JPH11122520A - Handy magnification camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the inexpensive handy magnification camera which withstands use for a long time and in which pluralities of persons view magnified character graphic information simultaneously. SOLUTION: The handy magnification camera 1 of this invention is provided with a grip section 3 to which a hand is attached on the surface of a housing 2 having a read window 6 at a bottom to be pressed into contact with a read face 7a of a read object 7, an image pickup section 12 that photographs character graphic information placed in a read opening 8 of a read window 6 in the inside of the housing 2, a stationary focus lens member 13 that is placed between the read opening 8 and the image pickup section 12 and a signal processing section 17 that converts the character graphic information photographed by the image pickup section 12 into a video signal for an output.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a handy type magnifying camera for enlarging character / graphic information such as newspapers, magazines and photographs on a display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnifying glass is generally used as a magnifier. This magnifying glass is easy to carry and has a very simple structure,
It is used for reading books such as novels by elderly people, magazines, newspapers, TV program guides, weekly magazines, reading circulars and pamphlets, and is commonly used in homes and public facilities. ing.

[0003]

However, the magnifying glass is not only limited in its magnification, but can also be used only for individuals, so that seminars, events,
Not suitable for presentations. In addition, since the magnifying glass is used while being focused while being away from the paper surface, there is a problem that, when used for a long time, camera shake is likely to occur and tired easily. In particular, the burden may be placed on persons with disabilities and the elderly. In addition, there are small handy cameras used for endoscopes and the like today, but there is also a problem that they are expensive and uncommon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can be used for a long time, and a plurality of persons can view enlarged character / graphic information at the same time. Its purpose is to provide a handy magnifying camera.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handy-type magnifying camera for enlarging character / graphic information represented on a flat reading surface on an object to be read, and displaying the image on a display. In a handy-type magnifying camera, a grip portion for attaching a hand is provided on a surface of a housing having a reading window at the bottom for contacting a reading surface of an object to be read, and the reading window is read inside the housing. An imaging unit for imaging character / graphic information located within the opening;
It is characterized by comprising a fixed focus lens member disposed between the reading aperture and the imaging unit, and a signal processing unit that converts character / graphic information captured by the imaging unit into a video signal and outputs the video signal.

According to the above arrangement, the user slides the housing on the object to be enlarged (eg, newspaper, magazine, etc.) while putting his hand on the grip of the housing. At this time, the reading window portion of the housing abuts on the reading surface (for example, a paper surface) of the object to be read, and the user slides the reading surface, so that no camera shake occurs and the reading window portion is enlarged. It can be easily moved to the desired character or the like. Also, after enlarging a character or the like positioned in the reading aperture with a fixed focus lens member, this image is formed by an imaging unit, and the image information is converted into a video signal by a signal processing unit, and the video signal is externally output. Output as At this time, by connecting the signal processing unit of the magnifying camera and the display with a signal transmission medium such as a connection cord or light, enlarged characters and the like can be projected on the display. Thus, when a video signal is output from the magnifying camera,
It can be easily connected to a commonly used television, and is extremely versatile. In addition, the distance between the object to be read and the imaging unit is always constant during use due to the fact that the reading window keeps in contact with the reading surface of the object to be read. Therefore, the lens system disposed between the object to be read and the imaging unit may be a fixed-focus convex lens without employing a complicated mechanism such as an electric zoom, and a simple and inexpensive configuration is possible.

In this case, it is preferable that the grip portion is formed in a dome shape, and that the imaging section and the fixed focus lens member are arranged in the grip portion. By forming the grip portion in a dome shape, it is easy to grip and the handleability is extremely improved. Furthermore, by accommodating the imaging unit and the fixed-focus lens member in the space formed by the grip part having a dome shape, the space can be effectively utilized. Also, the dome-shaped grip is
This is effective as a means for positively securing the distance between the reading object and the imaging unit.

Further, it is preferable that the housing has a lens insertion opening for inserting and removing a fixed focus lens member, and the imaging area in the reading opening is changed by replacing a fixed focus lens member having a different magnification. By adopting such a configuration, the fixed focus lens member can be inserted and removed from the lens insertion port, and the fixed focus lens members having different magnifications can be replaced as needed. For example, when it is desired to project a large area on a display where characters and the like are small, a fixed magnification lens member with a low magnification is used, and when a large area is projected, a fixed magnification lens member with a high magnification is used. Becomes possible.

It is preferable that the housing has a transparent lighting portion in the reading window. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to illuminate characters and the like in the reading window portion with external light taken in from the lighting portion without requiring illumination in the housing, thereby enabling a simple and inexpensive configuration.

When the display is a television,
It is preferable to provide a television remote control unit on the surface of the housing. If such a configuration is adopted, the television screen can be easily and quickly switched from the video mode to the station broadcast mode by the remote control unit at the time when the enlarged display operation on the display is completed. Then, the user can normally use this remote control unit to switch programs and turn on / off the television power supply, which is extremely versatile.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a handy type magnifying camera according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a handy type enlarged camera, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. As shown in these drawings, this handy type magnifying camera 1
Has a housing 2 made of resin, and a front side of the housing 2 is provided with a grip portion 3 having a substantially hemispherical dome shape on the surface thereof. The size of the grip portion 3 is such that the hand (especially a finger) of the handler can be easily attached. Further, on the rear side of the housing 2, a substantially rectangular body 5 for mounting the TV remote controller 4 is provided.

At the bottom of the housing 2, a circular reading window 6 is provided continuously to the grip 3. The reading window 6 has a substantially C-shaped lighting portion 6b formed of transparent plastic, and external light is introduced into the reading window 6 by the lighting portion 6b. In addition, a window surface 6a serving as a lower surface of the reading window unit 6 has a reading object (character or graphic information (hereinafter, referred to as "character") such as a character or a photograph drawn or printed thereon, for example, a newspaper, a magazine, TV
(It refers to a program guide, a publication such as a weekly magazine, a circulation board, a pamphlet, etc.) 7). A circular reading opening 8 is formed in a region surrounded by the reading window 6 (see FIG. 3), and characters and the like contained in the reading opening 8 are enlarged.

A circular dust-proof plate 9 made of transparent plastic is fitted in the reading window 6 so as to cover the reading opening 8. The dustproof plate 9 is provided with a rectangular area line 10 which is used as a reference of a reading area in a broken line shape (see FIG. 3). The area line 10
May be circular or cross-shaped, and is used only as a guide for enlarged reading, and its shape is arbitrary.

Here, in consideration of the space efficiency of the dome-shaped grip portion 3, inside the grip portion 3,
A dark room section 11 partitioned by a partition 11 a is provided. The dark room section 11 is formed to face the reading opening 8.
In the dark room section 11, an image pickup section 12 composed of a solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD is arranged. This image pickup section 12 is located on the central axis of the reading opening 8, and picks up an image of characters and the like in the reading opening 8. Used for Further, the imaging unit 12 and the reading aperture 8
A fixed focus lens member 13 for enlarging a character or the like in the reading opening 8 and forming the character image in the image pickup unit 12 is disposed between the fixed focus lens member 13 and the image pickup unit 8.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixed focus lens member 13 has a main body 13a formed in a plate shape, and a lens 13b serving as a convex lens is provided substantially at the center of the main body 13a. It is formed integrally. The plate-shaped fixed focus lens member 13 can be inserted and removed from a slit-shaped lens insertion opening 14 (see FIG. 4) formed in the grip portion 3 of the housing 2. Specifically, the partition 11a
A pair of left and right guide grooves 15 is formed in each of the guide grooves 15.
Extends straight from the lens insertion port 14 to support both sides of the main body 13a of the fixed focus lens member 13,
Enables the removal and insertion.

It should be noted that the image pickup unit 1 is located substantially at the center of the partition 11a.
A circular lens opening 16 located on the center axis of the lens 2 is formed. The lens opening 16 has a size suitable for the lens portion 13b and is used as a viewing window of the dark room portion 11. Therefore, when the fixed-focus lens member 13 is inserted from the lens insertion port 14, the lens opening 16 and the lens portion 13b match, and a desired enlarged image can be formed on the imaging unit 12.

As described above, when the fixed focus lens member 13 is configured to be inserted and removed, the size of the image formed by the image pickup unit 12 can be obtained simply by preparing the fixed focus lens members 13 having different magnifications as needed. Can be easily changed to a desired magnification. For example, when it is desired to project a large area on a display (not shown) where characters and the like are small, a fixed focal length lens member 13 having a low magnification lens unit 13b is used. A wide range of uses such as using a fixed focus lens member 13 having a high magnification lens portion 13b is possible.

Further, a signal processing unit 17 for converting a character imaged by the imaging unit 12 into a video signal is built in the body 5 of the housing 2, and the signal processing unit 17 includes a CP.
U, etc., and is a technology used in general video cameras. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the rear end of the body 5 has a video terminal 18 connected to a signal processing unit 17, and the video terminal 18 is a connection extending from a display (for example, a television). The cord 19 is inserted. Note that by making the signal output by the signal processing unit 17 an optical signal, the magnified camera 1 can be made wireless.

Further, a remote controller 4 for a television is mounted on the surface of the body 5, and the remote controller 4 is thin. On the surface of the remote controller 4, a ten-key program switching channel unit 20 and a power on / off unit 21 are provided.
And a video switching unit 22 for switching the television between the station broadcast mode and the video mode, and a volume control unit 23 for changing the volume of the television. Therefore, when the magnifying projection operation by the magnifying camera 1 is performed on the television screen, the television screen can be easily and quickly switched from the video mode to the station broadcast mode by the remote controller 4 when the operation is completed. Then, the user can normally use the remote controller 4 to switch programs and turn on / off the television power supply, which is extremely versatile.

The remote controller 4 has a structure in which the battery A is built in and which can be attached to and detached from the body 5.
Specifically, a pair of front and rear hooking claws 2 are provided on the surface of the body 5.
A notch groove 26 is formed in front and rear end surfaces of the remote controller 4 for fitting the tip of the hooking claw 25. Therefore, the hooking claw portion 25 and the notch groove 2
6 and the remote controller 4 is strongly pushed from above toward the body 5, the tip of the hooking claw 25 is deformed, and the hooking claw 25 enters into the notch groove 26, and the housing 2 is connected to the housing 2. The remote control unit 4 is integrated. When the remote control unit 4 is removed from the housing 2, the remote control unit 4 is lifted while holding down the housing 2, and the remote control unit 4 is detached due to the deformation of the hooking claw 25.

The body 5 is provided with a power switch 28 for turning on and off a predetermined voltage input from the power terminal 27 to the magnifying camera 1. The power switch 28 has an operation bar 29 for turning on and off the remote controller 4 in addition to turning on and off the magnifying camera 1. The operation bar 29 is pushed by the off portion 28a in a state in which the off portion 28a of the power switch 28 is pushed in, that is, in a state in which the switch of the magnifying camera 1 is turned off, and protrudes toward the remote control portion 4. The power supply circuit of the battery A of the unit 4 is turned on. Therefore, when the magnifying camera 1 is not used, the switching of the television program is enabled by the remote control unit 4.

On the other hand, when the ON portion 28b of the power switch 28 is pushed in, that is, when the switch of the magnifying camera 1 is turned on, the operating bar 29 is retracted by the urging force of the spring, and the battery A of the remote controller 4 is discharged. Turn off the power supply circuit. Therefore, when using the magnifying camera 1,
Since the remote control unit 4 is always in the off state, even if the operator's hand touches the channel unit 20 of the remote control unit 4, the mode of the television screen is not switched, and the operator can safely operate the magnifying camera 1. You can use it with your heart.

The grip portion 3 is provided with a light emitting portion 30 for sending a signal from the remote control portion 4 toward the television, but the remote control portion 4 itself is also provided with a light emitting portion (not shown). .

Next, the handling and operation of the magnifying camera 1 will be briefly described.

First, the television screen is set to the video mode, the television and the magnifying camera 1 are connected by the connection cord 19, and the power switch 28 of the magnifying camera 1 is turned on. In this state, the worker slides the housing 2 on a reading surface (for example, a paper surface) of a reading object (for example, newspaper, magazine, or the like) 7 to be enlarged while putting a finger on the grip portion 3 of the housing 2. At this time, while the window surface 6a of the reading window unit 6 is in contact with the reading surface 7a of the reading object 7, the user slides and strokes the surface. As a result, camera shake does not occur, and the character can be easily moved to a character or the like to be enlarged.

After the characters and the like located in the reading aperture 8 are enlarged by the convex lens portion 13b of the fixed focus lens member 13, this character image is formed by the image pickup section 12, and the image information is transmitted as a signal. The signal is converted into a video signal by the processing unit 17 and output to the television as a video signal via the connection cord 19. As a result, the enlarged characters and the like are displayed on the television, and the characters and the pictures can be viewed by many people.

In addition, the distance between the object 7 to be read and the imaging unit 12 is always constant during use due to the fact that the window surface 6a of the reading window 6 keeps in contact with the surface of the object 7 to be read. ing. Therefore, the reading object 7 and the imaging unit 12
The lens system to be arranged between the lens and the lens may be a fixed-focus convex lens without employing a complicated mechanism such as an electric zoom.
A simple and inexpensive configuration is possible.

The handy type magnifying camera according to the present invention comprises:
The present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, the housing 2 may be provided with a speaker or an earphone jack. The display is not limited to a stationary television, but may be a personal computer or a portable television. Further, the dome shape of the grip portion 3 may be an elliptical sphere or a polyhedron. The fixed-focus lens member 13 is formed in a disk shape, and has a lens portion 13b having a different magnification around the fixed focus lens member 13.
May be a rotating plate in which is disposed. Needless to say, the fixed focus lens member 13 may be fixed in the grip portion 3 with the lens opening 16 and the lens portion 13b aligned.

[0030]

The handy-type magnifying camera according to the present invention is constructed as described above, so that the following effects can be obtained. That is, a grip portion for attaching a hand is provided on the surface of a housing having a reading window portion at the bottom for making contact with a reading surface of an object to be read, and is located inside a reading opening of the reading window portion inside the housing. An image capturing unit for capturing character / graphic information to be read, a fixed focus lens member disposed between the reading aperture and the image capturing unit, and a signal processing unit for converting the character / graphic information captured by the image capturing unit into a video signal and outputting the video signal. With this arrangement, it is possible to endure long-time use, and at the same time, a plurality of persons can view enlarged character / graphic information at the same time, and an inexpensive configuration is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a handy-type magnifying camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the magnified camera shown in FIG. 1 along II-II.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the enlarged camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the magnified camera shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Magnification camera 2 Housing 3 Grip part 4 Remote control part 6 Reading window part 6b Daylighting part 7 Object to be read 7a Reading surface 8 Reading opening 12 Imaging part 13 Fixed focus lens member 14 Lens insertion port 17 Signal processing part

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A handy-type magnifying camera for enlarging character / graphic information represented on a flat reading surface on an object to be read and projecting an image thereof on a display. A grip portion is provided on the surface of the housing having a reading window portion to be brought into contact with the bottom portion, and the character / graphic information located in the reading opening of the reading window portion is imaged inside the housing. An imaging unit that performs
A fixed focus lens member disposed between the reading aperture and the imaging unit; and a signal processing unit that converts the character / graphic information captured by the imaging unit into a video signal and outputs the video signal. Handy type magnifying camera. 2. The handy-type magnifying camera according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion is formed in a dome shape, and the imaging section and the fixed focus lens member are arranged in the grip portion. 3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the housing has a lens insertion opening for inserting and removing the fixed focus lens member, and an imaging area in the reading aperture is changed by replacing the fixed focus lens member having a different magnification. The handy-type magnifying camera according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The handy-type magnifying camera according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a transparent lighting portion in the reading window. 5. When the display is a television,
The handy-type magnified camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a television remote control unit is provided on a surface of the housing.