JP3438221B2 - Camera manual adjustment mechanism and video camera - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to manual adjustment of a camera .
The present invention relates to an adjustment mechanism and a video camera, for example, to a manual adjustment mechanism provided in a video-integrated video camera or the like.
Made multiple manual adjustments with one dial
Manual adjustment mechanism of camera and video camera
It

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional camera, for example, a camera-integrated video camera 30 has a palm-shaped box-like shape as shown in FIG. 19, and has a lens portion 31 for photographing a subject on the front side and a rear side. Viewfinder 3
2, a changeover switch 33 provided on the upper side of the lens unit 31, an operation unit 34 used for reproduction and the like, a cassette storage unit 35 for storing a recording / reproducing cassette, and a manual side surface on the lens unit 31 side. The structure is provided with the adjusting portion 36.

In the camera 30 having such a structure, first, a cassette, which is a recording / reproducing medium, is housed in the cassette housing unit 35, and the changeover switch 33 is set to the video side to perform a reproducing operation by operating the operation unit.
Also, the switch 33 is set to the camera side to perform a recording operation. Further, in common with both of the recording and reproduction, a structure such as a setting on a menu screen for recording a reproduction state and a recording state by looking into the viewfinder and recording a photographing state shown in FIG. Has become.

The manual adjustment section 36 is used especially when it is better to manually adjust the focus and brightness in the recording operation. For example, when it is better to manually adjust the focus, there are cases where the screen is dark due to a night view, fireworks, or the like, or when there is no difference in brightness between the objects. When it is better to adjust the brightness manually, it is used when there is backlight, when there is little illumination, when you want to take a night view, etc.

Such a manual adjustment unit 36 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 20, it is usually housed inside the camera body, and has a so-called retractable structure in which it is rotated only when necessary to open it in one side. Further, it has a structure provided with an operation portion 37 which is operated from the main body.

The operating section 37 is provided with a focus adjusting dial 3
8, focus start button 39, brightness adjustment dial 40, brightness start button 41, program selection button 4
It has a structure in which the operation section 37 can be automatically operated and a manual adjustment can be performed when the one-sided opening state is achieved.

[0007] Specifically, when it is better to focus manually, for example, when shooting in a dark room, when shooting a subject with a lot of movement in a bright outdoors, or when taking a close-up picture, the focus start button 39 is pressed to focus. Focus adjustment dial 38
Rotate by hand to focus.

When it is better to manually adjust the brightness, for example, when a clear image is to be produced, or when the brightness changes due to backlight in the middle of a scene, the brightness start button 4
Press 1 to make the brightness adjustable, and rotate the brightness adjustment dial 40 to adjust the brightness.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 21, at a position hidden by the viewfinder 32 of the video camera 30, a menu setting section 43 capable of various settings by a menu system.
It has a structure with.

The menu setting section 43 has a menu button 4
4, the item button 45, and the setting button 46. By pressing the menu button 44 when the camera 30 is recording or reproducing, a predetermined menu item is displayed on the viewfinder 32. By selecting an appropriate item and pressing the setting button 46, the selected item is set.

[0011]

However, the manual adjustment function in the above-mentioned prior art is as follows.
There is a problem that the operability is complicated because each adjustment item has a switch and a dial.

There is also a problem that the operation is complicated because the setting of the menu is made by a plurality of switches.

For example, when it is desired to manually adjust the focus, it is necessary to remove the eye from the viewfinder 32, search for and press the switch 39, and then search for and rotate the focus dial 38. When I want to operate each one, the viewfinder 3
I had to go back and forth between the 2 and the switches 39, 41. Therefore, as the number of functions increases, the number of operating switches increases as long as the operating unit 37 is adopted, which makes it difficult to use.

Therefore, there is a problem that a manual adjustment function that allows quick and easy operation even when looking through the viewfinder and a menu selection operation must be solved.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a manual adjustment mechanism of a camera according to the present invention is a CC
The display unit that displays the image captured in D on the screen, the changeover switch for switching the recording and the reproduction to perform the recording / reproducing operation, and the camera that can be retracted from the camera and operate a plurality of manual adjustment functions. A camera having at least a manual adjustment unit capable of
The display unit is in a state where the manual adjustment unit is opened from the sink.
Display a screen for selecting manual adjustment items
One dial provided in the manual adjustment section
The manual displayed on the display unit by
Select the desired adjustment item from the adjustment items and select the desired adjustment item.
The adjustment of the adjustment item displayed when the adjustment item is selected.
Select whether the adjustment function is manual or automatic.
Is to do. Further, the plurality of manual adjustment functions are functions for adjusting at least focus and brightness; the operation by the one dial is a manual adjustment mechanism of a camera that uses both push and rotation.

The video camera has a display unit for displaying an image picked up by a CCD provided on the camera on a screen, a changeover switch for performing recording / playback operation by switching between recording and playback, and being able to appear in and out of the camera. It is provided, and when the changeover switch can be switched to recording and it can be recorded, it will be in the open state from the sink and the display section will be manually adjusted.
Displays a screen for selecting items, and operates one dial.
The manual adjustment items displayed on the display unit.
Selection of desired adjustment item from the above and the desired adjustment item
The adjustment function of the adjustment item displayed when is selected
Manifold to select manual or auto
And a dual adjustment section. Also, the adjusting machine
The function is at least a function of adjusting focus and brightness; the operation by the above-mentioned one dial is to use both push and rotation.

[0017]

[Action] manual adjustment mechanism of the camera to the above configuration 及
In the video camera and the video camera, the manual adjustment mechanism can be operated by groping even when taking a picture while looking through the display section . In addition, since no significant structural improvement is required, cost and manufacturing simplification can be achieved.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A manual adjustment mechanism for a camera and a video camera according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

A camera having a manual adjustment mechanism for a camera according to the present invention, for example, a video camera 1 with a built-in camera.
As shown in FIG. 1, a lens part 2 is provided on the front side having a box shape as in the prior art, a viewfinder 3 is provided on the opposite side, and an operation part 4 and a switch are provided on the upper side. The switch 5 is provided, and the manual adjustment unit 6 is provided at an appropriate position on the side surface. Since the operation of the camera 1 is the same as that of the conventional technique, its explanation is omitted.

The manual adjustment section 6 is normally housed in a pocket section 7 provided in the camera body as in the prior art, and is operated so that it is opened and opened only when necessary, that is, a so-called retractable state. It has a structure in which a free roller dial 8 is provided.

The roller dial 8 is a double push type roller dial that uses both push and rotation.
That is, although not shown, the voltage value changes when the dial is turned, and the switch is turned on by pressing the dial itself.

This change in voltage value is read by a microcomputer, which will be described later, processed internally, and sent to the screen display unit as screen display data. The screen display unit displays the display data sent to the view finder 3 and feeds back to the operator.

This double push type roller dial 8
2 performs a selection and adjustment function by turning a dial and a push (push) determination function as shown in FIG. When the manual adjustment unit 6 is opened from the pocket 7 of the main body of the video camera 1 to the one side open state, the structure is functional.
Select and decide the screen menu. Therefore, in the closed state, the manual adjustment does not work, and the automatic adjustment mechanism works automatically.

As shown in FIG. 3, the manual adjustment unit 6 having the roller dial 8 as described above includes a roller dial 8, a mode control microcomputer 9, a character character display unit 16, and a camera control microcomputer 10. The camera image signal processing unit 14 and the display unit 17 are connected in the following manner.

The signal from the roller dial 8 is input to the mode control microcomputer 9, and the output side of the mode control microcomputer 9 is the character display unit 16
And the camera control microcomputer 10.

In the camera control microcomputer 10, the focus control line for adjusting the focus of the lens block 11 based on the signal from the mode control microcomputer 9 is connected to the focus motor 12, and the iris control line for adjusting the brightness is It is connected to the iris motor 13. Iris motor 13
Drive the iris blade to adjust the light intensity. The image adjustment control and gain control lines are connected to the camera image signal processing unit 14.

The camera image signal processing unit 14 inputs the image picked up by the CCD 15 of the lens block 11 and sends it to the display unit 17 as a camera image.

The character / character display unit 16 sends out a character / character to be displayed on the screen of the viewfinder 3 or TV, based on the signal from the roller dial.
, And its output side is connected to the display unit 17.

The display unit 17 is the viewfinder 3 or TV, and displays the camera image from the camera image signal processing unit 14 and the character character from the character character display unit 16 in a mixed manner.

The manual adjustment unit 6 having such a structure can perform various operations and menu settings by opening / closing the pocket 7 of the body of the camera 1 and operating the roller dial 8. The operation will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, when the door of the pocket portion 7 is not open, the camera is in the automatic state, and the manual adjustment portion 6 has no function (ST.
1). For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the screen displayed on the viewfinder (or the display unit 17 such as a TV) is a normal screen, and if the image stabilization function is working, the display 18
If the recording is in the standby state at the upper right, a "standby" display 19 is displayed, and time, tape capacity, and battery capacity displays 20, 21, 22 are displayed. Needless to say, the screen display is appropriately changed without being limited to these displays.

When the manual adjustment unit 6 is opened by opening it from the pocket unit 7, the screen displayed on the viewfinder 3 is a screen for selecting manual adjustment items and menus (ST2). For example, as shown in FIG. 8, in the manual adjustment item and menu selection screen, the characters “Brightness”, “Focus”, and “Menu” are displayed in order from the top, and the cursor is at the “focus” position. Shows.

Returning to FIG. 4, before the manual adjustment section 6 is closed in the pocket section 7, that is, the focus hold (lock) state or the brightness hold state in the previous operation is checked (ST3).

If the hold state is set, the manual adjustment is set in the hold state (ST4).

If the hold state is not set, the camera manual adjustment is set to the automatic state (ST5).

When the manual adjustment is in the hold state,
Turning the roller dial moves camera adjustment items and menu selection items (ST6, ST7). For example, in FIG. 8, when the cursor is "focus", if the dial 8 is turned down, the cursor moves to the "menu" position, and if the dial is turned up, the cursor moves to the "brightness" position.

When the camera manual adjustment is in the automatic state, when the dial 8 is turned, the cursor is moved between the camera manual adjustment item and the menu selection item as in step ST7 (ST8, ST9).

In this way, if the roller dial is pressed when the item selected by turning the dial 8 or the cursor is in the same position without turning the dial, the adjustment item under the hierarchy of each adjustment item at the cursor position is displayed. Display items (ST10A, ST10B, ST10C, ST10
D, ST11). That is, if you select the "focus" or "brightness" camera manual adjustment item, the next screen will show the auto / manual selection screen, and if you select the "menu" item, the next screen will be the menu selection Display the screen.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the camera manual adjustment item is selected, a screen for selecting auto or manual of the camera manual adjustment screen including "focus", "brightness", and the like is displayed ( ST1
2). For example, the screen display in which "focus" is selected as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed as "manual" and "auto" from the top on the right side of the display of "focus" as shown in FIG. In addition, a screen display in which "brightness" is selected as shown in FIG.
That is, when the cursor is moved to the "brightness" position and the dial 8 is pressed, as shown in FIG. 12, the screen on the right side of the "brightness" display is "manual" and "auto" in order from the top. indicate.

Returning to FIG. 5, when the dial 8 is turned in this state, the cursor is moved in the direction of turning the dial 8 (ST
13, ST14). That is, in FIGS. 9 and 12, the cursor is currently at the "manual" position, and when the dial 8 is turned downward, the cursor is moved to the "auto" position.

When the dial 8 is pushed with the cursor at the "auto" position, the first camera manual adjustment item and menu selection screen is displayed (ST16, ST17).
That is, the screen display shown in FIG.

When the dial 8 is pushed with the cursor at the "manual" position, the manual focus adjustment mode or the brightness adjustment mode is entered (ST18). For example, when focus is selected, when "manual" is selected in the "focus" screen display shown in FIG.
As shown in, a display 23 showing the focus adjustment is provided with a letter "F" in the center of the shape of a horizontal hand at the top of the screen, and the letters "focus" and "manual" are displayed in a horizontal row. To Further, when the brightness is selected, when "manual" is selected in the "brightness" screen display shown in FIG. 12, as shown in FIG. 13, a bar graph is formed in the left corner of the screen, and the brightness degree The display 24 showing the brightness adjustment is displayed, and the characters of "brightness" and "manual" are displayed in a horizontal row.

When the dial 8 is turned, the distance can be adjusted in the manual focus mode and the brightness can be adjusted in the brightness adjustment mode (ST19, ST2).
0). Specifically, the camera control microcomputer shown in FIG. 3 controls the focus motor 12 or the iris motor 13 to control the gain of the camera image signal processing unit 14.

In this way, the dial 8 is turned to perform appropriate focus adjustment or brightness adjustment, and then the dial 8
When (push) is pressed, the focus mode or brightness mode when the dial 8 is pressed is held, that is, the first camera manual adjustment item in the manual state and the menu selection screen are displayed (ST21). ,
ST22). For example, in FIG. 11, when the dial 8 is pressed after adjusting the focus, as shown in FIG. 15, “brightness”, “focus”, and “menu” are displayed in that order, and “brightness” and “ In the item of “Focus”, if the manual operation was performed in the previous operation,
"Manual" is displayed. In this way, by setting the previous manual operation in the locked or held state, it is possible to freely select the manual / automatic state for all items and improve the operability. Also, after adjusting the brightness,
As shown in FIG. 14, when the dial is pressed after the brightness adjustment, as shown in FIG. 15, the initial screen in which the manual state is held is displayed. Of course, in the case of the auto mode, the screen display does not display "manual" as shown in FIG.

Further, in step ST11 of FIG. 4, when the menu screen is selected on the screen of the camera manual adjustment item and the menu selection item, the menu item selection screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 16 (ST23). For example,
In FIG. 8 or 15, when the cursor is brought to the “menu” position and the dial 8 is pressed, the letters “menu” are displayed on the upper part and a little distance is displayed on the lower side, as shown in FIG. "Return", "Remote control", "Notification buzzer",
"Zoom microphone", "Hi8", "digital zoom",
Characters are displayed in the order of "wide TV". Needless to say, the character display is not limited to this.

Then, by turning the dial 8, the cursor is moved in the turning direction (ST24, ST25).

If the cursor is placed on the item "RETURN" in the menu items and the dial 8 is pressed, the screen of the first camera manual adjustment item and menu selection item is displayed (ST26, ST27). For example, it returns to the screen display shown in FIG. 8 or 15.

When an item other than "Return" is selected, "remote control", "notification buzzer", etc. are set appropriately (S
T28).

In this way, one roller dial 8 can be used to make various adjustments based on the display on the screen, and it is possible to make the adjustments without looking at the positions of the switches and dials when making the adjustments. is there. In the embodiment, the manual adjustment is explained, but it goes without saying that the other switches and the like can be adjusted by one dial.

[0050]

With the configuration described above, the manual adjustment mechanism and the video camera of the camera according to the present invention
In La, adjustment of manual system, that is, switch,
All the dials, switches for menus, dials, etc. can be operated by one dial, which has an extremely excellent effect that the number of switches can be reduced and the structure can be simplified.

Further, since the manual operation can be performed with one dial, there is an extremely excellent effect that the operation can be performed by blind touch and the operability can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a camera equipped with a manual adjustment mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the manual adjustment unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of the manual adjustment unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the manual adjustment unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the manual adjustment unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the manual adjustment unit.

FIG. 7 is an initial screen display viewed by the viewfinder.

FIG. 8 is an initial screen for selecting manual adjustment items and menus by the manual adjustment unit.

FIG. 9 is a selection screen of “manual” and “auto” of “focus” by the manual adjustment unit.

[Fig. 10] "Focus" by the manual adjustment unit →
"Manual" → This is the screen display when dialing in.

[Fig. 11] "Focus" by the manual adjustment unit →
This is the screen display when "manual"->dial-in-> focus adjustment-> dial-in.

FIG. 12 is a display screen for selecting “manual” and “auto” of “brightness” by the manual adjustment unit.

FIG. 13 is a screen display when “brightness” → “manual” → dial-in by the manual adjustment unit.

FIG. 14 is a screen display at the time of “brightness” → “manual” → dial-in → brightness / darkness adjustment → dial-in by the manual adjustment unit.

FIG. 15 is an initial screen display in a hold state by the manual adjustment unit.

[Fig. 16] "Menu" by the manual adjustment unit →
This is the screen display when "Return" → dial-in.

FIG. 17 is a screen display after selecting “menu” by the manual adjustment unit.

FIG. 18 is a screen display when “menu” → turn the dial → “remote control” is selected by the manual adjustment unit.

FIG. 19 is an overall perspective view of a video camera with a built-in camera according to a conventional technique as viewed from a manual adjustment section side.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a main part of the manual adjustment unit.

FIG. 21 is an overall perspective view of the camera-integrated video camera according to the related art as viewed from the menu setting unit side.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Camera integrated video camera 2 lens part 3 view finder 4 operation part 5 changeover switch 6 Manual adjustment section 7 pockets 8 roller dial 9 Mode control microcomputer 10 Camera control microcomputer 11 lens block 12 Focus Motor 13 Iris motor 14 Camera image signal processing unit 15 CCD 16 character character display 17 Display (viewfinder or TV) 18 Image stabilization function display 19 "Standby" display 20 hours display 21 Tape capacity display 22 Battery display 23 Display showing focus adjustment 24 Display showing brightness adjustment

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yoshihiro Ono 6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Katsuhiko Ueno 6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Naoki Nagano 6-735 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation (56) Reference JP-A-4-265078 (JP, A) JP-A-2- 211433 (JP, A) JP-A-2-105119 (JP, A) JP-A-5-304627 (JP, A) Actual development Sho 61-13433 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03B 17 / 02,17 / 22 H01H 25/06

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A display unit for displaying an image picked up by a CCD on a screen, a changeover switch for performing recording / reproducing operation by switching between recording and reproduction, and a plurality of units provided so as to be retractable from and into a camera. A camera having at least a manual adjustment section capable of operating a manual adjustment function, wherein the display section changes the manual adjustment section from a closed state to an open state.
Display a screen for selecting manual adjustment items
One dial provided in the manual adjustment section
The manual displayed on the display unit by
Select the desired adjustment item from the adjustment items and select the desired adjustment item.
The adjustment of the adjustment item displayed when the adjustment item is selected.
Select whether the adjustment function is manual or automatic.
A manual adjustment mechanism for the camera, which is characterized by performing . 2. The manual adjustment mechanism for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of manual adjustment functions are functions for adjusting at least focus and brightness. 3. The manual adjustment mechanism for a camera according to claim 1, wherein the operation using the one dial is a combination of push and rotation. 4. A display unit for displaying an image picked up by a CCD provided on the camera on a screen, a changeover switch for performing recording / playback operation by switching between recording and playback, and a retractable unit provided for the camera. When you can record by switching the changeover switch to recording,
From the sink to the open state, the display unit displays a screen for selecting a manual adjustment item, and by operating one dial, a desired adjustment item from the manual adjustment items displayed on the display unit is displayed. A video including: a manual adjustment unit that performs selection and selection of whether the adjustment function of the adjustment item displayed when the desired adjustment item is selected is manual or automatic. camera. 5. The video camera according to claim 4, wherein the adjusting function is a function of adjusting at least focus and brightness. 6. The video camera according to claim 4, wherein the operation using one dial is a combination of push and rotation.