JP2018072399A - Imaging apparatus and jacket - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a jacket capable of being installed on an imaging device and easy to operate for a user such as an infant and the like who are poor at a fine operation.SOLUTION: In a jacket that can be mounted on an imaging device, when a jacket shutter button 117 that moves in a direction orthogonal to a pushing direction of a shutter button is pushed, a cam moves to operate the shutter button. When jacket zoom switches 120, 121 are pushed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of a zoom cam, the zoom cam is rotated to operate the zoom switches.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus to which a jacket can be attached and a jacket.

  In recent years, along with digitalization of cameras, small and lightweight cameras with good portability have been put on the market. On the other hand, there are cameras with a large operation part and grip part for users who are not good at fine operations such as infants. Further, some waterproof jackets for cameras are characterized in that a large operation part or grip part is provided on the jacket so that it can be easily operated when used underwater (Patent Document 1).

JP-A-6-82897

  However, when a plurality of users (adults and infants, etc.) share and use a camera, there is a problem when an infant tries to use a general camera used by an adult. When the camera is gripped as shown in FIG. 8A, the finger does not reach the operation unit such as the shutter (102) and zoom (103) provided on the upper surface 001 because the finger is short. Also, the zoom rotation operation was difficult for infants with clumsy fingers.

  On the other hand, it has been possible to attach a waterproof jacket to the camera and enlarge the operation part and grip part, but it has been difficult for infants and other users with small hands.

  The jacket of the present invention is a jacket that can be attached to an image pickup apparatus having a push operation switch (102). The operation cam (119) that moves in the same direction as the push direction of the operation switch and the push direction of the operation switch are substantially orthogonal to each other. It is characterized by comprising a push operation means (117) that moves in the direction, and an operation means that moves the operation cam and operates the operation switch (102) when the push operation means (117) is pressed.

Another feature of the present invention is that an operation cam (122) that rotates coaxially with the rotation operation switch (103) in the jacket that can be attached to the imaging apparatus having the rotation operation switch (103), and an operation Provided with push operation means (120, 121) capable of being pushed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction of the cam;
When the push operation means (120, 121) is pressed, the operation cam rotates to operate the rotation operation switch (103).

  Another feature of the present invention is that it is composed of an elastic body portion (114) and a rigid operation unit portion (115), and is easily deformed to connect the operation unit portion and the body portion ( 114-a) is provided.

  Another feature of the present invention is that the rotary operation cam (122) provided in the operation unit (115) is configured such that the rotary operation cam (122) fits into the outer shape of the rotary operation switch (103). It is a feature.

  Another imaging device according to the present invention is an imaging device capable of continuous zooming, and is characterized in that the zoom is set in stages when a jacket is attached.

  As described above, according to the present invention, by attaching a jacket to a digital camera, the operation surface and operation method of the shutter and zoom on the upper surface of the camera can be changed. It is possible to provide an easy-to-use camera for users with small hands.

The perspective view of a camera. System block diagram. Jacket wearing diagram. Shutter button schematic diagram. Zoom switch schematic diagram. Jacket groove part schematic. Zoom flowchart. Explanatory drawing of a subject (a) and an effect (b).

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Outline of imaging device)
FIG. 1 is an example of a digital camera 100 to which the present invention is applied, and is a perspective view from the front and rear directions. Reference numeral 101 denotes an imaging lens, 102 denotes a shutter operation unit, 103 denotes a zoom operation unit, and 104 denotes a display unit. The image is taken with the imaging lens 101 facing the direction in which the image is to be taken. The user determines the angle of view while viewing the display unit 104. The shutter button 102 is attached to the upper surface, and the shutter can be operated by pressing it. It is arranged assuming that it can be operated with the right index finger. The zoom switch 103 can be operated by rotating left and right. When the zoom switch 103 is rotated, the imaging range can be changed to the telephoto side or the wide angle side.

(Summary of imaging device block diagram)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital camera according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, an imaging lens 101 is a lens group including a zoom lens and a focus lens. The imaging unit 105 is an imaging device configured by a CCD, a CMOS device, or the like that converts an optical image into an electrical signal.

  The image processing unit 106 performs processing related to the image in the imaging unit 105. The memory 108 stores image data obtained by the imaging unit 105 and image data to be displayed on the display unit 104. The memory 108 has a storage capacity sufficient to store a predetermined number of still images, a moving image and audio for a predetermined time. The display unit 104 performs display on a display unit such as an LCD. During shooting, it functions as an electronic viewfinder and can display through images.

  The zoom switch 103, the shutter button 102, and the power switch 110 are operation means for inputting various operation instructions to the system control unit 107. In response to an input from the zoom switch 103, an instruction is issued from the system control unit 107 and the imaging lens 101 is moved to change the angle of view. The system control unit 107 stores an image obtained by the imaging unit 105 in the memory 108 by an input from the shutter button 102. The power supply unit 111 includes a battery, a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like, and detects whether or not a battery is attached, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level.

  The power supply unit 111 controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and an instruction from the system control unit 107, and supplies a necessary voltage to each unit for a necessary period. When the jacket is worn, an instruction is received from the jacket detector 112, and the system controller 107 controls the jacket wearing mode.

(Jacket outline)
FIG. 3 is a schematic view in which a jacket is attached to the digital camera. The jacket is made up of a jacket main body 114 made of an elastic member such as silicon rubber and a jacket operation portion 115 made of a rigid member such as polycarbonate. A display unit opening 116 is provided in front of the display unit 104 of the digital camera so that the display can be seen from the outside. A groove 114-a is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the jacket operation portion 115 of the jacket main body portion 114. In order to position the operation portion of the digital camera, which will be described later, a groove is provided to facilitate deformation, and the position of the jacket operation portion 115 is determined independently.

  The jacket operation unit 115 is provided with a jacket shutter button 117, a jacket zoom switch (tele) 120, and a jacket zoom switch (wide) 121. Both are operation units that can be pushed from the side or back of the camera.

(Operation unit structure)
The structure of the jacket operation unit 115 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a diagram of a structure for operating the shutter button 102. For the sake of clarity, the jacket main body 114 and the operation part of the zoom switch described later are omitted.

  The jacket shutter button 117 attached to the jacket operation unit 115 is exposed on the side surface of the jacket with respect to the main body, and can be operated by pressing in the direction of arrow A. When the jacket shutter button 117 is pressed, the front end portion 117-a of the jacket shutter button presses the slope of the shutter cam 119, the shutter cam moves in the direction of arrow B, and the shutter button 102 of the main body can be pressed. As a result, when the infant has a camera with a jacket as shown in FIG. 8B, the operation position of the shutter button is on the side of the camera and close to the grip portion, so that even an infant or a person with a small hand can easily operate. Become.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram of a structure in which the zoom switch 103 is operated. For the sake of clarity, the jacket main body 114 and the operation portion of the jacket shutter button 117 described later are omitted.

  The two zoom switches attached to the jacket operation unit 115 are a jacket zoom switch (tele) 120 and a jacket zoom switch (wide) 121, respectively. It is exposed on the back of the jacket and can be operated by pushing in the direction of arrow C. The zoom cam 122 is a rotationally moving part, and the center of rotation is coaxial with the center of rotation of the zoom switch 103 of the main body. When the jacket 113 is attached, the rib portion 122-a of the zoom cam 122 fits into the outer shape of the zoom switch 103 of the main body and the finger hook shape 123 shape.

  When one of the jacket zoom switch (television) 120 and the jacket zoom switch (wide) 121 is pressed and operated, the boss portion 122-b is pressed and the zoom cam 122 rotates to perform a zoom operation. As a result, as shown in Fig. 8 (b), when an infant has a camera with a jacket on it, the zoom operation position is on the back of the camera and close to the grip. It becomes easy. Moreover, since a push operation is possible, it is easy to operate even an infant with clumsy fingers.

(Connection shape between the operation unit and the main unit)
The connection shape between the operation unit and the main body will be described with reference to FIG. A jacket main body 114 connected to the outer periphery of the jacket operation unit 115 is provided with a groove 114-a in a shape along the outer periphery of the jacket operation unit 115. The groove 114-a is thinner than other portions and easily deforms. This facilitates the alignment of the camera operation section and the jacket operation section.

  When the jacket main body 114 is made of an elastic member such as silicon rubber, there is a problem in that the operation position of the camera and the jacket are shifted at the time of mounting, causing backlash or inability to operate. In the present embodiment, as described above, the finger position 123 of the zoom switch is fitted into the rib 122-a of the operation cam of the jacket operation unit 115, and the jacket operation unit 115 is aligned with the zoom switch by deforming the groove. The position is determined by moving up. Since the position of the jacket operation unit 115 matches the operation unit of the digital camera, the operation unit has good operability. Although not shown, intermittent holes or the like may be provided in place of the grooves to facilitate deformation.

(Step of zoom operation)
The processing steps of the zoom operation of the jacket operation unit of the digital camera described above will be described with reference to FIG. When an infant operates a continuous zoom camera, there is a problem that the long press operation is difficult and the zoom cannot be stopped at an arbitrary angle of view. The change of the zoom operation process for the improvement will be described with reference to the step diagram of FIG.

  When the power switch is operated, the system control unit performs a power ON process (S101). If a jacket is mounted, the jacket detection unit performs detection processing (S102). If jacket detection is ON, the one-push zoom mode (S103) is set, and if jacket detection is OFF, the continuous zoom mode (S104) is set. When the zoom operation is performed in the one-push zoom mode, the angle of view is stepped up or down every time the switch is pressed (S106). When the operation is performed in the continuous zoom mode, the angle of view is continuously enlarged or reduced according to the length of pressing the switch (S107). If there is no zoom operation, the steps are repeated, and the zoom mode is updated according to the jacket attachment detection status.

  As described above, when the jacket is attached, the angle of view can be changed with a simple operation with one push zoom, and when the jacket is not attached, the angle of view can be changed with the continuous zoom.

  As described above, by changing the continuous zoom to the one-push zoom when the jacket is mounted, the zoom operation can be easily performed, and it is possible to provide a zoom that is easy to operate even for an infant.

(Summary)
As described above, the present invention has been described in detail based on the preferred embodiment. The effect of the present embodiment is that the operation surface and operation method of the shutter and zoom can be obtained by attaching the jacket of the present embodiment to the digital camera. It is possible to provide a camera that can be used by users with small hands even with the same camera.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Imaging lens 102 Shutter button 103 Zoom switch 104 Display part 105 Imaging part 106 Image processing part 107 System control part 108 Memory 110 Power switch 111 Power supply part 112 Jacket detection part 113 Jacket 114 Jacket body part 115 Jacket operation part 116 Display part opening 117 Jacket shutter button 118 Shutter spring 119 Shutter cam 120 Jacket zoom switch (tele)
121 Jacket zoom switch (wide)
122 Zoom cam 122-a Rib portion 123 Finger shape 122-b Boss portion 114-a Groove

Claims (5)

In a jacket that can be attached to an imaging device having a push operation switch (102),
An operation cam (119) that moves in the same direction as the pressing direction of the operation switch;
A push operation means (117) that moves in a direction substantially orthogonal to the push direction of the operation switch;
A jacket provided with operation means for operating the operation switch (102) by moving an operation cam when the push operation means (117) is pressed. An operation cam (122) that rotates coaxially with the rotation operation switch (103) in a jacket that can be attached to an imaging apparatus having the rotation operation switch (103);
Provided with push operation means (120, 121) capable of being pushed in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction of the operation cam;
A jacket provided with operating means, wherein when the push operating means (120, 121) is pressed, the operating cam rotates to operate the rotary operation switch (103). It is composed of a main body part (114) of an elastic body and an operation unit part (115) made of a rigid body,
A jacket provided with a shape (114-a) that is easily deformed for connection between an operation unit and a main body. 4. The rotation operation cam (122) provided in the operation unit (115), the rotation operation cam (122) is fitted into an outer shape of the rotation operation switch (103). 5. Jacket. An imaging device that can zoom continuously,
An imaging device that can be zoomed in steps when a jacket is attached.