JP2006303824A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera capable of automatically rotating a liquid-crystal monitor so as to be easily viewed and having a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: The camera 100 rotatably has a display section 2 displaying the photographed image on a camera body 1. The camera 100 has a pair of sensor section 21 composed of light-emitting sections 22 being fitted in at least two or more while holding a first rotating shaft 30 for the display section 2 and emitting a light towards a cameraman and light-receiving sections 23 receiving a reflected light from a reflecting mirror fitted to glasses mounted on the cameraman. In the camera 100, the light-receiving sections 23 are composed of two or more of partitions 23A, and the camera 100 has a rotation control program 17B making a CPU 15 decide whether or not relative intensities among each partition 23A of the reflected light received by the light-receiving sections 23 and the relative intensities among each partition 23A of the reflected light stored in a reference-intensity data 17A in a storage section 17 are equalized and rotating the display section 2 so as to be equalized in the different case. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera.

  Conventionally, a video camera is provided with a rotatable LCD monitor, and an angle sensor and an acceleration sensor are provided to detect the movement of the video camera, and the liquid crystal monitor is automatically rotated according to the movement of the video camera. In order to make the liquid crystal monitor easier to see, there is known one (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a sensor that detects the movement of the television camera is provided in the television camera, and the viewfinder is automatically rotated in accordance with the movement of the television camera detected by the sensor so that the cameraman can easily view the viewfinder. What was made into is also known (for example, patent document 2).

In addition, a sensor that captures the cameraman's face on the TV camera's viewfinder and a liquid crystal monitor that displays the captured cameraman's face are provided. It is also known that the viewfinder is automatically rotated so that the cameraman can easily see the viewfinder so as to detect the movement of the cameraman and cancel the movement of the cameraman's face (Patent Document 3).
JP 2001-275019 A JP 2002-271656 A JP 2000-307903 A

  However, in the video camera described in Patent Document 1, the movement of the video camera itself is detected, and the movement of the photographer is not detected. Therefore, a liquid crystal monitor is used corresponding to the movement of the video camera itself. Even if it is rotated, the liquid crystal monitor may not always be easy to see for the photographer. A similar problem can occur in the television camera described in Patent Document 2. On the other hand, in the television camera described in Patent Document 3, since the movement of the cameraman's face is actually detected, the viewfinder rotates following the cameraman's line of sight. Although it can be rotated so that it is more easily viewable by the cameraman, it is necessary to provide a sensor for imaging the cameraman in the viewfinder, which increases the cost.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a camera having a simple structure in which a liquid crystal monitor can be automatically rotated so as to be easier to see.

The invention according to claim 1 is a camera including a display unit that is rotatably provided in the camera body and displays a captured image.
At least two or more are provided across the rotation axis of the display unit, and the light receiving unit receives light reflected from a light emitting unit that emits light toward the photographer and a reflector provided on a bridge of glasses worn by the imager. A pair of sensor parts, and
The light receiving unit is composed of two or more sections,
Storage means for storing a relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit;
It is determined whether or not the relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit is the same as the relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light stored in the storage means. In order to be the same in some cases, a rotation control means for rotating the display unit is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the camera including the display unit that displays the captured image, the camera body being rotatably provided.
A pair of sensor units each including at least two light emitting units that emit light toward the imager and a light receiving unit that receives reflected light reflected from the imager;
Storage means for storing the relative intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit;
It is determined whether or not the relative intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit and the relative intensity of the reflected light stored in the storage unit are the same. Rotation control means for rotating the display unit;
It is characterized by having.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the camera according to the second aspect,
The light receiving unit is composed of two or more sections,
The storage means stores a relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit,
In the rotation control means, the relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit and the relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light stored in the storage means are the same. Thus, the display unit is rotated.

The invention according to claim 4 is the camera according to claim 2 or 3,
The light receiving unit receives reflected light from a reflecting mirror provided in a bridge of glasses worn by the photographer.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, at least two or more light emitting portions that emit light toward the photographer and the reflection of the glasses worn by the photographer are provided with the rotation axis of the display unit interposed therebetween. A pair of sensor units each including a light receiving unit that receives reflected light from the mirror, and the light receiving unit is composed of two or more sections, and between the sections of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit by the storage unit The relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit and the relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light stored in the storage means by the rotation control means Since the display unit is rotated so as to be the same when they are different from each other, the display unit is rotated so as to face the photographer. The display unit can be automatically rotated so as to be easier for the person to see.

  In addition, since the sensor for detecting the imager is composed of a pair of sensor units including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, the structure of the camera can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, since the light receiving unit is composed of two or more sections, the sensitivity of the light receiving unit can be made higher, and the display unit can be rotated more accurately.

  In addition, since the light receiving unit receives reflected light from the reflecting mirror provided on the bridge of the glasses worn by the photographer, the light receiving unit can detect the reflected light with higher sensitivity, so that the display unit Can be more suitably rotated.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the storage unit stores the relative intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit, and the rotation control unit stores the relative intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit. It is determined whether or not the relative intensity of the reflected light stored in the storage means is the same. If they are different, the display unit is rotated so as to be the same. The display unit can be automatically rotated so that the photographer can easily see the image.

  In addition, since the sensor for detecting the imager is composed of a pair of sensor units including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, the structure of the camera can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 2 can be obtained, and in particular, the light receiving unit is composed of two or more sections. The relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit is stored, and the rotation control means stores the relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit and the storage means. Since the display unit is rotated so that the relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light is the same, the sensitivity of the light receiving unit can be made higher, and the display unit can be rotated more accurately. Can be moved.

  The invention described in claim 4 can obtain the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 2 or 3, and in particular, the light receiving part is a reflection provided on a bridge of glasses worn by the photographer. Since the reflected light from the mirror is received, the light receiving unit can detect the reflected light with higher sensitivity, and the display unit can be more suitably rotated.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the camera 100 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the camera 100 according to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a camera 100 according to the present invention includes a camera main body 1 having a recess 10 for housing the display unit 2, a display unit 2 rotatably attached to the camera main unit 1, and a display. It is provided with a connecting part 3 for connecting the part 2 and the like.

  The display unit 2 includes, for example, a rectangular display panel unit 20 that is smaller than the outer shape of the display unit 2. The display unit 2 is connected to the connecting unit 3 via the first rotation shaft 30. The display unit 2 includes, for example, a pair of sensor units 21 including a light emitting unit 22 and a light receiving unit 23 provided at least two or more with the first rotation shaft 30 of the display unit 2 interposed therebetween. Composed.

  The display panel unit 20 includes, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Dysplay) panel, and displays a captured image captured by the camera 100 and an operation status of the camera 100.

  The light emitting unit 22 includes, for example, a light emitting diode that emits light toward the photographer, and the light receiving unit 23 receives reflected light that is reflected by the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22 when it hits the eye of the imager.

  In addition, the light receiving unit 23 includes, for example, four divided sections 23A, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2D. And the relative intensity | strength between each division 23A of the reflected light which the light-receiving part 23 light-receives differs according to the angle of reflected light.

  More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the angles of the reflected light that the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22 is reflected from the eye E of the photographer and received by the light receiving unit 23 are A1 and B1. 2B, as shown in FIG. 2B, in the light receiving unit 23 on the upper side of the display panel unit 20, the intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 is the same in the second section 23A from the top. In the light receiving part 23 on the lower side of the display panel part 20, the intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving part 23 is strongest in the second section 23A from the bottom.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2C, when the angles of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 are A2 and B2, respectively, and different from the angles A1 and B1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2 (d), in the light receiving unit 23 on the upper side of the display panel unit 20, the intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 is the strongest in the first section 23A from the top. In the light receiving part 23 on the lower side of the panel part 20, the intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving part 23 is highest in the third section 23A from the bottom.

  The connecting portion 3 includes a first rotating shaft 30 connected to the display portion 2 and a second rotation connected to a shaft portion 11A (described later) of the motor 11 provided inside the camera body 1. The moving shaft 31 and a belt 32 that synchronizes the rotation of the first rotating shaft 30 and the second rotating shaft 31 are provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the connecting portion 3 can be manually rotated up to about 90 degrees with respect to the camera body 1 around the second rotation shaft 31, and in this state, the motor 11 can be rotated. By being driven, the display unit 2 can be rotated about the first rotation shaft 30 (FIGS. 3C and 3D).

  And by providing such a connection part 3, it becomes possible to operate the display part 2 with respect to the camera 100 as follows.

  First, when the camera 100 is not used, as shown in FIG. 3A, the display unit 2 is rotated so that the display panel unit 20 faces the camera body 1, and the angle between the connecting unit 3 and the camera body 1 is set. The display unit 2 is accommodated in the recess 10 of the camera body 1. If it does in this way, the display panel part 20 of the display part 2 will be protected from the impact etc. from the outside. Moreover, when the display part 2 and the connection part 3 are accommodated in the recessed part 10, the shape of the camera 100 whole will become a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  When the camera 100 is used, as shown in FIG. 3B, the display unit 2 is rotated so that the display panel unit 20 faces the opposite side of the camera body 1 side, that is, toward the photographer. The display unit 2 is housed in the recess 10 of the camera body 1 so that the connecting part 3 and the camera body 1 are parallel to each other.

  Further, when the camera 100 is used by rotating the display unit 2 in accordance with the movement of the photographer, the angle between the connecting unit 3 and the camera body 1 is shown in FIGS. Is manually rotated so as to be approximately 90 degrees, and then the motor 11 is driven to automatically rotate the display unit 2.

  Specifically, for example, when the camera 100 is used at a position higher than the line of sight of the photographer (FIG. 3C), the display unit 2 is rotated so that the display panel unit 20 faces downward. Let Further, when the camera 100 is used at a position lower than the eye of the photographer (FIG. 3D), the display unit 2 is rotated so that the display panel unit 20 faces upward.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the camera body 1 controls a motor 11 that rotates the display unit 2, a motor drive unit 12 that drives the motor 11, an initial state determination switch 13, and the entire camera 100. The control unit 14 and the end switch 18 are provided.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the motor 11 includes a shaft portion 11 </ b> A that is rotated by the motor 11, and the shaft portion 11 </ b> A extends into the connecting portion 3 to perform a second rotation inside the connecting portion 3. The shaft 31 is connected. The motor 11 is connected to a motor drive unit 12 that drives the motor 11. Then, when the motor 11 is driven by the motor drive unit 12, the shaft portion 11A rotates, and the second rotation shaft 31 rotates along with the rotation of the shaft portion 11A. The rotation of the shaft 31 is transmitted to the first rotation shaft 30 via the belt 32 to rotate the first rotation shaft 30, and the display unit 2 is rotated along with the rotation of the first rotation shaft 30. Is configured to rotate.

  Further, for example, by applying a voltage to the motor driving unit 12 and applying a load to the motor 11, the display unit 2 is held at a position where it has been rotated and stopped. Thereby, in the rotation of the display unit 2, a free stop function is realized.

Moreover, you may implement | achieve a free stop function by connecting the rotary damper which consists of the gearwheel put in the highly viscous substance to the shaft part 11A of the motor 11, for example.

  The initial state determination switch 13 is a switch for storing the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 of the display unit 2 in reference intensity data 17A described later. When 13 is pressed, the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 at that time is stored in the reference intensity data 17A.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 14 includes a CPU 15, a RAM 16, a storage unit 17, and the like.

  The CPU 15 reads the processing program stored in the storage unit 17, develops it in the RAM 16, and executes it to control the entire camera 100. More specifically, the CPU 15 is connected to the light emitting unit 22, the light receiving unit 23, the motor driving unit 12, the initial state determination switch 13, the RAM 16, the storage unit 17, and the like. The entire camera 100 is controlled by rotating the motor 11 by controlling the motor driving unit 12 in response to a signal from the light receiving unit 23 that emits light toward and receives reflected light from the imager.

  The RAM 16 expands a processing program executed by the CPU 15 in a program storage area in the RAM 16 and stores input data and a processing result generated when the processing program is executed in a work area.

  The storage unit 17 includes, for example, a recording medium (not shown) in which programs, data, and the like are stored in advance, and the recording medium is configured by a semiconductor memory or the like. The storage unit 17 also stores various data, various processing programs, data processed by the execution of these programs, and the like for the CPU 15 to realize the function of controlling the entire camera 100. More specifically, the storage unit 17 stores, for example, reference intensity data 17A, a rotation control program 17B, and the like as shown in FIG.

  The reference intensity data 17A stores, for example, the relative intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 when the initial state determination switch 13 is pressed. More specifically, the reference intensity data 17A stores the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 when the initial state determination switch 13 is pressed. The storage unit 17 functions as a storage unit by storing the reference intensity data 17A.

  For example, the rotation control program 17B causes the CPU 15 to determine whether or not the relative intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 is the same as the relative intensity of the reflected light stored in the reference intensity data 17A. This is a program that realizes the function of rotating the display unit 2 by controlling the motor drive unit 12 and driving the motor 11. More specifically, the CPU 15 indicates that the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 is the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light stored in the reference intensity data 17A. It is a program for determining whether or not they are the same and realizing a function of rotating the display unit 2 so as to be the same when different.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, when the light emitted from the light emitting unit 22 is reflected from the eye E of the photographer and the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 is A1 and B1, When the state determination switch 13 is pressed, the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light shown in FIG. 2B is stored in the reference intensity data 17A. As shown in FIG. 2C, when the camera 100 is moved and the angles of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 are A2 and B2, as shown in FIG. The relative intensity between the sections 23A is different from the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light shown in FIG. Therefore, the CPU 15 executes the rotation control program ** so that the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 is between the sections 23A of the reflected light shown in FIG. The display unit 2 is controlled to rotate so that the relative strength of the display unit 2 becomes the same. The CPU 15 functions as a rotation control unit by executing the rotation control program 17B.

  The end switch 18 is a switch for ending the operation of the camera 100, for example. When the end switch is pressed, for example, the rotation control process of the display unit 2 is ended.

  Next, the operation of the camera 100 according to the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, when the photographer presses the initial state determination switch 13 (Step S1), the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 is stored in the reference intensity data 17A (Step S1). S2).

  Next, the CPU 15 determines whether or not the end button 18 has been pressed (step S3). If it is determined that the end button 18 has not been pressed (step S3; No), the process proceeds to step S4. If it is determined that the end button has been pressed (step S3; Yes), this process ends.

  In step S3, when the CPU 15 determines that the end button 18 has not been pressed (step S3; No), the CPU 15 executes the rotation control program 17B, whereby the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 is received. It is determined whether or not the relative intensity between the sections 23A is the same as the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light stored in the reference intensity data 17A (step S4).

  In step S4, the CPU 15 determines that the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 is the same as the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light stored in the reference intensity data 17A. If it is determined that there is (step S4; Yes), the process returns to step S3.

  In step S4, the CPU 15 determines that the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 is different from the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light stored in the reference intensity data 17A. When the determination is made (step S4; No), the CPU 15 executes the rotation control program 17B, so that the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 becomes the reference intensity data 17A. The display unit 2 is rotated so as to have the same relative intensity between the sections 23A of the stored reflected light, and the process returns to step S3 (step S5).

  In the present invention, the movement of the eye E of the photographer is detected based on the relative intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23, not the absolute intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23. The reason is that if the movement of the eye E of the photographer is detected with reference to the absolute intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23, for example, the light receiving unit 23 is reflected from the eye E of the imager. Even if the angle of the reflected light is the same, if the distance between the photographer and the camera 100 is different, the intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 will be different, and the movement of the eye E of the photographer will be incorrect. This is because it will be detected.

According to the camera 100 according to the above-described embodiment described above, at least two or more light emitting units 22 that are provided across the first rotation shaft 30 of the display unit 2 and emit light toward the photographer, and the photographer. A pair of sensor units 21 each including a light receiving unit 23 that receives reflected light from the light receiving unit 23. The light receiving unit 23 includes two or more sections 23A, and the light receiving unit 23 receives the reference intensity data 17A. The relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light is stored, and the CPU 15 executes the rotation control program 17B, whereby the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit 23 and the reference intensity. Since it is determined whether or not the relative intensity between the sections 23A of the reflected light stored in the data 17A is the same, the display unit 2 is rotated so as to be the same if they are different. Part 2 is for photographers It becomes to be rotated to face more easily seen as the display unit 2 can be rotated automatically to the photographer.

  In addition, since the sensor for detecting the photographer is configured by the pair of sensor units 21 including the light emitting unit 22 and the light receiving unit 23, the structure of the camera 100 can be simplified, and the cost can be suppressed.

  Further, since the light receiving unit 23 is composed of two or more sections 23A, the sensitivity of the light receiving unit 23 can be made higher, and the display unit 2 can be rotated more accurately.

  In the camera 100 according to the above embodiment, the light receiving unit 23 may receive reflected light from the reflecting mirror 41 provided on the bridge 40 of the glasses 4 worn by the photographer.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the glasses 4 are configured by including a reflecting mirror 41 on the bridge 40 of the glasses 4. The light emitted from the light emitting unit 22 is reflected by the reflecting mirror 41, and the light receiving unit 23 receives the reflected light reflected by the reflecting mirror 41.

  By doing so, the light receiving unit 23 receives the reflected light from the reflecting mirror 41 provided on the bridge 40 of the glasses 4 worn by the photographer, so the light receiving unit 23 detects the reflected light with higher sensitivity. As a result, the display unit 2 can be rotated more suitably.

It is the side view (a) and back view (b) of the camera which concern on this invention. The figure which shows a mode that the light-receiving part which concerns on this invention receives the reflected light reflected from an imager's eyes, and the figure which shows the intensity | strength of the reflected light in each division of the light-receiving part which concerns on this invention (B) and (d). It is figure (a)-(d) which shows a mode that the connection part and display part which concern on this invention rotate. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the camera which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the camera which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the glasses which concern on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Camera 1 Camera body 2 Display unit 30 First rotation axis (rotation axis)
21 sensor part 22 light emitting part 23 light receiving part 23A section 15 CPU (rotation control means)
17 Storage unit (storage means)
17A Reference strength data (storage means)
17B rotation control program (rotation control means)
4 Glasses 40 Bridge 41 Reflector

Claims (4)

In a camera that is rotatably provided in the camera body and includes a display unit that displays a captured image,
At least two or more are provided across the rotation axis of the display unit, and the light receiving unit receives light reflected from a light emitting unit that emits light toward the photographer and a reflector provided on a bridge of glasses worn by the imager. A pair of sensor parts, and
The light receiving unit is composed of two or more sections,
Storage means for storing a relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit;
It is determined whether or not the relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit is the same as the relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light stored in the storage means. Rotation control means for rotating the display unit so as to be the same in some cases,
A camera comprising: In a camera that is rotatably provided in the camera body and includes a display unit that displays a captured image,
A pair of sensor units each including at least two light emitting units that emit light toward the imager and a light receiving unit that receives reflected light reflected from the imager;
Storage means for storing the relative intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit;
It is determined whether or not the relative intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit and the relative intensity of the reflected light stored in the storage unit are the same. Rotation control means for rotating the display unit;
A camera comprising: The light receiving unit is composed of two or more sections,
The storage means stores a relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit,
In the rotation control means, the relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light received by the light receiving unit and the relative intensity between the sections of the reflected light stored in the storage means are the same. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the display unit is rotated.   The camera according to claim 2, wherein the light receiving unit receives reflected light from a reflecting mirror provided in a bridge of glasses worn by the imager.

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