JP2005318362A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device capable of securing a space for arranging components, such as a sensor to be used for performing the functions of a camera fully, and securing the space at an appropriate position, while reducing the size of the imaging device. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging device is provided with an optical system 12, composed of a lens for letting light from an object pass through, an imaging element which receives light having passed through the optical system 12 and photographs images of the object, a monitor display unit 16 which is arranged on the back surface of a box 10a and displays an image signal from the imaging element, a finder apparatus 18 which is arranged on the back surface of the box 10a on a side above the display unit 16 and displays an image signal from the imaging device, and a sensor 20 for detecting a photographing environment for an object. Along with arranging the finder apparatus 18 on the side above the optical system 12, the sensor 20 is arranged on the upper side of the front surface 10a of the box 10a in the rear of the finder apparatus 18. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus such as a digital camera having a viewfinder device used for visually recognizing an image of a subject to be photographed.

As a conventional imaging device having such a finder device, for example, there is a device described in Patent Document 1 below. In this conventional imaging apparatus, a sensor having a second function is provided on the slope of the roof of the pentaprism separately from the sensor having the first function provided on the upper rear surface of the pentaprism, thereby providing an upper surface of the pentaprism. The height of the side cover is suppressed and the camera is prevented from becoming large.
JP 2003-084337 A

  As another conventional imaging device, in an electronic camera equipped with an audio input microphone for acquiring audio information, the moving lens frame of the photographing lens is moved while the microphone is arranged inside the camera housing. Reduces the input of mechanical noise such as drive sound and noise from the microphone, and records high-quality audio information, so that the microphone is placed in a position that protrudes greatly outside the camera housing Some cameras try to prevent the camera from becoming larger and the microphone from interfering with camera operation.

  As another conventional imaging device, a liquid crystal finder is used, and the thickness of the imaging device itself is set to be substantially equal to the entire length of the liquid crystal finder device, above the optical lens of the imaging device and on the left side of the imaging device. This liquid crystal finder device is placed on the top of the image pickup device, and a flash flash unit is placed on the upper side of the image pickup device and in front of the center. A microphone is placed near the rear of the image pickup device and adjacent to the liquid crystal viewfinder. There is what I did.

  However, in recent digital cameras, the downsizing of the overall size of the camera has been promoted due to the progress of downsizing of the image sensor, but on the other hand, the functions of the camera have increased. It is coming. For this reason, it has become difficult to secure a space for arranging components such as a sensor or a microphone used to satisfy such a function in the camera.

  Furthermore, unless the position where these components such as sensors are arranged is not appropriate, the function can often not be satisfied. For example, when the photographer holds the camera, if the photographer's finger unconsciously rests on the light control sensor window, the camera performs the light control function by covering the light control sensor window. Will not be able to. In addition, as in the above example, when a microphone is disposed in the vicinity of the rear of the imaging device from the flash unit, there is a problem that noise during flashing of the flash unit and noise associated with quick charging are picked up by the microphone. .

  Therefore, the present invention can secure a space for arranging parts such as a sensor used to satisfy the functions of the camera while reducing the size of the imaging device, and can secure the space at an appropriate position. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging device.

In order to solve the above problems, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention provides:
An optical system composed of a lens that passes light from the subject;
An image sensor that captures an image of a subject by receiving light through the optical system;
A monitor display unit disposed on the rear surface of the housing for displaying an image signal from the image sensor;
A viewfinder device disposed on the rear side of the housing for displaying an image signal from the image sensor and above the monitor display unit;
A sensor for detecting the shooting environment of the subject,
The finder device is arranged above the optical system, and the sensor is arranged on the upper front side of the housing behind the finder device.

  According to such an image pickup apparatus, it is possible to secure a space for arranging parts such as a sensor used for satisfying the function of the camera while reducing the size and secure the space at an appropriate position. Can do.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 are diagrams referred to for describing an embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention, and show a digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment.

  In the figure, on the front side of the digital camera 10, an optical system 12 composed of a lens that transmits light from a subject is provided, and in the central portion in the left-right direction on the upper side of the housing 10a of the digital camera 10, A flash device 14 (flash unit) is provided.

  An imaging element (not shown) that captures an image of a subject by receiving light that has passed through the optical system 12 is provided in the housing 10a of the digital camera 10, and the rear surface side of the housing 10a includes the above-described image sensor. A monitor display unit 16 composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) used for displaying an image corresponding to an image signal from the image sensor is provided.

  In addition, a finder device 18 used for viewing in advance before taking an image of the subject is provided at a position above the optical system 12 of the housing 10a of the digital camera 10 and adjacent to the flash device 14. Yes. The viewfinder device 18 has a viewing window 18 a provided on the back side of the digital camera 10, and the viewing window 18 a is disposed above the monitor display unit 16.

  Further, the finder device 18 has an LCD for displaying an image corresponding to the image signal from the image pickup device, and when looking through the viewing window 18a, the subject image displayed on the LCD is visually recognized before photographing. Can be done. For this reason, the image of the subject can be visually recognized without causing the monitor display unit 16 to display an image corresponding to the image signal from the image sensor.

  FIG. 5 is a view showing a state inside the housing 10 a of the digital camera 10. When not in use, the flash device 14 shown in the figure is fallen down and stored in the lower case as shown in the figure. When used, the flash device 14 gets up and flashes the subject as shown in other figures. It can be irradiated.

  On the rear side of the finder device 18 (front side of the digital camera 10), a substrate 32 arranged substantially parallel to the front surface of the housing is erected, and a control circuit for controlling the exposure mechanism is provided above the substrate 32. A light control sensor 20 for inputting a detection signal to a (not shown) and a microphone 22 for recording sounds around the subject to be photographed are provided.

  When the housing 10a is provided around the digital camera 10 in such a state, the state shown in FIG. 4 is obtained, and the rear portion 18b of the finder device 18 is formed to protrude from the front surface 10b of the housing 10a toward the subject (see FIG. 4). 2), the light control sensor 20 and the tip of the microphone 22 face the rear portion 18b of the finder device 18 so that their functions can be exhibited.

  According to such an embodiment of the present invention, since the light control sensor 20 and the microphone 22 are provided in the rear portion 18b of the finder device 18, that is, the empty space on the front side of the digital camera 10, the size of the digital camera 10 is reduced. Thus, a space for arranging the light control sensor 20 and the microphone 22 used for satisfying the function of the camera can be secured. Further, since the flash device 14 and the microphone 22 can be arranged apart from each other, it is possible to prevent noise from being input to the microphone 22 during a flash operation or the like.

  And since the position of the light control sensor 20 and the microphone 22 is the rear part 18b of the finder device 18, human psychology not to place an obstacle such as a finger on the extension of the line of sight works. Since there is little possibility of closing 22 with a finger | toe, the space which arranges them can be ensured in an appropriate position.

  Further, since the rear portion 18b of the finder device 18 is formed so as to protrude toward the subject from the front surface 10b of the housing 10a, the light control sensor 20 and the finder device 18 can be used even when shooting without looking into the sight glass 18a of the finder device 18. It becomes difficult for a finger to rest on the microphone 22.

  In addition, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the light control sensor 20 and the microphone 22 are arranged on a surface slightly inclined above the protruding housing case, and below the protruding inclined surface, Since a flat surface that is retracted to the front as viewed from the operator is formed, even if the operator's finger or the like is mistakenly placed on the light control sensor 20 or the microphone 22, The step between the protruding inclined surface and the flat surface and the inclination of the inclined surface itself can be easily perceived, and the fingertip can be removed.

  In this case, it goes without saying that the arrangement surface of the light control sensor 20 and the microphone 22 may be formed flat without being inclined, and even in this case, the fingertip can be removed by perceiving the level difference of the surface. it can.

  Needless to say, the same effect can be obtained even if the surface shape of the flat surface is different from the arrangement surface of the light control sensor 20 or the microphone 22 or the surface processing is different.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the light control sensor 20 and the microphone 22 are provided in the rear portion 18b (front surface portion of the digital camera 10) from which the finder device 18 protrudes has been described. However, as another embodiment, the finder The apparatus 18 may be provided with a rear portion that does not protrude rearward (frontward of the digital camera), and components such as sensors may be provided behind the rear portion.

1 is a front view showing a digital camera 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of the digital camera 10 in FIG. It is a rear view of the digital camera 10 in FIG. It is a perspective view of the digital camera 10 in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state before attaching the housing | casing 10a of the digital camera 10 in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 10a Case 10b Front surface 12 Optical system 14 Flash device 16 Monitor display part 18 Finder apparatus 18a Viewing window 18b Rear part 20 Light control sensor 22 Microphone

Claims (5)

An optical system composed of a lens that passes light from the subject;
An image sensor that captures an image of a subject by receiving light through the optical system;
A monitor display unit disposed on the rear surface of the housing for displaying an image signal from the image sensor;
A finder device disposed on the rear side of the housing for displaying an image signal from the image sensor and above the monitor display unit;
A sensor for detecting the shooting environment of the subject,
An image pickup apparatus, wherein the finder device is disposed above the optical system, and the sensor is disposed on the upper front side of the housing behind the finder device. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part where the sensor is arranged at the rear of the finder apparatus has a protrusion formed to protrude from the front surface of the housing toward the subject. It has a flash part arranged at the approximate center position in the left-right direction at the top of the housing,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the finder device is disposed at a position adjacent to the flash unit, and the sensor is disposed at a position adjacent to the flash unit. Provided with a substrate disposed substantially parallel to the front of the housing in the housing behind the viewfinder device,
The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is disposed on the substrate. Equipped with a microphone to collect audio,
5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microphone is disposed at a position adjacent to the sensor on the upper front side of the housing behind the finder apparatus.

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