JP2002118773A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera that can avoid wasteful power consumption, without losing the operability at photographing, in spite of provision of a movable liquid crystal monitor the mount angle to a camera body of which is variable. SOLUTION: The digital camera is provided with a liquid crystal monitor unlock detection switch 50 that provides the output of a detection signal, depending on the operation of an unlock button (26) that releases a state of the liquid crystal monitor 13, that is contained in a camera body 1 and locked thereto and with a system controller 33 that starts display on the liquid crystal monitor 13, depending on the detection signal from this switch 50.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera having a liquid crystal monitor with a variable mounting angle with respect to the camera body, which can change the mounting angle with respect to the camera body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital still camera, an analog / digital video camera, and the like, which are widely used, are provided with a liquid crystal monitor for confirming photographed contents. However, unlike a video camera, a digital still camera uses a liquid crystal monitor as a substitute for an optical viewfinder attached to the camera, or only uses it for checking a reproduced image, etc., and performs shooting using the optical viewfinder. Is not used.

[0003] In general, a digital still camera is
In order to avoid wasteful power consumption by the liquid crystal monitor, it is not always lit and displayed, and it is basically basically turned off in the shooting mode.

For this purpose, a digital still camera automatically executes an auto power-off function when the liquid crystal monitor is turned on, and turns off the light automatically after turning on the light for a predetermined time. There is a button provided with a button for turning on and off the liquid crystal monitor by frequently operating the button.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned specifications relating to the lighting control of the liquid crystal monitor, on the contrary, also impair the operability of the digital still camera as a photographing tool.

[0006] This point is particularly remarkable in a digital still camera having a movable liquid crystal monitor that can change the mounting angle of the liquid crystal monitor with respect to the camera body. The liquid crystal monitor is pulled out of the storage position and set to an arbitrary mounting angle. In addition to the need for such an operation, a series of complicated operations are required at the start of shooting, together with the trouble of operating the liquid crystal monitor with buttons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to improve the operability at the time of photographing while having a movable liquid crystal monitor capable of changing the mounting angle with respect to the camera body. An object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera capable of avoiding wasteful power consumption as much as possible without any loss.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A liquid crystal monitor capable of changing the mounting angle with respect to the camera body, a lock means for locking the liquid crystal monitor in a state housed in the camera body, a detection means for detecting the release of the locked state by the lock means, and a detection signal of the detection means. And a monitor control means for correspondingly starting display on the liquid crystal monitor.

With this configuration, the display on the liquid crystal monitor is automatically started when the lock of the liquid crystal monitor is released. Therefore, it is not necessary to additionally operate a button for instructing to turn on the liquid crystal monitor. Can be simplified to improve operability during use.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal monitor capable of changing a mounting angle with respect to a camera body, detecting means for detecting when the liquid crystal monitor is pulled out of a storage position of the camera body, and detecting the detecting means. Monitor control means for starting display on the liquid crystal monitor in response to a signal.

According to this structure, the display of the liquid crystal monitor is automatically started when the liquid crystal monitor is pulled out from the storage position, so that there is no need for another button operation or the like for instructing the liquid crystal monitor to be turned on. The operability during use can be improved by simplifying the operation as necessary.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the monitor control means includes a time keeping means for performing time keeping for displaying the liquid crystal monitor for a predetermined time, and the time keeping means comprises: And a time changing means for changing a predetermined time to be measured.

According to this structure, in addition to the operation of the first or second aspect of the present invention, the time for continuously displaying the liquid crystal monitor is restricted, and the time can be arbitrarily changed by the user. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively use a power supply having a limited capacity while avoiding wasteful consumption in accordance with the usability of the user.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the monitor control means corresponds to an operation of a plurality of photographing operation members provided on the camera body, and the detection means The presence / absence of display on the liquid crystal monitor is controlled in combination with the detection result.

With such a configuration, in addition to the operation of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the presence or absence of display of the liquid crystal monitor when the state of using the liquid crystal monitor is detected is photographed. By controlling in conjunction with the operation state of the operation member, lighting of the liquid crystal monitor can be more finely controlled, and wasteful power consumption can be further avoided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the digital camera has a self-timer function, and the monitor control means controls the liquid crystal monitor when the self-timer function is executed. The display is stopped.

With such a configuration, in addition to the function of the invention described in the first or second aspect, the self-timer which does not need to display temporarily although the movable liquid crystal monitor itself is in use. Since the display is stopped at the time of executing the function, useless power consumption can be avoided.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A single lens reflex digital still camera according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show the external structure, wherein FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a rear view.

In these figures, a zoom lens 2 is arranged on the front of a camera body 1.

A built-in flash 3 is mounted on the upper side of the zoom lens 2 on the front side of the upper surface of the camera body 1 in a prone state. In addition to the hot shoe 4 for mounting an external strobe provided in the camera, a mode selection dial 5 for setting various modes of shooting conditions by rotating operation,
A power lever 6 arranged coaxially below the mode selection dial 5, a sub dial 7 for setting various photographing conditions in combination with operation of a main dial described later, and a release button 8 for shutter release are provided.

Further, on the front surface of the camera body 1, in addition to the zoom lens 2, an infrared signal from a wireless remote controller (not shown) is received.
A remote control light-receiving window / self LED 9 which blinks when a self-timer is used, and a WB (one-push auto) input button 10 for white balance by one operation with white paper or the like as a subject are provided.

In addition, on the back of the camera body 1, an optical finder 11, an eyepiece shutter lever 12 for preventing light from entering from the optical finder 11 during self-timer shooting, a movable diagonal, for example, Is set to about 5 [cm], the main dial 14 for setting various photographing conditions in combination with the operation of the sub dial 7, and the liquid crystal monitor 13 is set on (lighting) / off (light off). LCD monitor ON / OFF button 1
5. Menu button 16 for displaying menu items on liquid crystal monitor 13, cross button 17 for selecting items displayed on liquid crystal monitor 13, OK button 18 for selecting selected items, card to be described later Card lid lock lever 19 for restricting inadvertent opening and closing of the lid,
AEL button 20 for temporarily locking the automatic exposure state, a card cover 21 for covering a storage portion of a memory card as a recording medium, a card LED 22 for displaying an indication of a mounted state of a memory card, display / non-display of image information , A protect button 24 for setting a captured image to a protected state, and a one-frame erase button 25 for erasing an image displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 13 frame by frame.

The liquid crystal monitor 13 is movable as described above, and although not shown here, by operating a lock release button 26, which will be described later, provided on the left side of the camera body 1, the liquid crystal monitor 13 is locked in the storage position. And can be pulled out and set to an arbitrary mounting angle.

The movable state of the liquid crystal monitor 13 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2A, when the lock release button 26 on the left side of the camera body 1 is slid with fingers in the direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure, the liquid crystal monitor 13 is moved from the stored state to the hinge around the lower end thereof. By the mechanism, the upper end side can be widely opened as shown by arrow B.

At this time, assuming that the angle at which the liquid crystal monitor 13 opens is about 20 ° at the maximum as shown in the figure, the liquid crystal monitor 13 is opened as shown in FIG. With the upper end as the center, the lower end is also enlarged by the hinge mechanism as shown by arrow C,
For example, it can be opened at a maximum of 110 °.

The mounting angle of the liquid crystal monitor 13 can basically be fixed at any position within the above range, so that the liquid crystal monitor 13 can be fixed at a low angle, for example, when photographing a subject from a low angle. It can be used as a finder.

Next, the configuration of an electronic circuit in the camera body 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 3, a light image of a subject incident via the image pickup lens 31 in the photographing mode is formed on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 32.

The image pickup device 32 is, for example, a primary color system (RG
B) is configured by a CCD having a color filter, and is driven and controlled by a system controller 33 described later. Image data obtained by photoelectric conversion is output to a digital process circuit 34.

The digital process circuit 34 includes the image sensor 3
2 is developed and stored in the frame memory 35. This frame memory 35 is stored in a memory controller 36 based on control from the system controller 33.
Controls the address and the like. The digital process circuit 3 controls the image data stored in the frame memory 35.
Reference numeral 4 denotes each of image data of a main image and a thumbnail image resized after performing image processing such as white balance adjustment, gradation conversion, color conversion (conversion of primary color image data to luminance color difference image data), sharpness adjustment, and the like. Generate

The image data of the main image is read out from the frame memory 35 to the compression / expansion circuit 37, and is compressed by the compression / expansion circuit 37 according to the data compression method selected and set in advance by the digital camera. The output is sent to the first card interface 39 or the second card interface 40 via the selector 38 for switching and selecting the output according to the signal from the system controller 33.

The image data of the thumbnail image is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 13 and read out from the frame memory 35 to the compression / expansion circuit 37. The image data is JPEG (Joint Photograph) with a predetermined compression ratio.
The data is compressed by a coding experts group (coding Experts Group) method, and then transmitted to the first card interface 39 or the second card interface 40 via the selector 38.

Here, the image data of the main image is described as J
Only when the selection setting for compressing in the PEG format is made, both the main image data and the thumbnail image data are combined into one and the first card interface 39 or the second card It is sent to the interface 40.

Thus, the first card interface 39 converts the image data received through the selector 38 into the first
Memory card 4 installed in slot 41 of
After the data is appropriately converted in accordance with the file format of No. 2 and written into the first memory card 42.

The presence or absence of the first memory card 42 in the first slot 41 is determined by the first slot 4
1 is detected by the slot mounting detecting means 43 constituted by, for example, a micro switch, and the detection signal is sent to the system controller 33.

Similarly, the second card interface 40 appropriately converts the image data received via the selector 38 in accordance with the file format of the second memory card 45 mounted on the second slot 44. Writing to the second memory card 45.

The presence or absence of the second memory card 45 in the second slot 44 is determined by the second slot 4
The detection signal is sent to the system controller 33 by the slot attachment detection means 46 provided in 4, for example, composed of a microswitch.

The first memory card 42 and the second memory card 45 enclose flash memories according to different standards, respectively.
For example, the first memory card 42 is stored in a smart media (registered trademark), and the second memory card 45 is stored in a compact flash (registered trademark).
It is assumed that

The system controller 33 has an EEPROM
The operation of the entire digital camera is controlled in accordance with an operation program fixedly stored in M47.
Here, an internal timer (not shown) is provided, and signals corresponding to the operation of the various buttons and dials shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are directly input. A control signal is given to each circuit.

The system controller 33 is also connected to a calendar circuit 48 for measuring the date and time at that time and an LCD 49 in the finder for displaying the operation status in the optical finder 11, and controls these operations. .

In addition, the system controller 33 has a liquid crystal monitor unlock detection switch (SW) that generates a detection signal when the lock release button 26 shown in FIG. 2 is operated.
50, a liquid crystal monitor storage / non-storage state detection switch (SW) 51 for generating a detection signal when the liquid crystal monitor 13 is pulled out to some extent as shown in FIG. 2 (1), and the liquid crystal monitor ON / OFF button 15 Is directly input to execute a control operation described later.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the structure of the liquid crystal monitor storage / non-storage state detection switch 51. In the figure, the terminals of the liquid crystal monitor storage / non-storage state detection switch 51 are separated when the liquid crystal monitor 13 is stored,
As shown in FIG. 2A, the liquid crystal monitor 13 is turned on to some extent, for example, by being pulled out by 20 °, so that the voltage V applied to one of the terminals is connected to the other side of the terminal via the resistor R. The detection signal I falls to the ground level.
The structure is such that the system controller 33 detects NT2.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

FIG. 5 shows the contents of processing executed by the system controller 33 for turning on / off the liquid crystal monitor 13 in the photographing mode.
Is not lit, whether or not there is any operation of various buttons and dials related to photographing (step S01), and whether or not the self-timer function has been set and released by photographing completion (step S0).
3) In response to the detection signal from the liquid crystal monitor storage / non-storage state detection switch 51 also described in FIG.
3 has been detected (step S0).
4) Whether the lock release button 26 also shown in FIG. 2 is operated by the detection signal from the liquid crystal monitor lock release detection switch 50 (step S05), and whether the liquid crystal monitor ON / OFF button 15 is operated (Step S06) is repeatedly determined to wait for these.

If it is determined in step S01 that there is any operation of various buttons and dials related to photographing, the detection signal from the liquid crystal monitor storage / non-storage state detection switch 51 at that time is renewed. Thus, it is determined whether or not the liquid crystal monitor 13 is in a non-storing state in which the liquid crystal monitor 13 is pulled out to a certain extent or more (step S02).

Here, when it is determined that the liquid crystal monitor 13 is not in the non-storing state but is housed, the process proceeds to step S03, and shifts to the state of waiting as described above.

In step S02, the liquid crystal monitor 1
3 is determined to be in the non-storing state, or when it is determined in step S03 that the self-timer function has been released upon completion of shooting, or when it is determined in step S04 that the liquid crystal monitor 13 has been pulled out. Or the unlock button 2 in step S05
If it is determined that the LCD monitor 6 has been operated, or if it is determined in step S06 that the LCD monitor ON / OFF button 15 has been operated, the system controller 33 starts time measurement by an internal timer that counts a preset lighting time. (Step S07), the liquid crystal monitor 13 is driven to be turned on, and the image formed on the image sensor 32 at that time is displayed on the monitor (Step S08).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the count value of the internal timer has exceeded the preset lighting time of the liquid crystal monitor 13 (step S09), and whether or not the self-timer mode has been set and the photographing has been started (step S09). S10), whether or not the liquid crystal monitor ON / OFF button 15 has been operated (step S11), and whether or not a designation operation for changing and setting the time for continuously turning on the liquid crystal monitor 13 in the shooting mode has been performed (step S12). ), Step S01
In the same manner as in the above, it is repeatedly determined whether or not there are any operations such as various buttons and dials related to photographing (step S13), and the process stands by.

If it is determined in step S13 that there has been any operation of various buttons and dials related to photographing, the timer value of the internal timer of the system controller 33 is reset to update and set the lighting time of the liquid crystal monitor 13. To start the timing again (step S1).
4), the process proceeds from the step S09.

If it is determined in step S12 that a designation operation for changing and setting the lighting time of the liquid crystal monitor 13 is performed, the lighting time is shortened or extended within the set range in accordance with a predetermined operation procedure. (Step S15), and based on the changed time, reset the time value of the internal timer of the system controller 33 in Step S14 and start the time measurement again. Then, the processing from Step S09 is performed again. Move to

When it is determined in step S09 that the time counted by the internal timer has exceeded the preset lighting time of the liquid crystal monitor 13, or in step S1.
0, it is determined that shooting in the self-timer mode has started, or the liquid crystal monitor is turned on in step S11.
If the system controller 33 determines that the / OFF button 15 has been operated, the system controller 33 stops driving the liquid crystal monitor 13 to turn off the monitor display (step S16), and then proceeds to the processing of steps S01, 03 to S06 again. Then, it waits for the timing to turn on the liquid crystal monitor 13 again.

As described above, when the unlock button 26 is operated while the liquid crystal monitor 13 is in the housed state, or when the liquid crystal monitor 13 is pulled out of the housed position, the liquid crystal monitor is automatically displayed. In the shooting mode where you want to avoid a complicated operation and avoid missing a shooting opportunity, you do not need to operate the buttons to turn on the LCD monitor, etc. Operability can be improved.

In addition, since the time for continuously displaying the liquid crystal monitor 13 is limited and the user can arbitrarily change the time, the user can change the time according to the convenience of the user.
Power supplies with limited capacity can be used more effectively while avoiding unnecessary consumption.

In controlling the continuous lighting time of the liquid crystal monitor 13, if the photographing operation member is operated, the time during the counting is updated to the original value again. Unnecessary power consumption can be further avoided while performing finer control.

In addition, although the movable liquid crystal monitor 13 itself is in use, the liquid crystal monitor 13 is not used when the photographing is executed in the self-timer mode in which the display is temporarily unnecessary.
Is temporarily stopped, so that wasteful power consumption can be avoided.

Although the above-described embodiment is applied to a single-lens reflex digital still camera having a movable liquid crystal monitor 13, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to a video camera that has a liquid crystal monitor that can be detached from the camera body, and can be controlled when the liquid crystal monitor is mounted. Conceivable.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the gist of the invention.

Furthermore, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiments, at least one of the problems described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved and the effects described in the column of the effect of the invention can be solved. In a case where at least one of the effects described above is obtained, a configuration in which this component is deleted can be extracted as an invention.

[0061]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the display of the liquid crystal monitor is automatically started when the lock of the liquid crystal monitor is released, there is no need to additionally operate a button for instructing the liquid crystal monitor to be turned on. The operability during use can be improved by simplifying the operation as necessary.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the liquid crystal monitor is pulled out of the storage position, the display of the liquid crystal monitor is automatically started, so that there is no need for another button operation or the like for instructing to turn on the liquid crystal monitor. Thus, the operability during use can be improved by simplifying the operation as necessary.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect of the present invention, the time for continuously displaying the liquid crystal monitor is limited, and the user can arbitrarily set the time. Since it can be changed, it is possible to more effectively use a power supply having a limited capacity while avoiding wasteful consumption in accordance with the usability of the user.

According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effects of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3, the presence or absence of display on the liquid crystal monitor when the state of using the liquid crystal monitor is detected. Is controlled in conjunction with the operation state of the shooting operation member, so that the lighting of the liquid crystal monitor can be more finely controlled, and wasteful power consumption can be further avoided.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect of the present invention, although the movable liquid crystal monitor itself is in use, display is temporarily unnecessary. Since the display is stopped when the self-timer function is executed, useless power consumption can be further avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view and a rear view showing an external configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a drawing state of the liquid crystal monitor according to the embodiment;
The perspective view showing a movable state.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a structural example of a liquid crystal monitor storage / non-storage state detection switch of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of a lighting control process of the liquid crystal monitor in a shooting mode according to the embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera body 2 ... Zoom lens 3 ... Built-in flash 4 ... Hot shoe 5 ... Mode selection dial 6 ... Power lever 7 ... Sub dial 8 ... Sub dial 9 ... Remote control light receiving window / self LED 10 ... WB (one push auto) input Button 11 Optical finder 12 Eyepiece shutter lever 13 LCD monitor 14 Main dial 15 LCD monitor ON / OFF button 16 Menu button 17 Cross button 18 OK button 19 Card cover lock lever 20 AEL button 21 Card cover 22 ... Card LED 23 ... INFO button 24 ... Protect button 25 ... Erase single frame button 26 ... Unlock button 31 ... Imaging lens 32 ... Imaging element 33 ... System controller 34 ... Digital process circuit 35 ... Frame memory 36 ... Memory controller 37 ... Compression / decompression circuit 38 ... Selector 39 ... First card interface 40 ... Second card interface 41 ... First slot 42 ... First memory card 43 ... Slot mounting detecting means 44 ... Second slot 45 second memory card 46 slot mounting detecting means 47 EEPROM 48 calendar circuit 49 LCD in finder 50 liquid crystal monitor lock release detection switch (SW) 51 liquid crystal monitor storage / non-storage state detection switch (S
W)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal monitor capable of changing a mounting angle with respect to a camera body, a lock means for locking the liquid crystal monitor in a state housed in the camera body, a detection means for detecting release of a locked state by the lock means, And a monitor control means for starting display on the liquid crystal monitor in response to a detection signal of the means. 2. A liquid crystal monitor capable of changing a mounting angle with respect to the camera body, a detecting means for detecting when the liquid crystal monitor is pulled out of a storage position of the camera body, and a detecting signal corresponding to a detection signal of the detecting means. A digital camera, comprising: monitor control means for starting display on a liquid crystal monitor. 3. The monitor control means has timekeeping means for performing timekeeping for displaying the liquid crystal monitor for a predetermined time, and time changing means for changing a predetermined time measured by the timekeeping means. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The monitor control means according to an operation of a plurality of photographing operation members provided on the camera body, and controls the presence or absence of the display on the liquid crystal monitor together with the detection result of the detection means. The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein 5. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said digital camera has a self-timer function, and said monitor control means stops displaying on said liquid crystal monitor when said self-timer function is executed. camera.