JP2006350016A - Underwater capsule for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small and lightweight underwater capsule for a camera without impairing operability, while securing a waterproof structure. <P>SOLUTION: A touch sensor 100 is disposed on the rear face of the main body 41 of the underwater capsule for the camera. Power is supplied to the touch sensor 100 by electromagnetic induction from the camera. An operating-state signal from the touch sensor 100 is transmitted to the camera by non-contact communication. Thus, while securing the waterproof structure of the main body 41 of the underwater capsule for the camera, reductions in the size and weight of the main body 41 of the underwater capsule for the camera can be achieved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an underwater capsule for a camera that enables the camera to be used underwater.

  Conventionally, in order to take a picture underwater, a waterproof camera with a waterproof function added to the camera and an underwater capsule for a camera that covers the entire camera so that the main body of the camera does not touch water are used. In this type of underwater capsule, a waterproof operation lever or button is provided for countermeasures against flooding due to water pressure, and the size of the capsule itself is increased accordingly.

Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a technique that enables the camera inside the camera underwater capsule to be operated from the outside of the camera underwater capsule by a remote control signal from an infrared remote controller (remote controller).
JP-A-7-287286

  By the way, when an infrared remote controller is used as in the method of Patent Document 1, the remote controller must be carried when photographing underwater. In this case, you can hold the camera with one hand and the remote control with the other hand, so you can't hold the camera firmly and the image at the time of shooting blurs, ruining your precious photos There is a fear.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a small and lightweight underwater capsule for a camera without deteriorating operability while maintaining a waterproof structure.

  In order to achieve the above object, the underwater capsule for a camera according to the first aspect of the present invention is a submerged capsule for a camera configured to be able to store a camera, and a plurality of detection areas are arranged in a two-dimensional manner. Infrared detection type touch sensor means, detection means for detecting coordinates of a user touch position in the touch sensor means, and transmission means for transmitting a detection result of the detection means to the camera body by non-contact communication. It is characterized by doing.

  According to the first aspect, the operability is not impaired even in water by using the touch sensor means. Further, since the power is supplied by electromagnetic induction from the camera side, the underwater capsule for camera can be reduced in size and weight.

  According to the present invention, a small and lightweight underwater capsule for a camera can be provided without impairing operability while maintaining a waterproof structure.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a camera housed in an underwater capsule for a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, FIG. 1A shows a front perspective view of the camera, and FIG. 1B shows a rear perspective view of the camera.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, a lens barrel 2 and a strobe light emitting unit 3 are provided on the front surface of the camera body 1. Inside the lens barrel 2 are provided a lens system for causing a light beam from a subject (not shown) to enter an imaging unit inside the camera, a driving mechanism for driving the lens system, and the like. The strobe light emitting unit 3 is composed of an arc tube for strobe light emission.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a release button 4 and a mode dial 5 are provided on the upper surface of the camera body 1. The release button 4 is a manual operation member for the user to instruct the camera to start shooting. The mode dial 5 is an operation member for the user to set the shooting mode of the camera.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, on the back of the camera body 1, an electronic viewfinder device (EVF) 6, a cross key 7, a confirmation key 8, a liquid crystal monitor (LCD) 9, and an underwater camera. A capsule detection button 10 is provided. The EVF 6 is a display device for the user to observe the state of the subject at the time of shooting. The EVF 6 is composed of a small LCD or the like. When the power of the camera body 1 is turned on, a subject image is picked up through the lens barrel 2 and an image obtained thereby is displayed on an LCD provided in the EVF 6. Thereby, the user can observe the state of the subject. The cross key 7 is a manual operation member for the user to perform various camera selection settings. The confirmation key 8 is a manual operation member for confirming the selection set by the cross key 7. The LCD 9 is a monitor for displaying various images such as shooting results and menu screens. A finder image similar to the EVF 6 can be displayed on the LCD 9. The underwater capsule detection button for camera 10 is a button for detecting on the camera side that the camera body 1 is stored in the underwater capsule for camera.

  Here, when the release button 4, the mode dial 5, the cross key 7, and the confirmation key 8 shown in FIG. 1 are operated by the user, an operation state signal corresponding to the operation is output to the control unit inside the camera. The control unit inside the camera executes various controls according to the operation state signal. The manual operation member is not limited to the above.

  FIG. 2 is an external rear perspective view of the underwater capsule for a camera according to the present embodiment in which the camera of FIG. 1 is accommodated. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state where the camera underwater capsule stores the camera. When the camera body 1 is stored in the camera underwater capsule body 41, the camera underwater capsule detection button 10 of the camera body 1 is pressed by the pressing member 42 provided in the camera underwater capsule body 41. Yes. Thereby, it is detected on the camera side that the camera body 1 is stored in the camera underwater capsule body 41. At this time, the underwater capsule itself is sealed by the hinge portions 43 and 44.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an infrared light shielding touch sensor 100 capable of executing an operation corresponding to the manual operation member of the camera shown in FIG.

  Here, the infrared light shielding touch sensor 100 will be described in more detail. FIG. 3 is a top view of the touch sensor 100. The touch sensor 100 detects the coordinates of a detection area (user touch position) touched by a user's finger or the like in a plurality of detection areas indicated by reference numerals 301 to 320. For this reason, the touch sensor 100 is configured by two-dimensionally arranging pairs of infrared light projecting elements and infrared light receiving elements. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the touch sensor 100 is configured to receive infrared light from the infrared light projecting elements 101 to 104 that irradiate infrared light in the horizontal direction of the detection region and infrared light from the infrared light projecting elements 101 to 104. Light receiving elements 105 to 108, infrared light projecting elements 201 to 205 that irradiate infrared light in a direction perpendicular to the detection region, and infrared light receiving elements 206 to 210 that receive infrared light from the infrared light projecting elements 201 to 205. Have. Here, the infrared light projecting element is composed of, for example, an infrared light projecting LED, and the infrared light receiving element is composed of, for example, a phototransistor.

  FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the touch sensor 100. 4 shows only the infrared light projecting element 101 and the infrared light receiving element 105, other infrared light projecting elements and infrared light receiving elements have the configuration shown in FIG. Further, a condensing lens 101 a is provided in the light irradiation part of the infrared light projecting element 101, and a condensing lens 105 a is provided in the light receiving part of the infrared light receiving element 105.

  In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, when there is no obstacle that blocks infrared light between the infrared light projecting element 101 and the infrared light receiving element 105, the red light projected from the infrared light projecting element 101. External light is collected by the condenser lens 101a and enters the infrared light receiving element 105 through the condenser lens 105a.

  On the other hand, when a user's finger or the like touches the detection area between the infrared light projecting element 101 and the infrared light receiving element 105, infrared light does not enter the infrared light receiving element 105, and a signal output from the infrared light receiving element 105 The level changes. By determining the state of the output signal of the infrared light receiving element 105, the coordinates of the user touch position can be detected. The control IC in the touch sensor executes processing corresponding to the detected user touch position.

  In addition, a display surface 321 formed of an LCD or the like is provided on the lower surface of the detection area of the touch sensor 100. On this display surface 321, an icon or the like is displayed so that it can be understood what operation function is set at which position in the detection area.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the infrared light projecting element 101, the infrared light receiving element 105, and the display surface 321 of the infrared light shielding touch sensor 100 can be configured inside the underwater capsule body 41 for a camera. The water does not flow into the touch sensor 100 when used underwater. In FIG. 4, the condensing lens 101a and the condensing lens 105a are exposed outside the underwater capsule main body 41 for camera, but the condensing lens 101a is configured by forming the underwater capsule main body 41 for camera with a transparent member. And 105a can be provided inside the underwater capsule main body 41 for a camera. It is also possible not to provide the condenser lens 105a.

  In addition, when the detection area of the touch sensor 100 (actually, the infrared light emitting part of the infrared light projecting element or the infrared light receiving part of the infrared light receiving element) is dirty or dust is attached to the detection area, Since the touch sensor 100 may not operate normally, in this embodiment, dust or dirt in the detection area can be detected when the touch sensor 100 is operated. This process will be described later.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration inside the camera and the underwater capsule for camera.

  First, the configuration on the camera side will be described. In FIG. 5, a lens 11 is a photographing optical system that forms an image of a luminous flux of a subject (not shown) on the photoelectric conversion surface of the rear CCD 15. The lens 11 is driven by an AF mechanism 13 including a motor. The diaphragm 12 and the shutter 14 are disposed between the lens 11 and the CCD 15. The diaphragm 12 adjusts the amount of light incident on the CCD 15. The shutter 14 shields the photoelectric conversion surface of the CCD 15. Here, in FIG. 5, the diaphragm 12 and the shutter 14 may be configured by one mechanism.

  The CCD 15 converts the light beam incident on the photoelectric conversion surface into an electric signal (image signal). The imaging circuit 16 reads the image signal obtained by the CCD 15 at predetermined timings and performs various analog processes. This analog processing includes CDS (correlated double sampling processing) for noise removal, gain adjustment processing, and the like. The analog / digital (A / D) conversion circuit 17 converts the image signal analog-processed by the imaging circuit 16 into a digital signal.

  The image processing unit 18 performs image processing on the digital image signal obtained by the A / D conversion circuit 17.

As this image processing, for example, white balance correction processing for correcting white balance of an image, YC generation processing for generating a Y (luminance) signal and a C (color) signal from RGB digital image signals, and tone correction of an image. There are gradation correction processes to be performed.

  The buffer memory 19 temporarily stores the digital image signal processed by the image processing unit 18. The liquid crystal control unit 20 reads the digital image signal stored in the buffer memory 19 and displays an image on the LCD 9 based on the read digital image signal. The compression / decompression unit 21 reads out the digital image signal stored in the buffer memory 19 and compresses the digital image signal by various methods such as the JPEG method, and records the compressed image on the recording medium 23 via the interface (I / F) 22. . Examples of the recording medium 23 include a card-type memory and a hard disk configured to be detachable from the camera shown in FIG.

The finder image generation unit 24 performs image processing for generating an image for finder display on the digital image signal obtained by continuously capturing images with the CCD 15. Examples of the image processing include white balance correction processing for correcting the white balance of the image and resizing processing for adjusting the image size to the display size of the display unit. The liquid crystal controller 25 displays a finder image on the EVF 6 based on the finder image generated by the finder image generator 24. The viewfinder image can also be displayed on the LCD 9.
The strobe control circuit 26 performs light emission control of the strobe light emitting unit 3. The wireless communication circuit 27 performs various wireless processes such as signal modulation and demodulation during wireless communication with the camera underwater capsule. The antenna 28 transmits a radio signal processed by the radio communication circuit 27. Or the radio signal transmitted from the underwater capsule for cameras is received. The power supply circuit 29 is a power supply circuit on the camera body side, converts a voltage such as a battery (not shown) into a voltage required for each circuit inside the camera, and supplies the voltage to each circuit inside the camera. The camera underwater capsule detection switch (SW) 30 detects the pressed state of the camera underwater capsule detection button 10.

  The system controller 31 controls the operation of the aperture 12, the AF mechanism 13, and the shutter 14, the signal readout timing control of the imaging circuit 16, the instruction of the gain amount in the A / D conversion circuit 17, the control of the image processing unit 18, the buffer memory Control of each circuit of the digital camera, such as instruction of 19 write / read addresses, operation control of the strobe control circuit 26, operation control of the wireless communication circuit 27, operation control of the power supply circuit 29, and the like. Further, the system controller 31 performs a photometric calculation and a calculation for contrast AF based on the finder image generated by the finder image generation unit 24. Here, the contrast AF is an AF method for driving the lens 11 so that the contrast of the finder image generated by the finder image generation unit 24 is the highest.

  The operation unit 32 is a manual operation member group for the user to give various operation instructions to the camera. FIG. 5 illustrates the release button 4, the mode dial 5, the cross key 7, and the confirmation key 8 described in FIG. 1.

  Next, the configuration of the camera underwater capsule side will be described. In FIG. 5, the antenna 33 receives a radio signal transmitted from the camera side. Alternatively, a wireless signal is transmitted to the camera side. The wireless communication circuit 34 has the same configuration as the wireless communication circuit 27 and performs various wireless processes such as modulation and demodulation of signals during wireless communication. Here, the antenna 33 and the wireless communication circuit 34 constitute transmission means.

  The touch sensor control IC 35 serving as a detection unit is configured to detect the coordinates of the user touch position detected based on the operation control of the wireless communication circuit 34 and the output signals of the infrared light receiving elements 105 to 108 and the infrared light receiving elements 206 to 210 of the touch sensor 100. Control the process accordingly. The power supply circuit 36 is a power supply circuit on the underwater capsule side for the camera. Here, the power supply circuit 36 can receive power supply from the camera body 1 side by electromagnetic induction. For example, the power supply circuit 36 is configured to use an electromotive force generated at the antenna 33 as a power source when a radio signal is received at the antenna 33. A power supply antenna may be separately provided in the power supply circuit 36.

  Next, the operation of the camera using the touch sensor 100 in the camera having the above-described configuration and the underwater capsule for camera will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed in the touch sensor control IC 35 when the touch sensor 100 is activated.

  When the touch sensor 100 is activated, first, the on / off state of each detection area of the touch sensor 100 is determined (step S1). Here, for example, when the signal output of the infrared light receiving element corresponding to each detection region is at a low level, it is turned on. In the determination in step S1, if all the detection areas are not turned on, dust or the like is not attached to the detection area of the touch sensor 100, and the user's finger or the like does not touch the detection area. In this case, the determination of the on / off state of the detection area is performed again.

  If it is determined in step S1 that all the detection areas are turned on, step S1 is branched to step S2, and the detection area of the touch sensor 100 is dirty, or the water is used underwater. Is determined to be cloudy (step S2), and the function of the touch sensor 100 is temporarily stopped (step S3). In this case, the user may be notified that the detection area of the touch sensor 100 is dirty.

  If it is determined in step S1 that a part of the detection area is on, step S1 is branched to step S4, and the user's finger (touch pen or the like) is in contact with the on part. And a turbidity determination sequence for determining whether it is dust (step S4). The processing of this turbidity determination sequence will be described later. After the turbidity determination sequence in step S4, it is determined whether or not the user's finger is in contact with the turned-on portion (step S5). This determination is made based on, for example, whether or not a plurality of detection areas are simultaneously turned on. That is, when only one detection area is turned on, it is determined that the finger is a finger. When a plurality of detection areas are turned on, it is determined that the object is dust.

  If it is determined in step S5 that dust is in contact with the ON portion, step S5 is branched to step S6, and control by the touch sensor 100 is ignored (step S6). Then, it returns to step S1. If it is determined in step S5 that the user's finger is in contact with the turned-on portion, step S5 is branched to step S7, and control by the touch sensor 100 is started (step S5). S7). That is, the turbidity determination sequence in step S4 is performed until it is determined in step S5 that the user's finger has touched. If it is determined in step S5 that dust is attached to the detection area, the user may be notified of this.

  Further, a timer may be provided in the touch sensor control IC 35 so that the determination in step S1 of FIG. 6 can be performed at predetermined time intervals. In this case, even if it is determined in step S1 that the detection area of the touch sensor 100 is all on and the detection area is dirty, the determination in step S1 is repeated until the detection area is no longer dirty. It can be carried out.

  Next, the control by the touch sensor 100 in step S7 will be described with reference to FIG. In the process of FIG. 7, first, the coordinates of the user touch position in the detection area are measured (step S11). Thereafter, an operation state signal corresponding to the measured coordinates is transmitted to the camera body 1 side (step S12). On the camera body 1 side, processing according to the received operation state signal is executed.

  Next, the turbidity determination sequence in step S4 will be described with reference to FIG. In the turbidity determination sequence, it is first determined whether or not the ON position of the detection region has changed when infrared rays are irradiated a plurality of times (step S21). In the determination in step S <b> 21, when the ON position changes, it is considered that the dust attached to the detection area has moved or the user who has touched the detection area of the touch sensor 100 has moved away. It is done. In this case, step S21 is branched to step S22, and it is determined that there is dust or a finger in the detection area (step S22). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S5 in FIG. 6 to determine whether it is dust or a finger that touches the detection area.

  On the other hand, when the ON position does not change in the determination in step S21, it is considered that the detection region is dirty or the water is cloudy. In this case, step S21 is branched to step S23, and it is determined that there is water turbidity or contamination of the detection region (step S23). Thereafter, the control by the touch sensor 100 is ignored (step S24). At this time, a notification may be made so that the user can confirm whether the detection area of the touch sensor 100 is dirty on the display surface provided on the touch sensor 100, the LCD 9, or the like. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S5 in FIG. In this case, since the finger is not touching the detection area, the process branches to step S6.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operation of the camera housed in the camera underwater capsule can be performed by the touch sensor provided on the back surface of the camera underwater capsule. Further, since the operation state signal from the touch sensor is sent to the camera side by non-contact communication, the user does not need to carry a remote control or the like. For this reason, the operability is not impaired while having a waterproof structure, and the user can hold the underwater capsule for camera with both hands.

  In addition, since the power of the touch sensor is supplied from the camera side by electromagnetic induction, it is not necessary to load a power source on the camera underwater capsule side, and the camera underwater capsule can be configured to be small and lightweight.

  Furthermore, when the detection area of the touch sensor is dirty due to water becoming cloudy when used underwater, the touch sensor control is ignored, so that malfunction of the touch sensor can be prevented. .

  Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are naturally possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, the turbidity determination sequence process is performed when the touch sensor 100 is activated, but the user may be able to execute it at an arbitrary timing.

  Further, the above-described embodiments include various stages of the invention, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, the problem described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the effect described in the column of the effect of the invention Can be extracted as an invention.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the camera accommodated in the underwater capsule for cameras which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an external appearance back perspective view of the underwater capsule for cameras concerning this embodiment in which the camera of Drawing 1 is stored. It is a top view of a touch sensor. It is side surface sectional drawing of a touch sensor. It is a block diagram shown about the circuit structure inside a camera and the underwater capsule for cameras. It is a flowchart shown about the process performed in the control IC for touch sensors at the time of starting of a touch sensor. It is a flowchart shown about the control processing by a touch sensor. It is a flowchart shown about a turbidity determination sequence.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera body, 2 ... Lens barrel, 3 ... Strobe light emission part, 4 ... Release button, 5 ... Mode dial, 6 ... Electronic viewfinder apparatus (EVF), 7 ... Cross key, 8 ... Confirm key, 9 ... Liquid crystal Monitor (LCD), 10 ... Underwater capsule detection button for camera, 11 ... Lens, 13 ... AF mechanism, 14 ... Shutter, 15 ... CCD, 16 ... Imaging circuit, 17 ... Analog / digital (A / D) conversion circuit, 18 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Image processing part, 19 ... Buffer memory, 20, 25 ... Liquid crystal control part, 21 ... Compression / decompression part, 22 ... Interface (I / F), 23 ... Recording medium, 24 ... Finder image generation part, 26 ... Strobe control circuit 27, 34 ... wireless communication circuit, 28, 33 ... antenna, 29, 36 ... power supply circuit, 30 ... underwater capsule detection switch (SW) for camera, 31 ... system code Controller, 32 ... operation unit, 35 ... touch sensor control IC, 41 ... water capsule body camera, 42 ... pressing member, 100 ... touch sensor

Claims (6)

In the underwater capsule for cameras that is configured to store the camera,
An infrared detection type touch sensor means in which a plurality of detection areas are arranged in a two-dimensional manner;
Detecting means for detecting coordinates of a user touch position in the touch sensor means;
Transmitting means for transmitting the detection result of the detecting means to the main body of the camera by non-contact communication;
An underwater capsule for a camera characterized by comprising:   2. The underwater capsule for camera according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor means is provided on a back surface of the main body of the underwater capsule for camera.   The underwater capsule for camera according to claim 1, wherein power is supplied to the underwater capsule for camera from the camera by electromagnetic induction. The touch sensor means has a plurality of pairs consisting of an infrared light projecting unit that projects infrared light and an infrared light receiving unit that receives infrared light projected from the infrared light projecting unit,
2. The camera water according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects coordinates of the user touch position from an output signal of the infrared light receiving unit when infrared light is projected from the infrared light projecting unit. Medium capsule.   5. The camera water according to claim 4, wherein the detection unit includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the coordinates of the user touch position can be detected from an output signal of the infrared light receiving unit. Medium capsule.   The underwater capsule for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the detection result of the detection means includes an operation state signal for operating the camera set corresponding to the coordinates of the user touch position.

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