JP2000188704A - Video camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to easily peep into a view finder even when a battery pack with a large capacity and a thick thickness is mounted onto a rear face of a video camera. SOLUTION: First and second slide members 22, 23 are placed to an inner side of a base member 21 in duplicate and a view finder 13 is freely turnably coupled with through-holes 22h, 22j of the slide member 22. Slide support shafts 25a-25d or the like are coupled with a side wall of the slide member 22 through guide grooves 21a-21d. Lock holes 21n, 21p, 21q or the like corresponding to the thickness of three kinds of battery packs are placed on a side wall of a base member and engaged with a plate spring fixed to the side wall of the slide member 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a video camera, and more particularly to a viewfinder support mechanism thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, in a consumer video camera 10, a lens section 12 for photographing is arranged in front of a housing 11 (right rear side in the figure). A viewfinder unit 13 for viewing an image of a subject photographed through the unit 12 is provided on an upper surface of the housing 11, and a predetermined battery pack 1 is provided on a rear surface (a left front side in the figure) of the housing 11.
Some are equipped with 4N.

[0003] The battery pack 14N contains a lithium ion storage battery having a high energy density per weight and per volume, and enables continuous photographing for more than one hour, for example.

Further, by mounting a battery pack having a larger capacity in place of the standard type battery pack 14N, for example, continuous shooting for several hours can be performed.

There are two types of long-time battery packs, for example, a large capacity and a medium capacity, which can be selected according to the shooting conditions.

[0006] The long-time battery pack has the same size as the contact surface of the standard type battery pack with the contact surface with the video camera, and the thickness increases in accordance with the capacity.

[0007]

By the way, at the time of photographing with a video camera as described above, the user presses his / her eyes against the eyepiece 13e of the viewfinder 13 to look into the photographed image of the subject. It is common.

However, the above-described video camera 10
If a long-time battery pack is attached to the back of the camera, when the user looks into the viewfinder, the face will hit the back of the thick battery pack, making it difficult to see through the viewfinder. There was a problem that it became difficult.

In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a video camera which makes it easy for a user to look into a viewfinder even when a large-capacity battery pack is attached to the back of the video camera. is there.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a video camera according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a lens unit for photographing in front of a housing, and looks at an image of a subject photographed through the lens unit. A video camera having a viewfinder on the upper surface of the housing and a power supply mounted on the back of the housing supports the viewfinder so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction. A viewfinder support mechanism capable of locking at a plurality of positions is provided.

In the video camera according to the first aspect of the present invention, the view finder is slid to the optimum position by the view finder support mechanism according to the thickness of the power supply unit mounted on the back of the housing. -By locking, the viewfinder can be made easier to use.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the video camera according to the first aspect, the viewfinder support mechanism includes a base member coupled to the housing and a sliding member with respect to the base member. A sliding member movably engaged to rotatably support the viewfinder in a vertical plane including the longitudinal direction, and an elastic engagement for engaging the sliding member with the base member; And a member,
When the viewfinder is moved in the rear direction of the housing, the trace of movement of the viewfinder on the upper surface of the housing is closed by the upper surface of the sliding member. It is.

In the video camera 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 the viewfinder can be moved in the rear direction of the housing. When the upper surface of the sliding member closes the trace, the intrusion of foreign matter into the housing can be prevented, and the contents such as a flexible board connecting the viewfinder and the main body can be hidden.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video camera according to the second aspect, wherein the sliding member comprises an inner sliding member and an outer sliding member.
The inner sliding member and the outer sliding member are slidably engaged in the longitudinal direction by the elastic engaging member.

In the video camera according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the longitudinal dimension of the sliding member, and thus the entire viewfinder support mechanism, with respect to the required sliding range of the viewfinder. In addition, the cost can be reduced by using a common elastic engaging member for the engagement of the inner and outer sliding members and the engagement of the sliding member and the base member.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a video camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Structure of Embodiment] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the structure of a main part of an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a support mechanism 20 for slidably supporting the viewfinder 13 includes:
It mainly includes a base member 21 and first and second sliding members 22 and 23.

The base member 21 has a generally open "U"
And the first and second sliding members 2
The base members 2 and 23 are formed in a U-shape and a C-shape, respectively, in which the bottom is open, as shown in FIG.
The first sliding member 22 is disposed inside the first member 1, and the second sliding member 23 is disposed further inside the first sliding member 22.

In the base member 21, the side wall 21f on the near side is
Two guide grooves 21a, 21 in the horizontal direction
1b, two guide grooves 21c and 21d are also provided in the upper and lower portions of the rear side wall 21r in the horizontal direction, and as shown in FIG.
At the lens-side end of u, an upward locking piece 21e is formed.

The side wall 21f on the near side is extended toward the lens side (left side in the figure) and bent in a "U" shape, and the side wall 21r on the rear side is also extended toward the lens side to "U".
It is folded into a letter 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 extending portion of the side wall 21r are horizontally aligned and face each other, and are located on the lens side of the lower bent piece 21k. An upward locking piece 21m is formed at the end.

As shown in FIG. 2, three locking holes 21n, 21p, and 21q are provided in the side wall 21f on the near side in the middle of the guide grooves 21a and 21b, and are horizontally aligned. The guide groove 21c,
The three locking holes 21 are aligned horizontally in the middle of 21d.
s, 21v, and 21w are provided.

The base member 21 is appropriately connected to a main mechanism (not shown) inside the housing of the video camera, and the relative position between the base member 21 and the housing does not change.

On the other hand, in the first sliding member 22, as shown in FIG. 2, a through hole 22a is provided in the upper portion on the lens side of the side wall 22f on the front side, which is continuous with the upper plate 22t serving as a blindfold. A through-hole 22 is formed in the lower part of the “L” -shaped extending portion 22g on the viewfinder side (the right side in the figure).
b is provided. These through holes 22a and 22b are formed in the upper and lower guide grooves 21a and 21b of the side wall 21f of the base member 21.
Corresponding to

Similarly, a through hole 22c is provided in the upper portion on the lens side of the rear side wall 21r, and a through hole 22d is provided in the lower portion of the "L" -shaped extending portion 22s on the viewfinder side. . These through holes 22c and 22d are
Upper and lower guide grooves 21c, 2 on the side wall 21r of the base member 21
1d.

In addition, through holes 22h and 22j are provided on the upper portions of both the 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.

A concave portion 22k is provided in the lower portion of the side wall 22f on the front side on the lens side, and two locking holes 22m and 22n are provided in the concave portion so as to be aligned in the horizontal direction. Are provided with two through holes 22p and 22q. In the lower part on the lens side of the rear side wall 22r, similar recesses, locking holes and through holes are provided, although some illustrations and reference numerals are omitted.

Further, in the second sliding member 23, the front and rear side walls 2 connected to the upper plate 23t serving as a blindfold portion.
The lower ends of 3f and 23r are bent inward to form bent pieces 23h and 23k that are aligned horizontally and face each other.

These bent pieces 23h and 23k are used to assemble the lower bent pieces 21h and 23k on the lower side of the base member 21 during assembly.
It contacts the upper surface of 21k. In addition, the lens side of the bent piece 23k is extended in a “Γ” shape in the front direction.

A guide groove 23p is provided in a horizontal direction above the side wall 23f on the near side, and two locking holes 23n, 23h are aligned horizontally in a lower part of the side wall 23f.
23q are provided. A guide groove 23v and two locking holes are also provided on the rear side wall 23r, although some illustrations and symbols are omitted.

The guide groove 23p of the side wall 23f of the second sliding member 23 and the locking holes 23n and 23q
The two side walls 22f respectively correspond to the two through holes 22p and 22q provided on the lens side of the concave portion 22k.

The recess 22k in the side wall 22f on the front side of the first sliding member 22 is formed to accommodate one leaf spring 24f, and the locking holes 22m, 22n of the recess 22k.
2, the engaging portions 24a and 24b of the leaf spring 24f are appropriately connected to each other, and an intermediate engaging protrusion 24c is projected outward.

The engaging portion 24d provided on the lens side of the leaf spring 24f is provided with a concave portion 22k of the side wall 22f of the sliding member 22.
Of the sliding member 22 through the lower through hole 22q.
Inside of f, it protrudes inward. Similarly, the other leaf spring 24r is also provided with a concave portion (not shown) of the rear side wall 22r.
Is combined with

As shown in FIG. 1, the sliding support shafts 25a and 25b inserted from the near side into the guide grooves 21a and 21b of the side wall 21f on the near side of the base member 21, as shown by a chain line in FIG. The first sliding member 22 is coupled to the through holes 22a and 22b of the side wall 22f on the near side of the first sliding member 22. Similarly, the sliding support shaft 25
c and 25d are inserted into the guide grooves 21c and 21d of the side wall 21r on the back side of the base member 21 from the back side, and
2 are coupled to the through holes 22c and 22d of the rear side wall 22r.

Thus, the first sliding member 22 is supported by the four sliding support shafts 25a to 25d inside the base member 21, and is slidable in the direction of arrow H shown in FIG. Is combined with

Further, both side walls 23 of the second sliding member 23
As shown by chain lines in FIG. 2, sliding guide shafts 25p, 25v are respectively provided in the guide grooves 23p, 23v of the f, 23r.
Are inserted into the through holes 22p and 22v provided on both sides of the first sliding member 22 near the lens side.

As a result, the second sliding member 23 is
Are supported by the sliding support shafts 25p and 25v inside the sliding member, and the bent pieces 23h and
23k is supported by the bent pieces 21h and 21k of the base member 21 and slidably coupled in the direction of arrow H shown in FIG.

Then, both side walls 22 of the first sliding member 22
f, 22r, extending portions 22g, 22s, through holes 22h, 22s of 22s.
The rotation support shafts 25h and 25j are respectively connected to the j through a finder connection fitting (not shown) from inside, and the viewfinder 13 is connected to the viewfinder connection fitting.
Are appropriately combined.

As a result, the viewfinder 13 is rotatably connected to the rear end of the first sliding member 22 as shown by the arrow R in FIG. 1, and the rear end of the viewfinder 13 is raised. In addition, a so-called tilt-up state can be set.

[Displacement of View Finder of Embodiment]
Next, the displacement of the viewfinder according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

When a standard battery pack 14N is mounted on the back of the video camera according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, the viewfinder 13 is positioned at the reference position closest to the lens with respect to the housing 11. It is in.

When the viewfinder 13 is at the reference position, the above-described viewfinder support mechanism 20 moves to the first position.
The sliding member 22 is pushed down to the lens side to the limit.

That is, at the reference position, the first sliding member 22
The sliding support shafts 25a to 25d connected to the through holes 22a to 22d of the side walls 22f and 22r of the base member 21 abut on the lens side edges of the guide grooves 21a to 21d provided in the side walls 21f and 21r of the base member 21. Touch

Also, both side walls 22 of the first sliding member 22
Through holes 22p, 22v provided near the lens side of f, 22r
The sliding support shafts 25p and 25v are connected to guide grooves 23 provided on both side walls 23f and 23r of the second sliding member 23.
p and 23v are in contact with the lens-side edge, and the lens-side edge of the rear bent piece 23k of the second sliding member 23 is
The lower bent piece 2 of the rear side wall 21r of the base member 21
It comes into contact with the locking piece 21m formed in 1k.

Then, the side wall 2 on the near side of the base member 21
The engagement projection 24c of one leaf spring 24f elastically engages with the engagement hole 21n provided near the lens side of 1f, and the engagement projection (not shown) of the other leaf spring 24r is also provided.
The base member 21 is elastically engaged with a locking hole 21 s provided on the rear side wall 21 r of the base member 21 near the lens.
A click stop state is obtained between the first sliding member 22 and the first sliding member 22.

Further, the engagement portion 24d on the lens side of one leaf spring 24f is connected to the side wall 23 on the near side of the second sliding member 23.
f, and elastically engages with the locking hole 23n on the lens side of the lens f, and also engages with the lens side of the other leaf spring 24r (the symbol is omitted) on the rear side wall 23r of the second sliding member 23. Is elastically engaged with the corresponding portion, so that a click stop state can be obtained between the two sliding members 22 and 23.

In this reference state, the first sliding member 2 is attached to the upper bent pieces 21g and 21j of the base member 21.
The upper plate 22t of the second sliding member 22 is in contact with the lower bent pieces 21h and 21k of the base member 21, and the lower edges of the side walls 22f and 22r of the first sliding member 22 near the lens and the second sliding member. The lower bent pieces 23h and 23k of the moving member 23 are in contact with each other, and the upper plate 23t of the second sliding member 23 is in contact with the upper plate 22t of the first sliding member 22 from the inside.

As shown in FIG. 3B, a battery pack 1 of intermediate capacity and thickness is provided on the back of the video camera of this embodiment.
When 4P is mounted, the viewfinder 13 is pulled out from the reference position to the intermediate position. The trace of the movement of the viewfinder 13 is indicated by the upper plate 22 of the first sliding member 22 drawn out following the viewfinder 13.
Blocked by t prevents entry of foreign matter into the housing.

That is, when the viewfinder 13 is pulled out from the above-described reference position, the viewfinder 13
The first sliding member 22 connected to the first member is pulled out following the first member. Accordingly, engagement projections (24c, etc.) of leaf springs 24f, 24r fixed to both side walls 22f, 22r.
And the side walls 21f, 21r of the base member 21 are disengaged from the locking holes 21n, 21s on the lens side, and the leaf spring 24
f, 24r and the base member 2
The required frictional force, which is much smaller than the drag generated in the click stop state, is elastically obtained between the two side walls 21f and 21r.

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.

The engaging projections (24c, etc.) of the leaf springs 24f, 24r are connected to the side walls 21f, 2f of the base member 21.
When pulled out and engaged with the locking holes 21p and 21v at the intermediate portion of 1r, a click stop state is obtained between the base member 21 and the first sliding member 22.

As shown in FIG. 3C, when a battery pack 14Q having the largest capacity and thickness is mounted on the back of the video camera of this embodiment, the viewfinder 13 is pulled out to the longest position. And the viewfinder 13
The trace of the movement is closed by the upper plates 22t and 23t of the first and second sliding members 22 and 23 which are drawn out following the viewfinder 13, thereby preventing foreign matter from entering the housing. Is done.

That is, when the viewfinder 13 is further pulled out from the above-described intermediate position, the second sliding member 2
The edge of the extended portion formed on the back side bent piece 23k of the third viewfinder 3 (no symbol) is the base member 2
It comes into contact with a locking piece 21e formed on one bottom plate 21u.

The engaging holes (23n, etc.) on the lens side of the second sliding member 23 and the engaging portions (24d) of the leaf springs 24f, 24r connected to the first sliding member 22 on the lens side.
), And only the first sliding member 22 is pulled out following the viewfinder 13.

As described above, the engaging projections (24c, etc.) of the plate springs 24f, 24r fixed to the side walls 22f, 22r are engaged with the locking holes 21p, 21b at the intermediate portions of the side walls 21f, 21r of the base member 21. By deviating from 21v, a required frictional force is elastically obtained between the base member 21 and the first sliding member 22.

When the viewfinder 13 is pulled out to the longest position as shown in FIG. 3C, the first sliding member 22
The sliding support shafts 25a to 25d connected to the through holes 22a to 22d of the side walls 22f and 22r of the base member 21 abut on the finder side edges of the guide grooves 21a to 21d of the side walls 21f and 21r of the base member 21.

The engaging projections (24c, etc.) of the leaf springs 24f, 24r connected to the first sliding member 22 are provided on the side walls 21f, 21r of the base member 21 in the engaging holes 21q, 21q, which are located near the viewfinder. 21w and the base member 2
A click stop state is obtained between the first sliding member 22 and the first sliding member 22.

The engaging portions (24d and the like) of the leaf springs 24f and 24r on the lens side are engaged with the locking holes (23q) of the side walls 23f and 23r of the second sliding member 23 on the viewfinder side.
), So that a click stop state can be obtained between the sliding members 22 and 23.

As described above, in this embodiment, three types of battery packs 14 having different capacities and thicknesses are provided on the back of the video camera.
3A, 3B, and 3C when N, 14P, and 14Q are mounted.
As shown in FIG. 5, the viewfinder 13 is pulled out according to the thickness of each of the battery packs 14N, 14P, and 14Q, so that the eyepiece 13e is connected to each of the battery packs 14N, 1N.
It can be appropriately separated from the back of the 4P, 14Q, making it easier for the user to look into the viewfinder.

The first and second sliding members 22 and 2
By making 3 a double configuration, the sliding member, and eventually,
The dimension in the longitudinal direction of the entire viewfinder support mechanism can be reduced.

The common leaf springs 25 and f25r are used to engage the base member 21 and the first sliding member 22 and to engage the first and second sliding members 22 and 23. , Cost can be reduced.

From the longest position as shown in FIG.
When returning to the intermediate position as shown in FIG.
f, 24r and the base member 2
The engagement of the two side walls 21f, 21r with the locking holes 21q, 21w near the viewfinder is released.

In this way, even when the click stop between the base member 21 and the first sliding member 22 is released near the viewfinder, the engaging portions (24d and the like) of the leaf springs 24f and 24r on the lens side are not moved. The locking holes (23) on the viewfinder side of the side walls 23f, 23r of the second sliding member 23
q) elastically engage with both sliding members 2
The click stop state is maintained between the sliding members 2 and 23, and the sliding members 22 and 23 are integrally returned to the intermediate position shown in FIG. 3B.

At this intermediate position, the lens-side edge of the rear bent piece 23k of the second sliding member 23 is
The second sliding member abuts on a locking piece 21m formed on the lower bent piece 21k of the first side wall 21r on the rear side of the first side wall 21r, on the lens side of the leaf springs 24f and 24r. 2
The engagement of the side walls 23f and 23r with the locking holes (23q and the like) on the viewfinder side is released.

The engaging projections (24c and the like) of the leaf springs 24f and 24r are connected to the side walls 21f and 2f of the base member 21.
The base member 21 and the first sliding member 22 enter a click stop state by engaging with the locking holes 21p and 21v in the middle of 1r.

From the intermediate position as shown in FIG. 3B, FIG.
When the second sliding member 23 is returned to the reference position as shown in FIG. 3, the lens-side edge of the back side bent piece 23k is engaged with the locking piece 2 of the lower side bent piece 21k of the base member 21.
I cannot move while still in contact with 1m. Only the first sliding member 21 is provided with the engaging projections (24c and the like) of the leaf springs 24f and 24r and the locking hole 21 in the middle of the base member 21.
The click stop state due to engagement with p, 21v is released, and it moves to the reference position as shown in FIG.
The state returns to the click stop state at the reference position as described above.

[0067]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the viewfinder can be used at an optimum position according to the thickness of the power supply unit mounted on the back of the housing.

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.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the size of the viewfinder support mechanism in the longitudinal direction can be reduced, 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 displacement of a viewfinder according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 video camera, 11 housing, 12 lens part, 1
Reference numeral 3: viewfinder section, 14N, 14P, 14Q: battery pack (power supply section), 20: viewfinder support mechanism, 21: base member, 21a to 21d: guide groove, 21
n, 21p, 21q, 21s, 21v, 21w ... locking holes, 22, 23 ... sliding members, 22t, 23t ... blindfolds (upper plate), 23p, 23v ... guide grooves, 24f, 24r ...
Leaf springs, 25a to 25d ... sliding support shafts, 25h, 25j ...
Rotating support shaft, 25p, 25v ... sliding support shaft

Claims (3)

[Claims] An image pickup lens section is provided on the front of a housing, a viewfinder section for viewing an image of a subject taken through the lens section is provided on an upper surface of the housing, and a power supply section is provided on a rear surface of the housing. And a viewfinder supporting mechanism that slidably supports the viewfinder in the longitudinal direction and that can be locked at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction. Video camera. 2. The video camera according to claim 1, wherein said viewfinder support mechanism is slidably engaged with said base member coupled to said housing and extends in said longitudinal direction. A sliding member rotatably supporting the viewfinder portion in a vertical plane including: a viewfinder portion; and an elastic engagement member for engaging the sliding member with the base member. A video camera, characterized in that, when is moved in the direction of the back of the housing, the trace of movement of the viewfinder on the upper surface of the housing is closed by the upper surface of the sliding member. 3. The video camera according to claim 2, wherein the sliding member comprises an inner sliding member and an outer sliding member, and wherein the inner sliding member and the outer sliding member are connected by the elastic member. A video camera characterized in that it is slidably engaged in the longitudinal direction by a joining member.