JP2009145811A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure operability and holdability, while maintaining a display screen, even when an imaging apparatus is compact. <P>SOLUTION: A zoom key 18 is arranged in such a position that the tip of a finger reaches, on the upper surface of an imaging apparatus main body 10, when the imaging apparatus main body 10 is held. The moving range, that is, operation range of the zoom key 18 is set in a surface perpendicular to the optical axis of a photographic lens. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that is small and does not impair operability and retention.

  In recent years, with the miniaturization of recording media, it has become possible to reduce the size of the imaging device body. However, in an imaging device such as a video camera provided with a display unit via a hinge mechanism, if the size of the display unit (the size of the display screen) is reduced, the screen becomes very difficult for the user to see. End up. Among commercially available products, there are products in which the main body size of the image pickup apparatus is reduced while maintaining the size of the display unit. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, there is an image pickup apparatus having a main body size equivalent to a screen size (about 2.7 inches 2) at which sufficient visibility comparable to that of the related art is obtained. In FIG. 6, H indicates the height of the display unit.

  In the case of such a main body size, when the user holds the imaging apparatus main body, the holding state is such that the user covers the hand. As a result, it is necessary to arrange an operation member used at the time of photographing in consideration of the position of the finger while the user holds the imaging device.

Patent Document 1 describes a small VTR integrated camera in which a zoom switch and a start / stop button are provided on the upper surface of a main body. FIG. 7 shows an external perspective view of a conventional example. FIG. 8 shows the holding state as viewed from behind. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the holding state is viewed from the front side (subject side).
JP-A-5-110914

  In the configuration described in Patent Document 1 described above, since the imaging device main body is thin, if it is held with one hand, a finger is hooked to the surface opposite to the holding surface. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the upper surface portion on which the operation member is arranged is covered with the photographer's hand.

  Therefore, when taking a picture while using the operation member arranged on the upper surface portion, as shown in FIG. 9, both the right hand and the left hand must be used and held together. In other words, there was annoyance that both hands had to be held together. In addition, since both hands are held together, the shooting is limited to shooting through the viewfinder, and the degree of shooting freedom is reduced.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that does not impair operability and maintainability without reducing the display screen even if the imaging apparatus body is small.

  An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an operation member having a predetermined operation range and a neutral point in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the image pickup lens, and the operation member is located on the side opposite to the grip portion from the upper surface of the image pickup apparatus body. It is arranged at a position shifted to the side surface.

  According to the present invention, the operation member and its neutral point are arranged at the above-described positions, so that the operation member can be operated with the fingertip even when the photographer holds the operation member. Thereby, operability and maintainability can be maintained. Further, since it is not necessary to make the display unit small, the problem that the display unit is small and the screen is difficult to see can be solved.

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

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the internal mechanism of the imaging apparatus main body 10 of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a display unit 14 is coupled to the side surface of the imaging apparatus main body 10 via a hinge mechanism 12. A holding unit 16 is provided on the side surface opposite to the side surface of the imaging apparatus main body 10 on which the display unit 14 is installed. When the zoom key 18 as the operation member is held at a position between the display unit and the upper surface of the imaging apparatus main body, more specifically, the upper surface of the imaging apparatus main body 10 is also held from the side surface. It arrange | positions in this position.

  The imaging apparatus main body 10 has substantially the same size (the vertical size) from the bottom surface to the top surface of the display unit 14 and the longitudinal length from the front surface to the rear surface of the imaging apparatus body 10. Here, the display screen is assumed to have a screen size that can provide sufficiently high visibility as in the prior art, specifically about 2.7 inches.

  The zoom key 18 is configured to protrude and rotate from the imaging apparatus body 10. However, a slide type zoom key or a sheet type (planar type) zoom key may be used.

  The imaging device main body 10 accommodates an imaging unit 20 including an imaging lens and an imaging device, a circuit board 22 including a recording built-in memory, and a battery 24. The display unit 14 is connected to the circuit board 22 and the battery 24 via the hinge mechanism 12.

  FIG. 3 shows a front view of the present embodiment. The zoom key 18 can be operated in a direction perpendicular to the imaging lens optical axis 20a. The zoom key 18 has a predetermined operation range and a neutral point (natural state), and the neutral point is arranged in the first quadrant (the range of β in FIG. 3) when the front surface of the imaging unit 20 is front. .

  FIG. 4 shows the voltage change characteristic of the zoom key 18. The vertical axis represents the output voltage (V), and the horizontal axis represents the total rotation angle (°). A constant voltage is assigned to the range (operation range) from the wide side end (−A °) to the telephoto side end (+ A °) of the zoom operation, and the position of half the voltage value becomes the neutral point (natural state).

  FIG. 5 shows a holding form by the user in this embodiment. By disposing the zoom key 18 and its neutral point as described above, the user's operation finger (index finger) 26 is placed on the zoom key 18 as shown in FIG. Thereby, although it is small, favorable holding property and operativity are realizable.

It is an external appearance perspective view of one Example of this invention. It is a perspective view of the main body internal mechanism of a present Example. It is a front view of a present Example. It is a voltage change characteristic view of a zoom key. It is a figure which shows the holding | maintenance state of a present Example. It is a figure which shows the holding state of the conventional imaging device. It is a perspective view of a prior art example. It is a figure which shows the state which hold | maintained the small-sized imaging device of the prior art example with one hand. It is a figure which shows the state which hold | maintained the small-sized imaging device of the prior art example with both hands (gap holding).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Imaging device main body 12 Hinge mechanism 14 Display part 16 Holding part 18 Zoom key (operation member)
20 Imaging unit 20a Imaging lens optical axis 22 Circuit board 24 Battery 26 Photographer's hand

Claims (3)

An operating member having a predetermined operating range and a neutral point in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the imaging lens;
The image pickup apparatus, wherein the operation member is disposed at a position shifted from a top surface of the image pickup apparatus main body to a side surface opposite to the grip portion.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation member is a zoom key. Furthermore, it comprises a display unit coupled to the side surface of the imaging device body via a hinge mechanism,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation member is disposed between the display unit and an upper surface of the imaging apparatus main body.

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