JP2003032519A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus that a user can quickly and simply confirm a residual capacity of a battery or a recording medium without the need for viewing a liquid display unit or an electronic viewfinder. SOLUTION: For a light emission mode 2, a control section 108 changes a light emission state of five light emission capable operation keys 301 to 305 depending on the residual capacity of the battery 111 to inform the user of the residual capacity of the battery 111. For a light emission mode 3, the control section 108 changes the light emission state of the five light emission capable of operation keys 301 to 305 depending on the residual capacity of the recording medium 104 to inform the user of the residual capacity of the recording medium 104.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup device having a plurality of operation keys capable of emitting light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional camera-integrated digital video recorder, the remaining battery level is displayed on a liquid crystal display or an electronic viewfinder. Further, in the conventional camera-integrated digital video recorder, the remaining amount of the recording medium is also displayed on the liquid crystal display or the electronic viewfinder.

[0003]

However, in the conventional camera-integrated digital video recorder, the remaining amount of the battery or the remaining amount of the recording medium cannot be confirmed without looking at the liquid crystal display or the electronic viewfinder. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to easily check the remaining amount of the battery or the remaining amount of the recording medium without looking at the liquid crystal display or the electronic viewfinder. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image pickup device that can be used.

[0005]

An image pickup apparatus of the present invention comprises a plurality of operation keys capable of emitting light, a first detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of a battery, and a second detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of a recording medium. And the first light emission mode, the light emission states of the plurality of operation keys capable of light emission are controlled according to the remaining amount of the battery, and when the second light emission mode is selected, the plurality of light emission states are controlled. Control means for controlling the light emission state of the operation key capable of emitting light according to the remaining amount of the recording medium.

Further, in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of operation keys capable of emitting light, a detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the battery, and a light emission state of the plurality of operation keys capable of emitting light are stored in the battery. And a control means for controlling according to the amount.

Further, in the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of operation keys capable of emitting light, a detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the recording medium, and a light emission state of the operation keys capable of emitting the light are recorded on the recording medium. And a control means for controlling the remaining amount according to the remaining amount.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of an image pickup apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of a camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 according to the first embodiment. 2 is a diagram showing an example of one side surface of the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a camera section for taking an optical image of a subject. 102 is a camera unit 101
The image processing unit converts a still image or a moving image captured in (3) into digital image data of a predetermined format, or performs a special process on the still image or the moving image.
Reference numeral 103 denotes a recording medium 104 for recording a still image or a moving image captured by the camera unit 101, and a recording medium 104.
Is a recording / reproducing unit for reproducing a still image or a moving image desired by the user. 104 is a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, an optical disk, a hard disk, and a semiconductor memory. 105 is a recording medium 104
Is a detection unit that detects the remaining amount and notifies the control unit 108 of the remaining amount. A display unit 107 includes a liquid crystal display.
Reference numeral 107 denotes an electronic viewfinder (hereinafter, EVF). A control unit 108 controls the operation of the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100. An operation unit 109 includes five operation keys 301 to 305 capable of emitting light. Reference numeral 110 denotes a switching key for switching the light emission mode of the operation unit 109. Reference numeral 111 is a battery that supplies power to the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100. A detection unit 112 notifies the control unit 108 of the remaining amount of the battery 111. The remaining amount of the battery 111 is
The detection unit 112 may detect it, or the battery 111 itself may detect it. When the battery 111 itself detects the remaining amount of the battery 111, the detection unit 112 is configured to perform data communication with the battery 111 and acquire the remaining amount of the battery 111 detected on the battery 111 side. Reference numeral 113 is a power key for turning on or off the power of the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 and switching the operation mode of the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100. The operation modes of the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 include a reproduction mode and a camera mode. In the reproduction mode, the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 reproduces the still image or the moving image selected by the user from the recording medium 104.
On the other hand, in the camera mode, a still image or a moving image captured by the user is recorded in the recording medium 104.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of one side surface of the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a side surface of a camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 in which five operation keys 301 to 305 capable of emitting light are installed. As shown in FIG.
The five operation keys 301 to 305 capable of emitting light are arranged side by side in the lateral direction.

Next, five operation keys 301 to which light can be emitted
The function of 305 will be described. A plurality of different functions are assigned to the operation keys 301 to 305. The functions assigned to the operation keys 301 to 305 are switched according to the operation mode of the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100.

Camera integrated digital video recorder 1
When the operation mode of 00 is the camera mode, the operation key 301 functions as an operation key for operating the AF control function (automatic focus control function). The operation key 302 is
Functions as an operation key for operating the AE control function (automatic exposure function). The operation key 303 also functions as an operation key for operating the image stabilization function. In addition, operation key 3
Reference numeral 04 functions as an operation key for operating the date function. Further, the operation key 305 functions as an operation key for operating the special photographing function.

On the other hand, when the operation mode of the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 is the reproduction mode, the operation key 301 functions as an operation key for instructing stop. Further, the operation key 302 functions as an operation key for instructing reproduction. The operation key 303 also functions as an operation key for instructing fast-forwarding. In addition, the operation key 304
Functions as an operation key for instructing rewind. The operation key 305 also functions as an operation key for instructing a temporary stop.

When the user presses any one of the operation keys 301 to 305, the control unit 108 temporarily releases the light emission mode described later, blinks the pressed operation key for a predetermined time, and then presses all other operation keys. Turn off the light for a predetermined time. Then, after the lapse of a predetermined time, the control unit 108 returns to the released light emission mode. By controlling in this way, the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100
It is possible to easily notify the user of the operation key operated by the user regardless of the light emission mode described later.

Next, the light emission mode of the operation unit 109 will be described with reference to FIG.

The camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 of the first embodiment has three light emission modes. In flash mode 1, five operation keys 30 that can flash
This is a light emission mode in which all of 1 to 305 are always emitted.
The light emission mode 2 includes five operation keys 301 to 301 that can emit light.
This is a light emission mode in which the light emission state of 05 is changed according to the remaining amount of the battery 111 and the user is notified of the remaining amount of the battery 111. The light emission mode 3 is a light emission mode in which the light emission states of the five operation keys 301 to 305 capable of emitting light are changed according to the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 and the user is notified of the remaining amount of the recording medium 104. The three light emission modes described above are configured to switch each time the user presses the switch key 110.

When the light emission mode 2 is selected, the control unit 1
As shown in FIG. 3, 08 causes the operation keys of the number corresponding to the remaining amount of the battery 111 to emit light to notify the user of the remaining amount of the battery 111. For example, when the remaining amount of the battery 111 is 100%, the control unit 108 causes all the operation keys 301 to 305 to emit light of a predetermined color (for example, green), as shown in FIG. When the remaining amount of the battery 111 is 60% or more and less than 80%, the control unit 108
As shown in FIG. 3B, three operation keys 301 to 30
3 is made to emit light of a predetermined color (for example, green). Also,
When the remaining capacity of the battery 111 is 40% or more and less than 60%,
As shown in FIG. 3C, the control unit 108 causes the two operation keys 301 and 302 to emit light of a predetermined color (for example, green). Further, when the remaining amount of the battery 111 is less than 20% (that is, when it is below the minimum level), the control unit 108 controls all the operation keys 3 as shown in FIG.
01 to 305 do not emit light.

As described above, according to the digital video recorder 100 with a built-in camera according to the first embodiment,
When the light emission mode 2 is selected, the operation keys 301 to 30
Since the light emission state of No. 5 is changed according to the remaining amount of the battery 111, the remaining amount of the battery 111 can be easily notified to the user. Moreover, the user can quickly and easily check the remaining amount of the battery 111 without looking at the display unit 106 or the EVF 107.

On the other hand, when the light emission mode 3 is selected, the control unit 108 causes the operation keys of the number corresponding to the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 to emit light as shown in FIG.
Notify the user of the remaining amount of. For example, when the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 is 100%, the control unit 108 causes all the operation keys 301 to 305 to emit light of a predetermined color (for example, green), as shown in FIG. . In addition, the recording medium 10
When the remaining amount of No. 4 is 60% or more and less than 80%, the control unit 108
Is the three operation keys 301 to 301 as shown in FIG.
The 303 is caused to emit light of a predetermined color (for example, green). When the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 is 40% or more and less than 60%, the control unit 108 controls the two operation keys 301 and 302 to emit light of a predetermined color (for example, green, as shown in FIG. 3C). )
To emit light. Further, when the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 is less than 20% (that is, when it is below the minimum level), the control unit 108 emits all the operation keys 301 to 305 as shown in FIG. Do not let

As described above, according to the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 of the first embodiment,
When the light emission mode 3 is selected, the operation keys 301 to 30
Since the light emission state of No. 5 is changed according to the remaining amount of the recording medium 104, the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 can be easily notified to the user. Moreover, the user can quickly and easily check the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 without looking at the display unit 106 or the EVF 107.

Next, the structure of the five operation keys 301 to 305 capable of emitting light will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the operation key 302 divided by the line AA shown in FIG. In addition, FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view of the operation key 302 divided by a line BB shown in FIG. 4 and 5, the structure of the operation key 302 will be described, but the operation keys other than the operation key 302 have the same structure as the operation key 302.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, 401 is a tact switch corresponding to the operation key 302. 402 is
It is a light emitting diode (hereinafter, LED) that emits light of a predetermined color (for example, green). 403 is a tact switch 4
01 and the LED 402 are mounted on the substrate. Operation key 3
02 is made of a material that diffuses light. As a result, the LED 402 can cause the entire operation key 302 to emit light. A reflective paint is applied to the side surface of the operation key 302. As a result, it is possible to prevent the LED 402 from causing the adjacent operation keys 301 and 303 to emit light.

As described above, according to the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 in the first embodiment, the light emitting states of the operation keys 301 to 305 capable of emitting light can be changed according to the remaining amount of the battery 111. Due to
It is possible to notify the user of the remaining amount of the battery 111 in an easy-to-understand manner. In addition, the user can select the display unit 106 or EV.
The remaining amount of the battery 111 can be checked quickly and easily without looking at F107.

According to the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 of the first embodiment, the light emitting states of the operation keys 301 to 305 capable of emitting light are recorded on the recording medium 10.
4 according to the remaining amount of the recording medium 104
It is possible to notify the user of the remaining amount of the intelligibly. Moreover, the user can quickly and easily check the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 without looking at the display unit 106 or the EVF 107.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the operation keys 301 to 305 are set to light of one color (for example, green).
The example in which the light is emitted has been described. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, an example will be described in which the operation keys 301 to 305 emit light of a plurality of colors of light (for example, green and red). Incidentally, in the second embodiment, the operation keys 301 to 30
A configuration in which the light emitting device 5 emits light of a plurality of colors will be described, but other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

First, when the light emission mode 2 is selected, the control unit 108 causes the operation keys of the number corresponding to the remaining amount of the battery 111 to emit light as shown in FIG.
Notify the user of the remaining amount of. Battery 111 has 1 charge
In the case of 00%, as shown in FIG. 6A, the control unit 108 causes all the operation keys 301 to 305 to emit light of the first color (for example, green). When the remaining amount of the battery 111 is 60% or more and less than 80%, the control unit 108 determines that
As shown in (b), the three operation keys 301 to 303 emit light of the first color (for example, green). Further, when the remaining amount of the battery 111 is 40% or more and less than 60%, the control unit 108 controls the two operation keys 301 and 302 to emit light of the first color (for example, green, as shown in FIG. 6C). ) To illuminate. Further, when the remaining amount of the battery 111 is less than 20% (that is, when it is below the minimum level), the control unit 10
8 is at least one of the operation keys 301 to 305
The light of the color (for example, red) is emitted. For example, in FIG.
As shown in (d), all the operation keys 301 to 305 are caused to emit light of the second color.

As described above, according to the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 of the second embodiment,
When the light emission mode 2 is selected, the operation keys 301 to 30
Since the light emission state of No. 5 is changed according to the remaining amount of the battery 111, the remaining amount of the battery 111 can be easily notified to the user. The user can select the display unit 106 or EV.
The remaining amount of the battery 111 can be checked quickly and easily without looking at F107.

According to the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 of the second embodiment, at least one of the operation keys 301 to 305 is operated when the remaining capacity of the battery 111 falls below the minimum level. Since the light of two colors is emitted, the user can be easily informed that the remaining amount of the battery 111 is low. Even if the user does not look at the display unit 106 or the EVF 107,
It can be confirmed quickly and easily that the remaining amount of the battery 111 is low.

On the other hand, when the light emission mode 3 is selected, the control unit 108 causes the operation keys of the number corresponding to the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 to emit light as shown in FIG.
Notify the user of the remaining amount of. For example, when the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 is 100%, the control unit 108 causes all the operation keys 301 to 305 to emit light of the first color (for example, green) as illustrated in FIG. 6A. Let In addition, the recording medium 10
When the remaining amount of No. 4 is 60% or more and less than 80%, the control unit 108
Is the three operation keys 301 to 301 as shown in FIG.
The 303 is caused to emit light of a first color (for example, green). When the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 is 40% or more and less than 60%, the control unit 108 controls the two operation keys 301 and 302 to emit light of the first color (for example, as shown in FIG. 6C). Green)
To emit light. Further, when the remaining amount of the battery 111 is less than 20% (that is, when it is below the minimum level), the control unit 108 causes at least one of the operation keys 301 to 305 to emit light of the second color (for example, red). ) To illuminate. For example, as shown in FIG. 6D, all the operation keys 301 to
305 emits light of the second color.

As described above, according to the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 of the second embodiment,
When the light emission mode 2 is selected, the operation keys 301 to 30
Since the light emission state of No. 5 is changed according to the remaining amount of the recording medium 104, the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 can be easily notified to the user. Moreover, the user can quickly and easily check the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 without looking at the display unit 106 or the EVF 107.

According to the camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 of the second embodiment, when the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 falls below the minimum level, at least one of the operation keys 301 to 305 is pressed. Since the light of the second color is emitted, the user can be easily informed that the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 is low. Even if the user does not look at the display unit 106 or the EVF 107,
It can be confirmed quickly and easily that the remaining amount of the recording medium 104 is low.

In the first and second embodiments, an example in which the present invention is realized by a camera-integrated digital video recorder has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to a camera-integrated digital video recorder, but a digital camera. It is also possible to realize it by an imaging device such as.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the example in which the operation unit 109 has five operation keys capable of emitting light has been described, but the number of operation keys capable of emitting light is not limited to five. No, at least two are required.

[0036]

As described above, according to the image pickup device of the present invention, the light emission state of the operation key capable of emitting light is changed according to the remaining amount of the battery, so that the user can easily understand the remaining amount of the battery. You can be notified. Moreover, the user can quickly and easily check the remaining battery level without looking at the liquid crystal display or the electronic viewfinder.

Further, according to the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, by changing the light emission state of the operation keys capable of emitting light according to the remaining amount of the recording medium, the user can be notified of the remaining amount of the recording medium in an easy-to-understand manner. it can. Further, the user can quickly and easily check the remaining amount of the recording medium without looking at the liquid crystal display or the electronic viewfinder.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of one side surface of a camera-integrated digital video recorder 100 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing operation keys 301 to 3 according to the first embodiment.
It is a figure explaining the light emission state of 05.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a structure of operation keys 301 to 305.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of operation keys 301 to 305.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing operation keys 301 to 3 according to the second embodiment.
It is a figure explaining the light emission state of 05.

[Explanation of symbols] 100 Digital video recorder with integrated camera 101 camera section 102 image processing unit 103 recording / playback unit 104 recording medium 105 detector 106 display 107 Electronic viewfinder 108 control unit 109 Operation part 110 switch key 111 battery 112 detector 113 power key 301-305 operation keys

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G03B 17/36 G03B 17/36 F term (reference) 2H100 AA11 AA32 BB05 BB06 DD02 DD08 DD09 2H102 AB02 AB35 BA01 BA05 BB05 BB22 BB25 CA01 DA00 DA41 5C022 AA11 AC03 AC16 AC17 AC32 AC79 CA00

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of operation keys capable of emitting light, a first detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of a battery, a second detecting means for detecting a remaining amount of a recording medium, and a first emitting mode. In some cases, the light emitting states of the plurality of light emitting operation keys are controlled according to the remaining amount of the battery, and in the second light emitting mode, the light emitting states of the plurality of light emitting operation keys are An image pickup apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls according to the remaining amount of a recording medium. 2. The control means causes the number of operation keys corresponding to the remaining amount of the battery to emit light when in the first light emission mode, and the control means when in the second light emission mode. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein a number of operation keys corresponding to the remaining amount of the recording medium are made to emit light. 3. In the case of the first light emission mode, the control means, when the remaining amount of the battery is a predetermined value or more,
At least one of the operation keys emits light of a first color, and when the remaining amount of the battery is less than the predetermined value, at least one of the operation keys emits light of a second color. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which is characterized in that. 4. In the case of the first light emission mode, the control means, when the remaining amount of the battery is a predetermined value or more,
At least one of the operation keys emits light of a first color, and when the remaining amount of the battery is less than the predetermined value, at least one of the operation keys emits light of a second color. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup apparatus is an image pickup apparatus. 5. The image pickup device is a camera-integrated digital video recorder.
The imaging device according to any one of 1. 6. A plurality of operation keys capable of emitting light, detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the battery, and control for controlling the light emission state of the operation keys capable of emitting the light according to the remaining amount of the battery. And an image pickup device. 7. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit causes a number of operation keys corresponding to the remaining amount of the battery to emit light. 8. The control means causes at least one of the operation keys to emit light of a first color when the remaining amount of the battery is a predetermined value or more, and the remaining amount of the battery is less than the predetermined value. In the case of above, at least one of the operation keys is caused to emit light of a second color.
The imaging device according to. 9. The image pickup device is a camera-integrated type digital video recorder.
The imaging device according to any one of 1. 10. A plurality of operation keys capable of emitting light, detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the recording medium, and control of light emission states of the plurality of operation keys capable of emitting the light according to the remaining amount of the recording medium. An image pickup apparatus comprising: 11. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit causes a number of operation keys corresponding to the remaining amount of the recording medium to emit light. 12. The control means causes at least one of the operation keys to emit light of a first color when the remaining amount of the recording medium is a predetermined value or more, and the remaining amount of the battery is the predetermined value. If less than, press at least one of the operation keys to the second
The image pickup device according to claim 10, wherein the image pickup device emits light of the color. 13. The image pickup device is a camera-integrated digital video recorder.
The imaging device according to any one of 1 to 12.