JP2003330090A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera fixed by a magnet and improved in terms of operability and nobility. <P>SOLUTION: The camera has a main body part 10 and an accessory part 20 equipped with the magnet 25, attachably/detachably attached to the main body part 10 and holding a camera main body in a state where it is attracted to magnetic substance when the accessory part 20 is attached. In the camera, the main body part 10 has an ordinary operation mode in which photographing action is relatively rapidly performed after image pickup operation is performed and a self-timer mode in which the photographing action is performed after counting specified time after photographing operation is performed, and is equipped with a mode shifting means 18 shifting the mode to the self-timer mode when the accessory part 20 is attached. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera that can be fixed with a magnet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a subject is photographed by a camera, a normal operation mode in which a photograph is taken when an operator operates a shutter button and a photograph is taken after a lapse of a certain time after the operator operates the shutter button. There is a self-timer mode that is performed, and switching between the normal operation mode and the self-timer mode is performed by operating a changeover switch on the front of the camera, for example.

In recent years, electronic devices have been made lighter and thinner due to the development of mobile devices such as mobile phones and notebook computers, and cameras have also been made smaller and lighter. As a result, the operability and functionality tend to be simplified, and the tripod, which is heavier and more bulky than the camera body, is actually shunned and rarely carried, and a simple alternative to this. Is proposed.

For example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-50445, a magnet is attached to the surface of the camera to fix it to an iron daily commodities, and the angle is changed by changing the surface of the camera to which the magnet is attached. A camera is disclosed.

Further, in the registered utility model No. 3029864, a camera fixing device in which a magnetic attraction means is detachably attached to an outer surface of a camera body, and a magnetic attraction means is attached to an attachment detachable in the camera body. A camera fixing device is disclosed.

According to these, when taking a picture using the self-timer function, even if there is no camera fixing means such as a tripod, the camera can be easily fixed to an alternative means such as an iron door, a pillar or a whiteboard. There is an advantage that can be done.

[0007]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-50445 and registered utility model No. 3029864
The attraction force of the magnet attached to the camera by the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication is weaker than that when the camera is mechanically fixed. Therefore, after fixing the camera with the magnet, the shooting mode is set or the shooting condition is set. When the camera is touched for setting, the camera angle changes and it is often necessary to adjust the angle again. In addition, there is a problem that the time required for the angle adjustment is too long as compared with the case where the camera is mechanically fixed.

In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera which can be fixed using a magnet and which has further improved operability and mobility.

[0009]

A camera of the present invention which achieves the above object comprises a main body for picking up an image of a subject and a magnet attracting a magnetic material, and is detachably attached to the main body so that the In a camera having an accessory that holds the camera body in a state of being attracted to a magnetic material, the body section measures a normal operation mode in which a shooting operation is performed relatively quickly after a shooting operation and a predetermined time after the shooting operation. A self-timer mode for performing a photographing operation later is provided, and a mode transition means for transitioning to the self-timer mode upon receiving the attachment of the accessory is provided.

As described above, the camera body automatically shifts the photographing mode to the self-timer mode in response to the attachment of the accessory portion having the magnet, so that the maneuverability is improved.

Here, it is also a preferable aspect that the main body portion is provided with a mode switching operator for switching between the normal operation mode and the self-timer mode.

As described above, if the mode switching operator is provided, the camera is a normal camera for switching the photographing mode when the accessory is not attached, and the photographing mode is the self-timer mode from the beginning when the accessory is attached. It can be used as a camera set to and the functionality is improved.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the camera of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the camera of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic front view. The camera shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a camera body 10 that controls an autofocus function and an autoexposure function by a built-in CPU (not shown), and shoots a subject, and a magnet 25 attracted to a magnetic material such as iron. In addition, it has an attachment part 20 that is attached to the camera body 10 in a detachable manner so that the camera body 10 is attracted and fixed to iron or the like.

The camera body 10 and the accessory section 20 are locked on the side surface of the accessory section 20 to be mounted on the camera body 10, by locking the locking section 17 of the camera body 10.
By detecting the first lock claw 21 and the second lock claw 22 and the detection switch 18 of the camera body 10 and contacting the contacts of the detection switch 18, it is detected that the accessory 20 is attached to the camera body 10. And a hook 23 for The camera body 1 is attached to the front of the attachment unit 20.
There is a lock release button 24 for releasing the first lock claw 21 and the second lock claw 22 locked to the locking part 17 of 0 from the locking from the respective locking parts 17. Further, a flat magnet 25 is fixed to the surface of the attachment portion 20 opposite to the side surface attached to the camera body 10.

Here, the magnet 25 does not necessarily have to be flat, and can be arbitrarily set in consideration of the shape of the magnetic body to be attracted. Further, the magnet 25 is attached to the attachment part 20.
It does not need to be fixed to, and can be detachably attached.

An image pickup lens 11 is provided on the front of the camera body 10.
And a lens barrel portion 12 for moving the imaging lens 11 back and forth,
A flash emission window 13 that emits a flash of light, a viewfinder 14 that determines the composition of the subject, and switching between shooting modes,
There is a mode switching operator 15, and a shutter button 16 for photographing is provided on the upper surface. Further, on the side surface on the side where the attachment part 20 is mounted, a locking part 17 for locking the first lock claw 21 and the second lock claw 22, respectively, and the attachment part 20.
There is a detection switch 18 which detects that the attachment part 20 is attached to the camera body 10 by closing the contact when the hook 23 is pressed. The detection switch 18 of the present embodiment corresponds to the mode shifting means of the present invention.

When attaching the accessory part 20 to the camera body 10, the first lock claw 21 and the second lock claw 22 of the accessory part 20 are locked to the corresponding locking parts 17 of the camera body 10. By this, the accessory part 20 and the camera body 1
Fix 0 and. In addition, when the accessory 20 is separated from the camera body 10, the lock release button 24 is pressed to move the first part.
The locks of the lock claw 21 and the second lock claw 22 are released from the locks 17, and the accessory 20 and the camera body 10 can be separated.

When the mode switching operator 15 is operated, the photographing mode is switched to the self-timer mode,
Since a timer (not shown) built in the camera body 10 is set, when the shutter button 16 is pressed, for example, photographing is performed after 10 seconds. Then, when the photographing is completed, the mode returns to the normal mode. When the mode switching operator 15 is not operated, the shooting mode remains the normal operation mode, and therefore, shooting is performed when the shutter button 16 is pressed.

Further, the hook 23 of the attachment 20 pushes the contact of the detection switch 18 of the camera body 10 to close it,
When it is detected that the attachment unit 20 is attached to the camera body 10, the photographing mode is automatically switched to the self-timer mode. In this case, unlike the case of switching by the mode switching operator 15, the shooting mode does not return to the normal operation mode even after the shooting is completed, the accessory section 20 and the camera body 10 are separated, and the contact point of the detection switch 18 is changed. Restores normal operating mode when opened.

FIG. 3 shows a CPU built in the camera body.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a detection switch and a mode switching operator.

In FIG. 3, when the mode switching operator 15 is operated, the CPU 30 switches the photographing mode to the self-timer mode 31. Next, when the shutter button is pressed, the CPU 30 causes the timer 19 built in the camera body 10 to start timekeeping, and the timer is set to, for example, 10 seconds.
The shutter operates when the seconds are timed. When the shutter operates and the photographing is completed, the CPU 30 returns the mode switching operator 15 to the normal operation mode 32.

When the mode switching operator 15 is not operated, the CPU 30 keeps the photographing mode in the normal operation mode 32. Therefore, when the shutter button is pressed, the shutter operates and the photographing ends.

Further, when the detection switch 18 of the camera body is pushed by the hook of the attachment part and the detection switch 18 detects that the attachment part is attached to the camera body, C
The PU 30 switches the shooting mode to the self-timer mode 31. In this case, unlike the case of switching by the mode switching operator 15, the CPU 30 maintains the self-timer mode 31 as the shooting mode without returning to the normal mode 32 even if the shutter is operated and the shooting is completed. When the detection switch 18 detects that the unit and the camera body are separated, the CPU 30 returns the shooting mode from the self-timer mode 31 to the operation mode by the mode switching operator 15.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the photographing mode control procedure by the CPU.

In FIG. 4, when the power of the camera is turned on (S-1), the CPU detects whether or not the accessory is attached to the camera body by operating the detection switch (S-).
2) If it is determined that the camera is attached, the shooting mode is switched to the self-timer mode (S-3).

Then, the photographing mode is maintained in the self-timer mode while the accessory is attached to the main body (S-2, S-3).

When the accessory part and the camera body are separated,
Alternatively, when the accessory and the main body are separated from the beginning, the CPU determines whether the mode switching operator is in the self-timer mode or the normal mode (S-4). Then, when the mode switching operator is operated to enter the self-timer mode, the shutter is operated after the shutter button is pressed, for example, after 10 seconds have elapsed, the shutter is operated to perform photographing (S-5). After the shooting is completed, the normal mode is returned to prepare for the next operation (S-
7).

On the other hand, when the CPU determines that the mode switching operator is in the normal mode, the CPU operates the shutter when the shutter button is pressed to perform photographing (S
-6) When the operation is completed, prepare for the next operation (S-
7).

[0030]

As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, the camera body automatically switches the photographing mode to the self-timer mode in response to the attachment of the accessory portion having the magnet. The angle changes with the manual operation switching of the shooting mode, and it is freed from the trouble of adjusting the angle, and the shutter chance is not missed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a camera of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the camera of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between a CPU incorporated in the camera body, a detection switch, and a mode switching operator.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a shooting mode control procedure by a CPU.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 camera body 11 Imaging lens 12 Lens barrel 13 Flash emission window 14 Finder 15 Mode switching operator 16 Shutter button 17 Locking part 18 Detection switch 19 timer 20 Attachment 21 First Lock Claw 22 Second lock claw 23 hook 24 Unlock button 25 magnets 30 CPU 31 Self-timer mode 32 Normal operation mode

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A body part for photographing a subject and a magnet for adsorbing to a magnetic body, and an attachment part detachably mounted on the body part for holding the camera body in a state of being attracted to the magnetic body when mounted. In the camera having, the main body section has a normal operation mode in which the photographing operation is performed relatively quickly after the photographing operation, and a self-timer mode in which the photographing operation is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed after the photographing operation. A mode shifter that shifts to the self-timer mode when the attachment is attached. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the main body portion includes a mode switching operator for switching between the normal operation mode and the self-timer mode.