JP4724471B2 - camera - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a camera configured so as to always obtain good operability with either the left or right hand by devising the arrangement of operation members.

  The conventional general camera has a design in which members are arranged on the premise that the camera is operated with the right hand. In this case, even a user whose dominant hand is the left hand is forced to operate with the right hand.

  Therefore, with regard to a camera that has been devised so that it can be operated satisfactorily with either the left or right hand and can always ensure good operability regardless of the user's dominant hand, for example, Various proposals have been made conventionally by Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-318421, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-340991, and the like.

  The camera disclosed by the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-318421 can be used in a form in which the release button is disposed at a predetermined portion of the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion of the main body, and the camera itself is inverted upside down. It is configured. As a result, the user can be prepared to operate either one of the two release buttons with his dominant hand, ensuring the same operability with both the left and right hands without impeding operability. It can be done.

  On the other hand, in recent years, various proposals have been made for a so-called digital camera having an image pickup device that photoelectrically converts an optical image into an electric signal, and image data is acquired by the image pickup device, and has been widely put into practical use. .

  In a general conventional digital camera, an image display unit such as a liquid crystal display device is provided on the back side of the main body unit, and various operation members are arranged in the vicinity of the peripheral portion of the image display unit. Is normal. Here, the operation members include, for example, a push button or an XY direction button used for setting operations such as shooting conditions performed during shooting, image search operations performed during playback, and the like.

  In such a digital camera, it is necessary to devise not only the release button but also various other operation members in order to ensure good operability with either the left or right hand.

Therefore, in the camera started by the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-340991, a release button is provided in the vicinity of both left and right ends of the upper surface of the camera, and a touch panel is placed on the image display unit to be used. The operation unit area of the touch panel is configured to be switched to either the left end or the right end in accordance with the user's usage. In other words, when the right hand is set to operate the release button for the right hand, various operation unit areas are arranged in the part closer to the right hand holding the main body, and when the left hand is set to operate the release button for the left hand, Various operation unit areas are arranged in a portion closer to the left hand holding the main body. Thus, when the user grips the main body with a dominant hand, the same operability can be obtained regardless of whether the dominant hand is left or right.
JP 2001-318421 A JP 2004-340991 A

  However, the camera disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-318421 pays attention only to the operability of the release button, and there is nothing about the operability of various operation members provided on the back side of the main body. It is not considered.

  Moreover, the camera disclosed by the said Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2004-340991 uses the touch panel which can switch freely the arrangement | positioning of an operation part area | region to the image display part provided in the back side.

  However, the touch panel has a problem that it is inferior in operability as compared with a normal mechanical operation member such as a push button. In addition, since the touch panel itself is expensive, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the camera itself that employs the touch panel becomes expensive.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and the object of the present invention is to provide a camera in which a release operation can be performed with either the left or right hand, while ensuring substantially the same operability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera that realizes member arrangement that also considers the operability of a plurality of operation members arranged on the back side, and can always obtain good operability.

  In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to the present invention has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, a right hand posture when used with a right hand, and a posture that is upside down with respect to the right hand posture and is used with a left hand. A main body portion used in one of two postures, a left hand posture, and a portion that is disposed on the right side when viewed from the back of the main body portion when the main body portion is in a right hand posture and is gripped by the right hand When the main body portion is in the left hand posture, the grip portion that is disposed on the left side when viewed from the back of the main body portion and is gripped by the left hand, and when the main body portion is in the right hand posture, Arranged at the position on the right side of the upper surface when viewed from the back, the first shooting instruction member when used in the same right hand posture and the upper left side when viewed from the back of the main body when the main body is in the left hand posture Placed in position A second photographing instruction member for use in the same left hand posture, an image display unit disposed on the back surface of the main body unit, and a center along the longitudinal direction of the main body unit disposed on the back surface of the main body unit. When looking at the back of the main body in a posture with a group of operation members composed of a plurality of operation members arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the line, and the center line as a vertical line and the grip portion as a lower side, The information which shows the instruction | indication content of each operation member of the said group of operation parts comprises the parameter | index shown so that it can visually recognize in a regular state, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to the present invention, the release operation can be performed with either the left or right hand, and the operability of a plurality of operation members disposed on the back side of the camera is also taken into consideration while ensuring substantially the same operability as the left and right. Thus, it is possible to provide a camera that realizes the arrangement of the members and can always obtain good operability.

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.
1 to 5 show a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. Among these, FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of the camera. FIG. 2 is a top view showing the appearance of the camera. FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the appearance of the camera. FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the appearance of the camera. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the camera. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state when the camera is held with the right hand. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state where the camera is held with the left hand.

  The camera 1 of the present embodiment is a digital camera that receives an optical image and photoelectrically converts it and records it as an electrical signal. The right hand posture when used with the right hand (see FIG. 6) and the right hand posture Thus, the posture can be used in one of two postures: a left-hand posture (see FIG. 7) when used with the left hand.

  In the following description, the state when the camera 1 is used in the right hand posture is described as a basic posture. Therefore, the upper surface of the main body 10 of the camera 1 refers to the upper surface when the camera 1 is used in a right hand posture, and the surface shown in FIG. Moreover, when it says the bottom face about the main-body part 10 of this camera 1, the bottom face when this camera 1 is used with a right hand attitude | position is pointed out, and the surface shown in FIG. 4 becomes a bottom face.

  FIG. 1 shows a state when the camera 1 is used in the right hand posture, while FIG. 3 shows a state when the camera 1 is used in the left hand posture.

  As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the main-body part 10 of the camera 1 is formed in the substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A main component (not shown) such as an electric board is disposed inside the main body 10 and its outer surface is covered with an exterior member.

  In the state shown in FIG. 1, a photographing lens 11 is disposed on the front surface of the main body 10 at a position slightly to the right from the vicinity of the substantially central portion toward the front surface of the main body 10. A flash light emission window 12 is provided at a predetermined portion in the vicinity of the periphery of the photographing lens 11 and in the vicinity of the right edge.

  The photographing lens 11 and the flash light emission window 12 are disposed on the center line C along the long side of the main body 10. That is, the photographing lens 11 and the flash light emission window 12 are arranged so as to be symmetrical in the vertical direction in both cases where the main body 10 is in the right hand posture and the left hand posture.

  And the left side part toward the front surface of the main-body part 10 in the state shown in FIG. 1 becomes the grip part 14 which a user hold | grips.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the main body unit 10 is in the right hand posture, the grip unit 14 is disposed on the right side when viewed from the back of the main body unit 10 and is a portion that is gripped by the right hand. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the main body 10 is in the left hand posture, it is disposed on the left side when viewed from the back of the main body 10 and becomes a portion gripped by the left hand. Therefore, the grip portion 14 is a common portion that is gripped by the user's dominant hand, both in the right hand posture and in the left hand posture.

  A battery chamber 17 for housing the power battery 18 is formed inside the grip portion 14.

  On the upper surface of the main body 10, a first release button 15 is disposed on the left side of the upper surface of the main body 10 in the state shown in FIG. 2. The first release button 15 is positioned on the right side of the upper surface when viewed from the back of the main body 10 when the user grips the grip 14 with the right hand as shown in FIG. For example, it is arrange | positioned in the position which can be pressed with the index finger of the right hand. That is, the first release button 15 is a first photographing instruction member when the camera 1 is used in a right hand posture.

  A suspension ring 13 is provided at a substantially central portion on the left side when viewed from the front surface of the main body 10 and a strap, a suspension string, and the like are continuously provided.

  On the bottom surface of the main body portion 10, a battery lid 19 is disposed at a position on the left side of the bottom surface of the main body portion 10 in the state shown in FIG. 4. The battery lid 19 is formed so as to be openable and closable with respect to the opening of the battery chamber 17 of the main body 10 as shown by the dotted line in FIG. When the battery cover 19 is opened, the power battery 18 can be attached to and detached from the battery chamber 17. In order to change the battery cover 19 from the closed state to the open state, the battery cover 19 is first slid by a predetermined amount in the direction along the arrow X shown in FIG. 1, and then rotated in the direction along the arrow R in the figure. This is a mechanism that can be realized. Further, in order to change the battery cover 19 from the open state to the closed state, the battery cover 19 is rotated in the direction along the arrow R in FIG. The lock mechanism works at the position. Thereby, the battery lid 19 is configured to be kept closed with respect to the main body 10. Such an opening / closing mechanism of the battery lid 19 is a mechanism that is generally used, and therefore, detailed illustration thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a second release button 16 is integrally provided on the battery lid 19. The second release button 16 is viewed from the back of the main body 10 when the main body 10 of the camera 1 is in a left hand posture and the user grips the grip 14 of the main body 10 with the left hand as shown in FIG. For example, it is arranged at a position where it can be pressed with the index finger of the left hand. That is, the second release button 16 is a second photographing instruction member when the camera 1 is used in the left hand posture.

  In the state shown in FIG. 3, an image display unit 20 made up of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like is disposed on the rear surface of the main body unit 10 at a position slightly to the right from the vicinity of the central portion toward the rear surface of the main body unit 10. Yes. The image display surface of the image display unit 20 is disposed at a substantially target position in the vertical direction with respect to the center line C along the long side of the main body unit 10.

  A group of operation units made up of a plurality of operation members are arranged in the vicinity of both side edges of the image display unit 20. In this case, a first operation unit 21 that is a first operation unit is disposed in the vicinity of one side edge of the image display unit 20 and near the grip unit 14. In addition, a second operation unit 31 that is a second operation unit is disposed near the other side edge of the image display unit 20.

  The first operation unit 21 is a direction indication operation means such as a so-called cross button or XY button formed by a rotary dial 22 as a dial operation member, a wide button 23, a tele button 24, a back button 25, and a menu OK button 26. It consists of operation members.

  Each operation member of the first operation unit 21 is used for setting operations such as shooting conditions (using the rotary dial 22, the back button 25, the menu OK button 26, etc.) mainly performed prior to shooting during the shooting operation, and the shooting lens 11. Is used to perform a zooming operation (by the wide button 23, the tele button 24, etc.).

  Further, during the reproduction operation, various operations for displaying the captured image mainly on the image display unit 20, for example, partial enlargement display and reduction display operation (by the wide button 23, the tele button 24, etc.) or display of the display image. An operation for selecting an image to be performed (using the rotary dial 22 or the like) is performed.

  For this purpose, the first operation portion 21 is located near the grip portion 14 and is disposed at a position where the first operation portion 21 can be easily operated with the hand holding the grip portion 14, that is, the dominant finger. In addition, on the buttons and in the vicinity of the buttons, there are provided indicators 27 and 28 that indicate the functions of the individual buttons, such as pictures and characters.

  The second operation unit 31 includes an erasing button 32 that is operated when erasing a photographed image, an operation that is activated in a playback mode when the camera 1 is in a power-off state, or a camera 1 that is in a power-on state and is photographed A playback start button 33 that is an operation member that gives an instruction to switch to the playback mode when activated in the mode, a power-off button 34 that instructs the camera 1 to be turned off, and the camera 1 is in a power-off state. An operation member for instructing to switch to the still image shooting mode when the camera 1 is activated in the still image shooting mode or when the camera 1 is powered on and operating in the playback mode or the moving image shooting mode. A still image shooting start button 35 and a switching instruction to the video shooting mode when the camera 1 is operating in the playback mode or the still image shooting mode. Consisting of a group of operating members moving such imaging switch button 36 is an operation member for performing.

  Each operation member of the second operation unit 31 mainly performs various operations performed before the operation of the camera 1 starts, for example, a power on / off operation, an operation mode selection operation, or an operation performed during reproduction.

  Since the second operation portion 31 is in the vicinity of the side edge portion on the opposite side to the grip portion 14, the second operation portion 31 is operated with a hand opposite to the side that holds the grip portion 14.

  In the vicinity of each button 32 to 36 and on each button, an index 37 for representing the function of each button at the time of shooting and playback is displayed in a form that is easy to visually identify, for example, a picture or a character. It is shown.

  The indicators 27 and 28 in the first operation unit 21 and the indicator 37 in the second operation unit 31 indicate the instruction contents of each operation member.

  The indices 27, 28, and 37 are viewed from the back of the main body 10 in a posture in which the center line C along the longitudinal direction of the main body 10 of the camera 1 is a vertical line and the grip 14 is on the lower side. It is attached so that it can be visually recognized in a normal state.

  Each group of operation units of the first operation unit 21 and the second operation unit 31 has the operation members arranged so as to be substantially symmetrical with respect to the center line C along the long side (longitudinal direction) of the main body unit 10. Yes. Thereby, each operation member is arrange | positioned so that operativity may become substantially the same in any case, when using the main-body part 10 with a right-handed attitude | position, and when using it with a left-handed attitude | position.

  In the present camera 1, as shown in FIG. 5, an image sensor 41 that photoelectrically converts a subject image formed by the photographic lens 11, and an electrical signal generated by the image sensor 41 is digitized. An image processing unit 43 that performs signal processing such as, an image processing unit 43 that receives the output from the imaging unit 42 and performs various image processing to generate image data, and image data generated by the image processing unit 43 Display processing unit 44 that converts the data into display format data that is optimal for display using the image display unit 20, and compression processing and image storage memory 48 for the image data generated by the image processing unit 43. A compression / decompression unit 45 that performs decompression processing on the compressed data read from (described later), and the compressed data compressed by the compression / decompression unit 45 are recorded. An image storage memory 48, a memory interface (I / F) 46 that is interposed between the compression / decompression unit 45 and the image storage memory 48 and exchanges signals between them, and an image generated by the image processing unit 43 An image buffer memory 47 for temporarily storing data, an image display unit 20 (shown simply as a display unit in FIG. 5) 20 for receiving image data in display format from the image processing unit 43, and ROM (ROM) 49 in which various program data and the like are stored in advance, a CPU 50 that is a control means for controlling the entire camera 1, a first release button 15 that is a first photographing instruction unit, and a second photographing instruction A second release button 16 as a unit, a group of operation units 21 and 31 including other various operation members described above, and a posture detection means for detecting the posture of the main body unit 10 It is mainly constituted by a certain direction sensor 51 and the like.

  The direction sensor 51 indicates whether the main body 10 is in a right hand posture when used with the right hand 100R as shown in FIG. 6 or a left hand posture when used with the left hand 100L as shown in FIG. It is the attitude | position detection means to detect.

  The detection result of the direction sensor 51 is transmitted to the CPU 50. In response to this, the CPU 50 controls the display processing unit 44 to control the top and bottom of the image displayed on the display unit 20 to be in an appropriate direction. Further, when the camera 1 detects the posture shown in FIG. 6, the operation of the first release button 15 of the two release buttons (15, 16) is enabled, while the camera 1 detects the posture shown in FIG. Sometimes, control is performed to validate the operation of the second release button 16 out of the two release buttons (15, 16).

  When using the camera 1 of this embodiment configured as described above, a right-handed user holds the grip portion 14 with the right hand 100R as shown in FIG. 1 Press the release button 15. Prior to the shooting operation, for example, when setting shooting conditions, etc., each operation member of the first operation unit 21 is operated using the right thumb.

  At this time, the second operation unit 31 is operated using the left hand (not shown in FIG. 6). The second operation unit 31 is operated in the following cases. For example, a power on / off operation, an operation for switching between a moving image shooting mode and a still image shooting mode during a shooting operation, an image playback / erase instruction operation using the playback start button 33 and the erase button 32 during a playback operation, and the like.

  Further, at this time, the direction sensor 51 detects that the posture of the main body 10 is the posture shown in FIG. 6, that is, the right hand posture when used with the right hand 100R. Then, upon receiving the detection signal, the CPU 50 controls the display processing unit 44, the image processing unit 43, and the like so that the vertical direction of the image to be displayed on the image display unit 20 corresponds to the right hand posture of the main body unit 10. Predetermined image processing is performed so that As a result, an image is displayed on the image display unit 20 with the top-to-bottom direction being normal as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, when using the camera 1 of the present embodiment, the left-handed user holds the grip part 14 with the left hand 100L as shown in FIG. 7, and presses the first release button 15 with the left hand index finger or the like during the photographing operation. To do. Moreover, each operation member of the 1st operation part 21 is operated using a left finger. The operation of the second operation unit 31 is performed using the right hand (not shown in FIG. 7).

  Further, at this time, the direction sensor 51 detects that the posture of the main body 10 is the posture shown in FIG. 7, that is, the left hand posture when used with the left hand 100L. Then, upon receiving the detection signal, the CPU 50 controls the display processing unit 44, the image processing unit 43, and the like so that the vertical direction of the image to be displayed on the image display unit 20 corresponds to the left hand posture of the main body unit 10. Predetermined image processing is performed so that As a result, an image is displayed on the image display unit 20 with the top-to-bottom direction being normal as shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, when the body portion 10 of the camera 1 is in the right hand posture, the grip portion 14 is disposed on the right side when viewed from the back surface of the body portion 10, and the back surface of the body portion 10. The first release button 15 (first photographing instruction member) is arranged on the upper right side when viewed from the top.

  At the same time, when the main body 10 of the camera 1 is in the left-handed posture, the grip portion 14 is disposed on the left side when viewed from the back of the main body 10 and the second release is on the left side of the upper surface when viewed from the back of the main body 10. A button 16 (second photographing instruction member) is arranged.

  Further, a group of operation units are arranged so as to be substantially symmetrical with respect to the center line C along the longitudinal direction of the main body unit 10, and indices 27, 28, and 37 attached to the respective operation members of the group of operation units. Is attached so that it can be visually recognized in a normal state when the back surface of the main body portion 10 in a posture in which the center line C is a vertical line and the grip portion 14 is on the lower side.

  Therefore, the hand to be gripped can be placed on either the left or right side only by setting the main body portion 10 of the camera 1 upside down. And even when the hand to hold | grip is changed, substantially the same operativity can be ensured. That is, the user can always perform major operations with a dominant hand.

  In addition, since the group of operation parts are arranged so as to be substantially symmetrical with respect to the center line C along the longitudinal direction of the main body part 10, a plurality of operation members are arranged in a balanced manner. Therefore, it can be set as the operation system which is visually easy to see.

  In addition, since the flash light emission window 12 and the photographing lens 11 are also arranged so as to be substantially symmetric with respect to the center line C along the longitudinal direction of the main body 10, depending on the posture of the camera 1 between the right hand posture and the left hand posture. There is no big impact on the shooting results. However, at the time of flash emission, the irradiation direction of the flash is different, but the irradiation angle is the same.

  In addition, since the second release button 16 used in the left hand posture is provided integrally with the battery lid 19, it can contribute to space saving in the internal space of the main body 10 of the camera 1.

  A group of operation units composed of a plurality of operation members arranged on the back side of the camera 1 is a first operation member composed of a plurality of operation members for mainly performing various setting operations during a photographing operation, various display operations during a reproduction operation, and the like. 1 operation unit 21 and a second operation unit 31 composed of a plurality of operation members for mainly performing various operations (power on / off operation, etc.) performed before the start of the operation of the camera 1 or operations performed during playback. In consideration of the function, the former (first operation unit 21) can be operated with a dominant hand, the latter (second operation unit 31) can be operated with a hand opposite to the dominant hand, and Each is arranged in the vicinity of both side edges of the image display unit 20. As a result, the operation members can be arranged efficiently, thereby contributing to improvement in operability.

  Further, a first operation portion 21 made of an operation member forming a rotary dial 22 or an XY button with relatively high operation frequency is disposed in the vicinity of the grip portion 14. Therefore, by disposing an operation member that requires a complicated operation at a position that can be easily operated by a dominant hand, it is possible to contribute to further improvement in operability.

1 is a front view illustrating an appearance of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The top view which shows the external appearance of the camera of FIG. The rear view which shows the external appearance of the camera of FIG. The bottom view which shows the external appearance of the camera of FIG. The block block diagram which shows the internal structure of the camera of FIG. The figure which shows a mode when the camera of FIG. 1 is hold | gripped with the right hand. The figure which shows a mode when the camera of FIG. 1 is hold | gripped with the left hand.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera 10 ... Main-body part 14 ... Grip part 15 ... 1st release button 16 ... 2nd release button 20 ... Image display part 21 ... 1st operation part 22 ... Rotary dial 23 ... Wide Button 24 ... Tele button 25 ... Back button 26 ... Menu OK buttons 27, 28, 37 ... Indicator 31 ... Second operation section 32 ... Erase button 33 ... Playback start button 34 ... Power off button 35 …… Still image shooting start button 36 …… Movie shooting switching button 50 …… CPU
51 …… Direction sensor C …… Center line

Claims (4)

Consists of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, in one of two forms: a right hand posture when used with the right hand and a left hand posture when used with the left hand, and a posture reversed to the right hand posture. The main body used,
When the main body is in the right hand posture, it is a portion that is arranged on the right side when viewed from the back of the main body and is gripped by the right hand, and when the main body is in the left hand posture, the left side as viewed from the back of the main body A grip portion that is disposed on the left hand and is gripped by the left hand;
A first photographing instruction member that is disposed at a position on the upper right side when viewed from the back of the main body when the main body is in a right hand posture;
A second shooting instruction member when used in the left hand posture, which is disposed at a position on the upper left side when viewed from the back of the main body when the main body portion is in a left hand posture;
An image display unit disposed on the back surface of the main body unit;
A group of operation parts that are arranged on the back surface of the main body part and are composed of a plurality of operation members that are arranged substantially symmetrically with respect to the center line along the longitudinal direction of the main body part;
When viewing the back of the main body in a posture where the center line is a vertical line and the grip part is on the lower side, information indicating the instruction contents of each operation member of the group of operation parts is visually confirmed. The indicators shown to get,
A camera comprising: The camera according to claim 1, wherein the image display unit is disposed at a position that is substantially symmetrical with respect to the center line. The group of operation units includes a first operation unit and a second operation unit arranged in the vicinity of both side edges with the image display unit interposed therebetween,
2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the first operation unit is disposed in a portion near the grip unit, and the first operation unit includes a dial operation member. On the bottom surface when the main body portion is in the right hand posture, a battery lid that can open and close the opening of the battery chamber formed inside the grip portion is disposed,
The camera according to claim 1, wherein the second photographing instruction member is disposed on the battery lid.

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