JP2007028481A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent incorrect operation of an operation button caused by rotation of an indicator and the like without preparing a rotation restricting mechanism at a hinge. <P>SOLUTION: The electronic device includes a camera main body 100, an indicator 104 mounted on the camera main body 100 in a rotatable way through a hinge 111; a hosing unit 106 formed at the camera main body 100 for storing the indicator 104; operation buttons 107a-107j provided at the hosing unit 106; and a detection unit 108 for detecting whether an opening and closing angle around a rotatable axis 103 of the indicator 104 exceeds a set angle α1 or not. If it is detected by the detection unit 108 that the opening and closing angle of the indicator 104 doesn't exceed the set angle α1, the operation of the operation buttons 107a-107j are canceled out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention has a configuration in which a display body is rotatably attached to an electronic device body via a hinge, and a configuration in which a first housing and a second housing are rotatably attached to each other via a hinge. It relates to electronic equipment.

  An electronic device such as an imaging device or a playback device has a structure in which a display body is rotatably attached to an electronic device body via a hinge, and a display body storage portion is provided on one surface of the electronic device body There is.

  In this type of electronic device, when the operation button is arranged in the storage unit, particularly when the electronic device is to be downsized, the operation button arranged in the storage unit is pushed by the rotation of the display body. There is a possibility that an erroneous operation may occur, which is one of the factors that hinder downsizing.

  In order to solve these problems, in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 8, a liquid crystal panel 1004 is attached to a main body 1000A via a hinge 1005 so as to be rotatable around an X axis and a Y axis. By providing the hinge 1005 with a rotation restricting mechanism that prevents the rotation axis X from rotating unless the liquid crystal panel 1004 is opened to the right angle with respect to the optical axis CL, erroneous operation of the operation buttons disposed in the storage unit 1006 is prevented. A configuration to prevent is proposed.

  Further, Patent Document 2 proposes a configuration that prevents an erroneous operation due to rotation of the display body by arranging an operation button for operating the main body in the same plane as the display surface of the display body.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-15579 Japanese Patent No. 3235183

  However, if a rotation restricting mechanism is provided on the hinge as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the structure of the hinge becomes complicated, and the size of the hinge cannot be reduced, and the size of the hinge hinders the overall size reduction. It becomes a factor.

  Further, when the operation buttons are arranged on the display body as disclosed in Patent Document 2, the configuration of the display body becomes complicated and the display body cannot be reduced in size, and the size of the display body can be reduced as a whole. It becomes a factor to inhibit.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is possible to prevent erroneous operation of an operation button due to rotation of a display body or the like without providing a rotation restriction mechanism on the hinge. With the goal.

An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes an electronic apparatus main body, a display body rotatably attached to the electronic apparatus main body via a hinge, and a storage unit provided in the electronic apparatus main body for storing the display body. And an operating member disposed in the storage unit, a detecting means for detecting whether or not an opening / closing angle of the display body exceeds a set angle, and an opening / closing angle of the display body exceeding the set angle by the detecting means. If it is detected that the operation member is not, an invalid means for invalidating the operation of the operation member is provided.
Another electronic device according to the present invention includes a first housing and a second housing that are rotatably attached to each other via a hinge, an operation member disposed in the first housing, and the first housing Detecting means for detecting whether or not the opening / closing angle of the second casing exceeds a set angle, and when the detecting means detects that the opening / closing angle of the second casing does not exceed the setting angle, The present invention is characterized in that it includes invalid means for invalidating operation of the operation member.

  According to the present invention, when the detection means detects that the opening / closing angle of the display body or the second housing does not exceed the set angle, the operation of the operation member is invalidated. There is no need to provide a special mechanism for prevention, and erroneous operation of the operation buttons due to rotation of the display body or the second housing can be prevented. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the configuration of the hinges and the display body from becoming complicated, and it is possible to reduce the overall size of the electronic device and to reduce the cost.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera-integrated VTR (video camera) as an example of an electronic apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

  An imaging unit 1 includes an optical lens, an imaging device such as a CCD, an autofocus mechanism, a zoom mechanism, and the like. The imaging unit 1 adjusts the focal point, the amount of light, and the like of the subject in accordance with an instruction from the camera system control unit 3, converts the optical image of the subject imaged through the lens into a video signal, and sends it to the camera signal processing unit 2. To do.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a camera signal processing unit, which performs predetermined signal processing on the video signal from the imaging unit 1 in accordance with an instruction from the camera system control unit 3 and sends it to the recording / reproducing unit 6.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a camera system control unit, which includes a microcomputer or the like that controls the entire camera system according to instructions from the system control unit 5 and the camera system operation unit 4.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a camera system operation unit, which includes various switches and dials (AF on / off, AE auto / lock, program AE, etc.) related to the camera system, and commands from the photographer via the system control unit 5 It is sent to the system control unit 3.

  A system control unit 5 includes a microcomputer that comprehensively controls various functions of the camera-integrated VTR.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a recording / reproducing unit, which includes a mechanical unit, a mechanical driving unit, a mechanical / servo control unit centered on a microcomputer, a video / audio signal processing unit, and the like, and records video signals in accordance with instructions from the system control unit 5. A playback operation is performed, and a video signal is sent to the display unit 12 and lined out.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a recording / playback unit operation unit, and various switches ([ONSCREEN], [BACKLIGHT], [WIDE SCREEN], [Execute], [MENU], [FF / REW], [STOP] relating to the recording / playback and the entire apparatus. , [START / STOP], etc.) and sends an instruction from the photographer to the system control unit 5.

  A power switch (SW) 8 is used to turn on / off the power supply of the main body, and sends the state to the system control unit 5.

  A remote control light receiving unit 9 receives an infrared light signal from a remote control commander (not shown) and sends a signal to the system control unit 5, whereby the camera-integrated VTR is remotely operated.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes an LED light emitting unit which emits light when the remote control light receiving unit 9 receives an infrared light signal from the remote control commander and informs the photographer that the remote control has received light or during recording operation of the camera-integrated VTR. Flashes and informs the photographer that recording is in progress.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes a speaker unit which outputs sound recorded during reproduction by the camera-integrated VTR.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes a display unit, which includes a display body including a display element having a relatively large screen size of 1.0 inch or more so that the photographer can directly observe the display panel. The display unit 102 includes an LCD unit, a backlight unit, an LCD drive, and an electric substrate for driving the backlight (not shown). However, the display unit 102 may include not only a liquid crystal panel but also an organic EL, SED, etc. In addition to projecting, it displays various information of the main body with characters and symbols, and displays a guide when setting a menu.

  A display unit 13 projects a video signal from the recording / reproducing unit 6 to a photographer, and the photographer observes the display element through an eyepiece. The display unit 13 includes an LCD unit (not shown), a backlight unit, an LCD drive, and an electric substrate for driving the backlight. However, the display unit 13 may include not only a liquid crystal panel but also an organic EL, SED, etc. And displays various information on the main body using characters and symbols, and guide display when setting menus. The photographer can use the display units 12 and 13 properly according to the usage situation.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes a detection unit, which will be described in detail later, and is used when determining whether or not to enable the function of the operation button on the camera body side or when using the display units 12 and 13 properly.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes a microphone unit having a microphone, which collects external sound during shooting. The sound collected by the microphone unit 15 is converted into an electric signal and recorded by the recording / reproducing unit 6.

  Reference numeral 16 denotes an input / output terminal, which is used when video / audio signals from a camera-integrated VTR are output to a monitor (not shown) or when video / audio signals from an external VTR are input for recording. The

  In the above description, the recording / reproducing unit is described as a VTR, but a recording medium such as a solid memory such as a semiconductor, a hard disk, or an optical storage medium may be used.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the camera-integrated VTR of the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes an optical axis.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a display body, which corresponds to the display unit 12 shown in FIG. Reference numeral 105 denotes a display unit, which corresponds to the display unit 13 shown in FIG. The display body 104 is attached to the camera body 100 so as to be rotatable via a hinge 111, and is rotatable about an orthogonal opening / closing shaft 103 and a rotation shaft 102 here. In other words, the hinge 111 rotates the display body 104 in the opening / closing direction with respect to the camera body 100 and the second rotation for rotating the display unit 12 so that the display unit 12 can be turned upside down. And a moving shaft (rotating shaft 102).

  The camera body 100 is formed with a storage unit 106 for storing the display body 104, and operation buttons 107 a to 107 j are arranged in the storage unit 106. The operation buttons 107a to 107j are operation buttons for operating the camera system and the recording / reproducing system, and correspond to the camera system operating unit 4 and the recording / reproducing unit system operating unit 7 shown in FIG.

  Further, in the camera body 100, the input / output terminal 16 is stored in the locations indicated by 112a and 112b, the speaker unit 11 is stored in the location indicated by 113, and the recording / reproducing unit 6 and the recording medium are stored in the location indicated by 114. The image pickup unit 1 is stored at a position indicated by 115. The recording medium includes an optical storage medium, a solid-state memory such as a semiconductor, a hard disk, and a magnetic tape, and is recorded and reproduced by the recording / reproducing unit 6.

  Further, the camera body 100 stores a camera signal processing unit 2, a camera system control unit 3, a system control unit 5, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration near the detection unit. Reference numeral 108 denotes a detection unit, which corresponds to the detection unit 14 shown in FIG. When the display body 104 is rotated about the opening / closing shaft 103 and is opened so as to rise from the storage unit 106, the hinge 111 pushes down the lid body 110 that rotates about the rotation shaft 109. When the depressed lid 110 presses the switch of the detection unit 108, a signal is sent to the system control unit 5 in the camera body 100, and the angle of the rotation shaft 102 with respect to the camera body 100 (storage unit 106), That is, it is detected that the opening / closing angle of the display body 104 exceeds the set angle α1 (see FIG. 5).

  In the present embodiment, the set angle α1 is pressed when the display body 104 abuts on the operation buttons 107a to 107j disposed on the storage unit 106 when the display body 104 is rotated about the rotation shaft 102. The maximum possible angle is set. In other words, if the display body 104 rotates about the opening / closing axis 103 beyond the set angle α1, even if the display body 104 is rotated about the rotation axis 102, the display body 104 operates on the operation buttons 107a to 107a. There is no possibility of depressing 107j, thereby preventing an erroneous operation due to the rotation of the display body 104.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing operation in the camera-integrated VTR of this embodiment. The control process shown in this flowchart is executed according to a program stored in advance by the system control unit 5.

  When the power is turned on (step S1), the operation is started (step S2), and the presence / absence of a signal from the detection unit 108 is detected (step S3).

  In step S3, a signal from the detection unit 108 is detected, and it is detected that the opening / closing angle of the display body 104 exceeds the set angle α1, that is, the display body 104 is in a position away from the storage unit 106, and the display If the operation buttons 107a to 107j arranged in the storage unit 106 are not pressed even when the body 104 is rotated about the rotation shaft 102, the system control unit 5 enables the operation of the operation buttons 107a to 107j (step S107). S4).

  Then, after sending a signal to the recording / reproducing unit 6, the recording / reproducing unit 6 turns on the display of the display body 104 and turns off the display of the display unit 105 (step S5).

  On the other hand, in step S3, the signal from the detection unit 108 is not detected and it is detected that the opening / closing angle of the display body 104 is equal to or smaller than the set angle α1, that is, the position where the display body 104 is close to the storage unit 106. If the display body 104 is rotated about the rotation shaft 102 and the operation buttons 107a to 107j arranged in the storage unit 106 may be pressed, the system control unit 5 sets the operation buttons 107a to 107j. The operation is invalidated (step S6).

  Then, after sending a signal to the recording / reproducing unit 6, the recording / reproducing unit 6 turns on the display of the display unit 105 and turns off the display of the display body 104 (step S7).

  Until the power is turned off, the processing operations in steps S3 to S8 are executed in a loop (step S8).

  When the power is turned off, the operation ends. (Step S9).

  As described above, since the operation of the operation buttons 107a to 107j is invalidated until the opening / closing angle of the display body 104 exceeds the set angle α1, it is necessary to provide a special mechanism for preventing an erroneous operation on the hinge. In addition, erroneous operation of the operation buttons 107a to 107j due to the rotation of the display body 104 can be prevented. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the configuration of the hinge mechanism, the display unit, and the like from being complicated, the entire electronic device can be reduced in size, and the cost can be reduced.

  In addition, since the detection unit 108 also serves to detect whether the display bodies 104 and 105 are switched between display and non-display, a separate mechanism for switching the display bodies 104 and 105 is not required, and the overall size of the electronic device can be reduced. Can be achieved and the cost is reduced.

(Second Embodiment)
6a and 6b are perspective views showing the appearance of the camera-integrated VTR of the present embodiment. Note that the basic configuration is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and here, the description will focus on the differences, and duplicate description will be omitted.

  In the present embodiment, a battery 201 is disposed in the storage unit in place of the operation buttons 107a to 107j disposed in the storage unit 106 described in the first embodiment. Further, an operation button 202 is disposed in the storage unit. These operation buttons 202 are also provided at positions that may be pressed by the rotation of the display body 104.

  Also in this case, by detecting the opening / closing angle of the display body 104, an erroneous operation of the operation button 202 can be prevented as described in the first embodiment. Instead of the battery 201, a portable memory card slot insertion portion may be arranged.

  As in the present embodiment, the operation buttons can be arranged even in a space where the operation buttons cannot be arranged conventionally, and the useless space of the housing can be effectively used, so that the entire electronic device can be reduced in size. be able to.

(Third embodiment)
7a and 7b are perspective views showing the appearance of a mobile phone as an example of an electronic apparatus to which the present invention is applied. A first housing 304 provided with an operation member and a second housing 301 provided with a display portion are attached to each other via a hinge so as to be rotatable.

  The hinge rotates a first rotation shaft (opening / closing shaft 302) for rotating the second housing 301 in the opening / closing direction with respect to the first housing 304, and the second housing 301 can be turned upside down. A second rotating shaft (rotating shaft 303) to be moved.

  Although not specifically shown, the angle of the rotation shaft 303 with respect to the first casing 304, that is, the opening / closing angle of the second casing 301 exceeds the set angle α1, as in the first embodiment. A detection unit for detecting this is provided. The setting angle α1 is pressed when the second housing 301 is rotated about the rotation shaft 303 and the second housing 301 is brought into contact with the operation button disposed on the first housing 304. It is set to the maximum possible angle. In other words, if the second casing 301 rotates about the opening / closing axis 302 beyond the set angle α1, the second casing 301 can be rotated even if the second casing 301 rotates about the rotation axis 303. There is no possibility that the housing 301 will press the operation button. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7b, even if the second housing 301 rotates and the operation button disposed on the first housing 304 is pressed, the operation button is invalidated. Can be prevented.

  Note that the display portion is not limited to being provided in the second housing 301 and may be provided in the first housing 304.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated with embodiment, it is not limited to it, A change etc. are possible within the scope of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the electronic device of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the electronic device of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the detection part vicinity in the electronic device of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation in the electronic device of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the definition of the detection angle of the detection part in 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the electronic device of 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the electronic device of 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the electronic device of 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the electronic device of 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the conventional electronic device.

Explanation of symbols

100: camera body 101: optical axis 102: rotation axis (second rotation axis)
103: Opening / closing axis (first rotation axis)
104: Display unit 105: Display unit 106: Storage units 107a to 107j: Operation button 108: Detection unit 109: Rotating shaft 201: Battery 202: Operation button 301: Second casing 302: Opening / closing axis (first rotation) Dynamic axis)
303: Rotating shaft (second rotating shaft)
304: First housing

Claims (9)

An electronic device body,
A display body rotatably attached to the electronic device body via a hinge;
A storage section provided in the electronic device main body for storing the display body;
An operation member disposed in the storage unit;
Detecting means for detecting whether an opening / closing angle of the display body exceeds a set angle;
An electronic apparatus comprising: invalidating means for invalidating operation of the operation member when the detection means detects that the opening / closing angle of the display body does not exceed a set angle.   The hinge includes a first rotation shaft that rotates the display body in an opening / closing direction with respect to the electronic device main body, and a second rotation shaft that rotates the display body so that the display body can be turned upside down. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit detects a rotation angle about the first rotation axis.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the set angle is a maximum angle at which the display body may press the operation member.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit also serves to detect switching between display and non-display of the display body.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a battery is provided in the storage unit.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recording medium is provided in the storage unit. A first housing and a second housing which are pivotally attached to each other via hinges;
An operating member disposed in the first housing;
Detecting means for detecting whether an opening / closing angle of the second housing exceeds a set angle;
An electronic apparatus comprising: invalid means for invalidating operation of the operation member when the detection means detects that the opening / closing angle of the second casing does not exceed a set angle.   The hinge has a first rotation shaft for rotating the second housing in the opening / closing direction with respect to the first housing, and a second for rotating the second housing so that the front and back can be turned upside down. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the detection unit detects a rotation angle about the first rotation axis.   The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein the set angle is a maximum angle at which the second housing may press the operation member.

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