JP4139928B2 - Video camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a video camera, and more particularly to a viewfinder support mechanism thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, in a consumer video camera 10, a photographing lens unit 12 is disposed on the front surface (right rear side in the figure) of the housing 11, and photographing is performed through the lens unit 12. In some cases, a viewfinder portion 13 for viewing an image of a subject is provided on the upper surface of the housing 11 and a predetermined battery pack 14N is mounted on the rear surface (left front side in the figure) of the housing 11.
[0003]
The battery pack 14N contains a lithium ion storage battery having a large energy density per weight and per volume, and for example, continuous photographing exceeding 1 hour is possible.
[0004]
Further, instead of the standard type battery pack 14N, by mounting a battery pack having a larger capacity, for example, continuous photographing over several hours can be performed.
[0005]
There are two types of battery packs for a long time, for example, large capacity and medium capacity, which can be selected according to the shooting situation.
[0006]
Note that the battery pack for a long time has the same contact surface with the video camera as the contact surface of the standard battery pack, and the thickness increases according to the capacity.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, at the time of shooting with the video camera as described above, it is general that the user presses his eyes against the eyepiece 13e of the viewfinder 13 and looks into the image of the shot subject.
[0008]
However, when a battery pack for a long time is attached to the back of the video camera 10 as described above, when the user looks into the viewfinder, the face hits the back of the battery pack with a large thickness, There was a problem that it was difficult to look through the viewfinder and the video camera was difficult to use.
[0009]
In view of this point, an object of the present invention is to provide a video camera that allows a user to easily look into the viewfinder even when a large-capacity battery pack is attached to the back of the video camera.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, a video camera according to the invention of claim 1 is provided.
A lens unit for photography provided on the front of the housing,
A viewfinder unit provided on the upper surface of the housing for viewing an image of a subject photographed through the lens unit ;
A battery pack mounting portion provided on the back of the housing;
The viewfinder portion is slidably supported in the longitudinal direction , and the viewfinder portion is related to a first position closest to the lens portion in the longitudinal direction and a second position pulled out to the back side. A viewfinder support mechanism that can be stopped ,
With
The viewfinder portion includes an eyepiece at the upper side of the battery pack mounted on the mounting portion on the back side.
The battery pack can be mounted with a battery pack having a first thickness corresponding to the capacity and a second thickness larger than the first thickness.
The first position is a position corresponding to a state in which the battery pack having the first thickness is mounted on the mounting portion, and the second position is the battery pack having the second thickness. The position corresponds to the state of being mounted on the mounting portion .
[0011]
In the video camera according to the first aspect of the present invention, the viewfinder unit is slid / engaged at the optimum position by the viewfinder support mechanism according to the thickness of the power supply unit mounted on the rear surface of the housing. by stop, it is easy to be Rukoto use a view finder section.
[0012]
A video camera according to the invention of claim 2
The video camera of claim 1,
The viewfinder support mechanism includes a base member coupled to the housing, and a slidably engaged with the base member so that the viewfinder portion is rotatable in a vertical plane including the longitudinal direction. A sliding member to support, and an elastic engagement member for engaging the sliding member and the base member,
When the viewfinder portion is moved in the rear direction of the housing, the upper surface of the sliding member blocks the movement trace of the viewfinder portion on the upper surface of the housing. It is.
[0013]
In the video camera according to the invention of claim 2 having such a configuration, the viewfinder can be click-stopped and tilted up at a plurality of optimum use positions, and the viewfinder is moved in the rear direction of the casing. When the upper surface of the sliding member is closed, foreign matter can be prevented from entering the housing, and contents such as a flexible substrate connecting the viewfinder and the main body can be hidden.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a video camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0017]
[Configuration of the embodiment]
The structure of the main part of the embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
[0018]
1 and 2, the support mechanism 20 for slidably supporting the viewfinder 13 is mainly composed of a base member 21 and first and second sliding members 22 and 23.
[0019]
The base member 21 is generally formed in a “U” shape with the top open, and the first and second sliding members 22, 23 have a “U” shape and a “C” shape with the bottom open. As shown in FIG. 1, the first sliding member 22 is disposed inside the base member 21, and the second sliding member 23 is further inside the sliding member 22. Arranged.
[0020]
In the base member 21, two guide grooves 21a and 21b are provided in the horizontal direction on the upper and lower sides of the side wall 21f on the near side, and 2 in the horizontal direction on the upper and lower sides of the side wall 21r on the back side. The guide grooves 21c and 21d are provided, and as shown in FIG. 2, an upward locking piece 21e is formed at the lens-side end of the bottom plate 21u of the base member 21.
[0021]
Further, the front side wall 21f is extended to the lens side (left side in the figure) and bent into a “U” shape, and the rear side wall 21r is also extended to the lens side and bent into a “U” shape. The upper and lower bent pieces 21g and 21h of the extending portion of the side wall 21f and the upper and lower bent pieces 21j and 21k of the extended portion of the side wall 21r are horizontally aligned and opposed to each other, and are arranged on the lens side of the lower bent piece 21k. An upward locking piece 21m is formed at the end.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 2, the front side wall 21f is provided with three locking holes 21n, 21p, 21q in the horizontal direction in the middle of the guide grooves 21a, 21b, and at the back side. Also on the side wall 21r, three locking holes 21s, 21v, and 21w are provided in the middle of the guide grooves 21c and 21d in the horizontal direction.
[0023]
The base member 21 is appropriately coupled to a main mechanism (not shown) inside the video camera casing, and the relative position between the base member 21 and the casing does not change.
[0024]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the first sliding member 22 is provided with a through hole 22a in the upper part on the lens side of the side wall 22f on the near side, which is connected to the upper plate 22t serving as a blindfold, and the viewfinder. A through hole 22b is provided in the lower portion of the extending portion 22g formed in an “L” shape on the side (right side in the figure). These through holes 22 a and 22 b correspond to the upper and lower guide grooves 21 a and 21 b of the side wall 21 f of the base member 21.
[0025]
Similarly, a through hole 22c is provided in the upper part of the rear side wall 21r on the lens side, and a through hole 22d is provided in the lower part of the extending portion 22s formed in an “L” shape on the viewfinder side. These through holes 22 c and 22 d correspond to the upper and lower guide grooves 21 c and 21 d of the side wall 21 r of the base member 21.
[0026]
In addition, through holes 22h and 22j are provided on the upper portions of the two extending portions 22g and 22s, respectively. These through holes 22h and 22j correspond to the rotation axis of the viewfinder 13 as indicated by the arrow R.
[0027]
A concave portion 22k is provided in the lower portion of the front side wall 22f on the lens side, and is aligned in the horizontal direction in the concave portion, and two locking holes 22m and 22n are provided, and two closer to the lens side. Through holes 22p and 22q are provided. Although a part of the illustration and reference numerals are omitted in the lower part on the lens side of the rear side wall 22r, similar concave parts, locking holes and through holes are provided.
[0028]
Further, in the second sliding member 23, the lower end portions of the front and back side walls 23f, 23r, which are continuous with the upper plate 23t serving as the blindfolded portion, are bent inward, and are bent pieces that are horizontally aligned and opposed to each other. 23h and 23k are formed.
[0029]
These folded pieces 23h and 23k are in contact with the upper surfaces of the lower folded pieces 21h and 21k on the base member 21 during assembly. The lens side of the bent piece 23k is stretched in a “Γ” shape in the front direction.
[0030]
Further, a guide groove 23p is provided in the horizontal direction on the upper side of the side wall 23f on the near side, and two locking holes 23n and 23q are provided in the lower side of the side wall 23f so as to be aligned in the horizontal direction. The rear side wall 23r is also provided with a guide groove 23v and two locking holes, although some illustrations and symbols are omitted.
[0031]
The guide groove 23p and the locking holes 23n, 23q of the side wall 23f of the second sliding member 23 are two through holes 22p provided on the lens side of the recess 22k of the side wall 22f of the first sliding member 22. 22q respectively.
[0032]
The recess 22k on the side wall 22f on the near side of the first sliding member 22 is formed to accommodate one leaf spring 24f. The locking holes 22m and 22n of the recess 22k are indicated by chain lines in FIG. As shown, the engagement portions 24a and 24b of the leaf spring 24f are appropriately coupled, and the intermediate engagement projection 24c projects outward.
[0033]
Further, the engaging portion 24d provided on the lens side of the leaf spring 24f is directed inward on the inside of the side wall 22f of the sliding member 22 through the through hole 22q below the concave portion 22k of the side wall 22f of the sliding member 22. Overhang. Similarly, the other leaf spring 24r is also coupled to the recess (reference numeral is omitted) of the rear side wall 22r.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 1, the sliding support shafts 25a and 25b inserted from the front side into the guide grooves 21a and 21b of the side wall 21f on the front side of the base member 21 are, as shown by chain lines in FIG. The sliding member 22 is coupled to the through holes 22a and 22b of the side wall 22f on the near side. Similarly, the sliding support shafts 25c and 25d are inserted into the guide grooves 21c and 21d of the back side wall 21r of the base member 21 from the back side, and the through holes 22c and 22c of the back side wall 22r of the sliding member 22 are inserted. 22d.
[0035]
Thus, the first sliding member 22 is supported by the four sliding support shafts 25a to 25d inside the base member 21, and is slidably coupled in the direction of the arrow H shown in FIG. The
[0036]
Further, as shown by a chain line in FIG. 2, the sliding support shafts 25p and 25v are inserted into the guide grooves 23p and 23v of the both side walls 23f and 23r of the second sliding member 23 from the inside, respectively. The first and second sliding members 22 are coupled to through holes 22p and 22v provided near the lens side of both concave portions.
[0037]
Accordingly, the second sliding member 23 is supported by the sliding support shafts 25p and 25v inside the first sliding member, and the bent pieces 23h and 23k of the second sliding member 23 are the base members. 21 is supported by the bent pieces 21h and 21k, and is slidably coupled in the direction of the arrow H shown in FIG.
[0038]
Then, rotation support shafts 25h, 22h, 22j of the extending portions 22g, 22s of the side walls 22f, 22r of the first sliding member 22 are respectively inserted into the through holes 22h, 22j from the inside via finder coupling fittings (not shown). 25j is coupled, and the viewfinder 13 is appropriately coupled to the finder coupling bracket.
[0039]
Thereby, as shown by the arrow R in FIG. 1, the viewfinder 13 is rotatably coupled to the rear end portion of the first sliding member 22 so that the rear end portion of the viewfinder 13 is raised. The tilt-up state can be obtained.
[0040]
[Displacement of the viewfinder of the embodiment]
Next, the displacement of the viewfinder according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0041]
When the standard battery pack 14N is attached to the back surface of the video camera of this embodiment, the viewfinder 13 is at the reference position closest to the lens side with respect to the housing 11, as shown in FIG. 3A.
[0042]
In the state in which the viewfinder 13 is at the reference position, the above-described viewfinder support mechanism 20 has the first sliding member 22 pushed to the lens side to the limit.
[0043]
That is, at the reference position, sliding support shafts 25 a to 25 d coupled to the through holes 22 a to 22 d of the side walls 22 f and 22 r of the first sliding member 22 are provided on the side walls 21 f and 21 r of the base member 21. The guide grooves 21a to 21d abut on the lens side edges.
[0044]
Further, the sliding support shafts 25p and 25v coupled to the through holes 22p and 22v provided near the lens side of the both side walls 22f and 22r of the first sliding member 22 are the both side walls of the second sliding member 23. The lens side edge of the back side bent piece 23k of the second sliding member 23 is in contact with the lens side end edge of the guide groove 23p, 23v provided in 23f, 23r. It abuts on a locking piece 21m formed on the lower bent piece 21k of 21r.
[0045]
Then, the engagement protrusion 24c of one leaf spring 24f is elastically engaged with the engagement hole 21n provided near the lens side of the side wall 21f on the near side of the base member 21, and the engagement of the other leaf spring 24r. The mating protrusion (not shown) is also elastically engaged with a locking hole 21 s provided near the lens side of the rear side wall 21 r of the base member 21, and the base member 21, the first sliding member 22, and the like. In between, a click stop state is obtained.
[0046]
Further, the engaging portion 24d on the lens side of one leaf spring 24f is elastically engaged with the locking hole 23n on the lens side of the side wall 23f on the near side of the second sliding member 23, and the other plate. The lens-side engaging portion (not shown) of the spring 24r is also elastically engaged with the corresponding portion of the side wall 23r on the back side of the second sliding member 23, and between the sliding members 22, 23. But you can get a click stop.
[0047]
In this reference state, the upper bent pieces 21g and 21j of the base member 21 are in contact with the upper plate 22t of the first sliding member 22, and the lower bent pieces 21h and 21k of the base member 21 are The lower edge of the side wall 22f, 22r of the first sliding member 22 near the lens and the lower bent pieces 23h, 23k of the second sliding member 23 are in contact with each other, and the second sliding member 23 The upper plate 23t is in contact with the upper plate 22t of the first sliding member 22 from the inside.
[0048]
As shown in FIG. 3B, when a battery pack 14P having an intermediate capacity and thickness is attached to the rear surface of the video camera of this embodiment, the viewfinder 13 is pulled out from the reference position to the intermediate position. The trace of the movement of the viewfinder 13 is blocked by the upper plate 22t of the first sliding member 22 drawn out following the viewfinder 13, thereby preventing foreign matter from entering the housing. .
[0049]
That is, when the viewfinder 13 is pulled out from the above-described reference position, the first sliding member 22 coupled to the viewfinder 13 is pulled out following. Accordingly, the engagement protrusions (24c, etc.) of the leaf springs 24f, 24r fixed to the side walls 22f, 22r and the lens-side locking holes 21n, 21s of the side walls 21f, 21r of the base member 21 are formed. The required frictional force, which is much smaller than the drag generated in the click stop state, is elastic between the engagement protrusions (24c, etc.) of the leaf springs 24f, 24r and the side walls 21f, 21r of the base member 21. Can be obtained.
[0050]
Further, as described above, the first sliding member 22 and the second sliding member 23 are elastically engaged by the lens side engaging portions (24d and the like) of the leaf springs 24f and 24r. The second sliding member 23 is also pulled out following the first sliding member 22.
[0051]
When the engagement protrusions (24c, etc.) of the leaf springs 24f, 24r are pulled out to the engaging holes 21p, 21v in the intermediate portions of the side walls 21f, 21r of the base member 21, they are engaged with the base member 21. A click stop state is obtained with the sliding member 22.
[0052]
As shown in FIG. 3C, when the battery pack 14Q having the maximum capacity and thickness is attached to the rear surface of the video camera of this embodiment, the viewfinder 13 is pulled out to the longest position. The trace of the movement of the viewfinder 13 is blocked by the upper plates 22t and 23t of the first and second sliding members 22 and 23 drawn out following the viewfinder 13 to enter the housing. Intrusion of foreign matter is prevented.
[0053]
That is, when the viewfinder 13 is further pulled out from the intermediate position described above, the viewfinder side edge of the extending portion formed on the back side bent piece 23k of the second sliding member 23 (both are unsigned) It abuts against a locking piece 21e formed on the bottom plate 21u of the base member 21.
[0054]
Then, a locking hole (23n or the like) on the lens side of the second sliding member 23, and an engaging portion (24d or the like) on the lens side of the leaf springs 24f and 24r coupled to the first sliding member 22 Is disengaged, and only the first sliding member 22 is pulled out following the viewfinder 13.
[0055]
In the same manner as described above, the engagement protrusions (24c, etc.) of the leaf springs 24f, 24r fixed to the side walls 22f, 22r are disengaged from the locking holes 21p, 21v at the intermediate portions of the side walls 21f, 21r of the base member 21. As a result, a required frictional force is elastically obtained between the base member 21 and the first sliding member 22.
[0056]
When the viewfinder 13 is pulled out to the longest position as shown in FIG. 3C, the sliding support shafts 25a to 25d coupled to the through holes 22a to 22d of the side walls 22f and 22r of the first sliding member 22 are The side walls 21f and 21r of the base member 21 are in contact with the finder side edges of the guide grooves 21a to 21d.
[0057]
Further, the engaging protrusions (24c, etc.) of the leaf springs 24f, 24r coupled to the first sliding member 22 are engaged with the locking holes 21q, 21w near the viewfinder of the side walls 21f, 21r of the base member 21. In combination, a click stop state is obtained between the base member 21 and the first sliding member 22.
[0058]
Then, the lens side engaging portions (24d, etc.) of the leaf springs 24f, 24r are elastically engaged with the locking holes (23q, etc.) on the viewfinder side of the side walls 23f, 23r of the second sliding member 23. Thus, a click stop state can be obtained between the sliding members 22 and 23.
[0059]
As described above, in this embodiment, when the battery packs 14N, 14P, and 14Q having three types of capacities and thicknesses are attached to the rear surface of the video camera, as shown in FIGS. By pulling out the viewfinder 13 according to the thickness of the packs 14N, 14P, 14Q, the eyepiece 13e can be appropriately separated from the back of each battery pack 14N, 14P, 14Q, and the user can It makes it easier to peek through the viewfinder.
[0060]
In addition, the first and second sliding members 22 and 23 have a double structure , so that the longitudinal dimension of the sliding member, and thus the entire viewfinder support mechanism, can be shortened.
[0061]
The common leaf springs 24f and 24r are used for the engagement of the base member 21 and the first sliding member 22 and the engagement of the first and second sliding members 22 and 23.
When returning from the longest position as shown in FIG. 3C to the intermediate position as shown in FIG. 3B, first, the engagement protrusions of the leaf springs 24f and 24r are accompanied with the pushing of the first sliding member 22 to the lens side. (E.g., 24c) and the engagement holes 21q and 21w near the viewfinder of the side walls 21f and 21r of the base member 21 are disengaged.
[0063]
Thus, even when the click stop between the base member 21 and the first sliding member 22 is released near the viewfinder, the engagement portions (24d, etc.) on the lens side of the leaf springs 24f, 24r are not in the second position. Since the side walls 23f and 23r of the sliding member 23 are elastically engaged with the locking holes (23q and the like) on the viewfinder side, the click stop state is maintained between the sliding members 22 and 23. The sliding members 22 and 23 are integrally returned to the intermediate position shown in FIG. 3B.
[0064]
At this intermediate position, the lens side edge of the back side bent piece 23k of the second sliding member 23 contacts the locking piece 21m formed on the lower side bent piece 21k of the back side wall 21r of the base member 21. In contact therewith, the engagement between the lens-side engaging portions (24d, etc.) of the leaf springs 24f, 24r and the side-holes 23f, 23r of the second sliding member 23 on the viewfinder-side engaging holes (23q, etc.) Come off.
[0065]
Further, the engagement protrusions (24c, etc.) of the leaf springs 24f, 24r are engaged with the locking holes 21p, 21v in the middle of the side walls 21f, 21r of the base member 21, so that the first sliding with the base member 21 is achieved. The member 22 is in a click stop state.
[0066]
When returning from the intermediate position as shown in FIG. 3B to the reference position as shown in FIG. 3A, the second sliding member 23 has the lens side edge of the back side bent piece 23 k of the base member 21. It cannot move while remaining in contact with the locking piece 21m of the lower bent piece 21k. Only the first sliding member 21 releases the click stop state due to the engagement between the engagement protrusions (24c, etc.) of the leaf springs 24f, 24r and the intermediate locking holes 21p, 21v of the base member 21. Then, it moves to the reference position as shown in FIG. 3A and returns to the click stop state at the reference position as described above.
[0067]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the viewfinder can be used at the optimum position according to the thickness of the power supply unit mounted on the rear surface of the housing.
[0068]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the viewfinder can be click-stopped and tilted up at a plurality of optimum use positions, and foreign matter can be prevented from entering the housing.
[0069]
According to the invention of claim 3, the longitudinal dimension of the viewfinder support mechanism can be shortened, and the cost can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of an embodiment of a video camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a main part of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view for explaining the displacement of the viewfinder of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Video camera, 11 ... Housing | casing, 12 ... Lens part, 13 ... Viewfinder part, 14N, 14P, 14Q ... Battery pack (power supply part), 20 ... Viewfinder support mechanism, 21 ... Base member, 21a-21d ... Guide groove, 21n, 21p, 21q, 21s, 21v, 21w ... locking hole, 22, 23 ... sliding member, 22t, 23t ... blindfold (upper plate), 23p, 23v ... guide groove, 24f, 24r ... plate Spring, 25a to 25d ... Sliding spindle, 25h, 25j ... Rotating spindle, 25p, 25v ... Sliding spindle

Claims (3)

A lens unit for photography provided on the front of the housing,
A viewfinder unit provided on the upper surface of the housing for viewing an image of a subject photographed through the lens unit ;
A battery pack mounting portion provided on the back of the housing;
The viewfinder portion is slidably supported in the longitudinal direction , and the viewfinder portion is related to a first position closest to the lens portion in the longitudinal direction and a second position pulled out to the back side. A viewfinder support mechanism that can be stopped ,
With
The viewfinder portion includes an eyepiece at the upper side of the battery pack mounted on the mounting portion on the back side.
The battery pack can be mounted with a battery pack having a first thickness corresponding to the capacity and a second thickness larger than the first thickness.
The first position is a position corresponding to a state in which the battery pack having the first thickness is mounted on the mounting portion, and the second position is the battery pack having the second thickness. A video camera in a position corresponding to the state of being mounted on the mounting portion . The video camera of claim 1,
The viewfinder support mechanism includes a base member coupled to the housing, and a slidably engaged with the base member so that the viewfinder portion is rotatable in a vertical plane including the longitudinal direction. A sliding member to support, and an elastic engagement member for engaging the sliding member and the base member,
When the viewfinder portion is moved in the rear direction of the housing, the upper surface of the sliding member is blocked from the movement trace of the viewfinder portion on the upper surface of the housing.
Video camera. The video camera according to claim 2,
The video camera in which the casing and the viewfinder are connected by a flexible substrate and the flexibility is hidden by the sliding member .

Images