JP2006253942A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera in which the image display section of a monitor is increased to the utmost and the thickness of which in the thickness direction can be reduced. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera includes: a camera main body 11 on the front side of which is provided with a photographing lens and on the rear side of which is provided with an image display panel 14; a plate cover 12 freely turnably arranged in the end of the camera main body 11 via a shaft extended in the height direction of the camera main body; and an operation section 19 provided in the plate cover 12, and the digital camera is characterized in that the plate cover 12 at photographing covers at least part of the image display panel 14 of the camera main body 11, and the plate cover 12 is used for a grip, and located to an escape state for exposing the whole image display panel 14 at reproduction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a digital camera equipped with a thin monitor such as a liquid crystal.

  In a digital camera, an image display panel of an image display device (monitor) such as a liquid crystal is provided on the back of the camera, and a moving image before shooting (through image) and an image after shooting are displayed on the image display panel. Can be done.

  By the way, recently, the miniaturization of digital cameras has been rapidly progressing. On the other hand, a larger screen size is desired for the image display panel in order to display powerful and easy-to-view images. However, if the ratio of the image display panel to the size of the camera body increases, the number of parts that grip the camera (grip part) during shooting will decrease, making it difficult for the photographer to hold the camera body. The gripping hand touches the screen of the image display panel, and the screen is soiled or damaged.

Therefore, in order to solve such problems, a case-like grip is put on the end of the camera body provided with the image display panel, and the monitor body is arranged so that it can be pulled out of the end of the camera body. When using the camera, pull the grip part outward from the camera body to expose the image display panel completely, and when the camera is not in use, store the grip part in the camera body. There has been provided a digital camera with a reduced volume (for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-298773

  By the way, since the digital camera of the above-mentioned patent document 1 has a grip formed in a case shape so as to cover the end portion of the camera body, the thickness of the end portion is increased, which is not necessarily sufficient for miniaturization.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to make the image display portion of the monitor as large as possible, to secure a sufficient grip portion, and to reduce the thickness in the thickness direction of the camera. The purpose is to provide a camera.

  In order to achieve the above object, a digital camera according to claim 1 is provided with a camera body having a photographing lens disposed on a front surface and an image display panel disposed on a rear surface, and an end of the camera body. A plate-like cover rotatably disposed via a shaft extending in a height direction, and an operating means provided on the plate-like cover, and the image of the camera body is captured by the plate-like cover during photographing. It is characterized in that at least a part of the display panel is covered, and the plate-like cover portion is used as a grip portion, and is positioned in a retracted state in which the entire image display panel is exposed during reproduction.

  As a result, the image display panel can be held without being touched by hand during shooting, and the image can be reproduced using the entire surface of the image display panel during reproduction.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the first aspect, the plate-like cover is constituted by two plate-like cover portions, and the side portions of the plate-like cover portions are rotatable with respect to each other by an axis. And connecting one end of one plate-like cover part to an intermediate part of the side end face of the camera body so that the other plate-like cover part can be connected to the image display panel of the camera body. And the other plate-like cover portion is positioned so as to follow the front surface of the camera body during the reproduction.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to the first aspect, the plate-like cover is constituted by two plate-like cover portions, and the side portions of the plate-like cover portions are rotatable with respect to each other by an axis. While connecting, one end of one plate-like cover portion is rotatably disposed on the side end surface of the camera body, and the one plate-like cover portion is attached to the side end surface of the camera body during the photographing, The other plate-like cover portion is positioned so as to follow the image display panel of the camera body, and the one plate-like cover portion is kept standing on the side end surface of the camera body during the reproduction. It is characterized by doing so.

In the digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, as shown in claim 4,
Detection means for detecting the rotational position of the plate cover is provided, and a photographing mode for performing the photographing and a reproduction mode for performing the reproduction are switched based on a detection output of the detecting means. Thereby, the mode switching between the photographing mode and the reproduction mode can be performed in conjunction with the rotation of the plate cover.

  In the digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the whole image is displayed on a portion not covered with the plate-like cover portion of the image display panel at the time of photographing. It is characterized by further comprising display size switching means for switching the display size so that all images are displayed on the entire screen of the image display panel during reproduction.

  6. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the operating means disposed on the plate-like cover is arranged on the surface of the plate-like cover exposed during the photographing in the photographing mode. The operation means to be used is disposed, and the operation means to be used at the time of reproduction is disposed on the surface of the plate cover exposed at the time of the reproduction. As a result, it is possible to protect the operation means that are not used, and by exposing only the operation means that is necessary at the time of shooting or reproduction, it is possible to prevent user's erroneous operation and improve usability. Can do.

  According to the present invention, since a plate-like cover that covers a part of the image display panel can be used as a gripping part at the time of shooting, the image display panel can be satisfactorily gripped without touching a finger or the like, and the image display can be performed. There is no risk of soiling or damaging the panel, and during playback, the entire image display panel can be exposed, so that a sufficiently large image can be obtained and the cover is plate-shaped, especially in the thickness direction of the camera. Can be made thinner. Moreover, the arrangement | positioning space of an operation means is securable by arrange | positioning an operation means to a plate-shaped cover.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a digital camera according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a back side (image display panel side) of an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a front side (photographing lens side) of the digital camera of FIG. It is.

  The digital camera 10 includes a camera body 11 having a thin box shape and a plate-like cover 12 that is rotatably disposed on the camera body. The camera body 11 includes a photographing lens 13 on the front surface 11a, an image display panel 14a of the image display device 14 on the back surface 11b, and a photographing button 15 on one end of the upper surface 11c.

  The plate-like cover 12 is constituted by two plate-like cover portions 16 and 17 whose side portions are pivotally connected to each other by an axis, and one end of one cover portion 16 is on the photographing button side of the camera body 11. The end surface 11d is supported at the middle in the thickness direction so as to be rotatable about the height direction as an axis.

  The width of the one cover portion 16 is approximately ½ of the thickness of the camera body 11, and the width of the other cover portion 17 is wide enough to hold the camera 10 during shooting. At the time of shooting, as shown in FIG. 1, one cover portion 16 is tilted toward the image display panel 14a, and the other cover portion 17 is tilted so as to be along the image display panel 14a. When playing back the captured image, as shown in FIG. 2, one cover portion 16 is tilted toward the photographing lens 13 and the other cover portion 17 is tilted so as to follow the front surface 11 a of the camera body 11. .

  In order to maintain the cover portions 16 and 17 of the plate-like cover 12 in a tilted state, the rotational resistance of the shaft portion between the one cover portion 16 and the camera body 11 and the shaft portion between the cover portions 16 and 17 is set. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a hole 18a is formed in one of the camera body 11 and one cover portion 16, and a ball is inserted into the hole via a spring 18b. 18c is accommodated, and a plurality of recesses 18d are formed on the other side, and the balls 18c are selectively inserted into the recesses 18d for positioning, or as shown in FIG. A leaf spring 18e is disposed in one of the cover portions 16 and a plurality of recesses 18d are formed in the other, and the tip of the leaf spring 18e is selectively placed in the recesses 18d. By inserted, it may attempt to positioning.

  Further, the other cover portion 17 of the plate-like cover 12 has a menu / OK key 19a, a cross key 19b, a cancel key on the outer surface in a state where the cover portion is disposed along the image display panel 14a (see FIG. 1). An operation unit 19 used for photographing such as a key 19c and a seesaw key 19d is arranged, and operation buttons 20 used for reproduction such as a frame advance dial 20a and an erase button 20b are arranged on the inner surface thereof. The frame advance dial 20a can be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the digital camera according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the digital camera 10 includes a still image and moving image recording and playback function, and the operation of the entire camera 10 is controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 31. The CPU 31 functions as control means for controlling the camera system according to a predetermined program, and performs various calculations such as automatic exposure (AE) calculation, automatic focus adjustment (AF) calculation, white balance adjustment (WB) calculation, etc. Functions as a means.

  The ROM 33 connected to the CPU 31 via the bus 32 stores programs executed by the CPU 31, various data necessary for control, and the like, and the EEPROM 34 stores CCD pixel defect information, various constants / information related to camera operation, and the like. Has been.

  The memory (SDRAM) 35 is used as a program development area and a calculation work area for the CPU 31 and also as a temporary storage area for image data. The VRAM 36 is a temporary storage memory dedicated to image data, and includes an A area 36A and a B area 36B. The memory 35 and the VRAM 36 can be shared.

  In the camera 10, a mode selection switch 21 is further installed in the moving area of the plate cover 12, for example. Signals from the mode selection switch 21, the shooting button 15, and other operation buttons 19, 20 are input to the CPU 31, and the CPU 31 controls each circuit of the camera 10 based on the input signals. Operation control, image processing control, image data recording / reproduction control, display control of the image display device 14 and the like are performed.

  In the mode selection switch 21, when the movable contact piece 21A is switched in conjunction with the rotation of the plate cover 12, and the movable contact piece 21A is connected to the contact a, the signal is input to the CPU 31, and the camera 10 takes an image. When the mode is set and the movable contact piece 21A is connected to the contact b, the camera 10 is set to a reproduction mode for reproducing a recorded image.

  The shooting button 15 is an operation button for inputting an instruction to start shooting, and includes a two-stroke switch having an S1 switch that is turned on when half-pressed and an S2 switch that is turned on when fully pressed.

  The menu / OK key 19a has a function as a menu button for instructing to display a menu on the display panel 14a of the image display device 14, and a function as an OK button for instructing confirmation and execution of the selection contents. This is a combined operation key.

  The cross key 19b is an operation unit for inputting instructions in four directions, up, down, left, and right, and is a button (cursor operating means) for selecting an item from a menu screen or instructing selection of various setting items from each menu. Function. The up / down key of the cross key 19b functions as a zoom switch at the time of shooting or a playback zoom switch at the time of playback.

  The cancel key 19c is used for erasing a desired object such as a selection item, canceling support contents, or returning to the previous operation state.

  The image display device 14 can be used as an electronic viewfinder for checking the angle of view at the time of shooting, and is also used as a means for reproducing and displaying a recorded image. The image display device 14 is also used as a user interface display screen. Instead of the liquid crystal display, other types of display devices (display means) such as an organic EL can be used.

  The camera 10 has a media socket (media mounting portion) 37, and a recording medium 38 can be mounted on the media socket 37. The media controller 39 performs necessary signal conversion in order to deliver an input signal suitable for the recording medium 38 mounted on the media socket 37. The camera 10 also includes a USB interface unit 40 as a communication means for connecting to a personal computer or other external device.

  Next, the shooting function of the camera 10 will be described.

  When the plate-like cover 12 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 6A, the photographing mode is selected by the mode selection switch 21 interlocked with the rotation.

  In the shooting mode, power is supplied to an image pickup unit including a color CCD solid-state image pickup element (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 41, and the camera is ready for shooting. In this photographing mode, as shown in FIG. 6A, the image on the image display panel 14a is reduced so that the entire image enters the portion excluding the cover portion 17 of the image display panel 14a.

  The lens unit 42 is an optical unit including a photographic lens 42a including a focus lens and a mechanical shutter 42b serving as an aperture. The lens unit 42 is electrically driven by a lens driving unit 43 and a diaphragm driving unit 44 that are controlled by the CPU 31 to perform zoom control, focus control, and iris control.

  The light that has passed through the lens unit 42 is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD 41. A large number of photodiodes (light receiving elements) are two-dimensionally arranged on the light receiving surface of the CCD 41, and red (R), green (G), and blue (B) primary color filters corresponding to each photodiode. They are arranged in a predetermined arrangement structure (Bayer, G stripe, etc.). The CCD 41 has an electronic shutter function for controlling the charge accumulation time (shutter speed) of each photodiode. The CPU 31 controls the charge accumulation time in the CCD 41 via the timing generator 45. Instead of the CCD 41, another type of image sensor such as a MOS type may be used.

  The subject image formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 41 is converted into a signal charge of an amount corresponding to the amount of incident light by each photodiode. The signal charge accumulated in each photodiode is sequentially read out as a voltage signal (image signal) corresponding to the signal charge based on a drive pulse given from the timing generator 45 in accordance with a command from the CPU 31.

  The signal output from the CCD 41 is sent to an analog processing unit (CDS / AMP) 46, where the R, G, B signals for each pixel are sampled and held (correlated double sampling processing), amplified, and then A / D converter 47 is added. The dot-sequential R, G, B signals converted into digital signals by the A / D converter 47 are stored in the memory 35 via the image input controller 48.

  The image signal processing circuit 49 processes the R, G, B signals stored in the memory 35 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 31. That is, the image signal processing circuit 49 includes a synchronization circuit (a processing circuit that converts a color signal into a simultaneous type by complementing a spatial shift of the color signal associated with the color filter array of the single CCD), a white balance correction circuit, It functions as an image processing means including a gamma correction circuit, a contour correction circuit, a luminance / color difference signal generation circuit, etc., and performs predetermined signal processing using the memory 35 in accordance with commands from the CPU 31.

  The RGB image data input to the image signal processing circuit 49 is converted into a luminance signal (Y signal) and a color difference signal (Cr, Cd signal) by the image signal processing circuit 49, and predetermined processing such as gamma correction. Is given. The image data processed by the image signal processing circuit 49 is stored in the VRAM 36.

  When a captured image is output to the image display device 14 for monitoring, image data is read from the VRAM 36 and sent to the video encoder 52 via the bus 32. The video encoder 52 converts the input image data into a predetermined signal for display (for example, an NTSC color composite video signal) and outputs the converted signal to the image display device 14.

  With the image signal output from the CCD 41, image data representing an image for one frame is rewritten alternately in the A area 36A and the B area 36B. The written image data is read from the area other than the area where the image data is rewritten out of the A area and B area of the VRAM 36. In this manner, the image data in the VRAM 36 is periodically rewritten, and a video signal generated from the image data is supplied to the image display device 14, so that the image being captured is displayed on the image display device 14 in real time. Displayed on the panel 14a. The photographer can check the shooting angle of view from the video (through image) displayed on the image display device.

  When the shooting button 15 is pressed halfway and the S1 switch is turned on, the camera 10 starts AE and AF processing. That is, the image signal output from the CCD 41 is input to the AF detection circuit and the AE / AWB detection circuit 50 via the image input controller 48 after A / D conversion.

  The AE / AWB detection circuit 50 includes a circuit that divides one screen into a plurality of areas (for example, 16 × 16) and accumulates RGB signals for each divided area, and provides the accumulated value to the CPU 31. The CPU 31 detects the brightness of the subject (subject brightness) based on the integrated value obtained from the AE / AWB detection circuit 50, and calculates an exposure value (shooting EV value) suitable for shooting. According to the obtained exposure value and a predetermined program diagram, the aperture value and the shutter speed are determined, and the CPU 31 controls the electronic shutter and iris of the CCD 41 according to this to obtain an appropriate exposure amount.

  On the other hand, when the plate-like cover 12 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 6B, the reproduction mode is selected by the mode selection switch 21 interlocked with the rotation.

  When the playback mode is selected, the compressed data of the last image file (last recorded file) recorded on the recording medium 38 is read. When the file related to the last recording is a still image file, the read image compression data is expanded to an uncompressed YC signal via the compression / expansion circuit 51, and the image signal processing circuit 49 and the video encoder 52 are Then, the signal is converted into a display signal and then output to the image display device 14. Thereby, the image content of the file is displayed on the display panel 14 a of the image display device 14. In this reproduction mode, as shown in FIG. 6B, the image on the image display panel 14a is enlarged so that the entire image enters the entire image display panel 14a.

  During single-frame playback of a still image (including during playback of the first frame of a moving image), the file to be played can be switched (forward frame forward / reverse frame forward) by rotating the frame advance dial 20a forward or backward. . The image file at the frame-advanced position is read from the recording medium 38, and still images and moving images are reproduced on the display panel 14a of the image display device 14 in the same manner as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera 10 of the above-described embodiment positions the cover portion 17 of the plate-like cover 12 along the display panel 14 a as shown in FIG. 1, and covers the cover portion 17 of the plate-like cover 12. The shooting button 15 is operated in a state where the camera body 11 and the front surface 11a of the camera body 11 are gripped. At this time, if necessary, the keys 19a to 19c of the use operation unit 19 at the time of photographing are operated.

  Further, at the time of reproduction, as shown in FIG. 2, the cover portion 17 of the plate cover 12 is retracted from the display panel 14a to expose the entire display panel. Then, the frame advance dial 20a and the delete button 20b of the operation unit 20 used at the time of reproduction are operated to perform image frame advance, delete, and the like.

  In the digital camera 10 of the above embodiment, the cover portion 17 is positioned so as to follow the front surface of the camera body 11 in the playback state shown in FIG. 2, but as shown in FIG. These free ends may be locked to the end surface 11d of the camera body. In this case, if the frame advance dial 20a and the delete button 20b of the operation unit 20 used at the time of reproduction are arranged on the cover portion 16, the operation becomes easier.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the plate-like cover 12 is rotatably arranged at the meeting portion between the back surface 11b and the end surface 11d of the camera body 11, and when shooting, it is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the plate-like cover 12 is opened in the opposite direction to the display panel 14a as shown in FIG. May be completely exposed. Also in this case, if the frame advance dial 20a and the delete button 20b of the operation unit 20 used at the time of reproduction are arranged on the inner side surface of the plate cover 12, the operation becomes easier.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a back side (image display panel side) of an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the front side (photographing lens side) of the digital camera of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing positioning means employed in the digital camera according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing another form of the positioning means. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a digital camera control system according to the present invention. 6A and 6B show the size of an image displayed on the image display panel in the digital camera according to the present invention. FIG. 6A shows a reduced image, and FIG. 6B shows an enlarged state. It is the front view which showed the image of. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another aspect of the cover portion during reproduction. FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the plate-like cover in the digital camera according to the present invention, and is a perspective view showing a state at the time of photographing. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state of the plate cover in the digital camera shown in FIG. 8 during reproduction.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera, 11 ... Camera body, 11a ... Front surface, 11b ... Back surface, 11c ... Upper surface, 11d ... End surface, 12 ... Plate-shaped cover, 12a, 12b ... Cover part, 13 ... Shooting lens, 14 ... Image display apparatus, 14a ... Image display panel, 15 ... Shooting button, 16, 17 ... Cover part, 19, 20 ... Operation part, 19a ... Menu / OK key, 19b ... Cross key, 19c ... Cancel key, 19d ... Seesaw key, 20a ... Frame Feed dial, 20b ... Erase button, 21 ... Mode selection switch

Claims (6)

A camera body with a photographic lens on the front and an image display panel on the back;
A plate-like cover that is rotatably disposed at an end of the camera body via an axis extending in the height direction of the camera body;
Operating means provided on the plate cover,
Cover at least a part of the image display panel of the camera body with the plate cover at the time of shooting, and use the plate cover portion as a gripping part, and position it in a retracted state that exposes the entire image display panel at the time of reproduction. A digital camera characterized by doing so.   The plate-like cover is constituted by two plate-like cover portions, and the side portions of the plate-like cover portions are connected to each other so as to be rotatable by a shaft, and one end portion of one plate-like cover portion is connected to the camera. The other plate-shaped cover portion is rotatably disposed at an intermediate portion of the side end surface of the main body, and the other plate-shaped cover portion is positioned so as to follow the image display panel of the camera main body at the time of photographing, The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the digital camera is positioned so as to follow a front surface of the camera body.   The plate-like cover is constituted by two plate-like cover portions, and the side portions of the plate-like cover portions are connected to each other so as to be rotatable by a shaft, and one end portion of one plate-like cover portion is connected to the camera. A state in which the first plate-like cover part is attached to the side end face of the camera body and the other plate-like cover part is attached to the image display panel of the camera body during the photographing. 2. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the one plate-like cover portion is maintained in a standing state on a side end surface of the camera body during the reproduction.   2. A detection unit that detects a rotational position of the plate cover, and switches between a photographing mode for performing the photographing and a reproduction mode for performing the reproduction based on a detection output of the detecting unit. 4. The digital camera according to any one of 3.   At the time of shooting, the display size is switched so that the entire image is displayed on the portion of the image display panel that is not covered by the plate-like cover portion, and at the time of playback, the entire image is displayed on the entire screen of the image display panel. 5. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising display size switching means.   The operation means disposed on the plate cover is provided with operation means used at the time of photographing on the surface of the plate cover exposed at the time of photographing, and on the surface of the plate cover exposed at the time of reproduction. 6. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising operating means for use during reproduction.

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