JPH0686115A - Water-proof case for video camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To inform a photographer of the internal state of a water-proof case without diverting the eyes from the eyepiece of the water-proof case during photographing. CONSTITUTION:The state in a water-proof case 1 is sensed by a state sensor 2 and internal information is sent from the sensor 2 to a video camera 5 through a communication channel 6 and the internal information is displayed on the display device of the video camera 5, then information from various sensors built in the water-proof case 1 is obtained without diverting eyes from the eyepiece section 9 of the water-proof case 1, then when the defect of water leakage or the like takes place in the inside of the water-proof case 1, the information is notified to the photographer quickly and surely.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a waterproof case for a video camera, and more particularly to a waterproof case for a video camera having a mechanism for informing a photographer of information of a sensor incorporated to detect the internal state of the waterproof case. It is suitable for use in cases.

[0002]

As is well known, an 8 mm video camera and a VH
While using an S-video camera, VHS-C video camera, or the like, for example, in order to prevent water or dust from splashing on the video camera, the video camera is protected in a waterproof case. May be imaged.

The above-mentioned waterproof case for a video camera is constructed so that water does not enter therein, but water may accumulate inside due to, for example, water leakage or dew condensation.
Therefore, conventionally, when such a water leak occurs, it has been devised so that it can be known from the outside.

For example, water leakage may occur inside the waterproof case for a video camera by providing a transparent portion on the waterproof case for the video camera or by devising a mark so that the mark is raised outside the waterproof case. A method of informing the photographer of this has been generally performed.

[0005]

Conventionally, such a method has been used to notify the photographer of water leakage, so that the photographer can take his eyes off the eyepiece of the waterproof case during photography and check it at any time. It had to be used, and it was not practical. The same applies to the case of obtaining information other than water leakage. For example, even when underwater photography is provided with a water depth detection sensor, keep an eye on the water depth above the eyepiece of the waterproof case during photography. There was a problem that the detection value of the detection sensor had to be confirmed. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to inform a photographer of the internal state of the waterproof case without taking his eyes off the eyepiece of the waterproof case during photographing.

[0006]

A waterproof case for a video camera according to the present invention is a waterproof case for a video camera, wherein the video camera is capable of taking an image with the video camera housed inside. In order to send the internal state information of the video camera waterproof case detected by the state detection sensor and the video camera waterproof case for detecting the internal state of the video camera to the video camera. And the internal information of the waterproof case for the video camera output from the state detection sensor can be displayed on a display mechanism provided in the video camera.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in terms of water leakage, by incorporating a water leakage detection sensor having an electrical output as shown in the embodiment, and communicating with a video camera,
Since it becomes possible to display the internal information of the waterproof case for the video camera on the display mechanism such as the EVF of the video camera, the photographer can obtain the necessary information without taking his eyes off the eyepiece. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience of damaging the video camera due to a water leak accident or the like.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a state in which a video camera is housed inside a waterproof case, which is a drawing best showing the features of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a waterproof case for protecting the video camera from water drops, dust and the like, and 2 is a water leak detection switch. Further, 3 is a substrate built in the waterproof case, 4 is an IC for communicating water leak information obtained from the water leak detection switch 2 to the CPU 7 of the video camera 5, and a terminal A provided on this IC 4 B is electrically connected by the water leak detection switch 2 when water leaks inside the waterproof case.

Reference numeral 6 is a communication line for transmitting the information of the IC 4 to the CPU 7. As the communication line 6, a wired communication line is generally used, but a wireless communication line can also be used. As the wireless communication line, for example, infrared rays or radio waves can be used. Then 8
Is an EVF provided as a display mechanism for displaying information obtained from the CPU, and can also be displayed on an LCD or the like. Reference numeral 9 is an eyepiece provided on the waterproof case 1 for viewing the EVF 8 of the video camera.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart showing how the display state of the EVF 8 changes depending on the relationship between the on / off state of the power source of the video camera 5 and the on / off state of the water leak detection switch 2. . As is apparent from FIG. 2, the power of the video camera 5 is turned on as shown in FIG.
When the water leak detection switch 2 is turned on as shown in FIG. 2 (b) in the state of being turned on, it is displayed as shown in FIG.
Displayed on VF8. Therefore, the imager can know from the display surface of the EVF 8 that water leakage has occurred inside the waterproof case 1 while looking at the EVF 8 through the eyepiece 9. As a result, the photographer does not need to take his eyes off the eyepiece 9 in order to check the internal state of the waterproof case 1, so that he can focus his attention only on the image pickup.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of the operating state when the waterproof case for a video camera of this embodiment is used. In FIG. 3, when the video camera inside the waterproof case is activated in step S1, the process proceeds to step S2, and it is determined whether or not there is water leakage inside the waterproof case 1. And when it is judged that there is no water leak inside,
In step S2, the presence / absence of water leakage is repeatedly detected.

On the other hand, if water leakage occurs, the process proceeds to step S3, and the water leakage information is created by the IC 4 built in the waterproof case 1 (infrared remote control code, serial code,
Radio remote control code, etc.) Then, the created water leak information is sent to the CPU of the video camera via the communication line 6.
Propagate to 7.

The communication line 6 may be wired or wireless. When receiving the water leak detection signal, the CPU 7 displays a warning on the EVF 8 mounted on the video camera 5 (step S5). afterwards,
Since the process returns to step S2 and the above-mentioned operation is repeated, the display of the EVF 8 is continued until the water leak is no longer detected.

FIG. 4 shows a general method for housing a video camera in a waterproof case. A waterproof case mounting pedestal 11 is screwed to a tripod stop (not shown) at the bottom of the video camera 5, and the pedestal 11 is set on the pedestal mounting part 12 provided inside the waterproof case 1. In addition, as the water leak detection switch 2 in FIG.
The sensor 10 is shown in FIG. An objective lens 13 is provided on the side surface of the waterproof case 1 at a position corresponding to the imaging lens 5a of the video camera 5. After the video camera 5 is set inside the waterproof case 1 in this way, the cover 1a of the waterproof case is closed.

Next, a development example of the waterproof case for a video camera according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In the above-described first embodiment, only water leak detection has been described, but in the second embodiment, several types of sensors such as a water depth detection sensor and a water leak detection sensor are provided inside the waterproof case 1. The video camera 5 side is provided with a function of processing information sent from each sensor so that it can be operated as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 15 is a CCD for converting an optical signal incident from the image pickup lens 5a into an electric signal, and 16 is a C.
Reference numeral 17 denotes a circuit for converting an electric signal indicating information on the subject derived from the CD 15 into a camera signal, and 17 a circuit for converting the signal converted into the camera signal into a record signal. Reference numeral 18 is a magnetic head for recording the record signal supplied from the record signal processing circuit 17 on the magnetic tape 19. Further, 20 is a switch that opens and closes in response to a recording on / off signal, 21 is a character generator IC that generates various characters, and 22 is a waterproof case 1.
2 shows a key microcomputer to which the information IN from is given.

The video camera of this embodiment having the above-described structure operates as shown in the flowchart of FIG. That is, when the operation starts in step S1 and the video camera starts shooting in step S2, first, in step S3, it is determined whether or not the depth gauge display switch is ON.

As a result of this determination, the depth gauge display switch is turned off.
If it is N, the process proceeds to step S4, and water depth information is created. Then, in step S5, the created information is communicated to the video camera 5. Upon receiving this information, the video camera 5 converts this water depth information into information recorded on the magnetic tape 19 during recording.

Next, in step S7, it is determined whether or not the water leak detection switch is ON. And
When this switch is ON, the flow proceeds to step S8 to create water leak information, and the created water leak information is communicated to the video camera 5 in step S9.

Next, in step S10, the presence or absence of information communicated to the video camera 5 is detected. If there is communicated information, the data is transferred to the EVF 8 in step S11, and the information is displayed on the EVF 8 (step S12). Then, it returns to step S3 and repeats the above-mentioned operation.

Although only the basic structure has been described above, various functions can be added in addition to this. For example, a sound source may be provided in the waterproof case 1 to give a warning by using both display and sound when necessary. Further, the depth gauge information and the like may be mixed in a signal processing system of the video camera to record the information from the subject and the depth gauge information together.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the state inside the waterproof case is detected by the sensor, and the detection information is sent from the sensor to the video camera to be displayed on the display mechanism of the video camera. A person can obtain information of various detection sensors built in the waterproof case without taking his eyes off the eyepiece of the waterproof case. Therefore, when water leakage or the like occurs inside the waterproof case, it is possible to promptly and surely notify the photographer of this.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of housing a video camera in a waterproof case.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an electric signal system for explaining a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Waterproof Case 2 Water Leakage Detection Switch 3 Board Built In Waterproof Case 4 IC That Generates Communication Signal With Video Camera 5 Video Camera Stored In Waterproof Case 6 Communication Line Between Waterproof Case And Video Camera 7 For Video Camera Built-in CPU 8 EVF 9 Waterproof case eyepiece

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A waterproof case for a video camera, which enables the video camera to take an image in a state where the video camera is housed inside, wherein the waterproof case for the video camera is used to detect the internal state of the waterproof case for the video camera. A state detection sensor provided inside the case and a communication means for transmitting the internal information of the waterproof case for the video camera detected by the state detection sensor to the video camera, and output from the state detection sensor A waterproof case for a video camera, wherein internal information of the waterproof case for the video camera can be displayed on a display mechanism provided in the video camera. 2. The waterproof case for a video camera according to claim 1, wherein the state detection sensor is a water leak detection sensor. 3. The waterproof case for a video camera according to claim 1, wherein the state detection sensor is a water depth detection sensor.