JPH04145425A - Camera device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily recognize the degree of an inclination and to prevent an image from being recorded in an inclined state by displaying the degrees of the inclinations of this camera device and a horizontal axis inside a view finder. CONSTITUTION:When the camera device 1 is inclined with respect to the horizontal axis, even a little, an inclination sensor 9 is similarly, inclined, as well, and resistant values between terminals 15a and 15c and between terminals 15b and 15c are changed. Then, an inclination operating circuit calculates the inclination, and an image signal producing circuit for displaying the inclination produces an inclined image signal. Continuously, an image signal synthesizing circuit sends a synthesized image signal that the image signal and the inclined image signal are synthesized, to a liquid crystal display 16, and the image is displayed. An operator views displayed information, so that he or she can recognize that the camera device 1 is inclined. On the other hand, the sensor 9 is made into a sphere, a conductive fluid 13 having a very small resistant value is hermetically sealed by the half of the volume of the sphere inside of the sensor 1, and further, a thin belt-like resistant body 14 having a large resistant value is provided, inside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to camera devices such as video cameras.
Mi Cji! 1 ta 1 bidarame; i θ) 16 (1 me ichiwa chu L-: poultry hand disease) It relates to a camera device that reports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional camera devices such as video cameras use camera devices to record image information (hereinafter referred to as video).
When recording image information on a camera, the operator looks through the viewfinder installed in the camera device, performs camera operations such as zooming, panning, and tilting the camera device while viewing the image displayed on the viewfinder. A common shooting method is to record the image on video while checking the angle, field of view, arrangement, etc. of the image obtained by a camera device. Furthermore, the operator often takes his eyes off the viewfinder and records while holding it up overhead, for example.

An example of a conventional camera device will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional camera device, FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the main parts of the camera device, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the viewfinder provided in the camera git.

In FIG. 10, a camera device 1 is provided with a lens barrel section 3 that holds an optical lens system 2 for obtaining image information, and a viewfinder 4 for viewing image information. The lens barrel section 3 and the recording device section 5 that can record image information are:
They are connected by electrical signal lines (not shown). 11th
As shown in the figure, the optical information of the image obtained from the optical lens system 2 is converted into an electrical signal by an optical/electrical conversion element 6 (such as a CCD), and the electrical signal is converted into an image by an image signal conversion circuit 7. converted into a signal. When the image signal is sent to the liquid crystal display 16 provided in the viewfinder 4, the image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 16 as shown in FIG. 12, and the operation button 8 provided in the camera device 1 is operated. As a result, the image signal is transmitted to the recording device section 5, and image information can be recorded on the recording device 5.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the operator is often distracted by operating the camera device during image recording, and the camera device is tilted to the horizontal axis. Even though the camera device is slightly tilted with respect to the horizontal axis, the operator is unable to fully grasp the tilt using only the viewfinder, and the image information is recorded as is. There were many things I ended up doing. As a result, when the recorded image information is later reproduced, the resulting image becomes obliquely tilted, making it extremely difficult to view.

Additionally, the operator is sometimes forced to take his eyes off the viewfinder and record an image with his hand outstretched.

In order to improve the above problem, in the invention of Bookcase 1, when recording an image, the degree of inclination between the camera device and the horizontal axis is displayed in the viewfinder, so that when the operator looks at the viewfinder, It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera device that allows an operator to easily grasp even if the degree of inclination between the camera device and a horizontal axis is only slightly, and that can prevent images from being recorded in an inclined state. be.

Next, in the second invention, the degree of inclination between the camera device and the horizontal axis is set to a predetermined value, and when the degree of inclination exceeds the predetermined value, a warning sound is generated. or when the operator is distracted by operating the camera device and does not realize that the camera device is tilted, or the operator takes his eyes off the viewfinder and cannot grasp the tilt of the camera device. The object of the present invention is to provide a camera device that can notify an operator that the camera device is tilted beyond the permissible range and prevent images from being recorded with the camera tilted beyond the permissible range. be.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, a camera device according to a first invention includes:
A detection means for detecting the degree of inclination of the horizontal axis of the camera body with respect to the horizontal line on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical lens system of the camera device, and a configuration for displaying the detected degree of inclination on the display means. have.

In order to achieve the above object, a camera device according to a second aspect of the invention includes a detection means for detecting the degree of inclination of a horizontal axis of a camera body with respect to a horizontal line on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of an optical lens system of the camera device. and an inclination setting means for setting the degree of inclination to a predetermined value, and an informing means, and when the value of the inclination degree detected by the detecting means is larger than the value set by the inclination setting means, the notifying means is provided. It has a configuration to notify.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the camera device is slightly tilted, the operator can immediately know that the camera device is tilted by looking at the display means.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the camera device is tilted beyond a permissible range, it is possible to notify the operator that the camera device is abnormally tilted even if the operator is not looking at the finder.

Embodiment A camera device according to an embodiment of the first invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the main parts of a camera device which is an embodiment of the first invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera device.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the tilt sensor provided in the camera device, viewed from the front, and FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the tilt sensor.
Figure 5 is a front cross-sectional view for explaining when the tilt sensor is tilted, and Figures 6 (a), (b), and (c) are displays on the liquid crystal display in the viewfinder similarly provided in the camera device. FIG.

In FIG. 2, a camera device 1 is provided with a lens barrel section 3 that holds an optical lens system 2 for obtaining image information, and a viewfinder 4 for viewing image information. The lens barrel section 3 and a recording device section 5 capable of recording image information are connected by an electric signal line (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, the optical information of the image obtained from the optical lens system 2 is converted into an electrical signal by an optical/electrical conversion element 6 (such as a CCD), and the electrical signal is converted by an image signal conversion circuit 7. It is converted into an image signal Z and sent to the recording device section 5.

By operating the operation button 8, the recording operation section 5 can record the sent image signal.

Further, the camera device 1 includes a tilt sensor 9 shown in FIG. 1, a tilt angle calculation circuit 10, a tilt display image signal generation circuit 11,
An image signal synthesis circuit 12 is incorporated. As shown in FIG. 3, the inclination sensor 9 has a spherical shape, and a conductive fluid 13 having a very low resistance value is sealed inside the spherical inner volume by half of the spherical inner volume. Furthermore, a thin band-shaped resistor 14 with a large resistance value is provided inside, and terminals 15 a, 15 b and a common terminal 15 c are connected to the ends thereof. It is integrated into the camera device 1 so that it is parallel to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical lens system 2 or to the plane A made of the resistor 14, and the axis BC on the plane A coincides with the horizontal axis of the camera device 1. It is structured as follows.

When the camera device 1 is tilted with respect to the horizon, the tilt sensor 9
is also tilted in the same way, resulting in the state shown in FIG.

In FIG. 5, since the resistance value of the conductive fluid 14 is small, the actual resistance value between the terminals 15a and 15c is
Similarly, the actual resistance value between the terminals 15b and 15c is the resistance value between the terminal 15b and the E section. Based on this change in resistance value, the tilt angle calculation circuit 10 calculates the tilt angle. The tilt display image signal creation circuit 11 creates a tilt image signal representing the tilt angle based on the calculated tilt angle. The image signal synthesis circuit 12 synthesizes the image signal Z and the tilted image signal, creates a composite image signal as shown in FIGS. 6(a), (b), and (c), and displays the composite image signal on the liquid crystal display 16. send.

Below, Figures 1 to 6 (a), (b), (
The operation will be explained using c).

First, in FIG. 2, when the operator operates the operation button 8 while looking into the liquid crystal display 16 in the viewfinder 4, the image information obtained from the optical lens system 2 is transferred to the optical/electric conversion element 6, which converts the image signal. The signal begins to be recorded in the recording device section 5 as an image signal Z via the circuit 7. If the camera device 1 is tilted even slightly with respect to the horizontal axis during recording, the tilt sensor 9 will also tilt, and the distance between the terminals 15a and 15c and the terminal 1
The resistance value between 5b and 15c changes, and the inclination angle calculation circuit 10
calculates the tilt angle, and the tilt display image signal creation circuit 11 creates a tilt image signal. Next, the image signal synthesis circuit 12
sends a composite image signal obtained by combining the image signal Z and the tilted image signal to the liquid crystal display 16, and displays the image on the liquid crystal display 16 as shown in FIG. 6(a).

Images such as those shown in (b) and (c) are displayed. By looking at the displayed information, the operator can easily understand whether the camera device 1 is tilted.

In the above, the detection means includes the tilt sensor 9 in a narrow sense, the tilt angle calculation circuit 10 in a broad sense, and the liquid crystal display 16 in a narrow sense, and the image signal generation circuit 11 for tilt display and the image signal synthesis circuit in a broad sense. 12 is defined as display means.

In this embodiment, an optical lens system 2 is mounted on the liquid crystal display 16.
Either the image information obtained from the image information and the tilt information are combined and displayed, or the tilt information is displayed by other means, such as an LED in the viewfinder 4, and the tilt information is displayed by lighting the LED in the viewfinder 4. It is clear that the same effect as in this embodiment can be obtained even if the degree of inclination is displayed by a method such as displaying the degree of inclination by the degree of 7-blinking of lights.

Next, an embodiment of the second invention will be described.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of main parts of a camera device which is an embodiment of the second invention, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the camera device.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the tilt setting dial similarly provided in the camera device.

Hereinafter, parts with the same functions as those already described are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted.

In the camera device 1 in FIG. 8, as shown in FIG. 2, optical information of an image obtained from an optical lens system 2 is converted into an electric signal by an optical/electrical conversion element 6 (CCD), and image signal conversion is performed. The electrical signal is converted into an image signal by the circuit 7 and sent to the recording device section 5. Further, the camera device 1 includes a tilt sensor 9, a tilt calculation circuit 10, a tilt setting dial 20, a tilt permissible angle calculation circuit 21, a comparison circuit 22, a sound generation circuit 23, and a buzzer 24 shown in FIG. The tilt sensor 9 and the tilt angle calculation circuit 1o are the same as those used in the first embodiment.

The tilt setting dial 20 is installed in a part of the camera device 1 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the tilt setting dial 20 is rotatably held and can be set to a desired rotational position. The permissible tilt angle calculation circuit 21 calculates the permissible tilt angle according to the rotational position of the tilt setting dial 20. The comparison circuit 22 compares the inclination angle calculated by the inclination angle calculation circuit lO with the allowable inclination angle calculated by the inclination allowable angle calculation circuit 21, and sends a signal to the sound generation circuit 23 only when the inclination angle exceeds the allowable inclination angle. send a force signal. When the sound generation circuit 23 receives the trigger signal, it causes a current to flow through the buzzer 24. The buzzer 24 emits a sound when current flows.

The operation will be explained below using FIGS. 7 to 9.

First, in FIG. 8, the operator turns the inclination setting dial 20 in advance to set it to a desired value. Depending on the rotational position of the tilt setting dial 20, a tilt permissible angle calculation circuit 21 calculates a tilt permissible angle. In this state, the operator displays the liquid crystal display 16 in the viewfinder 4.
When the user operates the operation button 8 while looking into the camera, the image information obtained from the optical lens system 2 begins to be recorded as an image signal in the recording device section 5 via the optical/electric conversion element 6 and the image signal conversion circuit 7. During recording, the comparator circuit 22 constantly compares the tilt angle calculated by the tilt angle calculation circuit 10 with the permissible tilt angle calculated by the permissible tilt angle calculation circuit 21. When the horizontal axis also tilts significantly, the comparison circuit 22 sends a trigger signal to the sound generation circuit 23, and as a result, the buzzer 24 sounds. By hearing the sound of the buzzer 24, the operator can easily understand that the camera device 1 is tilted more than the permissible tilt angle, even if the operator takes his eyes off the viewfinder 16.

In this embodiment, a buzzer 2 is used as a means of notifying the operator.
4 was used, but when simultaneously recording with a camera or a microphone installed near the camera, instead of the sound generating circuit 23 and buzzer 24 as a notification means, for example, a lamp or the like is placed in an easily visible place outside the camera ( (not shown)
It is also possible to provide one or more of them and make them turn on or blink.It is more convenient if the output of the comparator circuit 22 is set so that the blinking speed is proportional to the inclination angle. It is clear that effects similar to those of this embodiment can be obtained even if visually appealed to in this way.

Here, the comparison circuit 22. Sound generation circuit 23. A buzzer 24 is used as a notification means, and when a lamp or the like is used instead of the buzzer, a lamp and a circuit for blinking the lamp are included in the notification means.

Note that the present invention may be applied to still cameras, video still cameras, and the like. Furthermore, the recording device section may be separate from the camera section.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the first invention provides a detection means for detecting the degree of inclination of the horizontal axis of the camera body with respect to the horizontal line on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical lens system, and detects the degree of inclination of the horizontal axis of the camera body with respect to the horizontal line. By displaying the degree on the display means, even if the camera device is slightly tilted, the operator can immediately know that the camera device is tilted by looking at the display means.

A second invention also provides a detection means for detecting the degree of inclination of the horizontal axis of the camera body on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical lens system of the camera device with respect to the horizontal line; and a notification means.
When the value of the degree of inclination detected by the detection means is larger than the value set by the inclination setting means, the notification means notifies the operator that the camera is tilted beyond a preset allowable range. It can alert you that the device is tilted abnormally.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of main parts of a camera device according to an embodiment of the first invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera device, and FIG.
The figure is a sectional view of the tilt sensor provided in the camera device as seen from the front, Figure 4 is a side sectional view of the tilt sensor, and Figure 5 is a side sectional view of the tilt sensor.
The figure is also a front sectional view for explaining when the tilt sensor is tilted, and Figures 6 (a), (b), and (c) are the display states of the liquid crystal display in the viewfinder provided in the camera device. 7 is a block diagram of the main parts of a camera device according to an embodiment of the second invention, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the camera device, and FIG. 9 is a tilt setting dial provided on the camera device. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional camera device, FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the main parts of the camera device, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the inside of a viewfinder provided in the same camera device. . 1... Camera device, 2... Optical lens system, 4...
...Viewfinder, 9...Tilt sensor, 10
... Tilt angle calculation circuit, 11... Image creation circuit for tilt display, 12... Image signal synthesis circuit, 20
...Incline setting dial, 22...Comparison circuit,
23...Sound generation circuit, 24...Name of buzzer agent, patent attorney Akira Okaji, and others 28 Figure Figure! ? In particular L -) 癲口') LIJ U)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An optical lens system, a detection means for detecting the degree of inclination of the horizontal axis of the camera body with respect to the horizontal line on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of this optical lens system, and the degree of inclination detected by this detection means A camera device comprising display means for displaying. (2) An optical lens system, a detection means for detecting the degree of inclination of the horizontal axis of the camera body with respect to the horizontal line on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical lens system, and setting the degree of inclination to a predetermined value. 1. A camera device comprising: a tilt setting means for determining the degree of tilt; and a notifying means for notifying when the value of the degree of tilt detected by the detecting means is larger than the value set by the tilt setting means.