JP4112275B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera that forms a subject image on a solid-state image sensor and obtains image data representing the subject image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many of the above-described digital cameras of the above-mentioned intermediate models or more include a liquid crystal display panel that displays an image based on the image data on the back of the camera for confirming the composition to be photographed and confirming the photographed image. . In this liquid crystal display panel, the displayed image is easily seen by applying a backlight from the back.
[0003]
However, when sunlight or room light is incident on the liquid crystal display panel, the brightness of the backlight from the back surface becomes insufficient, and the displayed image becomes difficult to see.
[0004]
By the way, in the conventional electronic apparatus provided with the liquid crystal display panel, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-222093, the liquid crystal display panel is positioned from the position above the upper edge of the liquid crystal display panel. There is known one provided with a heel that rises substantially vertically. Further, there is also known one having a function of changing the luminance of a backlight according to ambient brightness as described in JP-A-7-5425.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Therefore, when we consider adopting such a bag for a digital camera equipped with a liquid crystal display panel, sunlight or illumination incident on the liquid crystal display panel is necessary when shooting from the front. Although it is possible to block light, it is preferable, but in the case of taking a picture facing down, even if such a ridge is provided, sunlight or illumination light enters the liquid crystal display panel. Also, considering that a digital camera equipped with a liquid crystal display panel adopts a function of changing the brightness of the backlight according to the ambient brightness, when sunlight or illumination light enters the liquid crystal display panel, that is, If the surroundings are bright, you can increase the brightness of the backlight, but even if you increase the brightness of the backlight, there are limits to making the images displayed on the LCD panel easier to see, Increasing the brightness of the backlight is not preferable because it consumes more power.
[0006]
In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a digital camera that prevents an image displayed on a self-luminous image display board from becoming difficult to see due to ambient brightness without increasing power consumption. With the goal.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The digital camera of the present invention that achieves the above object is a self-luminous type that displays an image based on the image data in a digital camera that forms an image of a subject on a solid-state imaging device and obtains image data representing the subject image. Image display board,
And a deflecting plate for deflecting light from the image display plate into parallel light, which covers the image display plate in an openable and closable manner.
[0008]
According to the digital camera of the present invention, in a place where sunlight or room light is incident on the image display board and the surroundings are bright, the deflection plate is closed and the image display section is covered to release the image display board. The scattering of light is reduced and the light gathers toward the photographer. Therefore, when the surroundings are bright, by closing the deflecting plate, the directivity of the light emitted from the image display plate is increased, and the image is displayed on the image display plate without increasing the brightness of the image display plate. The image is easy to see. On the other hand, when the surroundings are dark, the image displayed on the image display board can be seen as more natural by opening the deflection plate and opening the image display section. Therefore, according to the digital camera of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the image displayed on the self-luminous image display board from becoming difficult to see due to the brightness of the surroundings without increasing the power consumption.
[0009]
Further, the digital camera of the present invention includes a light shielding plate that pivots about the upper edge to cover the image display plate so that it can be opened and closed, and acts as a bag for the image display plate when opened,
It is preferable that the deflecting plate is disposed inside the light shielding plate and pivots independently of the light shielding plate around the upper edge so as to open and close the image display plate.
[0010]
According to a digital camera equipped with such a light-shielding plate, when the surroundings are bright, the light-shielding plate is kept open and the deflecting plate is closed, so that sunlight or room light enters the image display board. In addition, the directivity of light emitted from the image display board is enhanced, and the image displayed on the image display board is easier to see. In addition, when the digital camera is carried, the light shielding plate can be closed to make it compact and prevent the deflection plate from being damaged.
[0011]
Furthermore, in the digital camera of the present invention, a sensor for detecting opening and closing of the deflection plate,
It is also preferable that the apparatus further includes a luminance adjusting unit that reduces the luminance of the image display plate in response to the detection by the sensor that the image display plate is opened by opening the deflection plate.
[0012]
According to the digital camera provided with such a brightness adjusting unit, the brightness of the image display unit is lowered by opening the deflecting plate, so that power consumption can be reduced.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the digital camera of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the front, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the digital camera shown in FIG.
[0015]
The digital camera 1 is provided with a lens barrel 12 with a built-in zoom lens 11 at the front center thereof, and a zoom-up button 13a for zooming up / down the lens barrel immediately beside it. A zoom down button 13b is provided. A CCD image sensor 14 is provided behind the zoom lens 11 inside the digital camera 1, and a subject image is formed on the CCD image sensor 14 by the zoom lens 11 to represent the subject image. Image data is obtained.
[0016]
In addition, a light projection window 15a and a light receiving window 15b for an autofocus device are provided above the front lens barrel 12 of the digital camera 1, and the center between the light projecting window 15a and the light receiving window 15b is provided. Is provided with an AE light receiving window 16 for measuring the field luminance.
[0017]
Further, the digital camera 1 is provided with a flashing light emitting portion 17 on the upper right end (left end in FIG. 1) of the front surface, and a shutter button 18 on the upper right end of the rear surface. As shown in FIG. 2, the side of the digital camera 1 has a medium loading port for loading a portable image recording medium on which image data obtained by imaging with a built-in CCD image sensor is recorded. 19 is provided.
[0018]
Furthermore, a liquid crystal display panel 20 is provided on the back of the digital camera 1. A back light (not shown) is provided on the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel 20, and the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 20 becomes easy to see when illuminated by the back light. The liquid crystal display panel 20 displays an image based on the image data obtained by the CCD image sensor 14. Therefore, a combination of the liquid crystal display panel 20 and a backlight (not shown) corresponds to the self-luminous image display board according to the present invention. A zoom-up button 21a and a zoom-down button 21b for zooming up / down the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 20 are provided on the lower right side of the back of the digital camera 1. In the digital camera 1 shown in FIG. 2, a deflection plate 22 is provided so as to cover the liquid crystal display panel 20, and a light shielding plate 23 is provided so as to cover the deflection plate 22. The deflection plate 22 and the light shielding plate 23 are attached independently of each other so as to be rotatable around their upper edges. The deflecting plate 22 is rotated to switch a posture between a closed posture covering the liquid crystal display panel 20 and an open posture perpendicular to the liquid crystal display panel 20. Such a deflecting plate 22 is composed of a lens array in which a plurality of light-transmitting fine particles are arranged in a single layer on the surface of a light-transmitting base material. The light is deflected into parallel light. The deflecting plate 22 is not limited to a lens array. The light shielding plate 23 is also rotated to switch the posture between a closed posture covering the deflection plate 22 and an open posture perpendicular to the liquid crystal display panel 20.
[0019]
FIG. 3 shows an oblique view of a digital camera in which only the light shielding plate of the deflecting plate and the light shielding plate is rotated from the state of the digital camera shown in FIG. 2 to an open posture perpendicular to the liquid crystal display panel. It is an external appearance perspective view shown seeing from back.
[0020]
In the digital camera 1, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 20 can be viewed by placing the light shielding plate 23 in the open posture as shown in FIG. 3. In addition, the light shielding plate 23 is opened as shown in FIG. 3, and functions as a ridge that blocks light incident on the liquid crystal display panel 20 from above the digital camera 1. Therefore, when the surroundings are bright, the light shielding plate 23 is opened as shown in FIG. 3, so that sunlight and room light are not easily incident on the liquid crystal display panel 20, and the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 20 is It will be easy to see. On the other hand, when the digital camera 1 is carried, the light shielding plate 23 is closed as shown in FIG. 2 so that the digital camera 1 can be compact and prevent the deflection plate 22 from being damaged.
[0021]
Further, when the deflecting plate 22 is in a closed posture covering the liquid crystal display panel 20 as shown in FIG. 3, the scattering of light emitted from the liquid crystal display panel is suppressed, and the light emitted from the liquid crystal display panel is Gather for the photographer. Accordingly, when the surroundings are bright, the directivity of light emitted from the liquid crystal display panel 20 is strengthened by closing the deflecting plate 22 as shown in FIG. 3, and the backlight (illuminating the liquid crystal display panel 20 from the back side) Even if the luminance (not shown) is not increased, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 20 becomes easier to see. Further, the liquid crystal display panel 20 can be prevented from being damaged.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing the digital camera viewed from an oblique rear side in which the deflecting plate is rotated from the state of the digital camera shown in FIG. 3 to an open posture perpendicular to the liquid crystal display panel. is there.
[0023]
When the surroundings are dark, the liquid crystal display panel 20 is opened by placing the deflecting plate 22 in an open position as shown in FIG. 4, and the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 20 can be viewed as more natural. it can. Thus, in this digital camera 1, the visibility of the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 20 can be adjusted by opening and closing the deflection plate 22 and the light shielding plate 23 according to the ambient brightness. .
[0024]
The digital camera 1 also includes a luminance adjustment mechanism that adjusts the luminance of the backlight of the liquid crystal display panel 20. Hereinafter, the brightness adjustment mechanism provided in the digital camera 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0025]
5A is a diagram schematically showing a partial cross section of the side surface of the digital camera shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram showing a partial cross section of the side surface of the digital camera shown in FIG. FIG.
[0026]
A projecting piece 221 that projects in the direction in which the deflecting plate 22 is closed is provided at the lower edge of the deflecting plate 22. Further, an opening 24 is provided below the liquid crystal display panel 20 on the back of the digital camera 1 to receive the protruding piece 221 as shown in FIG. 5A when the deflecting plate 22 is closed. Yes. Further, a deflection plate detection switch 25 is provided inside the opening 24. The deflection plate detection switch 25 has a tip 251 that is biased in the direction in which the deflection plate 22 opens. When the deflection plate 22 is open, the distal end portion 251 protrudes from the opening 24 as shown in FIG. 5B, but when the deflection plate 22 is closed, the protruding piece 221 causes the protrusion 221 to open as shown in FIG. ) Is pushed in the direction opposite to the biasing direction. The deflection plate detection switch 25 is off when the tip 251 protrudes from the opening 24 as shown in FIG. 5 (b), and is pushed into the tip 251 as shown in FIG. 5 (a). It is on. In this digital camera 1, the backlight (not shown) that illuminates the liquid crystal display panel 20 from the back surface has a high luminance when the deflection plate detection switch 25 is in the on state. The brightness of the light is low. That is, the deflection plate detection switch 25 has a function of a sensor that detects opening and closing of the deflection plate 22, and it is detected that the deflection plate 22 is opened when the deflection plate detection switch 25 changes from the on state to the off state. And lower the brightness of the backlight. Therefore, in this digital camera 1, when the deflection plate 22 is opened, the luminance of the backlight is lowered, so that power consumption is reduced. The deflecting plate 22 can be opened when the surroundings where there is no influence of incident light is dark, so that the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 20 can be seen even if the luminance of the backlight is lowered. It won't be difficult.
[0027]
The digital camera of the present embodiment described above includes the light shielding plate 23. However, in the digital camera of the present invention, the light shielding plate is not necessarily required, and the brightness adjusting mechanism is not necessarily required.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the digital camera of the present invention, it is possible to prevent an image displayed on a self-luminous image display board from becoming difficult to see due to ambient brightness without increasing power consumption. can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of a digital camera of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the front.
2 is an external perspective view showing the digital camera shown in FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from the rear. FIG.
3 is a perspective view of the digital camera in which only the light shielding plate of the deflecting plate and the light shielding plate is rotated to the open position perpendicular to the liquid crystal display panel from the state of the digital camera shown in FIG. 2; It is an external appearance perspective view shown seeing from back.
4 is an external perspective view showing the digital camera viewed from an oblique rear side in which the deflecting plate is rotated from the state of the digital camera shown in FIG. 3 to an open posture perpendicular to the liquid crystal display panel. is there.
5A is a diagram schematically showing a partial cross section of a side surface of the digital camera shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5B is a schematic diagram showing a partial cross section of a side surface of the digital camera shown in FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 11 Zoom lens 12 Lens barrel 13a Zoom up button 13b Zoom down button 14 CCD image pick-up element 15a Light projection window 15b Light reception window 16 AE light reception window 17 Flash light emission part 18 Shutter button 19 Medium loading port 20 Liquid crystal display panel 21a Zoom Up button 21b Zoom down button 22 Deflection plate 221 Protruding piece 23 Shading plate 24 Opening 25 Deflection plate detection switch 251 Tip

Claims (1)

In a digital camera that forms a subject image on a solid-state imaging device and obtains image data representing the subject image,
A self-luminous image display board for displaying an image based on the image data;
A deflection plate that covers the image display plate so as to be freely opened and closed, and deflects light from the image display plate into parallel light ;
A sensor for detecting opening and closing of the deflection plate;
A digital camera comprising: a brightness adjusting unit that lowers the brightness of the image display plate in response to detection by the sensor that the image display plate is opened by opening the deflection plate .

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