JP2012080366A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus that is compact and excellent in the visibility of a display part.SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus 100 whose body 12 housing an imaging part can be grasped via a handle 20 or a grip part 14 has a rotary support part for supporting a display part 40 for displaying an image in a pivotable manner on the handle 20 such that a tilt angle of the display part 40 can be changed about an axis a perpendicular to a direction parallel to an optical axis direction of an imaging optical system and that an angle of the display part 40 can be changed about an axis b perpendicular to the axis a. The axis b is offset to the side opposite to the grip part 14 with respect to a centerline of the handle 20 parallel to the optical axis direction of the imaging optical system.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

  In Patent Document 1, a handle is provided on the main body, a pedestal provided with an operation button group is provided at the tip of the handle on the lens device, a rotation support portion is provided on a side portion of the pedestal, and the pedestal is placed on the pedestal via the rotation support portion. Discloses a video camera provided with a display unit that can be folded and unfolded. The rotation support unit rotatably supports the display unit around each of the two axes.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-210677

  However, when the display unit of Patent Document 1 is rotated 180 degrees from the stored state and deployed, the lateral width becomes considerably large.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a small imaging device.

  An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a main body that houses an imaging unit that converts an optical image formed by a photographing optical system into a video signal, a handle that is gripped when the main body is held, and a grip that is formed on a side surface of the main body. A display unit that displays an image corresponding to the video signal, and a tilt angle of the display unit that can be changed around a first axis that is orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the photographing optical system. A rotation support part that rotatably supports the display unit on the handle so that the angle of the display unit can be changed around a second axis orthogonal to the axis of the second axis; Is offset to the opposite side of the grip portion with respect to a center line parallel to the optical axis direction of the photographing optical system of the handle.

  According to the present invention, a small imaging device can be provided.

It is a perspective view of the back side of an imaging device. It is a perspective view of the front side of an imaging device. It is a side view of the imaging device shown in FIG. It is a top view of the imaging device shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the imaging device which shows the state which the panel developed 90 degree | times from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the imaging apparatus showing a state where the panel is rotated 180 degrees outward from the state shown in FIG. 5. It is a perspective view of the imaging device which shows the state which the panel rotated 90 degree | times ahead from the state shown in FIG. 6, and was folded. It is a top view of the imaging device shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the imaging apparatus showing a state where the panel is rotated 90 degrees clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 5. It is a top view of the imaging device shown in FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rear side of the imaging apparatus (video camera) 100 of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front side of the imaging apparatus 100. The image pickup apparatus 100 is an image pickup apparatus (video camera) that can record at the same time as shooting. However, the present embodiment can also be applied to other image pickup apparatuses that are used by being connected to the recording apparatus.

  The imaging device 100 includes a lens unit 10 that houses a photographing optical system that forms an optical image of a subject, and a main body 12 that serves as an imaging unit housing unit that houses an imaging unit that converts the optical image formed by the photographing optical system into a video signal. And having. Note that the imaging device 100 is an imaging device in which the lens unit 10 is integrated with the main body 12, but the present embodiment can also be applied to an imaging device in which the lens unit is configured to be replaceable with the main body. In addition, a battery storage unit 13 that stores a battery that supplies power to each unit of the imaging apparatus 100 is provided at the rear of the main body 12. A grip portion 14 is formed on the right side surface of the main body 12.

  The main body 12 is provided with a handle 20 that extends substantially parallel to the optical axis direction of the lens unit 10. The handle 20 is fixed to the main body 12 via a front leg portion 21 and a rear leg portion 22 with a predetermined interval. The handle 20 functions as a grip portion (handle) that is gripped when the user (photographer) holds the main body 12.

  A microphone 25 is provided at the tip portion of the handle 20, and a display unit storage unit 26 having a flat rectangular shape is provided behind the microphone 25. The display unit storage unit 26 is disposed on the upper portion of the lens unit 10 and is fixed to the handle 20. The display unit storage unit 26 stores the display unit 40.

  The display unit storage unit 26 includes an operation unit 27 having an operation button group that is operated when information is input. On the display unit storage unit 26, an image corresponding to a video signal is displayed. A display unit 40 having the display surface 41 on one surface is provided. Thus, in the present embodiment, the display unit 40 is disposed on the upper side of the display unit storage unit 26.

  The display unit 40 is a liquid crystal panel in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the storage state is a state in which the display surface 41 faces downward and is covered by the display unit storage unit 26. The display unit 40 is supported by the handle 20 so as to be rotatable about two axes (an axis a and an axis b described later) by the rotation support unit. The rotation support part is also arranged on the upper side of the display part storage part 26, and in this embodiment, the display part storage part 26 is provided in the vicinity of the fixed part fixed to the handle 20.

  3 is a side view of the image pickup apparatus 100 in the stored state, and FIG. 4 is a top view of the image pickup apparatus 100 in the stored state. In FIG. 4, the projected shapes of the display unit storage unit 26 and the display unit 40 are substantially the same shape.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the display unit 40 has a rectangular shape in which the length of the side in the optical axis direction is shorter than the length of the side in the direction orthogonal thereto. As a rotation support portion, a hinge (not shown) is provided on one side surface of the display unit 40 on the battery side. The hinge can rotate around two axes. A hinge mechanism that can rotate around two axes is well known in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-260, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As described above, the rotation support unit supports the display unit 40 so as to be rotatable around each of the two axes.

  The first axis is the axis a shown in FIGS. The axis a extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction parallel to the optical axis direction of the photographing optical system housed in the lens unit 10 in the horizontal plane, and is substantially at the center position in the thickness direction of the display unit 40 as shown in FIG. It is arranged so that it can be opened and closed. Moreover, the axis | shaft a is connected to the edge | side of the back side of the display part 40, as shown in FIG. The tilt angle can be changed by rotating the display unit 40 around the axis a. In FIG. 1, “CA” indicates a plane perpendicular to the axis a through the optical axis of the photographing optical system.

  The second axis is the axis b shown in FIGS. The axis b is orthogonal to the axis a, and is substantially parallel to the optical axis direction of the lens unit 10 when the display unit 40 is closed as shown in FIG. The axis b is located at the approximate center of the thickness of the display unit 40.

  The axis b is offset to the opposite side of the grip portion 14 with respect to a center line parallel to the optical axis of the photographing optical system of the handle 20. That is, it is located between the end surface 12a of the main body 12 and the plane CA (FIG. 1) perpendicular to the axis a through the optical axis of the photographing optical system. The end surface 12a of the main body 12 is the side surface of the main body 12 that is orthogonal to the axis a and the side on which the axis b is located with respect to the plane CA. In the present embodiment, the end surface 12a of the main body 12 is parallel to the plane CA. In the present embodiment, the axis b is also located between the end surface 26a of the display unit storage unit 26 and the plane CA. The end surface 26a of the display unit storage unit 26 is a side surface of the display unit storage unit 26 that is orthogonal to the axis a and is a side surface on the side where the axis b is present with respect to the plane CA. In the present embodiment, the end surface 26a of the display unit storage unit 26 is parallel to the plane CA.

  Conventionally, since the axis b is provided on the end surface of the display unit storage unit, the amount of protrusion in the horizontal width direction is large when the display unit is expanded. However, in this embodiment, the axis b is located between the end surface 12a and the plane CA. The amount of protrusion when the display unit 40 rotates around the axis b is reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the shaft b is located on the same surface as the upper surface 20 a of the handle 20 or on the same surface. Thus, the bottom surface of the display unit 40 can be disposed above the upper surface 20a of the handle 20.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rear side of the imaging apparatus 100 showing a state where the display unit 40 is developed 90 degrees around the axis a from the housed state. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the imaging apparatus 100 showing a state where the display unit 40 is rotated 180 degrees around the axis b from the state shown in FIG.

  When the display unit 40 is rotated 180 degrees from the state shown in FIG. 5 to the state shown in FIG. 6, the display unit 40 moves from the front to the outside (disengages from the upper side of the handle 20). The video on the display unit 40 can also be confirmed at the same time.

  Further, in the normal photographing state shown in FIG. 6, even if an unintended force is applied to the display unit 40 rearward or forward, the display unit 40 can be rotated about the axis b, so there is no fear of damaging the rotation support unit and reliability. Is excellent.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state where the display unit 40 is tilted forward 90 degrees around the axis a from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a top view of the imaging apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 7, and shows a state in which the display unit 40 is stored in the display unit storage unit 26 with the display surface 41 of the display unit 40 facing away from the display unit storage unit 26. Show. In this manner, the display unit 41 can be stored in the display unit storage unit 26 with the display surface 41 facing upward.

  Since the axis b is located between the end surface 12a of the main body 12 of the imaging device 100 and the plane CA that passes through the optical axis and is perpendicular to the axis a, the distance L from the lens optical axis to the left side surface 43 of the display unit 40 is set. Can be small. In particular, when the display unit 40 can realize a 16: 9 aspect ratio of HDTV (High Definition Television), the amount of protrusion in the horizontal width direction can be reduced.

  In addition, since a part of the display unit storage unit 26 is exposed in the state of FIG. 8 and the operation unit 27 is provided in the exposed part, the photographer opens the display unit 40 even in a small environment. It is possible to search and edit the recorded image by operating the operation unit 27. In the storage state as shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 27 is covered with the display unit 40 to be protected from rain and dust.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the display unit 40 is rotated 90 degrees around the axis b from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a top view of FIG. Conventionally, even if the posture of the display unit is adjusted so as to look over the display surface of the display unit, a part of the screen of the display unit is hidden by the handle and the visibility is low.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the lower surface 42 of the display unit 40 is positioned above the upper surface 20 a of the handle 20, so that the display surface 41 of the display unit 40 is passed over the handle. Visibility when viewing is improved. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the image pickup apparatus main body is placed adjacent to the wall and shot, the photographer can stand on the right side of the main body and see the display unit 40.

  As mentioned above, although the preferable Example of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these Examples, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary.

  The imaging device can be applied to use for imaging a subject.

12 Main body 12a End surface 20 Handle 20a Upper surface 26 Display unit storage unit 27 Operation unit 40 Display unit 41 Display surface 100 Imaging device CA Plane a axis (first axis)
b-axis (second axis)

Claims (3)

A main body that houses an imaging unit that converts an optical image formed by the imaging optical system into a video signal;
A handle gripped when holding the body;
A grip portion formed on a side surface of the main body;
A display unit for displaying an image corresponding to the video signal;
The tilt angle of the display unit can be changed around a first axis orthogonal to the optical axis direction of the photographing optical system, and the angle of the display unit around a second axis orthogonal to the first axis A rotation support unit that rotatably supports the display unit on the handle so as to be changeable,
Have
The image pickup apparatus, wherein the second axis is offset to the opposite side of the grip portion with respect to a center line parallel to the optical axis direction of the photographing optical system of the handle.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the display unit is located above an upper surface of the handle. A display unit storage unit that is fixed to the handle and provided with the rotation support unit, and stores the display unit;
An operation unit provided in the display unit storage unit and operated when inputting information;
Further comprising
The operation unit is provided in an exposed part of the display unit storage unit in a state where the display unit is stored in the display unit storage unit with the display surface of the display unit facing away from the display unit storage unit. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup apparatus is provided.