JPH1098641A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relax limit on an image pickup range or an object. SOLUTION: A camera section 10 is made removable with respect to a universal head section and the universal head section 12 is made removable with respect to a container section 14. The camera section 10 is electrically connected to a main body section 16 via a wire 18. The main body section 16 is provided with a video display means and a video recording means. The excess wire 18 is wound on the wire container section 14. The camera section 10 is provided with camera operation keys 20a, 20b and the main body section 16 is provided with main body operation keys 22a, 22b. The universal head section 12 is provided with tilt/panning motors, and they are controlled remotely from the main body section 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging device,
More specifically, the present invention relates to an imaging device in which a camera unit and a display unit that displays an image captured by the camera unit or a recording unit that records a captured image can be separated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG.
FIG. 32 is a schematic side view of the external appearance of the tape recorder. The imaging unit 210 converts an optical image of a subject into an electric signal, and the A / D converter 212 converts an analog output of the imaging unit 210 into a digital signal. The camera signal processing circuit 214 performs various processes on the output image data of the A / D converter 212 and outputs the processed data to the D / A converter 216. The D / A converter 216 is a camera signal processing circuit 2
The output of 14 is converted back to an analog signal and applied to a video display device 218 such as an electronic viewfinder or a liquid crystal display panel. The video display device 218 displays an image captured by the imaging unit 210.

The output of the D / A converter 216 is also applied to a recording signal processing circuit 220. Recording signal processing circuit 2
In a recording mode, an image signal output from the D / A converter 216 is recorded, and the output of the image signal is transmitted to a recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk, magneto-optical disk) by electromagnetic conversion means (a so-called magnetic head) 222. , An optical disk, etc.) 224.

A camera control circuit 226 comprising a microcomputer controls the processing of the camera signal processing circuit 214 in accordance with the operation of a camera operation key 228, and also controls the digital special effect circuit 230 for a special effect on a photographed image.

A VTR control circuit 232 controls a recording system according to a VTR operation key 234 and a power switch 236 of the VTR section and the camera section, and notifies the camera control circuit 226 of the operation status of the switch 236 as appropriate. VTR control circuit 2
32 also comprises a microcomputer. The mechanism control circuit 238 controls the VTR mechanism 240 to control the recording medium 22.
4 is driven appropriately. The mechanism control circuit 238 is also formed of a microcomputer, and is connected to the VTR control circuit 232 by a communication line.

In FIG. 32, a camera section 250 includes at least an image pickup section 210, and a photographed image signal is supplied to a recording / reproducing section 252. The finder 254 includes at least the image display device 218,
An image captured by the imaging unit 210 of the camera unit 250 is displayed on the screen 18.

[0007]

In such a conventional imaging apparatus, a camera unit and a display unit for displaying an image captured by the camera unit and a recording unit for recording the captured image are integrated. The positional relationship between the image display screen and the camera unit is fixed. Therefore, there are drawbacks that it is difficult or impossible to take a picture in a narrow place, or to take a picture at a high angle or a low angle, and the photographing range or photographing target is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned inconvenience and to provide an image pickup apparatus in which a camera unit and a display unit or a recording unit can be separated and freely arranged.

[0009]

Since the camera section and the display section or the recording section are connected in a wired manner by wire means, they can be freely arranged apart from each other. By providing the wire storing means for storing the wire means, the wire means can be kept out of the way during use or storage.

By supporting the camera unit and providing a camera platform that can change the direction of the camera unit, the shooting direction can be changed freely. Preferably, the camera section and the camera platform section are freely separable.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
Shows a plan view, and FIG. 3 shows a side view. The camera unit 10 is detachable from the camera platform 12, and the camera platform 12 is connected to a wire storage unit 14.
It is removable. The wire housing section 14 is rotatably attached to a main body section 16 including a display section and a recording / reproducing section. A conductive wire 18 for signal transmission electrically connects the camera section 10 and the main body section 16 and is wound around the wire housing section 14 so as to prevent unnecessary slack.

The camera section 10 includes camera operation keys 20a,
20b, and the main body 16 includes main body operation keys 22a,
22b is provided.

In the main body 16, reference numeral 24 denotes a monitor screen for displaying a photographed image, 26 denotes a grip, and 28 denotes an instep belt. The main body 16 houses the VTR mechanism and the battery.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram mainly showing an information transmission path in this embodiment. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 4, the camera unit 10 exchanges a predetermined signal directly with the camera platform 12, and exchanges a predetermined signal with the main unit 16 via a wire stored in the wire storage unit 14.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the camera section 10. As shown in FIG. An imaging unit 30 for converting an optical image into an electric signal;
32, an A / D converter for converting an analog output of the imaging unit 30 into a digital signal; 34, a camera signal processing circuit for processing the output data of the A / D converter 32 into a camera signal;
Is a D / A converter for converting a digital output of the camera signal processing circuit 34 into an analog signal. 38 is the camera unit 1
A camera control circuit 40 for controlling the entirety of 0 is a digital special effect circuit for giving various special effects to the captured image in cooperation with the camera signal processing circuit 34. Camera control circuit 3
Reference numeral 8 controls the entire camera unit 10 in accordance with control signals from the camera operation keys 20 a and 20 b and the main unit 16, and exchanges control commands and control information with the camera platform 12.

Reference numeral 42 denotes a connector for connecting the wire 18 for supplying an output signal of the D / A converter 36 to the wire 18 and controlling a control signal or the like transmitted from the main body 16 via the wire 18 to a camera. Supply to circuit 38.

Reference numeral 44 denotes a connector for connecting the camera control circuit 38 to a circuit in the camera platform 12.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of the main body 16 and the wire housing 14. The wire housing 14 includes a wire connector 50 for connecting the wire 18 and a reel 52 for winding the surplus wire 18. Main body 16
Numeral 54 denotes a main body control circuit for controlling the whole main body section 16, and main body operation keys 22a and 22b and a power switch 56.
, And the remaining amount is calculated based on the output voltage of the battery 58 serving as a power supply.

An image signal from the camera unit 10 is added to an adder 60.
Is applied to the image display device 62 through the interface, and an image is displayed. The video signal from the camera unit 10 is also applied to a recording signal processing circuit 64. The recording signal processing circuit 64 performs recording processing of a video signal from the camera unit 10 in a recording mode, and outputs the signal to an electromagnetic conversion unit (a so-called magnetic head).
66 records the information on a recording medium 68 such as a magnetic tape. The recording medium 66 may be a nonvolatile solid-state memory device such as a flash memory.

The main body control circuit 54 controls the VTR section via the VTR control circuit 70. Main unit control circuit 54 and VTR
The control circuit 70 is constantly communicating. Specifically, the VTR control circuit 70 drives the recording medium 68 via the VTR mechanism 72.

The display circuit 74 generates character data or image data of the content specified by the main body control circuit 54 via the VTR control circuit 70 and applies the generated data to the adder 60. As a result, arbitrary information (for example, the state of the camera unit 10 and the remaining amount of the battery 58) is displayed so as to be superimposed on the captured image.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the camera platform 12. As shown in FIG. Reference numeral 80 denotes a pan head connector that is electrically and mechanically connected to the connector 44 of the camera unit 10. A motor drive circuit 82 controls the tilt motor 84 and the pan motor 86 according to a control signal from the camera control circuit 38 of the camera unit 10. Is driven to rotate. The tilt motor 84 is used for the tilt head 8 of the pan head 12.
8, the tilt position sensor 90 detects the position of the tilt base 88, and supplies the detected position information to the camera control circuit 38 of the camera unit 10 via the pan head connector 80.
The pan motor 86 moves the pan head 92 of the pan head 12, the pan position sensor 94 detects the position of the pan head 92, and transmits the detected position information to the camera control of the camera unit 10 via the pan head connector 80. Supply to circuit 38.

FIG. 8 shows the camera section 10 and the main body 1 of this embodiment.
FIG.

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the wire storage section 14 of this embodiment. In the wire housing 14a, the wire 18 is urged by the spiral spring 14b in a direction to be wound inside. Such a reel structure itself is well known.

As in the present embodiment, the camera section 10 and the main body section 16 (or display section) are configured to be freely separable,
There is no restriction on the positional relationship between the display unit and the camera unit. Therefore, photographing in a narrow place or photographing at a high angle or a low angle is facilitated, the restriction on the photographing target or range is eased, and the operability is improved.

Next, a brief description will be given of a connection structure between the wire housing portion 14 and the main body portion 16. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 10, the wire housing 14 is rotatable with respect to the main body 16. FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a connecting portion between the wire housing 14 and the main body 16. Housing 14a of wire storage unit 14
The fitting portion 14c protruding from the main body 16 is rotatably fitted into the circular hole of the housing 16a of the main body 16, and the retaining plate 96 and the screw 98
Thereby, it does not fall out of the housing 16a of the main body 16. With such a configuration, the camera unit 10 and the camera platform 12 are integrally rotatable with respect to the main body unit 16 in a state as shown in FIG.

With such a configuration, photographing at a high angle or a low angle becomes easy, and restrictions on the photographing object or range are eased.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a state where the camera unit 10 is detached from the camera platform 12, and FIG. 15 is a side view thereof. Since only the camera section 10 can be separated from the main body section 16 and the camera platform 12, the camera section 10 can be arranged in a narrower place. Since only the small and lightweight camera unit 10 needs to be moved, the restriction on the shooting target or range is further alleviated.

FIG. 16 is a front view showing a state in which the camera section 10 is detached from the camera platform 12 and the camera platform 12 is removed from the wire housing section 14, and FIG. 17 is a side view thereof. In this way, since the respective parts can be freely separated, the camera unit 10 can be arranged in a narrower place, and the restriction on the photographing target or range is further reduced. The head 12 can also be separated, so the head 1
By removing 2, the portable part can be reduced in size and weight, and it is convenient to carry.

Next, a connection structure between the camera section 10 and the camera platform 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
FIG. 2 shows a side view of a connection portion between the camera unit 10 and the camera platform 12. The camera unit side mounting member 110 of the camera unit 10 has protrusions on both sides, while the camera platform side mounting member 112 of the camera platform 12 has
There is a groove for receiving the protrusion of the mounting member 110. With such a configuration, the mounting member 110 is detachable from the mounting member 112 only in one direction.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the mounting member 110 as viewed obliquely from below. As shown in FIG.
Are provided with four electrical contacts 114 on the bottom surface. The electrical contact 114 is connected to the camera control circuit 38 via a lead 116.
Connect to On the other hand, when the mounting member 110 is mounted on the mounting member 112 as shown in FIG.
Four electrical contacts 118 for electrical connection with 14 are provided. The electric contact 118 is connected to the motor drive circuit 82 via the lead wire 120. FIG. 21 shows the electric contacts 114 and 1 in a state where the attachment member 110 is attached to the attachment member 112.
18 shows a cross-sectional view of a connection point 18.

Next, a structure for locking the camera unit 10 to the camera platform 12 will be described. As shown in FIG.
The notch 12 is partially cut out on one side of the projection 0.
2 on the other hand, while the mounting member 112 has
A lock member 124 is provided to enter the notch 122 in a state where the lock member 124 is attached to a predetermined portion of the mounting member 112. As shown in FIG. 22, the lock member 124 is rotatably supported by a pin 126 erected on a plate 125 to which the camera platform 12 is fixed, and a direction in which the mounting member 110 is fixed by a coil spring 128. Is always energized.

FIG. 23 shows the mounting member 110 attached to the mounting member 11.
FIG. In a state where the mounting member 110 is mounted on the mounting member 112, the tip of the lock member 124 enters the notch 122 of the mounting member 110 as shown in FIG. When the lock member 124 is rotated clockwise so as to push the other end of the lock member 124 toward the attachment member 112, the tip of the lock member 124 is disengaged from the notch 122. You will be able to remove it.

With this configuration, the camera section 10 and the camera platform 12 can be easily attached and detached. Since the camera section 10 is fixed to the camera platform 12 by a lock mechanism having a simple configuration, the camera section 10 does not accidentally come off the camera platform 12.

Next, a connection structure between the camera platform 12 and the wire housing 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
4 is an overall plan view, and FIGS. 25 to 27 are cross-sectional views of a joint between the camera platform 12 and the wire storage unit 14.
FIG. 26 shows a state in which the camera platform 12 is separated from the wire storage unit 14.
FIG. 27 shows a state in which the camera platform 12 is connected to the wire storage unit 14,
Indicates a state in which the camera platform 12 is being separated from the wire storage unit 14.

A positioning pin 130 extends laterally from the housing of the wire housing 14, and lock claws 132a and 132b of a lock member 132 project from the inside of the housing. On the surface of the camera platform 12 facing the wire storage unit 14,
There is a recess 134 corresponding to the positioning pin 130, and further provided are recesses 136a, 136b with which the locking claws 132a, 132b can be respectively engaged. The lock member 132 is urged by a spring 138 in a predetermined direction, that is, a direction in which the lock claws 132a and 132b of the lock member 132 engage with the recesses 136a and 136b, respectively.

When the camera platform 12 is placed at the holding position on the side surface of the wire housing section 14 so that the positioning pins 130 enter the recesses 134, as shown in FIG.
The two locking claws 132a, 132b engage the recesses 136a, 136b of the platform 12, respectively, to hold the platform 12 in that position.

When it is desired to separate the camera platform 12 from the wire housing 14, the lock member 132 is moved against the urging force of the spring 138 as shown in FIG.
a and 134b are separated from the recesses 136a and 136b of the camera platform 12. Thus, the camera platform 12 can be freely separated from the wire storage unit 14.

With such a configuration, the camera platform can be easily attached to and detached from the wire storage portion, and the camera platform 12 can be prevented from being accidentally detached.

Referring to FIG. 28 to FIG.
Is connected to the connector 42 of the camera unit 10. FIG. 28 is an overall plan view, FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the wire 18 is connected to the connector 42, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which is removed from the connector 42.

A connector 140 is provided at an end of the wire 18 connected to the camera unit 10. Connector 4
2 is fixed to the housing 142 of the camera unit 10. In this embodiment, the wire 18 comprises four leads, and the connectors 42, 140 have four electrical contacts.

Since the wire 18 is detachable from the camera section 10 by the connectors 42 and 140, the camera section 10 can be completely separated from the main body 16. The extension of the wire 187 is also enabled.

[0044]

As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, there is no restriction on the positional relationship between the display unit and the camera unit, so that photographing in a narrow place or high-angle or low-angle shooting is possible. Shooting becomes easy. The restriction on the photographing range or the photographing target is reduced, and the operability is improved.

Further, even when the camera unit and the display unit are united, the direction of the camera unit can be changed by the camera platform.
Shooting at a high angle or a low angle becomes easy.

Since the camera unit and the display unit are connected by wire,
The camera unit can be arranged in a narrower place, and the photographing target or the photographing range is further expanded.

By making the camera platform detachable, the camera platform can be detached and carried if unnecessary, making it easy to carry.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an overall schematic block diagram of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a camera unit 10 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a wire housing section 14 and a main body section 16 of the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration block diagram of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration block diagram of a camera platform 12 of the present embodiment.

8 is a side view showing a state where the camera unit 10 and the camera platform 12 are separated from the main body 16. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a mechanical configuration of a wire storage unit 14 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing the relationship between the wire 18 and the wire housing 14.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a connection portion between the wire storage section 14 and the main body section 16;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the present embodiment in a state where the camera unit 10 is erected.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the present embodiment in a state where the camera unit 10 is inclined.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a state where the camera unit 10 is separated from the camera platform 12.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing a state where the camera unit 10 is separated from the camera platform 12.

16 is a front view showing a state where the camera unit 10 is separated from the camera platform 12 and the camera platform 12 is separated from the wire storage unit 14. FIG.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the camera unit 10 separated from the camera platform 12 and the camera platform 12 separated from the wire storage unit 14.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing a coupling structure between the camera unit 10 and the camera platform 12.

19 is a perspective view of a mounting member of the camera unit 10. FIG.

20 is a perspective view showing a mounting member of the camera section 10 and a mounting member of the camera platform 12. FIG.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling portion where the camera unit 10 is attached to the camera platform 12.

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of a mechanism for locking the camera unit 10 to the camera platform 12.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling portion in a state where the camera unit 10 is mounted on the camera platform 12.

FIG. 24 is a plan view showing a coupling structure between the camera platform 12 and the wire storage unit 14.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling portion between the camera platform 12 and the wire housing unit 14, showing a state where the camera platform 12 is separated from the wire housing unit 14.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of a connection portion between the camera platform 12 and the wire storage unit 14, showing a state where the camera platform 12 is connected to the wire storage unit 14.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of a coupling portion between the camera platform 12 and the wire storage unit 14, showing a state in which the camera platform 12 is being separated from the wire storage unit 14.

FIG. 28 is a front view of the present embodiment with the wires 18 removed from the camera unit 10.

FIG. 29 shows a case where the wire 18 is connected to the connector 42 of the camera unit 10.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a state where the head is connected to the head.

FIG. 30 shows a case where a wire 18 is connected to a connector 42 of the camera unit 10.
It is sectional drawing of the state removed from.

FIG. 31 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional camera-integrated video tape recorder.

FIG. 32 is a side view of the appearance of a conventional camera-integrated video tape recorder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Camera section 12: Pan head 14: Wire storage section 14a: Wire storage housing 14b: Spiral spring 14c: Fitting section 16: Body section 16a: Housing of body section 16 18: Wire 20a, 20b: Camera operation key 22a, 22b: Main body operation keys 24: Monitor screen 26: Grip 28: Instep belt 30: Imaging unit 32: A / D converter 34: Camera signal processing circuit 36: D / A converter 38: Camera control circuit 40: Digital special effect circuit 42: Connector 44: Connector 50: Wire connector 52: Reel 54: Main body control circuit 56: Power switch 58: Battery 60: Adder 62: Video display device 64: Record signal processing circuit 66: Electromagnetic conversion means 68: Recording medium 70: VTR control circuit 72: VTR mechanism 74: Display circuit 80: Pan head connector 82: MO Data drive circuit 84: tilt motor 86: pan motor 88: tilt base 90: tilt position sensor 92: pan position 94: pan position sensor 96: retaining plate 98: screw 110: camera unit side mounting member 112: pan head Side mounting member 114: Electrical contact 116: Lead wire 118: Electrical contact 120: Lead wire 122: Notch 124: Lock member 125: Plate 126: Pin 128: Coil / Spring 130: Positioning pin 132: Lock member 132a, 132b: Lock claw 134: recess 136a, 136b: recess 138: spring 140: connector 142: housing of camera unit 210: imaging unit 212: A / D converter 214: camera signal processing circuit 216: D / A converter 218: Video display device 220: recording signal processing circuit 222: electromagnetic conversion means 224: note Recording medium 226: Camera control circuit 228: Camera operation key 230: Digital special effect circuit 232: VTR control circuit 234: VTR operation key 236: Power switch 238: Mechanism control circuit 240: VTR mechanism

Claims (11)

[Claims] An image pickup apparatus capable of separating a camera unit and a display unit for displaying an image captured by the camera unit, wherein the camera unit and the display unit are connected by wire means, and the wire unit is housed therein. An imaging device comprising a wire storage means. 2. An imaging apparatus capable of separating a camera unit and a recording unit that records an image captured by the camera unit on a recording medium, wherein the imaging unit includes a wire unit that connects the camera unit and the recording unit; An imaging apparatus, comprising: a wire housing means for housing the wire means. 3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the wire storage unit is disposed between the camera unit and the display unit or the recording unit. 4. The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the camera unit is detachably attached to the display unit or the recording unit via the wire storage unit. 5. The imaging device according to claim 3, wherein the wire storage unit is attached to the display unit or the recording unit. 6. The wire storing means is rotatable with respect to the display unit or the recording unit.
An imaging device according to claim 1. 7. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a grip on the display unit or the recording unit, the grip holding the entire imaging device. 8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wire storage means is configured to be able to wind a wire around a core of the wire storage section by a spiral spring. 9. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a camera platform supporting the camera unit and changing the direction of the camera unit. 10. The imaging device according to claim 9, wherein the camera section and the camera platform section are separable. 11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the camera platform is detachable from the display unit or the recording unit via the wire storage unit.