JPH07298108A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the operation by implementing operations such as image pickup, power supply and zooming with one operation means. CONSTITUTION:An operation switch integrated with plural functions is provided in an end part on the photographer side in a main body of a camcorder. The switch is provided with functions of power OFF, changeover of VTR mode/ camera mode, and zoom lever. The switch is set automatically to the lock state in the camera mode and a finder being an electric display means and the deck of a VTR are not in operation. When the switch is turned in the direction of the arrow, the switch acts like a zoom lever and both the finder and the zooming are in operation. The image pickup is ready by pressing a trigger button. The function of the zoom lever is not in operation without through the camera position, because no zoom function is needed in the VTR mode. Thus, plural operations are finished at once, clear operability is obtained and the operation is simplified.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup device such as a camera-integrated VTR.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional camera-integrated VTR is shown in FIG. 13 and will be described below. A power switch 72 is provided on the upper part of the camera body 71, and as shown in FIG. 14, a camera mode in which a camera-integrated VTR is used for video recording and a video tape that has already been recorded are played back or input from an external input terminal or the like. It has switching positions at both ends for switching to the VTR mode for recording, and has three positions where the power is turned off in the center.

Further, the camera body 71 is provided with a standby switch 73 for switching between a recording temporary stop (standby) state and a recording stop (locked) state. Here, the power switch 72 is in the position of the camera, and the standby switch 73 is the recording pause (standby).
If it is in the state, the image pickup and recording standby state is set, an image is displayed on the electronic viewfinder 74, and recording is started by pressing the trigger button. Standby switch 73
However, when the recording is stopped (locked) as shown in FIG. 15, the finder 74 does not function,
Recording is not started even if the trigger button 75 is pressed.

Because of such a function, the standby switch 7
The two positions 3 are displayed with the recording pause as the standby and the recording stop as the lock, respectively.

Thus, the power switch 72, the standby switch 73, and the trigger button 75 are independent of each other not only to prevent useless power, but the conventional camera-integrated VTR is immediately turned on. This is because a structure for recording cannot be established and a standby state for recording is required. Also, a camera-integrated VTR as shown in FIG.
It is customary to insert a palm between the instep pad 76 and the camera body 71, operate the standby switch 73 and the trigger button 75 with the thumb, and operate the zoom switch 77 with the forefinger or middle finger. It is configured to hold the main body.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when using the camera-integrated VTR, the power switch, the standby switch, the trigger button and the three operating members must be operated. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the power switch is not normally located in a place where the camera can be operated by the right hand, and it is forced to be operated by both hands in order to turn on / off the power. . Further, due to the structure of holding the camera body 71 by the instep pad band shown in FIG. 13, the thumb of the right hand holding the camera cannot be freely moved, and the operability of the standby switch cannot be said to be good. In order to hold the camera, the index finger or the middle finger is required to operate the zoom switch 77, and the two fingers, which are hard to apply the remaining force, hold the camera, which makes it difficult to hold the camera stably.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the power switch 72 and the standby switch 73 or the trigger button 75 are located at positions distant from each other. There is a problem that it is very difficult to use for beginners who do not have knowledge about.

[0008]

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in an image pickup apparatus,
An image pickup means for picking up a subject, a recording means for recording an image picked up by the image pickup means; and a power supply means for supplying electric power to the image pickup means and the recording means, and only the recording means is operated. 1 mode, a second mode for operating the recording means and the imaging means, a stop mode for stopping the supply of electric power from the power supply means, the first and second modes, and the stop mode And a switching means for switching the image pickup means, a switching means and the zooming means can be operated by a single operating member, and the switching means is switched to the second mode. It is characterized in that it is provided with an operating means for enabling the operation of the zooming means only during the operation.

[0009]

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

<< Embodiment 1 >> FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera-integrated VTR according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from the photographer side. FIG. 2 shows that the VTR of the embodiment of the present invention is held by the right hand. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an integrated switch of an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a body 1 of a camera-integrated VTR has an operation switch 2 having a plurality of functions integrated therein.
It is provided at the photographer's end of the holding part 3 which is slightly raised from the camera body, which is the claw of the four fingers except the thumb.
The photographing company holds the video camera by passing the hand through the instep support band 4 as shown in FIG. Then, at the time of image pickup, the image pickup is started by operating the trigger button 5. In this way, the switch 2 allows the trigger button 5 to be arranged independently at a position most convenient to use.

Next, the function of the integrated operation switch 2 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the operation switch 2 in which a plurality of functions according to the present embodiment are integrated integrates the functions of the power off state, the VTR mode, the camera mode, and the zoom lever for controlling the zoom function. It was done. That is, the conventional power switch is a switch for switching the VTR mode, the power off, and the camera mode. In addition to this, the standby and lock can be selected by another switch, whereas the operation switch 2 of the present embodiment.
Then, when the camera is in the position of the camera mode, the locked state is automatically established, and the viewfinder and V by the electric display means are displayed.
The TR deck does not work. If the switch of this embodiment is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4 from this state, this switch body functions as a zoom lever, and functions as a finder and a zoom. To start shooting, the user presses the trigger button 3 shown in FIG. 1 to return to standby (shooting standby state). The function as a zoom lever does not work unless it goes through the position of the camera,
This is because the zoom function is not required in the VTR mode.

Next, the operation of the entire system will be described. In FIG. 4, the key operation system circuit 40 operates according to information from the two selection means for mode selection and zoom operation provided on the operation switch 2, and transmits a user instruction to the system control circuit 41. The operation switch 2 is composed of a selection switch 42 having contacts a to c and a zoom switch 43 having contacts d to f provided around the operation switch 2.

The selection switch 42 is a switch for selecting a mode from three modes: off in a state where the power is turned off, a VTR mode in which only the recording means is operated, and a camera mode in which the imaging means and the recording means are operated. Is. Then, in the camera mode, that is, when the selection switch 42 is switched to the camera contact c, the zoom switch 43 becomes operable. The common contact of the selection switch 42 and the zoom switch 43 is a GND terminal, and the operation switch 2 can be detected by dropping the selection terminal to L (low level).

Here, when switching to the camera mode and shifting from the camera contact c to the contact e for stopping the zoom operation, the TELE contact d drops to L for a short time. Prevent unnecessary reactions during the transition period. While the zoom switch 43 is being formed, the recording standby (REC-PAUSE) mode is set. When the zoom switch 43 is moved to the T side or the W side,
When the contacts d or f come into contact with each other, the system control circuit 41 drives the motor 44 to move the imaging optical system 45 so as to achieve a desired magnification change.

In the recording standby mode, the video camera 46, which is an image pickup means, and a display signal generation means for superimposing a warning from the system control circuit 41 on its output, zoom operation, and status display information of various selection modes. 47
Then, the viewfinder 48 composed of color liquid crystal or the like, which is the display means for them, is operated. The instruction of the trigger switch 3 is issued from the key operation system 40 to the system control circuit 4
After 1, the recording means 48 such as a VTR can start recording immediately.

The recording means 48 records not only the image from the video camera 46 but also the sound from the microphone 49. Further, information usable for retrieval such as calendar information and tape counter information from the system control circuit 41 can be recorded.

Next, in the VTR mode, the motor 44, the image pickup optical system 45, the video camera 46, and the microphone 49 do not operate, and only the recording means 48, the display signal generating means 47, and the viewfinder 48 are set to operate. It is a thing.

Next, the structure and operation of the switch of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a structural diagram showing a state in which the operation switch 2 is located at the power-off position. The rotating switch body 51 has a pin 5 for giving a click feeling to clarify each position.
2 and spring 53 are attached. The recessed part 54 fitted with the pin 52 is in a power-off position, and has fixed positions of a recessed part 55 for VTR mode and a recessed part 56 for camera mode on both sides.

From this power-off state, the switch body 51
When the lever configured in (1) is operated in the direction of the arrow, the pin 52 rides over the convex portions of the recess 54 and the recess 56 while compressing the spring 53, and is positioned in the recess 56.

Next, the operation of the switch from the power-off recess 54 to the mode recess 56 of the camera until it functions as a zoom lever will be described with reference to FIG. The pin 52 beyond the concave portion 56 in the camera mode is located at the center of the functional portion of the zoom (the space portion between the wall portion 57 and the wall portion 60).
The pin 52 is brought into contact with the guide portion 59 positioned by the spring 58 by the spring 53.

When the switch body 51 is further rotated in the direction of the arrow, the pin 52 acts so as to press the guide portion 59 against the wall portion 60, as shown in FIG. Further, the pin 52 moves on the sloped portion of the guide portion 59 and is located at the central recess 59a of the guide portion 59 as shown in FIG. 8, and the switch body 51 and the guide portion 59 are coupled by the pin 52, When the finger operating the switch main body 51 is released, the guide portion 59 is positioned at the center of the wall portion 57 and the wall portion 60 by the spring 61 as shown in FIG.

In this state, the zoom lever is in a neutral state, and the zoom does not move when in this position. When the switch main body 51 is rotated in the direction of arrow A from this neutral state, the zoom function operates in the wide direction, and when rotated in the direction of arrow B, the zoom function operates in the tele direction. Further, on the back side of the switch body 51, there is an electric contact board 62 having the same central axis as the switch body 51 as shown in FIG. 10, and the contacts 64, 63 and 65 are respectively located in the recesses 55, 54 and 56. It corresponds. In addition, a variable resistance contact 66 is provided to allow varying zoom speeds.

Next, the operation when switching to the camera mode position after the photographing is completed will be described with reference to FIG. When the switch body 51 is rotated in the direction of arrow B, first the guide portion 5
9 contacts the wall 57, and when it is further rotated, the pin 52 compresses the spring 53 and the recess 59 at the center of the guide 59.
It moves away from a and moves along the slope of the guide part 59,
The spring 53 is compressed again by the wall portion 57 and proceeds toward the concave portion 56 in the camera mode. (FIG. 12) At this time, the shape of the guide portion 59, the setting of the spring force of the spring 53 and the spring 61, and the rounded shape of the wall portion 57 make the fingertips know that it is within the zoom operation range. Is set to allow

As described above, in the camera-integrated VTR, by performing a plurality of operations such as mode switching, zooming, and lock / standby switching with one switch, at least two operations are performed until the camera is ready for shooting and recording. The above-mentioned operations are completed in one time, clear operability is obtained, and the operation can be simplified. Moreover, since the zooming is performed only in the camera mode, it is possible to save power. Furthermore, since the switch can be operated with only one finger of the hand holding the camera, it is not necessary to use both hands, and quick and reliable operation is possible.
Further, it is possible to reduce the size of the device by improving the space efficiency.

[0026]

As described above, in the image pickup apparatus, the image pickup means for picking up a subject, the recording means for recording the image picked up by the image pickup means, and the power supply means for supplying electric power to the image pickup means and the recording means. A first mode in which only the recording unit is operated, a second mode in which the recording unit and the image pickup unit are operated, a stop mode in which the supply of power from the power supply unit is stopped, and first and second The switching means for switching between the mode and the stop mode, the zooming means for zooming the image pickup means, the switching means and the zooming means can be operated by a single operating member, and the switching means switches to the second mode. The operation means for enabling the operation of the zooming means only when it is turned on is provided, so that a plurality of operations of mode switching and zooming can be performed. By performing the operation member, until the imaging and recording standby state, completed at least 2 operation or operations at once, clarity operability is obtained, it is possible to simplify the operation. Moreover, since the zooming is performed only in the second mode, it is possible to save power. Further, since the operation member can be operated with only one finger of the hand holding the imaging device, it is not necessary to use both hands, and quick and reliable operation is possible. Further, it is possible to reduce the size of the device by improving the space efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of an example of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of an example of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a detailed view of an example of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a detailed view of an example of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a conventional example.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a conventional example.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Operation switch 42 Selection switch 43 Zoom switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup unit for picking up an image of a subject, a recording unit for recording an image picked up by the image pickup unit, and an electric power supply unit for supplying electric power to the image pickup unit and the recording unit. A first mode in which only the operating unit operates, a second mode in which the recording unit and the image capturing unit operate, a stop mode in which power supply from the power supply unit is stopped, and the first and second modes The switching means for switching between the mode and the stop mode, the zooming means for zooming the image pickup means, the switching means and the zooming means can be operated by a single operating member, and the switching means is the second.
And an operating unit that enables the zooming unit to be operated only when the mode is switched to the mode.