JP2004241894A - Image display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image display apparatus with an image display device which is easy to watch in both of direct viewing or indirect viewing through a finder. <P>SOLUTION: The image display apparatus 1 equipped with an external image display device 30 and an internal image display device 50 is further equipped with: a switching means 34 of switching the external image display device 30 between a first display position where its display surface 32 is directed to the opposite side to an image display apparatus body 2 and a second display position where the display surface 32 is directed to face the image display apparatus body 2; and an internal image display optical system 40 which is provided in the image display apparatus body 2 and guides an image of the display surface 32 of the external image display device 30 at the second display position to the internal image display device 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to image display devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image display device that allows a user to view a display image at a free position. The present invention particularly relates to a camera provided with an image display device capable of viewing a display image at a free position.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a camera using an image sensor such as a CCD, for example, an image display device such as a digital camera or a video camera, an image of a subject captured by the image sensor is recorded on various recording media. An image display device is provided for the photographer to visually recognize whether or not the photographer is in the image.
[0003]
As the image display device, an internal image display device (for example, an optical or electronic finder) having a display surface inside the body, and / or an external image display device (for example, a liquid crystal display device) having a display surface outside the body. Is used.
[0004]
The image of the external image display device provided outside the body and directly viewed is difficult to see in a bright place. Therefore, it is effective to provide an internal image display device that is indirectly viewed through the eyepiece optical system. However, even the internal image display device having an optical viewfinder has a problem in that when the zoom magnification (for example, 4 times or more) increases, the shooting parallax increases. As a finder having no shooting parallax, there is an electronic finder. However, in the electronic finder, a display device for the finder is separately provided in addition to the external image display device on the outside of the body, so that the cost is almost doubled.
[0005]
In view of this, a finder display device has been disclosed in which a part of an image of a liquid crystal display device that is provided outside the body and directly viewed is observed through a window of the body and an eyepiece optical system such as an eyepiece lens. Reference 1).
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-265023
In the finder display device disclosed in Patent Document 1, an image observed through the eyepiece optical system is reduced by signal processing and displayed in a small pixel area. There is a problem that the pixel particles of the image are coarse and the displayed image or character is crushed and difficult to see.
[0008]
Further, an EVF (Electronic View Finder) device has been disclosed which allows the user to select whether to view an image displayed on an image display device through an eyepiece or without passing through the eyepiece (for example, see Patent Document 2). .
[0009]
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-8-130665
In the EVF display device disclosed in Patent Literature 2, one image display device is configured to be put in and out of the viewfinder optical system, and a small image display device having a small number of pixels is used. Therefore, when viewed outside without passing through the eyepiece, there is a problem that an image displayed on the EVF display device is difficult to see. In addition, since the eyepiece optical system is open, there is a problem that the eyepiece optical system is contaminated with dust and dust.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, a technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an image display device provided with an image display device which is easy to see both in a case where it is directly viewed and in a case where it is indirectly viewed through a finder. That is.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Functions / Effects]
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the following image display device.
[0013]
That is, an image display device including an external image display device and an internal image display device, wherein the external image display device has a first display position whose display surface faces the opposite side with respect to the image display device main body. Switching means for switching the display surface to a second display position facing the side facing the image display device main body, and an image of the display surface of the external image display device provided in the image display device main body and located at the second display position To an internal image display device.
[0014]
According to the above configuration, the image display device switches the position of the external image display device between the first display position and the second display position, so that the image displayed on the external image display device is displayed on the external image display device. It is visually recognized directly or is guided to the internal image display device via the internal image display optical system and is indirectly visually recognized by the internal image display device. Since the display surface of the external image display device having a large number of pixels on the large screen is used as the display surface of the internal image display device, the display surface of the internal image display device is easy to see. Further, since the external image display device is used for both direct viewing and indirect viewing, the cost for an expensive image display device is reduced.
[0015]
The image display device main body has a light transmitting window, which is a component of the internal image display optical system, at a position facing the display surface of the external image display device at the second display position, and device information is stored in the light transmitting window. Is displayed.
[0016]
The light-transmitting window, which is a component of the internal image display optical system, provided on the surface of the image display device main body can be used as a protective plate for protecting the internal image display optical system. It can be a display device. The device information includes, for example, image display settings, device operation settings, and the like. The visibility and the operability are improved as compared with the case where the device information is superimposed and displayed on the display surface of the external image display device.
[0017]
As the light-transmitting window, a non-light-emitting and light-transmitting display device, for example, a transmission TN liquid crystal, a transmission STN liquid crystal, or a guest-host liquid crystal is used.
[0018]
The device information is displayed on the light-transmitting window when the light-transmitting window is a light-emitting and light-transmitting display device and the display surface of the external image display device is at the second display position.
[0019]
According to the above configuration, as the light-transmitting window, a light-emitting and light-transmitting display device, for example, a transmission organic electroluminescence (EL) is used, and the display surface of the external image display device has the second display. When in the position, the device information is displayed on the light-transmitting window. Therefore, when viewing the internal image display device, it is possible to see an image in which the device information displayed in the translucent window is superimposed on the image displayed on the display surface of the external image display device. It is clear.
[0020]
The image display device is a camera having a photoelectric conversion element, and further includes a distance measuring device for measuring a distance to a subject, and information on the distance measuring device is displayed on a light-transmitting window.
[0021]
According to the camera having the above-described configuration, the distance can be measured by a video distance measuring method using a photoelectric conversion element to measure a distance to a subject. However, a separate distance measuring device such as an active distance measuring device or a passive distance measuring device can be used. Can be provided. When the video distance measurement method using the photoelectric conversion element is difficult, for example, when the contrast of the subject is small or the subject is dark and sufficient contrast cannot be obtained, or when the processing unit is overloaded in shooting in the moving image mode, etc. It is effective to measure the distance by a separate distance measuring device. The video ranging method and the active ranging or the passive ranging can be used together. Information obtained by these distance measuring devices or setting information of the distance measuring device is displayed on the light-transmitting window.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a digital camera 1 as an image display device according to each embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the image may be either a moving image or a still image. The image display device includes, in addition to the digital camera 1, a video camera, a reproduction-only device that reproduces an image recorded in a recording device, and the like.
[0023]
1 to 4 and FIG. 10 show a first embodiment according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of the digital camera 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating that the liquid crystal display device 30 of the camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 is closed and the subject image is indirectly viewed through the viewfinder 50. FIG. 3 is a view for explaining that the subject image is directly visually recognized by opening the liquid crystal display device 30 of the camera 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating that a subject image is directly visually recognized in a state where the liquid crystal display device 30 of the camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 is closed. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the digital camera 1.
[0024]
A body unit 2 of the digital camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 houses a lens barrel unit 3 having an optical system for forming a subject image on a CCD (charge coupled device) 22. The CCD (charge-coupled device) 22 as a photoelectric conversion element, that is, an image sensor, is mounted on the CCD substrate unit 20 and may be a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor).
[0025]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the liquid crystal display device 30 is attached to the body 2 via a hinge 34 having a so-called biaxial hinge mechanism of a rotation axis and a rotation axis. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device 30 is supported rotatably in the lateral direction (substantially horizontal direction) with respect to the body 2, that is, in the left-right direction in FIG.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 2, when the liquid crystal display device 30 is on the right side of the drawing, the display surface 32 is at the second display position facing the side facing the body 2. That is, the liquid crystal display device 30 is in a closed state. As shown in FIG. 3, when the liquid crystal display device 30 is rotated by approximately 180 degrees from the second display position and is on the left side of the figure, the display surface 32 faces the opposite side, that is, the operator side with respect to the body 2. It is in the first display position. That is, the liquid crystal display device 30 is in an open state. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal display device 30 is on the right side of the figure, but the display surface 32 is in the first display position facing the opposite side to the body 2, that is, the operator side. That is, the display surface 32 faces the operator side even though the liquid crystal display device 30 is in the closed state. As described above, the liquid crystal display device 30 can take various positions by the hinge portion 34 as the switching means. Since the operator is usually on the back side of the camera 1, the first display position is a position facing the operator side of the camera 1, and the second display position is facing the side opposite to the operator of the camera 1. It can be said that the position was.
[0027]
The liquid crystal display device 30 has a liquid crystal panel, a reflector, and a backlight. On the display surface 32 of the liquid crystal panel, a subject image captured by the lens barrel unit 3 and the CCD 22 or an image recorded and stored by various recording devices (not shown) is displayed.
[0028]
A light transmitting window 41 is provided at a position of the body 2 facing the display surface 32 of the liquid crystal panel at the second display position. The translucent window 41 is a component of the eyepiece optical system 40, and guides an image on the display surface 32 of the liquid crystal panel disposed adjacent to the eyepiece optical system 40 described later. The light-transmitting window 41 is a transparent protective plate (for example, a glass plate or a plastic plate) for protecting the eyepiece optical system 40. The light-transmitting window 41 includes an information display device in which various information of the camera 1 is displayed on the light-transmitting substrate. You can also.
[0029]
An eyepiece optical system 40, which is an internal image display optical system, includes a light transmitting window 41, a first reflection surface 42, a second reflection surface 43, and an eyepiece 44, and is housed in the body 2. . The first reflecting surface 42 is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees opposite to the display surface 32 of the liquid crystal panel, and the second reflecting surface 43 is opposite to the first reflecting surface 42 and the eyepiece 44. It is arranged at an angle of 45 degrees. That is, the optical path I of the eyepiece optical system 40 is formed in the body 2, and the image on the display surface 32 of the liquid crystal panel is formed into an eye of the operator who is looking through the viewfinder 50 through the eyepiece optical system 40. Is done.
[0030]
A finder 50, which is an internal image display device, includes the eyepiece optical system 40 and an eyepiece 45 with which the operator's eyes come into contact. An operation switch 5 is provided on the back of the body 2 and is used for operating the camera itself and the liquid crystal display device 30 and setting conditions.
[0031]
The digital camera 1 is configured by an electric circuit as shown in the block diagram of FIG. That is, the main board 10 includes a CPU that controls the movement of the entire camera 1, a memory that stores various condition settings, a camera control circuit that controls the movement of the camera 1, and a display IC that controls the display of the liquid crystal display device 30. And an external terminal.
The main circuit 10 is electrically connected to a power supply circuit, a flash circuit, a battery, a CCD 22, a liquid crystal display device 30, a lens barrel unit 3, and the like.
[0032]
The digital camera 1 having the above configuration is used as follows.
[0033]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the liquid crystal display device 30 is in the second display position, that is, in the closed state, the display surface 32 faces the light transmitting window 41. An inverted image is displayed on the display surface 32, and the inverted image passes through the light transmitting window 41, is reflected by the first reflecting surface 42 and the second reflecting surface 43, and is condensed by the eyepiece 44, and is focused on the finder 50. An erect image is formed on the eyes of the operator who is in eye contact with the eyepiece unit 45. Since the image clearly displayed on the large display surface 32 is optically reduced, the image displayed in the viewfinder 50 and indirectly viewed is clear.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 3, when the liquid crystal display device 30 is in the first display position, that is, in the open state, the display surface 32 faces the opposite side to the light transmitting window 41. After the position of the liquid crystal display device 30 is detected by a known position detection sensor, the display IC reverses the image displayed at the second display position up and down. An erect image is displayed on the display surface 32. Since the image displayed on the large display surface 32 is visually recognized directly, the displayed image is clear.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 4, when the liquid crystal display device 30 is in the second display position, that is, in the closed state, the display surface 32 faces the opposite side to the light transmitting window 41. After the position of the liquid crystal display device 30 is detected by a known position detection sensor, the display IC reverses the image displayed at the second display position up and down. An erect image is displayed on the display surface 32. Since the image displayed on the large display surface 32 is visually recognized directly, the displayed image is clear.
[0036]
Next, a digital camera 1 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Since the basic configuration is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the description will focus on the differences.
[0037]
In the first embodiment, the light transmitting window 41 is a transparent protective plate (for example, a glass plate or a plastic plate) for protecting the eyepiece optical system 40. However, in the second embodiment, the light transmitting window 41 is It is used as an information display device that protects the eyepiece optical system 40 and displays various information of the camera 1 on a translucent substrate. The translucent window 41 is used as an information display device when the liquid crystal display device 30 is in the first display position, that is, in an open state.
[0038]
The light-transmitting window 41 is a non-light-emitting and light-transmitting display device, for example, a transmission TN liquid crystal display, a transmission STN liquid crystal display, a guest-host liquid crystal display, and the display state is controlled by a display IC. The information displayed on the translucent window 41 includes, for example, image display settings, camera operation settings, and the like. To describe a more specific example, there is a shooting mode shown in FIG.
[0039]
The translucent window 41 displays a high-speed AF mode, a favorite AF mode, and an area designation mode. As an example of the high-speed AF mode, the distance is measured at high speed, the release time lag is reduced, and the number of continuous shots is increased. As an example of the favorite AF mode, the AF mode is switched according to the shooting scene, such as autofocus (AF) using infrared auxiliary light in a dark place. As an example of the area designation mode, when the operator designates a place to be autofocused (AF) or a subject 100 with the cross key of the operation switch 5 during the live view, the area is displayed on the display surface 32. The object 100 or the object 100 to be auto-focused (AF) is tracked.
[0040]
In addition, the image displayed on the display surface 32 can be painted, written with characters, or the background color can be changed. Can be. Since the translucent window 41 is arranged on the side of the display surface 32, the above-mentioned editing work can be performed while looking at the display surface 32, so that it is easier to see than when displaying the information on the display surface 32 in a superimposed manner. It is easy to operate.
[0041]
Next, a digital camera 1 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the basic configuration is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the description will focus on the differences.
[0042]
Also in the third embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, the light transmitting window 41 is used as an information display device that protects the eyepiece optical system 40 and displays various information of the camera 1 on the light transmitting substrate. I have. The translucent window 41 is used as the information display device when the liquid crystal display device 30 is in the second display position, that is, in the closed state.
[0043]
As shown in FIG. 1, a sensor window 56 is provided on the front side of the body 2, and a distance measuring device 54 is provided inside the body 2. Through the sensor window 56, transmission of light or sound waves from the distance measuring device 54 or reception of light or sound waves to the distance measuring device 54 is performed. For example, when the distance measuring device 54 is a publicly known external light type passive distance measuring device 54, the distance measuring device 54 includes a pair of lenses and a light receiving element array. The distance to the subject 100 is detected by the calculation. In the light receiving element array, for example, five distance measurement points are arranged in a cross shape.
[0044]
The translucent window 41 is a light-emitting translucent display device, for example, a transmissive organic electroluminescence (EL) display, and the display state is controlled by a display IC. The information displayed on the translucent window 41 is, for example, the distance measurement frame 47. The ranging frame 47 is a segment that emits light. As shown in FIG. 6, each distance measuring frame 47 is arranged in a cross shape on the translucent window 41 at each position corresponding to five distance measuring points.
[0045]
When the liquid crystal display device 30 is in the second display position, that is, in the closed state, the display surface 32 is overlapped with the light transmitting window 41 so as to face each other. An inverted image is displayed on the display surface 32. In the translucent window 41, five light-emitting ranging frames 47 arranged in a cross shape are formed. The inverted subject image on which the images displayed on the distance measurement frame 47 overlap is transmitted through the light-transmitting window 41, reflected on the first reflection surface 42 and the second reflection surface 43, and then condensed by the eyepiece 44. An erect image is formed on the eyes of the operator who has watched the viewfinder 50. The distance to the subject 100 is measured by the passive light type distance measuring device 54. The distance measuring point (the rightmost distance measuring point in FIG. 7) indicating the distance closest to the distance measurement value of the subject 100 is lit, and the fact that the distance measurement is being performed at that distance measuring point is highlighted.
[0046]
Next, a digital camera 1 according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the basic configuration is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the description will focus on the differences.
[0047]
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the liquid crystal display device 30 is provided on the upper part of the body 2. On the front side of the body 2, a hinge portion 34 that supports the liquid crystal display device 30 rotatably and rotatably is provided. The liquid crystal display device 30 rotates between a second display position, that is, a closed state extending in a substantially horizontal direction, and a first display position, that is, an opened state extending in a substantially vertical direction.
[0048]
An eyepiece optical system 40, which is an internal image display optical system, includes a light transmitting window 41 extending in a substantially horizontal direction, a first reflection surface 42 of a pentaprism 48, a second reflection surface 43 of a pentaprism 48, and an eyepiece. And housed in the upper part of the body 2.
The first reflecting surface 42 of the pentaprism 48 is disposed at a predetermined angle to face the display surface 32 of the liquid crystal panel, and the second reflecting surface 43 of the pentaprism 48 is connected to the first reflecting surface 42 and the eyepiece. The lens 44 is inclined at a predetermined angle opposite to the lens 44. In other words, the optical path I of the eyepiece optical system 40 is formed in the body 2, and the image on the display surface 32 of the liquid crystal display device 30 passes through the eyepiece optical system 40 and looks into the viewfinder 50. It is imaged.
[0049]
A finder 50, which is an internal image display device, includes the eyepiece optical system 40 and an eyepiece 45 with which the operator's eyes come into contact.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 8, when the liquid crystal display device 30 is in the first display position, that is, in the open state, the display surface 32 is at a position substantially orthogonal to the translucent window 41 and faces the operator. An erect image is displayed on the display surface 32. Since the image displayed on the large display surface 32 is visually recognized directly, the displayed image is clear.
[0051]
As shown in FIG. 9, when the liquid crystal display device 30 is in the second display position, that is, in the closed state, the display surface 32 faces the light transmitting window 41. Since an erect image can be displayed on the display surface 32, it is not necessary to reverse the image upside down by the display IC. The erect image displayed on the display surface 32 passes through the light-transmitting window 41, is reflected by the first reflection surface 42 and the second reflection surface 43, is condensed by the eyepiece 44, and is in contact with the finder 50. The finder display image 52 erected at the eye is formed. Since the image displayed on the large display surface 32 is optically reduced, the finder display image 52 displayed in the finder 50 and visually recognized indirectly is clear. By interposing the pentaprism 48, the eyepiece optical system 40 can be made compact. Further, since the eyepiece optical system 40 is separated from the outside world by the light transmitting window 41 and the liquid crystal display device 30 is rotatably and rotatably supported by the hinge portion 34, the switching display of the liquid crystal display device 30 can be performed. Simple and reliable.
[0052]
In the first embodiment, since the liquid crystal display device 30 is rotatably supported in the lateral direction (substantially horizontal direction) with respect to the body 2 by the hinge portion 34, the rotating liquid crystal display device 30 is rotated. Does not need to cross the eyepiece 45, so that it does not hinder the image observation in the viewfinder 50. Further, the light-transmitting window 41 of the digital camera 1 according to the fourth embodiment can also be a simple protective plate for protecting the eyepiece optical system 40 or an information display device for displaying camera information.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a cross section of a basic structure of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating that a liquid crystal display device of the camera shown in FIG. 1 is closed and a subject image is indirectly viewed through a viewfinder.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining that a subject image is directly viewed when the liquid crystal display device of the camera shown in FIG. 1 is opened.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating that a subject image is directly viewed in a state in which a liquid crystal display device of the camera shown in FIG. 1 is closed.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a digital camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating that a subject image is directly viewed by opening a liquid crystal display device of a digital camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating that a liquid crystal display device of the camera shown in FIG. 6 is closed and a subject image is indirectly viewed through a finder.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating that a subject image is directly viewed by opening a liquid crystal display device of a digital camera according to another embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a diagram illustrating that the liquid crystal display device of the camera shown in FIG. 8 is closed and the subject image is indirectly viewed through a finder.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Digital camera (image display device)
2 Body 3 Lens barrel unit 5 Rear operation switch 10 Main board unit 20 CCD board unit 22 CCD (photoelectric conversion element)
30 Liquid crystal display (external image display)
32 display surface 34 hinge part (switching means)
40 Eyepiece optical system (internal image display optical system)
41 Translucent window 42 First reflection surface 43 Second reflection surface 44 Eyepiece 45 Eyepiece 47 Distance measuring frame 48 Pentaprism 50 Finder (internal image display device)
52 Finder display image 54 Distance measuring device 56 Sensor window 100 Subject I Optical path

Claims (5)

An image display device including an external image display device and an internal image display device,
The external image display device is switched between a first display position in which the display surface faces the opposite side of the image display device main body and a second display position in which the display surface faces the side facing the image display device main body. Switching means;
An image display device, comprising: an internal image display optical system that is provided in the image display device main body and guides an image on the display surface of the external image display device at the second display position to the internal image display device. The image display device main body has a light transmitting window that is a component of the internal image display optical system at a position facing the display surface of the external image display device at the second display position,
The image display device according to claim 1, wherein device information is displayed on the light-transmitting window. 3. The image display device according to claim 2, wherein the light-transmitting window is a non-light-emitting and light-transmitting display device. The light-transmitting window is a light-emitting and light-transmitting display device, and when the display surface of the external image display device is at the second display position, device information is displayed on the light-transmitting window. Item 3. The image display device according to Item 2. The image display device is a camera having a photoelectric conversion element,
3. The image display apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a distance measuring device for measuring a distance to a subject, wherein information on the distance measuring device is displayed on a light transmitting window.

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