JP2008028616A - Screen angle adjusting device and camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a screen angle adjusting device capable of easily avoiding reflection of external light when an image on the screen of a liquid crystal monitor becomes hard to view owing to the reflection of the external light. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal monitor 3 is held by a holder 4, and a cover 5 which has an opening 5a for exposing the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3 is mounted on the external surface of a case 10a of a camera main body 10 with the holder 4 interposed. A coil spring 6 elastically supporting the holder 4 is disposed between the holder 4 and the external surface of the case 10a so that the direction of the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3 can be changed by applying force to the liquid crystal monitor 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a screen angle adjusting device for a liquid crystal monitor and a camera including the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a digital camera is known in which an imaging unit and a camera body unit are rotatably connected by a swivel mechanism (see Patent Document 1 below).

  The imaging unit has a photographic lens and an optical viewfinder.

A liquid crystal monitor is provided on the back of the camera body.
JP 2005-134614 A

  The above-mentioned digital camera can take a picture while looking at the liquid crystal monitor instead of looking through the optical viewfinder.

  When shooting while looking at the LCD monitor, light such as sunlight or electric light is reflected on the LCD monitor screen and enters the eye, making it difficult to see the subject image displayed on the LCD monitor screen, or It may be completely invisible.

  At this time, if the screen angle of the liquid crystal monitor is changed by slightly rotating the camera main body relative to the image pickup unit, the reflected light does not enter the eye and the image of the subject displayed on the liquid crystal monitor screen can be seen. .

  However, in order to rotate the camera body, it is necessary to hold the imaging unit firmly with one hand and to apply a rotational force to the camera body so as to overcome the frictional force of the swivel mechanism with the other hand.

  For this reason, when reflection of external light occurs on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor, there has been a problem that a photo opportunity may be missed or framing may be lost.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the problem is that a screen angle that can easily avoid reflection when an image on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor becomes difficult to see due to reflection of external light. An adjustment device and a camera are provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the screen angle adjusting device of the invention of claim 1 has a holder for holding a liquid crystal monitor and an opening for exposing the screen of the liquid crystal monitor, and the holder is placed on the outer surface of the electronic device casing. It is characterized by comprising a cover to be interposed and an elastic member for supporting the holder and changing the orientation of the screen of the liquid crystal monitor.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the screen angle adjusting device according to the first aspect, the cover is provided with a pressing projection for pressing the liquid crystal monitor toward the electronic device casing against the elasticity of the elastic member. It protrudes from the hole to the outside.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in the screen angle adjusting device according to the first or second aspect of the invention, there is provided a maintaining means for maintaining the state when the orientation of the screen of the liquid crystal monitor is changed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the screen angle adjusting device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the elastic member is a spring or rubber.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a camera includes the screen angle adjusting device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.

  According to the present invention, when an image on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor becomes difficult to see due to reflection of external light, reflection can be easily avoided.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this camera includes a camera body (electronic device) 10 </ b> A, a screen angle adjusting device 1, and a liquid crystal monitor 3.

  Four concave portions 10b are formed at the corners on the back of the housing (electronic device housing) 10a of the camera body 10A.

  The screen angle adjusting device 1 includes a holder 4, a cover 5, and four coil springs (elastic members) 6.

  The holder 4 is a metal plate and holds the liquid crystal monitor 3. On the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3, an image acquired by an image sensor (not shown) built in the camera body 10A is displayed.

  The cover 5 has an opening 5a that exposes the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3, and is attached to the back surface of the camera body 10A with the holder 4 interposed.

  One end of the coil spring 6 is welded to the holder 4 and the other end is held in the recess 10b of the housing 10a. The coil spring 6 is a compression spring, and supports the holder 4 so as to be movable in the expansion / contraction direction of the coil spring 6 so that the orientation of the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3 can be changed.

  When the liquid crystal monitor 3 is not pushed by the finger through the opening 5a, the holder 4 is in close contact with the cover 5.

  The coil spring 6 may be configured such that one end of the coil spring 6 is welded to the housing 10 a and the other end contacts the holder 4.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  First, the camera's photographic lens is pointed at the subject and framing is performed. When external light such as sunlight is reflected on the liquid crystal monitor 3 and an image on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3 is hardly visible, the upper edge of the liquid crystal monitor 3 is pressed with a finger through the opening 5a. Then, the upper two coil springs 6 and 6 contract, the upper edge side of the liquid crystal monitor 3 sinks, the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3 faces upward, the angle of the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3 changes, and the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3 changes. The reflection of outside light can be avoided. In order to avoid reflection (total reflection) of external light generated on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3, the inclination of the screen may be changed by 2.5 °.

  For example, if the right edge of the liquid crystal monitor 3 is pressed with a finger instead of pressing the upper edge of the liquid crystal monitor 3, the coil springs 6 and 6 arranged on the right side of the holder 4 are contracted, and the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3 is compressed. Turn to the right. Similarly, the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3 can be easily directed downward or leftward with one finger.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, even when external light is reflected on the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3 when photographing a subject, the reflection can be easily avoided.

  Further, unlike the prior art, it is not necessary to use a separate unit, so that it is easy to reduce the size and weight, and the configuration is simple, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  2A and 2B show a camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a rear view of the camera, and FIG. 2B is a conceptual diagram showing a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. It is.

  Portions common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Only the main differences will be described below.

  In the first embodiment, the liquid crystal monitor 3 is directly pressed with a finger, but in the second embodiment, the liquid crystal monitor 3 can be pressed without touching the liquid crystal monitor 3.

  For this purpose, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, buttons (pressing convex portions) 204 a are provided at four locations on the periphery of the holder 204.

  The cover 205 has a hole 205a through which the button 204a passes.

  In the second embodiment, the liquid crystal monitor 3 can be indirectly pressed by pressing the button 204a with a finger.

  According to the second embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment, and it is possible to prevent the screen of the liquid crystal monitor 3 from being soiled or damaged by the pressing of a finger.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a cross section of a camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

  In the first embodiment, after pressing the liquid crystal monitor 3 with a finger and then releasing the finger from the liquid crystal monitor 3, the liquid crystal monitor 3 returns to the original position, but in the third embodiment, the liquid crystal monitor 3 is not returned. Therefore, in the third embodiment, a locking plate 307 is provided. Engaging portions 307 a are formed at four locations on the peripheral edge of the locking plate 307. The engaging portion 307a is L-shaped. A holding hole 307b is formed on the end surface of the engaging portion 307a on the holder 304 side. A coil spring 308 is held in the holding hole 307b. A ball 309 is fixed to the tip of the coil spring 308.

  The holder 304 is formed with an engaging portion 304b so as to face the engaging portion 307a. Two concave portions 304c and 304d are formed on the end surface of the engaging portion 304b on the engaging portion 307a side.

  The above-described engaging portion 304b, engaging portion 307a, coil spring 308, and ball 309 constitute a maintenance mechanism that maintains the screen orientation of the liquid crystal monitor 3.

  When the button 304a of the holder 304 protruding from the hole 305a of the cover 305 is not pressed by a finger, the ball 309 is engaged with the recess 304c.

  When the button 304a is pressed with a finger, the spring 6 contracts and the holder 304 tilts. At this time, the ball 309 moves relative to the engaging portion 304b, exits the recess 304c, and enters the recess 304d. Accordingly, the holder 304 is locked in an inclined state, and the holder 304 does not return to the original state even when the finger is released from the button 304a.

  To return the holder 304 to its original state, the button 304a is pulled to disengage the ball 309 from the recess 304d.

  According to the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the liquid crystal monitor 3 can be kept inclined even if the finger is released from the button 304a after pressing the button 304a. it can. Thus, since it is not necessary to keep pressing the button 304a with a finger, photographing can be further facilitated.

  In the above-described embodiment, the coil spring 6 is disposed between the holders 4, 204, 304 and the housing 10a. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one end of the coil spring 6 is fixed to the holders 4, 204, 304. Then, the other end of the coil spring 6 may be fixed to the covers 5, 205, 305. In this case, the coil spring 6 may be an extension coil.

  In the above-described embodiment, the coil spring 6 is used as the elastic member. However, a plate spring may be used instead of the coil spring 6, or rubber, sponge, or the like may be used.

  The present invention can also be applied to a video camera and its screen angle adjusting device.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing a camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a cross section of a camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  3: Liquid crystal monitor, 4, 204, 304: Holder, 204a, 304a: Button (pressing convex part), 5, 205, 305: Cover, 205a, 305a: Hole, 304b: Engaging part (maintaining means), 307a: Locking portion (maintenance means), 308: coil spring (maintenance means), 309: ball (maintenance means), 10A: camera body (electronic device), 10a: housing (electronic device housing).

Claims (5)

A holder for holding the LCD monitor;
A cover that has an opening for exposing the screen of the liquid crystal monitor, and is mounted on the outer surface of the electronic device housing with the holder interposed therebetween;
A screen angle adjusting device comprising: an elastic member that supports the holder and changes a screen orientation of the liquid crystal monitor.   The screen according to claim 1, wherein a pressing projection for pressing the liquid crystal monitor toward the electronic device casing against the elasticity of the elastic member protrudes outside from a hole provided in the cover. Angle adjustment device.   3. The screen angle adjusting device according to claim 1, further comprising a maintaining unit that maintains a state when the orientation of the screen of the liquid crystal monitor is changed.   The screen angle adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a spring or rubber.   A camera comprising the screen angle adjusting device according to claim 1.

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