JP2017059876A - Imaging device, and support mechanism of movable member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an imaging device having a high degree of freedom in the setting of orientation or angle of a movable display, and capable of being configured compactly.SOLUTION: In an imaging device including a body having an image pickup device, and a display capable of displaying an image and supported movably for the body, the display is supported movably toward and away from the body. In the state approaching the body, the display is capable of tilting of first aspect around an axis of specific direction substantially perpendicular to the direction toward and away from the body. In the state separated from the body, the display is capable of tilting of second aspect in free direction for the body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus having a movable display unit. The present invention also relates to a support mechanism for the movable member.

  Some imaging devices such as digital still cameras and digital video cameras can adjust the orientation and angle of the display unit for image display with respect to the main body of the imaging device in order to improve the convenience of shooting and operation. . As a support mechanism for such a movable display unit, a hinge mechanism (so-called vari-angle mechanism) that supports the display unit so as to be rotatable about one or more axes, or a plurality of links (arms) are connected by an axis. Link mechanisms are known. Also known is a structure in which a concave curved surface shape is formed in the main body of the imaging apparatus, a convex curved surface shape is formed on the display unit side, and the display unit can be slid along the uneven surface, as in Patent Document 1. It has been.

JP 2009-303104 A

  The conventional support structure using the hinge mechanism and the link mechanism has a restriction on the degree of freedom in setting the direction of the display unit. Further, when the hinge mechanism is used, when the display unit is rotated around the axis, the position of the display unit is largely shifted with respect to the photographing optical axis, and it may be difficult to perform composition adjustment. Especially in close-up photography (macro shooting), the distance between the display unit of the imaging device and the subject is close, and slight fluctuations or misalignment of the photographer or imaging device greatly affect the composition. If the deviation is large, it is difficult to perform intuitive composition and stress is applied to the photographer.

  A support structure using a curved surface as in Patent Document 1 has a higher degree of freedom in setting the orientation of the display unit than a hinge mechanism or a link mechanism. However, when the display unit is slid with respect to the main body of the imaging device, the protrusion amount of the display unit in the direction perpendicular to the photographing optical axis is increased, and a practical tilt angle of the display unit is set. The problem is that the concave surface becomes deep (the protrusion amount of the convex surface increases) and the thickness in the direction along the imaging optical axis tends to increase.

  Further, in the technical field other than the imaging device, there is a similar problem in the support mechanism of the movable member that can adjust the direction and angle with respect to the main body portion, and the degree of freedom in setting the direction and angle of the movable member is improved. There was a demand to prevent the support mechanism from becoming large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that has a high degree of freedom in setting the direction and angle of a movable display unit and can be configured in a small size. Another object of the present invention is to provide a movable member support mechanism that has a high degree of freedom in setting the direction and angle of the movable member and can be configured in a small size.

  The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus having a main body having an image sensor and a display unit that can display an image obtained by the image sensor and is movably supported with respect to the main body. In a state where the display unit is supported and close to the main body, the display unit can be tilted in the first mode around an axis in a specific direction substantially orthogonal to the contact / separation direction with respect to the main body. The display unit can be tilted in a second manner that can be freely oriented with respect to the main body.

  The contact / separation direction of the display unit with respect to the main body is preferably a direction in which the optical axis of the light beam incident on the image sensor is extended.

  The display unit tilts the first aspect in a plurality of directions based on a reference angle that makes the display surface substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the light beam incident on the image sensor, and sets the reference angle in the tilt of the second aspect. It is preferable to be able to tilt in different directions without going through.

  The display unit may be tilted in the first mode with a contact point that contacts the main body as a fulcrum. For example, the display unit has a substantially rectangular outer shape, the main body has a contacted part that can contact each of the four sides of the display unit, and the display unit is in contact with the contacted part. The tilt of the first aspect can be performed in four directions with the four sides in contact with each other as fulcrums.

  The display unit preferably tilts in the first and second modes within a range that does not protrude from the outer shape of the main body as viewed along the optical axis of the light beam incident on the image sensor.

  Further, it is preferable that the display unit is movable in a rotational direction centered on an axis that faces the contact / separation direction with respect to the main body while being separated from the main body.

  The display unit may include a first support step portion that can tilt with respect to the main body, and a second support step portion that expands a tilt angle in at least one direction with respect to the first support step portion.

  The present invention also provides an image pickup apparatus having a main body having an image sensor and a display unit that can display an image obtained by the image sensor and is movably supported with respect to the main body. It has the 1st support step part which can be, and the 2nd support step part which expands a tilt angle to at least one direction with respect to a 1st support step part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The present invention also provides a support mechanism that movably supports the movable member with respect to the main body so that the movable member can be moved in the direction of contact with and away from the main body. The first aspect can be tilted about an axis in a specific direction substantially orthogonal to the separation direction, and the movable member can be tilted in a second direction that is freely movable with respect to the main body in a state of being separated from the main body. It is characterized by being.

  The present invention also provides a support mechanism that movably supports the movable member with respect to the main body, a first support step portion that is tiltable with respect to the main body, and a tilt angle in at least one direction with respect to the first support step portion. And a position of the movable member relative to the main body is changed by the operation of the first support step and the second support step.

  The detailed operation and structure of the movable member support mechanism can be the same as those of the above-described imaging apparatus. As the movable member to which the support mechanism according to the present invention is applied, a display unit that displays an image based on a signal sent from the main body is suitable.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an imaging device that has a high degree of freedom in setting the direction and angle of a movable display unit and can be configured in a small size. In addition, it is possible to obtain a movable member support mechanism that has a high degree of freedom in setting the direction and angle of the movable member and can be configured compactly.

It is the perspective view which showed the interchangeable lens single-lens reflex camera which is embodiment of this invention in the initial state which accommodated the movable monitor in the monitor accommodating part of the camera main body. It is a perspective view of a state where the movable monitor is tilted leftward with the single-lens reflex camera. It is a perspective view of the state which tilted the movable monitor to the right with the single-lens reflex camera. It is a perspective view of the state which tilted the movable monitor downward with the single-lens reflex camera. It is a perspective view of the state which tilted the movable monitor upwards with the single-lens reflex camera. It is a perspective view of a state where the movable monitor is further tilted upward by the single-lens reflex camera. It is a perspective view of the state where the movable monitor was pulled out backward by the single-lens reflex camera. It is a perspective view of a state where the movable monitor is tilted diagonally to the upper right with the single-lens reflex camera. It is a perspective view of the state which tilted the movable monitor diagonally lower left with the single-lens reflex camera. It is a rear view of the state which changed the angle of the movable monitor with the single-lens reflex camera about the axis center parallel to the optical axis. It is sectional drawing which showed the camera main body and movable monitor of the state of FIG. 7 in the cross section along an optical axis.

  1 to 11 show a camera body 10 of a camera (imaging device) 1 to which the present invention is applied. The camera 1 is an interchangeable lens single-lens reflex camera, and an interchangeable lens (lens barrel) (not shown) can be attached to and detached from the camera body 10. “O” shown in FIG. 11 is the optical axis of the light beam entering the camera body 10 through the optical system of the interchangeable lens. In the following description, the front, rear, top, bottom, left and right directions correspond to the directions indicated by the arrows in the figure, and the front is the subject side. In the normal shooting posture, the photographer is positioned behind the camera 1, and the vertical direction and the horizontal direction correspond to the direction seen from the photographer with the camera body 10 held substantially horizontally.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a mount portion 11 for attaching / detaching the interchangeable lens is provided on the front surface of the camera body 10. A quick return mirror 12 that is rotatable about a mirror hinge 12x is provided inside the camera body 10 behind the mount portion 11. The quick return mirror 12 has a mirror-down position (position shown in FIG. 11) obliquely provided on the photographing optical path in the camera body 10 and a mirror-up position retracted upward from the photographing optical path by a mirror driving mechanism (not shown). Rotate between.

  When the quick return mirror 12 is in the mirror down position, subject light that has passed through the optical system of the interchangeable lens attached to the mount unit 11 is reflected upward by the quick return mirror 12 and guided to the finder optical system. As shown in FIG. 11, the finder optical system includes a pentaprism 13 located above the quick return mirror 12, an eyepiece lens system 14 located behind the pentaprism 13, and an eyepiece located behind the eyepiece lens system 14. In the state where the window 15 is provided and the quick return mirror 12 is in the mirror down position, the subject image can be optically observed through the eyepiece window 15. An imaging element 16 is further provided inside the camera body 10 behind the quick return mirror 12. When the quick return mirror 12 is rotated to the mirror-up position, the subject light incident along the optical axis O can be received by the image sensor 16. A shutter (focal plane shutter) (not shown) is disposed between the quick return mirror 12 and the image sensor 16, and subject light reaches the light receiving surface of the image sensor 16 by opening the shutter. Subject light received by the image sensor 16 is photoelectrically converted and converted into electronic image data by an image generation circuit. A circuit board 17 on which an image generation circuit and the like are mounted is provided in the camera body 10.

  On the rear side of the camera body 10, an operation dial 50 is provided on the right side of the eyepiece window 15, a plurality of operation buttons 51 are provided below the operation dial 50, and a plurality of operation buttons 52 are also provided on the left side of the eyepiece window 15. Is provided. The operation dial 50 can be rotated around a vertical axis, and each operation button 51 and each operation button 52 can be pushed. Various settings and function selections related to the camera 1 can be executed using the operation dial 50, the operation buttons 51, and the operation buttons 52. The specific settings and functions are well known and will not be described, but as an example, the aperture value and shutter speed can be set by rotating the operation dial 50. The camera body 10 is further provided with various operation dials and operation buttons on the upper surface side, etc., and description thereof will be omitted.

  A movable monitor (display unit, movable member) 20 is further provided on the rear surface side of the camera body 10. The movable monitor 20 is located below the eyepiece window 15 and the plurality of operation buttons 52 and to the left of the plurality of operation buttons 51, and the operation dial 50 is located obliquely above and to the right of the movable monitor 20. The movable monitor 20 includes a display device 21 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). The movable monitor 20 is located on the extension of the optical axis O. More specifically, the outer center of the movable monitor 20 is located on an imaginary line O ′ (FIG. 11) extending from the optical axis O. Signal communication is performed between the camera body 10 and the movable monitor 20 by the flexible substrate 18 (FIG. 11) that connects the circuit board 17 and the display device 21, and the subject image based on the image data obtained through the image sensor 16. In addition, various types of information other than images can be displayed on the display device 21. The movable monitor 20 is movably supported with respect to the camera body 10 and can change the orientation and position of the display device 21. Hereinafter, the support mechanism of the movable monitor 20 and its operation will be described. In the following description, the direction related to the movable monitor 20 is the direction when the movable monitor 20 is in the initial position shown in FIG. 1 (the state where the camera body 10 is not tilted or pulled out) unless otherwise specified. It shall be stated.

  The display device 21 is fixedly supported with respect to the support frame (second support step) 22. The display device 21 has a substantially rectangular display surface facing the rear surface side of the camera 1, and the support frame 22 has an upper side portion 22 a, a lower side portion 22 b, a left side portion 22 c that surround four sides around the rectangular display device 21. It has a right side 22d. The display device 21 has a horizontally long shape that is long in the left-right direction. In the support frame 22, the upper side portion 22a and the lower side portion 22b form a pair of long sides corresponding to the shape of the display device 21, and the left side portion 22c and the right side. The portion 22d forms a pair of short sides.

  The support frame 22 is supported by a metal base plate (first support step) 23. The support frame 22 is rotatable with respect to the base plate 23 about a tilt shaft 22x (FIGS. 2, 4, and 11) located behind (front) the upper side portion 22a. The axis of the tilt shaft 22x extends in the left-right direction, and the support frame 22 can change the direction in the vertical direction by rotating around the tilt shaft 22x (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

  Two through holes 23a are formed in the base plate 23 at different positions in the left-right direction (only the right through hole 23a is visible in FIG. 6, and the left through hole 23a is not shown). Further, flanges 23b, 23c, and 23d are formed on the periphery of the base plate 23 so as to fit into the lower side 22b, the left side 22c, and the right side 22d of the support frame 22.

  On the rear surface side of the camera body 10, a monitor housing portion 30 capable of housing the movable monitor 20 is formed. The monitor accommodating portion 30 is a substantially rectangular concave portion corresponding to the substantially rectangular outer shape of the movable monitor 20 (contains the substantially rectangular movable monitor 20), and each of the upper edge walls (covered portions) protruding rearward in a flange shape. The monitor housing portion 30 is surrounded by a contact portion 30a, a lower edge wall (contacted portion) 30b, a left edge wall (contacted portion) 30c, and a right edge wall (contacted portion) 30d. Four guide grooves 31, which are long grooves extending radially in a direction along the diagonal line of the substantially rectangular monitor housing portion 30, are formed at the bottom of the monitor housing portion 30. More specifically, the upper left guide groove 31 extending from the vicinity of the boundary (corner portion) between the upper edge wall 30a and the left edge wall 30c toward the center (imaginary line O ′) of the monitor housing portion 30, and the lower edge wall 30b and the left The lower left guide groove 31 extending from the vicinity of the boundary (corner) of the edge wall 30c toward the center (imaginary line O ′) of the monitor housing 30 and the vicinity of the boundary (corner) of the upper edge wall 30a and the right edge wall 30d From the vicinity of the upper right guide groove 31 extending in the direction of the center (virtual line O ′) of the monitor housing portion 30 and the boundary (corner portion) between the lower edge wall 30b and the right edge wall 30d (imaginary line) A lower right guide groove 31 extending in the O ′) direction is provided. In each guide groove 31, an end portion on the side close to the center of the monitor housing portion 30 is referred to as an inner end portion, and an end portion on the side far from the center of the monitor housing portion 30 is referred to as an outer end portion. The inner ends of the four guide grooves 31 are arranged so as to surround the virtual line O ′. Two positioning projections 32 are further formed on the bottom of the monitor housing portion 30 so as to be different in the left-right direction. Each positioning protrusion 32 can be inserted into a through hole 23 a formed in the base plate 23. A magnet is provided in each positioning protrusion 32.

  The upper edge wall 30a, the lower edge wall 30b, the left edge wall 30c, and the right edge wall 30d surrounding the monitor housing portion 30 are not uniform in the amount of protrusion from the bottom of the monitor housing portion 30 to the rear, and in the middle portion. Concave portions 30e, 30f, 30g, and 30h having a small rearward projection amount are provided. The concave portion 30e is formed at the center portion in the left-right direction of the upper edge wall 30a, and the upper edge wall 30a is prevented from interfering with the eyepiece window 15 by forming the concave portion 30e. The recess 30f is formed at the center portion in the left-right direction of the lower edge wall 30a, and the flange 23b of the base plate 23 can enter the recess 30f. The concave portion 30g is formed at the central portion in the vertical direction of the left edge wall 30c, and the flange 23c of the base plate 23 can enter the concave portion 30g. The concave portion 30h is formed from the central portion in the vertical direction of the right edge wall 30d to the vicinity of the upper end connected to the upper edge wall 30a, and the flange 23d of the base plate 23 can enter the concave portion 30h. The upper edge portion located between the upper edge wall 30a and the recess 30h in the right edge wall 30d is a low wall 30i that has a small rearward protrusion amount, and gradually protrudes from the lower wall 30i to the upper edge wall 30a. Is getting bigger.

  The movable monitor 20 is connected to the camera body 10 via four support rods 24. A spherical end 25 is provided at one end of each support rod 24, and a spherical end 26 (see FIG. 11) is provided at the other end of each support rod 24. The spherical end portion 26 is fitted into a socket 27 provided on the base plate 23. The spherical end portion 25 and the spherical end portion 26 are spherical bodies that are connected to the corresponding guide grooves 31 and sockets 27 so as to be capable of rotating in the center of the ball (freely rotating without any restriction on the direction), respectively. The ball joint structure has a high degree of freedom in each direction of the main body 10 and the movable monitor 20. Further, the spherical end portion 25 is supported so as to be movable (slidable) in the longitudinal direction of the guide groove 31. Four support rods 24 and sockets 27 are provided in a positional relationship corresponding to the four guide grooves 31. The upper left support rod 24 connects the upper left guide groove 31 and the upper left socket 27, and lower left side. The support rod 24 connects the lower left guide groove 31 and the lower left socket 27, and the upper right support rod 24 connects the upper right guide groove 31 and the upper right socket 27, and lower right support rod. Reference numeral 24 connects a lower right guide groove 31 and a lower right socket 27.

  The movable monitor 20 having the above support structure operates as follows with respect to the camera body 10. FIG. 1 shows an initial position where the entire movable monitor 20 is housed in the monitor housing portion 30 of the camera body 10. At the initial position, the two positioning projections 32 are inserted into the through hole 23a, and the position of the movable monitor 20 is fixed. The base plate 23 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet provided in each positioning protrusion 32 to hold the movable monitor 20 at the initial position. Further, along the upper edge wall 30a, the lower edge wall 30b, the left edge wall 30c, and the right edge wall 30d surrounding the monitor housing portion 30, the upper side 22a, the lower side 22b (flange 23b), and the left side 22c on the movable monitor 20 side. (Flange 23c) and right side 22d (flange 23d) are located. At the initial position of the movable monitor 20, the spherical end portion 25 of each support rod 24 is positioned near the outer end portion of the guide groove 31, and the rising angle (projection amount) of each support rod 24 with respect to the monitor housing portion 30 is the smallest. It has become. At the initial position of the movable monitor 20, the four sockets 27 and the spherical end portions 26 of the four support rods 24 are in a positional relationship surrounding the virtual line O ′. The orientation of the movable monitor 20 at the initial position is set so that the display surface of the display device 21 is substantially orthogonal to the optical axis O (more precisely, an imaginary line O ′ obtained by extending the optical axis O rearward). Yes. The direction of the movable monitor 20 is set as a reference angle.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the movable monitor 20 can be tilted in four directions, up, down, left, and right from the reference angle at the initial position. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the movable monitor 20 is tilted to the left with the axis line in the vertical direction as the center. The movable monitor 20 is tilted to the left side by pulling the right side portion 22d (flange 23d) side rearward and using the contact point between the left side portion 22c (flange 23c) and the left edge wall 30c as a fulcrum. At this time, the two support rods 24 on the upper right side and the lower right side respectively raise the rising angle (protrusion) with respect to the monitor housing portion 30 while moving the spherical end portion 25 from the vicinity of the outer end portion of the guide groove 31 toward the inner end portion side. As a result, the two sockets 27 on the upper right side and the lower right side are pushed rearward, so that the movable monitor 20 tilts toward the left side. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the movable monitor 20 is operated to the maximum leftward tilt angle by pushing out the two support rods 24 on the upper right side and the lower right side. In this state, two spherical shapes on the upper right side and the lower right side are shown. The end portion 25 is located near the inner end portion of the corresponding guide groove 31.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the movable monitor 20 is tilted to the right with the axis line in the vertical direction as the center. The movable monitor 20 is tilted to the right side by pulling the left side 22c (flange 23c) side rearward, and using the contact point between the right side 22d (flange 23d) and the right edge wall 30d as a fulcrum. At this time, the two left upper support rods 24 and the lower left support rods 24 move the spherical end portion 25 from the vicinity of the outer end portion of the guide groove 31 toward the inner end portion side. ) Is increased, and as a result, the upper left socket and the lower left socket 27 are pushed backward to tilt the movable monitor 20 toward the right side. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the movable monitor 20 is operated to the maximum inclination angle in the right direction by pushing out the two support rods 24 on the upper left side and the lower left side. In this state, two spherical end portions on the upper left side and the lower left side are shown. 25 is located near the inner end of the corresponding guide groove 31.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which the movable monitor 20 is tilted downward with the axis line in the left-right direction as the center. Tilt of the movable monitor 20 to the lower side is performed by pulling the upper side portion 22a toward the rear and using the contact portion between the lower side portion 22b (flange 23b) and the lower edge wall 30b as a fulcrum. At this time, the two upper support rods 24 on the upper left side and the upper right side respectively raise the rising angle (projection amount) with respect to the monitor housing portion 30 while moving the spherical end portion 25 from the vicinity of the outer end portion of the guide groove 31 toward the inner end portion side. ) Is increased, and as a result, the upper left socket and the upper right socket 27 are pushed backward to tilt the movable monitor 20 downward. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the movable monitor 20 is operated to the maximum downward inclination angle by pushing the two support rods 24 on the upper left side and the upper right side. In this state, two spherical end portions on the upper left side and the upper right side are shown. 25 is located near the inner end of the corresponding guide groove 31.

  FIG. 5 shows a state in which the movable monitor 20 is tilted upward with the axis line in the left-right direction as the center. The movable monitor 20 is tilted upward by pulling the lower side portion 22b (flange 23b) side rearward and using the contact portion between the upper side portion 22a and the upper edge wall 30a as a fulcrum. At this time, the two support rods 24 on the lower left side and the lower right side respectively raise the rising angle (protrusion) with respect to the monitor housing portion 30 while moving the spherical end portion 25 from the vicinity of the outer end portion of the guide groove 31 toward the inner end portion side. As a result, the two sockets 27 on the lower left side and the lower right side are pushed rearward, so that the movable monitor 20 is tilted upward. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the movable monitor 20 is operated to the maximum upward tilt angle by pushing out the two support rods 24 on the lower left side and the lower right side. In this state, two spherical shapes on the lower left side and the lower right side are shown. The end portion 25 is located near the inner end portion of the corresponding guide groove 31.

  In the initial position of the movable monitor 20 in FIG. 1 (stored state in the monitor housing portion 30), the movable monitor is moved by the upper edge wall 30a, the lower edge wall 30b, the left edge wall 30c, and the right edge wall 30d around the monitor housing portion 30. By enclosing 20, it is possible to prevent the movable monitor 20 from being inadvertently operated by preventing an external catch or the like. A low wall 30i formed at the upper end portion of the right edge wall 30d (boundary portion with the upper edge wall 30a) has an operation dial 50 located at the upper right of the movable monitor 20 and a plurality of operation buttons located below the operation dial 50. 51 has a function of improving operability. Specifically, when the grip portion of the camera body 10 is grasped with the right hand, the operation dial 50 and the push buttons (a part of the plurality of operation buttons 51) positioned around the operation dial 50 are assumed to be operated with the right hand thumb. The At this time, since the low wall 30i is positioned on the movement trajectory of the thumb, the thumb smoothly reaches the operation dial 50 without being caught by the high walls (30a, 30b, 30c and 30d) surrounding the monitor housing 30. It becomes easy to get.

  As described above, at the initial position of the movable monitor 20, the movable monitor 20 can be protected by the walls 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d (including the low wall 30i) provided at positions surrounding the four corners of the movable monitor 20 in the up, down, left and right directions. On the other hand, by forming the recesses 30e, 30f, 30g and 30h around the monitor housing part 30, the edge of the movable monitor 20 is partially exposed, and the movable part 20 can be moved from the initial position as shown in FIGS. Good operability (fingering) when the monitor 20 is tilted is also realized. All of the recesses 30e, 30f, 30g, and 30h are formed corresponding to the central portions of the upper side 22a, the lower side 22b, the left side 22c, and the right side 22d of the movable monitor 20, and therefore, in the vertical and horizontal directions from the initial position. A force for tilting the movable monitor 20 is easily applied.

  2 to 5 show a state in which the movable monitor 20 is tilted to the maximum tilt angle in the vertical and horizontal directions by pushing out the support rod 24, but in the middle between the inner end portion and the outer end portion of the guide groove 31. By positioning the spherical end 25, the movable monitor 20 can be held at an arbitrary inclination angle smaller than this. The spherical end portions 25 of the support rods 24 are fitted in the corresponding guide grooves 31 in a state where predetermined friction is applied, and the tilting operation with respect to the movable monitor 20 is stopped halfway, so that the movable monitor 20 at the corresponding angle. Can be held. The maximum tilt angle of the movable monitor 20 can be made larger or smaller than the size shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 by changing the setting of the length of the support rod 24 and the length of the guide groove 31. .

  As shown in FIG. 6, the movable monitor 20 can further increase the upward angle by rotating the support frame 22 with respect to the base plate 23 about the tilt axis 22x. For example, in the state of FIG. 5, the entire movable monitor 20 is directed upward by about 40 degrees with respect to the camera body 10 by the tilt (first-stage tilt) via the support rod 24 described above. In the state of FIG. 6, the support frame 22 and the display device 21 are changed upward by about 90 degrees with respect to the initial position of FIG. 1 by adding the tilt of the support frame 22 with respect to the base plate 23 (second-stage tilt). doing. Thereby, for example, the movable monitor 20 can be used like a waist level finder. The rotation of the support frame 22 from the state of FIG. 5 to the state of FIG. 6 can be performed by placing a finger on a portion of the support frame 22 that is not covered by the flanges 23b, 23c, and 23d of the base plate 23.

  When the movable monitor 20 is close to the camera body 10 and is housed in the monitor housing portion 30 (initial position), the movable monitor 20 can be tilted about an axis in a specific direction such as the vertical direction or the horizontal direction as described above. it can. This tilting of the movable monitor 20 is the tilting of the first mode. In addition to the tilt of the first mode, the movable monitor 20 is pulled out from the monitor housing portion 30 in the optical axis direction (direction along the imaginary line O ′ extending the optical axis O) as shown in FIGS. Thus, it can be separated from the camera body 10. The pulling-out operation of the movable monitor 20 is performed by increasing the rising angle (projection amount) of the four support rods 24 with respect to the monitor housing portion 30. For example, by making the protruding amounts of the four support rods 24 with respect to the monitor housing portion 30 substantially equal, the optical axis O is maintained without tilting the movable monitor 20 from the initial position in FIG. 1 (while maintaining the reference angle). It can be made to move to substantially parallel to the state of FIG. 7 or FIG.

  In a state where the movable monitor 20 is pulled out rearward of the monitor housing portion 30 and separated from the camera body 10, the movable monitor 20 has an upper edge wall 30a, a lower edge wall 30b, a left edge wall 30c, and a right edge wall. It becomes possible to operate without being restricted by 30d. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 6, tilting in any direction that is not limited to the axis center in a specific direction such as the vertical direction or the horizontal direction is possible. For example, the movable monitor 20 is placed in a direction such as an upper right side shown in FIG. 8, an upper left side shown in FIG. 9, an upper left side opposite to the left and right in FIG. It can be tilted, and its angle can be arbitrarily set within a range in which each support rod 24 can follow. This directionally tilting of the movable monitor 20 is defined as the tilting of the second mode. Further, in a state in which the movable monitor 20 is pulled back less than the maximum amount, the movable monitor 20 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis O while maintaining a reference angle within a predetermined range in which each support rod 24 can follow. It can also be moved.

  In the state where the movable monitor 20 is pulled out to the rear of the monitor housing portion 30, as shown in FIG. 10, an imaginary line O ′ (with respect to the camera body 10) in which the optical axis O is extended within a range in which each support rod 24 can follow. It is also possible to rotate the movable monitor 20 around an axis that is directed toward and away from the movable monitor 20. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the movable monitor 20 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed from the photographer side, and the movable monitor 20 can be rotated in the opposite clockwise direction. In the present embodiment, since the center of the outer shape of the movable monitor 20 is positioned on the virtual line O ′ extending from the optical axis O, in the state shown in FIG. However, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the imaginary line O ′ obtained by extending the optical axis O passes through a position different from the outer center of the movable monitor 20. In this case, the positions of the center of the movable monitor 20 and the center of rotation do not match.

  As described above, in the camera 1 of the present embodiment, the degree of freedom in setting the position of the movable monitor 20 relative to the camera body 10 is high. As a first aspect of the operation of the movable monitor 20, the movable monitor 20 can be tilted in four directions, up, down, left, and right in a state where the movable monitor 20 is in the initial position in the monitor housing 30. As a second mode of operation of the movable monitor 20, in a state where the movable monitor 20 is moved backward from the initial position in the optical axis direction (a direction away from the camera body 10), it is possible to freely tilt without any direction restriction. Become. The tilt of the second aspect of the movable monitor 20 differs from the tilt of the first aspect in that the display surface of the display device 21 of the movable monitor 20 does not pass through a reference angle that is substantially orthogonal to the optical axis O, and an arbitrary tilt. Since it can be shifted directly from one direction to the next tilt direction, it is excellent in operability. In any aspect, when the movable monitor 20 is tilted, the movable monitor 20 falls within a range in which the movable monitor 20 does not protrude from the outer shape of the camera body 10 when viewed in a direction parallel to the optical axis O as shown in FIG. An increase in size of the camera 1 (particularly an increase in size in the vertical and horizontal directions perpendicular to the optical axis O) can be prevented.

  Further, the movable monitor 20 can increase the angle change in a predetermined direction (upward) by rotating the support frame 22 with respect to the base plate 23, and can cope with more various photographing postures.

  Further, when the movable monitor 20 is moved backward from the initial position in the optical axis direction (in the direction away from the camera body 10), rotation about the optical axis O as shown in FIG. The degree of freedom of setting is even higher.

  The tilting and rotation of the movable monitor 20 described above is performed without greatly changing the relative positional relationship between the outer center of the movable monitor 20 and the optical axis O (the imaginary line O ′ obtained by extending the optical axis O). Since the movable monitor 20 does not greatly deviate from the outer shape of the camera body 10 when viewed along the optical axis O, it is easy to perform composition adjustment. Further, since the movable monitor 20 is housed in the monitor housing portion 30 of the camera body 10 at the initial position of the movable monitor 20, and the movable monitor 20 is pulled out from the monitor housing portion 30 as necessary, the camera in the initial state is used. The size of 1 in the optical axis direction can be suppressed.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on illustration embodiment, this invention is not limited to illustration embodiment. For example, the movable monitor 20 of the illustrated embodiment increases the upward angle change by rotating the support frame 22 with respect to the base plate 23 in addition to the angle change using the four support rods 24. It is also possible to apply an angle change in a direction other than upward.

  Although the movable monitor 20 of the illustrated embodiment includes a horizontally long display device 21, the present invention can also be applied to a type of imaging apparatus having a display screen having a shape other than horizontally long such as a square. Furthermore, the outer shape of the display screen is not limited to a rectangle, but may be a triangle, a rectangle other than a rectangle, a polygon having five or more vertices, a curved shape having no vertices, and the like.

  In addition, the display device 21 is not fixed to the support frame 22 like the movable monitor 20 in the illustrated embodiment, and a separate display device (for example, a smartphone) is attached to and detached from the support frame 22. Possible types of display units can also be employed. As a display device constituting the display unit, both a display having only a display function and a touch panel type display operated by touching the screen can be employed.

  The camera 1 of the illustrated embodiment is a single-lens reflex camera with interchangeable lenses. However, the imaging apparatus to which the present invention is applied is not limited to this, and a still camera other than a single-lens reflex camera with interchangeable lenses, or video recording It can also be applied to a video camera that mainly performs the above. In particular, moving image shooting has a large change in camera angle during shooting, and therefore an imaging apparatus including a display unit with high degree of freedom of position setting to which the present invention is applied is effective.

  The present invention is an apparatus having an image display unit movable with respect to a main body, in addition to an imaging apparatus, a portable electronic device such as a laptop personal computer, a tablet computer, or a smartphone, or an inspection device such as a car navigation or an oscilloscope. It is also possible to apply it.

  Further, the present invention can be widely applied to a technical field including a movable member that is movably supported with respect to the main body except for the purpose of image display.

1 Camera (imaging device)
10 Camera body (main body)
15 eyepiece window 16 image sensor 17 circuit board 18 flexible board 20 movable monitor (display unit, movable member)
21 display device 22 support frame (second support step)
22a Upper side 22b Lower side 22c Left side 22d Right side 22x Tilt shaft 23 Base plate (first support step)
23a Through hole 23b 23c 23d Flange 24 Support rod 25 26 Spherical end portion 27 Socket 30 Monitor housing portion 30a Upper edge wall (contacted portion)
30b Lower edge wall (contacted part)
30c Left edge wall (contacted part)
30d Right edge wall (contacted part)
30e 30f 30g 30h Recess 30i Low wall 31 Guide groove 32 Positioning protrusion 50 Operation dial 51 52 Operation button

Claims (17)

In an imaging apparatus having a main body having an imaging element and a display unit that can display an image obtained by the imaging element and is movably supported with respect to the main body.
The display unit is supported so as to be movable in a contact / separation direction with respect to the main body, and the display unit is centered on an axis in a specific direction substantially orthogonal to the contact / separation direction with respect to the main body in a state of approaching the main body An image pickup apparatus, wherein the tilting of the first aspect is possible and the display unit can be tilted in the second aspect that is freely movable with respect to the main body in a state of being separated from the main body.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact / separation direction of the display unit with respect to the main body is a direction in which an optical axis of a light beam incident on the imaging element is extended.   The display unit tilts the first aspect in a plurality of directions with reference to a reference angle that makes the display surface substantially orthogonal to the optical axis of the light beam incident on the imaging device, and tilts the second aspect. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein tilting in different directions can be performed without passing through the reference angle.   The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display unit performs the tilting of the first aspect with a contact portion that contacts the main body as a fulcrum.   The display portion has a substantially rectangular outer shape, the main body has a contacted portion that can contact each of the four sides of the outer shape of the display portion, and the display portion is connected to the contacted portion. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the tilting of the first aspect is performed in four directions with the four sides in contact as fulcrums.   6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit tilts the first and second modes within a range that does not protrude from the outer shape of the main body when viewed along the optical axis of a light beam incident on the image sensor. An imaging apparatus according to claim 1.   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is movable in a rotation direction about an axis facing the contact / separation direction in a state of being separated from the main body.   The display portion includes a first support step portion that can tilt with respect to the main body, and a second support step portion that expands a tilt angle in at least one direction with respect to the first support step portion. The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. In an imaging apparatus having a main body having an imaging element and a display unit that can display an image obtained by the imaging element and is movably supported with respect to the main body.
The display portion includes a first support step portion that can tilt with respect to the main body, and a second support step portion that expands a tilt angle in at least one direction with respect to the first support step portion. An imaging device characterized by comprising: In the support mechanism that movably supports the movable member with respect to the main body,
The movable member is supported so as to be movable in the contact / separation direction with respect to the main body, and in a state of approaching the main body, the movable member is centered on an axis in a specific direction substantially orthogonal to the contact / separation direction with respect to the main body. The movable member supporting mechanism, wherein the movable member can be tilted in a second mode in which the movable member can be tilted in the first mode and is movable away from the main body. .   The movable member can tilt in the first mode in a plurality of directions with reference to a reference angle, and the tilt in the second mode can tilt in different directions without passing through the reference angle. The support mechanism for a movable member according to claim 10.   The movable member support mechanism according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the movable member performs the tilting of the first aspect with a contact point contacting the main body as a fulcrum.   The movable member has a substantially rectangular outer shape, the main body has a contacted portion with which each of the four sides of the outer shape of the movable member can contact, and the movable member is disposed on the contacted portion. The support mechanism for a movable member according to claim 12, wherein the tilting of the first aspect is performed in four directions with the four sides in contact as fulcrums.   The movable member support mechanism according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the movable member is movable in a rotational direction centering on an axis facing the contact / separation direction while being separated from the main body.   The movable member includes a first support step portion that can tilt with respect to the main body, and a second support step portion that expands a tilt angle in at least one direction with respect to the first support step portion. The movable member supporting mechanism according to claim 10. In the support mechanism that movably supports the movable member with respect to the main body,
A first support step that is tiltable with respect to the main body; and a second support step that expands a tilt angle in at least one direction with respect to the first support step. A movable member support mechanism, wherein a position of the movable member with respect to the main body is changed by an operation of a support step and the second support step.   The movable member support mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the movable member is a display unit that displays an image based on a signal sent from the main body.

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