JP3282622B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera for recording a moving image or still image signal obtained by an image sensor on a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The viewfinder of a conventional electronic camera is roughly classified into an optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder.

As a finder for a video camera of a video tape record system for recording a moving image signal on a magnetic tape, an electronic view finder using a small CRT is often used. An optical viewfinder is also used in a small video camera.

In an electronic still camera for recording a still image signal on a magnetic disk or a solid-state memory, an optical finder is usually used.

[0005]

The above-mentioned conventional electronic camera viewfinder has the following problems.

In the optical viewfinder, the direction in which the finder is viewed is fixed, and an optical system for changing the direction in which the finder can be viewed is required. This makes it difficult to reduce the size and thickness of the electronic camera.

On the other hand, in an electronic view finder using a CRT, the viewing direction can be changed by a simple configuration. In this point, the view is superior to that of an optical finder. It is difficult to reduce the size. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and has as its object to provide a thin electronic camera which can change the viewing direction and has excellent operability.

In order to solve the above problems, an electronic camera according to the present invention includes an image pickup unit for picking up an object, a rectangular plate-shaped display unit for displaying the object image picked up by the image pickup unit, and a built-in image pickup unit. A camera body, a storage unit provided in the camera body, for storing the display unit, and a state in which the display unit is stored in the storage unit and a subject image displayed on the display unit is visible from the subject. A supporting portion for rotatably supporting the display portion with respect to the camera body, and a recording medium provided on the camera body for recording a subject image picked up by the imaging portion. The opening of the camera body such that the long side direction of the opening is substantially parallel to the direction of the display surface of the display unit housed in the housing unit. The configuration was provided.

[0009]

1 to 3 are perspective views showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are perspective views showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

1 to 7, a photographing lens 2 is provided on a front surface of an electronic camera main body 1, and a release button 3 is provided on an upper surface 1a.
Are provided respectively. The side surface 1b has a storage medium storage opening 4 for storing the storage medium. As a recording medium, a magnetic disk or a solid-state memory is used.

A finder 5 composed of a liquid crystal display device or the like is provided on the back of the electronic camera body 1, and a subject image is displayed as a moving image on the display surface 5a of the finder 5 at the time of photographing.

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the display device 5 is located at a position near the upper surface 1 a of the electronic camera body 1.
The electronic camera body 1 is rotatably attached to the electronic camera body 1 by a rotation axis parallel to the upper surface 1a.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the viewfinder 5 is housed in the electronic camera body 1.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the display surface 5a of the finder 5 is slightly upward. When photographing with the electronic camera body 1 lowered, the display surface 5a of the finder 5
With the camera facing upward, the photographer can easily view the display surface 5a.
Can be visually recognized.

If the electronic camera body 1 is mounted on the electronic camera body 1 with a known structure (for example, a click stop mechanism) that fixes the viewfinder 5 at a plurality of rotation angles, the electronic camera body 1 is stable when mounted in the state shown in FIG. And there is no risk of falling.

FIG. 3 shows that the viewfinder 5 is moved from
It shows a state in which the display surface 5a is turned by 0 ° and the display surface 5a is directed toward the front of the electronic camera body 1 (the surface on which the photographing lens 2 is attached).

At this time, the display surface 5a is connected to the electronic camera body 1
When viewed from the front, the displayed image appears upside down and left and right. In order to enable this to be displayed correctly, two liquid crystal drive circuits are provided, one for normal display and the other for up / down / left / right inverted display. Then, when the rotation angle of the finder 5 exceeds a certain value, the liquid crystal drive circuit may be switched to display upside down and left and right by a limit switch or the like so that the displayed image is not displayed upside down and left and right.

It should be noted that the liquid crystal drive circuit for up / down / left / right reverse display may display only the upper / lower reverse display.

As described above, the display surface 5a of the viewfinder 5 can be viewed from the front of the electronic camera main body 1, so that the composition, that is, the position of the photographer on the photographing screen can be confirmed when the shutter release operation is performed by the so-called self-timer. .

In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the display device 5 is rotatable with respect to the electronic camera main body 1 by a rotary shaft 6 parallel to the side surface 1b at a position close to the side surface 1b of the electronic camera main body 1. Mounted on

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the finder 5 is housed in the electronic camera body 1.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the display surface 5a of the finder 5 is slightly leftward.

If the viewfinder 5 is attached to the electronic camera body 1 with a known structure (for example, a click stop mechanism) that is fixed at a plurality of rotation angles, the electronic camera is stable when the electronic camera is mounted in the state shown in FIG. Yes, convenient when shooting with the self-timer.

FIG. 6 shows that the finder 5 is about 18
It shows a state in which the display surface 5a is turned by 0 ° and the display surface 5a is directed toward the front of the electronic camera body 1 (the surface on which the photographing lens 2 is attached). As described above, the display surface 5a of the viewfinder 5 can be viewed from the front of the electronic camera body 1, so that the composition, that is, its position on the photographing screen can be confirmed at the time of a shutter release operation using a so-called self-timer, which is convenient.

In order to view the display surface 5a from the front of the electronic camera body 1 as described above, two liquid crystal driving circuits are provided, one for normal display and the other for left and right inverted display.
When the rotation angle of the finder 5 exceeds a certain value, the liquid crystal drive circuit may be switched for left / right reversed display by a limit switch or the like.

In the third embodiment shown in FIG.
Denotes a position near the upper surface 1a of the electronic camera body 1
The electronic camera main body 1 is rotatably attached to the electronic camera main body 1 by a rotation axis parallel to. The side surface 5b of the finder 5 is flush with the side surface 1b of the electronic camera body 1.

FIG. 7 shows a state in which the display surface 5a of the finder 5 is slightly upward.

When photographing with the electronic camera body 1 lowered, the display surface 5a of the viewfinder 5 is turned upward, so that the photographer can easily visually recognize the display surface 5a.

If the viewfinder 5 is attached to the electronic camera body 1 by a known structure (for example, a click stop mechanism) that fixes the viewfinder 5 at a plurality of rotation angles, the electronic camera is stable when the electronic camera is mounted in the state of FIG. This is convenient when shooting with the self-timer. Further, when one side surface 1b of the electronic camera body 1 is placed downward with the display surface 5a of the viewfinder 5 slightly upward as shown in FIG. This is convenient when shooting with the self-timer in the camera.

In all of the embodiments, the electronic camera body 1 and the finder 5 are attached to the electronic camera body 1 by a detachable sign. For example, as shown in FIG. You can use it in various ways.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the rotation angle can be changed by using the rotation axis near one side of the rectangular plate-shaped display device. Can be easily changed.

When the shutter is automatically pressed by using a self-timer, the electronic camera main body can be made independent.

Further, it is possible to eliminate the difficulty in viewing the finder depending on the photographing position such as the eye level and the waist level.

A known structure for fixing the finder at a plurality of rotation angles (for example, a click stop mechanism)
If the electronic camera is attached to the electronic camera main body 1, the electronic camera is stable when the electronic camera is self-standing, and is convenient when taking a picture with a self-timer.

Further, the rotation angle of the finder is set to about 180.
°, and if the display screen is turned upside down, left and right, only up and down, or only left and right, when shooting as a subject (for example, when shooting yourself using a so-called self-timer), You can view and shoot the finder from the front of the electronic camera.

Further, according to the present invention, in the housed state (the rotation angle is 0 °), the electronic camera can be accommodated on the back of the electronic camera main body, which contributes to downsizing of the electronic camera.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, an electronic camera includes an imaging section for imaging a subject, a rectangular plate-shaped display section for displaying the subject image captured by the imaging section, A camera body with a built-in imaging unit, a storage unit provided in the camera body and storing a display unit, a state in which the display unit is stored in the storage unit, and a state in which the subject image displayed on the display unit is visible from the subject A support portion rotatably supporting the display portion with respect to the camera body, and a rectangular shape provided in the camera body for loading a recording medium for recording a subject image captured by the imaging portion. The opening is provided in the camera body such that the long side direction of the opening is substantially parallel to the direction of the display surface of the display unit housed in the housing unit. Therefore, in an electronic camera in which the display unit is rotatable so as to be visible from the subject and the recording medium is replaceable, the size of the camera body when the display unit is stored can be reduced. Can provide camera.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. Electronic camera body 1a Top surface 1b Side surface 5 Viewfinder 5a Display surface

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Ryota Araki 1-6-3 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Nikon Oi Works Co., Ltd. No. Seiichi Tamura, Examiner at Nikon Oi Works, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-62-35329 (JP, A) JP-A-62-36985 (JP, A) JP-A-63-153964 JP-A-1-106581 (JP, A) JP-A-58-70691 (JP, A) JP-A-1-221988 (JP, A) JP-A-2-73559 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 5/225

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An imaging unit configured to image a subject; a rectangular plate-shaped display unit configured to display a subject image captured by the imaging unit; a camera body including the imaging unit; A storage unit that stores the display unit; and a camera that stores the display unit between the state in which the display unit is stored in the storage unit and the state in which a subject image displayed on the display unit is visible from a subject. A support portion rotatably supported with respect to the main body, a rectangular opening provided in the camera main body, for loading a recording medium for recording a subject image picked up by the imaging portion, The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the opening is provided in the camera body such that a long side direction of the opening and a direction of a display surface of the display unit stored in the storage unit are substantially parallel. 2. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the opening is provided on a side surface of the camera body.