JPH11119305A - Still image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A still image capturing apparatus that performs flash illumination corresponding to imaging of each field constituting one frame by a flash illumination device and extracts image information of each field from an image sensor by interlace scanning. It is possible to make full use of the lighting device to adjust the shadow appearance of the subject and extend the photographable distance. A microcomputer (6) individually controls the timing of light emission of each of the flash illuminating devices for each of the flash illuminating devices with reference to the timing of the imaging operation of the image sensor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a still image pickup apparatus for converting a subject image into a digital signal and recording the digital signal on a recording medium in the form of still image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a still image pickup apparatus which picks up a subject image formed by a taking lens by an image pickup device and records it as still image information. In the still image pickup apparatus, the still image information is recorded on a recording medium such as a floppy disk.

[0003] As an image pickup device of a still image pickup apparatus, image information obtained by photoelectrically converting a subject image by interlace scanning is taken out, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device).
e) is used. Here, the interlaced scan means that one frame of image information composed of a plurality of fields is scanned and extracted on a field basis. By synthesizing the image signals for each field obtained by the interlace scan, still image information for one frame is generated.

For example, in a CCD which takes out image information by interlaced scanning, continuous taking out of two fields of an ODD field consisting of odd-numbered scanning lines and an EVEN field consisting of even-numbered scanning lines is performed twice. By synthesizing image information for two fields obtained by two extractions, an image of one frame is created.

[0005] In this still image pickup device, when photographing is performed using a flash illumination device such as a xenon gas discharge tube, image information of a subject illuminated by the flash illumination device in the ODD field and the EVEN field, respectively. To obtain, the flash illuminator is fired twice, corresponding to the ODD field and the EVEN field.

[0006]

The above-mentioned flash illuminating device requires a capacitor for obtaining a high potential for discharge. In order to emit light twice in a short period from the imaging of the ODD field to the imaging of the EVEN field, two capacitors are required. In the above-described still image pickup apparatus, one frame image can be normally photographed, that is, photographed using a single flash illumination device, while two capacitors are provided as described above. .

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and is intended to take out image information by interlaced scanning from an image pickup device and to cope with image pickup of each field constituting one frame by a flash illumination device. In a still image pickup apparatus capable of performing flash illumination, a still image pickup apparatus capable of adjusting the shadow appearance of a subject and extending a photographable distance by making full use of the flash illumination apparatus. It is intended to provide an imaging device.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a still image pickup apparatus according to the present invention has a photographing lens and an image pickup device for picking up an image formed by the photographing lens. A still image capturing apparatus that extracts still image information accumulated in the image sensor by an interlaced scan by an imaging operation and forms one frame image by a plurality of fields, at least as many as the number of fields forming one frame image And a control circuit for controlling light emission of each of these flash lighting devices.

The control circuit individually controls the timing of light emission of each flash lighting device for each flash lighting device with reference to the timing of the imaging operation in the image sensor.

[0010]

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

A still image pickup apparatus according to this embodiment obtains still image information by picking up an image of a subject formed by a photographic lens by an image pickup device, converts the still image information into a digital signal, and stores the information in a floppy disk as a recording medium. This is a device for recording on a computer. This floppy disk is, for example, a disk-shaped magnetic disk having a diameter of 3.5 inches, and is a magnetic recording medium rotatably housed in a cartridge and constituting a display cartridge.

As shown in FIG. 1, this still image pickup device is a so-called image pickup device C, which photoelectrically converts a subject image formed by a photographing lens in field units and picks up an image.
And a CD (Charge Coupled Device) 11.
Image data obtained by interlacing the CCD 11 for each field is sent to a sample / hold / analog-to-digital conversion circuit 12 that creates still image information based on the image data. Sample hold /
The analog-to-digital conversion circuit 12 converts the transmitted image data into 10-bit digital data and sends the digital data to the camera signal processing circuit 13. This camera signal processing circuit 13
An 8-bit luminance signal Y and a 4-bit color difference signal C are generated from the transmitted digital data and sent to the DRAM controller 14.

The DRAM controller 14 has a luminance signal Y
And the color difference signal C to the panel signal processing circuit 16. The panel signal processing circuit 16 includes a luminance signal Y and a color difference signal C.
Then, three primary color signals R, G, and B are generated and sent to an LCD (liquid crystal display) panel 15. The LCD panel 15 displays an image captured by the CCD 11 based on the sent three primary color signals R, G, and B. The LCD panel 15 includes the LC
OSD capable of displaying characters on the D panel 15
(On Screen Displa
y)) 4 is connected.

The DRAM controller 14 controls the DRAM 5 for storing still image information and sends image data to the microcomputer 6 serving as a control circuit and an FDC (Floppy Disk Controller) 18. The DRAM 5 stores image data of a still image obtained from the CCD 11 based on an electric signal. That is,
The DRAM controller 14 includes the camera signal processing circuit 13
Are stored in predetermined areas of the DRAM 5 under the control of the microcomputer 6. The DRAM 5 has a storage capacity of 8 megabytes in total, for example, by being composed of two memory chips having a capacity of 4 megabytes.

The FDC 18 controls an FDD (Floppy Display Drive) 19 by a control signal, and sends and receives write data RDATA and read data WDATA to and from the FDD 19.
In step D19, the image data is written to and read from the floppy disk.

Then, the microcomputer 6 has the DR
AM controller 14, DRAM5, OSD4 and FD
Control C18. The microcomputer 6, the DRAM controller 14, the DRAM 5, the OSD 4
And the FDC 18 are connected to each other by a common bus.

The microcomputer 6 includes an RO
M6a is provided, and the operation input unit 17 is connected. The ROM 6a stores a software program for controlling each block. The operation input unit 17 has a selection button for selecting one of the field mode and the frame mode. The operation input unit 17 has various operation buttons / switches such as a shutter button, operation such as zooming, editing such as data deletion, and a selection button for selecting the above-described image capturing mode. The operation content of the operation button / switch is detected, and the detected signal is sent to the microcomputer 6 as an operation signal. As the microcomputer 6, for example, RISC (Res
A duced Instruction Set Computer (reduced instruction set computer) type is used.

In the still image pickup apparatus, the microcomputer 6 executes a software program in the ROM 6a based on an operation signal from the operation input unit 17 to obtain an image at the time of shooting, reproduction, and editing. Performs processing such as compression / decompression and file management.

Further, in this still image pickup apparatus, based on the result of selection of the image pickup mode by the selection button provided on the operation input unit 17, that is, the result of selection between the field mode and the frame mode, One frame of image data is created. That is,
In the frame mode, image data of one frame is created by image data of a plurality of fields. In the field mode, one frame of image data is created as data corresponding to one frame based on the image data of any one field.

Here, a field is a frame which comprises a plurality of frames, and the still image pickup apparatus outputs an electric signal of the field unit from the CCD 11 by interlaced scanning in which the CCD 11 is scanned in units of the field. We are taking out. In this embodiment, one frame is composed of two fields, an ODD field, which is a field composed of odd-numbered scanning lines, and an EVEN field, which is a field composed of even-numbered scanning lines.

That is, the field mode is a mode in which one frame of image data is obtained by illuminating and photographing a subject using one flash illuminator or a plurality of flash illuminators that emit light simultaneously. The frame mode is a mode in which image data of one frame is obtained by using a plurality of flash illumination devices that emit light in synchronization with the imaging of each field, or by illuminating an object with ordinary light and shooting. .

The still image pickup device has a flash illumination unit 34 for realizing a field mode. The flash illuminator 34 comprises flash illuminators 34a and 34b of the same number or more as the number of fields constituting one frame, and operates under the control of the microcomputer 6. Each of these flash illuminators 34a and 34b irradiates illumination toward a subject during a photoelectric conversion period for one field, and ends illumination before the photoelectric conversion for the next field. Have time. Therefore, the still image capturing apparatus can generate effective image data for one field by one light emission of one of the flash lighting devices 34a and 34b of the flash lighting unit 34 having the above-described flash time characteristics. Obtainable. The microcomputer 6 can individually control the light emission timing of each of the flash lighting devices 34a and 34b for each of the flash lighting devices 34a and 34b. Each of the flash illumination devices 34a and 34b is supported so as to be movable, and the distance of the taking lens with respect to the optical axis is variable. These flash lighting devices 34
a and 34b are moved and controlled by a control circuit.

Each flash lighting device 34a,
Numeral 34 is, for example, configured by using a strobe discharge tube that gives a high voltage to a halogen gas sealed in a so-called glass tube and discharges the halogen gas to obtain a flash, and has a capacitor for obtaining a high voltage potential. I have. As the halogen gas sealed in the glass tube, there is, for example, xenon gas.

In the still image pickup apparatus configured as described above, the microcomputer 6 includes an operation input unit 17
The operation of each block including the flash lighting unit 34 is determined based on the selection result of the image capturing mode by the selection button of C.
The photographing by the CD 11 is performed.

In the still image pickup apparatus, when the field mode is selected, as shown in FIG. 2, photoelectric conversion of an optical signal from a subject is performed in units of fields, and obtained by photoelectric conversion of each field. Complementary processing is performed based on the image data (b) of one of the valid fields, and still image information (a) corresponding to one frame is created.

That is, when the field mode is selected, only one of the flash illuminators 34a and 34b emits light, or the flash illuminators 34a and 34b of the flash illuminator 34 emit light simultaneously. Still image information corresponding to one frame can be created from image data of only one field obtained by illuminating the subject.

As shown in FIG. 3, in a shooting mode in which only one of the flash lighting devices 34a and 34b emits light to take an image of one field and create still image information corresponding to one frame, Flash lighting unit 34
, Power consumption can be minimized.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the photographing mode in which each of the flash illuminators 34a and 34b emits light simultaneously to capture an image of one field to create still image information corresponding to one frame, Lighting device 34
As compared with the case where only one of the light emitting devices a and 34b emits light, the amount of illumination light is increased, and the photographable distance can be extended by about 1.4 times.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the positions of the flash illuminators 34a and 34b with respect to the optical axis are made different from each other to emit light simultaneously, one field is imaged, and still image information corresponding to one frame is obtained. In the photographing mode to be created, the amount of illumination is increased and the photographable distance is extended as compared with the case where only one of the flash lighting devices 34a and 34b emits light, and the flash lighting devices 34a and 34b emit light. The shadow of the subject due to light can be made inconspicuous.

In this still image pickup apparatus,
When the frame mode is selected, as shown in FIG. 6, two fields of image data are combined to create one frame of still image information. That is, in the frame mode, the image data of the ODD field (b) and the image data of the EVEN field (c) are combined to create the frame image (a).

That is, when the frame mode is selected, the image data for two fields obtained by illuminating the object by sequentially illuminating each of the flash lighting devices 34a and 34b in synchronization with the imaging of each field. Thereby, still image information corresponding to one frame can be created.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the flash illuminators 34a and 34b are set at substantially the same position with respect to the optical axis, and sequentially emit light in synchronization with the imaging of each field to perform imaging for two fields. In a shooting mode for creating still image information corresponding to one frame, an image of a subject illuminated by the flash illumination unit 34 is captured for each field, so that high-quality still image information can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 8, while moving each of the flash illuminators 34a and 34b with respect to the optical axis, the flash illuminators 34a and 34b are sequentially illuminated to capture images of two fields, thereby obtaining still image information corresponding to one frame. In the photographing mode in which the flash illumination devices 34a and 34b are stopped at the same position with respect to the optical axis to emit light, the shadow of the subject due to the light emitted from the flash illumination devices 34a and 34b Can be made inconspicuous.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the positions of the flash illuminators 34a and 34b with respect to the optical axis are different from each other, and the flash illuminators 34a and 34b are sequentially lit to emit light. In the photographing mode for creating the flashlight, the flashlight devices 34a and 34b emit light at the same position with respect to the optical axis.
The shadow of the subject caused by the light emitted from the flash lighting devices 34a and 34b can be made inconspicuous.

In this still image pickup apparatus, L
On the CD panel 15, it is possible to display which of the field mode and the frame mode is selected.

As shown in FIG. 10, the still image pickup apparatus configured as described above has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape and is configured to be portable. The outer casing 31 of the still image pickup device is provided with a shutter button 32, a photographing lens 33, and a flash illumination unit 34 at the upper part on the front side. The shutter button 32 can be pressed by a finger or the like of the user holding the still image pickup device.

On one side surface 35 of the outer casing 31 of the still image pickup device, a storage and mounting section 2 having an insertion opening 35a is provided. The storage mounting section 2 can be opened and closed by an opening and closing lid 3. The storage mounting section 2 is loaded with a disk cartridge 101 configured to store the floppy disk 100 therein from the side surface section 35 side. The disc cartridge 101 is mounted on the storage mounting section 2 such that the disc cartridge 101 is inserted from the shutter plate 101a side. An FDD 19 for writing and reading still image information and the like to and from the floppy disk 100 is provided in the storage mounting unit 2.
Are arranged.

In this still image pickup apparatus,
On the back side of the outer housing 31, as shown in FIG.
A panel 15 is provided. When shooting, this LCD
The panel 15 displays a subject image.

In this still image pickup device,
When the subject is photographed by pressing the shutter button 32, the disc cartridge 1 loaded in the FDD 19 is
The still image information of the photographed subject and the index image information of the still image information are recorded on the floppy disk 100 in the file No. 01.

In this still image pickup apparatus, L
Around the CD panel 15, various operation buttons and switches 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, 36e, 36f, 3
6g and the like are provided, and by operating these various operation buttons and the like, operations relating to photographing such as adjustment of the focal length of the photographing lens 33 at the time of photographing and operations such as editing of image data can be performed. The above-described selection operation between the field mode and the frame mode can be performed.

Further, the opening / closing of the opening / closing lid 3 is performed by the opening / closing operation section 3.
7 is moved up and down so that the engaging claws 38a and 38b interlocked with the opening / closing operation portion 37 and the engaging portion 3
This is performed by releasing or holding the engagement state with a and 3b.

In the still image pickup apparatus configured as described above, the subject can be photographed by pressing the shutter button 32. At this time, the optical signal from the subject is converted by the CCD 11 into an electric signal, and the converted electric signal is interlaced to obtain one-field image data. In this still image pickup apparatus, when the flash illumination unit 34 is used, one field image data or two field image data obtained by illumination by the flash illumination unit 34 is used. Then, still image information is generated, and a still image is displayed on the LCD panel 15 based on the still image information.

[0043]

As described above, the still image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is a still image pickup apparatus which extracts still image information accumulated in an image pickup device by interlaced scanning and forms an image of one frame by a plurality of fields. , At least as many flash lighting devices as the number of fields constituting an image of one frame, and a control circuit for controlling light emission of each of the flash lighting devices. The control circuit individually controls the light emission timing of each flash lighting device for each flash lighting device with reference to the timing of the imaging operation in the image sensor.

Therefore, in this still image pickup apparatus, in addition to making each flash lighting device emit light corresponding to a field, a plurality of flash lighting devices can emit light simultaneously for a specific field. further,
Each of the flash lighting devices may be individually movable with respect to the optical axis of the taking lens.

That is, according to the present invention, image information is taken out from an image sensor by interlaced scanning, and a flash illumination device is used to perform a flash illumination corresponding to the imaging of each field constituting one frame. It is an object of the present invention to provide a still image pickup device capable of making full use of the flash illumination device to adjust the shadow appearance of a subject and extend the photographable distance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a still image capturing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a procedure for creating still image information corresponding to one frame from image data of one field in a field mode in the still image capturing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a field mode is selected in the still image capturing apparatus and an image is captured in a mode in which one flash illumination device emits light.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a field mode is selected in the still image pickup apparatus and shooting is performed in a mode in which two or more flash lighting devices emit light simultaneously.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a field mode is selected in the still image capturing apparatus and two or more flash illuminating apparatuses at different positions are performing shooting in a mode in which light is emitted simultaneously.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a procedure for creating still image information corresponding to one frame from image data of two fields in the frame mode in the still image capturing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which a frame mode is selected in the still image capturing apparatus and an image is captured in a mode in which two or more flash lighting devices sequentially emit light at the same position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which a frame mode is selected in the still image capturing apparatus and an image is captured in a mode in which two or more flash lighting devices sequentially emit light while being moved.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which a frame mode is selected in the still image capturing apparatus and two or more flash illuminating apparatuses at different positions are performing shooting in a mode in which light is sequentially emitted.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the still image pickup device as viewed from the front.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the still image pickup device as viewed from the back.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 microcomputer, 11 CCD, 34 flash lighting unit, 34a, 34b flash lighting device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor: Naomitsu Morita, Koda-cho, Nada-gun, Aichi Prefecture

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup device comprising: a photographing lens; and an image pickup device for picking up an image formed by the photographing lens. Still image information accumulated in the image pickup device by an image pickup operation of the image pickup device is taken out by an interlace scan, and What is claimed is: 1. A still image pickup device that forms one frame image in a field, at least as many flash lighting devices as the number of fields that make up one frame image, and a control circuit that controls light emission of each of the flash lighting devices. And a control circuit that individually controls light emission timing of each of the flash lighting devices for each of the flash lighting devices with reference to a timing of an imaging operation in the imaging device. 2. The still image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the flash illumination devices is supported so as to be capable of moving the photographing lens with respect to the optical axis, and is moved by being controlled by a control circuit. apparatus.