Electronic camera operable in a dual shoot mode together with a camera with ...

[54] ELECTRONIC CAMERA OPERABLE IN A DUAL SHOOT MODE TOGETHER WITH A CAMERA WITH A FILM

[75] Inventors: Izumi Miyake; Ryuji Kawagnchi, both of Asaka. Japan

[73] Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, Japan

[21] Appl. No.: 867,819
[22] Filed: Jun. 3,1997

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 596,399, Feb. 2,1996, abandoned. [30] Foreign Application Priority Data

Feb. 14, 1995 [JP] Japan 7-025290

[51] Int CI.6 H«4N 7/18; H04N 9/64;

G03B 29/00

[52] U.S. CI 348/64; 348/224; 348/229;

354/76; 354/81

[58] Field of Search 348/64. 224. 229,

348/371, 375; 354/76. 81

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 4,825,324 4/1989 Miyake et al 360/35.1

5,006,871 4/1991 Noble 348/64

5,122,821 6/1992 Nealon 354/76

5,307,168 4/1994 Tasbiro 348/64

5,329,325 7/1994 Mcdellan et al 354/76

5,546,121 8/1996 Gotanda 348/64

5,581,299 12/1996 Raney 348/64

Primary Examiner—Tommy P. Chin

[57] ABSTRACT

An electronic camera system includes a shutter controller for sending a drive signal to the shutter of a camera loaded with a silver halide sensitive type of film. The drive signal is synchronous to a release signal generated when a release button is pressed, and causes the shutter of the camera with the film to open. The release signal is also applied to a dual shoot controller included in the electronic camera. In response, the dual shoot controller feeds release signals to a synchronizing signal generator and a system controller. In response, the synchronizing signal generator delivers to a solid-state imaging device a drive signal synchronous to the release signal fed to the synchronizing signal generator, without regard to the output signal of a reference oscillator. As a result, an electronic shutter included in the imaging device is opened, and charge is stored in the imaging device. In response to the release signal, the system controller immediately feeds a shoot start command to the various sections of the electronic camera.

27 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets