JP2006060583A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera which can directly confirm a photographed image on a viewing angle and is excellent in portability. <P>SOLUTION: This digital camera 10 is composed of a camera body 12 including image sensors 34 and 38 and a head mounting finder 14 attached to the head of a photographer. When the head mounting finder 14 is used, the head mounting finder 14 is attached to the head of the photographer so as to position a display part 20 of the head mounting finder 14 right in front of the eyes of the photographer 16. When the camera body 12 held by one hand of the photographer 16 is turned to an object to photograph the object, the image is displayed on the display part 20 of the head mounting finder 14. This enables the photographer to directly confirm the photographed image on a viewing angle. When the digital camera 10 is carried, the almost boat-shaped camera body 12 is housed and held in an almost elliptical opening 26 formed between both support frames 22 of the head mounting finder 14. Thus, the digital camera body and the head mounting finder 14 are united into a single body to improve the portability. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera, and particularly includes a camera body and a head-mounted display device (head mounted display), and displays an image captured by the camera body on a display unit of the head-mounted display device. It relates to digital cameras.

  The applicant of the present application has proposed a digital camera in Patent Document 1 in which images from an imaging start point to an imaging end point are connected to form a single image and displayed on a display unit.

In this digital camera, a donut-shaped grip portion gripped by a photographer is configured as a camera body, and a mount portion, which is a photographing head provided with a lens, is rotatably connected to the camera body. When using this digital camera, the photographer first holds the camera body, and sets the mount portion in the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, or an arbitrary direction and directs it toward the subject. Next, when you set the shooting mode by operating the buttons provided on the camera body, shooting starts, and the subject image is displayed on the light receiving surface of the image sensor built in the mount unit according to the movement of the photographer's arm. Images are continuously formed through the lens. The formed subject image is photoelectrically converted by the image sensor and sequentially output to the image processing unit. The image processing unit stitches the images continuously captured by performing image processing on the photoelectrically converted image signals, and the stitched images are displayed on the display unit provided in the grip unit.
JP 2003-134371 A

  The digital camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 eliminates the photographer's existing operation of holding the camera and looking through the fins to determine the composition, and moving the camera body so as to wipe away the space from the imaging start point to the imaging end point. It is a digital camera that captures images, and is a novel camera that enables free framing and image capture. However, this digital camera has a drawback that the display unit for confirming the photographed image is provided in the camera body that moves at the time of photographing, so that the image cannot be confirmed directly on the viewing angle. .

  Although it is conceivable to provide the camera body and the display unit separately, carrying them separately goes against the current trend of digital cameras with improved portability and causes loss.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera that can directly check a photographed image at a viewing angle and is excellent in portability.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a digital camera body incorporating an image sensor and an image display unit that is mounted on a photographer's head and displays an image captured by the digital camera body. A head-mounted display device, and the head-mounted display device includes a support frame portion that is mounted on the side of the photographer and includes a storage portion that stores the image display portion. And a holding portion for holding the digital camera body is formed on the support frame.

  The digital camera according to claim 1 comprises a digital camera body and a head-mounted display device, and is head-mounted so that the image display unit of the head-mounted display device is positioned in front of the photographer. A display device is attached to the photographer's head. When the digital camera body held by the photographer's hand is photographed toward the subject, the image is displayed on the image display unit of the head-mounted display device. Thereby, the photographed image can be directly confirmed on the viewing angle. When the digital camera is carried, the image display unit is stored in the support frame of the head-mounted display device and the image display unit is protected by the support frame, and then the digital camera body is mounted on the holding unit formed on the support frame. The digital camera body and the head-mounted display device are integrated by holding. Thereby, it becomes a digital camera excellent in portability. The holding portion formed on the support frame includes fitting holding by a shape such as a concave / convex portion and adsorption holding by a magnet. Further, when the display unit is protected in advance by a frame or casing, it is not necessary to store the display unit in the support frame.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the head-mounted display device includes a pair of the support frames formed in a substantially arc shape, and each of the pair of support frames. The image display unit connected to the front end of the image display unit, and a length between one support frame and the other support frame formed when the image display unit is stored in the pair of support frames The digital camera body formed in a substantially boat shape is housed and held in a round opening.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the pair of support frames are formed in an arc shape that matches the shape of the temporal region, and the digital camera body is formed in a substantially boat shape. It was stored and held in a substantially oval opening between the support frame and the other support frame. As a result, when the digital camera is carried, the digital camera main body and the head-mounted display device are integrated, and the digital camera main body is sandwiched between the pair of support frames. The digital camera body can be protected by a pair of support frames.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the digital camera is provided with a function of capturing a single image from the imaging start point to the imaging end point. Yes.

  In the digital camera according to claim 3, the digital camera body is moved diagonally to the left and right so as to wipe off the space or erase the blackboard so as to capture from the imaging start point to the imaging end point as a single image. Thus, free framing and image capture are possible.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, in the invention described in any one of claims 1, 2, or 3, the digital camera is provided with a video signal transmission unit, and the head-mounted display device Is characterized in that a video signal receiving unit is provided.

  The digital camera according to claim 4 can transmit an image captured by the digital camera body to the head-mounted display device by a wireless signal transmission method, so that the digital camera body can be freely moved without being obstructed by the signal transmission cable. Can be moved to.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, in the invention described in any one of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, the image display unit of the head-mounted display device is flexible. It is an electronic display.

  In the digital camera according to the fifth aspect, by applying a flexible electronic display, the image display unit can be easily stored along the shape of the support frame, and the storage property to the support frame is improved. As the electronic display, an organic EL display using an organic EL (electroluminescence) element can be adopted.

  As described above, the digital camera according to the present invention includes the digital camera body and the head-mounted display device, and the image display unit of the head-mounted display device is positioned in front of the photographer. When the head-mounted display device is attached to the photographer's head and the digital camera body held by the photographer's hand is pointed at the subject, the image is displayed on the image display section of the head-mounted display device. Therefore, the photographed image can be confirmed directly on the viewing angle. When the digital camera is carried, the image display unit is housed in the support frame of the head-mounted display device, and the digital camera body is held in the holding unit formed on the support frame. Since the display device is integrated, the digital camera is excellent in portability.

  A preferred embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a usage pattern of a digital camera 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. A digital camera 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a camera body (digital camera body) 12 and a head mount finder (head-mounted display device) 14. The camera body 12 has a casing 18 that is formed in a substantially boat shape so that the photographer 16 can easily handle the camera body 16 with one hand.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the head mount finder 14 has a display unit (image display unit) 20 that becomes the finder 14 when photographing with the camera body 12. The display unit 20 is a flexible electronic display. In the embodiment, an organic EL using an organic EL (electroluminescence) element that emits light by sandwiching a phosphor between planar electrodes and applying a strong electric field. A display is applied. Both ends of the display unit 20 are supported by the front end portions of the pair of support frames 22, 22 constituting the head mount finder 14, and space portions (not shown) formed inside the support frames 22, 22. The whole is stored in the figure. These support frames 22 and 22 are parts to be mounted on the temporal region of the photographer 16 as shown in FIG. 1, and are formed in an arc shape along the shape of the temporal region. Further, the rear end portions of the support frames 22 and 22 are connected by a flexible band member 24, and the band member 24 is formed inside the support frames 22 and 22 like the display unit 20. The whole is accommodated in a space (not shown).

  In FIG. 3, the display unit 20 and the band member 24 are accommodated in the support frames 22, 22, and a substantially boat-shaped camera is formed in a substantially elongated opening 26 between the support frames 22, 22 formed by the display unit 20. It is the figure which stored and hold | maintained the main body 12. FIG. The holding means of the camera body 12 with respect to the support frame 22 can be exemplified by a fitting holding means having a shape such as a concave / convex portion and a suction holding means using a magnet. Moreover, although the organic EL display was illustrated as the display part 20, a film liquid crystal display, an electronic ink display, etc. can be illustrated. At the time of use, the display unit 20 is positioned in front of the photographer 16 as shown in FIG. 1, so that an observation image can be obtained by adhering a film lens having an eyepiece function to the surface of the display unit 20. It is preferable for clear observation. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 19 denotes a finger hook concave portion formed on the side surface of the casing 18 of the camera body 12, and reference numeral 23 denotes an ear hook concave portion formed in the support frame 22 of the head mount finder 14. is there.

  A slit 30 is formed along the major axis of the oval front plate 28 of the camera body 12 shown in FIG. 4, and a transparent plate 32 for taking a subject image is fixed to the slit 30. An imaging system that captures a subject image taken in via the transparent plate 32 is disposed inside the transparent plate 32, that is, inside the camera body 12. This imaging system includes an image sensor 34 shown in FIG. 5 and an imaging lens (not shown) that forms an object image on the image sensor 34. Further, an imaging lens 36 is embedded in one end portion of the oval front plate 28 of FIG. 4, and the imaging position of the imaging lens 36, that is, the image of FIG. A sensor 38 is incorporated. The image sensor 38 may also be used as the image sensor 34.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the back plate 40 of the camera body 12 is provided with a release button 42 for a photographer to specify an imaging start point and an imaging end point, and a release button 44 for specifying an imaging range. Yes. A subject image is formed on the image sensor 34 by operating the release button 42, and a subject image is formed on the image sensor 38 by operating the release button 44. Although not shown, the casing 18 of the camera body has a cancel button that is designated when canceling a desired item from items displayed on the display unit 20 of the head mount finder 14, and a display unit 20. A menu button for specifying a desired item from the displayed items, and switching between various modes such as an imaging mode and a playback mode are set, and items displayed on the display unit 20 are moved. A cross button or the like is provided for use at the time. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the camera body 12 has a liquid crystal display unit 46 for displaying captured images and information related to processing and operation of the digital camera, and a removable recording medium 48 for recording information such as captured images. A battery 50 is provided as an operation power source of the camera body.

  Next, the signal processing system block diagram of the camera body 12 shown in FIG. 5 will be described in more detail.

  The image processing unit of the camera body 12 forms an image of a subject on a light receiving surface, photoelectrically converts it and outputs it as an image signal, image size change, sharpness correction, contour processing, contrast correction, etc. And an A / D converter 54 for converting an analog image signal into digital image data.

  The image sensors 34 and 38 may be an area sensor represented by a CCD capable of capturing a two-dimensional image, or may be a one-dimensional line sensor. By using a two-dimensional sensor for the image sensors 34 and 38, it becomes possible to perform more complicated processing in a subsequent circuit.

  The camera body 12 is provided with a transmission unit 56 that transmits the video signal processed by the image processing unit 52 on a carrier wave. An antenna (video signal transmission unit) 58 is provided when radio waves are used as a carrier wave, and an infrared irradiation unit is provided when infrared rays are used as a carrier wave. The video signal transmitted from the antenna 58 is received by the antenna (video signal receiving unit) 59 bonded to the support frame of the head mount finder 14 shown in FIG. 2, and the image is displayed on the display unit 20 of the head mount finder 14. Is done.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the camera body 12 includes a compression / decompression unit 60 that compresses or thins out information such as image data by a technique represented by JPEG or motion JPEG, or decompresses / decompresses compressed image data. A liquid crystal display unit 46 that displays a captured image, various characters, a message about operation of the digital camera 10 and the like and notifies the user, and performs white balance processing on the image data obtained by imaging A signal processing unit 61 that performs gamma conversion, YC conversion processing, pixel number conversion processing, electronic zoom processing, trimming processing, and the like.

  The camera body 12 includes an input unit 62 including a power switch and release buttons 42 and 44, a function switch, a cancel button, a menu button, a cross button, and the like, and input information input via the input unit 62 and I / O 64 that is an interface for inputting and outputting information for notification means such as an LED, and a recording medium on which the recording medium 48 is detachably mounted and information such as image data is recorded on and read from the recording medium 48 A mounting portion 66 is provided. The recording medium 48 is a detachable recording medium typified by a semiconductor such as a memory card, a magnetic recording type typified by MO, etc., and an optical recording type.

  Further, the camera body 12 controls the entire digital camera 10 and controls sampling timing of image data, analysis processing of information obtained from the rate sensor 68 and the transmission unit 56, image data combining processing, and image data extraction processing. An information processing unit 70 is provided for performing control such as image data composition processing, image data pattern matching processing, image data recording control, image data graphic recognition, image recording control, and display control.

  Furthermore, the camera body 12 includes a non-volatile memory 72 that can continuously store the operation program, constants, and other various information of the digital camera 10 even after the power is turned off, and a high-speed that serves as a work area when the program is executed. A RAM 74 which is a readable / writable storage means is provided.

  Further, the camera body 12 is provided with a calendar clock 76 capable of clocking time and outputting information related to the time to the information processing unit 70, and a power source 50 for supplying various electric powers for driving the digital camera. Yes. As shown in the figure, the information processing unit 70 and its peripheral devices are connected by a bus 78 and can transmit information to each other at high speed, and the processing program executed by the information processing unit 70 can be used. Based on this, it is possible to control peripheral devices.

  Note that the image sensors 34 and 38 are based on instructions from the information processing unit 70 at each time (for example, every 0.1 second) and for each movement position of the camera body 12 (for example, every 0.1 mm, every 0.1 rad). It is possible to take a plurality of images.

  Further, the information processing unit 70 can extract a part in the vertical direction or a part in the horizontal direction from the captured image. Furthermore, the information processing unit 70 can generate a new image by connecting a part of the extracted images at each time or each movement position of the camera body 12. Furthermore, the information processing unit 70 may connect a part of the extracted image for each time or each moving position of the camera body 12 at equal intervals with respect to time or the position information of the digital camera. However, it may be intentionally connected at unequal intervals based on the photographer's instruction.

  In addition, when the information processing unit 70 joins the images, the plurality of images may be accurately combined, or a horizontally enlarged image may be generated and joined. You may make it join the image shrunk | reduced in the horizontal direction. Further, the images may be joined by being enlarged or reduced in the vertical direction.

  In this way, by intentionally enlarging or reducing the stitched images in the vertical or horizontal direction and stitching them together, it is possible to obtain an image with a unique flow or distortion. In addition, when the photographer changes the way the camera body 12 is moved at the time of imaging, it is possible to acquire a greatly different image even if the same scene is imaged.

  Further, the photographer changes the setting of the enlargement ratio or reduction ratio of the image when the image composition unit composes the image by operating the input unit 62, thereby creating a plurality of images having different atmospheres after imaging. It becomes possible. Note that the processing of these image composition units may be changed before imaging, or may be changed after imaging. Furthermore, when the information processing unit 70 joins images, the image sensors 34 and 38 perform a plurality of image pattern matching, and a part of the image in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction based on the matched part. May be extracted, and the extracted images may be connected to generate a single image. By performing pattern matching in this way, it is possible to perform image stitching processing without information on the movement rate or movement position.

  According to the digital camera 10 configured as described above, the camera body 12 including the image sensors 34 and 38 and the head mount finder 14 attached to the head of the photographer are configured. The head mount finder 14 is mounted on the photographer's head so that the display unit 20 is positioned in front of the photographer 16. When the camera body 12 held with one hand of the photographer 17 is photographed toward the subject, the image is displayed on the display unit 20 of the head mount finder 14.

  Thereby, according to the digital camera 10, the photographed image can be directly confirmed on the viewing angle. When the digital camera 10 is carried, the substantially boat-shaped camera body 12 is housed and held in the substantially elongated opening 26 formed between the support frames 22 and 22 of the head mount finder 14 as shown in FIG. . Thereby, since the digital camera body and the head mount finder 14 are integrated with each other when the digital camera 10 is carried, the portability is improved as compared with a separate digital camera. Further, since the camera body 12 is sandwiched between the pair of support frames 22, 22, the camera body 12 at the time of configuration can be protected by the pair of support frames 22, 22.

  Furthermore, according to the digital camera 10 of the embodiment, the photographer 16 depresses the release button 42 to designate the imaging start point, and wipes the space as indicated by the two-dot chain line A arrow in FIG. Alternatively, the camera body 12 is moved obliquely left and right so as to erase the blackboard, and thereafter, the imaging end point is instructed to capture the image from the imaging start point to the imaging end point as a single image, and the display unit 20 Can be displayed. Further, the photographer 16 depresses the release button 44 to designate an imaging start point, moves the camera body 12 so as to draw an arc, and then instructs the imaging end point to start imaging from the imaging start point. A subject in a range surrounded by the end point can be captured as a single image and displayed on the display unit 20. This allows free framing and image capture.

  In addition, the digital camera 10 is configured to transmit an image captured by the camera body 12 to the head mount finder 14 side by a signal transmission method using a carrier wave such as radio waves or infrared rays. It can be moved freely without being disturbed by the cable.

  Further, according to the digital camera 10, since a flexible electronic display such as an organic EL display is applied as the display unit 20, the storage property of the display unit 20 with respect to the support frame 22 is improved.

  FIG. 7 is a top view showing an example in which the camera body 12 is attached to the head mount finder 114 of another embodiment for holding, and FIG. 8 is a state in which the camera body 12 is held by the head mount finder 114. FIG.

  The head mount finder 114 shown in these drawings includes a display unit 120, a single support frame 122, a holder member 124, and the like. The support frame 122 is a portion that is attached to the temporal region of the photographer, and the display unit 120 is fixed to the bent portion 123 at the front end thereof. The display unit 120 may be a flexible display unit such as an organic EL display or a liquid crystal display unit. The holder member 124 is a portion to be attached to the back of the photographer, and is formed in a semicircular shape so as to hold the entire back of the head. The holder member 124 is made of a flexible material and can be stored in the support frame 122. Furthermore, the front end portion 125 of the holder member 124 is foldably connected to the holder member 124 via a hinge portion 126 and a toggle spring (not shown).

  When the camera body 12 is held on the head mount finder 114, first, the camera body 12 is held on one support frame 122 by holding means such as a magnet as shown in FIG. Next, after the holder member 124 is housed in the support frame 122, the distal end portion 125 is folded as shown in FIG. 8 with the hinge portion 126 as a fulcrum, and the distal end portion 125 is pressed against the camera body 12 by a biasing force of a toggle spring (not shown). . As a result, the end of the camera body 12 is pinched and held between the tip portion 125 and the support frame 122, so that the camera body 12 is securely held by the head mount finder 114. That is, according to the examples of FIGS. 7 and 8, even the head mount finder 114 having one support frame 122 can hold the camera body 12. In addition, the camera body 12 is held on the support frame 122 without storing the display unit 120 in the support frame 122.

  Although the above is described as an example of a digital camera, the same effect can be obtained even with a device with a built-in photographing function such as a mobile phone or a PDA.

Explanatory drawing which showed an example of the usage pattern of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment 1 is a perspective view of the digital camera shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows the state in which the digital camera main body was accommodated in the head mount finder in the digital camera shown in FIG. Front view of the digital camera body shown in FIG. Block diagram showing the control system of the digital camera body shown in FIG. Rear view of the digital camera body shown in FIG. The top view which showed the state by which the digital camera main body is hold | maintained by the head mount finder of other embodiment The top view which showed the state in which the digital camera main body was hold | maintained by the head mount finder shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera, 12 ... Camera body, 14, 114 ... Head mount finder, 18 ... Casing, 20, 120 ... Display part, 22, 122 ... Support frame, 24 ... Band member, 26 ... Opening part, 32 ... Transparent plate 34, 38 ... Image sensor, 42, 44 ... Release button

Claims (5)

A digital camera body having a built-in image sensor; and a head-mounted display device that is mounted on a photographer's head and provided with an image display unit that displays an image captured by the digital camera body. ,
The head-mounted display device includes a support frame unit that is mounted on the side of the photographer and that includes a storage unit that stores the image display unit, and holds the digital camera body on the support frame. A digital camera having a holding portion. The head-mounted display device has a pair of the support frames formed in a substantially arc shape, and the image display unit connected to the front end of each of the pair of support frames,
The digital formed in a substantially boat shape in a substantially oval opening between one support frame and the other support frame formed when the image display unit is stored in the pair of support frames. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera body is stored and held.   The digital camera according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the digital camera is a digital camera having a function of capturing an image from an imaging start point to an imaging end point as a single image.   4. The video camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera is provided with a video signal transmitter, and the head-mounted display device is provided with a video signal receiver. The digital camera described.   The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the image display unit of the head-mounted display device is a flexible electronic display.

Images