JP2001024912A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera with which a picture can be easily watched even in the bright open air, power consumption for a back light is reduced and further, the entire camera is not expanded when a screen for displaying an image photographed by an optical image pickup system is arranged on the back of the main body of camera provided with the optical image pickup system. SOLUTION: This camera is provided with a display video signal preparing circuit for reducing an image provided from the optical image pickup system into image smaller than the entire display area of a screen 11 in a photographing mode and a finder hood 2 attachably and detachably fitted to the back of a main body 1 of camera. Then, the reduced image displayed on the screen 11 can be observed from the finder hood 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera, such as a digital still camera, provided with a screen for displaying a photographed image on the back of a camera body having an imaging optical system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a digital still camera, as shown in FIG. 9, a large screen (11) comprising a liquid crystal panel is provided on the back of a camera body (10) having a shutter button (13).
And an image taken by an imaging optical system (not shown) is displayed on a screen (11). In the digital camera, after confirming the image displayed on the screen (11), by pressing the shutter button (13),
The image is recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card.
It is also possible to read an image recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card and display it on the screen (11).

[0003]

However, in a digital still camera as shown in FIG. 9, when shooting outdoors, sunlight rays enter the screen (11) of the camera body (10), and the screen (11) is exposed. ) Was difficult to see. Also, screen
If the luminance of the backlight of the screen (11) is increased to make it easier to see (11), there is a problem that the power consumption is increased and the life of the battery is significantly shortened.

In order to solve these problems, an electronic finder (9) having a small screen (91) is protruded from the camera body (10) as shown in FIG. A digital still camera is conceivable in which the shutter button (13) can be operated while looking through the camera.
However, in the digital still camera, there is a problem that the entire camera becomes large due to the projection of the viewfinder (9).

An object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera in which a screen is easy to see even in a bright outdoor in a photographing mode, the power consumption for a backlight is small, and the whole camera does not become large.

[0006]

In a digital camera according to the present invention, an image obtained from the imaging optical system (7) is displayed on a screen (11) in a shooting mode for recording an image taken by the imaging optical system (7). ) Is reduced to an image smaller than the entire display area, a signal processing circuit for displaying the reduced image on the screen (11),
A finder hood (2) detachably attached to the back of the camera body (1);
Is provided with a viewing window for observing the reduced image displayed on the screen (11).

In the digital camera of the present invention,
In the photographing mode, a reduced image of the image obtained from the imaging optical system (7) is displayed on the screen (11) of the camera body (1). In this state, the viewfinder hood (2) is displayed on the screen (11). By mounting the camera, a reduced image can be observed through the viewing window of the finder hood (2). Here, even if sunlight or the like enters the back of the camera body (1), at least the display area of the reduced image on the screen (11) is covered by the viewfinder hood (2). The sunlight does not directly enter, and the reduced image can be easily observed through the viewing window of the finder hood (2). Also, the brightness of the backlight required when displaying a reduced image on the screen (11) of the camera body (1) is lower than when displaying a normal size image in the entire display area of the screen (11). The power consumption can be reduced by lowering the brightness of the backlight.

In a specific configuration, the camera body (1) is provided with switch means for detecting a state in which the finder hood (2) is attached, and the finder hood (2) is detected by the switch means. At this time, the signal processing circuit switches the image to be displayed on the screen (11) from the normal size image to the reduced image. According to the specific configuration, the display of the screen (11) is automatically switched to the display of the reduced image by attaching the finder hood (2) to the camera body (1), so that the operation in the shooting mode is simplified. Become.

More specifically, when the finder hood (2) is attached to the camera body (1), the camera body
The emission luminance of the backlight for illuminating the screen (11) of (1) is reduced. According to the specific configuration, the camera body
By attaching the finder hood (2) to (1), the light emission brightness of the backlight is automatically reduced, so that a special operation for lowering the brightness of the backlight is not necessary, which is convenient.

[0010]

According to the digital camera of the present invention,
By attaching the finder hood to the camera body in the photographing mode, the screen can be easily viewed even in bright outdoors, and the brightness of the backlight can be reduced, thereby reducing power consumption. Needless to say, there is no need to protrude the viewfinder from the camera body as in the related art, so that the size of the entire camera can be reduced.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a digital still camera will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a viewfinder hood (2) on the back of a camera body (1) in a digital still camera according to the present invention.
Is attached. A shutter button (13) is provided on an upper surface of a casing (12) constituting the camera body (1).

As shown in FIG. 2, an imaging optical system (7) is provided in a casing (12) of the camera body (1), and a circuit board ( 5)
The liquid crystal display size changeover switch (6) is provided on the circuit board (5). Also, casing (12)
Inside, a liquid crystal panel (3) for displaying an image obtained from the imaging optical system (7) is provided with the image display surface facing backward. As a result, a large screen (11) is formed on the rear surface of the casing (12), as shown in FIG. Further, the casing (12) of the camera body (1) has slits (14) (1) on both sides of the screen (11).
4) has been established.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the finder hood (2) has a cylindrical body (22) on the back of a cover plate (25) capable of covering the screen (11) of the camera body (1). A viewing window is provided to penetrate the center of the cover plate (25) and the tubular body (22) and to observe the center of the screen (11). A diopter adjustment lens (24) is installed inside the cylinder (22), and the diopter can be adjusted by rotating the diopter adjustment ring (23) engaged with the cylinder (22). ing. An eyecup (21) is attached to the tip of the cylindrical body (22). Also, a pair of left and right attachment / detachment mechanisms (4) (4) are provided at both ends of the cover plate (25) of the finder hood (2).
Is equipped.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the attachment / detachment mechanisms (4) includes a finger hook (41) projecting rearward from the back surface of the cover plate (25), and a front surface extending from the inner surface of the cover plate (25). The hook (42) protruding toward the cover plate (25), the flexible piece (43) provided on the back of the cover plate (25), the finger hook (41) and the hook (42) and the flexible piece (43) are connected to each other. Connection piece (44)
It is composed of Finger attachment of both attachment / detachment mechanism (4) (4)
(41) When (41) is pressed in the direction to approach each other, the flexure
(43) (43) is elastically deformed, and the finger hooks (41) (41) and the hooks (42) (42) of the two attachment / detachment mechanisms (4) (4) move in the directions approaching each other. Release the fingers (41) and (41),
(43) (43) is elastically restored, and with this, a finger hook (41)
(41) and the hooks (42), (42) move in the direction away from each other, and return to their original positions.

As shown in FIG. 7, the hooks (42) and (42) of the two attachment / detachment mechanisms (4) and (4) are connected to both slits (14) and (14) of the camera body (1).
The hooks (42) are inserted into the slits (14), and the camera body (1) is inserted as shown in FIG.
By pressing the finder hood (2) against
The hook (42) elastically displaces and passes through the slit (14). Finally, the hook (42) engages with the opening edge of the slit (14), and the finder hood (2) is attached to the camera body (1). Fixed.
As a result, from the finder hood (2), as shown in FIG. 7, only the central partial area B of the entire display area A by the liquid crystal panel (3) can be observed, and the other areas can be covered by the cover plate (25). Will be covered by When the finder hood (2) is attached to the camera body (1), the liquid crystal display size changeover switch (6) of the camera body (1) is pressed by the hook (42) of the finder hood (2). It changes from off to on.

A finder hood (2) is mounted on the camera body (1).
By operating the finger hooks (41) and (41) of the two attachment / detachment mechanisms (4) and (4) from the state in which the hook (42) is detached from the opening edge of the slit (14), By pulling (2) away from the camera body (1), the hook (42) comes out of the slit (14) and the camera body
The finder hood (2) will be removed from (1). By removing the finder hood (2) from the camera body (1), the liquid crystal display size switch (6)
Changes from on to off.

In the digital still camera, when the finder hood (2) is not attached to the camera body (1), an image S taken by the camera body (1) is displayed on the screen (11) as shown in FIG. Is displayed in full size in the entire display area. In contrast, when the finder hood (2) is attached to the camera body (1), as shown in FIG. 4, the image taken by the camera body (1) is reduced and the reduced image T is displayed on the screen (11). ) Is displayed at the center.

FIG. 8 shows a configuration of a circuit system mounted on the digital still camera, and an image pickup optical system.
The image sensor (71) constituting (7) includes an image buffer (5) via an A / D converter (51) and a digital video signal processing circuit (52).
The image connected to 3) and captured by the imaging optical system (7) is temporarily stored in the image buffer (53) as a digital video signal. The image buffer (53) is connected to the liquid crystal panel (3) via a display video signal creation circuit (56), a D / A converter (57), and a liquid crystal driver (58).
The video signal stored in (53) is displayed on the liquid crystal panel (3) as a video. Here, when the shutter button (13) is pressed, the video signal read from the image buffer (53) is supplied to the digital compression circuit (54), compressed, and then written to the image memory card (8).

When displaying an image recorded on the image memory card (8) on the liquid crystal panel (3), the compressed video signal read from the image memory card (8) is converted into a digital expansion circuit (55). After being supplied and decompressed to the image buffer (5
Stored once in 3). The video signal stored in the image buffer (53) is supplied to the display video signal creation circuit (56) and the D / A converter (5).
7) After being supplied to the LCD driver (58), the LCD panel
The display according to (3) is performed.

The image pickup device (71), digital video signal processing circuit (52), image buffer (53), digital compression circuit (54),
The operation of the digital decompression circuit (55) is controlled by a control circuit (50) including a microcomputer. The control circuit (50) includes, in addition to the shutter button (13), an imaging / playback switch. (15) and the reproduction operation switch (16) are connected. Further, the liquid crystal display size changeover switch (6) is connected to the display video signal creation circuit (56).
By operating the imaging / playback switch (15),
A photographing mode for recording an image photographed by the photographing optical system (7) on the image memory card (8);
The mode can be switched between a reproduction mode in which the image recorded in (8) is displayed on the liquid crystal panel (3).
When the shutter button (13) is operated in the photographing mode, the photographed image at that time is recorded on the image memory card (8). By operating the reproduction operation switch (16) in the reproduction mode, an image to be displayed on the liquid crystal panel (3) is selected from a plurality of images recorded on the image memory card (8). Can be done.

In the imaging mode, when the finder hood (2) is removed from the camera body (1), the liquid crystal display size changeover switch (6) is off as described above. Video signal creation circuit (56)
Creates a video signal for displaying an image read from the image buffer (53) on the entire display area of the liquid crystal panel (3). As a result, an image captured by the imaging optical system (7) is displayed in full size on the liquid crystal panel (3) (see FIG. 3).

On the other hand, when the finder hood (2) is attached to the camera body (1), the liquid crystal display size changeover switch (6) is turned on as described above. 56) performs image reduction processing on the video signal obtained from the image buffer (53) to create a video signal for displaying a reduced image. As a result, the image captured by the imaging optical system (7) is reduced and displayed on the liquid crystal panel (3) (see FIG. 4). When the shutter button (13) is operated in this state, the image currently displayed on the liquid crystal panel (3) at that time is displayed on the image memory card.
Recorded in (8). Also, liquid crystal display size changeover switch
When (6) is turned on, the backlight of the liquid crystal panel (3)
The brightness of (not shown) is adjusted to reduce power consumption.

On the other hand, in the playback mode, the camera body
With the finder hood (2) removed from (1), the display video signal creation circuit (56) receives the off signal from the liquid crystal display size switching switch (6) and reads the image read from the image buffer (53). A video signal for displaying an image on the entire display area of the liquid crystal panel (3) is created. As a result, the image read from the image memory card (8) is displayed in full size on the liquid crystal panel (3).

On the other hand, when the finder hood (2) is attached to the camera body (1), the display video signal generating circuit (5)
6) receives an ON signal from the liquid crystal display size changeover switch (6), performs image reduction processing on the video signal obtained from the image buffer (53), and creates a video signal for displaying a reduced image. As a result, the image read from the image memory card (8) is reduced and displayed on the liquid crystal panel (3). In addition, liquid crystal display size changeover switch (6)
Is turned on, the brightness of the backlight (not shown) of the liquid crystal panel (3) is adjusted, and power consumption is reduced.

In the digital still camera according to the present invention, the camera body (1) is operated in the photographing mode and the reproducing mode.
If sunlight does not enter the screen (11) directly,
It is not necessary to attach the viewfinder hood (2) to the camera body (1), but the screen (1)
If sunlight is directly incident on 1) and the screen (11) is difficult to see, attach a finder hood (2) to the camera body (1). As a result, a reduced image is displayed on the screen (11) of the camera body (1), and the reduced image can be observed from the finder hood (2). Here, screen (11)
Since the sunlight does not directly enter the camera, the reduced image is easy to see.

The camera body (1) has a viewfinder hood.
By attaching (2), the brightness of the backlight of the liquid crystal panel (3) is reduced. However, the display area of the reduced image is narrow, and the display area is naturally changed by the finder hood (2). Since it is covered, the reduced image can be observed with sufficient brightness.

According to the digital still camera of the present invention, the screen (11) of the camera body (1) is used as a finder for photographing an image.
Since there is no need to protrude the finder in (1), the camera body (1) does not become large.

The configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims. For example, the attachment / detachment mechanism (4) is not limited to the illustrated one, and various well-known configurations can be adopted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a digital still camera according to the present invention.
It is the perspective view which looked at the state where the finder hood was attached to the camera main body from diagonally backward.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the camera body as viewed obliquely from behind.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a camera body and a finder hood.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the finder hood as viewed obliquely from the front.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the finder hood as viewed obliquely from behind.

FIG. 7 is an exploded sectional view of a camera body and a finder hood.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a digital still camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional digital still camera.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another conventional digital still camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Camera body (11) Screen (12) Casing (13) Shutter button (2) Viewfinder hood (22) Tube (23) Diopter adjusting ring (24) Diopter adjusting lens (25) Cover plate (3) Liquid crystal panel (4) Attaching and detaching mechanism (5) Circuit board (6) Liquid crystal display size switch (7) Imaging optical system

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A camera body (1) having an imaging optical system (7).
In a digital camera having a screen (11) for displaying an image taken by the imaging optical system (7) on the back of the camera, a photographing mode for recording an image taken by the imaging optical system (7) is set. Thus, the image obtained from the imaging optical system (7) is reduced to an image smaller than the entire display area of the screen (11),
A signal processing circuit for displaying the reduced image on a screen (11); and a finder hood (2) detachably attached to the back of the camera body (1).
(2) The digital camera, wherein a viewing window for observing the reduced image displayed on the screen (11) is provided. 2. The camera body (1) is provided with switch means for detecting a state in which the finder hood (2) is attached, and a signal is output when the switch means detects the finder hood (2). The processing circuit is displayed on the screen (1
2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the image to be displayed in (1) is switched from a normal size image to a reduced image. 3. The viewfinder hood is attached to the camera body (1).
When (2) is attached, the screen (11) on the camera body (1)
The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein a luminance of a backlight for illuminating the backlight is reduced.