JP3824002B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a novel imaging device. Specifically, by attaching the display unit to the main body unit of the imaging device so as to be openable / closable and rotatable, and when the display unit is positioned within a predetermined range by the rotation operation by the rotation support unit, the auxiliary rotation unit By prohibiting the rotation of the display unit due to the display part, it is possible to improve the visibility of the display unit and cope with various usage modes of the imaging device, and to accommodate the display unit while being tilted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel imaging device that prevents the damage of the camera from occurring .

  In recent years, there has been an electronic viewfinder (hereinafter referred to as “EVF”) using a liquid crystal display device (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”) integrated with a small imaging device.

  As such an imaging apparatus, for example, two housings are integrally connected by a connecting means, one housing is a main body portion and the other housing is an EVF portion, and the main body portion includes a photographing lens, a CCD, and the like. Are stored inside, and some EVF units mainly store EVF and video tape recording / playback mechanisms.

  Another example is an image pickup apparatus in which a photographic lens, a CCD, a video tape recording / playback mechanism, etc. are housed in a housing of the main body, and a large EVF is provided outside the main body. Some have been added.

A microfilm showing the specifications and drawings attached to the application filed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 1-38147 (Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 2-130165)

  By the way, in the above-described conventional imaging apparatus in which the EVF is integrated, the EVF unit or the EVF only opens, closes, or rotates with respect to the main body unit, and the EVF unit or the EVF when the imaging apparatus is used. The degree of freedom of the angle adjustment range for improving visibility was limited.

  In the latter example, there is also a case where the EVF display surface is stored on the main body side with the display surface facing outward. In such a state, when the EVF display surface is damaged or dirty, However, there is a problem that the LCD is damaged. Therefore, in order to avoid such a problem, there is also a case where the EVF display surface is stored in the main body side with the display surface facing inward. Thus, there is a new problem that the EVF display surface cannot be seen if it is stored with the EVF display surface facing inward, and cannot be used as it is.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to further increase the degree of freedom of the angle adjustment range for improving the visibility of the EVF unit or EVF when the imaging apparatus is used.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a main body unit that stores an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject, and a video signal that is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the main body unit and is captured by the imaging unit. A display unit including a display surface, a rotation support unit that rotatably supports one side part of the display unit so that the other side part is separated from the side surface of the main body unit, and the display unit Auxiliary rotation means having a rotation shaft that enables rotation in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotation support portion, and auxiliary rotation prohibiting means for prohibiting the rotation of the display unit by the auxiliary rotation means. When the display unit is located within a predetermined range by the rotation operation by the rotation support unit, the auxiliary rotation prohibiting unit prohibits the display unit from rotating by the auxiliary rotation unit. it is those that.

According to the present invention, the display unit is rotatable in two directions: a direction in which the other side portion is separated from the side surface of the main body unit and a direction having a rotation axis in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis. Since one of the front and back sides of the unit can be selected and stored, and when the display unit is positioned within a predetermined range by the rotation operation by the rotation support unit, the rotation operation of the display unit by the auxiliary rotation unit is performed. to be prohibited, if stored as the display surface of the display unit is inside, damage of the display surface of the display unit, it is possible to prevent adhesion of scratches and dirt, as visible display surface of the display unit If stored, the display unit can be used even when stored. Further, it is possible to prevent the parts from being damaged by being stored while the display portion is tilted.

  In addition, the display surface of the display unit can be freely adjusted so as to obtain the best visibility according to the camera angle.

The best mode of the imaging apparatus of the present invention will be described below together with the basic configuration examples shown in FIGS.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a main body of a video camera 1 as an image pickup apparatus. The main body 2 is formed of synthetic resin, and a lens 3 for photographing a subject, a built-in microphone (not shown), etc. are attached to the side facing forward. In addition, a start / stop switch 4 at the time of shooting is provided on the side facing the rear, and a grip belt 6 for holding the video camera is attached to the right side 5.

  The left side surface 7 of the main body 2 is formed with step portions 8 and 9 on the front and upper sides, thereby forming a recess 10 that opens leftward, rearward and downward.

  In addition, at a substantially intermediate position in the vertical direction of the stepped portion 8, a range of about one third of the vertical width of the concave portion 10 extends further forward to form a concave portion 11, and a hinge unit to be described later is formed. It is a storage recess for storing.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes an EVF, and an LCD panel 15 of about 3 to 4 inches from the back side of the frame 13 is attached and fixed to a synthetic resin frame 13 having a horizontally long opening 14 in the center. The back surface of the panel 15 is covered with the back cover 16, so that the LCD panel 15 is sandwiched from the front and back by the frame 13 and the back cover 16, and the display surface 15 a is exposed from the opening 14.

  Reference numeral 17 denotes a metal connection unit that connects and supports the EVF 12 to the main body 2, and enables the EVF 12 to rotate in the horizontal direction and to rotate (rotate) about an axis orthogonal to the rotation axis. Is.

  Reference numeral 18 denotes an open / close bracket, which is formed by bending a metal plate into a substantially U shape with a vertical cross-sectional shape, and the upper and lower ends extending in the horizontal direction are rounded off by rounding off the corners of the outer edges. An intermediate portion sandwiched between the support pieces 18a and 18a is a fixed piece 18b.

  The support pieces 18a and 18a are formed with support holes 18c and 18c for fitting a rotation shaft of an opening / closing connecting unit, which will be described later, to rotatably support the shaft.

  The opening / closing bracket 18 is, for example, screwed on the side surface 11b, which is the bottom surface of the housing recess 11 that is recessed with respect to the surface of the main body 2 as shown in FIG. The fixing piece 18b is fixed by an appropriate method, and the supporting pieces 18a and 18a are arranged to face each other and extend in the horizontal direction.

  Reference numeral 19 denotes an opening / closing hinge unit, which is formed by bending a metal plate into a substantially U-shape with a vertical cross-sectional shape, similar to the opening / closing bracket 18, with upper and lower ends extending parallel to the horizontal direction being supported pieces. A portion extending in the vertical direction between the supported pieces 19a and 19a is a rotation support portion 19b.

  Further, the outer edge portions of the supported pieces 19a, 19a are rounded with the corners cut off, and the rotation shafts 20, 20 protruding upward or downward are integrally formed at the center.

  Further, an insertion hole 21 is formed at the center of the rotation support portion 19b. The inner diameter of the insertion hole 21 is set to be much larger than the outer diameter of the shaft member of the rotating unit described later.

  The opening / closing hinge unit 19 is supported by the opening / closing bracket 18 so as to be sandwiched from above and below by inserting the rotation shafts 20 and 20 into the support holes 18c and 18c in the housing recess 11, thereby opening and closing. The hinge unit 19 is pivotable in the horizontal direction about pivot shafts 20 and 20 extending in the vertical direction.

  A rotation unit 22 includes a substantially cylindrical base portion 23 and a shaft member 24.

  That is, a disc-shaped mounting flange 23a is integrally formed at one end of the base 23 of the rotating unit 22, and support holes 23b penetrating in the axial direction from the one end to the other end are opened at both ends.

  The shaft member 24 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the support hole 23b of the base portion 23, that is, an outer diameter that can be freely rotated in the support hole 23b as will be described later, and has a plate-like shape at one end. The mounting bracket 25 having a substantially L-shaped cross section is attached integrally so that one piece 25a thereof is orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft member 24, that is, in the form of a flange. The piece 25b extends from one side edge of the one piece 25a in the axial direction of the shaft member 24 and in the direction opposite to the protruding direction of the shaft member 24. A locking groove 24a is formed in the circumferential direction to fix the position of an e-ring described later.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a cover body 26 has a rectangular box shape with one opening, notches 27 and 27 are formed at the opening edges of the upper and lower wall portions 26a and 26b, and a closed end 26c is formed. A vertically long rectangular opening 28 is formed at the center.

  In the rotating unit 22 having the above-described configuration, the shaft member 24 is inserted from the opening of the support hole 23b on the side opposite to the mounting flange 23a of the base 23 from the side opposite to the side on which the mounting bracket 25 is attached. The one piece 25 a of 25 is in contact with the end face of the base 23.

  Next, the rotation unit 22 integrated as described above is attached to the rotation support portion 19 b of the opening / closing hinge unit 19.

  That is, the rotation unit 22 assembled as described above is inserted into the insertion hole 21 formed in the rotation support portion 19b of the opening / closing hinge unit 19 from the side where the supported pieces 19a, 19a of the rotation support portion 19b protrude in the horizontal direction. The shaft member 24 is inserted, the mounting flange 23a is brought into contact with the opening edge of the insertion hole 21, and the mounting flange 23a is fixed to the rotation support portion 19b by an appropriate method such as screwing (not shown).

  Then, the e-ring 29 is locked in the locking groove 24a of the shaft member 24 protruding from the insertion hole 21 of the rotation support portion 19b, thereby preventing it from coming off.

  Finally, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the cover body 26 is externally fitted to the open / close hinge unit 19 from the side from which the mounting bracket 25 protrudes so as to cover substantially the entire connecting unit 17, the notches 27 and 27 are passed through. The rotary shafts 20, 20 protrude vertically, and the mounting bracket 25 at the tip of the shaft member 24 of the rotary unit 22 protrudes from the opening 28.

  In this way, the opening / closing hinge unit 19 and the rotating unit 22 are integrated as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, and the mounting bracket 25 is horizontally disposed around the pivot shafts 20 and 20 of the opening / closing hinge unit 19 as fulcrums. At the same time, the shaft member 24 of the rotating unit 22 extending in a direction orthogonal to the rotating shafts 20 and 20 is rotatable about the rotating shaft.

  The EVF 12 is attached to and supported by the mounting bracket 25. For example, although not shown in detail, a screw hole is formed in one piece 25a and the other piece 25b of the mounting bracket 25. Thus, one piece 25 a is screwed to the frame 13 and the other piece 25 b is screwed to the back cover 16.

The connection unit 17A in the best mode of the imaging apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The connecting unit 17A is different from the connecting unit 17 in that a locking means is added, and a part of the structure associated therewith is different. The description is omitted by giving the same reference numerals as those used.

  Reference numerals 40 and 40 are paired open / close brackets, each of which is formed by bending a metal plate into a substantially L shape with a longitudinal cross-sectional shape, and each of one end portions is a support piece having a rounded outer edge portion 40a and 40a, and the other is fixed pieces 40b and 40b.

  Further, the support pieces 40a, 40a of the open / close brackets 40, 40 are formed with support holes 40c, 40c for fitting the rotary shaft 20 of the open / close hinge unit 19 and rotatably supporting it. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 8, reference numeral 41 denotes the front side surface 11 a of the storage recess 11 and the front side surface 11 a perpendicular to the front side surface 11 a at a substantially intermediate position in the vertical direction. This is a guide rib that protrudes in the horizontal direction from the side surface 11 b that is the bottom surface of the storage recess 11.

  The edge 41a of the guide rib 41, that is, the end surface facing the diagonally left rear of the guide rib 41 protruding in the horizontal direction is formed so as to be curved in a circular arc shape.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the open / close brackets 40 and 40 have the fixed pieces 40b and 40b sandwich the guide rib 41 from above and below, and the support pieces 40a and 40a face each other, as shown in FIG. Then, it is fixed by an appropriate method such as screwing so as to extend in the horizontal direction.

  The open / close hinge unit 19 is supported by the open / close brackets 40, 40 so as to be sandwiched from above and below by inserting the rotary shafts 20, 20 into the support holes 40c, 40c in the housing recess 11. The opening / closing hinge unit 19 is rotatable in the horizontal direction around the rotating shafts 20 and 20 extending in the vertical direction.

  Reference numeral 42 denotes a rotation unit, which includes a substantially cylindrical base 43 and a shaft member 44.

  That is, a disc-shaped mounting flange 43a is integrally formed at one end of the base portion 43 of the rotating unit 42, and support holes 43b penetrating the center portion from one end to the other end in the axial direction are opened at both ends.

  Further, the shaft member 44 has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the support hole 43b of the base portion 43, that is, an outer diameter that is rotatable within the support hole 43b as will be described later, and has a plate-like shape at one end. The mounting bracket 45 having a substantially L-shaped cross section is attached integrally so that one piece 45a thereof is orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft member 44, that is, in the form of a flange. The piece 45b extends from one side edge of the one piece 45a in the axial direction of the shaft member 44 and in the direction opposite to the protruding direction of the shaft member 44, and the other end of the shaft member 44 extends in the axial direction. A slit 46 having a width that is larger than the thickness of the guide rib 41 is formed, and further, a portion that is close to the side on which the flange mounting bracket 45 is attached is formed from the portion where the slit 46 is formed. Locking groove 44a is around It is formed in.

  The positional relationship between the slit 46 of the shaft member 44 and the mounting bracket 45 is such that the side edge of the other piece 45b opposite to the side continuing to the one piece 45a is viewed from the axial direction of the shaft member 44. The extending direction and the extending direction of the slit 46 form an angle of approximately 90 degrees, that is, are orthogonal to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a cover body 47 has a rectangular box shape with one opening, and notches 48 and 48 are formed at the opening edges of the upper and lower wall portions 47a and 47b. A vertically-long rectangular opening 49 is formed at the center, and further, slits 50, 50 extending horizontally from the opening edge toward the closed end 47c in the middle in the vertical direction of the left and right side walls 47d, 47e in FIG. Is formed. As will be described later, the slits 50 and 50 are formed when the cover body 47 rotates in the housing recess 11 as the EVF 12 rotates in a state in which the cover body 47 is externally fitted to the opening / closing hinge unit 19. In addition, the side surfaces 47d and 47e and the guide rib 41 are prevented from interfering with each other.

  In the rotating unit 42 having the above-described configuration, one side 45a of the mounting bracket 45 is inserted by inserting the shaft member 44 from the opening of the support hole 43b on the side opposite to the mounting flange 43a of the base 43 from the side where the slit 46 is formed. And the end face of the base 43 are in contact with each other.

  Next, the rotation unit 42 is attached to the rotation support portion 19 b of the opening / closing hinge unit 19.

  That is, the shaft of the rotary unit 42 assembled as described above from the side in which the supported pieces 19a, 19a of the rotation support portion 19b protrude in the horizontal direction into the insertion hole 21 formed in the rotation support portion 19b of the opening / closing hinge unit 19. The member 44 is inserted, the mounting flange 43a is brought into contact with the opening edge of the insertion hole 21, and the base 43 is fixed to the open / close hinge unit 19 by an appropriate method such as screwing (not shown).

  Then, the e-ring 29 is locked in the locking groove 44a of the shaft member 44 protruding from the insertion hole 21 of the rotation support portion 19b, thereby preventing it from coming off.

  Finally, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the cover body 47 is externally fitted to the open / close hinge unit 19 from the side from which the mounting bracket 45 protrudes so as to cover substantially the entire connecting unit 17A, the notches 48 and 48 are passed through. The rotary shafts 20, 20 protrude vertically, and the mounting bracket 45 at the tip of the shaft member 44 of the rotation unit 42 protrudes from the opening 49.

  In this way, the open / close hinge unit 19 and the rotary unit 42 are integrated as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, and the mounting bracket 45 is horizontally disposed around the pivot shafts 20, 20 of the open / close hinge unit 19. At the same time, the shaft member 44 of the rotating unit 42 extending in a direction orthogonal to the rotating shafts 20 and 20 can be rotated about the rotating shaft.

  In the EVF 12, as in the case of the above-described embodiment, one piece 45a of the mounting bracket 45 is attached to the frame body 13 and the other piece 45b is attached to the back cover 16.

  By the way, the connecting unit 17A assembled as described above is housed in the housing recess 11 formed in the main body 2 of the video camera 1, and projects horizontally in the housing recess 11. When the tip end of the shaft member 44 of the rotation unit 42 is within a certain range corresponding to the guide rib 41 when the tip end of the shaft member 44 is rotated, the guide rib 41 and the slit 46 are engaged with each other. Thus, the guide ribs 41 are sandwiched from above and below.

  Accordingly, the movement of the connecting unit 17 </ b> A is restricted by the positional relationship between the guide rib 41 and the slit 46 of the shaft member 44.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the connecting unit 17A will be described with reference to the schematic diagrams shown in FIGS.

  That is, as described above, the edge 41a of the guide rib 41 has an arc shape when viewed from above, and the center of the circle on which the arc is based is located at the center axis of the rotary shafts 20 and 20. Therefore, the angle of the sector including the arc that coincides with the rotation fulcrum of the open / close hinge unit 19 and forms the end edge 41a is 90 degrees or less.

  When the shaft member 44 of the rotation unit 42 is located within the range A in FIGS. 12 and 13, the end edge 41 a of the guide rib 41 and the slit 46 at the tip of the shaft member 44 are engaged. Therefore, the shaft member 44 (rotary unit 42) cannot rotate.

  On the other hand, when the shaft member 44 of the rotation unit 42 is within the range B, the guide rib 41 and the slit 46 at the tip of the shaft member 44 are not engaged with each other, so that the shaft member 44 can freely rotate.

  However, when the shaft member 44 of the rotary unit 42 is within the range B, the slit 46 of the shaft member 44 is not parallel to the direction in which the end edge 41a of the rib 41 extends, The opening / closing hinge unit 19 cannot be engaged with the rear side (main body part 2 side).

  Thus, the connection unit 17A has a structure in which the other operation cannot be performed in the middle of one operation of rotation or rotation. Therefore, the EVF 12 is rotated when stored in the storage recess 11 of the main body 2. Cannot be contacted with a part of the main body 2 and is not damaged by the connecting unit 17A, regardless of the orientation of the display surface 15a of the LCD panel 15. Since the EVF 12 can be opened to the side of the main body 2 and the rotating unit 42 is slightly rotated, the EVF 12 cannot be rotated to the main body 2 side. The EVF 12 and the connecting unit 17 are not damaged by being housed in the housing recess 11 while the EVF 12 is tilted.

In the above-described best mode, the rotation and rotation by the connecting unit 17A of the EVF 12 are performed steplessly in a no-load state. However, for example, by using an appropriate click mechanism, a damper, etc. If it is performed in a state where the target or the load is suspended, the EVF 12 can be prevented from moving carelessly.

  Moreover, although EVF12 used what used LCD panel 15 was shown, this invention is not limited to EVF by such a specific mechanism, For example, what displays using a small and thin CRT is also considered. It is done.

  The specific shape or structure of each part shown in the above-described best mode is merely an example of the embodiment in practicing the present invention, which limits the technical scope of the present invention. It should not be interpreted.

FIG. 2 to FIG. 7 show a basic configuration example of the imaging apparatus of the present invention, and this figure is a perspective view showing a use state. It is a perspective view which shows the state in which EVF was accommodated. It is a perspective view which shows the state which accommodated EVF in the direction opposite to FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the principal part. It is an expanded horizontal sectional view of the principal part. It is sectional drawing which follows the VI-VI line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the VII-VII line of FIG. 9 to FIG. 13 show the connecting unit in the imaging apparatus of the present invention, and this figure is an exploded perspective view of the main part. It is an expanded horizontal sectional view of the principal part. It is sectional drawing which follows the XX line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the XI-XI line of FIG. It is a schematic perspective view which shows an operation principle. It is the schematic seen from the direction different from FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Video camera (imaging device), 2 ... Main-body part, 4 ... Start / stop switch (imaging switch), 15 ... LCD panel (display part), 15a ... Display surface, 20 ... Turning axis, 17A ... Hinge unit ( Rotating support section), 40 Open / close bracket (bracket), 42 Rotating unit (auxiliary rotating means), 43 Base section (mounting section), 44 Shaft member (rotating shaft), 45 Mounting bracket (bracket)

Claims (5)

A main body housing an imaging means for imaging a subject;
A display unit that is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the main body unit and includes a display surface that displays a video signal captured by the imaging unit;
A rotation support unit that rotatably supports one side part of the display unit so that the other side part is separated from the side surface of the main body unit;
Auxiliary rotation means having a rotation shaft that enables the display unit to rotate in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the rotation support portion;
Auxiliary rotation prohibiting means for prohibiting the rotation of the display unit by the auxiliary rotation means,
When the display unit is located in a predetermined range by the rotation operation by the rotation support unit, the auxiliary rotation prohibiting unit prohibits the display unit from rotating by the auxiliary rotation prohibiting unit. An imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation support portion includes a bracket fixed to the main body portion and a hinge unit fixed to the auxiliary rotation means.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary rotation means includes an attachment portion fixed to the rotation support portion and a bracket fixed to a part of the display portion. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit selects one of the front and back sides and is stored in the main body unit. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit can be used in a state where the display surface of the display unit is exposed and stored.

Images