JP2008310216A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus equipped with a display device which is superior in operability and inexpensive, and can be made compact and be rotatable. <P>SOLUTION: A power switch (7) with a lock member is provided at an end of a video display device (6) where the switch can be operated even while the video display device (6) is closed. An operation member for unlocking the power switch (7) serves as a finger hook used to open the video display device (6). On the side of a video display surface (6b) of the video display device, a cross key (10) is disposed at nearly the same position with the center of rotation of the power switch (7). An operation dial which can endlessly be rotated is disposed on the opposite side of the cross key (10). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus such as a video camera apparatus or a digital still camera apparatus, and more particularly to an imaging apparatus provided with a video display device that can be opened and closed.

  In recent years, the miniaturization of video cameras has been remarkable, and the size of the video camera body (projection area of each surface) tends to decrease. For this reason, places where buttons for operating the video camera can be arranged are also restricted. However, on the other hand, the number of operation buttons tends to increase rather due to the increase in functionality and the differentiation of design. Also, from the viewpoint of operability, if a large number of operation buttons are arranged in an orderly manner, the operability of the video camera will be extremely inferior. In particular, since a battery pack that supplies power to the back side of the video camera is often mounted, there is no place where operation buttons (power switch, etc.) that should be placed on the back side of the video camera can be placed from the viewpoint of operability. ing.

  In addition, a large display device such as a liquid crystal panel with a backlight is often provided so that an image at the time of shooting or reproduction can be easily confirmed. The display device is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the imaging device main body by a biaxial hinge mechanism. That is, at the time of storage, the display device is in a storage position stored in a recess provided in the imaging device main body, and at the time of use, the display device rotates away from the imaging device main body, and the display screen is rearwardly or frontally. In the deployed position oriented in the direction. It is like that.

  Therefore, at the time of shooting, the power switch of the imaging device is turned on, the display device is opened to the unfolded position, and shooting is performed while monitoring the display screen. When shooting is finished, the display device is returned to the storage position and the power switch is turned off. This operation needs to be repeated frequently in order to make the battery of the battery pack last longer and take a picture for a long time.

  A conventional imaging device has a configuration in which a driving unit is provided in a display device, and when the power of the imaging device is turned on, the driving unit rotates the display device to a deployment position (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

  FIG. 5 illustrates the appearance of such a conventional imaging device. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the display device 116 of the conventional imaging device 100 is housed, and FIG. 5B shows a state in which the display device 116 is expanded in the middle, and FIG. Indicates a state in which the display device 116 is fully deployed. Reference numeral 114 denotes a photographing lens, and 116 denotes a display device incorporating a liquid crystal display panel.

The rectangular slider 130 provided in the main body 112 can be slid by pushing the rod 136. When the slider 130 is slid, the power switch is turned on and at the same time the display device 116 is released from the lock 142. When the lock 142 is released, the display device 16 can be unfolded as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, and the display surface 116A is exposed. In the vicinity of the rotation shaft of the display device 116, a driving device including a plurality of gears and a motor is disposed. The drive device rotates the display device 16 from the storage position to the deployment position in response to power-on, and returns the display device 16 from the deployment position to the storage position in response to power-off.
JP 2005-62563 A

  In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the display device automatically opens and closes when the power is turned on / off, thereby consuming an extra battery. In addition, providing the drive device near the rotation axis of the display device not only makes it difficult to reduce the size of the imaging device, but also makes the imaging device expensive.

  In addition, when it is desired to turn on the power of the imaging apparatus while the display device is stored, for example, when a television device is connected as a monitor during playback, the display device is desired to be stored. However, even in the conventional configuration, the display device is automatically deployed when the power is turned on, which makes it difficult to use.

  When placing the battery pack on the back of the imaging device, it is necessary to increase the size of the imaging device and secure a room for providing a power switch on the back of the main unit, or to place the power switch on a location other than the back of the imaging device . Both are difficult to use.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and has as its object to provide an imaging apparatus that is excellent in operability, is small in size, and is inexpensive.

  An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is an image pickup apparatus including a video display device that opens and closes on a side surface of a main body, and a power switch of the image pickup device is provided at an end of the video display device facing a rotation axis of the video display device. Is provided.

  Preferably, the power switch is disposed at a position where the power switch can be operated even when the video display device is closed.

  Preferably, the power switch is used for switching between a photographing mode and a reproduction mode of the imaging apparatus.

  Preferably, the power switch is of a rotary type, and a cross key is arranged on the rotation center of the power switch on a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the power switch.

  Preferably, the power switch is of a rotary type, and an operation dial that can be rotated endlessly is arranged on a rotation center of the power switch on a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of the power switch.

  Preferably, the cross key is disposed on a video display surface side of the video display device.

  Preferably, the endlessly rotatable operation dial is disposed on a surface opposite to the image display surface of the image display device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a small-sized imaging apparatus that is excellent in operability.

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

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a state in which a display device of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is housed, as viewed from the rear. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view as seen from the rear in a state where the display device is developed.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes an image pickup lens, 2 denotes a mounting portion to which a recording medium is attached, which is laid out beside the image pickup lens 1 and serves as a grip at the time of shooting. 3 is a battery pack for supplying power to the main body. It can be attached to and detached from the back of the unit. 4 is a zoom lever, and 5 is a trigger button.

  A liquid crystal panel 6 is disposed on the side of the photographic lens 1, and a side portion 6 a thereof is connected to the video camera body 8 so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction. That is, the liquid crystal panel 6 is a video display device that opens and closes on the side surface of the main body. When the rotary power switch 7 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, the shooting mode is set. When the rotary power switch 7 is rotated in the direction of arrow B, the playback mode is set. The power switch 7 is disposed at the end of the liquid crystal panel 6 opposite to the side 6 a connected to the video camera body 8. Thereby, even when the liquid crystal panel 6 is in the housed state, the power switch 7 is exposed from the video camera body 8, and the user can operate the power switch 7 in that state.

  Further, the power switch 7 is provided with a lock member 9 for restricting the rotation operation. When the lock member 9 is pressed in the direction of the rotation center of the power switch 7, the power switch 7 can be rotated. The power switch 7 is used for switching between the photographing mode and the reproduction mode.

  That is, at the time of photographing, the power switch 7 is rotated in the arrow A direction while pressing the lock member 9 provided on the power switch 7 with a finger in the storage state of the liquid crystal panel 6 shown in FIG. Thereby, the video camera body 8 shifts to the shooting mode. If the liquid crystal panel 6 is developed in the horizontal direction in this state, the image display surface 6b is in the state of FIG. 2 facing the photographer. In this state, the photographer can monitor the captured image.

  The photographer can select an arbitrary angle of view with the zoom lever 4 and perform shooting while operating the start and stop of shooting with the trigger button 5. At the end of shooting, the liquid crystal panel 6 can be returned to the housed state, and the power switch 7 can be rotated to turn off the video camera body 8.

  On the image display surface 6 b side of the liquid crystal panel 6, the cross key 10 is in a plane perpendicular to the rotation center of the power switch 7 at a position substantially the same as the rotation center of the power switch 7, that is, on the rotation center of the power switch 7. It is arranged to become. On the opposite side of the cross key 10 across the power switch 7, a dial 11 that can be rotated endlessly is provided on the center of rotation of the power switch 7. By operating the cross key 10 on a menu for changing various settings of the video camera body 8, various settings can be selected and determined. Focus and exposure can be adjusted by rotating the dial 11. Therefore, the photographer can perform various operations by moving the finger with a minimum amount during photographing.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid crystal panel 6 as viewed from the video display surface 6b side. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view as seen from the back side of the liquid crystal panel 6.

  The liquid crystal panel 6 is configured such that the liquid crystal unit 17, the backlight unit 16, and the printed board 19 are sandwiched and held by the panel upper cover 15 and the panel lower cover 18. At the end of the liquid crystal panel 6, an operation switch mechanism such as a power switch 7 is incorporated and held. The panel lower cover 18 side becomes the display surface side, and the image of the liquid crystal unit 17 can be monitored through a square hole 18 c provided in the panel lower cover 18.

  The power switch 7 is formed of a hollow cylindrical holding portion 7a, a convex operation portion 7b, and a fan-shaped click portion 7c. The lock member 9 convex operation portion 9 a formed in a substantially elliptical shape engages with a long hole 7 d provided in the operation portion 7 b of the power switch 7. When the lock member 9 is pressed in the direction of the rotation center of the power switch 7, the lock member 9 is elastically deformed, and the operation portion 7b can be slid.

  A cylindrical fixing member 12 that is rotatably engaged with the hollow cylindrical holding portion 7a of the power switch 7 is incorporated. On the opposite side of the fixed member 12, a printed circuit board 14 on which a pulse encoder 13 that generates pulses at every predetermined rotation pitch is mounted as a signal output device is provided. A polygonal hole 13a is formed at the center of the pulse encoder 13, and the polygonal hole 13a provided on the rotary dial 11 is engaged with the tip of the polygonal rotating shaft 11a. The rotation of the rotary dial 11 is transmitted to the encoder 13. The pulse signal generated by the encoder 13 is transmitted from the printed circuit board 14 to the video camera body through an electric signal wiring (not shown). At this time, the rotary dial 11 is in an engaging relationship in which it can rotate on the side opposite to the side of the fixing member 12 engaged with the power switch 7. At the same time, the rotary shaft 11 a of the rotary dial 11 passes through the hole 12 a of the fixing member 12, the substantially oval part of the lock member 9, and the hollow cylindrical holding part 7 a of the power switch 7, and the polygon of the encoder 13. Is engaged with the hole 13a. A part of the rotary dial 11 is incorporated so that a part of the circumference is exposed from the panel upper cover 15 and can be rotated.

  The dowels 15a provided on the panel upper cover 15 are welded to the holes 20a formed at both ends of the click spring 20 provided with a convex portion at the center. Thereby, the click spring 2 is fixed to the panel upper cover 15. A click mechanism is constituted by the convex part of the click spring 20 and the fan-like click part 7 c of the power switch 7.

  On the fan-shaped click portion 7 c of the power switch 7, a U-shaped convex portion 7 e is formed. When the power switch 7 is rotated, the detection switch 21 mounted on the printed circuit board 19 is pressed by the U-shaped convex portion 7e. The detection switch 21 can recognize the direction of the pressing operation, and can recognize whether the power switch 7 has been rotated in either the shooting mode direction or the reproduction mode direction. A signal recognized by the detection switch 21 is transmitted from the printed circuit board 19 to the video camera body through an electric signal wiring (not shown), and the video camera is set in a predetermined mode. Since the power switch 7 is provided with a click mechanism, the power switch 7 will not rotate carelessly, and the signal from the detection switch 21 will not be interrupted.

  A cross switch 22 is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board 14 on which the encoder 13 is mounted, which is opposite to the surface on which the encoder 13 is mounted. The centers of the encoder 13 and the cross switch 22 substantially coincide. The cross switch 22 has a square dowel 22 a at the center, and the dowel 22 a is fitted into a square hole 10 a provided in the cross key 10. The cross switch 22 can recognize the tilted direction when the square dowel 22a is tilted in four directions, up, down, left and right. The signal recognized by the cross switch 22 is transmitted from the printed circuit board 14 to the video camera body through an electric signal wiring (not shown). With such a configuration, when the cross key 10 incorporated so as to be exposed from the round hole 18a provided in the panel lower cover 18 is tilted in an arbitrary direction, the operation direction of the cross key 10 can be transmitted to the video camera body. .

  The lock portion 9b provided on the lock member 9 and the recess 18b provided on the panel lower cover 18 are engaged with each other in a state where the power switch 7 is turned off, and the rotation of the power switch 7 is restricted. When the power switch 7 is rotated, the lock member 9 is pressed to release the engagement relationship, and then the power switch 7 is rotated in an arbitrary direction.

  With the configuration described above, the photographer can monitor the display screen by rotating the video display device 6 in the housed state away from the main body while the power switch 7 is operated to the photographing mode with a finger during photographing. . That is, it is possible to prepare for shooting by a series of smooth operations. In addition, since the cross key 10 and the rotary dial 11 are arranged on the rotation center of the power switch 7, a plurality of operations can be performed with a minimum finger movement.

  In this embodiment, from the state where the power switch is operated to the photographing mode with a finger during photographing, the video display device in the housed state is rotated away from the main body, and the display screen can be monitored. Further, when the display device may be kept in the storage state during reproduction or the like, the finger may be lifted after operating the power switch to the reproduction mode. Thereby, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus that is excellent in operability and inexpensive for the entire apparatus. Since the power switch is provided in the video display device, it is not necessary to provide the main body with the power switch, and it is not necessary to increase the projection area on the back surface of the imaging device.

  Since the power switch is a rotary type and the cross key and the operation dial that can be rotated endlessly are arranged close to each other, a plurality of operations can be performed with minimal movement of the finger. A small imaging device with excellent operability can be provided.

It is a back perspective view which shows the state which accommodated the display apparatus of one Example of this invention. It is a back perspective view of the state where the display of this example was developed. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the display screen side of the display apparatus. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the back side of the display apparatus. It is a back perspective view of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Imaging lens 2 ... Installation part 3 ... Battery pack 4 ... Zoom lever 5 ... Trigger button 6 ... Liquid crystal panel 7 ... Power switch 8 ... Video camera body 9 ... Lock member 10 ... Cross key DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Rotary dial 12 Fixing member 13 Pulse encoder 14 Printed circuit board 15 Panel upper cover 16 Backlight unit 17 Liquid crystal unit 18 Panel lower cover 19 Printed circuit board 20 Click spring 21 Detection switch 22 Cross switch

Claims (7)

  An image pickup apparatus including a video display device that opens and closes on a side surface of a main body, wherein a power switch of the image pickup device is provided at an end of the video display device facing a rotation axis of the video display device. Imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power switch is disposed at a position where the power switch can be operated even when the video display apparatus is closed.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power switch is used for switching between a shooting mode and a reproduction mode of the imaging apparatus.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power switch is a rotary type, and a cross key is disposed on a rotation center of the power switch on a plane perpendicular to a rotation axis of the power switch. The power switch is rotary,
The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation dial that is endlessly rotatable on a rotation center of the power switch on a plane perpendicular to a rotation axis of the power switch.   The imaging device according to claim 4, wherein the cross key is disposed on a video display surface side of the video display device.   6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the endlessly rotatable operation dial is disposed on a surface opposite to the image display surface of the image display device.

Images