JP2001045348A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact video camera in which a switch for photographing can be easily operated by fingers, and a battery or the like can be arranged at a proper position. SOLUTION: A rear cover unit 2 including a start/stop button 3 for photographing is provided at a camera main body 1 having a photographing lens so as to be movable to almost the optical axial direction of the photographing lens. Then, the entrance of a battery chamber or an operation switch or a jack or the like are arranged on the face of the camera main body 1 which is newly exposed at the time of extending the rear cover unit 2 to nearly in the optical axial direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus such as a video camera which operates a photographing switch with a finger.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a use state of a general video camera, showing a state where the video camera is grasped by a hand. The video camera shown in the figure is of a horizontal type in which the longitudinal side of the lens is gripped. Four fingers other than the thumb are placed on the upper surface of the camera body, and the thumb is placed on a switch (button) on the rear (rear). I am trying to hit it.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the right hand holding and holding the video camera. The width A of the backrest belt shown in FIG. 1 is larger than the width B of the four fingers passing through the belt, and the product itself is correspondingly large.

[0004]

In recent years, the size of a camera body has been reduced in accordance with the digitization of a video camera and the miniaturization of a recording medium. Width A is hand width B
When the size is smaller, the hand is pressed and it is difficult to grasp, and the little finger side touches a lens or a microphone arranged on the front surface (front) of the camera body, or the thumb is far from the start / stop button, so that it is difficult to press the thumb. Therefore, it has been difficult to reduce the size of the product in the depth direction.

[0005] Further, with the miniaturization of products, batteries,
The arrangement of the operation switches, jacks, LCD panel, and the like is restricted, and it is difficult to arrange them at appropriate positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an imaging apparatus which can be reduced in size, is easy to grasp, and is easy to operate.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image pickup apparatus which is small in size and can place a battery, operation switches, jacks, an LCD panel and the like at appropriate positions.

[0008]

An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is configured as follows.

(1) In an imaging apparatus in which a photographing switch is operated by a finger, a part of an exterior is provided so as to be movable in a direction substantially along the optical axis of the photographing lens with respect to an apparatus main body having the photographing lens.

(2) In the configuration of (1), a part of the exterior includes a switch for photographing.

(3) In the configuration of (2), the photographing switch is a start / stop button for photographing.

(4) In any one of the above constitutions (1) to (3), the entrance of the battery chamber is arranged on a newly exposed surface of the apparatus main body when a part of the exterior is expanded substantially in the optical axis direction. .

(5) In any one of the above constitutions (1) to (3), a desired operation switch is arranged on a newly exposed surface of the apparatus main body when a part of the exterior is expanded substantially in the optical axis direction. .

(6) In the configuration of the above (5), the operation switch is an operation button used at the time of photographing and at the time of reproduction.

(7) In any one of the above constitutions (1) to (3), jacks are arranged on a newly exposed surface of the apparatus main body when a part of the exterior is expanded substantially in the optical axis direction.

(8) In any one of the above constitutions (1) to (3), the liquid crystal display panel unit on the device main body side can be opened and closed when a part of the exterior is extended substantially in the optical axis direction. .

[0017]

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

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows an external appearance of a video camera viewed obliquely from behind. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera body (apparatus main body) having a photographing lens, and 2 denotes a rear cover unit, which has a start / stop button 3 which is a photographing switch, and is a part of the exterior. Also,
The rear cover unit 2 is provided so as to be movable with respect to the camera body 1 substantially in the optical axis direction of the taking lens.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the rear cover unit 2 is expanded (extended). As shown in the figure, the entrance 5 of the battery chamber for storing the battery 4 is arranged on the newly exposed surface of the camera body 1 in this state.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are exploded perspective views of the above-mentioned video camera, and FIG.
Shows only the main part. In the figure, 6 is a flexible board connected to each operation key, 7 is a main board, 8 is a connector, 9 is a lens unit, 10 is a CCD board, 11
Is a leaf spring, 12a and 12b are locking grooves, 13 is a retaining groove, 14 is a pin for preventing the leaf spring, and the leaf spring 11 is fixed to the rear cover unit 2 by the pin 14.

In the video camera configured as described above, the rear cover unit 2 including the start / stop button 3 is movable relative to the camera body 1 in the direction C in FIG. It can be larger than the width B of the hand.

Also, when the portable device is carried (in a contracted state), the leaf spring 11 is used.
Are locked in the locking groove 12b, and at the time of photographing (in an extended state), the projection of the leaf spring 11 is locked in the locking groove 12a.

After the rear cover unit 2 is assembled into the camera body 1, the retaining pins 14 are fixed to the rear cover unit 2 so that the retaining pins 1 are secured.
The front end of the rear cover unit 2 is fitted into the retaining groove 13 to prevent the rear cover unit 2 from falling off from the camera body 1.

A flexible board 6 is incorporated in the rear cover unit 2, and the flexible board 6 and a main board 7 in the camera body 1 are connected by a connector 8.

By making the rear cover unit 2 movable in the direction C, the entrance 5 of the battery chamber is arranged on the newly exposed surface of the camera body 1, so that the battery 4 can be properly stored. .

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of a second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 15 denotes operation keys (operation switches) used at the time of shooting and reproduction.

In this embodiment, operation keys 15 for photographing and reproduction are arranged on a newly exposed surface of the camera body 1 when the rear cover unit 2 is moved substantially in the optical axis direction, that is, in the direction C. Thereby, the operation keys 15 can be arranged at appropriate positions.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of a third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 16 denotes a jack for connecting to an external device.

In this embodiment, a jack 16 for connecting to an external device is arranged on a newly exposed surface of the camera body 1 when the rear cover unit 2 is moved substantially in the optical axis direction, that is, in the C direction. . As a result, the jack 16
Can be arranged at an appropriate position.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 17 denotes an LCD panel (liquid crystal display panel) unit on the camera body 1 side, which is fixed to the camera body 1 so as to be freely opened and closed.
FIG. 8 is a view showing a state in which the LCD panel unit 17 on the camera body side is opened in the direction E after the rear cover unit 2 has been moved substantially in the optical axis direction, that is, the direction C.

In this embodiment, when the rear cover unit 2 in FIG. 7 is contracted, the LCD panel unit 17 cannot be opened and closed because the rear cover unit 2 covers or covers it. However, when the rear cover unit 2 in FIG. 8 is extended, the LCD panel unit 17 can be opened and closed.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, a part of the exterior including the switch for photographing moves substantially in the direction of the optical axis with respect to the apparatus body having the lens, so that the hand is compressed. It is easier to grasp.

Further, the little finger does not touch the lens and the microphone arranged on the front of the apparatus main body, the distance between the operating finger and the switch becomes appropriate, and the switch becomes easy to push.

Further, the battery, the operation switches, the jacks, the liquid crystal display panel unit, and the like can be arranged at a position where they can be easily used at the time of operation, while being compact when carried.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a rear cover unit of the first embodiment is expanded.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the video camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the video camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where an LCD panel unit according to a fourth embodiment is opened.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a usage state of a general video camera.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing the appearance of a hand.

[Description of Signs] 1 Camera body (device body) 2 Rear cover unit (part of exterior) 3 Start / stop button (switch) 4 Battery 5 Inlet 6 Flexible board 7 Main board 8 Connector 9 Lens unit 10 CCD board 11 Leaf spring 12a groove 12b groove 13 groove 14 pin 15 operation key (operation switch) 16 jack 17 LCD panel unit (liquid crystal display panel unit)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An imaging apparatus for operating a photographing switch with a finger, wherein a part of an exterior is provided so as to be movable in a substantially optical axis direction of the photographing lens with respect to an apparatus main body having the photographing lens. Characteristic imaging device. 2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part of the exterior includes a switch for photographing. 3. A switch for photographing is provided for starting / stopping photographing.
The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the imaging device is a stop button. 4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an entrance of the battery chamber is disposed on a newly exposed surface of the apparatus main body when a part of the exterior is expanded substantially in the optical axis direction. apparatus. 5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a desired operation switch is disposed on a newly exposed surface of the apparatus main body when a part of the exterior is expanded substantially in the optical axis direction. apparatus. 6. The imaging device according to claim 5, wherein the operation switch is an operation button used at the time of shooting and at the time of reproduction. 7. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein jacks are arranged on a newly exposed surface of the device main body when a part of the exterior is expanded substantially in the optical axis direction. 8. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display panel unit on the device main body side can be opened and closed when a part of the exterior is expanded substantially in the optical axis direction. apparatus.