JP2005020469A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism for detecting, at a low cost without the need for complicated wiring or the like, that a photographing lens and a display apparatus are directed to a user itself for photographing a photographer (user) in an electronic camera turnably connected to an operation section by a hinge mechanism so as to be capable of displaying a photographed video image on the display apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The hinge mechanism comprises an imaging side hinge plate fixed to an imaging section; a hinge shaft with a flange fixed to the imaging side hinge plate and on which a turning angle detecting pattern is arranged; an operation section side hinge plate fixed to the operation section and using the flange for a lock for turnably supporting the hinge shaft; and a photoelectric element for detecting a turning angle of the imaging section with respect to the operation section by means of the turning angle detecting pattern provided in the flange, and detecting the turning angle detecting pattern by the photoelectric element can detect that the imaging section and the display apparatus arranged to the operation section are directed in the same direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic camera, and more particularly to an electronic camera in which an operation unit and an imaging unit are coupled by a hinge so that the imaging unit can be rotated.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An electronic camera equipped with an image sensor such as a CCD and capable of digitally recording images can immediately see images taken without the need for development, printing, etc., as with conventional cameras using film. An image pickup device such as a CCD has an advantage that the camera itself can be made compact by making it smaller than a conventional film despite the fact that the number of pixels per device increases year by year.
[0003]
Therefore, for example, it has a thinness and strength that can be accommodated in a breast pocket of a Y-shirt or a groin pocket of a G pan, and it has a lightness that does not cause a sense of incongruity even when accommodated in such a place or handbag, and has a high-power zoom mechanism. The advent of an electronic camera is desired.
[0004]
However, the zoom lens is usually composed of a plurality of lens groups, and a desired focal length is obtained by advancing and retracting some of the lens groups. For this reason, in the method in which the taking lens protrudes from the camera body like a camera using an old film, the number of lenses and the number of lenses can be reduced even if a retractable type in which the lens is housed in the body except during shooting. Due to the presence of a mechanism that moves the group back and forth, it is difficult to make the camera body less than a certain thickness.
[0005]
For this reason, when a protruding lens is housed in the camera body when the power is turned off, a camera that moves the lens of the intermediate group to the outside of the optical axis and thereby achieves thinning has appeared. The method of moving the lens group deteriorates the accuracy of the optical system, and the method of sinking the intermediate lens group and the lens barrel into the camera body by turning off the power is constant until the image can be taken when the power is turned on. Since time is required, there is a drawback in that the time until activation becomes long and a photo opportunity is missed.
[0006]
Therefore, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, an imaging lens, a finder, a light emitting device, and the like are arranged in an imaging unit that is rotatably connected to an operation unit having a display device by a rotation mechanism such as a hinge mechanism. There has been proposed a camera in which the photographing lens can be directed toward the subject and the display device is directed toward the photographer. When the electronic camera is configured in this way, for example, when a photographer (self) is to be photographed or when a subject near the ground is photographed, the display device can be constantly checked while the image pickup unit is directed toward the subject. .
[0007]
Further, in the electronic cameras disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when a photographed image is always displayed on the display device in the same state, the photographer (self) is photographed while confirming the photographing state on the display device. For this reason, when the photographing lens and the display device are directed toward the user, an image in which the upper and lower sides are reversed is displayed on the display device.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-261859 (FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-320120 A (FIG. 5)
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the cameras shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the battery storage part in the operation part is configured to be thicker than the other part to be a grip part, and is accommodated in a chest pocket of a Y-shirt or a hip pocket of a G pan. If you feel uncomfortable. The camera disclosed in Patent Document 3 also has a thin configuration because the image pickup means has a cylindrical shape with the width direction of the image pickup apparatus as the rotation axis and cannot accommodate a zoom lens and the diameter of the image pickup means increases. I can't do it.
[0010]
Therefore, in the present invention, in order to photograph a photographer (self) in an electronic camera that is rotatably connected to an operation unit having a display device by a hinge mechanism and can display a photographed image on the display device. When the photographic lens and display device are pointed toward you, it is easy, inexpensive, and complex to detect that the photographic lens and display device are facing you in order to capture an image that is upside down on the display device. It is a problem to provide a mechanism that does not require a complicated wiring.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention,
An electronic device comprising an operation unit having a display device and an image pickup unit which is connected to the operation unit so as to be rotatable by a hinge mechanism so that a photographed image can be sent to the display device for display. In the camera
The hinge mechanism is fixed to the image pickup unit side hinge plate fixed to the image pickup unit, a hinge shaft fixed to the image pickup unit side hinge plate and having a flange on which a rotation angle detection pattern is arranged, and fixed to the operation unit. An operating portion side hinge plate that holds the hinge shaft at a flange portion so that the hinge shaft can be rotatably held, an elastic member interposed between the flange and the operating portion side hinge plate, and a rotation provided on the flange. A photoelectric element that detects a rotation angle of the imaging unit with respect to the operation unit by a moving angle detection pattern, and the photoelectric element can detect a relative rotation angle between the imaging unit and the operation unit. It is characterized by that.
[0012]
As described above, the rotation of the image pickup unit in the electronic camera can be detected with a simple and inexpensive configuration of the rotation angle detection pattern and the photoelectric element provided on the flange of the hinge shaft constituting the hinge mechanism. When the photographic lens and the display device are both pointed towards you, it can be easily detected, and the photoelectric element can be installed at a certain distance, so that mechanical contacts and wiring are routed like conventional devices. Therefore, it is possible to improve the assemblability and avoid the disconnection of the signal line due to the rotation operation. In addition, since it is not necessary to mount a switch on the hinge portion, the hinge mechanism can be miniaturized, and the electronic camera can be made compact.
[0013]
The flange provided on the hinge shaft in the hinge mechanism is provided with a click recess for each predetermined angle, a circular spring is used as the elastic member, and a click projection is provided on the spring. Provided is an electronic camera that can lock the image pickup unit at every predetermined angle with respect to the operation unit and can easily take a picture by configuring the image pickup unit at a predetermined angle by a recess provided in the flange. Can do.
[0014]
Further, the circular spring is provided with reinforcing meat behind the click protrusion, so that when the click protrusion of the circular spring is released from the click recess provided on the flange by rotation, the circular spring is provided between the imaging unit and the operation unit. It is possible to prevent the click protrusion from being cracked by the pressing force.
[0015]
Furthermore, the hinge shaft is hollow, and a signal line connecting the imaging unit and the operation unit can be passed through the hollow part, so that the wiring can be performed without using a mechanical contact or the like.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. This is just an example.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is an overall view of an embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing a photographing state in which the lens of the electronic camera according to the present invention is directed toward a subject, and FIG. 3 is an electronic camera according to the present invention. It is the figure which showed the imaging | photography state which orient | assigned the lens to the camera operator (self) direction.
[0018]
In the figure, 100 is an electronic camera according to the present invention, 101 is an imaging unit, 102 is an operation unit, 103 is a photographing lens window, 104 is a light emitting device such as a strobe, 105 is a display device using liquid crystal, 106 is a shutter button, 107 is a power button, 108 is composed of a cross key and an enter key, and is a selection / decision key for selecting a function or item displayed on the display device 105, 109 is a zoom key for instructing optical system zooming, and 110 is a camera mode menu. Is a menu button for switching on and off, 111 is a display button for switching the display content of the display device 105 and lighting on and off, 112 is a scene button for switching the display content of the display device 105 to the scene selection selection screen, and 113 is an aperture priority. Mode, shutter priority mode, sports mode for shooting fast moving subjects, Macro mode, forced flash and flash control of the light emission stop of flash, movie shooting mode selection button for selecting a mode such as playback of shadows, 114 is a speaker.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the electronic camera 100 according to the present invention is provided with a display device 105 and general photographing operation buttons 106 to 113 on the operation unit 102 side, and the operation unit 102 has a hinge mechanism. A photographing lens window 103 is disposed on one end side of the imaging unit 101 that is rotatably connected to the light emitting device 104, and a window for the light emitting device 104 is disposed on the operation unit 102 side. In the imaging unit 101, a photographing zoom lens is disposed behind the photographing lens window 103, and a cam mechanism for advancing and retracting a lens group constituting the zoom lens is disposed next to the zoom lens. On the back side of the cam mechanism, that is, on the side opposite to the photographing lens window 103, electrical components such as a light emitting device capacitor are arranged. The shooting operation buttons 106 to 113 in the operation unit 102 protrude from the plane of the outer cover of the operation unit 102 so that they do not get caught or feel uncomfortable even when housed in a chest pocket of a Y-shirt or a collar pocket of a G pan. Further, the shutter button 106 can be operated with an index finger when the camera 100 is held with the right hand, and the zoom key 109, the selection determination key 108, the menu button 110, the mode select button 113, and the like are also used with the right hand camera. When 100 is held, it is placed within the reach of the thumb to improve operability.
[0020]
The electronic camera 100 according to the present invention is directed toward the subject as shown in FIG. 2 while the display device 105 is always visible, and the imaging unit 101 is directed toward the subject as shown in FIG. In this way, the photographing lens window 103 is directed toward the camera operator (self) so that self-photographing can be performed. The electronic camera 100 according to the present invention has a length L ₁ (FIG. 3) from the end of the imaging unit 101 on the photographing lens window 103 side to the end of the light emitting device window 104 side, for example, from the tip of the left index finger. When the length to the vicinity of the two joints and the length on the opposite side of the photographing lens window 103 in the imaging unit 101 is L ₂ (FIG. 3), the light emitting device window 104 portion is (L ₁ -L ₂ ). The thickness L ₃ (FIG. 3) in the optical axis direction of the corresponding part is configured so as to project toward the operation unit 102 side with R as the thickness of the index finger. In this way, a space for arranging operation buttons and the like on the right side of the display device 105 in the operation unit 102 can be created, and an electronic camera with good operability can be configured while being small. The distance from the photographing lens window 103 to the pivot center of the hinge mechanism is larger than the distance from the pivot center of the hinge mechanism to the end opposite to the photographing lens window 103.
[0021]
When the electronic camera 100 is used, the power is turned on by pressing the power button 107, so that each operation button is operated with the thumb as described above, and the aperture priority mode and the shutter priority mode are pressed by the mode select button 113. Select a shooting mode such as, a sports mode for shooting a subject moving at high speed, a macro mode for shooting a subject at a short distance, a flash control such as forced flash on / off, a video shooting, and a playback mode. If necessary, the menu button 110 is pressed to display various menus such as the image size, shooting sensitivity, and photometry method on the display device 105, and the cross key of the selection / decision key 108 including the cross key and the enter key. Select an item with and press the center determination button.
[0022]
Then, when shooting with the photographic lens window 103 facing the subject as shown in FIG. 2, hold the operation unit 102 side with the right hand as shown in FIG. 4, for example, imaging with the index finger and middle finger of the left hand The photographing lens window 103 is directed toward the subject with the portion L ₃ (FIG. 3) having the length L ₁ (FIG. 3) of the portion 101 interposed therebetween. Then, while viewing the subject displayed on the display device 105, the zoom key 109 of the imaging unit 101 is operated with the right hand thumb to select a predetermined magnification, determine the composition, and then press the shutter button 106 with the right hand index finger. The focus and exposure are automatically determined, and an image taken by an image sensor such as a built-in CCD is recorded in a built-in memory. By photographing in this way, as described above, the distance from the photographing lens window 103 to the rotation center of the hinge mechanism in the image pickup unit 101 is opposite to the photographing lens window 103 from the rotation center of the hinge mechanism. Since the distance is larger than the distance to the end, the lens unit is rotated so that the imaging unit 101 can be quickly pointed at the subject and the camera 100 can be firmly held.
[0023]
When shooting is completed in this way, when the mode select button 113 is operated to set the playback mode, the image stored in the memory is displayed on the display device 105, and the images sequentially taken by operating the cross key in the selection decision key 108 are displayed. Can be displayed. In the moving image shooting mode, a moving image can be recorded in the memory in the same manner, a necessary scene can be selected with the scene button 112, and sound can be reproduced simultaneously with the speaker 114.
[0024]
The imaging unit 101 and the operation unit 102 of the electronic camera 100 configured as described above are coupled by a hinge mechanism as indicated by 405 in FIGS. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of only the hinge mechanism 405 that couples the imaging unit 101 and the operation unit 102 of the electronic camera 100 according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 shows that the hinge mechanism 405 is incorporated in the imaging unit 101 and the operation unit. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge mechanism 405 shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 is a hinge lens plate for the hinge shaft 500 constituting the hinge. FIG. 9 is a front view of the hinge marker 508, FIG. 10 is a view of a click recess provided on the flange 505 of the hinge shaft 500, and a circular spring 504. FIGS. 11B and 11B show the protrusions showing the hinge mechanism 405, the lower cover 402 in the imaging unit 101, and the lower cover 308 in the operation unit 102. FIG. Built, shows, partly in section, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which through the hinge mechanism has a hollow signal line connecting the imaging unit 101 and the operation unit 102.
[0025]
In the figure, 303 is a sub-board provided on the operation unit 102 side, 308 is a lower cover of the operation unit 102, 500 is a hinge shaft that rotates the imaging unit 101 side relative to the operation unit 102, and 501 is on the imaging unit 101 side. A hinge lens plate that is fixed and stops the rotation of the hinge shaft 500 with a keyway, 502 is a hinge body plate that is fixed to the operation unit 102 side and allows the lens shaft 500 to rotate, and 503 is a hinge shaft plate. A circular spring, a body plate, a CE ring for sandwiching the lens plate with the hinge shaft 500, and a circular spring 504 are sandwiched between the flange 505 of the hinge shaft 500 and the hinge body plate 502 to provide friction and click. The circular spring 504 is clicked on the top of two places. With a is provided use projections 506 and 507, FIG. 11 (A), the is provided and the protrusion 511 and 512 for detent, for the hinge body plate 502 as shown in (B). As shown in FIG. 9, a part 508 includes a reflection pattern 509, which is attached to the flange 505 of the shaft 500, and is operated by a photoelectric element such as a photo reflector 510 in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are integrated. Hinge markers for detecting the relative rotation angle of the image pickup unit 101 with respect to 102, 513 is a fixing portion of the hinge lens plate 501 provided on the lower cover 402 of the image pickup unit 101, and 514 to 517 are flanges 505 of the hinge shaft 500. Recesses 518 and 519 provided in the holes for receiving the protrusions 511 and 512 for preventing rotation of the circular spring 520, reinforcing meat parts 531 provided on the back of the protrusions 506 and 507 provided on the circular spring 504, Reference numeral 532 denotes a keyway 534 for locking the lens shaft 500 to the hinge lens plate 501, 35 key projection that meshes with keyway 531, 532 provided in the lens shaft 500 in the hinge lens plate 501, 537 is a groove for fitting the CE ring 503.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 8 (A), the hinge shaft 500 in the hinge mechanism 405 has a groove 537 into which a flange 505 is fitted at one end and a CE ring 503 is fitted at the other end, and the hinge shaft 505 is grooved. As shown in FIG. 8B viewed from the 537 side, key grooves 531 and 532 for preventing rotation with respect to the hinge lens plate 501 are provided on the groove 537 side. On the other hand, the hinge lens plate 501 is provided with key projections 534 and 535 corresponding to the key grooves 531 and 532 of the hinge shaft 500. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 11A, the hinge mechanism 405 is provided on the lower cover 401 and the upper cover 402 of the imaging unit 101 by first passing screws through the screw holes 511 of the hinge lens plate 501. It fixes to the fixing | fixed part 513 (FIG. 7). Similarly, the hinge body plate 502 is fixed to fixing portions (not shown) of the upper cover 307 and the lower cover 308 of the operation unit 102.
[0027]
Then, as shown in FIG. 98, a hinge marker 508 having a reflection pattern 509 in part is attached to the flange portion 505 of the hinge shaft 500, and the circular spring 504 and the hinge body plate 502 are passed through the hinge lens plate 501. The key grooves 531 and 532 of the hinge shaft 500 are inserted in alignment with the key protrusions 534 and 535 provided on the head. Then, a CE ring is fitted into a groove 537 provided in the hinge shaft 500 on the lens system side of the hinge lens plate 501, and is fixed by preventing rotation and retaining on the hinge lens plate 501 side. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the photo reflector 510 is fixed on the sub-board 303 which is a position where the reflection pattern 509 on the hinge marker 508 can be detected.
[0028]
Among them, the circular spring 504 is provided with projections 511 and 512 for preventing rotation with respect to the hinge body plate 502 on the side of the hinge body plate 502 that receives the projections 511 and 512, as shown in FIG. The hinge body plate 502 and the circular spring 504 are rotated together with the holes 518 and 519. As shown in FIG. 10B, the circular spring 504 has click protrusions 506 and 507 at two tops, and the flange 505 of the hinge shaft 500 has an appropriate shape as shown in FIG. 10A). Recesses 514 to 517 are provided at angular positions so that protrusions 506 and 507 provided on the circular spring 504 can be engaged and positioned.
[0029]
By configuring the hinge mechanism 405 in this way, the imaging unit 101 and the operation unit 102 can be rotated by being given appropriate friction by the circular spring 504, and the circular spring 504 has a predetermined value as described above. When the projections 506 and 507 are provided to be engaged with the engagement recesses 514 to 517 provided on the flange 505 of the hinge shaft 500 when rotated to an angle, for example, a position rotated by 90 degrees, -90 It can be locked at a position optimal for photographing, such as a position rotated once. For example, when the imaging unit 101 is rotated by −90 degrees as shown in FIG. 3 for self-portrait, the photo reflector 510 detects the reflection pattern 509 of the hinge marker 508 shown in FIG. A signal is sent to a control unit of the electronic camera 100 (not shown), and it is determined that the display device 105 of the operation unit 102 and the photographing lens window 103 of the imaging unit 101 are in the same direction. In this case, the control unit (not shown) can display the image upside down when the image is displayed on the display device 105 in the same way as in normal shooting because the displayed image is upside down. Control as follows. Therefore, no matter how the image pickup unit 101 is rotated, it is possible to take a picture without a sense of incongruity.
[0030]
Further, when the projection 506 and 507 are removed from the recesses 514 to 517 provided in the flange 505 of the hinge shaft 500 by the rotation of the imaging unit 101 from the state shown in FIG. A crack may occur behind the protrusions 506 and 507 due to the pressing force of the flange 505. In order to prevent this, as shown in FIG. 11B, the circular spring 504 according to the present invention has a forging press or metal powder injection molding (MIM), die, behind the projections 506 and 507. Meat 520 was provided by casting or the like to prevent this. By doing so, it is possible to prevent an accident such that a crack occurs behind the protrusions 506 and 507 and no click occurs, or friction is reduced.
[0031]
Since the hinge shaft 500 is made hollow as is apparent from FIGS. 5 to 11, the signal line connecting the imaging unit 101 and the operation unit 102 can be passed therethrough as shown in FIG. And can be connected without using mechanical contacts.
[0032]
As described above, according to the present invention, the rotation of the imaging unit in the electronic camera can be detected with a simple and inexpensive configuration of the rotation angle detection pattern and the photoelectric element provided on the flange of the hinge shaft constituting the hinge mechanism. As a result, when both the taking lens and the display device are pointed towards you, it can be easily detected, and the photoelectric element can be installed at a certain distance, so that mechanical contacts and Wiring routing is not required, so that the assemblability can be improved, and disconnection of the signal line due to the rotation operation can be avoided. In addition, since it is not necessary to mount a switch on the hinge portion, the hinge mechanism can be miniaturized, and the electronic camera can be made compact.
[0033]
A click recess is provided at a predetermined angle on a flange provided on the hinge shaft in the hinge mechanism, and a click protrusion is provided on the circular spring, and the imaging is performed by the protrusion and the recess provided on the flange of the hinge shaft. By configuring so that the unit can be locked at each predetermined angle, the imaging unit can be locked at the predetermined angle with respect to the operation unit, and an electronic camera that is easier to shoot can be provided.
[0034]
Further, the circular spring is provided with reinforcing meat behind the click protrusion, so that when the click protrusion of the circular spring is released from the click recess provided on the flange by rotation, the circular spring is provided between the imaging unit and the operation unit. It is possible to prevent the click protrusion from being cracked by the pressing force.
[0035]
Furthermore, the hinge shaft is hollow, and a signal line connecting the imaging unit and the operation unit can be passed through the hollow part, so that the wiring can be performed without using a mechanical contact or the like.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the rotation of the image pickup unit in the electronic camera can be performed simply and inexpensively by using a rotation angle detection pattern provided on the flange of the hinge shaft constituting the hinge mechanism and a photoelectric element. By making it possible to detect with the configuration, when both the photographic lens and the display device are pointed towards you, it can be easily detected, and the photoelectric element can be installed at some distance, so that it is like the conventional device In addition, mechanical contact and wiring routing are not required, so that the assemblability can be improved, and disconnection of the signal line due to the rotation operation can be avoided. In addition, since it is not necessary to mount a switch on the hinge portion, the hinge mechanism can be miniaturized, and the electronic camera can be made compact.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall view of an embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a shooting state in which the lens of the electronic camera according to the present invention is directed toward the subject.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a photographing state in which the lens of the electronic camera according to the present invention is directed toward the camera operator (self).
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a hold state of the camera when shooting with the lens of the electronic camera according to the present invention directed toward the subject.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of only a hinge mechanism that couples an imaging unit 101 and an operation unit 102 of an electronic camera 100 according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling unit by incorporating a hinge mechanism into the imaging unit 101 and removing the upper cover 307 and internal components from the operation unit 102;
7 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge mechanism shown in FIG. 5. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a mechanism for fixing a hinge shaft 500 constituting a hinge to a hinge lens plate 501;
9 is a front view of a hinge marker 508. FIG.
10A is a view of a depression for click provided on a flange 505 of the hinge shaft 500, and FIG. 10B is a view showing a protrusion provided on a circular spring 504. FIG.
11 is a view showing a part of the hinge mechanism 405 incorporated in the lower cover 402 of the imaging unit 101 and the lower cover 308 of the operation unit 102 in cross section. FIG.
12 is a diagram showing a state when the signal line connecting the imaging unit 101 and the operation unit 102 is passed through a hollow hinge mechanism. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
402 Upper cover 500 Hinge shaft 501 Hinge lens plate 502 Hinge body plate 503 CE ring 504 Circular spring 505 Flange 506, 507 Circular spring protrusion 508 Hinge marker 509 Reflective pattern 510 Photo reflector 511, 512 Anti-rotation protrusion 531 Keyway 534, 535 Key convex 537 Groove

Claims (4)

An electronic device comprising an operation unit having a display device and an image pickup unit which is connected to the operation unit so as to be rotatable by a hinge mechanism so that a photographed image can be sent to the display device for display. In the camera
The hinge mechanism is fixed to the image pickup unit side hinge plate fixed to the image pickup unit, a hinge shaft fixed to the image pickup unit side hinge plate and having a flange on which a rotation angle detection pattern is arranged, and fixed to the operation unit. An operating portion side hinge plate that holds the hinge shaft at a flange portion so that the hinge shaft can be rotatably held, an elastic member interposed between the flange and the operating portion side hinge plate, and a rotation provided on the flange. A photoelectric element that detects a rotation angle of the imaging unit with respect to the operation unit by a moving angle detection pattern, and the photoelectric element can detect a relative rotation angle between the imaging unit and the operation unit. An electronic camera characterized by that. A click recess is provided at a predetermined angle on a flange provided on the hinge shaft in the hinge mechanism, a circular spring is used as the elastic member, a click protrusion is provided on the spring, and the protrusion and the flange of the hinge shaft are provided. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is configured to be able to be locked at every predetermined angle by a provided recess. The electronic camera according to claim 2, wherein the circular spring is provided with reinforcing meat behind the click protrusion. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the hinge shaft is hollow, and a signal line connecting the imaging unit and the operation unit can be passed through the hollow portion.

Images