JP2001203917A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera which contributes to the size reduc tion of a drive device itself while having excellent operability by securing stabil ity in photographing by efficiently arranging the drive device in a camera body. SOLUTION: This electronic camera is equipped with a photographic lens barrel 13 which holds a photographic lens group 14 for forming a subject image inside, an image pickup element 27 which has the photographic lens barrel projected to a subject side and generates an electronic image signal by receiving a subject image formed with luminous flux transmitted through the photographic lens group, the camera body 11 which is internally equipped with an image pickup means composed of a processing means for processing the signal from the image pickup element, and a grip part 12 which is equipped with the drive device 21, formed integrally with the camera body so that it project almost in the same direction as that of the photographic lens barrel on the left end side of the camera body from the subject side, capable of being loaded with a rotary recording medium removable inside, and recording the processed image signal of the image pickup means in a specific area of the rotary recording medium, and forms a part gripped by a user when photographed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera, more specifically, a photoelectric conversion of a subject image formed by a photographing lens group using an image pickup device or the like to obtain a predetermined image signal, which is represented by the image signal. The present invention relates to an electronic camera that displays an image using a display device and records the image signal as image data in a predetermined form on a rotary recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, predetermined signal processing is performed on an electrical signal obtained by subjecting a subject image formed by a photographing lens to photoelectric conversion using an image pickup device such as a CCD. A predetermined image signal is obtained, an image represented by the image signal is displayed using an image display device such as an LCD, and the image signal is converted into image data of a predetermined form in a semiconductor memory, a magneto-optical disk, a floppy disk, or the like. Electronic cameras configured to record on various types of recording media are generally in practical use,
It is also widespread.

In such a conventional electronic camera, in which a rotating recording medium such as a magnetic disk or a magneto-optical disk is applied as a recording medium for recording the acquired image data, a predetermined rotating recording medium is used. It is necessary to removably arrange the inside of the camera, and also provide a drive device including various mechanisms such as a disk drive mechanism for driving a mounted rotary recording medium inside the electronic camera.

[0004] In a conventional electronic camera using a rotating recording medium, for example, the following arrangement can be cited for incorporating a drive device.

(1) A drive device is disposed at a predetermined position inside an image display device (LCD or the like) disposed on the outermost side on the back side of the camera body, and a rotary recording medium to be mounted thereon is mounted. Means for arranging the recording surface so as to be substantially parallel to the display surface of the image display device; (2) the outermost position on the back side of the camera body, which is shifted so as not to overlap with the image display device. Means for arranging the image display device and the drive device side by side at the position may be considered.

[0006]

However, in the means shown in the above (1), a drive device is provided in addition to other components to be disposed inside the camera body, such as a main electric board and an image display device. Since the camera body is arranged in a stacked manner in the front-rear direction, there is a problem that the size of the camera body in the thickness (depth) direction is increased.

In the means (2), since the drive device is arranged so as to be shifted so as not to overlap with the image display device, the size of the camera body in the thickness (depth) direction is not increased. However, on the other hand, the size of the camera body in the horizontal or vertical direction, that is, the area of the back surface becomes large. Therefore, the above (1)
Either of the measures (2) inevitably increases the size of the electronic camera itself, which may impair the stability of the electronic camera at the time of photographing, the portability of the electronic camera, and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to drive a rotating recording medium in an electronic camera to which a rotating recording medium is applied as a recording medium for recording image data. Efficiently arranges drive devices to ensure the stability of the electronic camera at the time of shooting, provides better operability, and is compact despite being an electronic camera that uses a rotating recording medium. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic camera capable of contributing to the development of an electronic camera.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic camera according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a photographic lens barrel holding therein a photographic lens group for forming a subject image, and the photographic lens barrel. Are projected from the front surface, and an imaging device that receives a subject image formed by a light beam transmitted through the photographing lens group and generates an electronic image signal, and a processing unit that processes a signal from the imaging device. A camera body internally provided with an image pickup means, and formed so as to be integrated with the camera body at the left end as viewed from the subject side of the camera body and to project in substantially the same direction as the photographing lens barrel. A rotary recording medium can be removably mounted inside, and an image signal that has been subjected to signal processing by the imaging means is recorded in at least a predetermined area of the mounted rotary recording medium. Comprising a drive device, characterized in that it is constituted by a grip portion to be gripped by the user during shooting.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera according to the first aspect, the drive device in normal use is such that a recording surface of the rotary recording medium mounted on the drive device is provided on a bottom surface of the camera body. It is characterized in that it is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to it.

According to a third aspect, in the electronic camera according to the second aspect, the grip portion has a predetermined angle with respect to an optical axis of the photographing lens group held inside the photographing lens barrel. It is characterized by being provided with.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera according to the second aspect, the grip portion further includes a battery storage chamber in which a power supply battery for driving the camera can be loaded. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera according to the fourth aspect, the battery storage room is provided in a portion which is gripped by a user's hand during photographing.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera according to the fourth aspect, the battery storage chamber is provided at a position on the bottom side of the grip.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the long side of the power supply battery loaded inside the battery storage chamber is located inside the drive device. It is characterized in that it is formed so as to be substantially parallel to the recording surface of the rotating recording medium to be mounted.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. 1, 2, 3, and 4 are views showing the appearance of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views, FIG. 3 is a front view, and FIG. Is a rear view. 5 and 6 are views showing the arrangement of main internal components of the electronic camera. FIG. 5 is a member arrangement view when viewed from the top side of the electronic camera. FIG. 6 is an electronic camera. FIG. 4 is a member arrangement view when viewed from the right side surface of FIG.

FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 show FIGS.
FIG. 2 shows a state in which a strobe device provided at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the electronic camera is stored, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the strobe device can be used upright.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the electronic camera 1 has a camera body 11 and one end of the camera body 11 (a left end of the camera body 11 as viewed from the subject side (front side) with respect to the camera body 11). 2) includes a grip portion 12 formed integrally with the camera body 11 and held by one hand of a user at the time of photographing or the like, and a desired subject image provided at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the camera body 11. A finder device 20 for observing an image and confirming a photographing range and the like, and a non-use position (storage position; the position in FIG. 2) and a use position (FIG. 2) provided near the finder device 20 by rotating. 1), and a substantially cylindrical photographing device in which a photographing lens group 14 including a plurality of lenses and the like is provided protruding from the front surface of the camera body 11 toward the subject and disposed inside. It is constituted by the lens barrel 13 and the like.

At a predetermined position on the upper surface of the camera body 11,
A liquid crystal display panel 17 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) for displaying information on the state of the electronic camera 1, for example, a shooting mode and the like, is provided. The other end of the camera body 11 (the right end when viewed from the subject side (front side) with respect to the camera body 11), that is, the side surface opposite to the side on which the grip portion 12 is provided, An opening 11b is provided for inserting and removing a predetermined recording medium such as the semiconductor memory 19 (see FIG. 3) from the inside of the camera body 11. The opening 11b is opened and closed by a lid member 11a (see FIGS. 1 and 2) that is rotatably supported on the camera body 11 in the direction of arrow X1 in FIG. .

Inside the camera body 11, the opening 1
At a predetermined position corresponding to 1b, a card slot portion 26a (see FIG. 6) constituting a part of the recording means is provided. The card slot 26a is connected to the camera body 11
The semiconductor memory 19 is mounted on the card slot 26a through the opening 11b in the direction of arrow X6 shown in FIG. It has become so.

The card slot section 26a records a predetermined electric signal (image signal) or the like generated by the electronic camera 1 in a predetermined form in the mounted semiconductor memory 19, or stores the predetermined electric signal (image signal) in the semiconductor memory 19. It constitutes interface means for reading recorded image data and the like in a predetermined form.

At a position near the subject on the upper surface of the grip section 12, a release button 15 which is an operating member provided inside the camera body 11 and which is linked to a release switch (not shown) for generating an instruction signal relating to a photographing operation or the like. Are arranged. The above-described release switch is an electric component mounted on, for example, the electric board 26 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

As shown in FIG. 5, a disk drive 21 for removably arranging a predetermined rotary recording medium and controlling the drive of the medium is provided inside the grip 12 as shown in FIG.
The rotary recording medium applied to the electronic camera 1 of the present embodiment is, for example, a medium having a thin disk shape, and the rotary recording medium is inserted into a predetermined medium cartridge 2.
2 (see FIG. 5) is used.

When the medium cartridge 22 containing the rotating recording medium is mounted on the disk drive device 21 inside the grip portion 12, the recording of the rotating recording medium in the mounted medium cartridge 22 is performed. The surface is slightly inclined with respect to the optical axis O (see FIGS. 5 and 6) of the taking lens group 14 of the taking lens barrel 13.
That is, the grip portion 12 is formed to have a predetermined angle.

Here, for example, when the grip portion 12 and the optical axis O of the photographing lens group 14 are formed so as to be substantially parallel, the grip portion 12 facing forward of the camera body 11 is formed.
It is conceivable that the amount of protrusion of the lens becomes larger than the amount of protrusion of the taking lens barrel 13. When the components of the electronic camera 1 are arranged in front of the photographing lens barrel 13, the photographing range of the subject image formed by the photographing lens group 14 becomes
It is not preferable because these components and the like may enter.

In consideration of this, in the electronic camera 1, as described above, the grip section 12 is connected to the optical axis O of the photographing lens group 14.
, A shape that is disposed obliquely at a predetermined angle to the object, that is, the side of the grip portion 12 closer to the subject (the front end side).
Are formed so as to be separated from the optical axis O. Thus, when the user grips the grip section 12 and uses the electronic camera 1, the electronic camera 1 can be reliably held.

Further, in the grip portion 12, a main power supply battery 23 (for operating the electronic camera 1) is provided at a predetermined position close to the subject and on a predetermined portion of the surface facing the taking lens barrel 13. 5 and 6) are formed so as to protrude toward the taking lens barrel 13. In other words, when the user operates the grip 12
Is gripped so that the user's fingertip can easily catch on the battery storage chamber 24. By adopting such a shape, the user can more easily grip the grip portion 12, so that the electronic camera 1 can be stably held.

As shown in FIG. 6, a main power supply battery 23 is mounted on the lower surface of the battery storage chamber 24 in a direction indicated by an arrow X5 from below, and can be detached downward. An opening, a lid, and the like (not shown) are formed. As for the detailed configuration, it is assumed that a power supply battery attaching / detaching mechanism or the like in a conventional general electronic camera or the like is applied, and description and illustration of the mechanism are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the disk drive device 21 disposed inside the grip portion 12 includes a spindle motor 21a for driving a rotary recording medium (not shown) to be mounted thereon, and a rotary recording medium. A recording head section 21b for recording a predetermined image signal in a predetermined form on a recording surface of a medium by a predetermined means;
1, a drive electric board 21c on which an electric circuit or the like for controlling the operation is mounted, and a medium cartridge 22 containing a rotating recording medium are held at a predetermined position inside the disk drive device 21. And a pocket-shaped medium mounting portion 21e which allows attachment / detachment of the cartridge, and is formed integrally with the medium mounting portion 21e.
2 includes a lid member 21d that opens and closes a space in which the space should be arranged.

The photographing lens group 1 is provided at the base of the lid member 21d.
The rotation axis 3 is set to be substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the rotation axis 3.
1 is provided, and the lid member 21d is rotatably supported in a direction of an arrow X4 in FIG. Thus, when the lid member 21d is turned to the open state shown in FIG. 5, the medium cartridge 22 can be attached to and detached from the medium mounting portion 21e. In addition,
The medium cartridge 22 is configured to be attached and detached in a direction indicated by an arrow X3 in FIG.

On the other hand, as described above, the strobe device 16
Is disposed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the camera body 11, that is, in the vicinity of the finder device 20, so as to be rotatable in a direction indicated by an arrow X2 in FIGS. As a result, the strobe device 16 is moved from the non-use position (storage position) shown in FIG.
Is displaced to the use position shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, various components constituting a general strobe device, such as a xenon tube 16b and a reflector 16c, are disposed inside the strobe device 16. As shown in FIG.
A xenon tube 16b is provided on the front side of the reflection shade 16b and the reflection shade 16c.
A diffusing plate 16a for diffusing the flash light caused by the light and the light reflected by the reflection shade 16c of the flash light is disposed. Then, when the strobe device 16 is at the use position in FIG. 2, the flash is applied to a predetermined range including a desired subject.

On the other hand, on the back side of the camera body 11, FIG.
And a display panel 18 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD).
Are arranged. The display panel 18 is connected to the electric board 2 in the camera body 11 by a predetermined means (not shown).
6 and the like.

As shown in FIG. 6, an image pickup device 27, such as a CCD, is mounted on the electric board 26 as an image forming means. This image sensor 27
Is disposed at a predetermined position on the electric substrate 26 on the extension of the optical axis O, that is, at a predetermined position where the subject image formed by the photographing lens group 14 is formed behind the photographing lens group 14. ing.

The image signal obtained by the image pickup means including the image pickup device 27 is transmitted to, for example, the above-described image display device, thereby causing the display panel 18 and the display panel 20b of the finder device 20 (described later; FIG. 5, see FIG. 6) or the like, or transmitted to the disk drive device 21 or the card slot section 26a and transmitted to a predetermined recording medium, that is, a predetermined rotating recording medium, a predetermined semiconductor memory 19, or the like. This means that the information is recorded in a predetermined format.

As an image display device of the electronic camera 1, a display panel 20b made of an LCD or the like is provided inside a finder device 20 as shown in FIGS. Have been. The display panel 20b is an image display device mainly serving as a finder means, and is smaller than the display panel 18 described above. An eyepiece optical system 20a composed of a plurality of lenses and the like is provided behind the display panel 20b. The user of the electronic camera 1 can display the image via the eyepiece optical system 20a from behind the finder device 20. By observing the panel 20b, a desired image can be observed in an appropriate state.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the efficient arrangement of the disk drive device 21 inside the grip portion 12 prevents the camera body 11 from being enlarged, A more well-balanced form of the camera can be realized.

A relatively heavy main power supply battery 23 is disposed inside the grip portion 12, and a battery storage chamber 24 for storing the main power supply battery 23 is provided.
Is formed so that the fingertip of the user holding the grip portion 12 can easily catch it, so that a stable and stable photographing posture can be ensured.

Further, the grip portion 12 of the electronic camera 1 of the present embodiment is arranged obliquely at a predetermined angle with respect to the optical axis O of the photographing lens group 14 inside the photographing lens barrel 13. The grip portion 12 is formed in such a shape that the side of the grip portion 12 near the subject (the tip side) is separated from the optical axis O. This means that, for example, the grip portion 12 and the optical axis O of the photographing lens group 14 are formed so as to be substantially parallel, and the amount of projection of the grip portion 12 forward is greater than the amount of projection of the photographing lens barrel 13 in the same direction. In such a case, the protrusion amount of the grip portion 12 can be suppressed by such a shape. Therefore, when the electronic camera 1 is used, the grip portion 12 can be reliably held, and a more stable shooting posture can be secured. Further, since the grip portion 12 does not protrude forward from the photographing lens barrel 13, the grip portion 1
2 and the hand of the user holding the same can be prevented from entering the shooting range.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 are views showing the appearance of an electronic camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view, FIG. 8 is a front view, and FIG. It is. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an arrangement of main internal components of the present electronic camera. FIG. 10 is a member arrangement view when viewed from the top side of the present electronic camera. FIG. 11 is a right side view of the present electronic camera. It is a member arrangement | positioning figure at the time of seeing.

The basic structure of the electronic camera of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following description, only portions different from those of the electronic camera of the above-described first embodiment will be described in detail, and similar portions will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, the grip portion 12A of the electronic camera 1A of the present embodiment has a disk drive device 21, a main power supply battery 23 and the like inside. This is similar to the first embodiment.
However, the present embodiment is different in that the grip portion 12A is formed in a shape substantially parallel to the optical axis O of the photographing lens group 14 in the photographing lens barrel 13.

For example, if the photographing optical system constituted by the photographing lens group 14 is a zoom optical system or the like and the overall length of the photographing lens barrel 13 holding the zoom optical system is inevitably long, as described above. Grip part 12
There is a case where the amount of projection of A in the forward direction does not become larger than the amount of projection of the taking lens barrel 13 in the same direction. In such a case, the electronic camera 1A is stable even if a shape is adopted in which the grip portion 12A and the optical axis O of the taking lens group 14 in the taking lens barrel 13 are substantially parallel as described above. Not only is not hindered, but also the components of the electronic camera 1A do not enter the range of the subject image by the photographing lens group 14.

In the electronic camera 1A of the present embodiment, the strobe device 16A and the finder device 20A are provided at predetermined positions on the upper surface of the camera body 11A (see FIGS. 7 and 8).
This is the same in that the flash device 16A and the finder device 2 are provided in the present embodiment.
0A is integrally formed by one unit, and this unit is fixed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the camera body 11A.

Strobe device 1 in electronic camera 1A
Each configuration of the 6A and the finder device 20A is as follows.
As in the first embodiment described above, in this embodiment, both the flash device 16A and the finder device 20A are provided inside a housing member 32 integrally fixed to the upper surface of the camera body 11A. Each is arranged. Other components are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the grip portion 12 is provided.
Since the disk drive device 21 is efficiently disposed inside A, it is possible to prevent the camera body 11A from increasing in size and to form the electronic camera in a well-balanced manner.

Also, as in the first embodiment described above, in this embodiment, a relatively heavy main power supply battery 23 is disposed inside the grip portion 12A, and a battery storage chamber 24 for housing the main power supply battery 23 is provided. Since the shape is such that the fingertip of the user holding the grip portion 12A is easy to catch, a stable and stable shooting posture can be ensured.

By the way, in the electronic camera 1.1A of the first and second embodiments described above, the lid member 21d of the disk drive device 21 disposed inside the grip portions 1212A.
Is configured such that the opening direction is on the back side of the electronic camera 1.1A, but is not limited to this.
A form as shown in FIG. 12 is also conceivable.

FIG. 12 is a front view of an electronic camera according to a modification of the second embodiment. In the electronic camera 1B of this modified example, the lid member 21d of the disk drive device 21 disposed inside the grip portion 12B formed integrally with one end (left end) of the camera body 11B.
Is similar to the first and second embodiments described above in that it is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 31.
However, in the present modified example, the difference is that the rotating shaft 31 is disposed so as to be substantially parallel to the optical axis (O) of the photographing lens group 14.

With this configuration, in the electronic camera 1B of this modification, the lid member 21d is
2 in the direction of arrow X4B. Then, when the lid member 21d is in the open state shown in FIG. 12, the opening thereof is opened above the electronic camera 1B.
Reference numeral 2 denotes a state in which it is detachable in the direction of arrow X3B in FIG. The other configurations in this modification are completely the same as those in the above-described second embodiment. Therefore, in the present modified example configured as described above, substantially the same effects as those of the above-described first and second embodiments can be obtained.

On the other hand, in the above-described first and second embodiments and the modifications thereof, the grip portions 12, 12A, 12B
A battery storage chamber 24 for storing the main power supply battery 23 is provided inside the device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the following embodiments can be considered.

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an electronic camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a perspective view, FIG. 14 is a front view, and FIG. 15 is a rear view.
16 and 17 are diagrams showing the arrangement of main internal components of the electronic camera. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the arrangement of members when viewed from the top side of the electronic camera. FIG. FIG. 4 is a member arrangement view when viewed from the right side surface of FIG.

The basic structure of an electronic camera 1C of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the above-described second embodiment, except that a battery storage room 24C (see FIG. 17) for storing a main power supply battery 23C (see FIG. 17). FIGS. 13 to 15 and 17) show the camera body 11C.
In that it is arranged at a predetermined position on the bottom surface of the. Therefore, the same portions as those of the electronic camera according to the above-described second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Only different portions will be described below.

A battery housing 24C is formed on the bottom of the camera body 11C of the electronic camera 1C of the present embodiment. In the battery storage room 24C, a main power supply battery 23C for operating the electronic camera 1C is stored.

At a predetermined position on the right side as viewed from the front side of the camera body 11C and at a predetermined position corresponding to the battery storage chamber 24C, a predetermined form, that is, an opening through which the main power supply battery 23C can be attached and detached is provided. Is formed. And the camera body 1
An opening 1C is a battery cover 33 that is rotatably supported in a direction indicated by an arrow X7 in FIG. 13 with respect to a fixed portion of the camera body 11C.
(See FIGS. 13 and 15).

Therefore, the main power supply battery 23C stored in the battery storage chamber 24C is viewed from the side of the camera body 11C, that is, from the direction of arrow X8 in FIG. 15, with the battery cover 33 opened as shown in FIG. It can be worn. Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the above-described second embodiment.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, substantially the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained, and the battery storage chamber 24C is provided on the bottom of the camera body 11C. By arranging the battery compartment in the section, the battery storage room 24C having a larger volume can be secured. Therefore, it is possible to use the main power supply battery 23C having a larger capacity.

In general, a large-capacity main power battery has a large weight. However, if a heavy power battery is disposed inside the grip portion 12C, the weight balance of the electronic camera 1C may be lost. . Therefore, the type of the main power supply battery that can be disposed inside the grip portion 12C is limited in terms of its weight.

Therefore, when the main power source battery 23C having a large capacity and a predetermined weight is applied as exemplified in the third embodiment, the main power source battery 23C is provided not on the inside of the grip portion 12C but on the bottom portion of the camera body 11C. By arranging the electronic camera 1, the size of the electronic camera 1 in the height direction (see reference numeral H shown in FIG. 14) is increased, but the weight balance of the electronic camera 1 </ b> C can be properly maintained. Therefore, the user can ensure a stable and stable shooting posture.

It is easy to apply the same form as the modification of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 12 to the electronic camera of the third embodiment. FIG. 18 is a front view of an electronic camera according to a modification of the above-described third embodiment. The direction of the opening of the disk drive device 21 disposed inside the grip portion 12D is on the upper side of the electronic camera 1D. An example configured as such is shown.

That is, in the electronic camera 1D of this modification, similarly to the example shown in FIG. 12, the rotation axis 31 for rotatably supporting the lid member 21d and the optical axis (O) of the photographing lens group 14 are aligned. The cover member 21d is configured to be substantially parallel, so that the lid member 21d rotates in the direction of arrow X4B in FIG.

When the cover member 21d is in the open state shown in FIG. 18, the opening thereof is directed upward, so that the medium cartridge 22 can be detached in the direction of arrow X3B in FIG. It becomes. Other configurations are completely the same as those of the third embodiment. Therefore, even in the present modified example configured as described above, it is possible to obtain exactly the same effects as in the above-described third embodiment.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
This will be described below. FIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG. 21 and FIG.
FIGS. 19 and 20 are perspective views, FIG. 21 is a front view, and FIG. 22 is a rear view of an electronic camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 23 and 24 are views showing the arrangement of main internal components of the electronic camera. FIG. 23 is a member arrangement view when viewed from the top side of the electronic camera.
FIG. 24 is a member arrangement view of the electronic camera when viewed from the right side.

Note that FIG. 19, FIG. 21, FIG. 22, FIG.
FIG. 24 shows a state in which a strobe device arranged at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the electronic camera is in a non-use position.
Indicates a state in which the strobe device is in a use position in which the strobe device can be used upright.

The basic structure of the electronic camera 1E of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of each of the above embodiments, etc.
As shown in FIG. 24, in the electronic camera 1E of the present embodiment,
(1) A battery storage chamber 24E for storing the main power supply battery 23E is integrally formed on one side near the bottom of the grip portion 12E. (2) The strobe device 16E and the finder device 20E are separately provided. The strobe device 16E is disposed on the upper surface of the camera body 11E in the same manner as the first embodiment, and the finder device 20E is provided with the grip portion 12E.
It has a structural feature, such as being disposed on the upper surface of a.

As described above, the electronic camera 1E of the present embodiment
A battery storage room 24E protrudes toward the photographic lens barrel 13 at a predetermined position on one side of the grip portion 12E near the bottom surface facing the photographic lens barrel 13. And the direction of the long side thereof is the taking lens barrel 13
(The optical axis O of the photographing lens group 14; see FIG. 23). This battery storage room 24
Inside E, a main power supply battery 23E for operating the electronic camera 1E is housed.

At a predetermined position on the front side of the camera body 11E and at a predetermined position corresponding to the battery storage chamber 24E, an opening is formed in a predetermined form, that is, a form in which the main power supply battery 23E can be detached. I have. The opening is opened and closed by a battery cover 34 that is rotatably supported in a direction indicated by an arrow X9 in FIG. 24 with respect to a fixed portion of the camera body 11E.

Therefore, the main power supply battery 23E housed in the battery housing chamber 24E can be moved in front of the camera body 11E with the battery cover 34 opened, that is, the arrow X shown in FIG.
It can be mounted from ten directions.

On the other hand, the strobe device 16E is moved in the direction of arrow X2 so that it can be displaced between the non-use position shown in FIG. 19 and the use position shown in FIG. 20 on the upper surface of the camera body 11E, as in the first embodiment. It is arranged rotatably. As described above, the finder device 20E is integrally or detachably disposed on the upper surface of the grip portion 12E. Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the above-described second embodiment.

Although the liquid crystal display panel 17 for displaying information such as the photographing mode of the electronic camera 1 is not shown, in the electronic camera 1E of this embodiment, for example, as in the above-described embodiments, the camera body is provided. It may be provided on the upper surface of 11F, or may be provided at a predetermined position on the back side of the camera body 11F. Further, this can be omitted and the display panel 18 of the image display device can be used also.

The finder device 20E is disposed integrally or detachably on the upper surface of the grip portion 12E as described above. For example, the finder device 20E is detachably mounted on the grip portion 12E. The electronic camera 1E can be used even when the finder device 20E is detached when configured. In this case, the display panel 18 of the image display device is always turned on so that it can be used as a finder device. The fourth described above
According to this embodiment, substantially the same effects as those of the above-described first to third embodiments can be obtained, and the battery storage chamber 24E can be obtained.
Is disposed at a predetermined position near the bottom surface of the grip portion 12E, so that the weight of the electronic camera 1E can be reduced even when the main power supply battery 23E having a predetermined weight is applied similarly to the third embodiment. It is possible to ensure a stable and stable shooting posture without breaking the balance.

Further, the battery storage chamber 24E is provided with the grip 1
2E, projecting toward the surface on the side facing the photographic lens barrel 13 and extending the long side of the photographic lens barrel 13
(The optical axis O of the photographing lens group 14) is formed so as to be substantially parallel to the grip portion 12E having higher gripping properties.
Can be formed.

Incidentally, in the electronic camera of the fourth embodiment, a modification of the second embodiment (FIG. 12)
It is easy to apply the same form as that of the third embodiment (see FIG. 18).

FIG. 25 is a front view of an electronic camera according to a modification of the above-described fourth embodiment. In the electronic camera 1F, a disk drive (21) disposed inside the grip portion 12F is shown. (Not shown) is shown such that the direction of the opening faces upward.

In the electronic camera 1F of this modification, FIG.
As in the respective examples shown in FIG. 18, the rotation shaft 31 for rotatably supporting the lid member 21d and the optical axis (O) of the photographing lens group 14 are configured to be substantially parallel to each other. 21d
Rotate in the direction of arrow X4B in FIG.

When the lid member 21d is in the open state shown in FIG. 25, the opening of the disk drive device 21 faces the upper side of the electronic camera 1F. 25 arrow X
It becomes detachable in the 3B direction. Other configurations are completely the same as those of the above-described fourth embodiment. Therefore, in the present modified example configured as described above, it is possible to obtain exactly the same effects as in the above-described fourth embodiment.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, a drive device for driving a rotary recording medium is efficiently arranged in an electronic camera to which a rotary recording medium is applied as a recording medium for recording image data. Provided is an electronic camera that ensures the stability of the electronic camera at the time of shooting, has better operability, and can contribute to miniaturization despite being an electronic camera using a rotating recording medium. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a strobe device is at a non-use position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the electronic camera of FIG. 1, showing a state in which a strobe device is in a use position. .

FIG. 3 is an exemplary front view showing the appearance of the electronic camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the appearance of the electronic camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a member arrangement view showing the arrangement of main internal components when viewed from the top side of the electronic camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a member arrangement view showing the arrangement of main internal components when viewed from the right side of the electronic camera in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary perspective view illustrating an appearance of an electronic camera according to a second embodiment of the invention.

8 is a front view showing the appearance of the electronic camera in FIG. 7;

9 is a rear view showing the appearance of the electronic camera in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a member arrangement view showing the arrangement of main internal components when viewed from the top side of the electronic camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a member arrangement view showing the arrangement of main internal components when viewed from the right side of the electronic camera in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary front view of an electronic camera according to a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of an electronic camera according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is an exemplary front view showing the appearance of the electronic camera in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a rear view showing the appearance of the electronic camera of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a member arrangement diagram showing the arrangement of main internal components when viewed from the top side of the electronic camera in FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a member arrangement diagram showing the arrangement of main internal components when viewed from the right side of the electronic camera in FIG. 13;

FIG. 18 is a front view of an electronic camera according to a modification of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of an electronic camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view illustrating a state where a strobe device is at a non-use position.

20 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the electronic camera of FIG. 19, showing a state in which a strobe device is in a use position.

21 is a diagram showing an appearance of the electronic camera of FIG. 19,

FIG. 22 is an exemplary rear view illustrating the appearance of the electronic camera in FIG. 19;

23 is a member layout diagram showing the layout of main internal components when viewed from the top side of the electronic camera in FIG. 19;

24 is a member layout diagram showing the layout of main internal components when viewed from the right side of the electronic camera in FIG. 19;

FIG. 25 is a member arrangement diagram showing arrangement of main internal components when viewed from the right side of the electronic camera in FIG. 19;

[Explanation of symbols]

1.1A.1B.1C.1D.1E.1F .... Electronic camera 11.11A.11B.11C.11E.11F..Camera body 11a..Lid member 11b ........ Opening 12.12A.12B.12C. 12D ・ 12E ・ 12
F: grip section 13: photographing lens barrel 14: photographing lens group 15: release button 16, 16A, 16E: flash device 16a: diffuser plate 16b: xenon tube 16c: reflective shade 17 Liquid crystal display panel 18 Display panel 19 Semiconductor memory 20 / 20A / 20E Viewfinder device 20a Eyepiece optical system 20b Display panel 21 Disk drive device 21a Spindle motor 21b Recording head unit 21c ... Drive electric board 21d ... Lid member 21e ... Medium mounting part 22 ... Medium cartridge 23 / 23C / 23E ... Main power supply battery 24 / 24C / 24E ... Battery storage room 26 ... Electric board 26a ... … Card slot part 27… Imaging element 31… Rotating axis 32… Case members 33 and 34… Battery lid

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A photographing lens barrel for holding therein a photographing lens group for forming a subject image, a photographing lens barrel protruding from a front surface, and formed by a light beam transmitted through the photographing lens group. A camera body internally provided with an imaging device that receives an image of a subject and generates an electronic image signal and a processing unit that processes a signal from the imaging device. When viewed from the subject side of the camera body, A left end portion is formed integrally with the camera body and protrudes in substantially the same direction as the photographing lens barrel. A rotating recording medium can be removably mounted inside, and at least the mounted rotation A drive device for recording an image signal on which signal processing has been performed by the imaging means in a predetermined area of a recording medium, and a grip portion to be gripped by a user during shooting. An electronic camera, comprising: 2. The drive device according to claim 1, wherein said drive device is provided such that a recording surface of said rotary recording medium mounted thereon is substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of said camera body. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein 3. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the grip is disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to an optical axis of the photographing lens group held inside the photographing lens barrel. 3. The electronic camera according to 2. 4. The electronic camera according to claim 2, wherein the grip section further includes a battery storage chamber in which a power supply battery for driving the camera can be loaded. 5. The electronic camera according to claim 4, wherein the battery storage room is provided in a portion that is gripped by a user's hand during photographing. 6. The electronic camera according to claim 4, wherein the battery storage chamber is disposed at a position on the bottom side of the grip. 7. The battery storage chamber is formed such that a long side direction of the power supply battery loaded therein is substantially parallel to a recording surface of the rotary recording medium mounted inside the drive device. The electronic camera according to claim 4, wherein the electronic camera is used.