JP2001298639A - Image display device for electronic camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image display device for electronic camera which saves power though being made small-sized and light-weight. SOLUTION: A display screen 9e which uses a luminous electroluminescence element is provided to eliminate a need of a light source (for example, a fluorescent lamp) of display light transmitted through the display screen differently from the case that a conventional liquid crystal screen is used, and thus a small-sized and light-weight constitution is provided. Since power consumption of the electroluminescence element is smaller than that of the fluorescent lamp, power is saved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image display device, and more particularly, to an image display device suitable for use in an electronic camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electronic camera that converts an optical image into image data and records the image data using a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD or a CMOS is known. Such an electronic camera is generally provided with an image display device such as a liquid crystal screen so that an image can be viewed on the spot.

[0003]

Since the liquid crystal screen itself does not have a light emitting function, it is necessary to further provide a fluorescent tube and a reflector as a display light source. In addition, a device for generating a high voltage, such as an inverter, for driving the elements arranged on the liquid crystal screen is further required.
On the other hand, an electronic camera is required to be small and lightweight so that it can easily take pictures outdoors. In addition, since the capacity of the battery is limited, if the fluorescent tube is turned on for a long time to check an image, the remaining battery power may be exhausted, and a situation may occur in which shooting cannot be performed.

On the other hand, in order to further reduce power consumption, it has been considered to provide an LED instead of a fluorescent tube.
However, since the light emission amount of the LED is lower than the light emission amount of the fluorescent tube, there is a problem that the sharpness of the displayed image is inferior.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has as its object to provide an image display device for an electronic camera which is small and lightweight, and which can save power.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, an image display device for an electronic camera according to the present invention is characterized in that a display screen using an electroluminescent element is provided.

[0007]

According to the image display device for an electronic camera of the present invention, a display screen using a self-luminous electroluminescent element is provided, so that the display screen is different from a conventional image display device using a liquid crystal screen. A light source (e.g., a fluorescent tube) for transmitting display light can be dispensed with, so that a small and lightweight configuration can be provided. Further, the power consumption of the electroluminescent element is lower than that of the fluorescent tube, so that power can be saved.

Further, if a reflection plate is provided on the back side of the display screen, one of the lights emitted from both sides of the display screen can be reflected to increase the amount of light toward the viewer of the image. A clearer image can be visually recognized.

In addition, if the display screen is foldable, it is sufficient to expand the display screen and display an image only when it is necessary to check the image, thereby providing a more compact configuration.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital still camera according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a CCD which is an image pickup device having an optical image formed on a light receiving surface via a photographing lens 1 and an aperture 11a
A / D converter 2 outputs an analog signal corresponding to an optical image, that is, performs so-called photoelectric conversion.
It converts an analog signal input from the CCD 2 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal. Note that, in the A / D conversion circuit 3 according to the present embodiment, it is assumed that the higher the intensity of light incident on the photoelectric conversion means 2, the higher the value of the light is converted to a digital signal. The image data obtained via the A / D conversion circuit 3 is temporarily stored in the image memory 4.

The image data stored in the image memory 4 is subjected to various types of image processing by an MPU 5 serving as a control means, and is finally stored in a nonvolatile memory 6 such as a memory card connected to the MPU 5. You. In addition, MPU5
Receives power from a power supply 7 such as a built-in battery, and can communicate with the outside using IrDA (infrared communication) or serial communication via an interface device 8. The MPU 5 starts operating by turning on the power switch 16, receives a release signal from the release button 10, and drives a shutter device (not shown) to perform photographing.

Further, the MPU 5 supplies the low-voltage power of the power supply 7 to the image display device 9 via the EL driver 11 without passing through a high-voltage generating device such as an inverter to display an image. It is made to be. Furthermore,
The MPU 5 starts charging the strobe device 13 from the power supply 7 and controls the light emission timing.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic camera of the present embodiment. The electronic camera 100 includes a release button 10 and a main switch 16 on an upper surface, and a display screen 9e of the image display device 9 is arranged on a rear surface. On the side of the display screen 9e, a monitor display button 9a and a frame advance button 9b
And are provided. A battery case cover 101 is provided on the left side of the electronic camera 100, and the battery can be replaced by opening the cover 101.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cross section of the display screen 9e. The display screen 9e includes a display panel 9c formed by arranging color electroluminescent elements in rows and columns for color image reproduction, and a reflecting member 9d such as a metal foil disposed on the back surface of the display panel 9c. I have. Reflective member 9d
Has a function of reflecting light emitted from the electroluminescence element, which is emitted to the back surface side of the display panel 9c, to the front surface side. Therefore, for example, even when the display screen 9e is viewed outdoors, a sufficient amount of light can be obtained. The color electroluminescent element is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-11-233265, and so on.
Detailed description is omitted.

Since the display screen 9e is in the form of a film, it can be folded as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, and can be stored in a folded state when not in use. In a conventional liquid crystal panel, the color of the liquid crystal changes when external pressure is applied.
Folding was not possible. On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the effect of forming the display screen 9e in a thin plate shape, that is, a film shape, and the effect of folding the display screen 9e at the time of storage can make the electronic camera 100 small and lightweight, and The degree of freedom in design can be greatly expanded. In addition to the folding, the display screen 9 may be wound up at the time of storage like a roll screen, for example. Further, for example, it is conceivable to improve the visibility of an image by forming the display screen 9e by attaching the display screen 9e to a cylindrical surface or a curved surface.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the exemplary embodiments, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments. is there.

[0017]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image display device for an electronic camera which is small and lightweight, and which can save power.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic camera according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cross section of a display screen 9e.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 shooting lens 2 CCD 3 A / D converter 4 image memory 5 MPU 6 nonvolatile memory 7 power supply (battery) 8 interface device 9 image display device 9e display screen 10 release button 11 EL driver 13 strobe

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image display device for an electronic camera, comprising a display screen using an electroluminescence element. 2. The image display device for an electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein a reflection plate is provided on a back side of the display screen. 3. The image display device for an electronic camera according to claim 1, wherein the display screen is foldable.