JPH06105192A - Electronic view finder with projection function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the excellent carrying performance with small sized and light weight configuration on the image pickup mode and to project a bright reproduced picture on the projector mode by mounting a low luminance light source unit on a main body unit on the EVF mode and a high luminance light source unit in the projector mode. CONSTITUTION:A unit 4 provided with a low luminance (standard) light source 10a on the EVF move is fitted and a unit provided with a high luminance light source 10b on the projector mode and a fan unit 6 are mounted respectively on a rear stage of an LCD (liquid crystal display device) built-in unit 7. Moreover, when the LCD (liquid crystal display device) built-in unit 7 and each light source unit are coupled and when the high luminance light source unit and the fan unit 6 are connected, electric contacts 8 are also connected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic viewfinder equipped with a liquid crystal display unit mounted on a video camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an electronic viewfinder capable of driving a liquid crystal display portion by an image signal obtained by a video camera and allowing a photographer to observe an image displayed on the liquid crystal display portion to confirm a subject. It has been known.

Such an electronic viewfinder has a cylindrical shape with one end closed, and an image displayed on a liquid crystal display section arranged inside the cylinder can be viewed from the other end side through an optical system. It is like this.

[0004]

By the way, such an electronic viewfinder reproduces an image signal obtained by photographing in substantially real time, or reproduces an image signal from a recording medium after photographing. The number of people who can see is limited to one.

In order for a plurality of people to view the reproduced image after shooting, it is necessary to connect a video camera to an external monitor and reproduce the image on this monitor.

Therefore, in the conventional video camera, it has been difficult for a plurality of people to view and enjoy an image photographed outdoors, and to enjoy the image because of problems such as securing the power source of the monitor device and portability. For example, it was difficult to take a picture of a child's competition with a video camera at an athletic meet and to enjoy the picture of the competition at the time of lunch outdoors thereafter so that everyone can enjoy it.

In view of such circumstances, the inventors of the present application have a projector function of projecting an image displayed on the liquid crystal display portion of the electronic viewfinder onto a screen outside the finder through an eyepiece lens by illumination from a light source. Has invented an electronic viewfinder and applied for it and has already disclosed it (Japanese Patent Application No. 4-153384).

By the way, when the electronic viewfinder is used in a usual manner, the brightness of the illumination may be kept constant.

However, when this electronic viewfinder is used as a projector, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit is projected on a screen arranged at a position distant from the electronic viewfinder, so that it is used in a normal manner. It is necessary to greatly increase the brightness of the light source as compared with the case where it is used.

In particular, when the electronic viewfinder is used in the usual way, it is required to be lightweight,
It is not very desirable to always install a high-brightness light source and adjust the brightness according to the usage state.

The first object of the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a plurality of people can easily see a bright reproduced image at the same time without using an external display device, and a normal viewfinder. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an electronic viewfinder equipped with a projection function, which is mounted on a video camera and which can be easily carried when used as.

Further, when the electronic viewfinder is used as a projector, the light source needs to be in a high-luminance state as described above, so that the temperature inside the electronic viewfinder may be high and a dangerous state may occur.

Therefore, a second object of the present invention is to provide an electronic viewfinder having a projection function, which can prevent the temperature inside the electronic viewfinder from becoming high when it functions as a projector.

[0014]

An electronic viewfinder according to the present invention has a projector function of projecting an image displayed on a liquid crystal display onto a screen outside the finder, and is used as a normal electronic viewfinder. The light source unit is detachable so that a low-luminance light source unit (hereinafter referred to as the EVF mode) and a high-luminance light source unit can be attached when used as a projector. .

Further, when the high brightness light source unit is mounted, a cooling fan can also be mounted.

That is, the first electronic viewfinder of the present invention having a projection function is an electronic viewfinder equipped with a liquid crystal display unit, which is mounted on a video camera, and the image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit is used as a light source. It is configured to have a projector function of illuminating with an illuminating light from, and projecting the image on a screen outside the finder through an eyepiece lens, and when the finder is used as a projector, it has high brightness. The unit equipped with the light source is attached to and detached from the finder body so that the unit equipped with the light source can be mounted, and the unit equipped with the low-brightness light source can be mounted when used as a normal electronic viewfinder. It is characterized by being configured as possible.

Further, in the second electronic viewfinder having a projection function of the present invention, when the unit equipped with the high-intensity light source is attached to the finder body, the heat generated by the light source is A fan for discharging to the outside of the finder can be attached to the unit or the finder body.

Here, the electronic viewfinder is mounted on a video camera, reproduces an image photographed by the video camera in substantially real time, and reproduces an image signal from a recording medium after photographing, and this image. It has an optical system that allows an image displayed on the display unit to be viewed as a virtual image.

The screen includes not only so-called projector screens, but also plain screens, pieces of paper, etc. that can be used as screens.

[0020]

According to the above construction, it has a projector function of projecting the image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit to the outside, and it is not only the screen for the original projector but also a plain wall or a piece of paper, for example. Since the captured image can be displayed in a desired size by using the screen substitute, a plurality of people can simultaneously view the same image at any place.

Further, in the electronic viewfinder of the present invention, the light source unit can be easily exchanged between the EVF mode and the projector mode, and the screen can be changed by using the high brightness light source in the projector mode. A sufficiently bright image can be displayed on the upper side, and the electronic viewfinder can be easily used by using a small and lightweight low-brightness light source in the EVF mode.

Furthermore, when a high-brightness light source is used, it is possible to prevent the temperature inside the electronic viewfinder from becoming high by discharging the internal heat with a fan.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a general video camera equipped with an electronic viewfinder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

That is, the electronic viewfinder 1 is attached to the side portion of the video camera body 2, and an image taken through the taking lens 3 is recorded at approximately the same time as the taking, or after taking a recording medium (such as a video tape). ) Is recorded and then reproduced. Further, the electronic viewfinder 1 has a projector function and is configured to be able to project an image once recorded on a recording medium to the outside.

FIG. 3 shows an optical system inside the electronic viewfinder 1. FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram showing an optical arrangement when the electronic viewfinder mode (hereinafter referred to as EVF mode) is set. FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram showing the optical arrangement when the projector mode is set.

That is, in the EVF mode, the light source 10
The light emitted from the collimator lens 12 is collimated into parallel light, the diffusion plate 14 reduces illumination unevenness, and the polarization filter 16 converts the light into linearly polarized light.
Irradiated to 18. The liquid crystal display plate 18 is driven by an image signal obtained by photographing to display an image, and the light transmitted through the liquid crystal display plate 18 carries image information.

The light carrying this image information enters a biconvex lens (eyepiece; the same applies hereinafter) 20, and the distance x ₁ between the image display surface of the liquid crystal display plate 18 and this biconvex lens 20 is
Since the position of the biconvex lens 20 is set so as to be smaller than the focal length f of the biconvex lens 20, when looking into the liquid crystal display plate 18 through the biconvex lens 20, a virtual image formed in the back of the liquid crystal display plate 18 is seen. You can see. This allows
The image displayed on the liquid crystal display board 18 can be seen.

Next, when the mode is changed from the EVF mode to the projector mode, the biconvex lens 20 is moved forward by a distance x ₂ . This allows the LCD panel 18
The distance between the image display surface and the biconvex lens 20 is x ₁ + x ₂ , which is larger than the focal length f of the biconvex lens 20.
Therefore, the light carrying image information is incident on the biconvex lens 20 and then a predetermined distance X from the biconvex lens 20, that is, X = (x ₁ + x ₂ ) f / (x ₁ + x ₂ -f) (1 The image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 18 is formed as a real image on the screen 22 that is separated by only).

A slide switch 24 is disposed below the biconvex lens 20, and the segment of the slide switch 24 moves in accordance with the movement of the biconvex lens 20, and the slide switch 24 moves between the above two modes. Switching is performed, and in response to this switching, the diffusion plate 14 is transferred to the outside of the optical path in the projector mode.

By the way, one feature of the device of the present invention is that E
The light source unit can be easily (for example, one-touch) replaced depending on the mode, such as a low-luminance light source unit in the VF mode and a high-luminance light source unit in the projector mode. In the apparatus of this embodiment, the EVF
In the mode, the low-brightness (standard) light source unit 4 (with the low-brightness light source 10a) is installed as shown in FIG. 1 (a), and in the projector mode, the high-brightness light source unit 5 (high-brightness light source unit 5 is installed as shown in FIG. 1 (b). 10b) and fan unit 6
Are attached to the rear stage of the LCD (liquid crystal display) built-in unit 7.

As the engagement mode of these units 4, 5, 6 and 7, various known engagement methods can be applied, for example, a fitting type, a buckle type, a bayonet type, and a magnetic body. It is possible to use an engagement method using the.

When the LCD built-in unit 7 and the light source units 4 and 5 are connected, and when the high-intensity light source unit 5 and the fan unit 6 are connected, the electrical contact portions are connected at the same time when these units are connected. 8 connections are also made.

As described above, in the apparatus of this embodiment, the units are electrically connected to each other by connecting the units, so that the light source units can be easily replaced.

Further, as described above, the contact portion 8 is joined by the connection between the LCD built-in unit 7 and each light source unit 4, 5, and the light source units 4, 5 connected to the LCD built-in unit 7 at this time are It is possible to discriminate between the low-luminance unit 4 and the high-luminance unit 5.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), LC
The D built-in unit 7 has three contacts 8a1, a2, a3 formed on the light source unit connection surface, and correspondingly, the low brightness light source unit 4 has three contacts 8b1, b2, b3, and a high brightness light source. The unit 5 is formed with three contacts 8c1, c2, c3. In addition, the two contacts 8b of the low-brightness light source unit 4
1, b2 are electrically connected to each other, and the other contact 8b3
Are insulated from these contacts 8b1 and b2, and the three contacts 8a1, a2 and a3 of the LCD built-in unit 7 and the three contacts 8c1, c2 and c3 of the high brightness light source unit 5 are insulated from each other.

On the other hand, the first contact 8a1 of the LCD built-in unit 7 is connected to the power source, the second contact 8a2 is connected to the mode detecting portion and is grounded via the resistor 9, and the third contact 8a2 is further connected. The contact 8a3 is grounded.

Therefore, when the low-luminance light source unit 4 is connected to the LCD built-in unit 7, the first contact 8a1 and the second contact 8a2 of the LCD built-in unit 7 become conductive,
A voltage signal in the "H" state is sent to the mode detector.

When the high-intensity light source unit 5 is connected to the LCD built-in unit 7, the first contact 8a1 and the second contact 8a2 of the LCD built-in unit 7 become non-conducting with each other, and the mode detecting section is operated. Is transmitted as a voltage signal in the "L" state.

In the mode detector, the low-luminance light source unit 4 is at the "H" level and the high-luminance light source unit 5 is at the "L" level based on the level discrimination of the input voltage signal. It is determined that they are connected to each other.

Since the third contacts 8b3 and c3 of each light source unit 4 and 5 are set to the GND level, the light source units 4 and 5 together with the first contacts 8b1 and c1 to which power is supplied. It becomes possible to configure a power supply line.

Next, the contact positions of the LCD built-in unit 7, the high brightness light source unit 5 and the fan unit 6 are shown in FIG.
And it demonstrates using FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the electronic viewfinder is divided into an LCD built-in unit 7, a high-intensity light source unit 5 and a fan unit 6. The end faces of each unit in FIG. 5 are shown in FIG. .

That is, FIG. 6 (a) is an end view of line II, (b)
II-II line end view, (c) III-III line end view, (d) IV-
IV line end view, (e) is VV end view.

As shown in FIG. 6 (a), three contact points 8a1, a2, a3 are laterally provided on the contact point section 8a provided at the lower end surface of the LCD built-in unit 7 on the side of connection with the high brightness light source unit 5. Are arranged in the direction. That is, from the right side in the projection direction, the contacts 8a1 related to the GND from the camera body,
A contact 8a2 for the mode detection signal and a contact 8a3 for the power source from the camera body are provided.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), one contact 8c1 is provided in the contact portion 8c provided at the lower end face of the high-luminance light source unit 5 on the connection side with the LCD built-in unit 7. There is. When the LCD built-in unit 7 and the high-brightness light source unit 5 are connected, at these contact points 8a, 8c,
The contact 8a1 and the contact 8c1 become conductive, and both units 7,
The GND level in 5 is the GND from the camera body.
It is adjusted to the D level.

Further, the two contacts 8a2, a3 of the LCD built-in unit 7 become non-conductive, which confirms that the light source unit is for high brightness in the mode detecting section as described above. In the low brightness light source unit 4,
As described above, the three contacts 8a1 of the LCD built-in unit 7,
Three contact points 8b1, b2, b3 are provided corresponding to a2, a3, and this confirms that the light source unit is for low brightness in the mode detection unit.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6 (c), two contact points 8d1 and d2 are laterally provided in the contact point section 8d provided on the lower end surface of the high-brightness light source unit 5 on the side where the fan unit 6 is connected. It is arranged. That is, the contact 8d1 related to the external GND and the contact 8d2 related to the external power source are arranged in order from the right side in the projection direction.

Corresponding to this, as shown in FIG.
Two contact points 8e1 and e2 are provided in the contact point portion 8e provided on the lower end surface of the fan unit 6 on the side where the fan unit 6 is connected to the high-intensity light source unit 5.
Are arranged in the lateral direction, and these two units 5,
Since the contact 8e1 is connected to the contact 8d1 and the contact 8e2 is connected to the contact 8d2 when the 6 is connected, a stable external power source is supplied to the fan unit 6, and thus the fan unit 6 is connected. 40 will be driven.

The contacts 8c1 and 8d1 of the high-brightness light source unit 5 are conducted inside the unit 5, so that the GND level of the camera body can be adjusted to the external GND level.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6 (e), a plurality of ventilation holes 42 are formed in the rear end surface of the fan unit 6, so that the heat in the high-intensity light source unit 5 generated by the light source 10b is generated. The air is discharged from the ventilation hole 42 by the fan 40. A mesh-shaped ventilation part is formed on a part of the upper surface of the high-intensity light source unit 6, and the outside air flows into the high-intensity light source unit 5 through the ventilation part by the operation of the fan 40.

In the connection of the corresponding contacts described above, one is formed in a convex shape and the other is formed in a flat shape, and the convex contact and the flat contact are elastically brought into contact with each other so that they are surely conducted. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the contact 8a1 of the LCD built-in unit 7 is a hemispherical protrusion formed on the rising portion of the L-shaped lead wire 44a, while the contact 8c1 of the high-intensity light source unit 5 is L. When the two units 7 and 5 are connected to each other, which is a flat plate-like portion of the rising portion of the V-shaped lead wire 44b, the contact point 8a1 elastically presses the contact point 8c1 to electrically connect the contact points. Will be certain.

In the above description, the case where the high brightness light source unit 5 is attached as the light source unit has been described, but the low brightness light source unit 4 is also connected in the same manner. However, in the case of the low-brightness light source unit 4, since the brightness of the light source 10a is small and high heat is not generated, and in view of portability, the fan unit 6 is not attached, and the rear surface of the low-brightness light source unit 4 is not installed. Is closed by the rear panel.

Next, drive scanning of the liquid crystal display panel 18 in each mode when the subject 51 as shown in FIG. 8 is photographed by the video camera 52 will be described.

When the video camera 52 is set to the EVF mode, an upright virtual image of the image displayed on the liquid crystal display plate 18 is seen, so that the driving scan of the liquid crystal display plate 18 is performed at the upper left of the screen as shown in FIG. To the lower right ((1) and (2) in the figure)
, (3) ……)).

On the other hand, when the video camera 52 is set to the projector mode, the liquid crystal display board 18 is displayed on the screen 22.
An inverted real image of the image displayed above will be formed.

Therefore, in the case of the transmissive type screen 22a, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), the liquid crystal display plate 18 is moved from the lower right to the upper left ((1), (2), (3) of FIG. It is necessary to invert the display image on the liquid crystal display panel 18 in the vertical and horizontal directions by driving and scanning.

Further, in the case of the reflection type screen 22b, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), the liquid crystal display plate 18 is moved from the lower left to the upper right (see (1), (2), (3) ... It is necessary to perform (in order) drive scanning to invert the display image on the liquid crystal display panel 18 only up and down.

As described above, since the driving scanning direction of the liquid crystal display plate 18 is different depending on the mode or the screen type, in the present embodiment, the liquid crystal display plate 18 is driven according to these modes or types. The drive scanning direction is switched.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a control system for driving and scanning the liquid crystal display plate 18.

This control system circuit receives an X and Y scanning direction switching signal and an image signal from the detection switch 24a for detecting the mode and the type of the screen 22, and performs X scanning from either the left or the right in accordance with the switching signal. Or
A liquid crystal display panel controller 26 is provided which determines whether to perform Y scanning from above or below and sends a command signal to the X direction driver 28 and the Y direction driver 30.

Therefore, in the apparatus of this embodiment, when the mode is set to the EVF mode, the controller described above is used.
In response to a command signal from 26, X scanning is performed from the left and Y scanning is performed from above, and an image as shown in FIG. 5 is formed on the liquid crystal display plate 18.

When the mode is set to the projector mode and it is set to select the transmissive type 22a as the screen 22, the X scanning is performed from the right side and the Y scanning is performed according to the command signal from the controller 26. Is performed from below, and an image as shown in FIG. 10 (a) is formed on the liquid crystal display plate 18.

When the mode is set to the projector mode and the screen 22 is set to select the reflection type 22b, the X scanning is performed from the left side and the Y scanning is performed according to the command signal from the controller 26. Is performed from below, and an image as shown in FIG. 10 (b) is formed on the liquid crystal display plate 18.

The electronic viewfinder of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

For example, the mounting position of the fan unit 6 is not limited to the position of the above-described embodiment, but may be any position capable of discharging the internal heat.

Further, it is possible to provide an automatic light control mechanism for adjusting the brightness of the high-brightness light source 10b in the projector mode according to the brightness of the outside world, and when an object such as human eyes approaches the viewfinder. The brightness of the high-intensity light source 10b may be reduced by sensing it.

Further, if the TV tuner unit is built in the electronic viewfinder or the camera body, a television image can be projected on the screen by the projector function of the electronic viewfinder, and a plurality of people can watch a TV program even outdoors. You can enjoy watching. For voice, an audio signal may be reproduced by an external speaker or a headphone with a built-in amplifier. Further, the TV tuner section may be of an adapter type which can be attached at the time of use.

If a small screen for a speaker or a projector is attached to the camera body, it is convenient not to carry these items separately.

In the electronic viewfinder of the present invention, a projector function is provided so that the photographed image can be projected on the screen. However, an image signal is output to the terminal of the camera body like a normal video camera. If this is possible, the taken image can be reproduced on the TV screen, for example, in a room.

[0071]

As described above, according to the electronic viewfinder of the present invention, the electronic viewfinder has the projector function, and the high-luminance light source unit is provided in the projector mode.
In the VF mode, the low-brightness light source units can be attached and detached, so that multiple people can enjoy a bright captured image at the same time even in places such as outdoors where there is no television receiver. At the same time, the electronic viewfinder can be made compact and lightweight when capturing. Therefore, it can be made highly portable.

If a fan unit is attached to the high-intensity light source, the heat in the electronic viewfinder can be discharged, and the temperature in the viewfinder can be prevented from becoming high.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a connection state of each unit of an electronic viewfinder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a general video camera equipped with an electronic viewfinder according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining an optical system of the electronic viewfinder shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an electrical connection state of each contact shown in FIG.

5 is a side sectional view showing each unit of the electronic viewfinder shown in FIG. 1 separately.

FIG. 6 is an end view showing an end surface of each unit shown in FIG.

7 is an enlarged schematic view of the contact shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining how the driving scan of the liquid crystal display panel differs depending on the mode in the electronic viewfinder shown in FIG.

9 is a view showing the electronic viewfinder shown in FIG.
Schematic diagram for explaining drive scanning of the liquid crystal display panel in the VF mode

FIG. 10 shows an electronic viewfinder shown in FIG.
Schematic diagram for explaining drive scanning of the liquid crystal display panel in the projector mode

11 is a block diagram showing a circuit system for driving a liquid crystal display panel of the electronic viewfinder shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 electronic viewfinder 2 camera body 4 low-brightness light source unit 5 high-brightness light source unit 6 fan unit 7 LCD built-in unit 8, 8a, 8b, 8c contact point 10 light source 10a low-brightness light source 10b high-brightness light source 12 collimator lens 14 diffuser plate 18 LCD panel 20 Bi-convex lens 22, 22a, 22b Screen 24, 24a Slide switch 40 Fan

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electronic viewfinder equipped with a liquid crystal display unit mounted on a video camera, wherein the liquid crystal display unit is irradiated with illumination light from a light source, and an image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit is displayed by an eyepiece lens. It is configured to have a projector function of projecting on a screen external to the finder through the finder, and when the finder is used as a projector, an ordinary electronic unit is attached so that a unit equipped with a high-intensity light source can be attached. When used as a viewfinder, the projection function is characterized in that the unit equipped with the light source is detachably attached to the finder body so that the unit equipped with the low-intensity light source can be attached. An electronic viewfinder equipped. 2. When mounting a unit having the high-intensity light source mounted on the finder body, a fan for discharging heat generated by the light source to the outside of the finder is mounted on the unit or the finder body. Claim 1 characterized by being constituted so that it may be obtained.
Electronic viewfinder with the described projection function.