JP5461739B1 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a digital camera having a simple structure and capable of rotating an electronic display vertically and horizontally with one touch in accordance with low-angle shooting.
A camera body 2 and a liquid crystal display 3 are connected to each other, a connection member 4 that supports the camera body 2 so as to be rotatable about the X axis and the Y axis, and a connection member 4 that is disposed on the X axis. A first engaging shaft portion 51 provided so as to be capable of reciprocating along the X axis, and a first engaged portion 52 detachably engaged with the first engaging shaft portion 51. A first locking mechanism 5 provided; a second engagement shaft portion 61 disposed on the Y axis so as to face the connecting member 4 and reciprocally movable along the Y axis; and a second engagement A second locking mechanism 6 including a second engaged portion 62 detachably engaged with the shaft portion 61, and the camera body 2 is recessed in the surface 2 s of the camera body 2. The outer surface 3 s of the liquid crystal display 3 is formed by cutting out a part of the inner peripheral wall 21 a of the housing recess 21 that is provided and accommodates the liquid crystal display 3. Digital camera 1 is provided with a slit 22 which exposed.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera. In particular, when a digital camera is used at a low angle, a digital camera capable of rotating an electronic display vertically and horizontally with one touch is provided.

  Conventionally, in a digital camera, the vertical screen position and the horizontal screen position are separately shot by rotating the camera around the optical axis of the photographing lens in accordance with the size and orientation of the subject.

  However, when the camera lens is directed to a position close to the horizontal direction in order to shoot at an extremely low position, in so-called low-angle shooting, it is necessary to lie on the ground, or a 90-degree conversion prism. Or, a problem arises in that a reflector must be attached to the viewfinder.

  Therefore, in shooting at extremely low positions, the angle of the electronic display is changed to vertical and horizontal so that the photographer can easily look into the electronic display according to the vertical screen position and horizontal screen position of the digital camera. Known.

  As such a digital camera, a hinge unit that couples a camera body having an imaging lens and an electronic display, and a hinge unit that pivotally supports the camera body so as to be rotatable by 90 ° about the first direction. A first rotation shaft, a second rotation shaft that pivotally supports the electronic display so as to be able to rotate 90 ° around the second direction with respect to the hinge unit, and a first body that connects the main body portion and the hinge unit so as to be freely opened and closed. There is known a quick release mechanism, a second quick release mechanism that connects the hinge unit and the electronic display so as to be freely opened and closed, and the electronic display can be rotated vertically and horizontally (see Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 5296270

  However, since the digital camera as described above is provided with a hinge unit between the electronic display and the camera body, the structure of the digital camera becomes complicated and there is a possibility that the manufacturing burden becomes heavy.

  Also, when releasing the first quick release mechanism or the second quick release mechanism, the electronic display or hinge unit is flipped upward by a spring or the like so that the photographer can easily pick up the electronic display or hinge unit with a finger. However, there is a problem that the digital camera becomes complicated and large.

  Therefore, a technical problem to be solved arises in order to rotate the electronic display vertically and horizontally with one touch in accordance with low angle shooting. The present invention aims to solve this problem.

  The present invention has been proposed to achieve the above object, and the invention according to claim 1 is a digital camera comprising a camera body having an imaging lens and an electronic display for displaying an image captured by the imaging lens. A connecting member that connects the camera body and the electronic display, and supports the camera body so as to be rotatable about a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis. A first engagement shaft portion disposed on the first rotation shaft so as to face the coupling member and reciprocally movable along the first rotation shaft; and the first engagement A first locking mechanism including a first engaged portion that removably engages with the shaft portion, and the second locking shaft disposed on the second rotating shaft so as to face the coupling member. A second engagement shaft portion reciprocally movable along the rotation axis of A second locking mechanism that is detachably engaged with the two engaging shafts, and the camera body is recessed on the surface of the camera body. The digital camera is provided with a slit formed by cutting out at least a part of the inner peripheral wall of the housing recess for housing the electronic display and exposing the outer surface of the electronic display to the outside.

  According to this configuration, the electronic display can be rotated around the second rotation axis by releasing the engagement between the first engagement shaft portion and the first engaged portion, and the second By releasing the engagement between the engagement shaft portion and the second engaged portion, the electronic display can be rotated around the first rotation shaft.

  Furthermore, since the outer surface of the electronic display is exposed to the outside through the slit, it is easy for the photographer to rotate the electronic display by gripping the electronic display with a finger, and the electronic display can be easily opened and closed. Can do.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the digital camera according to the first aspect, the slit faces the first rotation axis and / or the second rotation axis of the inner peripheral wall of the camera body. A digital camera formed by cutting out at least a part of an inner peripheral wall is provided.

  According to this configuration, since the photographer can rotate the electronic display while pressing the outer surface of the electronic display toward the first rotation axis by providing the slit facing the first rotation axis, The electronic display can be reliably rotated without a finger pressing the display slipping. Further, by providing the slit so as to face the second rotation axis, the photographer can rotate the electronic display while pushing the outer surface of the electronic display toward the second rotation axis. The electronic display can be reliably rotated without slipping.

  The present invention allows the electronic display to be rotated vertically and horizontally with one touch with a simple structure, and the electronic camera of the digital camera can be freely photographed with any composition of the photographer regardless of the scene. You can shoot while looking at the display.

1 is a perspective view showing a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1. The principal part expanded sectional view which shows the 1st locking mechanism of FIG. The perspective view which shows the state which rotated the liquid crystal display around the X-axis. The perspective view which shows the state which rotated the liquid crystal display around the Y-axis. The principal part expanded sectional view which shows the 1st modification of a 1st locking mechanism. The principal part expanded sectional view which shows the 2nd modification of a 1st locking mechanism.

  The present invention has a simple structure and displays a camera body having an imaging lens and an image captured by the imaging lens in order to achieve the purpose of rotating the electronic display vertically and horizontally with a single touch in accordance with low-angle shooting. A digital camera comprising an electronic display, wherein the camera body and the electronic display are connected, and the camera body is supported so as to be rotatable about a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis A first engaging shaft portion that is disposed on the first rotating shaft so as to face the connecting member and is capable of reciprocating along the first rotating shaft, and a first engaging shaft portion. A first locking mechanism including a first engaged portion that removably engages with the shaft portion, and a second rotating shaft that is disposed on the second rotating shaft so as to face the coupling member. A second engagement shaft portion reciprocally movable along A second locking mechanism including a second engaged portion that removably engages with the second engagement shaft portion, and the camera body is recessed on the surface of the camera body. This is realized by providing a slit that is formed by cutting out at least a part of the inner peripheral wall of the housing recess for housing the electronic display and exposes the outer surface of the electronic display to the outside.

  Hereinafter, a digital camera 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the rotation axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the digital camera 1 is defined as the X axis, and the rotation axis extending in the short direction of the digital camera 1 is defined as the Y axis.

  As shown in FIGS. The digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment includes a camera body 2 having an imaging lens (not shown) and a liquid crystal display 3 as an electronic display that displays an image captured by the imaging lens. The electronic display may be an organic EL display.

  Further, the digital camera 1 connects the camera body 2 and the liquid crystal display 3 and is connected on the X axis with a connecting member 4 that supports the camera body 2 so as to be rotatable about the X axis and the Y axis perpendicular to the X axis. A first lock mechanism 5 disposed facing the member 4 and a second lock mechanism 6 disposed facing the connecting member 4 on the Y axis are provided.

  The liquid crystal display 3 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. When the liquid crystal display 3 is housed (closed) in the camera body 2, the liquid crystal display 3 is housed in a housing recess 21 that is recessed in the surface 2 s of the camera body 2. The outer surface 3 a excluding the lower end portion 33 of the liquid crystal display 3 is surrounded by the inner peripheral wall 21 a of the housing recess 21.

  The lower end 33 of the liquid crystal display 3 is exposed to the outside through a slit 22 formed by cutting out an inner peripheral wall facing the X axis of the camera body 2. The slit 22 may be formed by cutting out the inner peripheral wall 21a facing the Y axis of the camera body 2.

  The connecting member 4 includes an L-shaped bearing 41 and a Y-direction that is inserted into the insertion hole 41a of the bearing 41 and connected to the bearing 41, and supports one end 3ya of the liquid crystal display 3 in the Y-axis direction. A fixed shaft portion 42, an X-direction fixed shaft portion 43 that is inserted into the insertion hole 41 b of the bearing 41 and connected to the bearing 41, and supports the liquid crystal display 3 to be rotatable about the X axis with respect to the camera body 2. It is equipped with.

  A wave washer 44 for removing backlash in the Y-axis direction is provided between the outer peripheral surface 41 c of the bearing 41 and the flange 42 a of the Y-direction fixed shaft portion 42. Further, since the wave washer 44 is interposed between the outer peripheral surface 41 c of the bearing 41 and the flange 42 a of the Y-direction fixed shaft portion 42, a frictional resistance is generated between the bearing 41 and the Y-direction fixed shaft portion 42. It is possible to prevent the liquid crystal display 3 opened around the Y axis from being closed.

  A wave washer 45 for removing backlash in the X-axis direction is provided between the inner peripheral surface 41 d of the bearing 41 and the flange 43 a of the X-direction fixed shaft portion 43. Further, the wave washer 45 is interposed between the inner peripheral surface 41 d of the bearing 41 and the flange 43 a of the X-direction fixed shaft portion 43, so that the frictional resistance is provided between the bearing 41 and the X-direction fixed shaft portion 43. It is possible to prevent the liquid crystal display 3 opened around the X axis from closing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first lock mechanism 5 is arranged coaxially with the X-axis direction fixed shaft portion 43 and is provided with a first engagement shaft portion 51 provided so as to be able to reciprocate along the X-axis. And a blind hole-shaped first engaged portion 52 that is recessed in the outer surface 3 s of the liquid crystal display 3 and engages and disengages with the first engagement shaft portion 51. The first locking mechanism 5 pivotally supports the end portion 3x in the X-axis direction of the liquid crystal display 3 by the engagement of the first engaging shaft portion 51 and the first engaged portion 52.

  The first engagement shaft portion 51 is housed in the housing hole 2 a of the camera body 2 via a spring 53, and a part of the first engagement shaft portion 51 is moved by the urging force of the spring 53. Is engaged in the engaged portion 52. 3 is connected to the first engagement shaft portion 51 via a slide hole 2b formed in the camera body 2, and the first engagement shaft portion 51 is connected to the X-axis in the accommodation hole 2a. An operator that reciprocates in the direction.

  The second lock mechanism 6 includes a second engagement shaft portion 61 that is arranged coaxially with the Y-axis direction fixed shaft portion 42 and is capable of reciprocating along the Y-axis, and an outer surface of the liquid crystal display 3. A blind hole-like second engaged portion 62 that is recessed in 3s and engages and disengages with the second engagement shaft portion 61. The second locking mechanism 6 pivotally supports the other end 3 yb in the Y-axis direction of the liquid crystal display 3 by the engagement of the second engagement shaft portion 61 and the second engaged portion 62.

  The second engagement shaft portion 61 is accommodated in the accommodation hole 2 c of the camera body 2 via a spring 63, and a part of the second engagement shaft portion 61 is secondly urged by the urging force of the spring 63. Is engaged in the engaged portion 62. In addition, the code | symbol 64 of FIG. 4 is an operation element which reciprocates the 2nd engagement shaft part 61 in the Y-axis direction within the accommodation hole 2b.

Next, the operation of the first lock mechanism 5 and the second lock mechanism 6 will be described.
First, at the normal time when the liquid crystal display 3 is accommodated in the camera body 2, the first engagement shaft portion 51 is fitted into the first engaged portion 52, and the second engagement shaft portion 61 is The second engaged portion 62 is inserted into the second engaged portion 62. Therefore, the liquid crystal display 3 is pivotally supported by the X direction fixed shaft portion 43 and the first engagement shaft portion 51 in the X axis direction, and the Y direction fixed shaft portion 42 and the second engagement shaft portion in the Y axis direction. 61 is pivotally supported.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, when the liquid crystal display 3 is rotated around the Y axis from the normal time, the first lock mechanism 5 is released. Specifically, the first engagement shaft portion 51 and the first engaged shaft portion 51 are slid in the X-axis direction in a direction away from the liquid crystal display 3 while resisting the spring 53. The engagement with the part 52 is released.

  Then, the photographer holds the liquid crystal display 3 with the outer surface 3s exposed to the outside through the slit, and rotates the liquid crystal display 3 counterclockwise in FIG. Thereby, the liquid crystal display 3 can be rotated upward around the Y axis, and the photographer can take a picture at a low angle vertical screen position while looking into the liquid crystal display 3 at the vertical screen position from above. it can.

  When the liquid crystal display 3 at the vertical screen position is accommodated again in the camera body 2, the first engagement shaft portion 51 is pushed by the liquid crystal display 3 to resist the spring 53 and the first engagement shaft portion. When 51 slides in the X-axis direction and the liquid crystal display 3 is completely accommodated in the camera body 2, a part of the first engagement shaft portion 51 is moved to the first engaged portion by the biasing force of the spring 53. 52.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5, when the liquid crystal display 3 is rotated around the X axis from the normal time, the second lock mechanism 6 is released. Specifically, the second engagement shaft portion is released. 61 is slid in the Y-axis direction away from the liquid crystal display 3 while resisting the spring 63, and the engagement between the second engagement shaft portion 61 and the second engaged portion 62 is released.

  Then, the photographer holds the liquid crystal display 3 with the outer surface 3s exposed to the outside through the slit, and rotates the liquid crystal display 3 counterclockwise in FIG. 5 while pushing the photographing display 3 toward the X axis. Let Thus, the photographer can rotate the liquid crystal display 3 upward around the X axis without sliding a finger pressing the liquid crystal display 3, and the photographer can look into the liquid crystal display 3 at the horizontal screen position from above. It is possible to shoot at a low-angle horizontal screen position.

  Note that when the liquid crystal display 3 at the horizontal screen position is accommodated in the camera body 2 again, the second engagement shaft portion 61 is pushed by the liquid crystal display 3 and resists the spring 63 while the second engagement shaft portion 61 is pressed. When 61 slides in the Y-axis direction and the liquid crystal display 3 is completely accommodated in the camera body 2, a part of the second engagement shaft portion 61 is moved to the second engaged portion by the urging force of the spring 63. It is inserted in 62.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the first locking mechanism 5 has a tapered contact surface 5s along which the first engaging shaft portion 51 and the first engaged portion 52 contact each other along the X axis. It may be formed as follows. Thus, even when the backlash is set to 0 and the liquid crystal display 3 is rotated around the X axis, the first engagement shaft portion 51 and the first engagement shaft portion 51 are prevented from moving due to gravity or the like. The frictional force between the engaged portion 52 and the first engaged portion 52 can be adjusted. Further, the alignment between the first engagement shaft portion 51 and the first engaged portion 52 can be performed accurately and easily.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the first locking mechanism 5 forms a first engaged portion 52 projecting from the outer surface 3 s of the liquid crystal display 3 in a convex spherical shape, so that the first engagement is achieved. The tip of the shaft portion 51 facing the first engaged portion 52 may be formed in a concave spherical shape. Thereby, the frictional force between the first engagement shaft portion 51 and the first engaged portion 52 can be adjusted so that the liquid crystal display 3 does not move due to gravity or the like. Further, the alignment between the first engagement shaft portion 51 and the first engaged portion 52 can be performed accurately and easily. Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide a hole for inserting the first engagement shaft portion 51 in the very thin liquid crystal display 3, and the strength of the liquid crystal display can be maintained.

  Note that the convex spherical first engaged portion 52 may be very small, for example, 1 mm or less. Even if the convex spherical first engaged portion 52 is fixed to the outer frame of the liquid crystal display 3, it is simultaneously formed when the outer frame of the liquid crystal display 3 is manufactured by a press or the like. It doesn't matter. The contact surface 5s may have a circular cross section perpendicular to the X axis, and the first engagement shaft portion 51 and the first engaged portion 52 are, for example, elliptical. It doesn't matter.

  It should be noted that each modification of the first lock mechanism 5 described above is naturally applicable to the second lock mechanism 6 as well.

  As described above, in the digital camera 1 according to the present embodiment, the liquid crystal display 3 is rotated around the Y axis by releasing the engagement between the first engagement shaft portion 51 and the first engaged portion 52. Since the liquid crystal display 3 can be rotated around the X-axis by releasing the engagement between the second engagement shaft portion 61 and the second engaged portion 62, the rotation is enabled. Even a subject with a spectacular view can be photographed freely by looking at the liquid crystal display 3 of the digital camera 1 with a composition desired by the photographer and in a free posture.

  The present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the present invention naturally extends to the modified ones.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital camera 2 ... Camera body 2s ... Surface (of camera body) 21 ... Housing recessed part 21a ... Inner peripheral wall 22 ... Slit 3 ... Display 3s ... Outer surface DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... Connecting member 41 ... Bearing 42 ... Y-axis direction fixed shaft part 43 ... X-axis direction fixed shaft part 5 ... 1st locking mechanism 51 ... 1st engagement shaft Part 52... First engaged part 53... Spring 54 .. operator 6... Second lock mechanism 61... Second engagement shaft part 62. Engagement part 63 ... Spring 64 ... Operator

Claims (2)

A digital camera comprising a camera body having an imaging lens, and an electronic display for displaying an image captured by the imaging lens,
A connecting member that connects the camera body and the electronic display, and supports the camera body so as to be rotatable about a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis;
A first engagement shaft disposed on the first rotation shaft so as to face the coupling member and reciprocally movable along the first rotation shaft; and the first engagement shaft A first engaged mechanism that detachably engages with the part, and a first locking mechanism,
A second engagement shaft portion disposed on the second rotation shaft so as to face the connecting member and reciprocally movable along the second rotation shaft; and the second engagement shaft A second engaged mechanism that is detachably engaged with the part, and a second locking mechanism,
With
The camera body is formed by cutting out at least a part of the inner peripheral wall of the housing recess that is recessed in the surface of the camera body and houses the electronic display, and exposes the outer surface of the electronic display to the outside. A digital camera characterized by comprising:   The slit is formed by cutting out at least a part of an inner peripheral wall facing the first rotation axis and / or the second rotation axis, of the inner peripheral wall of the camera body. Item 1. The digital camera according to Item 1.

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