JP4378115B2 - Electronic camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic camera, and more particularly to an electronic camera that is thin, has good operability, and can be mounted with a high-magnification zoom.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An electronic camera equipped with an image sensor such as a CCD and capable of digitally recording images eliminates the need for development, printing, etc., which are indispensable with conventional film cameras, and allows you to see the images immediately. In addition, an image pickup device such as a CCD has an advantage that the camera itself can be made small and highly accurate by making it smaller than a conventional film despite the fact that the number of pixels per device increases year by year.
[0003]
Therefore, for example, it has a thinness and strength that can be accommodated in a breast pocket of a Y-shirt or a hip pocket of a G pan, etc. The advent of an electronic camera equipped with a zoom mechanism is desired.
[0004]
However, the zoom lens is usually composed of a plurality of lens groups, and a desired focal length is obtained by advancing and retracting some of the lens groups. For this reason, in the method in which the taking lens protrudes from the camera body like a camera using an old film, the number of lenses and the number of lenses can be reduced even if a retractable type in which the lens is housed in the body except during shooting. Due to the presence of a mechanism that moves the group back and forth, it is difficult to make the camera body less than a certain thickness.
[0005]
For this reason, when a protruding lens is housed in the camera body when the power is turned off, a camera that moves the lens of the intermediate group to the outside of the optical axis and thereby achieves thinning has appeared. The method of moving the lens group deteriorates the accuracy of the optical system, and the method of sinking the intermediate lens group and the lens barrel into the camera body by turning off the power is constant until the image can be taken when the power is turned on. Since time is required, there is a drawback in that the time until activation becomes long and a photo opportunity is missed.
[0006]
Therefore, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, an imaging lens, a finder, a light emitting device, and the like are arranged in an imaging unit that is rotatably connected to an operation unit having a display device by a rotation mechanism such as a hinge mechanism. There has been proposed a camera in which the photographing lens can be directed toward the subject and the display device is directed toward the photographer. When the electronic camera is configured in this way, for example, when a photographer (self) is to be photographed or when a subject near the ground is photographed, the display device can be constantly checked while the image pickup unit is directed toward the subject. .
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-261859 (FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-320120 A (FIG. 5)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the cameras shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the battery storage part in the operation part is configured to be thicker than the other part to be a grip part, and is accommodated in a chest pocket of a Y-shirt or a hip pocket of a G pan. If you feel uncomfortable. In the cameras shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the zoom button is on the same plane as the display device, but the shutter button and other operation buttons and command dial are at the top of the camera, and the operation buttons and command dial are thumbs. Therefore, it is necessary to perform the operation with the index finger or the like, and these operations cannot be performed while looking at the display device.
[0009]
Therefore, in the present invention, for example, it has thinness and strength that can be accommodated in a breast pocket of a Y-shirt or a buttocks pocket of a G bread, and is light enough not to cause a sense of incongruity even when accommodated in such a place or a handbag. It is a problem to provide an electronic camera that is well equipped with a high magnification zoom.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, a substantially rectangular electronic camera casing is constituted by a first casing and a second casing, and the first casing is square on the casing wide area surface. An operation unit having a display device, wherein the second housing is rotatably connected to the operation unit by a hinge mechanism, and includes a light emitting device and a photographing zoom lens, and the first long side of the electronic camera housing In an electronic camera that is an imaging unit that forms a light emitting window and a photographing window on the top wall and sends an image to the display device,
The imaging window side of the first long side of the imaging unit is projected with an R attached to the operation unit side, and the light emitting device is arranged on the projecting part, and the lower part of the housing part of the light emitting device located at the projecting part is first. The other long side opposite to the long side is linearly extended to form a narrower width than the overhanging portion, and the position of the center of rotation of the hinge mechanism provided in the portion formed in the narrowed width is the electron From the approximate center of the short side of the camera housing to the other long side, the distance from one long side to the pivot axis of the hinge mechanism is from the pivot axis of the hinge mechanism to the other long side. And a position that is larger than the distance of the other side and the center side of the other long side end ,
The imaging window side portion provided in the imaging unit casing is configured to be rotatable by a hinge mechanism to the display device side provided on the first casing wide area side in the operation unit,
Furthermore, the display device of the operation unit extends to the portion configured to have the narrow width below the overhanging portion and is disposed adjacent to it, and operation buttons and the like are arranged on the side opposite to the imaging unit of the display device. However, the operation button is not arranged on the lower side of the display device.
[0011]
As described above, the shutter button in the operation unit of the electronic camera is arranged at a position where it can be pressed by the index finger holding the operation unit, and the other operation buttons are arranged within the reach range of the thumb holding the operation unit. In addition, all photographing operations can be performed with one hand, and an electronic camera with good operability can be provided.
[0012]
And, by arranging the light emitting device on the operation unit side of the imaging window in the imaging unit and configuring the lower portion of the light emitting device housing unit to be narrower than the imaging window side, the entire operation unit side is configured to make the imaging unit thinner. You can make room in the width direction without changing the size. Therefore, by arranging the display device in the operation unit on the imaging unit side, a margin can be provided on the side opposite to the imaging unit of the display device, so that the operation buttons can be arranged in a range that can be operated with the thumb. When the camera is held with the right hand, a user-friendly electronic camera can be provided.
[0013]
In addition, the thickness in the optical axis direction of the portion where the light emitting device is arranged in the imaging unit is set to be approximately the thickness of the finger, and the length from the photographing window side end to the light emitting device side end is approximately The electronic camera of the present invention holds the operation unit with the right hand and emits light with the index and middle fingers of the left hand by making the amount equivalent to the vicinity and rotating the finger with the thickness of the finger between the two fingers. It is possible to provide an electronic camera that can be directed toward the subject with the apparatus accommodating portion interposed therebetween, and that can be held firmly during shooting and is easy to use.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be exemplarily described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. This is just an example.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is an overall view of an embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing a photographing state in which the lens of the electronic camera according to the present invention is directed toward a subject, and FIG. 3 is an electronic camera according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view showing a shooting state in which the lens of the electronic camera is directed toward the camera operator (self) direction, and FIG. 4 is a view showing a hold state of the camera when the electronic camera lens according to the present invention is shot toward the subject. is there.
[0016]
In the figure, 100 is an electronic camera according to the present invention, 101 is an imaging unit, 102 is an operation unit, 103 is a photographing lens window, 104 is a light emitting device such as a strobe, 105 is a display device using liquid crystal, 106 is a shutter button, 107 is a power button, 108 is composed of a cross key and an enter key, and is a selection / decision key for selecting a function or item displayed on the display device 105, 109 is a zoom key for instructing optical system zooming, and 110 is a camera mode menu. Is a menu button for switching on and off, 111 is a display button for switching the display content of the display device 105 and lighting on and off, 112 is a scene button for switching the display content of the display device 105 to the scene selection selection screen, and 113 is an aperture priority. Mode, shutter priority mode, sports mode for shooting fast moving subjects, Macro mode, forced flash and flash control of the light emission stop of flash, movie shooting mode selection button for selecting a mode such as playback of shadows, 114 is a speaker.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the electronic camera 100 according to the present invention is provided with a display device 105 and general photographing operation buttons 106 to 113 on the operation unit 102 side, and the operation unit 102 has a hinge mechanism. A photographing lens window 103 is arranged on one end side of the imaging unit 101 that is rotatably connected with the light emitting device 104 on the operation unit 102 side. In the imaging unit 101, a photographing zoom lens is disposed behind the photographing lens window 103, and a cam mechanism for advancing and retracting a lens group constituting the zoom lens is disposed next to the zoom lens. On the back side of the cam mechanism, that is, on the side opposite to the photographing lens window 103, electrical components such as a light emitting device capacitor are arranged. The shooting operation buttons 106 to 113 in the operation unit 102 protrude from the plane of the outer cover of the operation unit 102 so that they do not get caught or feel uncomfortable even when housed in a chest pocket of a Y-shirt or a buttocks pocket of a G pan. Further, the shutter button 106 can be operated with an index finger when the camera 100 is held with the right hand, and the zoom key 109, the selection determination key 108, the menu button 110, the mode select button 113, and the like are also used with the right hand camera. When 100 is held, it is placed within the reach of the thumb to improve operability.
[0018]
The electronic camera 100 according to the present invention is directed toward the subject as shown in FIG. 2 while the display device 105 is always visible, and the imaging unit 101 is directed toward the subject as shown in FIG. In this way, the photographing lens window 103 is directed toward the camera operator (self) so that self-photographing can be performed. The electronic camera 100 according to the present invention has a length L ₁ (FIG. 3) from the end of the imaging unit 101 on the photographing lens window 103 side to the end of the light emitting device 104 side, for example, from the tip of the left index finger to the vicinity of the second joint. And a portion corresponding to (L ₁ -L ₂ ) of the light emitting device window 104 portion, where L ₂ (FIG. 3) is the length on the opposite side of the imaging lens window 103 in the imaging unit 101. The thickness L ₃ in the optical axis direction (FIG. 3) is projected to the operation unit 102 side with R as the thickness of the index finger. In this way, a space for arranging operation buttons and the like on the right side of the display device 105 in the operation unit 102 can be created, and an electronic camera with good operability can be configured while being small. Further, the distance from the photographing lens window 103 to the rotation center of the hinge mechanism is larger than the distance from the rotation center of the hinge mechanism to the end opposite to the photographing lens window 103.
[0019]
When the electronic camera 100 is used, the power is turned on by pressing the power button 107, so that each operation button is operated with the thumb as described above, and the aperture priority mode and the shutter priority mode are pressed by the mode select button 113. Select a shooting mode such as, a sports mode for shooting a subject moving at high speed, a macro mode for shooting a subject at a short distance, a flash control such as forced flash on / off, a video shooting, and a playback mode. If necessary, the menu button 110 is pressed to display various menus such as the image size, shooting sensitivity, and photometry method on the display device 105, and the cross key of the selection / decision key 108 including the cross key and the enter key. Select an item with and press the center determination button.
[0020]
Then, when shooting with the photographic lens window 103 facing the subject as shown in FIG. 2, hold the operation unit 102 side with the right hand as shown in FIG. 4, for example, imaging with the index finger and middle finger of the left hand The photographing lens window 103 is directed toward the subject with the portion L ₃ (FIG. 3) having the length L ₁ (FIG. 3) of the portion 101 interposed therebetween. Then, while watching the subject displayed on the display device 105, the zoom key 109 of the imaging unit 101 is operated with the thumb of the right hand, the predetermined magnification is selected and the composition is determined, and then the shutter button 106 is pressed with the right index finger. The focus and exposure are automatically determined, and an image taken by an image sensor such as a built-in CCD is recorded in a built-in memory. By photographing in this way, as described above, the distance from the photographing lens window 103 to the rotation center of the hinge mechanism in the imaging unit 101 is from the rotation center of the hinge mechanism to the end opposite to the photographing lens window 103. Therefore, the lens unit can be rotated so that the image pickup unit 101 can be quickly pointed at the subject and the camera 100 can be firmly held.
[0021]
When shooting is completed in this way, when the mode select button 113 is operated to set the playback mode, the image stored in the memory is displayed on the display device 105, and the images sequentially taken by operating the cross key in the selection decision key 108 are displayed. Can be displayed. In the moving image shooting mode, a moving image can be recorded in the memory in the same manner, a necessary scene can be selected with the scene button 112, and sound can be reproduced simultaneously with the speaker 114.
[0022]
As described above, the shutter button 106 in the operation unit 102 of the electronic camera 100 is arranged at a position where it can be pressed by the index finger holding the operation unit 102, and other operation buttons are placed within the reach range of the thumb holding the operation unit 102. With this arrangement, all the photographing operations can be performed with one hand, and the electronic camera 100 with good operability can be provided.
[0023]
Further, the light emitting device 104 is arranged on the operation unit side of the imaging window 103 in the imaging unit 101 and the lower part of the housing unit of the light emitting device 104 is configured to be narrower than the imaging window 103 side, so that the operation unit 102 side makes the imaging unit 101 thinner. A margin in the width direction can be made without changing the overall size. Therefore, by arranging the display device 105 in the operation unit 102 on the imaging unit 101 side, a margin can be provided on the side opposite to the imaging unit 101 of the display device 105, so that operation buttons are arranged in a range that can be operated with the thumb. When the operation unit 102 is held with the right hand, a user-friendly electronic camera can be provided.
[0024]
In addition, the thickness in the optical axis direction of the portion where the light emitting device 104 is arranged in the image pickup unit 101 is set to be approximately the thickness of the finger, and the length from the photographing window 103 side end to the light emitting device 104 side end is set to be substantially finger-like. The electronic camera 100 of the present invention holds the operation unit 102 with the right hand by setting the amount corresponding to the vicinity of the second joint from the tip and allowing the finger to be sandwiched and rotated by two fingers. The left index finger and middle finger can be placed in the direction of the subject with the light emitting device housing portion interposed therebetween, and an electronic camera that can be held firmly during shooting and is easy to use can be provided.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the shutter button in the operation unit of the electronic camera is arranged at a position where it can be pressed by the index finger holding the operation unit, and the other operation buttons are arranged within the reach of the thumb holding the operation unit. By arranging it inside, all photographing operations can be performed with one hand, and an electronic camera with good operability can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall view of an embodiment of an electronic camera according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a shooting state in which the lens of the electronic camera according to the present invention is directed toward the subject.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a photographing state in which the lens of the electronic camera according to the present invention is directed toward the camera operator (self).
FIG. 4 is a view showing a hold state of the camera when photographing with the lens of the electronic camera according to the present invention directed toward the subject.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Electronic camera 101 Image pick-up part 102 Operation part 103 Shooting lens window 104 Light-emitting device 105 Display apparatus 106 Shutter button 107 Power button 108 Selection decision key 109 Zoom key 110 Menu button 111 Display button 112 Scene button 113 Mode select button 114 Speaker

Claims (2)

A substantially rectangular electronic camera housing is composed of a first housing and a second housing, and the first housing is an operation unit having a square display device on a wide area of the housing, The second housing is rotatably connected to the operation unit by a hinge mechanism, and includes a light emitting device and a photographing zoom lens, and a light emitting window and a photographing window are formed on the first long side top wall of the electronic camera housing. In an electronic camera that is an imaging unit that sends an image to the display device,
The imaging window side of the first long side of the imaging unit is projected with an R attached to the operation unit side, and the light emitting device is arranged on the projecting part, and the lower part of the housing part of the light emitting device located at the projecting part is first. The other long side opposite to the long side is linearly extended to form a narrower width than the overhanging portion, and the position of the center of rotation of the hinge mechanism provided in the portion formed in the narrowed width is the electron wherein from substantially the center of the short side of the camera housing other is unevenly distributed on the long side, the distance from one long side to the pivot axis of the hinge mechanism, other long side from the pivot axis of the hinge mechanism It is configured to be larger than the distance up to and the center side of the other long side end ,
The imaging window side portion provided in the imaging unit casing is configured to be rotatable by a hinge mechanism to the display device side provided on the first casing wide area side in the operation unit,
Furthermore, the display device of the operation unit extends to the portion configured to have the narrow width below the overhanging portion and is disposed adjacent to it, and operation buttons and the like are arranged on the side opposite to the imaging unit of the display device. And an operation button is not arranged on the lower side of the display device.   The thickness in the optical axis direction of the portion where the light emitting device is disposed in the imaging unit is set to be approximately the thickness of the finger, and the length from the photographing window side end to the light emitting device side end is approximately from the tip of the finger to the vicinity of the second joint. The electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the electronic camera has a corresponding amount and can be rotated by sandwiching a portion of the finger thickness between two fingers.

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