JP2001337381A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera capable of enhancing such interior designing properties that it looks good when the camera is put on a stand. SOLUTION: This camera is equipped with a 1st main body part 30 and a 2nd main body part 20 extended in a nearly perpendicular direction to the optical axis L of a photographing lens. The 1st and the 2nd main body parts are respectively provided with 1st and 2nd ground contact parts T and S coming into contact with a horizontal surface P when the camera 10 is put on the horizontal surface P. The distance from the 1st ground contact part T to the optical axis L of the photographing lens is greater than that from the 2nd ground contact part S to the optical axis L of the photographing lens.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as cameras have been reduced in size, design has been emphasized. Increasingly, they are required to have not only a function as a camera but also fashion and playfulness.

[0003] Among them, there has been a case where a camera is used as a part of an interior. For example, just like a record jacket or poster, or a personal computer or stereo set, emphasis is placed on design, and even when not used as a camera, it can function as part of the interior of a room just by placing it in the room. It is required.

Until now, there has been proposed a camera emphasizing design. However, there has been no camera that only considers the design of a single camera and considers interior characteristics together with the environment in which the camera is placed.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a camera capable of enhancing the interior when placed on a table or the like.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention has a photographing lens, and when the camera is placed on a horizontal plane, one main surface of the camera faces upward. Provided is a camera having a basic feature that the camera is configured to be tilted. Here, the main surface refers to the outer surface having the largest area. The main surface may be a flat surface or a curved surface. There may be only one main surface or two or more.

In a conventional general box-shaped camera, when the camera is placed on a horizontal plane, the front and back sides, which are the main surfaces of the camera, are vertical. On the other hand, in the camera of the present invention,
The main surface is configured to face upward. This allows
When placed on a table, etc., the design of the main surface facing upwards is devised, for example, to make the design part that is the characteristic of the camera stand out casually, or to blend in with the environment where the camera is placed By making the design easy to do,
The interior of the camera can be enhanced.

More specifically, the configuration is as follows.

The camera has a photographic lens and includes a first main body and a second main body. The first main body extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the taking lens. The first body has a first grounding portion that comes into contact with the horizontal surface when the camera is placed on the horizontal surface. The second main body extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the taking lens. The second main body has a second grounding portion that comes into contact with the horizontal surface when the camera is placed on the horizontal surface. The distance from the first ground part to the optical axis of the taking lens is larger than the distance from the second ground part to the optical axis of the taking lens.

According to the above arrangement, when the camera is placed on a horizontal plane, the optical axis of the taking lens is higher on the first main body side, and
The second main body side is lowered, and the optical axis of the taking lens is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. Thus, the first main body extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographing lens may have a surface inclined upward, and this surface may constitute one main surface of the camera. it can.

Preferably, a photographing lens is arranged so as to be exposed from the first main body to the outside of the camera.

According to the above arrangement, when the camera is placed on a horizontal plane, the photographic lens faces upward. Therefore,
When taking a picture with the self-timer by placing the camera on a stand or the like, it is possible to prevent the stand or the like on which the camera is placed from being reflected.

Preferably, a photographing lens is arranged so as to be exposed from the second main body to the outside of the camera.

According to the above configuration, when the camera is placed on a horizontal plane, the photographing lens faces downward, and the front of the camera (the photographing lens side) can be made inconspicuous. Therefore, even if you leave the camera when not in use,
It is possible to prevent a strong impression of being a camera. In addition, since the restriction imposed by the photographing lens is reduced, a camera having high interior characteristics can be configured more freely.

Further, the present invention provides a camera having another configuration.

The camera has a photographic lens and includes a first main body and a second main body. The first main body extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the reference axis. The first body has a first grounding portion that comes into contact with the horizontal surface when the camera is placed on the horizontal surface. The second main body extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the reference axis. The second main body has a second grounding portion that comes into contact with the horizontal surface when the camera is placed on the horizontal surface. The distance from the first ground part to the reference axis is greater than the distance from the second ground part to the reference optical axis. The taking lens is arranged so that its optical axis is substantially perpendicular to the reference axis.

According to the above arrangement, when the camera is placed on a horizontal plane, the reference axis is higher on the first main body side and lower on the second main body side, and the reference axis is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. Thus, the first main body extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the reference axis has a surface inclined upward, and this surface can be configured to be one main surface of the camera.

When the camera is placed on a horizontal plane, the photographing lens may be arranged so that its optical axis is horizontal, upward, or downward. You may.

In the camera having the above-mentioned configuration, preferably, there is provided a display portion arranged so as to be exposed to the outside of the camera from the first main body.

According to the above arrangement, the display section is provided on the main surface of the first main body, which faces upward when the camera is placed on a horizontal plane, and an image or the like is displayed on the display section of the camera, so that the image is displayed like a picture frame. Use is possible.

By the way, the first main body and the second main body are
It is not always necessary that they are clearly separated from each other, and they may be configured to be integrally continuous. Further, the first grounding portion of the first main body portion and the second grounding portion of the second main body portion may be configured as one continuous surface.

Preferably, the first ground portion and the second ground portion
Away from the ground.

According to the above configuration, since the first ground portion and the second ground portion are discontinuous, the first main body portion and the second main body portion can be clearly separated. . In this case, since high accuracy is not required for positioning between the first main body and the second main body, machining and assembly are facilitated. In addition, it is possible to make a design that strongly impresses that the first main body and the second main body are independent and separate parts. In addition, the first grounding part and the second grounding part can be partially provided at the lower part of the first main body part and the lower part of the second main body part, respectively, and special consideration such as wear due to mounting is required. The area of the grounding part is reduced.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a camera according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show a camera 10 according to the first embodiment.
Is shown. 1A is a plan view, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view,
(C) is a left side view, and (d) is a front view. FIG. 2 (a)
Is a front view, and (b) is a rear view. FIG. 3 is a side view when placed on a horizontal plane.

The camera 10 has a unique shape, unlike a general box-shaped camera.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the camera 10 includes a first main body 30 and a second main body 20 which are substantially aligned at the center and overlap each other. The first main body 30 is larger than the second main body 20, and the first main body 30 is
Spread more outward than. That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, only the first main body 30 is seen from the first main body 30 side, and as shown in FIG.
From the side, the second main body 20 and the first main body 30 protruding around the second main body 20 can be seen.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first main body 30 is the front of the camera 10 and the second main body 20 is the back of the camera 10.

As shown in FIG. 1D, the vertical surface of the first main body 30, that is, the front of the camera 10, has a slide cover 32, a photographing lens 12, and a finder objective window 3.
4 and a flash light emitting unit 36 are arranged. The slide cover 32 slides between an open position retracted from the taking lens 12 as shown in FIG. 1D and a closed position covering the taking lens 12 as shown in FIG. It has become. On the upper front part of the first main body 30,
As shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, another member 39 is attached.

The upper inclined surface of the second main body 20 has a structure shown in FIG.
As shown in (a) and FIG. 2 (b), a release switch 22 and a liquid crystal display section 24 for appropriately displaying the number of shot frames, exposure conditions, mode settings, and the like are arranged.

FIG. 2B shows a vertical plane of the second main body 20.
The finder eyepiece window 26 is arranged as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1C, a self-timer switch 27 and a mode selection switch 28 are provided on one side of the second main body 20, that is, on the left side of the camera 10.
And a main switch 29.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the camera 10 is placed on a horizontal plane P, the first grounding portion T of the first main body 30 and the second grounding portion S of the second main body 20 Are in contact with the horizontal plane P, respectively. The distance from the first grounding portion T to the optical axis L of the photographing lens 12 is larger than the distance from the second grounding portion S to the optical axis L of the photographing lens 12. Accordingly, the optical axis L of the taking lens 12 is higher on the first main body 30 side and lower on the second main body 20 side, and the first main body 30 where the photographic lens 12 is exposed to the outside of the camera, ie, the front of the camera 10. Turns upward.

Thus, the camera 10 can be stably placed. In addition, the front having the largest area faces upward, that is, the elevation angle, so that the front can be seen well. Thereby, when the camera 10 is placed on a table or the like, the design portion which is a characteristic of the camera 10 is made to stand out,
The interior design can be enhanced. In particular, by making the front modeling including the photographing lens 12 stand out, the front design of the camera 10 can be emphasized.

By the way, in general, when a camera having a self-timer function is placed on a table or the like for photographing, the table on which the camera is placed may be reflected. In order to prevent this, a camera is attached to a tripod, or a part of the camera is made deformable so that the camera faces obliquely (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-313)
981), or the photographer places an object under the front end of the camera so that the camera faces obliquely upward.

However, this requires another member, which leads to an increase in cost and size, and also leaves it to the photographer, so that it was not possible to reliably prevent imprinting on a stand or the like. .

On the other hand, the camera 1 shown in FIGS.
At 0, the state of being placed on a table or the like has a predetermined elevation angle,
It is possible to prevent the stand or the like from being reflected, and it is possible to solve the above-described problem of the general camera.

Next, a camera 10a according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The camera 10a is substantially the same as the first embodiment, and includes a relatively large first main body 30a and a relatively small second main body 20a. In the following, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment.

The camera 10a differs from the first embodiment in that
The photographing lens 12a is arranged on the second main body 20a. As shown in FIG. 5, on the vertical surface of the second main body 20,
The taking lens 12a and the slide cover 21 are arranged. The slide cover 21 slides between an open position retracted from the taking lens 12a and a closed position covering the taking lens 12a, as in the first embodiment. A release switch 22a, a finder objective window 23, and a flash light emitting unit 25 are arranged on the upper inclined surface of the second main body 20a.

As shown in FIG. 4A,
, A + -key 35 is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 4B, a self-timer switch 27, a mode selection switch 28, and a main switch 29 are arranged on the right side of the camera 10a.

The camera 10a is a digital camera,
As shown in FIG. 4C, a liquid crystal monitor 33 is arranged on a vertical surface of the first main body 30a.

When the camera 10a is placed on a horizontal plane, it tilts so that the first main body 30a faces upward, as in the first embodiment. As a result, the liquid crystal monitor 33 is at an elevation angle, and the design of the camera 10a can be made prominent. In addition, when an image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 33, it is easy to see. Further, if the camera 10a is placed while the image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 33, it can be used like a photo stand.

Next, a camera 50 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
6A is a rear view, FIG. 6B is a front view, FIG. 6C is a right side view, and FIG. 7 is a left side view.

The camera 50 has a first and a second main body formed integrally with each other. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the camera 50 is viewed from the optical axis direction of the taking lens 60. It looks like a trapezoidal shape. That is, the right side surface 52 side, which is the main surface having the largest area, is the first main body portion, and the left side surface 53 side is the second main body portion, and the boundary between the first main body portion and the second main body portion is not clear. The taking lens 60 is arranged between the right side surface 52 and the left side surface 53. The right side surface 52 and the left side surface 53 are parallel to each other in the illustrated example, but are not limited thereto, and may not be parallel.

As shown in FIG. 6 (c), a liquid crystal monitor 68 is arranged on the right side surface 52. Left side 53
, A battery chamber cover 59 is arranged as shown in FIG. On the upper surface 57, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,
A release switch 62 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 6A, a finder window 64, a main switch 70, a self-timer switch 72, and a mode selection switch 74 are provided on the rear surface 54.
And a + -switch 76 are arranged.

As shown in FIG. 6B, a photographing lens 60 and a flash light emitting section 66 are arranged on the front face 55.

The bottom surface 56 forms an acute angle smaller than 90 degrees with the right side surface 52 as shown in FIGS. On the bottom surface 56, a finger holding portion 58 which is partially depressed is formed.

The camera 50 can take a picture while holding it with one hand. For example, by operating the release switch 62 with the index finger while holding the camera 50 by supporting the camera 50 by placing the right hand palm vertically and closely contacting the left side surface 53, fitting the thumb into the finger hook 58, and monitoring the image from the finder window 64,
You can shoot.

When the camera 50 is placed with its bottom surface 56 down, the right side surface 52 tilts upward. Therefore, similarly to the second embodiment, the liquid crystal monitor 68 can be designed to be conspicuous, and the displayed image can be easily viewed.
Further, it can be used like a photo stand.

As described above, the cameras 10, 10
a, 50 can enhance the interior characteristics when placed on a table or the like.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented in various other modes.

For example, the first and second main bodies of the camera according to the first or second embodiment may be integrally formed so as to appear as one trapezoid when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. Good. When the camera is placed on a horizontal surface,
The main surface on the second main body portion side facing the main surface on the main body portion side may be configured to be vertical or upward.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view, a sectional view, a side view, and a front view of a camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view and a rear view of the camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view when the camera of FIG. 1 is placed on a horizontal plane.

FIG. 4 is a plan view, a side view, and a rear view of a camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a front view of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a rear view, a front view, and a right side view of a camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a left side view of the camera of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10a Camera 12, 12a Photographing lens 20, 20a Second main body 30, 30a First main body 50 Camera 52 Right side (main surface) L Optical axis S, T Grounding section

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A camera having a taking lens, comprising: a first grounding portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the taking lens, and contacting the horizontal plane when the camera is placed on the horizontal plane. A first main body portion, and a second main body portion extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the taking lens and having a second grounding portion that comes into contact with the horizontal surface when the camera is placed on the horizontal surface. A camera comprising: a distance from the first ground portion to the optical axis of the taking lens is greater than a distance from the second ground portion to the optical axis of the taking lens. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the photographing lens is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of the camera from the first main body.
The camera according to claim 1. 3. A photographing lens is arranged so as to be exposed to the outside of the camera from the second main body.
The camera according to claim 1. 4. A camera having a taking lens, comprising: a first body extending substantially perpendicular to a reference axis and having a first grounding portion that comes into contact with a horizontal plane when the camera is placed on the horizontal plane. A second body extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the reference axis and having a second grounding portion that comes into contact with the horizontal surface when the camera is placed on the horizontal surface; The distance from the grounding portion to the reference axis is larger than the distance from the second grounding portion to the reference optical axis, and the optical axis of the photographing lens is substantially perpendicular to the reference axis. A camera characterized by being arranged in a camera. 5. A display device, comprising: a display unit disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of the camera from the first main body unit.
The camera according to claim 3 or 4. 6. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the first grounding unit and the second grounding unit are separated from each other. 7. A camera having a taking lens, wherein one main surface of the camera is tilted upward when the camera is placed on a horizontal plane.