JP4322955B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera that converts a subject image into digital data and records it on a recording medium.

  In a camera that converts a subject image into digital data and records it on a recording medium like a digital video camera, an LCD panel unit in which a liquid crystal panel is incorporated may be used to monitor the subject image. The LCD panel unit is normally provided in the camera body so as to be openable and closable by a hinge. The LCD panel unit is opened at the time of shooting and is closed at times other than shooting.

This type of camera may include a microphone unit for recording and a speaker unit for reproducing the recorded sound. The speaker unit is generally provided in the camera body (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). There has also been proposed a portable terminal in which a speaker unit is disposed in an LCD panel unit and a microphone unit is disposed in a device body (see, for example, Patent Document 2 below).
JP 2000-152048 A JP 2004-7553 A

  In the digital video camera having the movable LCD panel unit that can be opened and closed as described above, when the speaker unit is arranged in the camera body, the speaker unit and the image display surface of the liquid crystal panel are not on the same plane. Regardless of the orientation of the LCD panel unit, the sound from the speaker always comes from a certain direction. Such a conventional camera has room for examination in order to enable optimal sound reproduction.

  On the other hand, in a camera in which a speaker unit is provided in the camera body and a microphone unit is provided in the LCD panel unit, or in a camera in which the speaker unit is provided in the LCD panel unit and the microphone unit is provided in the camera body, the audio circuit is connected to the camera body and the LCD. Divided into panel units. For this reason, a part of the audio circuit must be provided inside the camera body, which has a large space restriction, which is disadvantageous in reducing the size of the camera body. Moreover, the harness member used for the circuit for audio | voices tends to become long or the number of harness members increases.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a camera that can emit sound from a desired direction and that can simplify the audio circuit.

The present invention is a camera including a panel having an image display surface, and includes a camera body having a photographing lens and an operation unit, and a control circuit board built therein, and is attached to the camera body so as to be opened and closed by a hinge portion. are, with the image display surface, a speaker unit, a panel unit having a microphone portion is disposed inside of said panel unit, a sound circuit which is electrically connected to said microphone unit and the speaker unit A speaker connector in which the speaker of the speaker unit is disposed on one surface of the audio circuit board and the speaker is provided on the one surface of the audio circuit board. And the microphone of the microphone unit is disposed on the other surface of the audio circuit board, and the microphone is the audio circuit It is connected to the connector portion of the microphone provided on the other surface of the plate. In one form of this invention, it has a harness member which electrically connects the said control circuit board inside the said camera main body, and the said audio | voice circuit inside the said panel unit, and this harness member is inside the said hinge part. It is inserted.

According to the present invention, the speaker of the speaker unit is disposed on one side of the audio circuit board, and the speaker is connected to the speaker connector unit provided on the one side of the audio circuit board, The microphone of the microphone section is disposed on the other surface of the audio circuit board, and the microphone is connected to a microphone connector section provided on the other surface of the audio circuit board. Since the speaker unit and the microphone unit are arranged on the panel unit, the audio circuit can be collectively stored in the panel unit. In that case, the number of parts to be accommodated in the camera body is reduced, and the camera body can be downsized.

A camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows a digital video camera 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as a camera) as an example of a camera.

  The camera 10 includes a camera body 11 and an LCD panel unit 12. The LCD panel unit 12 is attached to the camera body 11 by a hinge portion 13 so as to be opened and closed. 1 and 2 each show a state in which the LCD panel unit 12 is opened, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the LCD panel unit 12 is closed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the hinge part 13 has a first hinge member 21 provided on the camera body 11 side and a second hinge member 22 provided on the LCD panel unit 12 side. The first hinge member 21 is supported so as to be rotatable about the first axis X with respect to the camera body 11. The first axis X extends in the front-rear direction (the direction along the optical axis of the photographing lens 32 described below) along the side surface 11 a of the camera body 11.

  The second hinge member 22 is rotatable about a second axis Y extending in a direction perpendicular to the first axis X. The second axis Y extends in the width direction of the LCD panel unit 12 (the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 1). The first hinge member 21 and the second hinge member 22 are connected to each other so as to be rotatable about the second axis Y, and constitute a so-called biaxial hinge 13. The hollow second hinge member 22 is formed in a cylindrical shape.

  The camera body 11 has a housing 30 made of, for example, a synthetic resin. A grip portion 31 having a shape that can be held by a user of the camera 10 with one hand is formed in the lower portion of the housing 30. An imaging lens 32, a light emitter (electronic flash) 33, and the like are provided on the upper portion of the camera body 11. The camera body 11 is provided with an operation unit 44 including various buttons and switches including a shutter button 40, a power switch 41, a zoom lever 42 (shown in FIG. 2), and a mode lever 43.

  A control circuit board 50 (shown in FIG. 1), a battery 51 (shown in FIG. 3) as a power source, a recording medium (not shown), and the like are built in the camera body 11. The battery 51 is covered with a battery cover 52. An example of the recording medium is a hard disk drive (HDD), but a magnetic tape, a card-shaped recording medium, or a stick-shaped recording medium may be applied. On the control circuit board 50, electronic parts such as a system board for controlling the electric control of the camera 10 are mounted.

  The LCD panel unit 12 includes a flat box-shaped casing (case) 55, a liquid crystal panel 56, a circuit board 57 including an audio circuit (shown in FIG. 4), and the like. The housing 55 includes a synthetic resin LCD mask 60 that holds the liquid crystal panel 56, and a synthetic resin LCD cover 61 that is bonded to the LCD mask 60.

  Locking portions 65, 66, and 67 are formed on the LCD mask 60. When assembling the housing 55, these locking portions 65, 66, 67 are locked to a receiving portion (not shown) formed on the LCD cover 61, and a screw member or the like (not shown) is fixed. The LCD mask 60 and the LCD cover 61 are fixed to each other by the parts.

  An image display surface 70 (shown in FIG. 2) of the liquid crystal panel 56 is disposed inside a rectangular frame portion 71 formed on the LCD mask 60. A backlight (not shown) is disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal panel 56. A connector 73 is provided at the end of a flexible wiring board 72 (shown in FIG. 4) provided on the liquid crystal panel 56. The connector 73 is connected to an LCD connector 74 mounted on the circuit board 57.

  A speaker unit 81 is disposed on one surface of the LCD panel unit 12, that is, the surface 80 on the same side as the image display surface 70 of the liquid crystal panel 56. The speaker unit 81 includes a speaker 82 that converts electrical signals into air vibrations, a sound hole 83 for releasing sound emitted from the speaker 82 to the outside of the housing 55, and the sound hole 83 visible from the outside of the housing 55. A sound passing sheet 84 such as a non-woven fabric for preventing the sound from passing through, and a speaker cover member 85 provided on the outer surface side of the sound passing sheet 84 are included. The sound hole 83 is formed in the LCD mask 60.

  A large number of sound emission holes 85a are formed in the speaker cover member 85 so that the sound emitted from the speaker 82 is not blocked. The surface of the speaker cover member 85 and the image display surface 70 of the liquid crystal panel 56 are disposed on substantially the same surface inside the frame portion 71 formed on one surface 80 of the LCD panel unit 12. Yes. Therefore, when the LCD panel unit 12 is opened as shown in FIG. 2, the image display surface 70 and the surface of the speaker cover member 85 are lined up and down in the same plane.

  The speaker 82 is fixed to the back surface of the LCD mask 60 by a speaker holder 90. That is, the speaker 82 is fixed to the LCD mask 60 by the screw member 91 while being sandwiched between the LCD mask 60 and the speaker holder 90. A connector 93 is provided at the end of the harness member 92 connected to the speaker 82. The connector 93 is connected to a speaker connector portion 94 mounted on the circuit board 57.

  The microphone unit 101 is disposed on the other surface of the LCD panel unit 12, that is, the surface 100 opposite to the image display surface 70 of the liquid crystal panel 56. The microphone unit 101 includes a microphone 102 that converts vibrations of air into an electrical signal, and a sound hole 103. The sound hole 103 is formed in the LCD cover 61.

  The microphone 102 is attached to the back surface of the LCD cover 61 via a microphone holder 105 made of an elastic material such as rubber that functions as a cushioning material. A connector 107 is provided at the end of the harness member 106 connected to the microphone 102. The connector 107 is connected to a microphone connector portion 108 mounted on the circuit board 57.

  A space 110 (shown in FIG. 4) for housing electronic components such as the circuit board 57, the speaker 82, and the microphone 102 is formed inside the housing 55 of the LCD panel unit 12. The circuit board 57 accommodated in the space 110 includes an LCD circuit and an audio circuit. A speaker 82 is electrically connected to the audio circuit of the circuit board 57 via the harness member 92 and the connector portion 94. The microphone 102 is electrically connected to the audio circuit of the circuit board 57 via the harness member 106 and the connector portion 108.

  A first connector 121 and a second connector 122 are provided on the circuit board 57. A sound circuit harness member 123 is connected to the first connector 121. An LCD harness member 124 is connected to the second connector 122. These harness members 123 and 124 have a function of electrically connecting the control circuit board 50 in the camera body 11 and the circuit board 57 in the LCD panel unit 12 to each other. These harness members 123 and 124 pass through the inside of the hinge portion 13, that is, the insides of the first and second hinge members 21 and 22, and extend over the camera body 11 and the LCD panel unit 12.

Below, the effect | action of the camera 10 of this embodiment is demonstrated.
The LCD panel unit 12 of the camera 10 can be opened and closed with respect to the camera body 11 between an open position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a closed position shown in FIG. When the LCD panel unit 12 is closed, the image display surface 70 of the liquid crystal panel 56 overlaps the side surface 11 a of the camera body 11. When photographing while monitoring the subject image with the liquid crystal panel 56, the LCD panel unit 12 is opened.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the LCD panel unit 12 is opened, the microphone unit 101 faces the same side (subject side) as the photographing lens 32. For this reason, the microphone unit 101 can be directed to the subject simultaneously with the photographing of the subject by the photographing lens 32. Although not shown, the image display surface 70 of the liquid crystal panel 56 can be directed to the same side as the photographing lens 32 by inverting the LCD panel unit 12 about the second hinge member 22 by 180 °.

  When the power switch 41 is turned on when the LCD panel unit 12 is in the open position, it is possible to perform photographing with the photographing lens 32 in accordance with the operation of the operation unit 44. Simultaneously with recording, recording can be performed using the microphone 102. Since the subject image being photographed is displayed on the image display surface 70 of the liquid crystal panel 56, the image being photographed can be monitored.

  The recorded subject image and sound are recorded on a recording medium inside the camera body 11. The recorded image can be reproduced as necessary and displayed on the image display surface 70 of the liquid crystal panel 56. The recorded voice is also reproduced, and a sound can be output from the speaker unit 81.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the LCD panel unit 12 is in the open position, the image display surface 70 and the speaker unit 81 of the liquid crystal panel 56 are arranged in the vertical direction, so that the amount of protrusion to the side of the LCD panel unit 12 is small. I'll do it.

  In the camera 10 of the present embodiment, the image display surface 70 of the liquid crystal panel 56 and the speaker unit 81 are arranged side by side on one surface 80 of the LCD panel unit 12. For this reason, when reproducing an image and sound, the sound comes from the same side as the image displayed on the image display surface 70. For this reason, it is possible to always reproduce the optimum sound regardless of the orientation of the LCD panel unit 12.

  In the state where the LCD panel unit 12 is closed, the LCD panel unit 12 overlaps the side surface 11 a of the camera body 11 with the microphone unit 101 exposed to the outside. Thus, when the LCD panel unit 12 is in the closed position, the sensor (not shown) built in the camera body 11 detects that the LCD panel unit 12 is closed, and the liquid crystal panel 56 is turned off. .

  Even when the LCD panel unit 12 is in the closed position, it is possible to shoot using the photographic lens 32 by using the remote control function. Even in this closed position, the microphone unit 101 is exposed to the outside of the LCD panel unit 12, so that the microphone unit 101 can be used effectively.

  The camera 10 according to the present embodiment includes a speaker 82, a microphone 102, a circuit board 57 including an audio circuit, an audio circuit, in a space 110 inside the LCD panel unit 12, which has more space than the camera body 11. The electronic components such as the harness members 92 and 106 used in the above are accommodated. That is, the parts related to the audio circuit are collectively accommodated in the LCD panel unit 12.

  Then, the control circuit board 50 inside the camera body 11 and the circuit board 57 inside the LCD panel unit 12 are electrically connected to each other by harness members 123 and 124, and the camera body 11 has an audio circuit. The parts are not provided. For this reason, the number of parts accommodated in the camera body 11 can be reduced, and the camera body 11 can be reduced in size accordingly.

  The present invention can be applied to a digital video camera that can shoot both moving images and still images, but can also be applied to a digital video camera that shoots only moving images. It can also be applied to digital cameras that only shoot. In short, any camera that converts a subject image into digital data and records it on a recording medium, which has a speaker and a microphone, and an LCD panel unit that can be opened and closed, can be similarly applied.

The perspective view of the state which opened the LCD panel unit of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which looked at the camera shown by FIG. 1 from the image display surface side. The perspective view of the state which closed the LCD panel unit of the camera shown by FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the LCD panel unit of the camera shown in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Camera (digital video camera), 11 ... Camera body, 12 ... LCD panel unit, 13 ... Hinge part, 21 ... 1st hinge member, 22 ... 2nd hinge member, 32 ... Shooting lens, 44 ... Operation part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 50 ... Control circuit board, 51 ... Battery, 55 ... Case, 56 ... Liquid crystal panel, 57 ... Circuit board (sound circuit), 70 ... Image display surface, 81 ... Speaker part, 101 ... Microphone part.

Claims (4)

A camera having a panel having an image display surface,
A camera body having a photographing lens and an operation unit and having a built-in control circuit board;
A panel unit that is attached to the camera body by a hinge part so as to be opened and closed, and includes the image display surface, a speaker part, and a microphone part,
An audio circuit board including an audio circuit disposed inside the panel unit and electrically connected to the speaker unit and the microphone unit ;
The speaker of the speaker unit is disposed on one side of the audio circuit board, and the speaker is connected to a speaker connector unit provided on the one side of the audio circuit board,
The microphone of the microphone section is disposed on the other surface of the audio circuit board, and the microphone is connected to a microphone connector section provided on the other surface of the audio circuit board. camera. A harness member for electrically connecting the control circuit board in the camera body and the audio circuit in the panel unit;
The camera according to claim 1, wherein the harness member is inserted into the hinge portion. The hinge part is
A first hinge member provided on the camera body side and rotatable about a first axis along a side surface of the camera body;
3. A second hinge member which is rotatable about a second axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the first axis and is attached to the panel unit side. 4. The listed camera. The second hinge member is a cylindrical hollow member;
The harness member that electrically connects the control circuit board in the camera body and the audio circuit in the panel unit is inserted into the second hinge member. The camera according to claim 3.

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