JP2001119617A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a small-sized digital camera that can be gripped and operated by one kind. SOLUTION: The external shape of a digital camera main body 10 is formed as a rectangular prism, where a face F with an image-pickup lens 11 placed thereon is a front face and that is shaped longitudinally long and narrow in width. At least a shutter 21 and a sensitivity changeover lever 22 among various operation means 13-22 are placed on a side face S1, and the other operation means 13-18 are placed on a ceiling plate operation section 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly, to a structure of a small digital still camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional still photography uses a small camera using a film, but if the image is not developed after photographing, the image cannot be confirmed. An electronic and small digital camera has emerged and is becoming widespread so that it can be connected to a personal computer or the like so that a photographed image can be output or processed by a printer.

A digital camera of this type is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-336496.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional digital camera, as described in the above-mentioned publication, in order to point the front of a wide area where the imaging lens is arranged to the subject, In such a structure, the user has to hold the body of the digital camera with both hands and press a shutter or the like.

[0005] For this reason, when one hand is occupied by luggage or the like, there is a problem that photographing cannot be performed.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera in which components of a small digital camera are arranged so as to be held and operated with one hand. In addition, the present invention is realized with a structure in which an extension device that meets the demand for higher performance can be attached while being downsized.

[0007]

According to the digital camera of the present invention (first invention), when the outer shape of the digital camera body is such that the surface on which the imaging lens is arranged is front, the front is vertically long and narrow. Of the various operating means formed in a rectangular cube shape and arranged on the outer surface of the digital camera body,
At least the shutter means or the sensitivity switching means is arranged on the side surface. With this configuration, the digital camera can be held and held with one hand in the vertical direction, and the shutter means and the sensitivity switching means can be operated in the same posture. Here, preferably, when the digital camera body is gripped and the imaging lens is held in front, the shutter means is arranged at a position where the thumb is located (second invention), and the shutter is operated as it is. It can be so.

[0008] The digital camera of the present invention (third invention)
In addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect of the present invention, a display means for displaying the presence of the imaging lens of the digital camera at a fixed position on the front surface of the digital camera body with respect to the imaging lens is provided by a sense of contact. It has a configuration provided. With this configuration, when the user takes out the camera from the back or the like, the user directly touches the display means without directly confirming the position of the imaging lens and directly shoots the front of the digital camera with the imaging lens facing the subject. be able to.

The digital camera of the present invention (fourth invention)
Is in addition to the configuration of any of the first to third aspects,
On the other side of the digital camera body opposite to the side on which the shutter means or the sensitivity switching means is arranged, mounting means for mounting an additional device for increasing the capacity or making wireless is provided. It has the following configuration. With this configuration, an option (expansion device) for installing a large-capacity battery or a large-capacity memory or installing a communication device can be provided without obstructing the operation of the shutter means and the sensitivity switching means. , A digital camera body can be attached. Here, preferably, the mounting means has a combination structure of a concave shape and a convex shape that hooks and engages with each other, and the combined structure of the concave shape of the mounting means is the other of the digital camera body. With the configuration arranged on the side surface (fifth invention), it is possible to prevent the digital camera main body from being obstructed even when the option is not added. Further, preferably, when the extension device is attached to the digital camera main body, the extension device has a configuration having a side surface which has the same shape as the other side surface and is in contact with the other side surface (a sixth invention), and an option is provided. When adding, avoid stepping the outer surface and getting in the way.

[0010] The digital camera of the present invention (seventh invention)
Is in addition to the configuration of any of the first to sixth inventions,
In order to attach and detach a semiconductor memory and a battery provided inside the digital camera main body, the digital camera has a configuration in which means for opening and closing a bottom surface of the digital camera main body is provided. With this configuration, it is possible to open and close the bottom surface and mount and remove the semiconductor memory and the battery simply by operating the opening and closing means.
Here, preferably, a configuration is provided in which a window for confirming the presence / absence of the semiconductor memory and the battery to be installed is disposed on the bottom portion of the digital camera body (eighth invention). The presence / absence of a semiconductor memory and a battery can be confirmed without opening and closing the battery.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 are views showing an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a digital camera body 10
Is a device with dimensions of “width a≪depth b <height c”,
It is made in a very small rectangular cube shape so that it can be carried in a pocket or a handbag. The front face F on which the imaging lens 11 is arranged is narrow and vertically long. Imaging lens 11 on top of
Has been arranged. Therefore, the digital camera 10
Hold it upright and hold it with one hand.
Can be pointed at the subject.

A power switch 1 is provided on a top panel operation unit 12 located on the upper surface U of the rectangular cube of the digital camera body 10.
3, internal and external monitor switching 14, day and night shooting mode switching 1
5 and the like, and input / output connectors such as a video output terminal 16, a remote shutter connection terminal 17, and a strobe connection terminal 18 are arranged. The digital camera 10 is held with the right hand and the imaging lens 11 is aimed at the subject. When the camera is held (front), the shutter 21 is arranged at a position where the thumb is located on the side S1 on which the right thumb is pressed. A sensitivity switching lever (sensitivity switching means according to day and night) 22 that rotates to raise and lower a filter (not shown) that is inserted and removed during the interval is disposed. Therefore, when the digital camera 10 is held with one hand and the imaging lens 11 is pointed at the subject, various operation means can be checked from the upper side, and the sensitivity switching and the shutter 21 can be performed in the same posture.
Operation such as pressing can be performed. Note that the functions described in the present embodiment are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is needless to say that the operation means may be arranged according to the functions to be added or deleted according to the use of the digital camera 10. Absent.

A front display groove (display means) 31 extending in the lateral direction is formed under the imaging lens 11 on the front face F of the digital camera body 10, and the digital camera 10 is very small. Therefore, it can be carried in a hand, in a pocket of clothes, or carried in a handbag or the like.
By simply groping and grasping according to the contact sensation when touching 1, the position of the imaging lens 11 on the front F can be recognized without being visually confirmed, and the imaging lens 11 can be covered with the index finger. It is possible to aim the imaging lens 11 at the subject and release the shutter without any hesitation. At this time, the digital camera 1
Since the shutter 21 arranged on the side surface S1 of the main body 0 is located at the position of the right thumb, the shutter 21 can be pressed as it is.

The side S2 of the digital camera 10 opposite to the side S1 is, for example, as shown in FIGS.
A large-capacity battery or large-capacity memory is built-in to enable large capacity, a built-in receiving function enables wireless operation such as opening a shutter from a remote location, or a built-in transmitting function to capture captured images. In order to be able to attach an option box (expansion device) 100 for adding a function for enabling transmission, it is open without operating means or the like, and has the same shape (side surface S2) as the side surface S1 of the digital camera 10. The side surface S3 of the option box 100 formed in a mirror-symmetrical shape (see FIG. 2) faces the connection box (not shown) in a pressed state.

As a means for attaching the digital camera 10 and the option box 100, the digital camera 10 is provided with a corner portion along the side surface S 2 of the top plate operating portion 12, which is located on the back surface B side separated from the front surface F. A mating groove 41 is formed in a concave shape and extends, and an engaging groove 42 located above the bottom plate 51 and parallel to the engaging groove 41 is formed in a concave shape. On the side surface S3 facing the side surface S2 of the digital camera 10 on the side, the engagement grooves 41, 42 are provided at portions corresponding to the engagement grooves 41, 42.
There are provided engaging hooks 141 and 142 formed in a convex shape that mesh with and engage with the concave shape. Therefore, even when the option box 100 is not attached, the engagement groove 41,
42 does not stick out.

The engagement groove 41 of the digital camera 10
As shown in FIG. 3, while being formed in a groove shape that opens upward, the height of the side surface S <b> 2 side is reduced by shaving by the thickness of the engaging hook 141 of the option box 100, while the engaging hook 141 is By extending the portion of the top plate 112 of the option box 100 corresponding to the engagement groove 41 of the digital camera 10 outwardly from the side surface S3 and bending it downward, the tip can be hooked into the engagement groove 41. As shown in FIG. 4, the engaging hooks 14
The digital camera 10 and the option box 100 can be mounted by sliding the side surfaces S2 of the digital camera 10 and the side surface S3 of the option box 100 such that the end portions of the digital camera 10 and the option box 100 are in contact with each other. . Therefore, option box 100
Even when the digital camera 10 is attached to the digital camera 10, the top plate 12 of the digital camera 10 and the top plate 112 of the option box 100 do not shift and become a step. For this reason, there is nothing that becomes a hindrance such as being caught in use or becoming unstable when placed. The structure in which the engaging groove 42 of the digital camera 10 and the engaging hook 142 of the option box 100 engage with each other is formed in a square cross section and in a shape that only regulates the position from the top plates 12 and 112. May also be
It goes without saying that the side surfaces S2 and S3 may have a trapezoidal cross section or a T-shaped cross section so as to be inseparable in the facing direction.

The digital camera 10 and the option box 100 are also designed to set a battery and a memory to be installed by opening and closing the bottom plates 51 and 151 in the same manner. To explain, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
Is supported rotatably on the front side F of the digital camera 10, while engaging and disengaging an end side with a lock claw 52 provided below the back side B, thereby forming the battery 53 and the semiconductor memory 54.
The lower part can be opened and closed removably. The bottom plates 51 and 151 have transparent windows 5 so that the inside can be checked.
5 and 155 (only the digital camera 10 is shown, and the option box 100 is not shown), and the battery 53 is not opened and closed by the bottom plates 51 and 151.
And the presence or absence of the memory 54 can be easily checked so that the user does not forget to insert the battery 53 or the memory 54 and carry it around as much as possible.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the digital camera 10 is gripped with one hand in the vertical direction while the front display groove 31 is touched with the index finger, so that the imaging lens 11 on the front face F faces the subject. Thus, the shutter 21 at the position of the thumb of the side surface S1 can be pressed, and the sensitivity switching lever 22 disposed on the same side surface S1 can be operated.

Further, by simply attaching the option box 100 to the digital camera 10, the capacity of the battery and the memory can be increased, the operation can be made wireless, and images can be transmitted. However, the engaging grooves 41 and 42 do not become an obstacle, and even if the option box 100 is attached, it does not become an obstacle due to a step with respect to the top plate operation unit 12. In addition, the digital camera 10 and the option box 100 simply open and close the bottom plates 51 and 151,
Battery 53 and memory 54 can be attached and detached,
The presence or absence of the battery 53 and the memory 54 is also confirmed from the window 55, and it can be avoided that the user forgets to set and carry the battery.

As described above, the digital camera 10 can be operated by holding it with one hand, and can be housed in a small rectangular cube that can obtain basic functions. High performance can be integrated by firmly attaching and mounting.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the outer shape of the digital camera body is formed into a rectangular cube whose front surface is vertically long and narrow when the surface on which the imaging lens is disposed is front. Of the various operating means formed and arranged on the outer surface of the digital camera main body, at least the shutter means and the sensitivity switching means are arranged on the side surface, and the other operating means are arranged on the upper surface, so that the digital camera is oriented vertically. A digital camera having an excellent effect on operability that the user can hold and hold the camera with one hand and can operate the shutter means and the sensitivity switching means in the same posture.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a digital camera according to the present invention, and is a perspective view illustrating a schematic overall configuration thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an optional mounting structure.

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the main part.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining an optional attaching operation.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a set of the battery and the memory.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining confirmation of the battery and the memory.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 digital camera body 11 imaging lens 12 top panel operation unit 13 power switch 14 monitor switching 15 shooting mode switching 16 video output terminal 17 remote shutter connection terminal 18 strobe connection terminal 21 shutter 22 sensitivity switching lever 31 front display groove 41, 41 engagement Groove 51 Bottom plate 52 Lock claw 53 Battery 54 Semiconductor memory 55 Window 100 Option box 112 Top plate 141, 142 Engagement hook

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yutaka Kitahara 4-3-1 Tsunashima Higashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture F-term (reference) in Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. 2H054 AA01 CD00 2H100 AA32 CC07 5C022 AA13 AC21 AC31 AC32 AC33 AC42 AC52 AC77 AC78

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An external shape of a digital camera body is formed in a rectangular cube shape in which the front face is vertically long and narrow when a surface on which an imaging lens is arranged is a front face. A digital camera characterized in that at least a shutter means or a sensitivity switching means among various operation means to be arranged is arranged on a side surface. 2. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said shutter means is arranged at a position where a thumb is located when said digital camera body is gripped and said imaging lens is held in front. . 3. A display means for displaying the presence of the imaging lens of the digital camera with a sense of contact at a fixed position on the front of the digital camera body with respect to the imaging lens. Or the digital camera according to 2. 4. A mounting means for mounting an extension device is provided on the other side of the digital camera body opposite to the one side on which the shutter means or the sensitivity switching means is provided. The digital camera according to claim 1. 5. The digital camera main body according to claim 5, wherein said mounting means has a combination structure of a concave shape and a convex shape which hooks each other to hold and engage with each other. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein the digital camera is arranged in a position. 6. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein when the extension device is attached to the digital camera main body, the extension device has a side surface that has the same shape as the other side surface and comes into contact with the other side surface. . 7. The digital camera body according to claim 1, further comprising means for opening and closing a bottom portion of the digital camera body for attaching and detaching a semiconductor memory and a battery provided inside the digital camera body. Digital camera described in Crab. 8. The digital camera according to claim 7, wherein a window for confirming presence / absence of the semiconductor memory and the battery is provided on a bottom surface of the digital camera body.