JP2000209470A - View finder device and video camera provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a view finder device capable of locking and unlocking a using state by simple constitution and a video camera provided with it. SOLUTION: This view finder device 10 is tilt-operatably supported to a camera body and is provided with a finder body tilt-operatable to the camera body, a sliding member 11 slide-movable to the finder body and a control means 11a for controlling the sliding operation of the sliding member to the finder body. Corresponding to the operating position of the finder body and the sliding member, at least a first form - a forth form can be taken and the control means controls the prescribed operation of the sliding member in the respective forms.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera such as a video camera provided with a viewfinder, and more particularly to a viewfinder having a structure in which a viewfinder can be pulled out from a storage position and used, and a part of the viewfinder can be removed. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a video camera as a typical example in which a camera section comprising a photographic lens and an image sensor and an image (video) recording section such as a video tape or a flash memory are integrally formed. The video camera generally includes a viewfinder for observing a subject image being photographed and confirming the photographed image. The viewfinder is provided at the upper rear of the camera body so that the photographer can easily observe the camera body when holding the camera body.

[0003] At the time of photographing, in general, the photographer himself places his or her eyes on an eye cup provided in a view finder to confirm a subject image being photographed. If the eyecup and the camera body are close to each other, the photographer's nose may hit the camera body as it is. Therefore, such a problem is usually solved by providing an eyecup at a position away from the camera body by a certain amount.

However, as a result, the viewfinder protrudes from the camera body, and the miniaturization and portability of the camera are sacrificed. Therefore,
By pulling out a part of the camera, a compact viewfinder has been commercialized, and the eyecup has been appropriately separated from the camera body when in use. This type of viewfinder is equipped with a click mechanism or a lock mechanism for fixing the viewfinder pulled out during use so that the viewfinder does not return to the stowed state at the time of use.

[0005] Separately from this, in this type of drawer type viewfinder, dust and burrs of parts sucked into the viewfinder due to the drawer tend to adhere to the inside of the lens or the glass surface of the liquid crystal. There's a problem. As a countermeasure, a part of the drawn viewfinder can be removed, or a part of the viewfinder is provided with an opening that can be opened and closed, so that the lens and the glass surface of the liquid crystal can be cleaned. (For example, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-195896).

[0006]

However, in the case where the drawer type viewfinder tilts with respect to the camera body, if the click force in front of the drawer position is weak, the viewfinder can be easily moved to the storage position in a tilted state. There are problems such as being pulled in. Conversely, if you increase the click force,
There is a problem that the click force is reduced due to aging, and powder is generated from a mating component due to friction with a member that generates the click.

On the other hand, in the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-195896, the number of components increases by the number of mechanical components that open and close the opening. As a result, not only is the cost disadvantageous, but also the size of the viewfinder cannot be reduced by the size of the opening and closing structure.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a drawer-type viewfinder from which a part thereof can be removed, a viewfinder device capable of locking and releasing a use state with a simple configuration and a video camera having the same. The purpose is to provide.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A viewfinder device of the present invention is a drawer type viewfinder device supported so as to be tiltable with respect to a camera body, the viewfinder body being tiltable with respect to the camera body. A slidable member slidable with respect to the finder main body, and a restricting means for restricting a sliding operation of the slide member with respect to the finder main body. A fourth mode may be adopted, and the regulating means regulates a predetermined operation of the slide member in each mode.

Further, in the viewfinder device of the present invention, in the first mode, the finder main body and the slide member are in the stored state in the storage position, and in the second mode, the slide member in the first mode is slid from the storage position and pulled out. In the third mode, the finder body in the second mode is rotated to be in the tilt position, and in the fourth mode, the slide member in the third mode is detached from the finder body in the fourth mode. It is characterized by the following.

Further, in the viewfinder device of the present invention, the restricting means includes engaging members provided at predetermined portions on the finder body side and the sliding member side, respectively, and the engaging relationship of these engaging members changes in each form. It is characterized by doing.

Further, in the viewfinder device of the present invention, the engagement member on the finder main body side is displaced relative to the engagement member on the slide member side in accordance with the sliding operation of the slide member and the tilt operation of the finder main body. The engagement relationship between the engagement members is changed in each mode.

Further, in the viewfinder device according to the present invention, the engaging members of the regulating means are engaged with each other so as to lock the slide member in the third mode.

Further, in the viewfinder device of the present invention, it is preferable that the engaging members of the restricting means engage with each other so as to restrict the removal of the slide member from the finder body in the use state of the second mode and the third mode. Features.

The viewfinder device according to the present invention is characterized in that the viewfinder device further comprises an operation member capable of relatively displacing the engaging member on the finder main body side with respect to the engaging member on the slide member side.

Further, in the viewfinder device of the present invention, in the fourth mode, the engaging member on the finder body side is moved to the engaging member on the slide member side by the operating member so that the sliding member can be detached from the finder body. It is characterized by being displaced.

Further, a video camera according to the present invention includes any one of the above viewfinder devices.

In the above configuration, the viewfinder is not inadvertently pulled into the storage position during use, so that usability is improved. Further, the inside of the viewfinder can be cleaned by a simple operation.

[0019]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 9 show a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 to 3 are main configuration diagrams of a viewfinder 10 of a video camera. In these figures, 1
Reference numeral 1 denotes an outer cover (sliding member side), which holds an eyepiece lens 12, is slidably mounted on an inner cover 13 (viewfinder body side), and has a slide lock claw 11a. And inner cover 13
Is a hinge unit that tilts counterclockwise in FIG.

Reference numeral 15 denotes an inner cover 1 via a holder 16.
The LCD 17 fixed to 3 is a protective glass which is a protective member of the LCD 15. 18 is viewfinder 1
An upper cover (a part thereof) of the camera body (see FIG. 4) for holding 0, and 19 is an eyecup. Reference numeral 20 denotes a lock mechanism of the viewfinder 10, which includes the following members.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a lock member having a lock portion 21a that engages with the claw portion 11a of the outer cover 11, and 22 denotes a holding member that holds the lock member 21 so as to be slidable. It has a flange portion 22a that abuts. Reference numeral 23 denotes a spring for urging the lock member 21 upward in FIG. 2, and reference numeral 24 denotes a holding member 22 shown in FIG.
Is a spring that is biased downward in the drawing. Also 2
An operation member 5 is integrated with the lock member 21 via the time keeping member 22.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a lever for regulating the position of the lock member 21. The lever 26 has a contact portion 26a that contacts the outer cover 11 and the upper cover 18 and a contact portion 26b that contacts the contact portion 21c of the lock member 21. ing. Lever 2
6 is urged by a spring 27 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

Here, the viewfinder 1 according to the present invention
0 is attached to the camera body 101 of the video camera 100 as shown in the example of FIG. Camera body 101
Has a finder mounting portion 102 as in the illustrated example, and the viewfinder 10 has a finder mounting portion 102.
, A tilt operation is performed via a hinge unit 14 as shown by an arrow. Note that the video camera 10
0 is provided with a lens unit 103, an operation switch (not shown), and the like.

The lock mechanism of the viewfinder 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, in this embodiment, the first to fourth modes are adopted as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 according to the operation positions of the finder body including the inner cover 13 and the like and the slide member including the outer cover 11 and the like. . That is, in the first mode, the finder main body and the slide member are in the storage state in the storage position (FIG. 5A),
In the mode, the slide member in the first mode is slid from the storage position to a use state in which the slide member is at the pull-out position (FIG. 5).
(B)), in the third mode, the finder main body in the second mode is rotated to be in the use state at the tilt position (FIG. 6).
(A)), in the fourth mode, the slide member in the third mode is removed from the finder body (FIG. 6).
(B)).

When the viewfinder 10 is housed in the camera body 101 as shown in FIG. 5A, the abutting portion between the flange 22a of the holding member 22 and the lever 26 as shown in FIGS. 26a is the outer cover 11 respectively.
It is in contact with the inside of the.

From the state shown in FIG.
1 is slid to the right in FIG.
The viewfinder 10 is referred to as “pull out”. FIG.
(See also (B)), and the viewfinder 10 is in the state shown in FIG. That is, the holding member 22 is moved downward in FIG. 7 by the spring force of the spring 24, whereby the inside of the upper cover 18 and the flange 22a of the holding member 22 are brought into contact. Further, the lever 26 pivots counterclockwise in FIG. 7 by the spring force of the spring 27, whereby the inside of the upper cover 18 and the contact portion 26a of the lever 26 are brought into contact.

At this time, since the amount of movement of the holding member 22 and the amount of downward movement of the lock member 21 due to the turning of the lever 26 are set equal in FIG. The relative position of does not change.

With the above operation, the claw portion 11a of the outer cover 11 is further restricted from being pulled out of the viewfinder 10 by the lock portion 21b of the lock member 21, as shown in FIG. 9B. On the other hand, since movement to the storage position is not restricted, the viewfinder 10 can slide between the storage position (first mode) and the drawn-out position (second mode). The spring 24 is set so as to generate almost no biasing force at the position in this state.

Here, the regulating means for regulating the sliding operation of the outer cover 11 with respect to the finder main body is constituted by the lock portions 21a and 21b of the lock member 21 on the finder main body side and the claw portion 11a of the outer cover 11 in this embodiment. The engaging member is included. The engagement relationship of these engagement members changes as shown in FIG. 9 in each of the first to fourth embodiments.

When the viewfinder 10 is tilted by the hinge unit 14 from the state (use state) shown in FIG. 5B (see FIG. 6A), FIGS.
The state shown in FIG. In other words, viewfinder 1
By tilting the upper cover 18, the contact portion 22 a of the holding member 22 and the contact portion 26 a of the lever 26 are tilted.
Are released from the contact state. As a result, the spring 24 hardly generates an urging force as described above, so that the position of the holding member 22 hardly changes.
Rotates further counterclockwise by the spring force of the spring 27. The rotation of the lever 26 causes the lock member 21 to rotate.
Moves downward in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9C, the claw portion 11a of the outer cover 11 is
Both the movement to the storage position and the further withdrawal operation are restricted by the lock portions 21a and 21b.

The operation member 2 is shifted from the state shown in FIG.
5 is operated against the spring force of the spring 23, and the lock member 21 is operated.
Is further slid leftward in FIG. 9C.
Thereby, the claw portion 11a of the outer cover 11 and the lock member 21
9 is released from the engagement state of the lock portion 21b of FIG.
(See (D)) and the outer cover 11 can be removed from the viewfinder 10 main body as shown in FIG.
At this time, the protective glass 17 of the LCD 15 in the inner cover 13
And the surface of the eyepiece 12 can be cleaned using a cleaning tool such as a cotton swab.

When the detached outer cover 11 is attached to the viewfinder 10 after cleaning is completed, FIG.
The operation member 25 is operated against the spring force of the spring 23 as shown in the state of FIG.
The locking operation is performed after the lock member 21 is moved to a position where the engagement state of the lock portion 21b is released. As a result, the claw portion 11a of the outer cover 11 and the lock portion 21a of the lock member 21 come into engagement with each other. At this time, the operation member 25 is released. Then, the lock member 21 slides rightward in FIG. 9D by the spring force of the spring 23. As a result, a state similar to that of FIG. 9C is obtained, so that both the movement of the outer cover 11 to the storage position and the movement of the outer cover 11 in the removal direction are restricted again.

As described above, the restriction on the movement of the viewfinder 10 in the storage direction when the viewfinder 10 is tilted and the restriction on the removal of the outer cover 11 can be constituted by the same parts (mechanism). Therefore, there is an effect that the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts and the size of the viewfinder 10 can be reduced by reducing the space of the parts. Further, since a part of the viewfinder 10 can be easily removed, an effect is obtained that the surface of the protective glass 17 of the LCD 15 and the surface of the eyepiece 12 in the viewfinder 10 can be easily and reliably cleaned.

The shape and number of each part including the lock mechanism 20 are not limited to those described in the present embodiment. It goes without saying that a similar effect can be obtained.

(Second Embodiment) Next, FIGS.
FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. Note that members that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals,
The description is omitted.

The main differences from the first embodiment will be described. The lock mechanism 3 of the viewfinder 10 of the present embodiment is described.
0, the lock member 31 having the lock portion 31a
A spring 32 for urging the lock member 31 downward in FIG. 11 and a spring 34 for urging the lock member 31 toward the upper cover 18 (downward in FIG. 10), and the lock member 31 via the inner cover 13. And the operating member 33 integrated with the operating member 33.

The lock mechanism 30 of the viewfinder 10 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. When the viewfinder 10 is stored in the camera body 101 as shown in FIG.
The operating member 33 is urged by the spring force of the spring 34 as shown in FIG.
Are in contact with each other.

When the pull-out operation of the viewfinder 10 is performed from the state shown in FIG. 12A (see FIG. 12B), the claw portion 11a of the outer cover 11 and the lock portion 31a of the lock member 31 are in a contact state. Becomes As a result, further pull-out operation is restricted, and the viewfinder 10 is
It becomes the state shown in. As the outer cover 11 slides, the contact portion 33 a of the operation member 33 comes into contact with the upper cover 18 by the spring force of the spring 34.

That is, while the drawer is restricted by the lock member 31, the movement to the storage position is not restricted.
Therefore, the viewfinder 10 is slidable between the storage position and the drawing position.

The state shown in FIG. 12B (use state)
When the viewfinder 10 is tilted by the hinge unit 14 from FIG.
By the tilt of 0, the contact state between the upper cover 18 and the contact portion 33a of the operation member 33 is released. Thereby, the operation member 33 is further moved outward by the spring force of the spring 34. The flange 33b of the operation member 33 comes into contact with the slope 11b of the outer cover 11, and the movement of the outer cover 11 to the storage position is restricted. That is, the claw portion 1 of the outer cover 11
In the case of 1a, both the pulling-out operation is restricted by the lock portion 31a of the lock member 31, so that the outer cover 11 is in a state where both the movement to the storage position and the further pulling-out operation are restricted.

The operating member 33 is operated from the state shown in FIG. 14 and FIG.
12B, is slid rightward against the spring force of FIG. As a result, the engagement state between the claw portion 11a of the outer cover 11 and the lock portion 31a of the lock member 31 is released (see FIG. 12 (C)), so that the outer cover 11 can be viewed as shown in FIG. It can be removed from the finder 10 body. At this time, the LCD 1 in the inner cover 13
The surface of the protective glass 17 and the surface of the eyepiece 12 can be cleaned with a cleaning tool such as a cotton swab.

When the removed outer cover 11 is attached to the body of the viewfinder 10 after the cleaning is completed, the inclined portion of the claw portion 11a comes into contact with the inclined portion of the lock portion 31a by the attaching operation (see FIG. 12D). Further outer cover 1
When the lock member 31 is attached,
Slides rightward in FIG. 12D against the spring force of the spring 32 (see FIG. 12E). When the outer cover 11 is further pushed in, the claw portion 11a and the lock portion 31a
As shown in FIG. 12 (B), the claw portion 11a of the outer cover 11 is located in front of the lock portion 31a of the lock member 31.

As described above, the restriction on the movement of the viewfinder 10 in the storage direction when the viewfinder 10 is tilted and the restriction on the removal of the outer cover 11 can be constituted by the same parts (mechanism). Therefore, there is an effect that the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts and the size of the viewfinder 10 can be reduced by reducing the space of the parts. Further, since a part of the viewfinder 10 can be easily removed, an effect is obtained that the surface of the protective glass 17 of the LCD 15 and the surface of the eyepiece 12 in the viewfinder 10 can be easily and reliably cleaned.

The shape and number of each part including the lock mechanism 20 are not limited to those described in the present embodiment. It goes without saying that a similar effect can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the video camera has been described as a typical example of the viewfinder and the camera. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various types of cameras such as a single-lens reflex camera and a lens shutter camera and their viewfinders are applicable. This is also applicable to the present embodiment, and the same operation and effect as the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, the regulation of the movement in the storage direction when the viewfinder is tilted and the regulation of the removal in the storage direction can be constituted by the same parts (mechanism), so that the structure is simple. In spite of this, it has advantages such as excellent usability and guaranteeing accurate and smooth operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main side view of a viewfinder according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main plan view of the viewfinder according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 is a view of the viewfinder according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from an eyepiece side.

FIG. 4 is a top view and a side view showing an example of a video camera to which a viewfinder according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing first and second forms of a viewfinder according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating third and fourth forms of a viewfinder according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view when the viewfinder according to the first embodiment of the present invention is in use.

FIG. 8 is a plan view when the viewfinder according to the first embodiment of the present invention is in use.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the lock mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a main side view of a viewfinder according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a main plan view of a viewfinder according to a second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a lock mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the viewfinder according to the second embodiment of the present invention when in use.

FIG. 14 is a side view when the viewfinder according to the second embodiment of the present invention is in use.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 View finder 11 Outer cover 12 Eyepiece 13 Inner cover 14 Hinge unit 15 LCD 17 Protective glass 18 Upper cover 19 Eye cup 20 Lock mechanism 21 Lock member 22 Holding member 23, 24 Spring 25 Operating member 26 Lever 30 Lock mechanism 31 Lock member 32, 34 Spring 33 Operating member 100 Video camera 101 Camera body 102 Viewfinder mounting part 103 Lens unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A drawer-type viewfinder device supported to be tiltable with respect to a camera body, wherein the viewfinder body is tiltable with respect to the camera body, and is slidable with respect to the viewfinder body. A sliding member, and a regulating means for regulating a sliding operation of the sliding member with respect to the finder main body. According to an operation position of the finder main body and the sliding member, at least a first mode to a fourth mode can be taken. A viewfinder device wherein a predetermined operation of a slide member in the form is regulated. 2. The viewfinder device according to claim 1, wherein the finder body and the slide member are in a storage state in a storage position in a first mode, and the slide member in the first mode is shifted from a storage position in a second mode. In the third state, the finder body in the second mode is rotated to be in the use position in the tilt position, and the slide member in the third mode is moved from the finder body in the fourth mode. A view finder device which is detached. 3. The restricting means includes an engaging member provided at a predetermined portion on each of the finder main body side and the slide member side,
The viewfinder device according to claim 1, wherein the engagement relationship of the engagement members changes in each mode. 4. The engagement member on the finder main body side is relatively displaced with respect to the engagement member on the slide member side in accordance with the sliding operation of the slide member and the tilt operation of the finder main body. 4. The viewfinder device according to claim 3, wherein the relationship changes in each mode. 5. The viewfinder device according to claim 3, wherein the engaging members of the regulating means engage with each other so as to lock the slide member in the third mode. 6. An engagement member of a regulating means engages with each other so as to regulate removal of the slide member from the finder body in the use state of the second mode and the third mode. 5. The viewfinder device according to 4. 7. The view according to claim 3, further comprising an operation member capable of displacing the engagement member on the finder main body side relative to the engagement member on the slide member side. Finder device. 8. An operation member for displacing an engaging member on the finder main body side with respect to an engaging member on the slide member side so that the sliding member can be detached from the finder main body in the fourth mode. The viewfinder device according to claim 7, wherein: 9. A video camera comprising the viewfinder device according to claim 1. Description: