JP2000156811A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a camera not requiring a user to grasp the camera itself by the fingers or hand at the time of holding it and allowed to be surely held without covering respective parts such as an operation part, a lens and a monitor with the hand. SOLUTION: The upper sides of a camera front part 16 on which a photographing lens 12 is installed and a camera rear part 22 on which a liquid crystal monitor, a mode switch button, etc., are installed are mutually connected through a connection part 24 and the camera can be held by inserting a user's hand into a space formed between the front 16 and the rear 22. A release switch 28 is arranged on the upper surface of the connection part 24 and can be depressed by the thumb of the hand holding the camera. It is also available to form communicatable two-unit constitution by mutually separating an image pickup unit and a monitor unit or add a mechanism capable of controlling the extension/contraction of a distance between the front part 16 and the rear part 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a digital still camera, a video camera, and the like, which records an image regardless of whether it is a still image recording or a moving image recording, and various types of portable cameras having a photographing function. Related to information equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional electronic still camera, like a silver halide camera, is designed on the assumption that a camera is used to hold an image. It is necessary to hold and hold the camera during shooting. In this regard, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 8-307749 discloses an information recording / reproducing apparatus which is used by placing it on the palm of a hand. If the technique disclosed in the official gazette is used, the photographer needs to grasp the apparatus strongly. And the device can be easily held.

[0003] Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-6164 discloses a technique for incorporating a camera function into a wristwatch. According to this technique, the camera is attached to the photographer's arm like a wristwatch so that the camera can be hand-operated. You can shoot without having to hold it.

[0004]

However, in recent years, miniaturization of cameras has been rapidly progressing, and a conventional type of camera in which a photographer holds the camera with his / her hand easily hides an operation unit and a monitor screen by hand. There is a problem that it is very difficult to use. On the other hand, the wristwatch-type camera disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-6164 does not consider the convenience of the lens orientation and the arrangement of the monitor sufficiently. There is a disadvantage that operability is poor.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is not necessary to hold the camera with a finger or a hand when holding the camera, and it is also necessary to cover an operation unit, a lens, a monitor, and the like with a hand. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera with good operability that can be securely held.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to the present invention comprises a camera front portion provided with a taking lens and a camera rear portion provided with an image display device and / or an operation portion. The upper sides of the camera and the camera are connected to each other via a connecting part, and the camera can be held by inserting a hand into a space formed between the camera front part and the camera rear part. One of the front part and the camera rear part is on the back of the hand,
It is characterized in that the other has a structure arranged on the palm side.

According to the present invention, the camera front portion and the camera rear portion are arranged to face each other at an appropriate distance from each other, and the upper portions thereof are connected in an arched manner via a connecting portion. With such a configuration, a space is formed between the camera front portion and the camera rear portion, where the hand can be inserted. The photographer can hold the camera by inserting one hand into this space.

At this time, the camera front part and the camera rear part are distributed to the back of the hand and the palm side in a well-balanced manner with the connecting part as a fulcrum, so that the camera can be stably held without gripping the camera. In addition, since the photographing lens, the screen of the image display device, or the operation unit is not covered with the hand, the operability is good and it is easy to use. In particular, by providing a photographing start instruction switch on the upper surface of the connecting portion, the photographing start instruction switch can be pressed with the thumb of the hand holding the camera, and photographing can be easily performed with one hand.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera according to the present invention, wherein the upper side of a camera front portion provided with a photographing lens and the upper portion of a camera rear portion provided with an operation portion are connected via a connecting portion. One hand is inserted into the space formed between the camera front part and the camera rear part, and one of the camera front part and the camera rear part is arranged on the back of the hand and the other is arranged on the palm side. An imaging unit having an image sensor that converts an optical image into an image signal, and an image signal unit that externally outputs an image signal obtained via the imaging element, A signal receiving unit that receives a signal emitted from a signal transmitting unit, and an image display device that displays an image based on a signal received via the signal receiving unit are provided. A monitor unit, is characterized in that mounting means is composed of a monitor unit provided with a can wear on the opposite side of the hand or arm with the hand holding the imaging unit.

That is, the camera of the present invention is composed of two blocks, an imaging unit and a monitor unit, and both units transmit and receive signals by communication. The photographer inserts one hand into the space of the imaging unit to hold the imaging unit, and wears the mounting means on the other hand or arm and wears the monitor unit. The signal of the image captured by the imaging unit is output from the signal transmitting unit and received by the signal receiving unit of the monitor unit. The captured image is displayed on the image display device of the monitor unit based on the signal received from the signal receiving unit.

As a specific embodiment of the present invention, the monitor unit is arranged such that a display screen of the image display device is arranged on a back side of a photographer's hand when the monitor unit is mounted on the photographer's hand using the mounting means. It is characterized by having.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a sensor for detecting that the mutual distance between the imaging unit and the monitor unit has approached a predetermined distance, and that the two units have approached a predetermined distance by the sensor. And power supply control means for turning on the power of the camera when is detected.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion is provided with an adjusting mechanism capable of expanding and reducing the size of the space.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a camera according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.
1 is a front perspective view of an electronic camera showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view thereof. As shown in these figures, the electronic camera 10 has a substantially U-shape with an open bottom surface when viewed from the side. That is, the electronic camera 10 includes a camera front section 16 provided with a taking lens 12 and a strobe light emitting section 14, a camera rear section 22 provided with a liquid crystal monitor (corresponding to an image display device) 18 and an operation section 20, and a camera. Front part 16
And a connecting portion 24 for connecting the camera rear portion 22.

The camera front section 16 and the camera rear section 22
Are arranged substantially parallel to each other so as to be orthogonal to the optical axis of the taking lens 12, and are connected by an arc-shaped connecting portion 24 above the camera front portion 16 and the camera rear portion 22. As a result, a space 26 is formed between the camera front section 16 and the camera rear section 22. Also,
A release switch (corresponding to a shooting start instruction switch) 28 is disposed on the upper surface of the connecting portion 24. In this example, the connecting portion 24 is formed integrally with the camera front portion 16 and the camera rear portion 22. However, the connecting portion may be formed as a member separate from the camera front portion 16 and the camera rear portion 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, a liquid crystal monitor 18 is provided on the camera rear section 22, and an up / down key 3 is provided on the right side thereof.
An operation unit 20 including various operation switches such as 0, a mode selection button 32, and an execution button 34 is provided. In addition,
Instead of the up / down key 30, a cross key capable of instructing four directions of up, down, left and right may be used. Reference numeral 36 denotes a power switch, for example, a slide switch is used.

A battery housing 38 is provided below the LCD monitor 18.
Is provided, and a battery (not shown) is loaded in the storage section. The battery may be a dedicated rechargeable battery or a commercially available dry battery. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the electronic camera 10. The electronic camera 10 mainly includes a photographing lens 12, an aperture 40, and a CCD 4 corresponding to an image sensor.
2. Analog signal processing circuit 44, A / D converter 46, digital signal processing circuit 48, memory (DRAM) 50, D
/ A converter 52, compression / expansion circuit 54, memory card 5
6, a liquid crystal display (LCD) controller 58, a liquid crystal monitor 18, a central processing unit (CPU) 60, an operation switch unit 62, an imaging system control circuit 64, an imaging lens driving unit 66, a camera battery (not shown), and the like. The operation switch unit 62 is provided with the release switch 2.
8 and various blocks related to camera operations such as the up / down key 30 and operation buttons. The photographing lens driving unit 66 includes an AF for driving a focus lens.
It includes a motor and a zoom motor for driving a zoom lens.

When the release switch 28 in the operation switch section 62 is pressed, the CPU 60 detects this and sends a command to the imaging system control circuit 64. The imaging system control circuit 64 performs focus control via the photographing lens driving unit 66 and performs exposure control by controlling the charge accumulation time in the diaphragm 40 and the CCD 42. The operation of a zoom switch (not shown) or the like allows the photographing lens 12 to be driven to zoom.

CC through the taking lens 12 and the aperture 40
The subject light incident on the light receiving surface of D42
2 are converted into signal charges of an amount corresponding to the amount of light incident on each sensor, and the signal charges are sequentially read out as voltage signals (image signals) corresponding to the signal charges based on clock pulses. The image signal output from the CCD 42 is applied to an analog signal processing circuit 44. The analog signal processing circuit 44 has a CDS clamp, a gain control amplifier, and the like, and performs sampling of an image signal, white balance adjustment, and the like. The image signal processed by the analog signal processing circuit 44 is converted into R, G, and B digital signals by an A / D converter 46 and added to a digital signal processing circuit 48.

The digital signal processing circuit 48 includes a gamma correction circuit, a YC signal generation circuit, and the like, and performs gamma correction of the R, G, and B digital signals, and YC signals of the R, G, and B signals (the luminance signal Y and the chroma signal). Processing such as conversion into a signal C) is performed, and the YC signal is stored in the memory 50. The YC signal stored in the memory 50 is compressed into a predetermined format by a compression / expansion circuit 54, and the memory card 56 is detachable from the camera.
Will be recorded. In addition, the form of the recording medium is a PC card,
The LCD controller 58, which can take various forms regardless of the method, such as a flash memory card, an IC card, a magneto-optical disk, etc.
Based on the C signal, R, G, B signals and pulses necessary for liquid crystal display are generated and output to the liquid crystal monitor 18, an image is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 18, and read from the memory card 56 during reproduction. A reproduced image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 18 based on the YC signal reproduced by the compression / expansion circuit 54. The LCD monitor 18 displays information related to the camera mode, such as the number of frames that can be shot / the number of frames to be played back and the remaining amount of the camera battery, in addition to the shot images.

The YC signal is supplied to a D / A converter 52
After that, it is converted into an analog signal, then converted into a predetermined video signal by an encoder (not shown), and output from a video output terminal to an external device such as a television. Next, the operation of the electronic camera having the above configuration will be described. FIGS. 4 and 5 show how the electronic camera 10 of this embodiment is used. As shown in these figures, at the time of shooting or reproduction of an image, one hand (for example, a left hand) is inserted into a space 26 formed between the camera front part 16 and the camera rear part 22, and the thumb and forefinger's hands are inserted. The connection portion 24 is placed on the side to hold the camera. At this time, the camera front part 16 is arranged on the back side of the hand, and the camera rear part 22 is arranged on the palm side.
The connecting portion 24 has elasticity due to its material, and the distance between the camera front portion 16 and the camera rear portion 22 is slightly widened by inserting a hand into the space portion 26. And the connecting part 2
The camera front part 16 and the camera rear part 22 pinch the photographer's hand from the front and rear direction with an appropriate force by the elastic force of 4 (restoring force to return to the original state). Thus, the camera can be stably held by applying an appropriate resistance to the hand holding the camera. The thumb is lightly placed on the connecting portion 24, and the release switch 28 can be pressed with the thumb during photographing.

According to the electronic camera 10 of the present embodiment, it is not necessary to grasp the camera with a finger or hand to hold the camera, and the camera can be easily held. Also,
Photographing lens 12, strobe light emitting unit 14, liquid crystal monitor 18
The screen and the like are not covered by hand, so that the operability is good and the monitor screen is easy to see. The operation unit 20 such as the up / down key 30 and the mode selection button 34 may be operated with the other hand (right hand). In this case, the button is pressed toward the palm of the hand (left hand) holding the camera. Therefore, the pressing force can be easily received and operated with the left hand. When the operation unit 20 is arranged on the right side of the liquid crystal monitor 18 as shown in FIG. 5, it is also possible to operate the operation unit 20 by bending the finger of the hand (left hand) holding the camera. .

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the camera is held with the left hand, but the camera can be held with the right hand. The arrangement of the release switch 28 and other operation switches may be changed exclusively for the right hand with the intention of holding the camera with the right hand, or the release switch is arranged at the approximate center of the connecting portion 24 so that it can be used with either the left or right hand. For example, the arrangement of the operation unit may be devised.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. 6 is a front perspective view of an imaging unit constituting an electronic camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view thereof, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a monitor unit constituting the electronic camera. It is. In these drawings, the same or similar members as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The electronic camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises two units, an imaging unit 70 and a monitor unit 72. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the imaging unit 70 does not include a liquid crystal monitor, and
4 is provided with a radio wave transmitting unit 74. And
A communication signal processing unit (modulation circuit and the like) (not shown) is provided inside. An image signal of an image obtained by shooting, an image signal of a reproduced image, and the like are converted into an appropriate signal form in the communication signal processing unit according to a predetermined communication method, and transmitted from the radio wave transmission unit 74. Release switch 2
Numeral 8 is arranged on the back of the camera rear part 22 with the intention of being pushed by the hand (for example, right hand) opposite to the hand holding the camera (for example, left hand).
4 may be arranged above.

On the other hand, the monitor unit 72 includes a liquid crystal monitor 78 corresponding to an image display device, a radio wave receiving unit 80, and a band unit 82. A communication signal processing unit (demodulation circuit or the like) (not shown) is provided inside the monitor unit 72, and a radio wave transmitted from the imaging unit 70 is received by a radio wave reception unit 80 of the monitor unit 72.
A captured image or the like is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 78 based on the received signal.

The band section 82 has a form such that the monitor unit 72 can be worn on the photographer's hand. A well-known magic tape (registered trademark) 84 is provided as a fastening means at the tip of the band portion 82 so that the tightening degree of the band can be adjusted according to the size of the photographer's hand. The means for adjusting the tightening degree of the band is not limited to the magic tape 84, and other fastening means (fixing means) such as a buckle can be used.

FIG. 9 shows an example when the electronic camera according to the present embodiment is used. As shown in the figure, one hand (for example, a left hand) is inserted into the space 26 of the imaging unit 70 to hold the imaging unit 70. Then, the monitor unit 72 is attached to the other hand (right hand). At this time,
The monitor unit 72 is fixed by winding the band 82 around the right hand so that the liquid crystal monitor 78 is arranged on the back of the hand.

The image taken by the image pickup unit 70 is transmitted to the monitor unit 72 by wireless communication, and the image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 78 of the monitor unit 72. In particular, by disposing the liquid crystal monitor 78 on the back side of the hand as shown in FIG. 9, there is an advantage that the image displayed on the monitor screen can be confirmed even when the release switch 28 and other operation parts are operated with the right hand. .

In the case of such an electronic camera composed of two units, a sensor (not shown) for detecting that the two units have approached each other, a photographing system block and a liquid crystal based on a detection signal of the sensor. Control means for ON / OFF control of the power supply (camera power supply) of the monitor 78 may be added, and the camera power supply may be automatically turned on when the sensor detects that the two have approached a predetermined distance. Good. When it is detected that the two units are separated from each other by a certain distance, the camera power is turned off.
F. It should be noted that the CPU 60 can play the role of such control means.

In FIG. 9, the user places his hand in the space 26 of the imaging unit 70 with his left thumb up, and holds the camera with the connecting portion 24 placed between the thumb and the index finger.
It is also possible to support the connecting portion 24 of the imaging unit 70 on the side of the hand from the outside of the little finger to the wrist with the thumb down as shown in FIG. In this case, the camera front unit 1
6 is located on the palm side, and the camera rear part 22 is located on the back side of the hand.

In the second embodiment, an example in which the imaging unit 70 is held by the left hand and the monitor unit 72 is mounted on the right hand has been described. However, the imaging unit 70 is held by the right hand, and the monitoring unit 72 is held by the left hand. May be attached. In the second embodiment, the imaging unit 70 and the monitor unit 72 communicate with each other by radio waves.
Various communication modes such as communication using a signal line (cable) and infrared communication are possible.

As a modification of the above-described first and second embodiments, an adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the size of the space 26 may be provided in the connecting portion 24. FIG. 11 shows an example of a structure for adjusting the distance (the width of the space portion 26) between the camera front portion 16 and the camera rear portion 22. As shown in FIG. 11, the connecting portion 24 is connected to the camera rear portion 2.
The camera rear part 22 and the camera front part 16 are connected via a connecting shaft 86. The connecting shaft 86 is provided on the camera front part 16, and a hole 88 with which the connecting shaft 86 is engaged is provided on the camera rear part 22 side. This hole 88 has a plurality of stop portions (four places in the figure) 88A where the connection shaft 86 can stop,
There is provided a guide portion that connects each stop portion so that the connection shaft 86 can move through each of the stop portions 88A to 88D. In FIG. 11, the leftmost stop 88
D shows a state where the connecting shaft 86 is engaged.

The camera front section 16 is rotatable about a connection shaft 86 as a center of rotation. In addition, camera front part 1
6, a coil spring 90 is supported. One arm 90A of the coil spring is in contact with a pin 92 provided in the camera front section 16, and the other arm 90B is in contact with the connection shaft 86. ing. The coil front 90 urges the camera front section 16 in a counterclockwise rotation direction (a direction approaching the camera rear section 22) in FIG.

Thus, when the camera is not used (when the camera is carried), the camera front portion 16 and the camera rear portion 22 are in contact with each other by the urging force of the coil spring 90 as shown by the dashed line in FIG. At the time of photographing or image reproduction, the space between the camera front part 16 and the camera rear part 22 is expanded against the force of the coil spring 90, and the space 2
6. Insert one hand into 6 and hold the camera.

Stop portions 88A-D with which the connecting shaft 86 is engaged
Is changed, the size of the space 26 can be enlarged or reduced, and the size of the space 26 can be freely adjusted according to the size of the photographer's hand. Also,
At the time of storage, the useless space 26 is made as small as possible, so that the volume can be reduced so as to be convenient for carrying. The structure of the adjustment mechanism is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 11, but can be realized by a slide click mechanism or the like.

In each of the above embodiments, an example in which the present invention is applied to an electronic camera for recording a still image has been described. However, the present invention relates to a silver halide camera, a movie camera, a portable information device having a photographing function, a PDA (Personal). It can be widely applied to various information portable terminals such as Digital Assistant).

[0037]

As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, the upper part of the camera front part and the upper part of the camera rear part are connected by the connecting part, and the hand is inserted into the space formed between the two parts. Is held, so that a grip portion in a conventional camera is not required. For this reason, even if the camera is miniaturized, the camera can be securely held without covering the lens, the strobe, the monitor, and the like with the hand. The size of the image display device can be increased in spite of the overall size of the camera, and the space for the operation unit can be provided with more space, thereby improving convenience and operability. Further, since it is not necessary to hold the camera with the hand to hold the camera, there is an advantage that the user is less apt to be tired even when shooting for a long time.

The present invention provides a camera having an original form, which enables photographing in an unprecedented style, and is excellent in fashion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a front side of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the back side of the electronic camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of an electronic camera.

FIG. 4 is a view of the electronic camera according to the present embodiment when used, as viewed from the front side of the camera.

FIG. 5 is a view of the electronic camera according to the present embodiment when viewed from the rear side of the camera.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the front side of an imaging unit constituting an electronic camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the imaging unit shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of a monitor unit included in an electronic camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of use of an electronic camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of use of the electronic camera according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing an example of an adjustment mechanism provided in a connecting portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic camera 12 ... Photographing lens 16 ... Camera front part 18, 78 ... Liquid crystal monitor (image display device) 20 ... Operation part 22 ... Camera rear part 24 ... Connecting part 26 ... Space part 28 ... Release switch (photographing start instruction switch) Reference Signs List 70 imaging unit 72 monitor unit 74 radio wave transmitting unit (signal transmitting unit) 80 radio wave receiving unit (signal receiving unit) 82 band unit (mounting means) 86 link shaft 88 hole 90 coil spring

Claims (6)

[Claims] An upper side of a camera front portion provided with a taking lens and a camera rear portion provided with an image display device and / or an operation portion are connected to each other via a connecting portion, and the camera front portion is provided. The camera can be held by inserting a hand into a space formed between the camera front and the camera rear. In the holding state, one of the camera front and the camera rear is arranged on the back of the hand and the other is arranged on the palm. A camera characterized in that it has a structure to be performed. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein a photographing start instruction switch is provided on an upper surface of said connecting portion. 3. A camera front part provided with a photographing lens and a camera rear part provided with an operation part are connected to each other via a connection part via a connection part. The camera unit has a structure in which one of the camera front part and the camera rear part is arranged on the back side of the hand and the other is arranged on the palm side by inserting one hand into a space formed in the camera unit. An image sensor, and an image pickup unit including a signal transmission unit that externally outputs an image signal obtained via the image pickup device; and a signal reception unit that receives a signal transmitted from the signal transmission unit. A monitor unit provided with an image display device that displays an image based on a signal received via the signal receiving unit, the monitor unit holding the imaging unit Camera, wherein the monitor unit square hand opposite the hand or mounting means having can wear on the wrist is provided, in that they are composed of. 4. The monitor unit has a configuration in which a display screen of the image display device is arranged on a back side of a photographer's hand when the monitor unit is worn on the photographer's hand using the mounting means. The camera according to claim 3, characterized in that: 5. A sensor for detecting that a distance between the imaging unit and the monitor unit has approached a predetermined distance, and power control means for turning on a camera based on a detection result of the sensor. 4. The camera according to claim 3, wherein: 6. The camera according to claim 1, wherein an adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the size of the space portion is provided at the connection portion.