JPH04368081A - Camcorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability by moving a cursor with a spherical operating device so as to enable the device to simply select a complicated function. CONSTITUTION:A view finder 2 is fitted to the camcorder VTR 1 and a spherical operating device 3 is fitted to the upper part of the VTR 1. Moreover, a menu pattern 2a on which titles and icons corresponding to various functions are arranged to the left and right sides is displayed on the view finder 2. Furthermore, a cursor 8 moved freely in 2-dimensions is displayed on the menu pattern 2a and any of the various functions is selected by moving the cursor 8 with the spherical operating device 3. That is, when the spherical operating device 3 is turned by a finger in an optional direction, the movement is detected by detectors 6,7, and the cursor 8 is moved on the screen in response to the moving direction and the moving distance and the motion is inputted to a mode controller.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an improved camera-integrated VTR to improve its operability.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional camera-integrated VTR, more than ten switches are arranged in the camera cabinet to operate various attached functions. Unlike still photography, video shooting requires operating switches while shooting, which is inconvenient as the user has to fumble with the switches while looking through the viewfinder. For this reason, many functions were not utilized, and the large number of switches was a design constraint.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The development trend of camera-integrated VTRs is moving toward products with even higher functionality and higher added value. I often wish that I was. On the other hand, there are many users who do not want complicated switch operations. In fact, current camera-integrated VTRs require very experienced users to fully utilize all of their functions.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned prior art, and provides a camera unit that greatly reduces the number of camera switches and allows various functions to be easily operated while looking through the viewfinder during shooting. The purpose is to provide a body type VTR.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention achieves the above object by providing a camera-integrated VTR that shoots video while looking through the viewfinder, including: a cursor movable in a plane within the viewfinder; a plurality of pictographs or titles that display various functions within the viewfinder; a spherical manipulator that can be displaced in any direction and that moves the cursor in a plane within the viewfinder according to the displacement; The present invention is characterized by comprising an execution switch that executes a function corresponding to the pictogram or title at the position where the cursor has moved.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), a viewfinder 2 is attached to the camera-integrated VTR 1, and a spherical operating device 3 is attached to the upper part of the viewfinder 2. This spherical operating device 3 has an upper part exposed to the outside and a lower part supported rotatably in any direction by rollers 4 and 5 within the VTR main body, and is commonly called a trackball in the computer field. It is something that This spherical operating device 3 can be rotated in any direction by touching its upper part with a finger, and its movement is detected by a plurality of motion detectors 6 and 7. It is possible to use a joystick or the like instead of the spherical controller 3, but this is inappropriate considering the way the photographer's hands and fingers are held. The spherical controller was designed to be easy to operate. On the other hand, Fig. 2(a)
As shown in the figure, the viewfinder 2 displays a menu screen 2a on which titles and pictograms corresponding to various functions are arranged on the left and right sides. Here, examples of titles include "Titler", "Data Screen",
"EE" etc. Further, pictograms (hereinafter referred to as icons) include, for example, symbols indicating backlight correction, manual focus, electronic shutter, and the like. The menu screen 2a showing the title and icon may be displayed on both the left and right sides of the screen at all times, or may be called up at any time by selecting a menu. Further, on this menu screen, a cursor 8 is provided which can be freely moved on a plane. By moving this cursor 8 using the spherical operating device 3, various functions can be selected.

That is, when the spherical operating device 3 is rotated in an arbitrary direction with a finger, the movement is detected by the motion detectors 6 and 7.
The cursor 8 moves on the screen depending on the direction and distance of the movement, while the movement is input to the mode controller 9. As shown in FIG. 7, the mode controller 9 includes a titler block 11, an AF-CPU 12, a zoom controller 13, a timing generator 14, a CA
Connect to M-AGC15 etc. and key matrix 1
Connected to 0. The key matrix 10 stores functions corresponding to each title and icon in the viewfinder 2, and when the cursor 8 is positioned on any title or icon, the key matrix 10 stores functions corresponding to each title and icon in the viewfinder 2. When a provided execution switch (not shown) is clicked, the function corresponding to the title or icon is selected. As a result, the titler block 11, AF
- Various functions are executed by the CPU 12, zoom controller 13, timing generator 14, CAM-AGC 15, etc. For example, screen 2 where you selected the titler
In c, due to the function of the titler block 11, Fig. 4 (
As shown in a) and (b), characters can be handwritten using the cursor 8. That is, by moving the cursor 8 and clicking the execution switch once at the starting point and twice at the ending point, the words "Yes or no" are displayed. Can be done. However, in this case, it is preferable to lower the sensitivity of the spherical operating device 3 so that fine movements can be made, and to prevent the cursor from crossing the screen unless the spherical operating device 3 is rotated several dozen times.

[0008]Furthermore, if it is necessary to input the numerical value of the analog quantity after selecting each function, please select submenu 2.
b is displayed. For example, as shown in Figure 2(b),
If you select the electronic shutter function, shutter speed, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/10
A submenu 2b indicating 00, 1/2000 seconds is displayed. In this submenu state, by moving the cursor to each shutter speed position and clicking the execution switch, that shutter speed is selected. When the title "Return" provided on the menu screen 2a and submenu screen 2b is executed, the screen returns to the previous screen. As for the sensitivity of the spherical operating device 3, it is convenient if the cursor 8 can cover the entire range of the screen in half to one rotation of the spherical operating device 3.

In the camera-integrated VTR of this embodiment having the above configuration, various functions can be selected by moving the cursor 8 using the spherical operating device 3, and most of the switches on the exterior can be omitted. . That is, as shown in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, when the main switch is pressed to start and a menu item is selected by clicking, a menu screen appears in the viewfinder 2 displaying various titles or icons. For example, backlight correction, full auto or manual focus, titler, fade, data, etc. are displayed, and the contents can be selected by clicking on them. Furthermore, if a numerical value is subsequently set as an analog quantity, a submenu will appear. For example, the zoom position, focus position, iris, and electronic shutter are displayed.
Select by clicking.

[0010] As described above, in this embodiment, complicated functions can be easily operated using the spherical operating device 3, which improves operability and eliminates design constraints since most switches can be omitted. Further, since the spherical operating device 3 is easy to operate by groping, it can be operated while looking into the viewfinder 2, which is extremely convenient.

When displaying a title in the viewfinder 2 as in the above embodiment, there is no problem since the function can be directly displayed in text, but in the case of an icon,
Because it is conceptually illustrated with a pattern, the meaning of the function is likely to become unclear. Therefore, if you move the cursor 8 to the right as shown by the arrows in Figure 3 (a) and (b) and scroll the screen to the right so that it is out of the menu screen, you can see detailed information about the functions corresponding to each icon. It would be good to have an explanation provided. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, icons for zooming up and zooming down may be displayed at all times on the viewfinder screen 2d during photographing, and power zooming may be enabled using the spherical operating device 3. Alternatively, when the cursor is moved, a gate may be applied around the cursor position, and when autofocus is turned off, the area around it may be brought into focus. The same goes for exposure, allowing for more detailed exposure and focusing.

[0012] It is sufficient for the spherical operating device 3 to rotate about one revolution, and it does not need to be perfectly spherical. Also, if it is spherical, the volume will be large, which will be an obstacle to miniaturization. Therefore, the spherical operating device 3 may be hemispherical or dish-shaped with dimples as shown in FIG. That is, FIG. 6(a) shows a hemispherical operating device 19 rotatably supported by a plurality of rollers 20 and 21 which also serve as motion detectors, and FIG. is supported via a cross-shaped shaft 23 so as to be tiltable in two directions. In FIG. 6(c), an execution switch 24 is provided at the bottom of the hemispherical operating device 19 shown in FIG. 6(a), and each function can be executed by pressing the hemispherical operating device 19 while turning it. However, in order to prevent the execution switch 24 from being operated erroneously, the execution switch 24 is preferably made a little stiffer. Also,
The spherical operating device 3 may be provided at a convenient position for holding the camera, and is not limited to the one shown in FIG. 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the spherical operating device 3 may be placed at the rear of the side where the handgrip 16 is located, or as shown in FIG.
It may also be provided at the top of the viewfinder 2 as shown in FIG. In FIGS. 9 and 10, a record button 17 and an execution switch 18 are arranged on the side of the spherical operating device 3.

[0013]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail based on the embodiments, the camera-integrated VTR of the present invention allows complex functions to be easily selected by moving the cursor using the spherical operation device. This improves operability. For this reason, there are more opportunities to utilize functions that have not been used much in the past. Additionally, the spherical controls can be easily operated by groping, so you can reliably select each function without taking your eyes off the viewfinder. Furthermore, since the number of conventionally provided various switches can be significantly reduced, there is an advantage that the degree of freedom in design is increased.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1(a) is an external perspective view of a camera-integrated VTR according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1(b) is a sectional view of a portion where a spherical operating device is attached.

FIG. 2(a) is an explanatory diagram of a menu screen displayed on the viewfinder, and FIG. 2(b) is an explanatory diagram of a submenu screen displayed on the viewfinder.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams showing how the screen scrolls left and right as the cursor moves.

FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are explanatory diagrams showing how characters are drawn by moving a cursor.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing how to zoom up and zoom down with a cursor.

FIGS. 6(a), 6(b), and 6(c) are cross-sectional views showing other examples of the spherical operating device, respectively.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit for selecting various functions by moving a cursor using a spherical operating device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for selecting various functions using menus and submenus.

FIG. 9 is a camera-integrated VTR in which a spherical operating device is placed in another position.

FIG. 10 is a camera-integrated VTR in which a spherical operating device is placed in another position.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Camera integrated VTR 2 Viewfinder 3 Spherical operation device 4 Roller 5 Roller 6 Motion detector 7 Motion detector 8 Cursor 9 Mode controller 10 Key matrix 11 Titler block 12 AF-CPU 13. Zoom control 14 Timing generator 15 CAM-AGC 16 Hand grip 17 Record button 18 Execution switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A camera-integrated VTR that shoots video while looking through a viewfinder, comprising: a cursor that can be moved in a plane within the viewfinder; and a plurality of titles or titles that display various functions within the viewfinder. a pictograph, a spherical manipulator that can be displaced in any direction and that moves the cursor in a plane within the viewfinder according to the displacement, and a function corresponding to the title or pictogram at the position where the cursor has moved. A camera-integrated VTR characterized in that it is equipped with an execution switch.