JPS63153964A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To keep the brightness of an image and to make it easy to be seen on a display means even when no satisfactory amount of external light can be obtained, by providing the light source of illumination light on the display means which displays a picture signal. CONSTITUTION:An image pickup element 2 performs the photoelectric transducing of an optical image from a lens 1, and outputs the picture signal. The picture signal, after being signal-processed at a signal processing circuit 3, is stored in a storage means 5 via the contact (a) of a change-over switch 4. Next, the picture signal stored in the storage means 5 is read out via the contact (b) of the switch 4, and is processed at a reproducing signal processing circuit 6, and is displayed on a liquid crystal display 7. At this time, when no satisfactory amount of external light on which photometry is applied by a photometric element 10 can be obtained, a control circuit 8 supplies a control signal to a back light 11. In such way, the back light is turned ON, and illuminates the display 7. Thus, it is possible to keep the brightness of the display of a liquid crystal display and to make it easy to be seen even when no satisfactory amount of external light can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an imaging device equipped with a display means for a monitor, such as a liquid crystal panel.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, when displaying an image signal of an object image from an image sensor of an imaging device or an image signal stored in an image recording medium as a visible image, a method such as that described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-1.10543 etc. There is a way to display it on an LCD panel.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-mentioned conventional technology has a drawback in that the image displayed on the liquid crystal panel is very difficult to see, for example when the outside light is dark.

The present invention aims to solve such problems.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image sensor, an imaging optical system that forms an object image on the image sensor, and an image recorder that reproducibly accumulates an image signal of the object image from the image sensor. an imaging recording section including means, a display means capable of reproducing an image signal of the object image from the image sensor or an image signal accumulated in the image recording means as a visible image, and irradiating light onto the display means. and a display section including a light source.

[For production]

In the above configuration, the image signal from the imaging recording section is reproduced by the display means illuminated by the light source.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of imaging according to the present invention.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a lens, and 2 is an image sensor that forms an optical image from the lens 1 and converts it into an electrical signal to produce an image signal, and is composed of other well-known imaging means such as COD, MOS, or an image pickup tube. . 3 is a signal processing circuit that processes an image signal from an image sensor.

Although not shown here, A inside the signal processing circuit 3
The image signal is digitized by a /D converter.

4 is a changeover switch that turns contact a "on" when incoming image signals are being recorded one after another into recording means 5 such as a solid-state memory or recording medium, and turns contact "on" when reproducing the once recorded signal. The signal recorded as "ON" is sent to the reproduction signal processing circuit 6. The processed image signal is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7 by switching the switch 4 to the b side. Further, the image signal recorded by the recording means can also be displayed on the display 7 as it is. Note that in this embodiment, a light transmission type liquid crystal display is used.

8 is a control circuit and a mode selection switch 9, which will be described later.
．． It receives and receives information from the photometric element 1O, and transmits the information to the image sensor 2. Signal processing circuit 3. Changeover switch 4. Control signals are sent to the backlight 11 and the like to control each operation. The backlight 11 is located on the back side of the liquid crystal display 7 and illuminates the liquid crystal display when turned on.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the imaging device of this embodiment as seen from the front side. In FIG. 2, 10- is the photometric element, 12 is the main body of the device, 13 is a release button, and 14 is a strobe.

3 and 4 are perspective views of the imaging device of this embodiment as seen from the back side, FIG. 3 shows the state in recording mode or playback backlight mode, and FIG. 4 shows the state in playback external light mode. Indicates the condition. 15 is an optical viewfinder, 7
is the liquid crystal display.

Note that the optical finder may be of a TTL type, or may be an optical system provided separately from the lens l which is the imaging optical system. 5 and 6 are mechanical diagrams showing the structure around the mode changeover switch 9. FIG. 5 shows the state in the reproduction external light mode, and FIG. 6 shows the state in the recording mode.

Next, the operation of the imaging device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

When the mode switching knob 17 is moved to the reproduction external light mode as shown in FIG. 5, that is, when it is moved to the left in the figure,
The tapered portion 18 of the knob 17 rotates the liquid crystal display lock pawl 19 counterclockwise about its axis 20. As a result, the protrusion 21 of the liquid crystal display 7 is released from the locking claw 19, and the liquid crystal display 7 rises from the main body of the mounting M' as shown in FIG. Further, when the pin 29 interlocked with the knob 17 moves to the left as shown in FIG. 5, the pin 29 engages with the lock pawl 24 and the knob 17 is held at the position shown in FIG. At the same time, the mode switching contact piece 22 is set to the reproduction external light mode, a signal is sent to the control circuit 8 in FIG. 1, and the backlight 11 is controlled to be in the "off" state based on the information. The state of the mode switching contact piece 22 changes in conjunction with the mode switching knob 17. Further, when the control circuit shown in 8 determines the state of the mode switching contact piece 22, the changeover switch is switched to the b side by a control signal from the control circuit 8.
The recorded image in the memory or recording medium is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7.

Therefore, in this mode, the backlight 11 is not turned on, and the reproduced image on the liquid crystal display 7 is viewed by external light. That is, by configuring the front surface of the backlight section 11 as a light reflecting surface, light is allowed to enter from the back surface of the display 7. Therefore, the power consumed by the display on the liquid crystal display can be reduced.

Next, when the liquid crystal display 7 is returned from the reproduction external light mode shown in FIG. 4 to its original position, that is, the state shown in FIG. 3,
The pressing member 23 is pushed through the liquid crystal display 7, and the mode switching knob lock pawl 24 is pressed and the pin 29 is pressed.
When the lock claw 24 disengages, the mode switching knob 17
is released from the lock by the lock claw 24. Also, since the knob 17 is biased toward the right in FIG.
Return to the position shown in the figure.

When the mode switching knob 17 is moved to the reproduction backlight mode, the recess 25 of the knob 17 is locked to a click spring 26 fixed to the camera housing (not shown). Then, the mode switching contact piece 22 enters the reproduction backlight mode, a signal is sent to the control circuit 8 in FIG. 1, and the backlight 11 is controlled to be in the "on" state based on the information. Further, the changeover switch 4 is switched to the b side by a control signal from the control circuit 8, and the recorded image in the memory or recording medium is displayed on the liquid crystal display 7.

Therefore, in this mode, the reproduced image is viewed by illuminating the liquid crystal display 7 with the backlight 11.

In addition, in the reproduction external light mode, the brightness of external light is detected by the photometric element 1O, and the signal is sent to the control circuit 8, so that when the external light is not sufficient, the control circuit 8 sends the backlight 11 to the backlight. 11
It is also possible to provide a control signal that turns "on". In other words, if it is detected that there is sufficient outside light, the backlight 11 is prohibited from turning on even if the knob 17 is moved to the reproduction backlight mode.
1 power consumption can be reduced. Even in the recording mode, by operating the mode selector switch 9 or using the photometric element 10.
Similarly, the backlight 11 can be turned on by the detection signal.

Further, in this embodiment, when the knob 17 is moved to the left in the figure in order to select the reproduction external light mode, that is, to raise the liquid crystal display 7 as shown in Figure 4, the control circuit 8 is activated accordingly. Since the switch is switched to the b side and the signal is read out from the memory 5, the liquid crystal display 7 is automatically controlled so that the video signal from the memory or recording medium shown as 5 is reproduced. become.

This is extremely effective in terms of usability.

Furthermore, when the mode switching knob 17 is set to the recording mode, that is, when the state shown in FIG. It is written into memory or recording medium 5 via switch 4.

In this embodiment, a liquid crystal display is used as the display means, but other display elements such as ECD may also be used.

Further, a reflector is provided at the position of the backlight 11, and the display section of the liquid crystal display 7 is provided on the surface facing the reflector, so that the user can view the liquid crystal display 7 through the reflector.
The display unit may be configured to be viewed, and the video signal recorded in the memory or recording medium shown in 5 may be reproduced.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing a backlight on the back surface of the liquid crystal display, it is possible to make the image on the liquid crystal display bright and easy to see even when there is insufficient external light.

In addition, by raising the liquid crystal display from the main body of the device during reproduction external light mode, it is possible to save power by utilizing external light. Furthermore, when you return the LCD display to its original position, the mode automatically returns to recording mode, so there is no need to make any additional switch operations.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the image signal from the image sensor is reproduced as a visible image on the display means irradiated with light by the light source, so that an easy-to-see image is reproduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the front, Fig. 3 is a perspective view from the back in the recording mode, and Fig. 4 is the reproduction external light mode. A perspective view from the back, FIG. 5 is a mechanical diagram of the vicinity of the mode changeover switch in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a mechanism diagram of the vicinity of the changeover switch in FIG. 3. l...Lens 2...Image sensor 3...
・Signal processing circuit 4...Selector switch 5...
Recording means 6... Reproduction signal processing circuit 7...
・Liquid crystal display 8...Control circuit 9...
・Mode selector switch 10...Photometering element 11...Backlight 12...Device body 13...Release button 14...Strobe! 5...Optical finder 16...Mode switching knob 18...Taper part 19...LCD display lock claw 20...Shaft 21...Protrusion 22...Mode switching contact piece 23...・Suppressing member 24...Mode switching knob lock pawl 25...Recess 26...Click spring

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) Imaging including an imaging device, an imaging optical system that forms an object image on the device, and an image recording means that reproducibly stores an image signal of the object image from the imaging device. A display including a recording unit, a display unit capable of reproducing an image signal of the object image from the image sensor or an image signal accumulated in the image recording unit as a visible image, and a light source that irradiates the display unit with light. An imaging device comprising: 2) Claim 1, characterized in that the light source irradiates the display means with light by operating an operating member provided in the imaging recording section or the display section.
The imaging device described in Section 1. 3) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the light source irradiates the display means with light based on an information signal from a photometric element.