JPH078022B2 - Video camera and video camera shooting instruction input switch - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a video camera, and more particularly to a shooting instruction input switch of the video camera.

BACKGROUND ART There are, for example, a double action method and a single action method as a shooting instruction input method for instructing start and stop of shooting of a video camera. In the double action system, the operation switch operation for instructing the start and stop of shooting is locked to either start or stop of shooting. That is, when the switch is pressed in the shooting stopped state, the contact is made, for example, to start shooting, and when the switch is pressed again, the contact breaks to stop shooting. In the single-action system, for example, the contact is made to photograph only when the operation switch is pressed. Therefore, the operation switch is arranged, for example, on a grip that holds the camera body in consideration of operability, and can be easily operated with one hand holding the camera.

A video camera always records a good image on a video tape when a shooting start operation is always performed. For example, even if the operation switch is pressed by mistake when carrying the scene, the scene is shot. In particular, since a single-action video camera often moves while holding a grip, a camera having a better operability of an operation switch for instructing start and stop of shooting tends to erroneously press the switch when carrying it. Therefore, in the related art, as a countermeasure, for example, a lock button of the switch is provided to prevent shooting even when an operation switch for instructing start and stop of shooting is pressed, and a cover is attached to prevent erroneous operation. There is something.
However, if you manually lock the operation switch and carry it around, there is a high possibility that you will miss the opportunity even if you have a shooting opportunity, and locking and unlocking the operation switch is troublesome, so usually lock it. I often carry it without doing it. For this reason, the lock mechanism is not practical. Also, it is good to put on the cover when it is not used for a long time, but it is not practical to put on or take off the cover every time it is carried.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and when the photographing instruction input switch is pressed by mistake in a state other than the photographing state,
An object of the present invention is to provide a video camera shooting instruction input switch and a video camera that are automatically locked to prevent shooting.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a shooting instruction input switch for inputting a shooting instruction to a video camera that shoots a field and forms a video signal representing a moving image thereof is for generating a signal representing the instruction. Of the movable contact member, a trigger member that is biased in the first direction and moves when the force is applied in the second direction opposite to the first direction, and drives the movable contact member, and the movable contact member is supported. And a switch main body for movably holding the moving member, the switch main body having a space for allowing the movement of the moving member and a cavity extending in a substantially vertical direction in communication with the space. The switch further includes a floating member that is held in the switch body so as to be able to float inside the space and the cavity, and the floating member is configured so that when the axial direction toward the bottom of the cavity is above horizontal, Located in And prevents the trigger member from moving in the second direction.

Description of Embodiments Next, an embodiment of a shooting instruction input switch of a video camera according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a so-called 8 mm video camera. The video camera according to the present embodiment can select either a double-action method or a single-action shooting method. When shooting with the single-action method, the action grip 2 is attached to the video camera body 1 as shown in FIG. Attach to.

The action grip 2 is a grip for performing a single action operation. The grip 2 has a pistol shape as a whole so that the camera can be easily held with one hand, and the grip 26 and the support portion 26 that supports the camera body 1 are provided.
It is composed of a grip portion 24 for gripping.

The grip 2 has a single-action switch 20 which is a push button switch, and this switch 20 is arranged at a position where it can be easily operated with the index finger when the grip 24 is held. The switch 20 gives an instruction to start shooting by a single action. That is, while the switch 20 is being pressed, the main body 1 captures an image of the field and records the moving image on a video tape (not shown) loaded in the form of a video signal, and when the button is released, the image capture stops. To do.

The grip 2 also has a mounting screw 22, which is screwed into a screw hole of the main body 1 corresponding to the screw 22, and then the screw 20 is turned clockwise, for example, so that the indicating portion 26 is fixed to the bottom surface of the main body 1. To be done. At this time, the photographing instruction signal terminal (not shown) of the switch 20 is connected to the main body 1, and the signal of the switch 20 is output to the main body 1.

FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the grip 2, and an embodiment in which the shooting instruction input switch of the video camera according to the present invention is applied to a single action switch will be described with reference to FIG. The single action switch 20 includes an input movable part 204 in which a key top and a housing are integrally molded.
And terminal plates 40 and 41 having contacts.

The movable portion 204 is a trigger member having a pistol-like shape like the grip 2 when viewed from the side as shown in FIG. The movable portion 204 is loosely fitted to the grip 2 so as to be movable in a substantially vertical direction, and is constantly urged in the direction opposite to the arrow 100 by an elastic member such as a leaf spring or a spring. The movable portion 204 has a protrusion 200, and the terminal plates 40 and 41 are arranged in front of the tip end thereof.

The terminal boards 40 and 41 are made of a material having conductivity and flexibility. The terminal plate 40 has a structure in which it contacts the terminal plate 41 when pushed by the protrusion 200. A lead wire 42 is connected to each of the terminal boards 40 and 41, and when a contact point of the terminal board 40 contacts the terminal board 41, a shooting start instruction signal is output to the camera body 1.

As shown in the figure, the grip 2 also has a hollow inside, for example, partly. The hollow portion 32 is formed, for example, at a substantially vertical angle along the inclination of the grip portion 24 so that the axial direction toward the bottom surface portion 300 does not face upward from the horizontal in a normal shooting posture. This cavity 32
There is a ball 30 so that it can move freely due to the inclination angle of the cavity 32.
Is loaded. The hollow portion 32 is formed in consideration of the angle and direction of the camera when photographing and when carrying it. That is, the inclination shown in FIG. 1 shows one embodiment, and does not particularly limit the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a state in which the camera is held at the time of shooting. The photographing operation in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, since the bottom surface 50 of the grip 2 faces downward during photographing, the axial direction toward the bottom surface portion 300 of the hollow portion 32 also faces downward from the horizontal.
Therefore, the ball 30 is gravitationally moved by the bottom portion 30 of the cavity 32.
Since it abuts against 0, when the movable portion 204 is pushed in the direction of arrow 100, the side surface portion 202 of the movable portion 20 moves in the direction of reducing the space of the hollow portion 32. As a result, the protrusion 200 of the movable portion 204 pushes the terminal plate 40, and the contacts of the terminal plate 40 come into contact with the terminal plate 41. When the terminal board 40 contacts the terminal board 41, a shooting start instruction signal is output to the camera body 1 through the shooting instruction signal terminal,
A moving image is recorded on a video tape in the form of a video signal.

FIG. 5 shows an example of one state when carrying the camera. The automatic lock mechanism of the single action switch 20 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, when the camera is carried while holding the grip 2, the bottom surface 50 faces upward. Therefore, the axial direction of the cavity portion 32 toward the bottom surface portion 300 also faces upward from the horizontal direction, and the ball 30
Rolls toward the side surface 202 of the switch 20 due to gravity. As a result, even if the ball 30 exists in the cavity 32 facing the side surface portion 202 of the switch 20 and a force is accidentally applied in the direction of the arrow 100 during standby, the movement of the input movable portion 204 is blocked.
Therefore, since the single action switch 20 cannot be pressed, photographing is not started and erroneous operation can be prevented.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which a cavity 34 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a recess 34 on the fixed side thereof as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the ball 30 is the side surface of the cavity 32 of the switch 20.
It is once captured in this recess 34 before moving to the part facing 202. Therefore, in this embodiment, by appropriately designing the position and size of the depression 34, it is possible to change the angle and direction of the camera when the automatic lock for preventing erroneous operation is performed.

As described above, according to these embodiments, the single action switch is automatically locked depending on the angle and direction of the camera. For this reason, even if the operation switch is accidentally pressed during movement, shooting is not performed, and it is possible to move while holding the action grip with confidence.

Although the mechanism for automatically locking the ball 30 is used in these embodiments, for example, instead of the ball 30, a cylinder or a prism may be used for locking. Further, although the present invention is applied to the 8 mm video camera in these embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to, for example, a VHS type or beta type movie camera.
Of course, it can be advantageously applied to a video camera that does not have a video tape recording unit integrally. Furthermore, by providing the main body 1 with the switch mechanism shown in this embodiment, it is possible to apply it to a double action switch.

Effect As described above, according to the present invention, even if the shooting instruction input switch is pressed at an angle or direction that is not suitable for normal shooting by the video camera, it does not operate. Therefore, the operator can carry the video camera with ease and the operability of the video camera is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing an embodiment of a switch mechanism in which a shooting instruction input switch of a video camera according to the present invention is applied to a single action switch, and FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of a video camera to which the switch shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is applied, and FIG. 4 shows an example of a state of the video camera shown in FIG. 3 at the time of shooting. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state example when the video camera shown in FIG. 3 is moved. Description of main part symbols 1 …… Camera body 2 …… Action grip 20 …… Single action switch 22 …… Mounting screw 24 …… Grip part 30 …… Ball 32 …… Cavity part 34 …… Dent 40,41 …… Terminal board 204 …… Movable part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A shooting instruction input switch for inputting a shooting-related instruction to a video camera which shoots a field and forms a video signal representing the moving image, the switch generating a signal representing the instruction. Of the movable contact member, a trigger member that is biased in the first direction and moves when the force is applied in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and drives the movable contact member; And a switch main body for movably holding the moving member, the switch main body having a space for allowing the moving member to move therein, and a vertical direction connecting to the space. A cavity extending to the switch body, the switch further having a floating member held in the switch body so as to be able to float inside the space and the inside of the cavity, the floating member extending in the axial direction toward the bottom of the cavity. When facing above the horizontal, the trigger member is positioned in the space second
A shooting instruction input switch for a video camera, which is characterized in that it is prevented from moving in the direction of. 2. The switch according to claim 1, wherein a depression for temporarily holding the floating member is formed in a part of a side surface of the cavity of the switch body. switch. 3. A video having the photographing instruction input switch according to claim 1 or 2 and photographing a field in response to the instruction to form a video signal representing the moving image. camera.