KR100258469B1 - Video camera with lcd monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A liquid crystal monitor attached video camera is provided to watch an LCD monitor easily by mounting a reflecting mirror for reflecting an image of the LCD monitor provided in a video camera main body and a viewfinder hood having an optical system modifying a size of an image reflected by the mirror. CONSTITUTION: An LCD monitor(4) is rotated at a circumference of X-axis and Y-axis and supported by a universal jointer(5). The LCD monitor(4) is rotated by 90 degree in the front direction based on the Y-axis of the universal jointer(5), and an image photographed by a zoom lens(3) is confirmed on a display screen of an LCD panel. It is possible to photograph an image at a low degree and a high degree by rotating of the LCD monitor(4) based on the X-axis of the universal jointer(5). An optical viewfinder hood(13) is provided for cutting off a light as the sun. In the case that the optical viewfinder hood(13) is mounted to the LCD monitor(4), an LCD panel is rotated for being positioned at the left side surface of a video camera main body(11a). An eyepiece hood(13a) is mounted at the rear portion of the optical viewfinder hood(13).

Description

Video camera with LCD monitor

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video camera with a liquid crystal monitor in which a liquid crystal monitor is mountably usable as an electronic view finder.

For example, in an 8 mm video camera or a digital video camera, a liquid crystal monitor for displaying an image picked up separately from a viewfinder for recognizing a subject picked up through the eyepiece is provided. The liquid crystal monitor is mounted so as to be free to rotate on the side of the video camera body, and when not in use, the liquid crystal monitor is rotated so that the liquid crystal panel side faces the video camera body to accommodate the liquid crystal panel.

When shooting with a video camera with a liquid crystal monitor, the subject is recognized while looking at the eyepiece of the viewfinder. However, if you want to see an image when shooting at a low angle or a high angle, When the user wants to play back the image, the liquid crystal monitor is rotated to check the image of the subject displayed on the liquid crystal panel.

Some video cameras with a liquid crystal monitor confirm a subject photographed only by the liquid crystal monitor. Since such a video camera does not have a viewfinder built into the main body, the video camera body is downsized.

6 to 8 show an example of a conventional video camera with a liquid crystal monitor.

[0002] A conventional video camera with a liquid crystal monitor (1) includes a tape cassette mounting apparatus equipped with a tape cassette, a magnetic head which magnetically records image and audio signals on a magnetic tape wound and rotated in the tape cassette, and a magnetic tape on the magnetic head. Various mechanisms such as a tape loading mechanism to be brought into contact with each other, a control circuit for controlling them, a signal processing circuit for signal processing, and the like are provided.

A voice recording microphone 2 is provided in the upper front portion of the video camera body 1a, and a zoom lens 3 for capturing a subject is built in the front of the video camera body 1a. Further, the front axis of the video camera body 1a is freely supported around the X and Y axes by the universal joint 5 of the support shaft 4a of the liquid crystal monitor 4. In addition, the rotation angle around the X axis of the liquid crystal monitor 4 is set to 270 degrees, and the rotation angle of the Y axis is set to 90 degrees.

In the downward direction of the liquid crystal monitor 4, the rechargeable battery 6 is mounted on the left side of the video camera body 1a so as to be freely attached and detached. In such a video camera with a liquid crystal monitor, it is also possible to be driven by an external power source. However, in general, the battery 6 is often used as a power source for imaging outdoors.

The imaging monitor 4 when not imaging is parallel to the left side of the video camera body 1a as shown in Fig. 6, and at the same time, the display screen faces the left side of the video screen body 1a. It is stored in the direction not.

However, when the liquid crystal monitor 4 is used as a viewfinder at the time of imaging, the liquid crystal monitor 4 is moved forward (A direction as the axis of the Y axis of the universal jointer 5 as shown in FIG. 7). Position is rotated by 90 degrees and the display screen faces the operator's side. As a result, the operator can recognize the image picked up by the zoom lens 3 as the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 7 incorporated in the liquid crystal monitor 4. For this reason, the screen panel and screen angle to be picked up can be determined while viewing the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 7.

In addition, since the liquid crystal monitor 4 can rotate around the X axis of the universal jointer 5 in the direction in which the image is to be captured, the position can be changed at an angle that is easy to see in that case. For example, when imaging at a low angle, as shown in Fig. 7, the liquid crystal monitor 4 is rotated 90 degrees forward (A direction) with the Y-axis of the universal jointer 5 as an axis, The upper portion of the imaging monitor 4 is rotated forward (C direction) with the X axis of the inter 5 as the axis. As a result, since the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 7 faces upward, imaging at a low angle is possible.

Moreover, when imaging from a high angle, when looking from the state shown in FIG. 7, the upper part of the liquid crystal monitor 4 is rotated rearward (D direction) about the X-axis of the universal jointer 5 as an axis. Thereby, since the display screen of the liquid crystal monitor 4 faces downward, imaging with a high angle is possible.

If you want to take a face-to-face image of yourself, turn the X axis of the universal jointer 5 by rotating it 90 degrees forward (A direction) with the Y-axis of the universal jointer 5 as the axis. The upper portion of the liquid crystal monitor 4 is rotated 180 degrees forward (C direction) with respect to the axis. In this case, since the image inverted up, down, left, and right is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 7, the signal processing circuit of the image signal reverses only the vertical direction of the image. Thus, the operator can see the same image on the display screen of the liquid crystal monitor 4 as he sees himself in the mirror.

In addition, when the liquid crystal monitor 4 is used as a monitor for checking the picked-up image, a reproduced image is displayed on the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 7. In this case, the liquid crystal monitor 4 can display the reproduced image at any angle, but as shown in FIG. 8, the liquid crystal monitor 4 faces the left side of the video camera main body 1a as shown in FIG. When rotated, the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 7 is formed on the left side of the video camera body 1a, so that the liquid crystal monitor 4 remains stable and the playback screen is easy to see.

However, as shown in FIG. 7, when the liquid crystal monitor 4 is used as a viewfinder, particularly when imaging outdoors, strong light such as a solar light is directly or indirectly irradiated onto the liquid crystal panel 7. There is a problem that the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 7 is hard to see. Therefore, although the improvement which reduces external light reflection of the liquid crystal panel 7 is examined, sufficient effect is not acquired.

In addition, conventionally, a light shielding hood is mounted on the liquid crystal panel 7 to cover the circumference of the liquid crystal panel 7 in order to shield sunlight, but the effect thereof is insufficient depending on the imaging position, and the imaging operation is performed. There was a problem that interfered with.

Furthermore, when the liquid crystal monitor 4 is used, the liquid crystal monitor 7 protrudes from the left side of the video camera, so that the view feeder may be easier to use than the liquid crystal monitor depending on the imaging position of the subject. .

In addition, in the case of capturing the image to be captured while displaying it on the imaging monitor 4, since the liquid crystal panel 7 outputs the luminance by the backlight, the power consumption increases as the size of the liquid crystal panel 7 increases. As a result, the battery 6 is quickly consumed, and the imaging time is shortened.

In addition, the conventional video camera which solves the above-mentioned problem includes a viewfinder and a liquid crystal monitor in which an optical or small CRT or a 0.5-0.7 inch TFT liquid crystal panel, which is separate from the liquid crystal monitor 4, is enlarged with an eyepiece to view a subject. Although it was installed on both sides, the production cost became expensive and the video camera 1a was enlarged as the viewfinder was built in.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and includes a viewfinder hood having a reflector for reflecting an image of a liquid crystal monitor installed in a video camera body and an optical system for correcting the size of the image reflected by the reflector, thereby making the liquid crystal monitor easy to see. It is an object to provide a video camera with a monitor.

1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a video camera with a liquid crystal monitor according to the present invention viewed from the front.

2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a video camera with a liquid crystal monitor viewed from the rear;

3 is a yellow cross-sectional view for explaining the internal configuration of the inside of the video camera body and the optical viewfinder hood.

4 is a view showing an optical system for converting an image of a liquid crystal panel reflected by a reflector into the size of a viewfinder screen.

5 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control circuit.

6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a conventional video camera with a liquid crystal monitor accommodates a liquid crystal monitor.

7 is a perspective view showing a state in which a conventional video camera with a liquid crystal monitor uses a liquid crystal monitor as a viewfinder.

8 is a perspective view showing a liquid crystal panel in a state where a conventional video camera with a liquid crystal monitor accommodates a liquid crystal monitor.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

3: zoom lens 4: LCD monitor

5: universal joint 6: battery

7 liquid crystal panel 9 reflector

10 eyepiece 11: video camera with liquid crystal monitor

11a: video camera main body 12: hood mounted detection switch

13 optical viewfinder hood 13a eyepiece hood

13b: hood case 19: control circuit

21: backlight 23: step-up trans

24: inverter drive circuit 25: current / voltage converter

26: backlight level controller 27: timing generator

28: hooded detection circuit 29: R, G, B decoder

30: DC / DC converter 32: output transistor

MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM This invention has the following characteristics in order to solve the said subject.

A video camera with a liquid crystal monitor, in which a liquid crystal monitor is usable as an electronic viewfinder, wherein the detachable attachment and detachment is freely performed by covering an optical viewfinder hood for converting an image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor into a viewfinder screen, as if it covers the periphery of the liquid crystal monitor. It is characterized in that the attached.

Therefore, according to the invention of the above description, since the optical viewfinder hood for converting the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor into the viewfinder screen is installed so that detachment and removal is free as if it covers the periphery of the liquid crystal monitor, strong light such as sunlight can be shielded. Because of the number, the image displayed on the LCD monitor can be easily seen.

In the video camera with a liquid crystal monitor according to the above description, the optical viewfinder hood has a liquid crystal monitor and covers a hood case surrounding the liquid crystal monitor attached to the video camera, and the hood case inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the liquid crystal monitor. And a reflecting mirror installed inside the reflecting mirror for reflecting the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor and an optical system for converting the image reflected by the reflecting mirror installed in the hood case into a viewfinder screen.

Therefore, according to the invention of the above description, it is possible to cover the periphery of the liquid crystal monitor by the hood case and to convert the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor into a viewfinder screen, so that the light is shielded even when strong light such as sunlight is irradiated. It is possible to easily display the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor.

In the video camera with a liquid crystal monitor according to the above description, a detection switch for detecting that the optical viewfinder hood is mounted and an image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor when the mounting of the optical viewfinder hood is detected by the detection switch. And an image inverting means for inverting the horizontal scanning in the horizontal direction.

Therefore, according to the invention of the above description, when the mounting of the optical viewfinder hood is detected, since the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor reverses the horizontal scanning, the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor can be prevented from becoming in the horizontal direction. have.

In the video camera with a liquid crystal monitor according to the above description, a detection switch for detecting that the optical viewfinder hood is mounted, and a back of the liquid crystal monitor when the mounting of the optical viewfinder hood is detected by the detection switch. And a backlight illuminance adjusting means for lowering the illuminance level of the lighter.

Therefore, according to the invention of the above description, when the mounting of the optical viewfinder hood is detected, since the illuminance level of the backlight of the liquid crystal monitor is lowered, it is possible to reduce battery consumption and extend the imaging time.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention together with the drawings will be described in more detail.

1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a video camera with a liquid crystal monitor according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a video camera with a liquid crystal monitor, viewed from the rear. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as the conventional video camera 1 with a liquid crystal monitor mentioned above, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

In the video camera with LCD monitor 11 according to the present invention, as described above, the LCD monitor 4 is freely moved around the X and Y axes by the universal jointer 5 on the left side of the video camera body 11a. It is supported by rotation. As shown in FIG. 7, the liquid crystal monitor 4 is moved to the zoom lens 3 by being displaced by being rotated 90 degrees forward (A direction) about the Y axis of the universal jointer 5 as the axis. The captured image can be confirmed on the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 7.

In addition, by rotating the liquid crystal monitor 4 in the vertical direction with the X-axis of the universal jointer 5 as the axis, imaging can be performed at a low or high angle. In addition, when the liquid crystal monitor 4 is used as a monitor for checking the captured image, as shown in FIG. 8 described above, the rear surface of the liquid crystal monitor 4 faces the left side of the video camera body 11a. Also, the liquid crystal monitor 4 is rotated so that the liquid crystal panel 7 is positioned to the left side of the video camera body 11a.

Moreover, the operation part 18 in which the various operation switches are arrange | positioned is provided in the back surface of the video camera main body 11a.

Here, the optical viewfinder hood 13 constituting the main part of the present invention will be described.

The optical viewfinder hood 13 is for shielding strong light such as solar light in order to make the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 7 easy to see when the liquid crystal monitor 4 is used as the viewfinder. When the optical viewfinder hood 13 is mounted on the liquid crystal monitor 4, the liquid crystal monitor 4 is positioned on the left side of the video camera body 11a as shown in FIG. To rotate.

The optical viewfinder hood 13 is formed in a shape that is tightly fitted around the outer periphery of the liquid crystal monitor 4. Moreover, the eyepiece hood 13a is provided in the rear part of the optical viewfinder hood 13, and it is possible to disassemble this eyepiece hood 13a and to see the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 7.

Therefore, since the liquid crystal panel 7 is covered by the optical viewfinder hood 13 and light from the outside is prevented from being irradiated to the display screen, the eyepiece hood 13a is also used when imaging outdoors when sunlight is irradiated. ), The image of the liquid crystal panel 7 can be seen clearly.

3 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the internal structure of the video camera body 11a and the optical viewfinder hood 13, and FIG. 4 shows an image of the liquid crystal panel 7 reflected by the reflector 9 on the viewfinder screen. A diagram showing an optical system for converting to the magnitude of.

Inside the video camera body 11a, an image pickup device (CCD) 14 for converting a received image into an electrical signal and light incident from the zoom lens 3 are formed on the light receiving surface of the image pickup device 14. The lens group 15 is provided. And the image formed on the imaging element 14 is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 7.

The optical viewfinder hood 13 includes a reflecting mirror 9 inclined at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the screen of the liquid crystal panel 7 inside the hood case 13b formed by a synthetic resin that shields external light, The eyepiece 10 for converting the image reflected by the reflecting surface 9a of the reflector 9 into the screen of predetermined size, and the diopter adjustment mechanism 17 are provided. In addition, since the hood case 13b has elasticity, the hood case 13b is fitted and fixed to the outer periphery of the liquid crystal monitor 4 so as to be detached freely.

Since the reflecting mirror 9 is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the screen of the liquid crystal panel 7, the length of the side close to the liquid crystal panel 7 is large and the length of the side spaced apart from the liquid crystal panel 7. Is formed in the shape of a pedestal so as to be small. The projection area when the reflecting mirror 9 is seen from the front is the shape as shown in FIG. 4A, and the projection area when the reflecting mirror 9 is seen from the eyepiece hood 13a is the shape as shown in FIG. 4B.

Moreover, the hood mounting detection switch 12 which detects that the hood case 13b is attached to the upper surface of the liquid crystal monitor 4 is provided. When the hood mounting detection switch 12 is pressed by the hood case 13b, the hood mounting detection switch 12 is turned on and outputs a detection signal.

The optical viewfinder hood 13 reflects the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 7 to the reflecting surface 9a of the reflector 9 incorporated in the hood case 13b, and the eyepiece hood 13a through the eyepiece 10. It is configured to be seen from Thus, since the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 7 is reversed left and right on the reflecting surface 9a of the reflector 9, the scanning direction is inverted so that the up, down, left, and right directions become a screen of normal scanning.

By attaching the optical viewfinder hood 13 to the liquid crystal panel 7 in this manner, the surroundings of the liquid crystal panel 7 are shielded, and external light such as sunlight is irradiated onto the liquid crystal screen 7 to prevent the image from being seen. Not only can the solution be solved, but the circumference of the liquid crystal panel 7 becomes a dark room so that the contrast of the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 7 can be easily seen, and the liquid crystal panel in which the eyepiece 10 is inserted into the viewfinder screen is replaced. Since it is possible to see the subject indicated in (7), the operation or facial expression of the subject is more easily seen than directly viewing the liquid crystal panel 7.

Then, by attaching the optical viewfinder hood 13 to the liquid crystal panel 7, it is not necessary to incorporate the optical viewfinder hood into the video camera 11 with the liquid crystal monitor, and the video camera with the liquid crystal monitor 11 is provided. It is possible to compact the whole. In addition, since the optical viewfinder hood 13 can be easily detached and detached, the liquid crystal panel 7 can be directly removed when the user wants to see the liquid crystal panel 7 directly or when the liquid crystal panel 7 is to be used as a monitor for checking the playback screen. The panel 7 can be replaced by normal monitor use.

In addition, the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 7 includes a case where the liquid crystal monitor 4 is used as a monitor for reproducing images by the control circuit 19 described later, and when the liquid crystal monitor 4 is used as a viewfinder. The brightness (illuminance level) is changed. That is, since the optical viewfinder hood 13 is peeled off when used for a monitor, the brightness of the liquid crystal panel 7 becomes bright, and when used as a viewfinder, the optical viewfinder hood 13 is attached to external light. Since the light is blocked, the luminance of the liquid crystal panel 7 is adjusted to be dark.

To this end, when the mounting of the optical viewfinder hood 13 is detected by the hood mounting detecting switch 12, the illuminance level of the backlight of the liquid crystal panel 7 is lowered, so that the image of the battery 6 is reduced by the consumption. It is possible to extend the time.

Therefore, when the hooded detection switch 12 is switched on and the detection signal is outputted, the optical circuit of the optical viewfinder hood 13 is connected to the control circuit 19 of the video camera 11 with a liquid crystal monitor. Recognizing that it is attached to 4), the brightness of the liquid crystal panel 7 is made dark, and the scanning directions on the left and right sides of the liquid crystal panel 7 are reversed.

5 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the control circuit 19. As shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, 21 is a backlight, 23 is a step-up transformer, 24 is an inverter drive circuit, 25 is a current / voltage converter, 26 is a backlight level controller, 27 is a timing generatpr. 28 are hooded detection circuits, 29 are R, G, and B decoders, 30 are DC / DC converters, and 32 are output transistors.

The voltage supply to the backlight 21 boosts and applies the AC signal transmitted from the inverter drive circuit 24 to the step-up transformer 23. In addition, the voltage controlled as the DC / DC converter 30 and the output transistor 32 is supplied to the inverter drive circuit 24 through the step-up transformer 23 to supply the voltage to the backlight 21. Is in control.

The current / voltage converter 25 detects a current flowing in the backlight 21 and converts it into a voltage. This voltage controls the DC / DC converter 30 through a backlight level controller 26. By this feedback circuit configuration, the brightness of the backlight 21 can be kept constant.

When the optical viewfinder hood 13 is mounted on the liquid crystal monitor 4, the hood mounting detection switch 12 is pressed by the hood case 13b to turn on, and outputs the detection signal. The detection signal from the hooded detection switch 12 is converted into a control signal by the hooded detection circuit 28 and applied to the backlight level controller 26.

The DC / DC converter 30 controls to drop the voltage supplied to the inverter drive circuit 24. As a result, the voltage supplied to the backlight 21 is lowered and the luminance of the liquid crystal panel 7 can be lowered.

The image signal is converted into a signal of R · G · B by the R · G · B decoder 29 and input to the liquid crystal panel 7. The timing generator 27 generates a control signal necessary for operating the liquid crystal panel 7, and also has an input terminal capable of inverting the scanning in the horizontal and vertical directions.

If it does not have a face-to-face imaging function (a function of inverting the image display of the liquid crystal panel 7 in the up, down, left, and right directions), the liquid crystal panel 7 is shown on the left side of the video camera body 11a as shown in FIG. When the reproduced image is set to the position where it can be monitored, since the screen is normally scanned on the liquid crystal panel 7, when the optical viewfinder hood 13 is attached, the image is reflected on the reflecting surface 9a of the reflector 9. The left and right directions of are reversed. Therefore, it is necessary to reverse the left and right of the reproduced image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 7.

Therefore, the output of the hooded detection circuit 28 is inputted to an input terminal for inverting the horizontal scanning of the timing generator 27, and the left and right inverted reproduction images of the liquid crystal panel 7 are viewed from the eyepiece hood 13a. Make the image look normal. Thus, even when the optical viewfinder hood 13 is attached, normal image display can be seen from the eyepiece hood 13a.

In addition, in the above embodiment, a configuration in which the liquid crystal monitor 4 is rotatably mounted on the left side of the video camera body 11a is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a video camera in which the liquid crystal monitor 4 is installed at another place.

As described above, the video camera with the liquid crystal monitor of the present invention has an optical viewfinder hood that converts an image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor into a viewfinder screen, and is detachably attached so as to cover the periphery of the liquid crystal monitor. It is possible to shield the image so that the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor can be easily seen.

Further, when the mounting of the optical viewfinder hood is detected, since the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor reverses the scanning in the horizontal direction, the image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor can be prevented from being in the horizontal direction.

In addition, when the mounting of the optical viewfinder hood is detected, since the liquid crystal monitor lowers the illuminance level of the backlight, it is possible to reduce the battery consumption and extend the imaging time.

Claims (4)

In a camera with a liquid crystal monitor in which a liquid crystal monitor is usable as an electronic viewfinder, A hood case mounted on a video camera having the liquid crystal monitor and covering the periphery of the liquid crystal monitor; A reflector installed inside the hood case and configured to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the liquid crystal monitor, and reflects an image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor; And An optical system for converting an image reflected from the reflector installed in the hood case into a viewfinder screen, And an optical viewfinder hood mounted on the LCD monitor so as to convert the image displayed on the LCD monitor into a viewfinder screen and detachably detachably cover the periphery of the LCD monitor. The video camera with a liquid crystal monitor according to claim 1, further comprising a detection switch for detecting that the optical viewfinder hood is mounted. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising image inverting means for inverting horizontal scanning of the horizontal direction of an image displayed on said liquid crystal monitor when mounting of said optical viewfinder hood is detected by said detection switch. Video camera with LCD monitor. 3. The liquid crystal monitor according to claim 2, further comprising a backlight illuminance adjusting means for lowering the illuminance level of the backlight of the liquid crystal monitor when the optical switch is detected by the detection switch. Attached video camera.

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