JPH10271374A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable photographing, while visually confirming a finder from the front side of the main body part of camera in the case of photographing with a photographer himself as an object by turnably connecting the main body part of camera and a display part, turning the display part in ordinary photographic state and facing it with a display screen. SOLUTION: On the back of a main body 1 of an electronic camera, a finder 5 composed of a liquid crystal display(LCD) device is provided and on a surface part 5a of finder 5, a subject is displayed as dynamic images. Further, the display device 5a is freely turnably attached to the main body 1 of electronic camera at a position close to an upper surface 1a of the main body 1 of electronic camera by a turning shaft in parallel with the upper surface 1a. Then, when the display screen 5a is turned toward the fore face of the main body 1 of electronic camera by turning the finder 5 at 180 deg. from the housed state, the display picture is watched, while being inverted vertically and horizontally. In order to correct such a state, however, two liquid crystal drive circuits are provided for ordinary display and vertically/horizontally inverted display, and when the rotating angle of finder 5 exceeds a fixed value, the display is correctly displayed by switching it for vertically/horizontally inverted display.

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.

[0004]

The above-mentioned conventional electronic camera viewfinder has the following problems. In the optical viewfinder, the direction in which the viewfinder is viewed is fixed, and an optical system for the viewfinder is required to make the viewable direction changeable, and it is 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, and in this respect, it is superior to 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-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to provide a thin electronic camera finder in which the viewing direction can be changed.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electronic camera according to the present invention comprises: an image pickup section for picking up an object; a rectangular plate-shaped display section for displaying the object image picked up by the image pickup section; A camera body including the imaging unit; and a rotating unit rotatably connecting the camera body and the display unit. In a normal shooting state, the camera body including the imaging unit is in front of the camera body. The display unit faces the display surface.

[0007]

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 body 1, and a release button 3 is provided on an upper surface 1a. 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 finder 5 is housed in the electronic camera body 1. FIG. 2 shows the display surface 5a of the finder 5.
Represents a state in which is slightly upward. When photographing with the electronic camera body 1 lowered, the photographer can easily view the display surface 5a by setting the display surface 5a of the viewfinder 5 upward as described above. If the viewfinder 5 is attached to 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, it is stable when the electronic camera body 1 is mounted in the state of FIG. There is no risk of falling.

FIG. 3 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). At this time, when the display surface 5a is viewed from the front of the electronic camera body 1, the displayed image looks upside down, left and right. In order to enable this to be displayed correctly, two liquid crystal drive circuits are provided,
One is for normal display and the other is 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 inverted display may display only the up / down inverted display. 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, 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, which is convenient.

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 viewfinder 5 is stored 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 by 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 a state in which the viewfinder 5 is rotated by about 180 ° from the housed state and the display surface 5a is moved to the electronic camera main body 1.
In the front (surface on which the taking lens 2 is attached). Thus, the display surface 5a of the finder 5
Can be seen from the front of the electronic camera body 1,
This is convenient because the user can check the composition, that is, his / her own position on the photographing screen, during a shutter release operation using a so-called self-timer.

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 / 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. 7, the display device 5 is rotatably attached to the electronic camera main body 1 at a position near the upper surface 1a of the electronic camera main body 1 by a rotation axis parallel to the upper surface 1a. 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 finder 5
With the camera facing upward, the photographer can easily view the display surface 5a.
Can be visually recognized. If the viewfinder 5 is attached to 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 is stable when the electronic camera is mounted in the state of FIG. Useful when shooting. 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. 7, the electronic camera is stable when placed in a vertical position. This is convenient when shooting with the self-timer in the camera.

In all the embodiments, the attachment of the electronic camera body 1 to the viewfinder 5 is a detachable number. For example, as shown in FIG. You can use it in various ways. As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention,
Since the rotation angle can be changed by using the rotation axis near one side of the rectangular plate-shaped display device, the direction in which the finder is viewed can be easily changed.

When the shutter is automatically pressed using a self-timer, the electronic camera main body can be made independent. Further, it is possible to eliminate the difficulty of seeing the viewfinder depending on the photographing position such as the eye level and the waist level. In addition, if the electronic camera is attached to the electronic camera body 1 with a known structure (for example, a click stop mechanism) that fixes the finder at a plurality of rotation angles, the electronic camera is stable when the electronic camera is self-standing, and is convenient for shooting with a self-timer. It is.

Further, the rotation angle of the finder is set to about 180.
°, and if the display screen is turned upside down, left and right, or 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 is accommodated on the back surface of the electronic camera main body, which contributes to downsizing of the electronic camera.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, the surface having the image pickup unit and the surface having the display unit face each other in the normal photographing state, so that the subject can be easily searched for and photographed without discomfort. The subject can be easily tracked even when the camera body and the display are rotated.

[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 5 ・ ・ Finder 5a ・ Display surface

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 8, 1998

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

On the other hand, in an electronic view finder using a CRT, the viewing direction can be changed by a simple configuration, and in this respect, it is superior to 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 capable of changing the viewing direction and having excellent operability.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an electronic camera according to the present invention comprises a camera body provided with an image pickup means for picking up an object, and a rectangular plate for displaying the image of the object picked up by the image pickup means. A display unit having a display unit, and a rotating unit that rotatably connects the camera body unit and the display unit, and the camera body unit and the display unit are arranged in a normal shooting state. The surface of the camera main body having the imaging means and the surface of the display having the display means are rotatably connected so as to face each other.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As described above, according to the present invention, the direction in which the display means is visually recognized can be changed, and in the normal photographing state, the surface of the camera main body having the imaging means and the surface of the display having the display means are provided. , The subject can be easily searched without a sense of incongruity, and the photographing can be performed without missing a photographing opportunity.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued from the front page (72) Inventor Masa Ota 1-6-3 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Nikon Oi Works Co., Ltd. (72) Ryota Araki 1-6-3 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Stock (72) Inventor Takao Ikuma 1-6-3 Nishioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Nikon Oi Plant Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[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; the camera body and the display; An electronic camera, comprising: a rotation unit rotatably connecting the display unit to the display unit; and a surface of the camera body including the imaging unit and a display surface of the display unit in a normal shooting state. .