to the recording layer member CML made of the polymer-liquid crystal composite film operating in the scattering mode, the polymer-liquid crystal composite film used as the recording layer member CML. Then, a change image of the alignment state of the liquid crystal corresponding to the electric field due to the charge image applied thereto is generated. Then, the change image of the alignment state of the liquid crystal generated corresponding to the charge image on the polymer-liquid crystal composite film used as the recording layer member CML is maintained as it is as long as the charge image is present. However, when the size of the pores dispersed in the polymer-liquid crystal composite film is large,
When the charge image is removed, the electric field applied to the polymer-liquid crystal composite film used as the recording layer member CML disappears, so that the liquid crystal in the polymer-liquid crystal composite film becomes an isotropic phase and erasing is performed. Be seen. However, the size of the pores dispersed in the polymer-liquid crystal composite film used as the recording layer member CML is, for example,
In the case of a small diameter of about 0.5 micron or less, even if there is no electric field applied to the polymer-liquid crystal composite film used as the recording layer member CML by removing the charge image,
A memory function is generated so that the liquid crystal in the polymer-liquid crystal composite film retains the change image of the alignment state of the liquid crystal, which has been generated in correspondence with the charge image. That is, the liquid crystal used as one of the constituent elements of the polymer-liquid crystal memory film PML is randomly distributed in the porous polymer material film used as another constituent element of the polymer-liquid crystal memory film. It is enclosed in a myriad of minute pores formed in a distributed state, but the size of the pores in the polymer material in which the liquid crystal is confined is reduced to a high level. When the force of the walls of the pores applied to the liquid crystal in the molecular material is increased, an electric field is applied to the liquid crystal in the above-described polymer-liquid crystal memory film to cause the polymer-
The liquid crystal memory film tends to be in a transparent state, and the alignment state generated in the liquid crystal continues to be retained even after the application of the applied electric field is removed. A supplementary explanation of the memory function is as follows. Is. The liquid crystal molecules enclosed in the pores are in the state of being enclosed in the microscopic pores in a cinematic phase while being subjected to the force of the pore wall surface (enclosed in the pores). The liquid crystal molecules are subjected to the force of the surface of the pore wall, but the closer the liquid crystal molecule is to the pore wall, the more the above force is applied. The influence of the surface force of the pore wall on the liquid crystal molecules is large.) As described above, Then, when an electric field having an electric field strength equal to or higher than a certain threshold is applied, the liquid crystal molecules encapsulated in the pores in the cinematic phase in the state of receiving the force from the surface of the pore wall, It is displaced so as to be oriented in the direction of the electric field against the force applied from the surface of the pore wall. The mode of displacement that occurs in the liquid crystal molecules in response to the application of the electric field changes according to the strength of the applied electric field, and when the electric field applied to the liquid crystal is weak, it is applied from the surface of the pore wall. The liquid crystal molecules with weak force, that is, only the liquid crystal molecules mainly located near the center of the pore are displaced with a tendency to face the direction of the applied electric field, and the strength of the applied electric field of the liquid crystal gradually increases. As a result, liquid crystal molecules with a strong force applied from the surface of the pore wall, that is, liquid crystal molecules located near the pore wall also tend to have their molecular axes oriented in the direction of the applied electric field. The liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a displacement mode of being displaced by. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules encapsulated in the nematic phase in the innumerable minute pores formed at random in the porous polymer material film in the polymer-liquid crystal memory film are The liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a displacement manner such that the direction of the molecular axis of the liquid crystal is oriented in the direction of the electric field against the force applied from the surface of the pore wall at the time of application. Since the molecules of the liquid crystal aligned by the applied electric field are retained in the same state by the force of the surface of the pore wall as described above, the alignment state of the liquid crystal changed by the application of the electric field as described above. Shows a memory function because it is kept as it is even after the applied electric field is removed. Then, in order to erase the storage state of information due to the orientation state of the liquid crystal, the polymer used as the recording layer member CML-the liquid crystal in the liquid crystal memory film, the melting point temperature of the liquid crystal and the melting point of the polymer material It is necessary to raise the temperature to a temperature between the two and melt the liquid crystal to make it an isotropic phase. Disappears as it cools into a nematic phase over time and that part changes to an opaque state. For the erasing operation, for example, a heating layer may be provided on the information recording medium RM, and the erasing power may be supplied to the heating layer during the erasing operation. The polymer-liquid crystal composite film in which the electric field due to the charge image generated according to the change pattern of the electric resistance value of the photoconductive layer member PCL generated corresponding to the optical image of the subject is used as the recording layer member CML in the information recording medium RM. When you join the
In the liquid crystal composite film, a change in the alignment state of the liquid crystal occurs in response to the electric field due to the above-mentioned charge image, and that state is maintained. Then, in the polymer-liquid crystal composite film used as the recording layer member CML of the information recording medium RM, the recorded information recording medium RM in the state in which the information corresponding to the optical image of the subject is recorded as described above. As shown in FIG. 7, when the reading light (reproducing light) RL having a constant light intensity is irradiated, the light scattering effect and the memory effect used as the recording layer member CML of the recorded information recording medium RM The transmitted light or the reflected light from the polymer-liquid crystal composite film having the is recorded content can be visually recognized as the intensity of the light, and the recorded recording medium RM itself is used as a hard copy. Therefore, in the case of the information recording medium RM in which the information recording medium RM itself is provided with the color separation filter as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the recorded recording medium RM is white with a constant light intensity. When the reading light (reproducing light) RL is irradiated, a color image can be viewed from the recorded recording medium RM. That is, according to the electronic still camera of the present invention, there is no need to perform development processing after taking an image as in a conventional optical camera, and there is no need to use a printer as in a conventional electronic still camera. Immediately after that, a hard copy in which a high-resolution image is recorded can be obtained. Next, with reference to FIG. 8 and subsequent figures, a recorded recording medium
A configuration example in which the information recorded in the RM is recorded in another recording medium to obtain a hard copy will be described. In FIG. 8, LS is a reproduction light source, and the reproduction light emitted from the reproduction light source LS is deflected by the optical deflector PDEF in a predetermined deflection mode (for example, horizontal direction and vertical direction) and then the lens. The recorded recording medium RM is scanned via L1. The reproduction light transmitted through the recorded recording medium RM is emitted from the recorded recording medium RM in a state of being intensity-modulated corresponding to the recorded content in the recorded recording medium RM and given to the photoelectric converter PD by the condenser lens L2. To be The image signal output from the photoelectric converter PD is supplied to the printer 3 via the interface 2 after being subjected to predetermined signal processing in the signal processing circuit 1, and the printer 3
Outputs a hard copy in which the above-mentioned image signal is recorded on the recording paper. Next, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the reproducing light is emitted via the lens L1 so that the entire surface of the recorded recording medium RM is irradiated with the reproducing light emitted from the light source LS of the reproducing light. Is given to the recorded recording medium RM. The recorded recording medium RM is adapted to be moved in the X direction in the figure. The reproduction light transmitted through the recorded recording medium RM is intensity-modulated corresponding to the recorded content in the recorded recording medium RM, and the light emitted from the recorded recording medium RM is emitted from the recorded image recording medium RM by the condenser lens L2. Is focused on. The line image sensor LIS performs main scanning in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction X of the recorded recording medium RM and outputs an image signal. The image signal output from the line image sensor LIS is supplied to the printer 3 via the interface 2 after being subjected to predetermined signal processing in the signal processing circuit 1, and the printer 3
Outputs a hard copy in which the above-mentioned image signal is recorded on the recording paper. This is an embodiment in the case of obtaining a hard copy of the image content recorded on the recorded recording medium RM of FIG. 10 by using a transfer type electronic copying machine. The light is deflected in a predetermined deflection mode (for example, the horizontal direction and the vertical direction) by the optical deflector PDEF, and then scans the recorded recording medium RM via the lens L1. The reproduction light transmitted through the recorded recording medium RM is emitted from the recorded recording medium RM in a state of being intensity-modulated corresponding to the recorded content in the recorded recording medium RM, and is coupled to the photosensitive drum 4 by the condenser lens L2. Image. Since the photoconductor drum 4 is given photosensitivity by the corona discharge from the charger 8, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the optical image given thereto is formed on the photoconductor drum 4 by a well-known electrophotographic process. The toner is visualized with toner in the developing unit 5, and then transferred to the recording paper 7 in the transfer unit 6. The recording paper 7 on which the toner image has been transferred in the transfer unit 6 is fixed in a fixing unit (not shown) by means such as heat fixing and then discharged as a hard copy. It should be noted that FIG. 10 does not show a high-voltage generating unit for supplying a high voltage to the photosensitive drum 4, a cleaning unit for removing toner on the photosensitive drum 4, a recording paper supply unit, a discharge unit, and the like. Omitted. Next, the eleventh illustrated embodiment uses a light-to-light conversion element PPCA formed by laminating a transparent electrode Eta, a photoconductive layer member PCL, a dielectric mirror DML, a light modulation material layer member PML, and a transparent electrode Etb. Then, the recorded contents of the recorded recording medium RM are converted from light to light, and then the optical parallel processing section 9 performs signal processing in the state of optical information and outputs it. For specific configurations and operations of the light-to-light conversion element PPCA described above, refer to, for example, the description in JP-A 1-213619. Further, as the optical parallel processing unit 9, for example, a unit configured by using a light-light conversion element as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-89423 can be used. In FIG. 11, the reproduction light emitted from the light source LSa of the reproduction light irradiates the recorded recording medium RM via the lens L3, so that the light whose intensity is modulated by the recorded content of the recorded recording medium RM is light. -It enters the light conversion element PPCA as writing light. The electric resistance value of the photoconductive layer member PCL of the light-to-light conversion element PPCA changes according to the intensity distribution of the writing light, and the transparent electrodes Eta and Etb are supplied with a voltage from the power supply Ep. Therefore, a charge image corresponding to the intensity distribution of the writing light is formed at the boundary between the photoconductive layer member PCL and the dielectric mirror DML in the light-light conversion element PPCA. On the other hand, the reproduction laser light emitted from the light source LSb of the reproduction light and given to the deflection beam splitter BS via the lens L4 is reflected by the beam splitter BS and from the transparent electrode Etb side of the light-light conversion element PPCA. Although incident as read light, the read light passes through the light modulation material layer member PML in the light-to-light conversion element PPCA and reaches the dielectric mirror DML,
Then, the light is reflected and again passes through the light modulation material layer member PML to emit light.
The light is emitted from the transparent electrode Etb of the light conversion element PPCA and transmitted through the beam splitter BS to be supplied to the optical parallel processing unit 9. Since the electric field generated from the charge image is applied to the light modulation material layer member PML (for example, a layer of lithium niobate) in the light-to-light conversion element PPCA, the light modulation material layer member PML as described above. The laser light traveling back and forth holds the recorded contents of the recorded recording medium RM in a state that the polarization plane thereof changes according to the electric field strength applied to the light modulation material layer member PML. As described above, when the light emitted from the light-to-light conversion element PPCA and transmitted through the polarization beam splitter BS is supplied to the optical parallel processing unit 9, the optical parallel processing unit 9 compares the light supplied to the optical parallel processing unit 9. Predetermined signal processing in the light condition (eg gain adjustment, gamma processing, matrix processing, other processing)
Output after applying. The output light from the optical parallel processing unit 9 is, for example, photoelectrically converted and then supplied to the printer to output a hard copy from the printer, or the optical output from the optical parallel processing unit 9 is applied to an electronic copying machine. Make a hard copy available from an electronic copier. As a mode of the reproduction light to be applied when reading the recorded contents from the recorded recording medium RM, surface irradiation, linear scanning, two-dimensional scanning, or the like may be used. Further, as the configuration of the photoelectric conversion device used accordingly, a photoelectric converter, a line image sensor, a two-dimensional image sensor, or the like is selectively used. Further, in implementing the present invention, it goes without saying that the recording system and the reproducing system may be separately configured, or the recording system and the reproducing system may be integrally configured.

As is clear from the above description, the electronic still camera of the present invention converts an optical image of a subject into a charge image by photoelectric conversion means including a photoconductive layer member. The recorded information is recorded on the information recording medium in such a state that the light intensity of the light can be changed corresponding to the charge image when light is applied by the electric field due to the charge image. Since the image information recorded on the recorded information recording medium can be reproduced in a visually observable state simply by irradiating the recording medium with light, the recorded information recording medium itself can be used as a hard copy. Then, the hard copy obtained as described above can be used for the development and / or development required for silver halide photography in conventional optical cameras.
It is possible to obtain in a completely unnecessary state such as a process such as printing, and it is not necessary to have a reproduction signal processing operation or a printer for obtaining a hard copy, which was required when obtaining a hard copy in a conventional electronic camera. It can be obtained in any condition.
It is also easy to make a hard copy of the image information reproduced by irradiating the information recording medium with another medium, and after reading the information recorded on the recorded information recording medium, It is also easy to obtain a hard copy after processing the information, and even when the hard copy described above is made using another recording medium, a read head for a charge image is not used unlike the conventional case, A problem that arises when a charge image reading head is used as in the conventional method, that is, reading is performed in a state where the electric field from the charge image is enlarged due to the gap existing between the charge image reading head and the recording medium. The image in the read state is inevitably read by reading the image as a state in which the electric field from the charge image is enlarged by the thickness of the components of the read head. Problem becomes the resolution of the image lower than the resolution in the state of the image has never occur, a hard copy of a still image according to the present invention is a high resolution is required can be easily provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 11 are block diagrams of an embodiment of the electronic still camera of the present invention. O ... Subject, TL ... Imaging lens, RM ... Information recording medium, BP, B
P1 ... Transparent substrate, BP2 ... Substrate, Et1, Eta, Etb ... Transparent electrode, Et
2 ... Electrode, PCL ... Photoconductive layer member, CML ... Recording layer member in information recording medium, E, Ec, Ep ... Power source, CSA ... Three-color separation optical system, RM ... Information recording medium, WH ... Writing head, DP ... Dichroic prism, Mr, Mb ... Total reflection surface, Pr, Pb ... Optical path correction prism, F ... Color separation filter, LSa, LSb, LS ... Reproduced light source, PDEF ... Optical polarizer, L1-L4 ... Lens, PD ... Photoelectric conversion element, 1 ... Signal processing circuit, 2 ... Interface, 3
... printer, 4 ... photoconductor drum, 5 ... developing section, 6 ... transfer section, 7 ... recording paper, 8 ... charger, 9 ... optical parallel processing section,

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Masato Furuya, 3-12 Moriya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (72) Takehisa Koyama 3--12 Moriya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama Address inside Victor Company of Japan (72) Inventor Yuji Uchiyama 3-12 Moriya-cho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Victor Company of Japan (56) Reference JP-A-2-29081 (JP, A) JP 64-7022 (JP, A)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup lens, photoelectric conversion means for converting an optical image of a subject into a charge image by including a photoconductive layer member on which an optical image of the subject is formed by the image pickup lens, and a charge by the optical image of the subject. An information recording medium using a polymer-liquid crystal composite film for recording information by a light scattering effect and a memory effect corresponding to an electric field of an image and an electric charge image obtained by the photoelectric conversion means described above are applicable. Electronic still camera including at least means for recording visual image information on the above-mentioned information recording medium