JP2009288639A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera with a camera stand function which enables a user to more easily and pleasantly observe photographed images while effectively using a space on the side face of a camera body. <P>SOLUTION: In the digital camera equipped with a collapsible lens barrel having a lens barrier, the lens barrel can be driven backward and forward while the lens barrier is closed when the images are reproduced, and the lens barrel can stand by itself as the support for the camera body. Further, by changing the extension amount of the lens barrel, the camera body can be freely placed in a vertical or horizontal attitude, further, the camera body and a liquid crystal display panel can be adjusted at an optional angle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display means for displaying image data and a digital camera provided with a collapsible lens barrel, and relates to a reproducing means for reproducing photographed image data.

It is important for digital cameras not only to be able to shoot under various conditions, but also to be able to easily reproduce and enjoy the captured images. Therefore, when playing back and viewing the captured image, there is one that starts image playback in a slide show format when the camera is set up on a dedicated camera stand that also functions as a charger so that you can watch without having to hold the camera (See Patent Document 1). Also, there is a camera that includes a stand member that can be unfolded via a hinge connection on the back of the camera body so that an image can be viewed by fixing the image display unit at an arbitrary angle (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2006-54737 A JP 2000-284357 A

  However, when the camera is set up on the dedicated camera stand as described above, it is necessary for the user to carry the camera stand when viewing images on the go, which is troublesome for the user. In addition, when the camera body is provided with a stand member, a space for storing the stand member on the side surface of the camera body is required, so that the space cannot be effectively used. Moreover, when using these stands, it can be used only in one direction with respect to the camera body. Therefore, for example, when an image taken by rotating the camera body by 90 degrees or 270 degrees with respect to the normal position (hereinafter referred to as “vertical shooting”) is reproduced with the camera body in the normal position, the aspect ratio of the image sensor It is displayed with black margins on the left and right due to the ratio. For this reason, the image display area becomes smaller than the conventional one, and it is difficult for the user to view the reproduced image. In another example, when the camera body is played in a normal position, the vertically shot image is displayed in a state rotated by 90 degrees or 270 degrees. In this case, it is difficult to view the image unless the camera body is placed vertically. In addition, there are an increasing number of thin and rounded cameras, and the number of cameras that cannot stand alone is increasing. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it easier and easier to enjoy an image taken by a user while effectively using the space on the side surface of the camera body.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to the present application is a digital camera including a retractable lens barrel provided with a lens barrier, and the lens barrel is driven back and forth with the lens barrier closed during image reproduction. The lens barrel is self-supporting as a support for the camera body. In addition, the camera body can be freely placed vertically and horizontally by changing the amount of extension of the lens barrel, and the camera body and the liquid crystal display panel can be adjusted to arbitrary angles.

  According to the present invention, since it is not necessary to prepare a dedicated camera stand separately, it becomes easier to enjoy images with only the camera. Further, since the lens barrel also serves as a conventional stand member, the space on the side surface of the camera body in which the stand member is accommodated can be used effectively. Furthermore, since the camera body can be placed either horizontally or vertically in accordance with landscape or portrait images, it is easier to view the images.

  Next, details of the present invention will be described in accordance with the description of the embodiments.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the camera of FIG. 11 is a substantially box-shaped camera body, 12 is a strobe Fresnel lens, 13 is a release button that is pressed when shooting a still image or movie, and the focus and exposure are locked when pressed halfway. it can. Reference numeral 14 denotes a power button for switching between power ON and power OFF. When the zoom lever 15 is rotated clockwise, the photographing lens can be shifted to the tele side, and when it is rotated counterclockwise, the photographing lens can be shifted to the wide side. Reference numeral 16 denotes a lens barrel having an optical system including 17 objective lenses. The lens barrel is extended when the power is turned on, and is stored in the camera body 11 when the power is turned off. The lens barrel 16 may serve as a support for the camera body 11 during image reproduction, and is therefore preferably solid. Reference numeral 21 denotes a liquid crystal display panel serving as a reproduction image display means, which displays a subject image before photographing formed on the light receiving surface of the image sensor via a photographing lens. Or the image recorded after shooting is displayed. An image enlargement button 22 can enlarge or reduce the image during image reproduction. Reference numeral 23 denotes a mode switch, which can be switched between a still image shooting mode, a moving image shooting mode, an image reproduction mode, and a camera stand mode by sliding the mode switch. The image playback mode is a mode in which the lens barrel 16 is stored in the camera body 11 and the user can enjoy the playback image by holding the camera body by hand. The camera stand mode is a hands-free type image reproduction mode in which the lens barrel 16 is supported by the camera body 11 and the camera body 11 is self-supporting. Details of the camera stand mode will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the camera in the camera stand mode as seen obliquely from the upper front. In the camera stand mode, the lens barrier 31 is closed as shown in FIG. This is in order to avoid the entry of dust into the lens barrel 16 and the adhesion and scratches on the objective lens 17. FIG. 4 is a view when the camera body 11 is placed horizontally using the camera stand mode, and FIG. 5 is a view when the camera body 11 is placed vertically. In the present invention, since the lens barrel 16 at the approximate center of the camera body 11 is supported, the camera body 11 is changed as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 by using the zoom lever 15 and changing the amount of extension of the lens barrel 16. Can stand vertically and horizontally. In a digital camera, when a vertically taken image is played with the camera body placed in the normal position, both ends of the image are displayed with black margins due to the aspect ratio of the image sensor as shown in FIG. Some cameras can display an image without narrowing the image display area by placing the camera body vertically as shown in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, it is possible to stand up and down freely in the vertical and horizontal directions, so that the user can enjoy an image with a size that is easier to see. Further, the tilt angle of the camera body 11 and the liquid crystal display panel 21 can be freely adjusted by changing the extension amount of the lens barrel 16 using the zoom lever 15. Accordingly, the user can enjoy the image by adjusting the angle so that the user can easily view without changing the posture. Next, a flowchart showing a mode switching process procedure will be described with reference to FIG. In step 101, it is determined whether the image reproduction mode or the photographing mode. If it is in the image reproduction mode, it is determined in step 102 whether the image reproduction mode is the normal image reproduction mode or camera stand mode. In the camera stand mode, when the user operates the zoom lever 15 in step 103, the zoom motor (not shown) is energized in step 104, and the lens barrel 16 is extended in step 105. By this processing, the user can adjust the tilt angles of the camera body 11 and the liquid crystal display panel 21 to arbitrary angles. At this time, since the barrier motor 45 is not energized, the lens barriers 46 and 47 remain closed. Next, when the operation of the zoom lever 15 is completed in step 106, the process proceeds to image reproduction in step 107. If the normal image reproduction mode is selected in step 102, the process immediately proceeds to image reproduction in step 107. At this time, if the lens barrel 16 has been extended, the lens barrel 16 has been extended for a certain period of time so that the camera can immediately shift to photographing. However, after a certain period of time, the lens barrel 16 is placed in the camera body 11 for protection. Stored. If the still image shooting mode or the moving image shooting mode is selected in step 101, the process proceeds to step 108, the barrier motor 45 is energized, and the lens barrier 31 is opened in step 109. In step 110, the zoom motor (not shown) is energized, and in step 111, the lens barrel 16 is extended from the retracted end to the wide position. When the release button is pressed in step 112, the image is taken in step 113.

  The barrier driving mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 41 denotes a lens barrel frame, which includes a photographing opening 41a, a fitting hole 41b into which the lens barrier 46 and the lens barrier 47 are rotatably fitted, a fitting hole 41c, and an insertion hole 41d of the gear portion 45a of the barrier motor 45. Is provided. Reference numeral 42 denotes a barrier ring that is rotatably fitted to the outer periphery of the photographing opening 41a, and opens and closes the lens barrier 46 and the lens barrier 4647. On the outer periphery, the lens barrier 46, the notches 42a and 42b for rotationally driving the lens barrier 47, the barrier spring 43, the hook portion 42c for hooking the barrier spring 44, the tooth portion meshing with the hook portion 42d and the gear portion 45a of the barrier motor 45. 42e is provided. 46 and 47 are lens barriers disposed on the upper surface of the barrier ring 42, and the shaft portion 46a and the shaft portion 47a are rotatably fitted in the fitting hole 41b and the fitting hole 41c of the lens barrel frame 41, respectively. The side surface is provided with an interlocking convex portion 46b and an interlocking convex portion 47b that are in contact with the end faces 42f and 42g of the notches 42a and 42b of the barrier ring 42 and interlocks with the rotation of the barrier ring 42, and a barrier spring on the lower surface portion. 43, a shaft portion 46c for hanging the barrier spring 44, and a shaft portion 47c are provided. When the gear portion 45a of the barrier motor 45 rotates clockwise, the barrier ring 42 rotates counterclockwise, and the lens barrier 46 and the lens barrier 47 rotate clockwise around the shaft portion 46a and the shaft portion 47a to open. The camera is ready to shoot. When the gear portion 45a of the barrier motor 45 rotates counterclockwise, the barrier ring 42 rotates clockwise, and the lens barrier 46 and the lens barrier 47 rotate counterclockwise around the shaft portion 46a and the shaft portion 47a. Close and cover the optical system. Reference numerals 43 and 44 denote barrier springs, one end of which is hooked on the hook portions 42c and 42d of the barrier ring 42, and the other end is hooked on the lens barrier 46 and the shaft portion 46c and shaft portion 147c of the lens barrier 47, respectively. It is energized clockwise (barrier closing direction). Reference numeral 45 denotes a barrier motor. By driving the barrier ring 42 with the barrier motor 45, the lens barrier 46 and the lens barrier 47 are kept closed as long as the barrier motor 45 is not energized no matter where the lens barrel 16 is extended. Can do.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications and changes are possible. For example, in the embodiment described above, a barrier motor is used as means for keeping the lens barrier closed when driving the lens barrel. However, by providing a protrusion on the barrier ring to prevent rotation and providing a stopper for the protrusion on the lens barrel body, the barrier ring can rotate because the protrusion will not come off the stopper unless the lens barrel is extended to a certain position. Alternatively, the lens barrier may not be opened.

It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the camera of one Embodiment of this invention from front diagonally upward. It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the camera of FIG. 1 from back diagonally upward. It is the external appearance perspective view which looked at the camera at the time of camera stand mode from diagonally forward. It is a figure when using the camera stand mode and placing horizontally. It is a figure when it puts vertically using camera stand mode. It is the figure which reproduced the vertically photographed image with the camera body placed horizontally. It is the figure which reproduced the vertically photographed image with the camera body placed vertically. It is a flowchart which shows a mode switching process sequence. It is a front view which shows the state which the barrier closed. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a barrier drive mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Camera body 12 Strobe Fresnel lens 13 Release button 14 Power button 15 Zoom lever 16 Lens barrel 17 Objective lens 21 Liquid crystal display panel 22 Mode switch 31 Lens barrier 41 Lens barrel frame 41a Shooting opening 41b, 41c Fitting hole 41d Insertion hole 42 Barring 42a, 42b Notch 42c, 42d Hook 42e Tooth 42f, 42g End face 43, 44 Barrier spring 45 Barrier motor 46, 47 Lens barrier 46a, 47a Shaft 46b, 47b Interlocking shaft 46c, 47c Shaft

Claims (2)

  An imaging apparatus having a collapsible lens barrel 16 having a liquid crystal display panel 21 serving as an image display means and a lens barrier 31, wherein the lens barrel 16 can be driven back and forth during image reproduction. .   2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lens barrier is in a closed state when the lens barrel is driven back and forth during image reproduction.

Images