WO2003001800A1

WO2003001800A1 - Imaging device

Info

Publication number: WO2003001800A1
Application number: PCT/JP2002/006164
Authority: WO
Inventors: Masaki Hanzawa; Keikaku Fukuoka
Original assignee: Sony Corporation
Priority date: 2001-06-21
Filing date: 2002-06-20
Publication date: 2003-01-03
Also published as: JP2003008970A; JP4501050B2

Abstract

An imaging device comprising a display unit openably and pivotally mounted to a camera body (1) via a hinge unit (3), and an operation switch group (6), wherein a reversed and retracted display unit will not blind the operation switch group (6). An imaging device comprising at least a camera body (1), a display unit openably and pivotally mounted to the camera body (1) via a hinge unit (3), and a reproducing or replaying operation switch group (6), wherein, when the display unit is reversed and retracted, the operation switch group (6) is kept exposed and can be accessed for operation.

Description

Details ^:

Technical field

The present invention relates to an imaging device such as a video camera or a digital camera having a liquid crystal display panel that can be opened from a camera body by a hinge that can be opened and closed and rotatable. Background art

As this type of imaging device, for example, a video camera having a configuration shown in FIGS. 7 to 8 is known. In this known video camera, a liquid crystal display panel 2 is attached to a camera body 1 via a hinge 3 so as to be openable, closable, and rotatable. In this case, the opening / closing angle of the liquid crystal display panel 2 is approximately 90 °, and the center of rotation with respect to the hinge portion 3 is provided at a position coinciding with the center line X passing through the center of the liquid crystal display panel 2. The rotation angle is almost 270 °.

In the vicinity of the center of the camera body 1 (position substantially coincident with the center line X), a group of operation switches such as a lens barrel 4, a viewfinder 15 and rewind, fast forward, and stop switches for playback or replay. Various necessary functions such as 6 are equipped. Although not shown, an operation button group such as a power switch, an on / off switch for photographing, and a zoom switch is provided near an upper portion of the opposite side surface.

The liquid crystal display panel 2 can directly display an image or an image captured by the lens of the camera body 1, that is, an image viewed by the viewfinder 15, and can also appropriately display images during and after shooting. The table The LCD panel 2 can be opened from the camera body 1 to a substantially right angle using the hinge 3 as a fulcrum, and the image can be viewed from the rear end of the camera body 1. Since the image can be rotated by approximately 270 ° around the center, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 2 can be viewed at any position within the rotation angle range.

As described above, the image can be viewed with the LCD panel 2 opened, but the operation switch group 6 for replay is not used during normal imaging operation, and is used for replay. Since it is only necessary to be able to operate when the LCD panel 2 is open, when the LCD panel 2 is placed in the camera body 1 with the display surface side inside, It is provided on the camera body 1 at a position that is completely hidden.

When a plurality of people want to view the captured image, as shown in FIG. 8, the display surface 2a is closed and the liquid crystal display panel 2 is closed so that the display surface 2a is The camera body 1 is placed on a table, for example, and the image projected on the display surface 2a can be viewed by a large number of people from a wide angle.

However, since the operation switch group 6 for replay is hidden behind the liquid crystal panel 2, for example, when it is necessary to rewind a part of the display or to fast-forward and view it, the liquid crystal display is displayed one by one. The operator has to open the panel 2 and selectively operate the operation switch group 6 as needed to re-install it on the camera body 1 side, which has a problem that the operation is extremely troublesome. In addition, when the operation switch group 6 is operated, the operation must be performed with the liquid crystal display panel 2 opened, so that the direction in which the operation switch group 6 faces and the display surface 2a of the liquid crystal display panel 2 Therefore, when operating in a stationary state, the operator shakes the upper body to the left and right to look at the operation switch group 6 and the display surface 2a alternately. While operating In order to avoid this, it is inevitable to hold the camera body 1 in hand and rotate the camera body 1 alternately to operate it. Also has the problem that the amount of enjoyment is reduced by half, as it is not clear at all how far it has been returned or fast-forwarded.

Therefore, in the conventional imaging device, even if the display surface 2 a of the liquid crystal display panel 2 is turned to the front side, that is, the liquid crystal display panel 2 is turned over and stored in the camera body 1, or even if the camera body 1 is kept stationary, There is a problem to be solved so that the operation switch group 6 can be easily operated. Disclosure of the invention

As a specific means for solving the problems of the conventional example, the present invention comprises at least a camera body, a display unit which is attached to the camera body via a hinge unit so as to open and close and rotate, An imaging device comprising an operation switch group, wherein the operation switch group is exposed and operable when the display unit is turned upside down. Is what you do.

In the above imaging device, the hinge portion is provided at a position above a center line passing through a central portion of the display portion; the operation switch group is provided at a lower position of a storage area of the display portion. That the display section is formed smaller than a set storage area; and that the operation switch group is provided on a lower end surface of the display section. You.

Further, in the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, when the display unit is turned upside down, the operation switch group is exposed in a state where it is easy to operate, so that the switch operation can be selectively performed while viewing the screen of the display unit. It was made. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an imaging device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the imaging device in a state where the display unit is turned upside down.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the imaging device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view of the imaging device in a state where the display unit is turned upside down.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing the imaging device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 6 is a top view of the imaging device in a state where the display unit is inverted and housed.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an imaging device according to a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the conventional imaging apparatus in a state where the display unit is turned upside down. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Next, some preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. To facilitate understanding, the same parts as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals and described. First, the imaging device according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described. The imaging device is a video camera such as a handycam, and a liquid crystal display panel is provided with respect to the camera body 1. 2 is mounted to be openable / closable and rotatable via a hinge 3 and has an opening / closing angle of approximately 90 ° and a rotation angle of approximately 270 °. The camera body 1 has various necessary functions such as a lens barrel 4, a viewfinder 5, and a group of operation switches 6 such as rewind, fast forward, and stop switches for playback or replay. And operation buttons such as a power switch, an on / off switch for shooting, and a zoom switch are provided near the upper part of the opposite side (not shown). Is substantially the same as that of the conventional example.

In addition, the liquid crystal display panel 2 can directly display the image or image captured by the lens of the camera body 1, that is, the image viewed by the viewfinder 5, and can also appropriately display images during and after shooting. is there. When displaying the image, the LCD panel 2 is opened from the camera body 1 to a substantially right angle with the hinge 3 as a fulcrum, and the image can be viewed from the rear end side of the camera body 1. Since the image can be rotated by approximately 270 ° around the center of 3, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel 2 can be viewed at any position within the rotation angle range. Is almost the same as

In the present invention, the position where the hinge portion 3 is formed and the position where the operation switch group 6 for replay is provided are completely different from those of the conventional example. That is, the liquid crystal display panel 2 serving as a display section is provided with a rotation center at a position slightly deviated above a center line X passing through the center section, and a hinge section 3 is provided on the rotation center line C. It is formed.

The operation switch group 6 for the replay is in a state in which the liquid crystal display panel 2 is closed, that is, when the liquid crystal display panel 2 is set in the camera body 1, the range or the area hidden by the liquid crystal display panel 2. An operation switch group 6 is provided below the storage area.

An imaging device configured as described above, that is, a video camera capable of performing a shooting operation while raising the viewfinder 5 or opening the liquid crystal display panel 2 and viewing an image on the display surface when shooting. It is. At the time of playback or replay, as shown in FIG. 2, when the display surface 2a is turned to the front side, that is, the LCD panel 2 is turned over and the LCD panel 2 is placed in the camera body 1, the LCD panel The liquid crystal display panel 2, which is rotated 180 ° up and down about the rotation center line C, because the hinge 2 is formed at a position where the hinge 3 is formed at a position deviated upward. Of the liquid crystal display panel 2 and at the same time, the lower position in the storage area 7 of the liquid crystal display panel 2 is exposed. 6 is also exposed. Therefore, the exposed operation switch group 6 is located at the lower part of the liquid crystal display panel 2, and in the reproduction or replay operation, the operation switch group 6 is selectively operated to rewind or rewind while viewing the display surface 2a. Fast forward can be performed.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a liquid crystal display panel 2 is attached to a camera body 1 via a hinge 3 so as to be openable, closable, and rotatable. A lens barrel 4, a viewfinder 5, and a group of operation switches 6 for playback or replay are provided.Although not shown, a power switch and an on / off switch for It is the same in that an operation button group such as an off switch and a zoom switch is provided.

In the second embodiment, a part of the configuration of the first embodiment, that is, the storage area 7 of the liquid crystal display panel 2 secured in the camera body 1 is maintained as it is, and the storage area 7 The configuration in which the operation switch group 6 is disposed below the position and the position where the hinge portion 3 is formed are maintained as they are. The liquid crystal display panel 2 connected to the hinge portion 3 is formed smaller than the set storage area 7 in which the size is secured, and the operation switch group 6 for replay is always exposed. It is in a state that has been done. In this case, the rotation center line C of the liquid crystal display panel 2 is positioned slightly higher than the center line X passing through the center of the liquid crystal display panel 2, and the rotation center of the liquid crystal display panel 2 is slightly higher. It can be said that it is biased. Even if the operation switch group 6 for replay is constantly exposed as described above, the operation is performed when the display surface 2 a of the liquid crystal display panel 2 is put inside and The switch group 6 is too close to the lower edge of the liquid crystal display panel 2-operation with a fingertip is difficult.

However, as shown in FIG. 4, when the display surface 2a is turned to the front side, that is, when the liquid crystal display panel 2 is placed in a reversed state, the rotation center line C of the liquid crystal display panel 2 becomes The liquid crystal display panel 2, which is rotated 180 ° up and down about its rotation center line C, is slightly offset from the center line X passing through the center of the camera. The lower part protrudes upward from the main body 1 at the same time, and the lower part is lifted upward by that amount, and the exposed part of the lower storage area 7 becomes wider.

Accordingly, the distance between the operation switch group 6 and the lower edge of the liquid crystal display panel 2 is widened, and the operation switch group 6 can be easily operated with a fingertip. In addition, rewinding or fast-forwarding while viewing the display surface 2a This makes it easy to play back or replay operations.

Next, a third embodiment is shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. The feature of the third embodiment is that the arrangement of the operation switch group 6 for replay is improved, and the other configuration is substantially the same as the video camera of the conventional example. It is. That is, the liquid crystal display panel 2 is attached to the camera body 1 via a hinge 3 so as to be openable, closable and rotatable, and the center of rotation with respect to the hinge 3 coincides with the center line X passing through the center of the liquid crystal display panel 2. It is configured to be provided at the position.

The operation switch group 6 for replay is provided not at the storage area of the liquid crystal display panel 2 but at the lower end face of the liquid crystal display panel 2 itself. By arranging in this manner, the operation switch group 6 is in a substantially exposed state, but is located at a position that is difficult to be seen by ordinary handling, and is in a state where it is difficult to operate.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8 of the conventional example, when the display surface 2a is turned to the front side, that is, when the liquid crystal display panel 2 is turned over and the liquid crystal display panel 2 is placed, as shown in FIG. 6 comes to a position on the top surface that is easy to see and operate.

In any case, the image pickup apparatus of the present invention has a state in which the operation switch group 6 is exposed in an easily viewable state and easily operated when the liquid crystal display panel 2 serving as the display unit is turned over and housed in the camera body 1 side. It is configured so that As described above, the imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes at least a camera body, a display unit that is openably and closably and rotatably attached to the camera body via a hinge unit, and an operation switch for reproduction or replay. An operation switch while viewing the screen of the display unit, wherein the operation switch group is exposed and operable when the display unit is turned upside down and stored. This has an excellent effect that a group can be selectively operated promptly.

In addition, in the above-described imaging apparatus, in particular, the operation switch group that has been provided at a position that is conventionally hidden is provided on the lower end surface of the display unit at a position that is difficult to visually recognize in normal handling, and when the operation switch is turned over, The operation switches are seen By adopting a structure that is easy to operate and comes to the upper side, an excellent effect is obtained that the operation switch group can be selectively and promptly operated while looking at the screen of the display unit as described above.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. An imaging apparatus including at least a camera body, a display unit that is openably and closably and rotatably attached to the camera body via a hinge unit, and an operation switch group for reproduction or replay, wherein the display unit An image pickup apparatus characterized in that the operation switch group is exposed and can be operated when the camera is turned upside down.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the hinge portion is provided at a position higher than a center line passing through a central portion of the display portion.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the operation switch group is provided at a lower position of a storage area of the display unit.

4. The imaging according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the display section is formed smaller than a set storage area.

5. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the group of operation switches is provided on a lower end surface of the display unit.