JP2006180286A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus which enables visual confirmation of a picked-up image from multiple directions, without providing a flap display panel which opens, closes and rotates. <P>SOLUTION: On the front 1a side and on the rear 1b side of a housing body 1 in the shape of an approximately rectangular parallelepiped holding a finder display panel 3 for displaying picked-up images, a front-side window 10 and a rear side window 11 are provided for a finder respectively. A prism 5 for selectively changing the travelling direction of the light of an image displayed on the display panel 3 to either the window 10 direction or the window 11 direction, is provided rotatably. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus including a finder that displays a captured image.

  A conventional imaging apparatus includes a finder window on the rear side of a housing that houses a finder display panel that displays a captured image, and a lens on the front side. Further, the container is provided with a flap display panel for displaying a captured image so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the opening / closing axis of the flap display panel.

In the imaging apparatus configured as described above, the captured image can be visually recognized using either the finder display panel or the flap display panel. Further, by rotating the flap display panel with respect to the container, the user of the imaging apparatus can visually recognize the image displayed on the flap display panel from the back side and the front side.
JP 2000-236454 A

  However, in the conventional imaging device, it is necessary to include a rotation mechanism that pivotally supports the flap display panel so as to be openable and closable with respect to the container, and therefore, compared with an imaging device that does not include the rotation mechanism. There is a problem that the structure of the imaging device is complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by providing the container with a plurality of windows that emit light from the finder display panel, the captured image can be viewed from a plurality of directions, and the flap is also provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging apparatus having a simple structure as compared with an imaging apparatus including a rotation mechanism that pivotally supports a display panel so that the display panel can be opened and closed and rotated.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can visually recognize a captured image from the front side by configuring one of the windows to face the front side.

  Furthermore, the configuration is such that the traveling direction of the light of the image displayed on the finder display panel is switched by a plane mirror or prism that is rotatably supported with respect to the container, so that the captured image can be viewed visually. Another object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device capable of selecting a window with a simple structure.

  Furthermore, by configuring the captured image to be mirror-inverted and displayed on the finder display panel, it can be used even when the light of the displayed image is reflected by a plane mirror or prism and emitted to the window. Another object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device that allows a person to visually recognize an image that has not been mirror-inverted.

  Furthermore, by providing a display unit for displaying a captured image in the container, an imaging apparatus capable of simultaneously viewing the captured image from a plurality of directions using a finder display panel and a display unit is provided. The purpose.

  Furthermore, it has a magnifying lens that enlarges the image displayed on the finder display panel, and includes a lid that selectively covers the imaging lens or window, thereby enlarging the image displayed on the finder display panel, Another object is to provide an imaging device capable of protecting a lens.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes: a finder display panel that displays an image captured by an imaging unit; and a window unit that emits light of the image displayed on the finder display panel to the outside. And a switching means for selectively switching the light traveling direction of the image displayed on the finder display panel to any one of the plurality of window portions.

  In the present invention, the image picked up by the image pickup means is displayed on the finder display panel. The switching means selectively switches the light traveling direction of the image displayed on the finder display panel to one of a plurality of window portions. The light of the image whose traveling direction is switched is emitted from the window portion to the outside.

  The imaging apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that one of the window portions is configured to face an imaging direction by the imaging means.

  In the present invention, since one of the window portions faces the image pickup direction of the image pickup means, the light of the image displayed on the finder display panel is emitted from the window portion toward the image pickup direction. That is, the light of the image is emitted in the direction of the imaging target.

  The imaging apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that the switching means is a plane mirror or a prism that is rotatably supported.

  In the present invention, the plane mirror or the prism reflects the light of the image displayed on the finder display panel in the direction of one window portion. When the plane mirror or prism is rotated, the traveling direction of the light of the image reflected by the plane mirror or prism is switched to the direction of the other window.

  The image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is characterized by comprising means for mirror-inverting an image picked up by the image pickup means and displaying the image on the viewfinder display panel.

  In the present invention, the image picked up by the image pickup means is mirror-inverted and displayed on the finder display panel. Therefore, even when the light of the image displayed on the finder display panel is reflected by a plane mirror or prism, the image displayed after mirror image inversion is further mirror-inverted. Light is emitted to the outside.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes: a container that houses the finder display panel; and a display unit that is disposed in the container and displays an image captured by the imaging unit.

  In the present invention, each of the display unit and the finder display panel arranged in the container displays an image captured by the imaging unit.

  In the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, the imaging means includes a lens, and includes a lid that selectively covers the lens or one of the windows, and the lid is displayed on the finder display panel. And a magnifying lens for enlarging the image.

  In the present invention, the lid part selectively covers the lens or the window part of the imaging means. When the lid portion covers the lens, the lens of the imaging unit is protected by the lid portion. When the lid covers the window, the image displayed on the finder display panel is magnified by the magnifying lens of the lid.

  According to the present invention, an image pickup apparatus having a simpler structure than an image pickup apparatus capable of visually recognizing a picked-up image from a plurality of directions and having a rotation mechanism that pivotally supports the flap display panel so as to open and close and rotate freely. Can be configured. Further, since the flap display panel and the rotation mechanism are not provided, the appearance of the imaging device is further simplified. Furthermore, the captured image can be viewed from a plurality of directions without opening the flap display panel that may interfere with the imaging.

  According to the present invention, the image captured by the imaging unit can be viewed from the front side.

  According to the present invention, an imaging device that can select a window for visually recognizing a captured image is easier than an imaging device that includes a rotation mechanism that pivotally supports a flap display panel so that the flap display panel can be opened and closed. Can be configured.

  According to the present invention, even when light of an image displayed on a finder display panel is reflected by a plane mirror or a prism and is emitted to a window portion, a user can visually recognize an image that is not mirror-inverted. .

  According to the present invention, captured images can be simultaneously viewed from a plurality of directions using a finder display panel and a display unit.

  According to the present invention, the image displayed on the finder display panel can be magnified by the magnifying lens provided in the lid, and the lens can be protected by the lid.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.
(Embodiment 1)
1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the imaging apparatus, FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view of the imaging apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the imaging apparatus. FIG. In the figure, 1 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped container, and an imaging means 2 is provided at a substantially central portion of the front surface 1a of the container 1.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the imaging means 2 has a lens 2a that condenses light from the imaging target, and an imaging element 2b that photoelectrically converts an image focused and formed by the lens 2a into an analog imaging signal. is doing. The image pickup device 2b uses, for example, a CCD with an aspect ratio of 4/3, and outputs a photoelectrically converted image pickup signal to the signal processing unit 80.

  The signal processing unit 80 performs AD conversion of the analog imaging signal output from the imaging device 2 b into digital image data, and outputs the AD converted image data to the image processing unit 82. The output of the imaging signal and the AD conversion of the imaging signal are controlled by a control unit 81 using a microcomputer.

  The image processing unit 82 is provided with an image processing memory 83, and the image processing unit 82 performs image processing such as mirror image inversion and upside down on the image data output from the signal processing unit 80. . The image processing unit 82 converts the image processed image data into display image data and outputs the image data to the finder display panel 3 and the display unit 4. The image processing unit 82 outputs the image data to the compression / decompression unit 84.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 4 is a liquid crystal panel having an aspect ratio of 4/3, which is disposed on the back surface 1 b side of the container 1.

  The finder display panel 3 includes a liquid crystal panel having an aspect ratio of 4/3, which has a display area smaller than that of the display unit 4, and is based on image data output from the image processing unit 82. 2 is displayed. The finder display panel 3 is substantially parallel to the lower surface 1d of the container 1, and the display surface faces upward so that the long side is substantially perpendicular to both side surfaces 1e and 1f of the container 1. It is arranged closer. In addition, the image displayed on the finder display panel 3 is displayed so that the upper side of the imaging target is directed toward the back surface 1b of the container 1.

  The light of the image displayed on the finder display panel 3 is emitted to the prism 5 disposed above the container 1. The prism 5 is a reflecting prism such as a right-angle prism, and has a substantially rectangular reflecting surface 5 a that reflects light of an image displayed on the finder display panel 3.

  The container 1 includes a support portion 71 that rotatably supports the prism 5 around a rotation shaft 70 that is substantially parallel to the long side of the reflection surface 5a and the back surface 1b of the storage body 1. The prism 5 is locked so that the reflection direction of the light of the image displayed on the finder display panel 3, that is, the light emitted from the finder display panel 3, is in the range from the front 1a side to the back 1b side of the container 1. And a plate-like restricting portion 71a for restricting the rotation range. As shown in FIG. 1A, when the reflecting surface 5a of the prism 5 comes into contact with one end of the restricting portion 71a, the light emitted from the finder display panel 3 enters the reflecting surface 5a at an incident angle of about 45 degrees. The incident light is reflected in the direction of the front surface 1 a of the container 1. As shown in FIG. 1B, when the reflecting surface 5a of the prism 5 is in contact with the other end of the restricting portion 71a, the light emitted from the finder display panel 3 reflects the reflecting surface 5a at an incident angle of about 45 degrees. The incident light is reflected in the direction of the back surface 1b of the container 1.

  The container 1 includes a motor 6, for example, a stepping motor, that rotates the rotation shaft 70 and rotates the prism 5 around the rotation shaft 70. The rotation angle and rotation direction of the motor 6 are controlled by a control unit 81. It is comprised so that it may be controlled by.

  The container 1 receives the light reflected by the reflecting surface 5a of the prism 5 on the upper right portion on the front surface 1a side in a plan view as shown in FIG. 2 and on the upper left portion on the back surface 1b side as shown in FIG. A substantially rectangular front-side window portion 10 and a rear-side window portion 11 that are transmitted and emitted to the outside are provided.

  The compression / decompression unit 84 shown in FIG. 4 compresses the image data output from the image processing unit 82 by a compression / decompression method such as JPEG, Motion JPEG, MPEG2, etc., and outputs the compressed image data to the recording / reproducing unit 85. The recording / reproducing unit 85 records the image data output from the compression / decompression unit 84 on a recording medium 86 such as a semiconductor memory, a DVD, or a hard disk.

  Further, the container 1 has a power switch 87a and a switching button 87c arranged in parallel with the upper portion of the display unit 4 on the back surface 1b in a plan view as shown in FIG. 87b is provided. The control unit 81 detects the operation states of the power switch 87a, the imaging button 87b, and the switching button 87c.

  FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are flowcharts illustrating the processing procedure of the control unit 81 regarding imaging and display of the captured image. When the power switch 87a is turned on, the control unit 81 sets 0 to the reflection flag F (step S1). The reflection flag F indicates the direction in which the light emitted from the finder display panel 3 is reflected by the prism 5.

  Next, the control unit 81 detects the operation state of the switching button 87c and determines whether or not the switching button 87c has been operated (step S2). When it is determined that the switching button 87c has been operated (step S2: YES), the control unit 81 determines whether or not the reflection flag F is 0 (step S3).

  When it is determined that the reflection flag F is 0 (step S3: YES), the control unit 81 rotates the motor 6 approximately 90 degrees counterclockwise in the plan view of FIG. 1 (step S4). 1 is set (step S5). By the process of step S4, the prism 5 is rotated approximately 90 degrees counterclockwise, and the reflection surface 5a faces the front side window portion 10.

  When it is determined that the reflection flag F is not 0 (step S3: NO), the controller 81 rotates the motor 6 approximately 90 degrees clockwise in a plan view of FIG. 1 (step S6), and sets the reflection flag F to 0. Set (step S7). By the processing in step S6, the prism 5 is rotated approximately 90 degrees clockwise, and the reflection surface 5a faces the direction of the back side window portion 11.

  When the process of step S5 or step S7 is completed, or when it is determined in step S2 that the switching button 87c has not been operated (step S2: NO), the control unit 81 AD-converts the imaging signal to the signal processing unit 80. (Step S8).

  Next, the control unit 81 converts the AD-converted image data into display image data and outputs it to the display unit 4 (step S9).

  When the process of step S9 is completed, the control unit 81 causes the image processing unit 82 to mirror-invert the image of the image data (step S10). Next, the control unit 81 determines whether or not the reflection flag F is 1 (step S11). When it is determined that the reflection flag F is 1 (step S11: YES), the control unit 81 causes the image processing unit 82 to invert the mirrored image upside down (step S12).

  When the process of step S12 is completed, or when it is determined in step S11 that the reflection flag F is not 1 (step S11: NO), the control unit 81 converts the image processed image data into display image data. Is output to the finder display panel 3 (step S13).

  When the process of step S13 is completed, the control unit 81 detects the operation state of the imaging button 87b and determines whether or not the imaging button 87b has been operated (step S14). When it is determined that the image pickup button 87b has been operated (step S14: YES), the control unit 81 causes the compression / decompression unit 84 to compress the AD-converted image data using a predetermined compression / decompression method, and the recording / playback unit 85 compresses the image data. The processed image data is stored in the recording medium 86 (step S15).

  When the process of step S15 is completed, or when it is determined in step S14 that the imaging button 87b is not operated (step S14: NO), the control unit 81 detects the operation state of the power switch 87a, and the power switch 87a. It is determined whether or not is in an on state (step S16).

  When it determines with the power switch 87a being in the ON state (step S16: YES), the control part 81 returns a process to step S2. When it determines with the power switch 87a not being in an ON state (step S16: NO), the control part 81 determines whether the reflection flag F is 1 (step S17).

  When it is determined that the reflection flag F is 1 (step S17: YES), the control unit 81 rotates the motor 6 approximately 90 degrees clockwise in a plan view of FIG. 1 (step S18). By the processing in step S18, the prism 5 is rotated approximately 90 degrees clockwise, and the reflection surface 5a faces the direction of the back side window portion 11. When the process of step S18 is completed, or when it is determined in step S17 that the reflection flag F is not 1 (step S17: NO), the control unit 81 ends the process.

  In the imaging apparatus configured as described above, the captured image can be viewed from the front 1a side and the back surface 1b side, and further includes a rotation mechanism that pivotally supports the flap display panel so that the flap display panel can be opened and closed. The structure can be simplified as compared with the imaging device.

  Further, since the flap display panel and the rotation mechanism are not provided, the appearance of the image pickup apparatus becomes simpler than that of the image pickup apparatus including the rotation mechanism.

  Furthermore, the captured image can be viewed from the front 1a side and the back surface 1b side without opening the flap display panel that may interfere with the imaging.

  Furthermore, the imaging device capable of visually recognizing the captured image from the front 1a side and the back surface 1b side is lower in cost than an imaging device having a display unit on each of the front 1a side and the back surface 1b side of the container 1. Can be manufactured.

  Furthermore, since the captured image is mirror-inverted and displayed on the finder display panel 3 by the processing in step S10, the user of the imaging device visually recognizes the image that is reflected by the prism 5 and is not mirror-inverted. Can do.

  In the first embodiment, a prism that reflects light from the finder display panel is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the light may be reflected by a plane mirror.

  Moreover, although the front side window part and the back side window part are provided, you may provide multiple window parts in the other position of a container. For example, a window portion may be further provided on the upper surface side of the container, and the captured image may be configured to be visible from the back surface, the upper surface, and the front surface side.

  Furthermore, a lens for enlarging an image displayed on the finder display panel may be provided on the front side window. When the lens is provided, the captured image can be visually recognized as a larger image.

  Furthermore, although the imaging device including the display unit has been described, the imaging device may be configured so as not to include the display unit. When the display unit is not provided, it is possible to manufacture an imaging device that can visually recognize a captured image from a plurality of directions at a lower cost.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of the imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing body 101 that houses the same finder display panel 3 as in the first embodiment. The front side window part 110 which radiate | emits the light from the finder display panel 3 above the lens 2a is provided. In addition, the container 101 includes a back side window 111 on the upper side of the substantially central part on the back 101b side.

  A disc-shaped lid 90 that selectively covers the lens 2 a and the front-side window 110 is pivotally supported by a lid rotation shaft 91 so as to be openable and closable around the periphery of the lens 2 a of the housing 101. FIG. 8A shows a state in which the lens 2 a is covered with the lid 90. FIG. 8B shows a state where the lid 90 is opened upward from the state shown in FIG. 8A and the front side window 110 is covered with the lid 90. The lid 90 includes a rectangular magnifying lens 90 a that magnifies an image displayed on the finder display panel 3 so as to face the front-side window 110.

  Other configurations, operations, and effects other than the container 101 and the lid 90 are the same as the configurations, operations, and effects of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment. Detailed description is omitted.

  In the imaging device configured as described above, the image displayed on the finder display panel 3 can be enlarged by covering the front-side window 110 with the lid 90, and the user of the imaging device can The enlarged image can be visually recognized to check the imaging state. Moreover, the lens 2a can be protected by covering the lens 2a with the lid 90.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a simplified front view of an imaging device. It is a simplified back view of an imaging device. It is a block diagram of an imaging device. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the control part regarding the imaging and the display of the imaged image. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the control part regarding the imaging and the display of the imaged image. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an imaging apparatus according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a simplified front view of an imaging device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 10 Front side window part 11 Back side window part 2 Imaging means 2a Lens 2b Image pick-up element 3 Finder display panel 4 Display part 5 Prism 6 Motor 70 Rotating shaft 71 Support part 81 Control part 87a Power switch 87b Imaging button 87c Switching button

Claims (6)

In an imaging apparatus including a finder display panel that displays an image captured by an imaging unit, and a window that emits light of the image displayed on the finder display panel to the outside.
A plurality of the window portions;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: a switching unit that selectively switches a traveling direction of light of an image displayed on the finder display panel to any one of the plurality of window portions. One of the windows is
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to face an imaging direction by the imaging unit. The switching means is
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is a plane mirror or a prism that is rotatably supported. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for causing the image picked up by the image pickup means to be mirror-inverted and displayed on the finder display panel. A housing for housing the finder display panel;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit that is disposed in the container and displays an image captured by the imaging unit. The imaging means has a lens,
A lid that selectively covers one of the lens or the window;
The lid is
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a magnifying lens that magnifies an image displayed on the finder display panel.

Images