JP2006262509A - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic camera which is simplified in shape and has superior operability, in relation to electronic cameras such as video cameras and digital still cameras. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic camera is constructed such that an imaging-section main part (11) which has a first face (53) and a first side face (51) perpendicular to the first face (53) and is provided with an imaging device, and a display-section main part (12) which has a second face (54) and a second side face (52) perpendicular to the second face (54) and is provided with an external display device that displays an image on the second face are rotatably connected at the first and second side faces. On the second face close to the side face opposite to the second side face, a rotary operating member (22) is disposed which can make rotary operation along the scrolling direction of the display screen of the external display device and can make the changeover of the screen display. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic camera such as a video camera or a digital still camera.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the appearance and usage of a conventional electronic camera.
Recently, in an electronic camera such as a video camera or a digital still camera, a display unit 42 having a liquid crystal display (LCD) is rotatably connected to an imaging unit 41 in which a photographing lens and an imaging element are arranged. Have been developed.
With this electronic camera, the operator can take an image of a subject located not only in front but also above and below while viewing the subject on the display screen, and can confirm the image on the spot.

Usually, the operator holds the imaging unit 41 with the right hand 43 to support the entire electronic camera, and takes an image with the photographing lens in a desired direction.
JP-A-7-226870

By the way, in order for this electronic camera with a screen to become widespread, it is desired to make it easy to store and carry. Specifically, it is necessary to make the entire shape horizontally long and thin as much as possible.
Considering the conventional electronic camera shown in FIG. 6 from such a point of view, the display unit 42 has the widest shape on the upper surface on which the screen is displayed, whereas the imaging unit 41 has the side most exposed to the right palm. It has a wide shape. Therefore, even if the display unit 42 and the imaging unit 41 are not relatively rotated, the shape cannot be easily stored. In particular, in an electronic camera having a zoom function, since the lens unit is long in the direction of the optical axis, a further protruding portion may be added to the imaging unit 41.

Therefore, it is desired to develop a horizontally long and thin electronic camera configured to have a flat shape when both are placed side by side. However, there is a problem of how to configure the electronic camera with good operability.
The present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic camera with a simplified shape and excellent operability.

  An electronic camera according to claim 1 includes: an imaging unit main body having a first surface and a first side surface perpendicular to the first surface and including an imaging element; a second surface and a second side surface perpendicular to the second surface. An electronic camera having a display unit main body and an external display device that displays an image on a second surface, the first and second side surfaces being rotatably connected to each other. A rotating operation member that can be rotated in the scroll direction of the display screen of the external display device and that switches the screen display is disposed near the opposing surface of the second side surface. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic camera according to the first aspect, the arrangement position of the rotation operation member is equal to the second surface in the vicinity of the opposing surface and the length of the display screen in the scroll direction is second order. It is characterized by being on a straight line to be divided.
An electronic camera according to a third aspect is the electronic camera according to the first or second aspect, wherein the imaging unit main body and the display unit main body are formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having substantially the same shape and size. And

(Function)
In the electronic camera according to claim 1, the imaging unit main body and the display unit main body are connected to each other on the first side surface and the second side surface so as to be rotatable, and the imaging unit main body includes an imaging element. The display unit main body includes an external display device that displays an image on a second surface perpendicular to the second side surface.
In general, an operator performs an operation by supporting the imaging unit main body and the display unit main body with their respective hands.

Therefore, when the rotary operation member for switching the screen display of the external display device is arranged in the vicinity of the second side surface of the second surface of the display unit body, the operator places the display unit body on the opposite side. Since the rotation operation member can be rotated while being pinched from the surface, both the support of the apparatus and the switching of the screen display can be reliably performed.
At this time, since the direction of the rotation operation of the rotation operation member coincides with the scroll direction of the display screen, the operator can intuitively scroll in the desired direction.

In the electronic camera according to claim 2, in the electronic camera according to claim 1, the arrangement position of the rotation operation member is on a straight line that bisects the length of the scroll direction of the display screen. In general, since the portion where the rotation operation member protrudes on the second surface is long in the rotation direction, the rotation operation member is reasonably arranged with the longitudinal direction of the rotation operation member along the side of the display screen.
In the electronic camera according to claim 3, in the electronic camera according to claim 1 or 2, the imaging unit main body and the display unit main body are formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having substantially the same shape and the same size. In a state where the first surface of the imaging unit main body and the second surface of the display unit main body are not relatively rotated, the overall shape is simplified to a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operator can rotate the rotation operation member while holding the display unit main body from the opposite surface, so that both the support of the apparatus and the switching of the screen display can be reliably performed. It becomes possible. Furthermore, since the direction of the rotation operation of the rotation operation member coincides with the scroll direction of the display screen, the operator can intuitively scroll in the desired direction.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the rotation operation member is arranged on a straight line that bisects the length of the display screen in the scroll direction, the longitudinal direction of the rotation operation member extends along the side of the display screen. Will be reasonably arranged in the state.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the imaging unit main body and the display unit main body are formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having substantially the same shape and the same size, both are balanced, and the first surface of the imaging unit main body and the display unit main body are balanced. In a state where the second surface is not relatively rotated, the overall shape is also simplified to a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  In other words, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic camera that is convenient for storage and carrying and has excellent operability only by optimizing the arrangement of elements and buttons in a conventional electronic camera. Therefore, the operator can always perform stable imaging.

Hereinafter, embodiments corresponding to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external configuration diagram of an electronic camera according to the present invention. FIGS. 2 to 4 are (2)-(2), (3)-(3), (4)-(4) in FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part cut out along a cutting line shown in FIG.
Unlike the conventional example shown in FIG. 6, the electronic camera of the present embodiment is formed with the imaging unit main body 11 and the display unit main body 12 in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having the same shape and the same size, and the side surface 51 of the imaging unit main body 11 (first Of the imaging unit main body 11 and the side surface 52 (second side surface) of the display unit main body 12 having the same shape and the same size as each other, and the rotation joint unit 24 makes them both perpendicular to the side surfaces 51 and 52. It is connected so that it can rotate freely around.

That is, in FIG. 1, the upper surface 53 of the imaging unit main body 11 corresponds to the first surface, and the upper surface 54 of the display unit main body 12 corresponds to the second surface.
Now, a machine such as an optical system and a motor related to imaging is mounted in the imaging unit main body 11. As main elements, the columnar lens unit 13, the optical finder unit 14, and the electronic flash unit 15 having the same imaging optical axis are opposed to the side surfaces 56 and 57 adjacent to the side surface 51, respectively. It arranges in order from the position near.

With this arrangement, the shape of the imaging unit main body 11 can be formed so as to be thin so that the width of the side surface is a value corresponding to the diameter of these units.
Here, the lens unit 13 includes a lens barrel, an imaging device, a control mechanism that appropriately changes the position of the photographing lens in the lens barrel in accordance with an instruction from a zoom button 19 described later. This photographic lens is exposed to the outside through a lens opening 13 a formed on the side surface 56.

The finder unit 14 indicates a range that can be photographed by the operator, and includes a finder objective window 14a and a finder eyepiece window 14b (see FIG. 5) on the side surfaces 56 and 57, respectively.
The electronic flash unit 15 includes a mechanism for emitting flash light from a light emitting window 15 a formed on the side surface 56 to a predetermined external range.

  On the other hand, in the display unit main body 12, the LCD 21 as an external display device is arranged with the LCD display window 21 a exposed on the upper surface 54. Further, at a position close to the side surface 58 facing the side surface 52 from the LCD 21, the rotating dial 22 has a rotating shaft parallel to the central axis of rotation of the rotating joint portion 24, and a part of the periphery protrudes from the upper surface 54. Placed in the state. The center of the rotary dial 22 on the upper surface 54 of the display unit body 12 is located on a straight line that bisects the LCD display window 21 a in a direction perpendicular to the side surface 52.

A circuit board 31 or the like 31 related to image processing is mounted below the LCD 21, and a loading chamber (not shown) for a removable memory card 35 is formed.
Here, the LCD 21 can display an image transmitted from the imaging unit main body 11, reproduce a captured image, display a setting menu of the electronic camera, and display a list of functions of the electronic camera. In order to make it easy for the operator to make a selection, reproduction of a plurality of images and display of a setting menu are performed by scrolling up and down or frame-by-frame in FIG.

The rotary dial 22 is a rotary operation member for switching the display screen of the LCD 21, and is preset so that the direction of the rotary operation and the scroll direction of the display screen coincide. That is, when the rotary dial 22 is rotated upward in FIG. 2, the display screen is scrolled upward, and when it is rotated downward, the display screen is scrolled downward.
In the present embodiment, the rotation speed of the rotary dial 22 and the scroll speed of the display screen are associated with each other. Further, the rotary dial 22 is formed so that it can be pushed in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface in addition to the rotational operation, and the display screen is determined by the push operation.

  The rotary joint unit 24 fixes, for example, a cylindrical member whose center line coincides with the center of each of the side surfaces 51 and 52 of the imaging unit main body 11 and the display unit main body 12 in a direction perpendicular to the side surfaces 51 and 52. These cylindrical members are rotatably fitted. A connection line that connects the components in the imaging unit main body 11 and the components in the display unit main body 12 is inserted into the hollow part of the cylindrical member of the rotary joint unit 24. In order to stabilize the rotation angle at a desired angle, the fitting portion is provided with an intermittent rotation mechanism using, for example, friction or a steel ball. The fitting portion is usually provided with a stopper that limits the rotation range in one direction.

Further, on the upper surface 53 of the imaging unit main body 11, the display window 16 and the setting button 17 are juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction of the unit above the lens unit 13, and approached from the side surface 55 facing the side surface 51 therefrom. At the position, the release button 18 and the zoom button 19 are juxtaposed in this order from the vicinity of the side surface 57 to the vicinity of the center of the upper surface 53.
Here, in the display window 16, shooting information such as the setting state of the shooting mode of the electronic camera and the number of shot frames is displayed on the LCD, for example. The setting button 17 is a group of buttons for setting or canceling the shooting mode of the electronic camera.

  FIG. 1 shows the zoom button 19 formed as a slide-type switch that can slide in the longitudinal direction of the electronic camera. For example, the zoom button 19 changes the arrangement position of the photographing lens in the lens unit 13 such as neutral when the operation end is at the center position, wide when it is slid to one side, and telephoto when it is slid to the other side. The zoom button 19 can also be used as a zooming speed switching button.

In addition, the code | symbol 23 in FIG. 1 is a button for ON / OFF operation of LCD21 (refer FIGS. 2-4). Moreover, in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, the codes | symbols 33 and 34 show a power supply terminal and a battery, respectively.
Hereinafter, usage forms of the electronic camera described above will be described in accordance with an actual shooting procedure.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a method of operating the electronic camera described above. FIG. 5 shows a situation where the operator is photographing the front.

Prior to shooting, the operator performs various shooting settings with the setting button 17 while confirming the state of the electronic camera from the display window 16.
Next, since the electronic camera has a wide lateral shape, the photographer holds the imaging unit main body 11 from the side surface 58 with the right hand 43 and supports the display unit main body 12 with the left hand 44 while moving the lens opening 13a forward. Aim at the subject. At this time, the operator confirms the subject from the display screen displayed on the upper surface 53 of the display unit main body 12 or the viewfinder eyepiece window 14 b formed on the side surface 57 on the paper surface side of the imaging unit main body 11.

Here, since the heaviest lens unit 13 in the imaging unit main body 11 is disposed in the vicinity of the connection position with the display unit main body 12, the entire center of gravity is located at the center. Therefore, the operator can stably hold the electronic camera.
At this time, the operator touches the release button 18 with the right index finger gently bent, and obtains a photo opportunity in a state where the release button 18 can be reliably operated.

In this state, the middle finger of the right hand is located in the vicinity of the upper part of the zoom button 19, so it is the most natural state that it is lightly touching the zoom button 19.
The other finger of the right hand is in a position where no button is arranged on the upper surface of the imaging unit main body 11 and is in a state where it can be moved freely because no button operation is performed.
Here, the setting button 17 that is not used at the time of photographing is arranged in the vicinity of the connecting portion on the upper side of the lens unit 13, and this position makes it difficult for a freely moving finger to reach and the index finger and middle finger do not stretch unnaturally. It is a position that does not reach as much as possible. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a mistake that a finger is inadvertently touched during photographing and the photographing mode of the electronic camera is changed.

Also, the display window 16 should be prevented from touching the finger in order to prevent dirt such as fingerprints. However, like the setting button 17, it is arranged at a position where the finger is difficult to reach, so that the possibility of contact is suppressed. Yes.
In addition, what should be avoided by the operator includes contamination due to the little finger or ring finger of the right hand coming into contact with the lens opening 13a and mistakes in photographing due to covering with the finger. Also in this respect, the lens opening 13a is formed at a position closest to the coupling portion, and therefore, the possibility that the lens opening 13a is covered is less than that of the light emitting window 15a and the viewfinder objective window 14a, and can be avoided.

Therefore, the possibility of mistakes occurring during shooting is eliminated, and the operator can concentrate on shooting.
When performing telephoto shooting or wide shooting, the zoom button 19 can be slid with the middle finger while supporting the electronic camera with the index finger placed on the release button 18.
Furthermore, since this electronic camera includes the electronic flash unit 15, flash photography is also possible.

In flash photography, since the light emission window 15a is separated from the lens opening 13a by at least the width of the finder objective window 14a, the probability of red eyes when a person or animal is photographed can be suppressed.
In flash photography, part of the electromagnetic waves generated from the electronic flash unit 15 may enter the image signal transmission path as noise, which may adversely affect the image. However, this mixing of noise can also be suppressed because the electronic flash unit 15 is isolated with the optical finder unit interposed therebetween.

Next, the operator can display and check a plurality of captured images on the display unit main body 12.
Since the rotary dial 22 for switching the display screen is disposed on the left side of the LCD display window 21a, it can be rotated with the thumb of the left hand without touching the LCD display window 21a. Moreover, the rotation operation in this direction is the most natural movement for the left hand in a state where the display unit body 12 is supported. In particular, when the screen is scrolled, the movement of the thumb and the movement of the display screen coincide with each other, so that the operator can intuitively determine the direction of scrolling and the screen display can be easily selected. Furthermore, since the speed of the rotation operation is arbitrary and the speed corresponds to the scrolling speed, the selection can be performed at the speed desired by the operator.

That is, in the above-described embodiment, the arrangement of each element and operation buttons is optimized, so that the apparatus can be easily carried and stored, and the operability can be improved and stable shooting can be performed.
In the embodiment described above, the description has been made assuming a digital still camera. However, the present invention can also be applied to a video camera. In this case, instead of the release button 18, an operation for starting and ending shooting is performed. An imaging button to be performed is arranged, and the zoom button may be used as a switching button for zooming up, zooming back, neutral, or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the zoom button is formed as a slide type switch, but may be formed as another type of switch such as a seesaw type switch.
In the embodiment described above, the zoom button is a button for switching the zoom method. However, the zoom amount and the zoom speed may be continuously changed.
In the embodiment described above, the captured image is scroll-displayed. However, the setting menu may be scroll-displayed, and the scroll operation or selection from the setting menu may be performed by a rotary dial.

In the above-described embodiment, the rotary dial 22 is arranged with a relatively large protrusion on the upper surface 54 in FIG. 1, but the protrusion is not limited as long as it can be operated with fingers.
In the above-described embodiment, the imaging unit main body 11 and the display unit main body 12 are formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having the same shape and size. However, the interval between the upper surface and the lower surface of the imaging unit main body 11 depends on the diameter of the lens unit or the like. The display unit body 12 may have any shape as long as the value is thin and the display unit body 12 is thin with a wide screen display surface.

  In the above-described embodiment, the rotary dial 22 is arranged on a straight line that bisects the LCD display window 21a up and down, but may be arranged at any position as long as it is in the vicinity of the side surface 58 on the upper surface 54.

It is an external appearance block diagram of the electronic camera which concerns on this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the principal part notched by (2)-(2) of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the principal part notched by (3)-(3) of FIG. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the principal part notched by (4)-(4) of FIG. It is a figure which shows the operating method of the electronic camera which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance and usage pattern of the conventional electronic camera.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11, 41 Image pick-up part 12, 42 Display part 13 Lens unit 14 Optical finder unit 15 Electronic flash unit 16 Display window 17 Setting button 18 Release button 19 Zoom button 21 LCD
22 Rotating dial 23 Display button 24 Rotating joint portion 31 Substrate 33 Power supply terminal 34 Battery 35 Memory card 43 Right hand 44 Left hand 51, 52, 55, 56, 57, 58 Side surface 53, 54 Upper surface

Claims (3)

An image pickup unit main body having a first surface and a first side surface perpendicular to the first surface and including an image pickup device, and having a second surface and a second side surface perpendicular to the second surface and an image on the second surface. An electronic camera comprising a display unit body including an external display device for displaying the image on the first side surface and the second side surface so as to be rotatable with respect to each other.
In the vicinity of the opposing surface of the second side surface in the second surface,
An electronic camera, wherein a rotation operation member capable of rotating in a scroll direction of a display screen of the external display device and switching a screen display is disposed. The electronic camera according to claim 1,
The position of the rotation operation member is
An electronic camera, wherein the electronic camera is on a straight line that bisects the length of the display screen in the scroll direction in the vicinity of the opposing surface on the second surface. The electronic camera according to claim 1 or 2,
The imaging unit body and the display unit body are:
An electronic camera characterized by being formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having substantially the same shape and size.

Images