JP2009218854A - Electronic device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use a remote controller light receiving window arranged on an image display panel frame that can be opened and closed from and to the main body, even if the image display panel is closed. <P>SOLUTION: The image display panel (18) is attached to the side of the camera main body (10) by a two-axis hinge mechanism (20) so as to open and close from and to the camera main body (10). The remote controller light receiving window (28) which passes remote controller signal light is arranged on the frame part apart from the two-axis hinge mechanism (20) on the image display plane of the image display panel (18). Between an accommodation part (22) and the back of the camera main body (10), a recessed part (30) or a space is formed so as to face to the remote controller light receiving window (28) as a light guide means to guide remote controller signal light from the back direction to the remote controller light receiving window (28). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus including an image display panel that can be opened and closed with respect to a main body.

  Conventionally, in an image recording / reproducing apparatus such as a digital still camera or a video camera, it has been proposed to arrange a remote control light receiving window on the same surface as an image display surface so that a remote control operation can be performed while checking a display screen of an image monitor. (See Patent Document 1).

  Many video cameras employ a configuration in which an image display panel is attached to a side surface of a camera body so as to be rotatable about two axes. When the image display panel is opened from the camera body, a position facing the back surface and a position facing the front surface can be selected. Furthermore, the position where the image display surface of the image display panel is in close contact (stored) with the camera body facing the camera body side, and the image display surface of the image display panel is in close contact with the camera body (storage) Position) can be selected. In recent years, the camera is often operated while visually recognizing an image displayed on the image display panel.

  In this way, the electronic apparatus controls the on / off of the image display in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the image display panel.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a conventional video camera with the image display panel opened. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the image display panel is closed (stored in the camera body).

  A photographing lens 112 is disposed in front of the camera body 110. A zoom switch 114 is disposed on the upper surface of the camera body 110, and a trigger button 116 for instructing start / stop of moving image recording by a pressing operation is disposed on the rear surface.

  An image display panel 118 is attached to the side surface of the camera body 110 so as to be openable and closable from the camera body 110 by a biaxial hinge mechanism 120. The image display panel 118 can be folded between a storage position stored in the storage unit 122 of the camera body 110 and a deployed position opened from the camera body 110. Further, in the unfolded state, the display screen can be rotated between a position where the display surface is directed in the back direction and a position where the display direction is directed.

  In the vicinity of the biaxial hinge mechanism 120, an open / close detection switch 124 for detecting whether the image display panel 118 is in the retracted state or in the unfolded state is disposed. When the convex portion 126 of the support shaft portion of the image display panel 118 is pressing the open / close detection switch 124, the open / close detection switch 124 is turned off. When the convex portion 126 moves away from the open / close detection switch 124, the open / close detection switch 124 is turned on.

  A remote control light receiving unit 128 is embedded in the frame portion of the image display surface of the image display panel 118 and a remote control light receiving window 128 that transmits remote control signal light is disposed.

As described above, in the conventional video camera, when the image display panel 118 is housed in the camera body 110, the remote control light receiving window 128 is covered with the camera body 110, and the remote control operation cannot be performed.
JP 2001-24914 A

  In the conventional example, since the remote control light receiving window is arranged on the same plane as the image display surface of the image display panel, the remote control operation cannot be used when the image display panel is closed. It is troublesome to open the image display panel only for remote control operation. In addition, when the image display panel is opened, power is wasted when the image display apparatus is automatically turned on.

  Such problems are not limited to video cameras. That is, this is a problem in general electronic devices that have image display means that can rotate with respect to the main body and that have a light receiving window that transmits remote control signal light in the frame of the image display means.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device that eliminates such inconvenience.

  An electronic device according to the present invention includes an image display means that can be opened and closed with respect to a main body, a light receiving window that is disposed in a frame of the image display means and transmits remote control signal light, and the image display means is closed to the main body. In some cases, the light receiving window is provided at a position facing the light receiving window and has a concave portion opened to the outside.

  According to the present invention, remote control operation is possible even when the image display panel is in a closed state. There is no need to open the image display panel for remote control operation, and the image display panel does not unnecessarily consume power.

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

  A video camera as an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a video camera as an embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows an external perspective view of the embodiment.

  With reference to FIG. 2, the element which appears in an external appearance is demonstrated. A photographing lens 12 is disposed in front of the camera body 10. A zoom switch 14 is disposed on the upper surface of the camera body 10, and a trigger button 16 for instructing start / stop of moving image recording by a pressing operation is disposed on the rear surface.

  An image display panel 18 is attached to the side surface of the camera body 10 so as to be openable and closable from the camera body 10 by a biaxial hinge mechanism 20. The image display panel 18 can be folded between a storage position stored in the storage unit 22 of the camera body 10 and a deployed position opened from the camera body 10. Further, in the unfolded state, the display screen can be rotated between a position where the display surface is directed in the back direction and a position where the display direction is directed. The biaxial hinge mechanism 20 itself having such a function is well known.

  In the vicinity of the biaxial hinge mechanism 20, an open / close detection switch 24 for detecting whether the image display panel 18 is in the retracted state or in the unfolded state is disposed. When the convex portion 26 of the support shaft portion of the image display panel 18 is pushing the open / close detection switch 24, the open / close detection switch 24 is turned off. When the convex portion 26 moves away from the open / close detection switch 24, the open / close detection switch 24 is turned on. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views showing the positional relationship between the open / close detection switch 24 and the convex portion 26. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the image display panel 18 is closed (stored state), and FIG. The state (opening state) in which the display panel 18 is opened is shown.

  A remote control light receiving part 48 is embedded in a frame part of the image display surface of the image display panel 18 away from the biaxial hinge mechanism 20, and a remote control light receiving window 28 that transmits remote control signal light is disposed. A recess 30 or a space for guiding remote control signal light from the rear direction to the remote control light receiving window 28 is formed as a light guide means between the storage portion 22 and the back surface of the camera body 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the concave portion 30 as the light guide means is provided at a position facing the remote control light receiving window 28 when the image display panel 18 is accommodated, and is open to the outside in the rear direction. FIG. 4 shows an external perspective view in a state where the image display panel 18 is closed. The recess 30 allows the remote control signal light to be received even when the image display panel 18 is stored. Even if the same configuration as that of the recess 30 is provided on the side surface of the image display panel 18, similarly, the remote control signal light can be received even when the image display panel 18 is housed.

  The basic operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The photographic lens 12 of the video camera 10 includes an optical lens group and a diaphragm, as in the conventional case, and can control focus, zoom, and diaphragm. The image sensor 32 converts an optical image from the photographing lens 12 into an image signal. The camera signal processing device 34 performs known processes such as gamma correction, color balance adjustment, and color conversion on the image signal from the image sensor 32.

  The compression device 36 converts the image signal from the camera signal processing device 34 into MPEG2 or H.264 format. The image data is compressed and encoded by a known moving image compression method such as H.264, and the compressed image data is supplied to the recording / reproducing processor 38. The recording / reproduction processing device 38 records and reproduces the compressed image data from the compression device 36 on the recording medium 40 in a form suitable for recording on the recording medium 40.

  In the playback mode, the recording / playback processing device 38 reads the compressed image data from the recording medium 40 and supplies it to the decompression device 42 corresponding to the compression device 36. The decompression device 42 decompresses the compressed image data from the recording / reproduction processing device 38 and outputs the reproduced image data. The switch 44 can select the output image signal of the camera signal processing device 34 or the reproduction image signal output from the decompression device 42, and supplies the selected image signal to the image display device 46. The image display device 46 is incorporated in the image display panel 18. When the switch 44 selects the output image signal of the camera signal processing device 34, the subject image being recorded is displayed on the screen of the image display device 46. When the switch 44 selects the output image signal of the decompression device 42, the reproduced image is displayed on the screen of the image display device 46.

  The light receiving unit 48 receives the control signal light from the remote controller 70, converts it into an electrical signal, and supplies it to the CPU 50. The CPU 50 controls power supply to the image display device 46 via the power circuit 52 in accordance with the detection result of the open / close detection switch 24. That is, when the open / close detection switch 24 is in the on state, the CPU 50 determines that the image display panel 18 is in the open state. At this time, the CPU 50 controls the power supply circuit 52 to turn on the power supply to the image display device 46. Conversely, when the open / close detection switch 24 is in the OFF state, the CPU 50 determines that the image display panel 18 is in the stored state. At this time, the CPU 50 controls the power supply circuit 52 to turn off the power supply to the image display device 46.

  The CPU 50 also controls the whole according to the operation of the operation unit 54 by the user.

  The shape and action of the recess 30 will be described in detail. FIG. 5 shows a right side view of the present embodiment. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the light receiving element 64 of the remote control light receiving unit 48 is disposed inside the remote control light receiving window 28. The light receiving element 64 is installed so as to receive light from a direction that coincides with the normal direction of the image display surface of the image display device 46 so that the remote control operation can be performed while checking the image display monitor. A circuit board 62 is disposed on the back side of the backlight 60 of the image display device 46, and a light receiving element 64 is connected to the circuit board 62.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a light receiving range of the remote control signal light in a state where the image display panel 18 is housed. The inner surface of the recess 30 is a reflecting surface that reflects remote control signal light. The recess 30 forms a light transmission port on the back surface of the camera body 10. Thereby, the remote control signal light from the remote control device 70a tilted from the back of the camera body 10 to the side opposite to the image display panel 18 side can directly enter the light receiving element 64 from the remote control light receiving window 28.

  Moreover, the inner surface of the recessed part 30 is a reflective surface. As a result, the remote control signal light from the remote control device 70 b tilted toward the image display panel 18 side can be reflected by the inner surface of the recess 30, pass through the remote control light receiving window 28, and enter the light receiving element 64.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the remote control signal light can be incident on the remote control light receiving unit 48 from behind the camera body 10 with the image display panel 18 stored. Further, the incident angle of the rear direction remote control signal 125 of the camera main body 10 is + α1 ° to −α2 ° with respect to the back of the video camera main body 10, and remote control signal light from a wide range can be received.

  Since the remote controller can be operated with the image display panel 18 stored, it is not necessary to open the image display panel 18 only for the remote controller operation. The image display device 46 does not need to be turned on, and power consumption can be reduced.

  Further, when the user confirms an image being photographed on the screen of the image display device 46 or confirms a reproduced image, the image display panel 18 needs to be opened from the camera body 10. The space formed by the concave portion 30 also serves as a finger hook when the user opens the image display panel 18. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where a user puts his / her finger on the space of the recess 30 in order to open the image display panel 18 in the housed state. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where the image display panel 18 is slightly opened. As shown in FIG. 8, the image display panel 18 can be easily opened by inserting a finger into the recess that becomes the recess 30 and pushing the image display panel 18 in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 9.

  In Example 1, although the inside of the recessed part 30 was made into space, the structure filled with the translucent means may be sufficient. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the second embodiment modified as described above. The same components as those shown in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Translucent means 68 that transmits remote control signal light was loaded into the recess 30. The translucent means 68 is made of acrylic, for example.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the light receiving range of the remote control signal light in the state where the image display panel 18 is housed in the present embodiment. By mounting the translucent means 68 in the recess 30, the angle range in which the light can enter the remote control light receiving window 28 becomes wider than that in the first embodiment. That is, the angle β1 of the remote control device 70c tilted from the back of the camera body 10 to the side opposite to the image display panel 18 side is larger than α1 of the first embodiment. Similarly, the angle β2 of the remote control device 70d inclined from the back of the camera body 10 to the image display panel 18 side is larger than α2 of the first embodiment.

It is a schematic block diagram of one Example of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of a present Example. It is sectional drawing which shows the mechanism which detects opening and closing of the image display panel of a present Example. It is a perspective view of the state where the image display panel of this example was closed. It is a right view of a present Example. It is sectional drawing seen from AA of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the remote control light reception range of a present Example. It is a perspective view which shows the state which hung the finger | toe on the recessed part in order to open the image display panel of a present Example. It is a perspective view in the state where an image display panel of a present example was opened a little. It is an external appearance perspective view of another Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the remote control light reception range of the Example shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional video camera with an image display panel opened. It is a perspective view of the state which closed the image display panel of the conventional video camera.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Camera body 12: Shooting lens 14: Zoom switch 16: Trigger button 18: Image display panel 20: Biaxial hinge mechanism 22: Storage part 24: Opening / closing detection switch 26: Convex part 28: Remote control light receiving window 30: Concave part Light means)
32: Image sensor 34: Camera signal processing device 36: Compression device 38: Recording / reproduction processing device 40: Recording medium 42: Expansion device 44: Switch 46: Image display device 48: Light receiving unit 50: CPU
52: power supply circuit 54: operation unit 60: back 62: circuit board 64: light receiving element 68: light transmitting means 70, 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d: remote control device 110: camera body 112: photographing lens 114: zoom switch 116: Trigger button 118: Image display panel 120: Biaxial hinge mechanism 122: Storage portion 124: Open / close detection switch 126: Convex portion 128: Remote control light receiving window

Claims (3)

Image display means that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body;
A light receiving window disposed in a frame of the image display means and transmitting remote control signal light;
An electronic apparatus comprising: a recessed portion that is installed at a position facing the light receiving window when the image display means is closed to the main body and opens to the outside.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission unit disposed inside the recess and configured to transmit the remote control signal light.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a video camera.

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