JP2004236104A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device for detecting whether or not a liquid crystal panel having backlight is facing a subject, make the whole panel white only when the panel is facing the subject side to use the light from the panel as video illumination, and display a usual video image on the panel when the panel is facing the photographer. <P>SOLUTION: In a digital still camera or a video camera, a liquid crystal panel 4 having backlight is mounted on the main body and has a structure to make the panel 4 face the subject. The camera detects that the panel 4 is facing the subject, and makes the whole panel 4 white automatically only if the panel 4 is facing the subject and uses the light from the panel 4 as the video illumination. When intending to make the panel 4 face the subject and to make the whole panel 4 white and use the light from the panel 4 as the video illumination, and when confirming the image by facing the panel 4 toward the photographer side if the panel is the whole white it becomes unnecessary to operate a light on/off switch 3 to switch the state using the light from the panel 4 as the video illumination to the state the image is visible on the panel 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an imaging device typified by a digital still camera or a video camera, wherein a backlight type liquid crystal panel is directed toward a subject, the liquid crystal panel is made completely white, and light from the liquid crystal panel is used as a video light. And a digital still camera or a video camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in various cameras, a built-in light as an illumination light source for a subject, an external light externally configured to be detachable from a camera body, and the like have been generally used. In addition, the liquid crystal panel is made completely white, and the light is directed to a subject to be used as a video light (for example, see Patent Document 1). Hereinafter, a video light using a conventional liquid crystal panel will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0003]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a video camera as an example of a conventional imaging apparatus, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration.
[0004]
5 and 6, a video camera 110 has a lens 114 at a front part of a camera body 112, a color view finder 116 at a rear part, and a liquid crystal monitor 118 at a side part. The liquid crystal monitor 118 is rotatably attached to the camera body 112 by a hinge portion 120. In face-to-face shooting, the LCD monitor 118 is turned to the subject as shown in FIG. You can shoot while watching. The liquid crystal monitor 118 includes a liquid crystal panel 124 attached to a frame 122 and a backlight 126 (see FIG. 6) disposed at the rear of the liquid crystal panel 124. Is displayed.
[0005]
In general, when the liquid crystal panel 124 is set to all white (a state in which the transmittance is the maximum), the amount of light coming out of the liquid crystal panel 124 is the maximum, and the liquid crystal panel 124 is in the same state as when a video light is irradiated. By actively utilizing this phenomenon, the liquid crystal monitor 118 functions as a video light. FIG. 6 shows a control circuit of the liquid crystal monitor 118, 101 is an LCD drive circuit, 102 is a control microcomputer, 103 is a photographing mode detection circuit, 104 is a changeover switch, 105 is a power supply circuit, 106 is an oscillation circuit, and 107 is an inverter. Shows a transformer. The above circuit configuration is well known, and this configuration is characterized in that the liquid crystal monitor 118 is switched to all white by the changeover switch 104 and used as a video light.
[0006]
That is, when the changeover switch 104 is turned on, a signal is input from the photographing mode detection circuit 103 to the liquid crystal drive circuit 101 through the control microcomputer 102, and the liquid crystal panel 124 is completely white. As a result, the amount of light from the liquid crystal panel 124 is maximized to irradiate the subject, thereby fulfilling the function of a video light. If necessary, the illuminance of the backlight 126 can be increased in order to further increase the amount of light of the liquid crystal panel 124 when the display is completely white. That is, when the changeover switch 104 is turned on, a control signal is input from the control microcomputer 102 to the power supply circuit 105, and the illuminance of the backlight 126 can be increased by increasing the voltage of the power supply circuit 105. It should be noted that there are various types of backlight 126 such as a direct-type fluorescent tube and a fluorescent tube with a light guide plate, and any type of backlight can be used.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-126655
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the liquid crystal panel is set to all white (video light), the liquid crystal panel is rotated in the direction of the subject, and the subject is photographed. When rotated, the liquid crystal panel remains in an all-white state, and the user must operate the changeover switch 104 to return to a state in which the reproduced video is displayed, which reduces the operability.
[0009]
In view of the above problems, the present invention detects whether a backlight type liquid crystal panel is facing the subject side, makes the liquid crystal panel all white only when facing the subject side, and uses light from the liquid crystal panel as a video light. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image pickup apparatus that uses a liquid crystal panel and displays a normal image on the liquid crystal panel when the liquid crystal panel faces the photographer.
[0010]
[Means to solve the problem]
In order to solve this problem, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention is an imaging apparatus in which a display unit of a backlight system is mounted on a main body and the display unit can be directed to a subject side. When the display unit is turned to the photographer side when the display unit is turned to the photographer side only when the display unit is turned to the subject, the display unit is turned to the all-white display only when the display unit is turned to the subject. It is characterized by switching, detecting whether the backlight type liquid crystal panel is facing the subject side, and turning the liquid crystal panel all white only when facing the subject side, and using light from the liquid crystal panel as a video light. And when the liquid crystal panel is facing the photographer, a normal image is projected on the liquid crystal panel.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3 of the present invention is an imaging apparatus in which a backlight type display unit is mounted on a main body and the display unit can be directed to a subject side. When the display unit is turned to the photographer side when the display unit is turned to the photographer side only when the display unit is turned to the subject, the display unit is turned to the all-white display only when the display unit is turned to the subject. This is a digital still camera or video camera that has a backlight type liquid crystal panel mounted on the main unit and the liquid crystal panel faces the subject, and detects that the liquid crystal panel is facing the subject. It is characterized in that the liquid crystal panel is made completely white automatically only when the liquid crystal panel faces the subject, and the light from the liquid crystal panel is used as a video light.
[0012]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a video camera which is an example of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a display example.
[0014]
In the figure, reference numeral 6 denotes a video camera body which is a device body which incorporates an image pickup means such as a lens 9 and a CCD (not shown) and is capable of recording and reproducing video and audio signals. A digital still camera or the like may be used as long as it can record and reproduce signals. Reference numeral 4 denotes a liquid crystal panel which is provided rotatably with respect to the video camera body 6 and is a display means capable of displaying a reproduced image and a captured image, and a backlight type liquid crystal panel is used. Reference numeral 5 denotes a hinge portion for rotatably holding the liquid crystal panel 4 with respect to the video camera main body 6, and is capable of opening and closing the liquid crystal panel 4 in the direction of arrow A and rotatable in the direction of arrow B. Reference numeral 1 denotes a magnet provided on the hinge portion 5 and reference numeral 2 denotes a Hall sensor provided on the liquid crystal panel 4, which outputs an H signal or an L signal according to the distance from the magnet 1. In the present embodiment, the H signal is output when the liquid crystal panel 4 faces the subject, that is, in the same direction as the lens 9. In the present embodiment, a detecting unit is configured by the magnet 1 and the Hall sensor 2. Reference numeral 3 denotes a light ON / OFF switch, which is a selection means provided on the video camera main body 6, and can be turned on to bring the liquid crystal panel 4 into an all white standby state. Reference numeral 7 denotes a control microcomputer for controlling the LCD drive circuit 8 based on ON / OFF information of the light ON / OFF switch 3 and H / L information input from the Hall sensor 2 via the magnet 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes control from the control microcomputer 7. Is an LCD drive circuit that controls the liquid crystal panel 4 to display either a video signal or an all-white signal that is separately input. The control microcomputer 7 and the LCD drive circuit 8 constitute control means.
[0015]
The operation of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.
[0016]
First, in FIG. 1, the video camera body 6 converts a light signal of a subject incident through the lens 1 into an electric signal by a built-in CCD to obtain a video signal. The video signal is subjected to various kinds of signal processing by a signal processing circuit, and is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 4. On the other hand, when the record button is pressed, the video signal and the audio signal are recorded on a recording medium such as a video tape loaded therein.
[0017]
The video camera body 6 is provided with a liquid crystal panel 4 for displaying an image being shot and a reproduced image. The liquid crystal panel 4 can be freely opened and closed in the direction of arrow A and rotated in the direction of arrow B by the hinge 5. It is arranged movably. The liquid crystal panel 4 is rotatable between a normal shooting state facing the photographer side and a face-to-face shooting state facing the subject side, that is, the same direction as the lens 9. When the liquid crystal panel 4 is not used as a video light, a video signal is displayed in both a normal shooting state and a face-to-face shooting state.
[0018]
Next, an operation when the liquid crystal panel 4 is used as a video light will be described with reference to FIG.
[0019]
First, when the power of the video camera main unit 6 is turned on, if the video camera main unit 6 is in the shooting mode, the video signal which is incident from the lens 9 and photoelectrically converted is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 4. When the light ON / OFF switch 3 is turned on with the liquid crystal panel 4 facing the photographer (step 301), the ON signal is input to the control microcomputer 7, and the control microcomputer 7 controls the LCD drive circuit 8. Then, control is performed on the liquid crystal panel 4 so as to display a warning (step 302) as shown in FIG. This warning display is superimposed on the video signal displayed on the liquid crystal panel 4 by OSD display (on-screen display display), and has not yet been displayed in all white.
[0020]
In accordance with the display shown in FIG. 4, the user rotates the liquid crystal panel 4 as shown by the arrow B so that the liquid crystal panel 4 faces the subject side, that is, the same direction as the lens 9. When the liquid crystal panel 4 is completely oriented in the same direction as the lens 9, the distance between the magnet 1 and the hall sensor 2 is shortest, and in this state, the liquid crystal panel is directed from the hall sensor 2 via the magnet 1 to the subject side. Is output (step 304). When the distance between the magnet 1 and the Hall sensor 2 is long, an L signal indicating that the liquid crystal panel is facing the photographer is output from the Hall sensor 2.
[0021]
The H signal output from the Hall sensor 2 via the magnet 1 is input to the control microcomputer 7. When the light ON / OFF switch 3 is ON and the output of the Hall sensor 2 is an H signal, that is, when the liquid crystal panel 4 faces the object side, each output is sent to the control microcomputer 7 and the control microcomputer 7 sends the LCD drive. A control signal is sent to the circuit 8 to make the liquid crystal panel 4 all white (step 305). Under the control of the control microcomputer 7, the LCD drive circuit 8 stops outputting the video signal to the LCD panel 4, and instead sends a signal that causes the LCD panel 4 to display all white. Thus, the LCD panel 4 facing the subject can be used as a video light.
[0022]
Next, when the user stops using the liquid crystal panel 4 with the video light, the liquid crystal panel 4 is rotated so as to face the photographer. When the liquid crystal panel 4 is turned to the subject side, the output of the Hall sensor 2 becomes an L signal (step 304), and the control microcomputer 7 controls the LCD drive circuit 8 so that the light ON / OFF switch 3 is set to the ON / OFF position. Regardless of the situation, control is performed to output a normal image (step 301). In other words, when the liquid crystal monitor 4 is used as a video light and the liquid crystal panel 4 is turned toward the photographer, the all-white display is forcibly released, and control is performed so that a normal video signal is displayed.
[0023]
Further, when the light ON / OFF switch 3 is OFF, control is performed such that a video signal is output to the liquid crystal panel 4 irrespective of the rotation position of the liquid crystal panel 4, that is, the output of the hall sensor 2.
[0024]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, by turning on the light ON / OFF switch 3 and turning the liquid crystal panel 4 toward the subject, it is possible to display the liquid crystal panel 4 in an all white display as if it were used as a video light. It can be made to function. Further, in the present embodiment, to return from the video light state to the video display state, it is only necessary to rotate the liquid crystal panel 4 so as to face the photographer, and the usability can be improved.
[0025]
In the present embodiment, the rotation position of the liquid crystal panel 4 is detected using the magnet 1 and the Hall sensor 2, but a mechanical switch may be used. The shape of the video camera body 6 is also an example, and there is no restriction as long as the liquid crystal panel faces the subject.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the liquid crystal panel is used as a light, the switch automatically operates as a light only when the liquid crystal panel faces the subject, and switches the image when the liquid crystal panel faces the photographer. This makes it possible to shoot without the need for complicated switching and to improve the usability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an internal circuit in the embodiment; FIG. 3 is a flowchart in the embodiment; FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a warning display in the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of a conventional imaging device. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional imaging device.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnet 2 Hall sensor 3 Light ON / OFF switch 4 Liquid crystal panel 5 Hinge part 6 Video camera body 7 Control microcomputer 8 Input signal processing 9 LCD drive circuit

Claims (3)

An imaging apparatus in which a display unit of a backlight system is mounted on a main body, and the display unit is capable of directing the display unit toward a subject. An image pickup apparatus characterized in that the display means is displayed in all white only when the display means is turned, and the display is switched to video display when the display means is turned to the photographer side in the state of all white display. An image pickup apparatus incorporating image pickup means including a lens, wherein the display means is rotatably provided on an apparatus main body and can be directed at least in the same direction as the lens, and the display means faces in the same direction as the lens. Detecting means for detecting the presence of the image, selecting means for selecting ON / OFF of the video light mode, and displaying either the video display or the all white display on the display means based on information from the detecting means and the selecting means. Control means for controlling to perform
The control means is characterized in that the detection means detects that the display means is oriented in the same direction as the lens, and when the selection means selects ON, the display means displays all white. Imaging device. 3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit switches the display unit to a video display when the display unit is oriented in a direction other than the same direction as the lens when the display unit displays all white.

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