JPH05150353A - Camera device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To smoothly execute image pickup operation by preventing a camera cord from being brought into contact with an arm or the like. CONSTITUTION:This camera device is obtained by integrally forming a video camera and a photographing camera. Then, it is constituted by arranging the optical axes of the image pickup lens of a video part and the image pickup lens of a photographing part in a horizontal direction. A hand grip is provided on the left and the right of a flat cabinet 1. A connector part 41 for inputting and outputting an image pickup signal or the like is disposed toward the lower part from the lower surface of the cabinet 1. A camera cord 42 connected to a VTR or the like is connected to the connector part 41. Then, an image is picked up by supporting the camera device by grasping the hand grip. At this time, the cord 42 hangs almost directly below. Therefore, since the cord 42 is not brought into contact with the arm or the like or pulled at an image pickup time, the image pickup operation is smoothly executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera device for picking up an image while gripping and supporting handgrip portions provided on both side surfaces of a flat cabinet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art By using a video camera, it is possible to capture still images as well as moving images. However, the resolution of the video camera is lower than that of the photo camera,
Often they want to use a photo camera (film camera) with a video camera. Therefore, it is conceivable that the video camera and the photo camera are integrally formed so that the video camera unit captures a moving image while the photo camera unit captures a still image.

In this case, when the optical axes of the image pickup lens of the video camera unit and the image pickup lens of the photo camera unit are arranged in the horizontal direction, the cabinet has a flat shape. As described above, when an image is captured using a camera device having a flat cabinet, both side surfaces of the cabinet are gripped and supported.

[0004]

When the image pickup signal obtained by such a camera device is supplied to a separate body such as a VTR for recording, it is necessary to provide a connector portion on the camera device.

In this case, if the connector portion is arranged upward or sideways from the cabinet, when a camera cord for connecting to a VTR or the like is connected to the connector portion,
The camera cord may cling to the arm or the like, or may be pulled by the arm or the like, which may interfere with the imaging operation.

In view of this, the present invention is intended to facilitate the image pickup operation without touching the arm or the like of the camera cord.

[0007]

According to the present invention, an imaging lens is provided on the first side surface of a flat cabinet.
In a camera device in which a viewfinder is provided on the second side surface opposite to this and a handgrip portion is provided near both side surfaces of the cabinet orthogonal to the first and second side surfaces, for inputting and outputting an image pickup signal or the like. The connector part is disposed downward from the lower surface of the cabinet.

[0008]

The camera cord 42 is connected to the connector portion 41 arranged downward from the lower surface of the cabinet 1.
An image is captured while holding the handgrip portions 10 and 11 and supporting the camera device. At this time, the camera cord 42 hangs substantially right below. Therefore, the camera code 42
The clasp does not cling to the arm or the like and is not pulled, and the imaging operation can be performed smoothly.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This example is a handy type camera device in which a video camera and a photo camera are integrally formed.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera device. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a flat cabinet, the plane shape of which is a substantially rounded corner quadrangle. Although not shown, a video camera unit including an image pickup device, a signal processing circuit, and the like, and a photo camera unit including a film loading mechanism, a film driving mechanism, and the like are built in the cabinet 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the front surface of the cabinet 1 (the surface facing the object), in order from the right side to the left side, the image pickup lens 2 of the video camera section and the strobe light emission amount are determined in order. A lens 7 for guiding outside light to the sensor, an image pickup lens 3 of a photo camera unit, and a lens 6 of a stroboscopic light emitting unit are arranged in the. That is, the imaging lens 2,
Cabinet 3 with its optical axes aligned horizontally
Are placed on the same side of. The optical systems of the video camera unit and the photo camera unit are separately configured. As the imaging lens 2, a 6 × zoom lens having a focal length of 7 mm to 42 mm is used.
On the other hand, a fixed focus lens having a focal length of 55 mm is used as the imaging lens 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, on the front side of the cabinet 1 on the side of the imaging lens 2 (right side), a substantially cylindrical lens projecting from the surface on the side of the imaging lens 3 (left side). The protrusion 4 is formed. A zoom adjusting mechanism 5 is arranged on the lens protrusion 4 as shown by broken lines in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7. As shown in FIG.
As shown by the broken lines in FIG. 4 and FIG.
A motor 8 and the like for moving in the ELE direction and the WIDE direction (front-back direction) are attached. The reason why the lens protrusion 4 is provided is that a space for moving the imaging lens 2 in the front-rear direction is required due to the design of the camera device.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the image pickup lens 3 is arranged so that the lens protrusion 4 is not located within the horizontal field angle θ. That is, the distance between the imaging lens 3 and the lens protrusion 4 is determined by the horizontal angle of view θ of the imaging lens 3.
(36.2 ° in this example), the protruding length of the lens protruding portion 4,
Specifically, from the front-back position of the imaging lens 3 to the lens protrusion 4
To the tip (about 7.8 cm in this example) and the shape (cylindrical) of the lens protrusion 4 (about 3.5 cm in this example). Therefore, since the photo-side imaging lens 3 is arranged so that the lens protrusion 4 is not located within the angle of view θ of the photo-side imaging lens 3, the photo-side imaging lens 3
Even when the image is picked up, the inconvenience that the lens protrusion 4 is picked up is eliminated, and proper image pickup can be performed. Since the imaging lenses 2 and 3 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the vertical angle of view does not matter.

The angle of view will be described with reference to FIG. The angle of view θ can be obtained from the image pickup surface size T and the f value (focal length) as shown in Formula 1. Note that FIG.
In, T'is the field and L is the object distance.

[0015]

[Equation 1]

The image pickup lens 3 is a fixed focus lens with f = 55 mm. When the film is 35 mm, the horizontal size of the imaging surface is 36 mm, the vertical size is 24 mm,
The diagonal size is 43.3 mm.

Therefore, the horizontal, vertical and diagonal angles of view are 36.2 °, 24.6 ° and 43.0 °, respectively.
Becomes

Incidentally, the image pickup lens 2 will also be described. The imaging lens 2 is a 6 × zoom lens with f = 7 mm to 42 mm. When the image pickup device (not shown) has a size of 1/3 inch, the horizontal size of the image pickup surface is 4.9 mm, the vertical size is 3.69 mm, and the diagonal size is 6.13 mm. Therefore, the angle of view in the horizontal, vertical, and diagonal directions at the WIDE end (f = 7 mm) is 38.6, respectively.
°, 29.5 °, 47.3 °. On the other hand, the angles of view in the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, and the diagonal direction at the TELE end (f = 42 mm) are 6.7 °, 5.0 °, and 8.3 °, respectively.

The image pickup lens 2 which is a zoom lens
Table 1 shows the relationship between the angle of view and the angle of view of the imaging lens 3 that is a fixed focus lens.

[0020]

[Table 1]

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the cabinet 1 has a sloped step portion 1a substantially at the center thereof.
Is provided. The cabinet 1 is thick on the front side and thin on the rear side with the step portion 1a as a boundary.

On the left and right sides of the cabinet 1, hand grips 10 and 11 are formed as shown in FIGS.
First, the right hand grip 10 will be described. The handgrip 10 has a curved surface near the right side surface of the cabinet 1 that easily fits in the hand, that is, a shape that fits the grip shape of the hand and is thick.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, a valley 12 is formed in the front and rear direction on the upper surface of the hand grip 10. As shown in the figure, the valley 12 is formed so as to be oblique from the rear right side to the front left slightly. Valley 12
, The three operation buttons 15, 16T,
16W is arranged in a substantially straight line. These operation buttons 15,
16T and 16W are provided with operation buttons 15 when gripping the camera device.
It is arranged so as to substantially face the fingertips corresponding to 16T and 16W, respectively. The operation buttons 15, 16T, 16W are arranged in the valley 12 in order to provide play in the pressing direction of the finger on the operation buttons 15, 16T, 16W.

On the rear side of the valley 12, FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG.
As shown in, a circular recording button 15 as an operation button is arranged on the flat surface 13 designed to be slightly higher than the bottom of the valley 12.
The record button 15 is used to switch from the pause state to the recording state or vice versa.

The slope 14 on the left side of the valley 12 is shown in FIGS.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, substantially semicircular zoom operation buttons 16T and 16W which are operation buttons are arranged. Zoom operation button 16
T is for moving the imaging lens 2 in the TELE direction (forward direction). The zoom operation button 16W is used to move the imaging lens 2 in the WIDE direction (backward direction). A microphone 9 is disposed on the front right side surface of the hand grip 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 7. The voice is recorded through the microphone 9. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a film rewind operation button 17 is arranged at the leftmost end of the upper surface of the hand grip 10. The film rewind operation button 17 is operated to slide left and right. As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom surface of the hand grip 10 is formed so that its rear side extends toward the left rear. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, a recessed surface 18 into which the fingertip of the thumb is inserted is formed in this extension portion.

Next, the left hand grip 11 will be described. Similar to the right hand grip 10, the hand grip 11 has a curved shape and a thick shape near the left side surface of the cabinet 1. Hand grip 11
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper surface of the has a substantially semicircular shape. The upper surface of the handgrip 11 is shown in FIGS.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a circular shutter button 19 which is an operation button of the photo camera unit is arranged near the rear side. A tact switch connected to a switch terminal (not shown) is attached to a portion of the cabinet 1 facing the recording button 15, the zoom operation buttons 16T and 16W, and the shutter button 19.

As shown in FIG. 6, a switch operating section 21 is arranged on the left side of the rear surface of the camera device. The switch operating unit 21 includes two rows in the right and left directions and three rows in the up and down directions,
A total of 6 switches 22 to 27 are arranged. For example, in this example, a photo switch 22 used only for photo, a digital shutter switch 23 for switching shutter speed, a flash switch 24, an autofocus switch 25, a power switch 26 for still mode or video mode, and a photo switch. A self-timer switch 27 and a timer display lamp 28 are provided.

Switch 2 excluding timer switch 27
2 to 26 are of a type that slides in the left-right direction as shown in FIG. The on / off positions of the switches 22 to 25 excluding the power switch 26 and the timer switch 27 are arranged so that the right side is the off position and the left side is the on position. Power switch 2
6, the left side is the stop position in the video mode and the right side is the stop position in the still mode with the off position as the center, as shown in FIG. The timer switch 27 is of a push type.

On the rear surface of the camera device, as shown in FIG. 6, a battery storage lid 3 is located slightly to the right of the center thereof.
0 is attached. To open this storage lid 30,
First, after sliding the storage lid 30 upward, the storage lid 3
This is done by tilting with the lower end of 0 as the fulcrum. The battery 31 has a rectangular plate shape, as shown by the broken lines in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, an eyepiece 35 is attached to the right side of the rear surface of the camera device. In the cabinet 1, facing the eyepiece 35,
An electronic viewfinder including a small CRT (not shown) is arranged. Since the electronic viewfinder displays the image captured by the video camera unit, the user can see the image through the eyepiece 35.

Of the eyepieces 35, the eyecup 36
Protrudes from the cabinet 1 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the eyepiece 35 is provided with a diopter adjusting lever 37 near the rear side surface of the cabinet 1. This lever 37
Is connected to an adjusting ring (not shown) of the eyepiece 35. When the adjusting ring is rotated, the eyepiece lens 39 moves linearly in the direction of its center line. A guide groove 38 is provided in a portion of the cabinet 1 corresponding to the lever 37. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7, the guide groove 38 is formed on the right peripheral surface of the cabinet 1 on the eye cup 36 side with a predetermined angular range (about 130 degrees in this example).

By the way, the camera device of this embodiment is not provided with a recording unit. Therefore, the image pickup signal or the like obtained by the camera device of this example is supplied to a separate body such as a video tape recorder (VTR) for recording. Therefore, the connector plug (round 12-pin) 40 is attached to the camera device (see FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 4, the connector plug 40 is installed in a substantially tubular connector portion 41. As shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, the connector portion 41 is provided so as to protrude downward from the vicinity of the lower end of the guide groove 38 (the lower surface of the cabinet 1). When the connector socket 43 of the camera cord 42 is connected to this connector portion 41, as shown in FIGS.
2 hangs almost directly below. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the camera cord 42 from clinging to the arm or the like when the camera device captures an image. Further, since the camera cord 42 is not pulled by the arm or the like, the video work (imaging operation) can be smoothly performed.

Further, in the camera device of this example, as shown in FIG. 4, its center of gravity P comes near the fingertip of the thumb of the right hand (the step portion 1a side which is on the same line as the front-rear direction with respect to the indented surface 18). Is designed to be. That is, in addition to the battery 31 as an internal component on the right hand grip 10 side,
Zoom adjusting mechanism 5 including a motor 8 and the like, connector portion 4
1. A CRT, a substrate, a lens 2 and the like (not shown) were brought. Further, a zoom adjusting mechanism 5, lenses 2, 3 and the like are provided on the front side of the cabinet 1, while a battery 31, a connector portion 41, a CRT, a board and the like not shown are provided on the rear side of the cabinet 1. Therefore, since the center of gravity P is near the fingertip of the thumb on the right hand grip 10 side, even when the camera device is held by one hand (right hand), it can be supported in a stable state (see FIG. 10).

On the bottom surface of the cabinet 1, as shown in FIG. 4, a photo film storage lid 45 is arranged on the front side between the hand grips 10 and 11. The film storage lid 45 is opened by sliding the open / close button 46 in the left-right direction.

In this example, at the time of image pickup, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the right hand grip 10 is gripped with the right hand, and the left hand grip 11 is gripped with the left hand to support the camera device. In this state, the image of the electronic viewfinder is confirmed and taken through the eyepiece 35. In this case, as for the finger on the right hand grip 10, the fingertip of the index finger is the recording button 15, the fingertip of the middle finger is the zoom operation button 16W, and the fingertip of the ring finger is the zoom operation button 16T, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Face each other. Then, the recording button 15 is pressed to perform a recording operation, and the zoom operation buttons 16W and 16T are pressed to perform a zoom operation.

The fingertip of the left hand at the time of imaging touches the cabinet 1 beyond the handgrip 11 as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. When capturing an image, the shutter button 19 is pressed with the fingertip of the index finger of the left hand to perform an image capturing operation. It should be noted that the lever 37 is tilted to move the eyepiece lens 39.
By sliding in the front-back direction, the diopter can be adjusted according to the visual acuity of each user.

According to this example, since the connector section 41 is arranged downward from the lower surface of the rear right side surface of the cabinet 1, the camera cord 42 is provided when the camera device is photographing (holding).
It is possible to eliminate the discomfort of clinging to the arm. Moreover, since the camera cord 42 is not pulled by the arm or the like, the video work can be smoothly performed.

Further, according to this example, the lens protrusion 4 for disposing the image pickup lens 2 on the video side is the image pickup lens 3 on the photo side.
Since the distance between the photo-side imaging lens 3 and the lens protrusion 4 is designed so as not to be located within the horizontal angle of view θ of, even when imaging with the photo-side imaging lens 3,
There is no inconvenience that the lens protrusion 4 is imaged,
Appropriate imaging can be performed.

Further, according to this example, in addition to the heavy battery 31 on the right hand grip 10 side, the motor 8
Since the zoom adjusting mechanism 5 including the above, the CRT (not shown), the lens 2, the connector portion 41, and the like are arranged, the center of gravity P is located on the right hand grip 10 side, and the moment with respect to the right hand grip 10 side is Get smaller. Therefore, even when the camera device is supported horizontally with one hand, the burden on the supporting hand is reduced, and the camera device can be stably supported with only one hand. Particularly, since the center of gravity P of the camera device is on the stepped portion 1a side (near the fingertip of the thumb) on the same line as the front-rear direction with respect to the recessed surface 18 of the handgrip 10, when the camera device is held by one hand (right hand) However, it can be supported in a more stable state. Further, since the outer peripheral surface of the right hand grip 10 is shaped to fit the palm, the entire palm surface is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the hand grip 10. Therefore, the camera device can be stably supported in the horizontal state only with the right hand.

Further, according to the present example, the center of gravity P is located on the right handgrip 10 side, and the switch operating portion 21 is provided at a position other than the handgrip 10, so that the moment to the handgrip 10 side is The size of the switch can be reduced and the left hand can smoothly operate the operation switches 22 to 27 of the switch operation unit 21 arranged on the rear surface of the camera device while stably supporting only the right hand.
Particularly, in this example, the switches 22 to
Since the ON / OFF operation of 25 is given a direction, it is possible to reduce erroneous operations.

Further, according to this example, the fingertips of the right hand are arranged on the right hand grip 10 with the operation buttons 15, 16T,
Since it naturally opposes the 16W, it is not necessary to shift the fingertip to the operation buttons 15, 16T, 16W during the operation. Therefore, while maintaining the stability of the support of the camera device, the operation button 1
Operation of 5, 16T, 16W can be performed smoothly. In particular, according to this example, the valley 12 of the handgrip 10 is
Ergonomically designed such that the operation buttons 15, 16T, 16W arranged on the right hand are arranged with play in the pressing direction at positions facing the tip of the finger (index finger, middle finger, ring finger) while holding the hand grip 10 with the right hand. Operation button 15,
It is possible to eliminate erroneous operation of 16T and 16W.

Further, according to this example, a plurality of operation buttons 15,
16T, 16W, 19 with left and right hand grips 10, 1
Since it is divided into 1, the number of operation buttons operated by the right hand is reduced, the operation is facilitated, and erroneous operations are reduced. Particularly, according to this example, the operation buttons 15, 16T, 16W of the video camera unit are arranged on the right hand grip 10 side, and the operation button 19 of the photo camera unit is arranged on the left hand grip 11 side.
Since it is arranged separately, the operation buttons 15 and 1 of the video camera section
6T, 16W and the operation button 19 of the photo camera section are not confused with each other, and reliable operation is possible.

In the above embodiment, the image pickup lens 2 of the video camera section and the zoom adjusting mechanism 5 thereof are arranged on the lens projecting section 4, and an image is picked up by the photo camera section from the lens projecting section 4 with a predetermined distance leftward. Although the lens 3 is arranged, the arrangement of the imaging lenses 2 and 3 is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be similarly applied when the imaging lenses 2 and 3 are arranged in the vertical direction. Also,
The same can be applied to a case where the image pickup lens 3 of the photo camera unit is a zoom lens and the image pickup lens 2 of the video camera unit is a fixed focus lens.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the various switches 22 to 27 are arranged in the switch operating portion 21, but the type and arrangement of these switches are not limited to this.

Further, in the above embodiment, a separate V
Recording is done by connecting TR, but V
The same can be applied to the case where TR is provided and integrated.

[0046]

According to the present invention, since the connector portion is arranged downward from the lower surface of the cabinet, the camera cord hangs substantially right down when the image is picked up, and the camera cord can be caught or pulled by the arm or the like. Therefore, the imaging operation can be smoothly performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the example.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining how to obtain an angle of view.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a right side view of the example.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a state (holding with both hands) during image pickup.

9 is a right side view of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state where one hand is held.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cabinet 2, 3 Imaging Lens 4 Lens Projection Part 10, 11 Hand Grip 12 Valley 13 Flat Surface 14 Slope 15 Recording Button 16T, 16W Zoom Operation Button 18 Dent Surface 19 Shutter Button 21 Switch Operation Section 22-27 Switch 35 Eyepiece 37 View Degree adjusting lever 38 Guide groove 39 Eyepiece 40 Connector plug 41 Connector section 42 Camera code 43 Socket P Center of gravity

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A flat cabinet is provided with an imaging lens on a first side surface thereof, a second side surface facing the same is provided with a viewfinder, and both sides of the cabinet are orthogonal to the first and second side surfaces. In a camera device having a handgrip part near the surface, a connector part for inputting and outputting an image pickup signal and the like is arranged downward from the lower surface of the cabinet.