JPH09289601A - Video camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a fault in image pickup due to unnecesasry stitching to other image pickup state or an image pickup preliminary state during the image pickup mode. SOLUTION: A power dial is turned to switch one image pickup state into other image pickup state or an image pickup preliminary state such as a sight line input setting (POS 9). In the case that no effect is given to other image pickup states than the POS 9 during the image pickup mode, the state is transited to the image pickup state after the power dial is turned, and in the case of the POS 9 giving any effect onto the image pickup, the image pickup state before changeover of the power dial is maintained. When the image pickup state before the changeover is maintained and the image pickup mode is transited to a temporary stop mode or a stop mode, the state transits to the POS 9 after the changeover.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video camera capable of switching a plurality of photographing states and photographing preparation states by operating a switching means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a video camera has been provided with switching means for selectively switching between a plurality of photographing states and photographing preparation states, such as a rotary dial switch and a slide switch. Switching the shooting state is, for example, to change automatic shooting or program shooting,
The switching of the shooting preparation state is performed, for example, by setting the video function and the finder function.

[0003]

However, the changeover switch in the conventional video camera can switch from one photographing state to another photographing state or a photographing preparation state during the photographing mode. In particular, switching to the shooting preparation state is performed before shooting regardless of shooting, and switching to another shooting state may greatly affect shooting. Therefore, the operation of the changeover switch in the shooting mode may cause the shooting to be interrupted or the screen to be disturbed. Normally, since the operator looks at the viewfinder during shooting and operates without looking at the changeover switch, there is a possibility that shooting may fail due to an operation error of the changeover switch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a video camera capable of preventing a shooting failure due to unnecessary switching to another shooting state or a shooting preparation state in the shooting mode.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, in a video camera in which a plurality of shooting states and shooting preparation states can be selectively switched by operating the switching means, one shooting state can be changed to another by operating the switching means. When switching to the shooting state or the shooting preparation state, the shooting state before switching is maintained during the shooting mode.

According to the present invention, in a video camera capable of selectively switching a plurality of shooting states and shooting preparation states by operating the switching means, one shooting state to another shooting state or shooting by operating the switching means. When switching to the preparation state, during the shooting mode, the shooting state is shifted if it does not affect shooting, and the shooting state before switching is maintained if it affects shooting.

Further, according to the present invention, in each of the above video cameras, when the photographing mode is changed to the pause mode or the stop mode, the maintained photographing state before the switching is changed to the photographing state after the switching or the photographing preparation state. It is characterized by migrating.

[0008]

In the present invention, different settings are taken in the shooting mode and in other cases when the switching is set by operating the switching means. That is, in the shooting mode, when one shooting state is switched to another shooting state or a shooting preparation state, the previous shooting state is maintained without accepting all the switching, or only the permitted switching is accepted. Then, the photographing state is changed, and the previous photographing state is maintained without accepting the switching which is not permitted. In addition, if you are still in the previous shooting state, enter pause mode or stop mode, then
Transition to the state after switching. As a result, it is possible to prevent the shooting from being interrupted or the screen from being disturbed by the operation of the switching means in the shooting mode.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a video camera according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of a video camera. Reference numeral 1 is a video camera body, 1a is an index, and 2 is a power dial. FIG.
Is a top view of the power dial, and the positions that can be set by the power dial 2 of this embodiment are POS1 to POS.
In 9 positions up to 9, the contents are POS 1 for playback mode, POS 2 for OFF, POS 3 to POS 8 for multiple shooting modes such as automatic shooting and program shooting, POS 9
Is, for example, the line-of-sight input calibration mode,
The POS 9 is a mode used at a pre-shooting stage (preparing stage) regardless of camera shooting. The power dial 2 can rotate in the forward and reverse directions with the POS 1 and the POS 9 at both ends.

3 and 4 are a sectional view and an exploded perspective view of the power dial. The power dial 2 is an inner cover 3.
It is rotatable around the pin 2 in the power dial 2
a is fitted in the hole 6a of the slider 6 and fixed by heat caulking or the like, and the power dial 2 and the slider 6 are rotated integrally. Reference numeral 4 denotes a click spring receiver, the recess 4a of which is fitted to the protrusion 3a in the inner cover 3 and is non-rotatably mounted. Reference numeral 5 denotes a click spring formed of a leaf spring or the like, which is fixed on the slider 6 by thermal caulking or the like and is intermittently engaged with the engagement hole 4b of the click spring receiver 4. Reference numeral 7 is a brush, which is fixed to the slider 6 by thermal caulking or the like. Reference numeral 8 denotes a flexible printed wiring board (hereinafter referred to as “flexible”), which has a pattern formed on its surface and is brought into contact with the brush 7. Although not shown, the flexible cable 8 is connected to a circuit board in the video camera body. Reference numeral 9 denotes a base to which the inner cover 3 is fixed and which is fixed to the video camera body with screws or the like.

FIG. 5 is a switching circuit diagram of the power dial. 10 is a contact on the flexible cable 8 and 11 is a ground (GN).
D) shows the microcomputer 1 having a switching control function.
Connected to 2. FIG. 6 is a logical table of the power dial, where 1 indicates L (GND) and 0 indicates H. When the power dial 2 is rotated, the slider 6 and the brush 7 fixed thereon are rotated and moved on the flexure 8 in conjunction with this, and the signal generated accordingly changes as shown in FIG.

In a video camera equipped with such a power dial 2, when the photographer rotates the power dial 2 while trying to set other photographing conditions during photographing, for example, when trying to switch from POS 4 to POS 8 P
If the POS 9 is rotated up to the OS 9, the POS 9 is not the shooting mode but the line-of-sight input setting mode, and the shooting is stopped.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the following operation is performed at the time of switching by the power dial 2. First, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the switching control process in the first embodiment. When the power dial 2 is rotated in a certain setting state A, it is determined whether or not shooting is in progress. If the photographing is not being performed, the power dial 2 is rotated to the position state, and if the photographing is being performed, the setting state A before the rotation of the power dial 2 is maintained. When the photographing is stopped or temporarily stopped, the power dial 2 is rotated to the position state.

More specifically, a photograph is currently being taken, and for example, the power dial 2 is changed from POS4 [0101] to POS8.
POS9 [1110] trying to switch to [1010]
If it is rotated up to, POS9
Although the signal of [1110] is read, since POS 4 [1010] before switching is maintained because it is being photographed. Then, when shooting is stopped or paused, POS 9 [1110]
Shift to the mode.

In the first embodiment, if shooting is in progress,
From any one of the shooting states POS3 to POS8, the other shooting states POS3 to POS8 and the line-of-sight input setting state POS
Retain the pre-switching state without accepting all switching to 9. Then, when shifting to stop or temporary stop, the state after switching is shifted. This can prevent the shooting from being interrupted or the screen from being disturbed by the operation of the power dial 2 during the shooting. In addition, the shooting state POS3 to PO
Even if an attempt is made to switch between S8, the state before switching will be maintained, but since that state is one of the shooting modes, there will be no disordered images.

Next, FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the switching control processing in the second embodiment. When the power dial 2 is rotated in a certain setting state A, it is determined whether or not shooting is in progress. If shooting is not in progress, the power dial 2 after rotation is switched to the position state, and if shooting is in progress, it is determined whether or not the power dial 2 after rotation is in a position that greatly affects shooting, for example, POS 9. If it is not POS 9, it is switched to the position state of the power dial 2 after rotation, and if it is POS 9, the setting state A before rotation of the power dial 2 is maintained. When the photographing is stopped or temporarily stopped, the power dial 2 is rotated to the position state.

More specifically, the camera is being photographed, and for example, the power dial 2 is changed from POS4 [0101] to POS8.
POS9 [1110] trying to switch to [1010]
If it is rotated up to, POS9
Although the signal of [1110] is read, since POS 4 [1010] before switching is maintained because it is being photographed. Then, when shooting is stopped or paused, POS 9 [1110]
Shift to the mode. Further, for example, when the power dial 2 is rotated from POS 4 [0101] to POS 8 [1010] without error, the microcomputer 12 causes the POS 8 [1] to rotate.
010] signal is read, and since this is a position that does not affect shooting, the process proceeds to POS 8 [1010].

In the above-mentioned example, switching to the line-of-sight input setting state POS9 has been described as a case where shooting is greatly affected (shooting cannot be performed), but shooting states POS3 to POS8.
If there is a case where the switching greatly affects the shooting, this may be set in the microcomputer 12 and the state before the switching may be maintained. In other words, in the second embodiment, if shooting is in progress, only one of the POS3 to POS8 switching to the other POS3 to POS8 and POS9 is accepted, and the post-switching state is entered. However, the unpermitted switching is not accepted and the state before switching is maintained. Then, when shifting to stop or temporary stop, the state after switching is shifted. This allows the power dial 2 during shooting
It is possible to prevent the shooting from being interrupted or the screen from being disturbed by the operation of, and it is possible to switch the shooting state during shooting.

In the second embodiment, when the state after the switching influences the photographing, instead of maintaining the state before the switching, the state immediately before or after the state after the switching does not influence the photographing. You may make it select and transfer. For example, when the POS 9 is switched to when switching to the POS 8, the POS 8 immediately before the switching is performed. By doing so, it is possible to substantially eliminate the mistaken operation of rotating the power dial 2. In addition, for example, PO
If you have switched to POS9 when switching to S7, the POS8 is immediately before, so it is not the desired POS7 but the PO.
Although the process proceeds to S8, since this state is one of the shooting modes, the image will not be distorted. In addition, it is rare to overshoot two positions like this.

Next, FIGS. 9 and 10 are a sectional view and an exploded perspective view of a power dial according to another embodiment. The power dial 2 is provided with a lock button 13, and the pin 2 a in the power dial 2 and the lock button 1 are provided.
The lock button 13 is slidable up and down and is rotated integrally with the power dial 2.
The lock button 13 is biased upward by a spring 14, and the protrusion 13a provided on the lock button 13 can be fitted into the recess 3b provided on the inner case 3.

In this embodiment, the power dial 2
When the POS 8 is aligned with the index 1a by rotating the, the protrusion 13a of the lock button 13 is locked in the recess 3 of the inner case 3.
Power dial 2 is PO
It is stopped at S8 and is not rotated to POS9. In order to rotate the power dial 2 to the POS 9, the lock button 13 is pushed in and the projection 13a is disengaged from the recess 3b. In other words, even if an attempt is made to rotate the power dial 2 by mistake, the power dial 2 is stopped at the POS 8 and shooting does not fail. The rotation from the POS 8 to the POS 7 direction is convenient if the lock button 13 can be ejected without being pressed. For example, in either or both of the projection 13a and the recess 3b, the escape side of the fitting surface to the POS 7 may be obliquely cut.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In the shooting mode, even if the shooting mode is switched from one shooting state to another shooting state or a shooting preparation state by switching the shooting mode, the shooting is not interrupted or the screen is not disturbed. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a video camera that is extremely easy to use and has excellent operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall appearance of a video camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a power dial in the video camera.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the power dial.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the power dial.

FIG. 5 is a switching circuit diagram of the power dial.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a logical table for switching the power dial.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a switching control process in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a switching control process in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a power dial according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the power dial.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Video camera body 2 Power dial 3 Inner cover 4 Click spring receiver 5 Click spring 6 Slider 7 Brush 8 Flexible wiring board 9 Base 10 Contact point 11 Ground 12 Microcomputer 13 Lock button 14 Spring

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A video camera capable of selectively switching a plurality of shooting states and shooting preparation states by operating a switching unit, wherein one shooting state is switched to another shooting state or a shooting preparation state by operating the switching unit. In this case, the video camera is characterized by maintaining the shooting state before switching during the shooting mode. 2. A video camera capable of selectively switching between a plurality of shooting states and shooting preparation states by operating a switching means, wherein one shooting state is switched to another shooting state or a shooting preparation state by operating the switching means. In the shooting mode, the video camera is characterized in that the shooting state is changed when the shooting is not affected and the shooting state before switching is maintained when the shooting is affected. 3. The video camera according to claim 1, wherein, when the shooting mode is changed to the pause mode or the stop mode, the shooting state maintained before the switching is changed to the shooting state after the switching or the shooting preparation state. Video cameras that are characterized by the transition.