Electronic still camera

Claim 2

An electronic still camera for recording image data onto a recording medium, comprising: a photographing optical system that passes light from an object to be photographed and forms an image of said object; a pickup device that receives said light passed through said photographing optical system and outputs an image signal corresponding to said image, said image being formed on a light receiving surface of said pickup device; a driver that drives said pickup device to be shiftable between at least a first position where said light passing through said photographing optical system is incident to said pickup device, and a second position where said pickup device is located out of an optical path of said photographing optical system; and a recorder that records said image signal outputted from said pickup onto said recording medium.

Claim 3

The electronic still camera of claim 1, further comprising an optical element having a surface that crosses an optical axis of said photographing optical system, and a finder optical system that forms an image that corresponds to said light passed through said photographing optical system when said pickup dance is located at said second position, said light passing through said photographing optical system being directed to said finder optical system by said optical element, and wherein a computing means performs a range finding computation based on said image formed on said pickup device at said second position.

Claim 4

The electronic still camera of claim 2, wherein said optical element is movably arranged so as to be shiftable between an operative position, in which said light passing through said photographing optical system is directed to said finder optical system, and a non-operative position in accordance with a movement of said photographing optical system, said optical element being located at said operative position when said pickup device is located at said second position.

Claim 5

The electronic still camera of claim 1, wherein said pickup device is pivoted to be rotatable between said first and second positions.

Claim 6

The electronic still camera of claim 1, further comprising means for computing an exposure time and an aperture value based on said image signal that is outputted by said pickup device.

Claim 7

The electronic still camera of claim 5, further comprising a focusing switch, and wherein said computing means computes said exposure time and said aperture value when said focusing switch is turned ON.

Claim 8

The electronic still camera of claim 5, further comprising a diaphragm and a shutter that are operated in accordance with said exposure time and said aperture value computed by said computing means when said object is photographed.

Claim 9

The electronic still camera of claim 7, further comprising a power switch, said diaphragm being completely closed when said power switch is turned OFF.

Claim 10

The electronic still camera of claim 8, further comprising a release switch that is manipulated when said object is photographed, said diaphragm being completely opened when said power switch is turned ON while said release switch is turned OFF, and further wherein said diaphragm is set to said aperture value computed by said computing means when said power switch and said release switch are turned ON.

Claim 11

The electronic still camera of claim 7, wherein said shutter electrically actuates said pickup device when said object is photographed.

Claim 12

The electronic still camera of claim 7, further comprising an image memory for storing photographed image data by operating said diaphragm and said shutter based upon said exposure time and said aperture value computed by said computing means, and wherein said computing means computes at least a second exposure time and at least a second aperture value based on image data that has been precedingly stored in said image memory.

Claim 13

The electronic still camera of claim 1, further comprising an optical element that is arranged between said pickup device and said photographing optical system to cancel a moire phenomenon.

Claim 14

The electronic still camera of claim 12, wherein said optical element comprises an optical low-pass filter that cancels said moire phenomenon.

Claim 15

The electronic still camera of claim 12, wherein said optical element is fixably arranged between said photographing optical system and said first position, such that when said pickup device is located at said first position, said optical element is adjacent to said light receiving surface of said pickup device.

Claim 16

The electronic still camera of claim 12, wherein said optical element is arranged proximate said light receiving surface of said pickup device, both said pickup device and said optical element being driven to be located at at least said first position or said second position.

Claim 17

The electronic still camera of claim 1, further comprising: a focusing optical system that directs said light passing through said photographing optical system to be incident upon said pickup device when said pickup device is located proximate said second position; and a focus detector that detects a focal point based upon said image signal outputted by said pickup device when said pickup device is located proximate said second position.

Claim 18

The electronic still camera of claim 16, wherein a processor computes an aperture value that corresponds to said image signal outputted by said pickup device when said pickup device is located proximate said second position.

Claim 19

The electronic still camera of claim 1, further comprising: a colorimetric optical system that directs said light passing through said photographing optical system to be incident upon said pickup device when said pickup device is located proximate said second position; and a colorimetric detector that detects a color temperature of said object based upon said image signal outputted by said pickup device when said pickup device is located proximate said second position.

Claim 20

The electronic still camera of claim 18, further comprising a focus detector that detects a focal point based upon said image signal outputted by said pickup device when said pickup device is located proximate said second position.

Claim 21

The electronic still camera of claim 19, wherein said focus detector comprises a pair of lenses that form images of object on said pickup device, and wherein said colorimetric detector comprises another lens that forms a diffused color image of said object on said pickup device.

Claim 22

The electronic still camera of claim 20, wherein said pair of lenses and said another lens are arranged within a same plane.

Claim 23

The electronic still camera of claim 18, wherein said colorimetric detector comprises a light diffusion optical element that diffuses said light passing therethrough and projects said diffused light onto said light receiving surface of said pickup device.

Claim 24

The electronic still camera of claim 22, wherein said light diffusion optical element is arranged such that a portion of said light passing through said photographing optical system is incident to said light diffusion optical element.

Claim 25

The electronic still camera of claim 23, wherein said light diffusion optical element comprises a lens having a number of particles that scatters said light passing therethrough.

Claim 26

The electronic still camera of claim 23, wherein said light diffusion optical element comprises a lens having a number of scattering fringes on a surface thereof.

Claim 27

The electronic still camera of claim 1, further comprising a finder optical system, and wherein said pickup device prevents said light passing through said photographing optical system from being incident upon said finder optical system when said pickup device is located proximate said first position.

Claim 28

The electronic still camera of claim 26, wherein said finder optical system has a finder optical element that is arranged to cross an optical axis of said photographing optical system and a pentagonal prism, said light passing through said photographing optical system being orthogonally changed in its direction and directed to said pentagonal prism by said finder optical element when said pickup device is located proximate said second position.

Claim 29

The electronic still camera of claim 26, wherein said finder optical system is coaxially arranged with said photographing optical system when said pickup device is located proximate said second position.

Claim 30

The electronic still camera of claim 1, wherein said recording medium comprises a memory card.

Claim 31

The electronic still camera of claim 1, wherein said pickup device comprises an inter-line type CCD (Charge Coupled Device).

Claim 32

A still camera for recording image data onto a recording medium, comprising: a photographing optical system that passes light from an object to be photographed and forms an image of said object; a finder optical system for receiving light passed through said photographing optical system; a pickup device that receives said image of said object from said photographing optical system and outputs an image signal that corresponds to said image of said object; a positioner that positions said pickup device at a first position where said pickup device is interposed between said photographing optical system and said finder optical system when photographing is executed, and for positioning said pickup device at a second position where said pickup device is located out of an optical path of said photographic optical system; and a recorder that records said image signal from said pickup device onto said recording medium.

Claim 33

A still camera for recording image data onto a recording medium, comprising: a photographing optical system that passes light from an object to be photographed and forms an image of said object; a finder optical system for receiving light passed through said photographing optical system; a pickup device that receives said image of said object from said photographing optical system and outputs an image signal that corresponds to said image of said object; a positioner that positions said pickup device at a first position where said pickup device is interposed between said photographing optical system and said finder optical system when photographing is executed, and for positioning said pickup device at a second position where said pickup device is located out of an optical path of said photographic optical system; and a recorder that records said image signal from said pickup device onto said recording medium.

Claim 34

The electronic still camera of claim 31, wherein said first position comprises a position where said pickup device prevents said light passed through said photographing optical system from being incident to said finder optical system.

Claim 35

A still camera for recording image data onto a recording medium, comprising; an optical system that passes light from an object to be photographed and forms an image of said object; a photometric unit that detects a brightness of said object in accordance with said light that passes through said optical system; a pickup device that receives said image of said object from said optical system and outputs an image signal that corresponds to said image, said pickup device being shiftable between a first position where said pickup device is interposed with an optical path of said optical system and a second position where said pickup device is located out of said optical path of said optical system; an aperture that limits an amount of said light that forms said image that is received by said pickup device; means for calculating an aperture value and a shutter speed based upon an output of said photometric unit; a recorder that records said image signal outputted from said pickup device onto said recording medium; release means for initiating a photographing operation; and a positioner that positions said pickup device to said first position and executes said photographing operation in accordance with said aperture value and said shutter speed calculated by said calculating means when said release means is operated.

Claim 36

A still camera for recording image data onto a recording medium, comprising; an optical system that passes light from an object to be photographed and forms an image of said object; a photometric unit that detects a brightness of said object in accordance with said light that passes through said optical system; a pickup device that receives said image of said object from said optical system and outputs an image signal that corresponds to said image, said pickup device being shiftable between a first position where said pickup device is interposed with an optical path of said optical system and a second position where said pickup device is located out of said optical path of said optical system; an aperture that limits an amount of said light that forms said image that is received by said pickup device; means for calculating an aperture value and a shutter speed based upon an output of said photometric unit; a recorder that records said image signal outputted from said pickup device onto said recording medium; release means for initiating a photographing operation; and a positioner that positions said pickup device to said first position and executes said photographing operation in accordance with said aperture value and said shutter speed calculated by said calculating means when said release means is operated.

Claim 37

A still camera for recording image data onto a recording medium, comprising: an optical system that passes light from an object to be photographed and forms and image of said object; a finder optical system for receiving light passed through said optical system; a filter member that is fixably arranged between said optical system and said finder optical system; a pickup device that receives said image of said object from said optical system and outputs an image signal that corresponds to said image; a positioner that positions said pickup device at a first position where said pickup device is interposed between said optical system and said finder optical system when photographing is executed, and for positioning said pickup device at a second position where said pickup device is located out of said optical path of said optical system; and a recorder that records said image signal outputted from said pickup device onto said recording medium.

Claim 38

A still camera for recording image data onto a recording medium, comprising: an optical system that passes light from an object to be photographed and forms and image of said object; a finder optical system for receiving light passed through said optical system; a filter member that is fixably arranged between said optical system and said finder optical system; a pickup device that receives said image of said object from said optical system and outputs an image signal that corresponds to said image; a positioner that positions said pickup device at a first position where said pickup device is interposed between said optical system and said finder optical system when photographing is executed, and for positioning said pickup device at a second position where said pickup device is located out of said optical path of said optical system; and a recorder that records said image signal outputted from said pickup device onto said recording medium.

Claim 39

A still camera for recording image data onto a recording medium, comprising: an optical system that passes light from an object to be photographed and forms an image of said object; a finder optical system that receives said light that passes through said optical system; a pickup device that receives said image of said object and outputs an image signal that corresponds to said image; a filter member that is provided in front of said pickup device for allowing said light passing through said optical system to pass through said filter member; a positioner that positions said pickup device at a first position where said pickup device is interposed between said optical system and said finder optical system when photographing is executed, and for positioning said pickup device at a second position where said pickup device is located out of an optical path of said optical system; and a recorder that records said image signal outputted from said pickup device onto said recording medium.

Claim 40

A still camera for recording image data onto a recording medium, comprising: an optical system that passes light from an object to be photographed and forms an image of said object; a finder optical system that receives said light that passes through said optical system; a pickup device that receives said image of said object and outputs an image signal that corresponds to said image; a filter member that is provided in front of said pickup device for allowing said light passing through said optical system to pass through said filter member; a positioner that positions said pickup device at a first position where said pickup device is interposed between said optical system and said finder optical system when photographing is executed, and for positioning said pickup device at a second position where said pickup device is located out of an optical path of said optical system; and a recorder that records said image signal outputted from said pickup device onto said recording medium.

Claim 41

A still camera for recording image data onto a recording medium, comprising: a first optical system that passes light from an object to be photographed and forms an image of said object; a finder optical system that receives light passed through said first optical system; a pickup device that receives said image of said object formed by said first optical system and outputs an image signal corresponding to said image; a positioner that positions said pickup device at a first position where said pickup device is interposed between said first optical system and said finder optical system when photographing is executed, and for positioning said pickup device at a second position where said pickup device is located out of an optical path of said first optical system; and a focusing detector that detects a focusing condition based upon said outputted image signal from said pickup device when said pickup device is located at said second position.

Claim 42

A still camera for recording image data onto a recording medium, comprising: a first optical system that passes light from an object to be photographed and forms an image of said object; a finder optical system that receives light passed through said first optical system; a pickup device that receives said image of said object formed by said first optical system and outputs an image signal corresponding to said image; a positioner that positions said pickup device at a first position where said pickup device is interposed between said first optical system and said finder optical system when photographing is executed, and for positioning said pickup device at a second position where said pickup device is located out of an optical path of said first optical system; and a focusing detector that detects a focusing condition based upon said outputted image signal from said pickup device when said pickup device is located at said second position.

Claim 43

The still camera of claim 36, further comprising: a second optical system that is used for a focusing operation; and means for separating said light that passes through said first optical system towards said finder system and towards said second optical system.

Claim 44

A still camera for recording image data onto a recording medium, comprising: a pickup device that receives an object image and outputs an image signal that corresponds to said object image; an electronic shutter that controls a period of time in which said pickup device receives said object image; an aperture that controls an amount of light that is allowed to be incident to said pickup device; a positioner that positions said pickup device at a first position when a photographing operation is executed, and for positioning said pickup device at a second position when said photographing operation is not executed, a photometric operation being executed when said pickup device is positioned at said second position; and a driver that drives said aperture and said electronic shutter in such a fashion that when said photometric operation is executed, said electronic shutter being driven with a first appropriate shutter speed with said aperture being fully opened, while said photographing operation is executed with a second appropriate shutter speed and appropriate aperture value, respectively.

Claim 45

A still camera for recording image data onto a recording medium, comprising: a pickup device that receives an object image and outputs an image signal that corresponds to said object image; an electronic shutter that controls a period of time in which said pickup device receives said object image; an aperture that controls an amount of light that is allowed to be incident to said pickup device; a positioner that positions said pickup device at a first position when a photographing operation is executed, and for positioning said pickup device at a second position when said photographing operation is not executed, a photometric operation being executed when said pickup device is positioned at said second position; and a driver that drives said aperture and said electronic shutter in such a fashion that when said photometric operation is executed, said electronic shutter being driven with a first appropriate shutter speed with said aperture being fully opened, while said photographing operation is executed with a second appropriate shutter speed and appropriate aperture value, respectively.

Claim 46

A still camera, comprising: a two-dimensional pickup device that receives an object image to be recorded; a positioner that positions said pickup device at a first position when a photographing operation is being executed, and positions said pickup device at a second position when said photographing operation is not being executed; an optical system that directs said object image to said pickup device when said pickup device is located at said second position, said optical system including a focusing optical system that forms an image to be used for detecting a focusing condition and a colorimetric optical system for forming an image to be used for detecting a color temperature of said object; and a detector that detects said focusing condition of said object image in accordance with said object image received by said pickup device when said pickup device is located at said second position.

Claim 47

A still camera, comprising: a two-dimensional pickup device that receives an object image to be recorded; a positioner that positions said pickup device at a first position when a photographing operation is being executed, and positions said pickup device at a second position when said photographing operation is not being executed; an optical system that directs said object image to said pickup device when said pickup device is located at said second position, said optical system including a focusing optical system that forms an image to be used for detecting a focusing condition and a colorimetric optical system for forming an image to be used for detecting a color temperature of said object; and a detector that detects said focusing condition of said object image in accordance with said object image received by said pickup device when said pickup device is located at said second position.