JP2005277777A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera of a single lens reflex system capable of confirming image without changing the posture at photographing. <P>SOLUTION: At framing, an object light L1 passed through a photograph lens 12 is reflected from a reflection surface 31a to form an image on a focus plate 33, and passes through a penta-prism 36 and a finder lens 37. A photographer observes the object image through a finder window, and operates a shutter button to turn a rotary mirror 31 clockwise 90 degrees, thereby reflecting the object light L1 from the reflection surface 31b to form an image on a light receiving surface of a CCD image sensor 34. The CCD image sensor 34 acquires image data shown as a taken image on a display screen of an LCD panel 20, and an image light L2 is reflected from the reflection surface 31a to pass through the focus plate 33, the penta-prism 36 and the finder lens 37. The photographer observes the taken image through the finder window. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a single-lens reflex digital camera having two image planes.

  In recent years, digital cameras have become popular. Many of such digital cameras perform framing by using an LCD panel as an electronic viewfinder during shooting. However, the power consumption of the backlight that illuminates the liquid crystal surface from behind is considerably large in the LCD panel, and in order to take a large number of images, it is necessary to carry a spare battery or charge it halfway. The inconvenience is forced.

  As a method of relaxing the limitation on the number of images to be taken due to the limit of the battery capacity, two imaging surfaces, an optical finder imaging surface and an image sensor light receiving surface, and a rotating mirror that can be rotated behind the imaging lens are provided. A single-lens reflex digital camera is known that reflects the subject light incident from the taking lens in the direction of the viewfinder optical path except during shooting, and rotates the rotating mirror during shooting to expose the subject image on the light-receiving surface of the image sensor. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In such a digital camera, a subject is directly observed using an optical finder and framing is performed without performing subject display on the LCD panel. For this reason, battery consumption is reduced as compared with the case where the subject is displayed on the LCD panel and used as an electronic viewfinder, so that the restriction on the shooting time due to the battery capacity can be eliminated.

JP 2000-66299 A

  However, in the conventional single-lens reflex digital camera described in Patent Document 1 described above, after shooting by pressing the shutter button, the image is displayed on the LCD panel by taking a look away from the optical viewfinder. Check the captured image by looking at it. For this reason, the posture at the time of photographing is lost, and it is necessary to perform framing again when photographing the same subject continuously, and there is a problem of missing a photo opportunity.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and is a single-lens reflex system capable of relaxing the limitation of the number of images to be taken due to the limit of the battery capacity and confirming the captured image without breaking the posture at the time of shooting. The purpose is to provide a digital camera.

  In order to achieve the above object, a digital camera of the present invention has a fan-in-der imaging surface on which subject light incident from a photographic lens forms an image and a light-receiving surface of an imaging means, and the space between these two imaging surfaces. A digital camera that switches the optical path of the subject light, a reflective plate having a substantially flat shape, and a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface formed on the upper surface and the lower surface, respectively, and a display screen Display means movably held between a first holding position for emitting image light emitted from the camera body to the outside of the camera body and a second holding position for emitting image light toward the reflection plate inside the camera body; A rotation axis provided in the vicinity of the optical axis of the subject light incident on the reflecting plate, extending in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the subject light and parallel to all of the finder imaging surface, the light receiving surface, and the first and second reflective surfaces. And subject light is reflected by the first reflecting surface. The object light is reflected toward the light receiving surface by the first reflection position to be reflected toward the image forming surface and one of the first or second reflecting surfaces, and the image light is imaged by the other reflecting surface. The reflection plate rotates about the rotation axis between the second reflection position to be reflected toward the surface. The photographer can perform framing using the finder, and can directly check the photographed image through the finder after operating the shutter button.

  In addition, a lens moving mechanism is provided that moves the finder lens to a position where the diopter is matched with the display surface when the reflecting plate rotates from the first reflecting position to the second reflecting position.

  As described above, according to the digital camera of the present invention, the photographer can take a picture without changing the posture when he / she wants to take a picture again after confirming the photographed image, so the time until the next photography can be shortened. Therefore, it is possible to prevent missing a photo opportunity. In addition, since framing can be easily performed, it is possible to photograph with an optimal composition. In addition, since framing is performed using an optical finder, it is possible to reduce battery consumption as compared with a case where an LCD panel is used as an electronic viewfinder. For this reason, the limitation of the photographing time due to the battery capacity can be eliminated.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera of the present invention. The digital camera 10 is a single-lens reflex digital camera. The digital camera 10 includes a box-shaped camera body 11, a lens barrel 13 that holds a photographing lens 12 including a plurality of lenses and has a zoom function, a finder device 14 provided on the upper part of the camera body 11, The grip part 16 is provided with a shutter button 15.

  When the shutter button 15 is half-pressed, the subject brightness is measured, and the photographing lens 12 is focused according to the distance measurement data obtained by the distance measurement to the subject. In addition, a zoom operation button 17 is provided on the side surface of the camera body 11, and the shooting lens 12 is moved by the operation to perform zooming.

  FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital camera 10. An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel 20 that is housed in a viewfinder window 18 of the viewfinder device 14 and a storage section 19 below the viewfinder device 14 and displays images, various operation screens, and the like is provided at the back of the digital camera 10. A panel holding frame 21 and an operation unit 22 that is arranged on the right side of the storage unit 19 and includes a plurality of buttons are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the panel holding frame 21 is provided with a rotation holding portion 23 having a substantially cylindrical shape on the left side. The rotation holding portion 23 is integrally formed on the left side surface of the panel holding frame 21. The formed rotation shaft 21a is rotatably held, and the panel holding frame 21 is rotatable 360 degrees clockwise and counterclockwise.

  Further, rotation shafts 23 a and 23 b are integrally formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the rotation holding unit 23. When the pivot shafts 23a and 23b are engaged with the fitting holes 19a and 19b formed in the storage portion 19, the panel holding frame 21 is moved to the storage position shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. The rotation position shown in FIG. Further, the storage portion 19 is provided with an opening 19c, and when the panel holding frame 21 is stored in the storage position shown in FIG. Is prevented from entering.

  Further, as described above, since the panel holding frame 21 is rotatable about the rotation shaft 21a, the panel holding frame 21 is pulled out to the position shown in FIG. 4B, and the rotation shaft 21a is centered. The LCD panel 20 can be stored inside the camera body 11 as shown in FIG. 4C by rotating 180 ° and storing it again in the storage unit 19.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an optical configuration of the digital camera 10. A dark box 30 is formed inside the camera body 11, and a rotating mirror 31 is disposed at the center of the dark box 30 and is supported by a rotating shaft 32. In addition, the above-described finder device 14 is provided above the dark box 30, and a focusing screen 33 constituting the finder device 14 is disposed on the upper surface of the dark box 30, and the subject light transmitted through the photographing lens 12. Is a first imaging plane on which an image is formed. Below the dark box 30, a CCD image sensor 34, which is an image pickup means, is disposed at a position facing the focusing screen 33. The light receiving surface 34a serves as a second imaging surface for subject light. ing.

  A circuit board 35 is disposed below the CCD image sensor 34, and the circuit board 35 is connected to the CCD image sensor 34 via a cable (not shown). The circuit board 35 includes a system controller that controls the entire digital camera 10, a signal processing circuit that performs various processes on the imaging signal, and a medium that controls writing / reading of image data to / from a storage medium such as a memory card. A controller and the like are provided.

  The above-described rotating mirror 31 has reflecting surfaces 31a and 31b formed integrally on the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and can reflect subject light on both surfaces. The rotating mirror 31 is pivotally supported by the rotating shaft 32 at the central portion on the optical axis of the subject light incident from the photographing lens 12. The rotation shaft 32 is parallel to all of the focusing screen 33, the CCD image sensor 34, and the reflection surfaces 31a and 31b, extends in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the subject light, and the reflection surfaces 31a and 31b of the rotation mirror 31. It is the axis | shaft provided in the center part.

  Except when the shutter button 15 is operated, the rotating mirror 31 reflects the subject light L1 incident from the photographing lens 12 in the direction of the focusing screen 33 of the finder device 14 as shown in FIG. It is at a position inclined 45 ° with the surface 31a facing upward. The subject light L1 incident from the photographing lens 12 is reflected by the reflecting surface 31a of the rotating mirror 31, and forms an image on the focusing screen 33 in an inverted state.

  Further, when the shutter button 15 is operated, the rotation mechanism (not shown) is rotated about the rotation shaft 32 from the position shown in FIG. 6A to the position shown in FIG. Stop. At this time, the object light L1 incident from the photographing lens 12 is at a position inclined by 45 ° with the reflecting surface 31b down so that the subject light L1 is reflected toward the CCD image sensor 34. The subject light L1 incident from the photographing lens 12 is reflected by the reflecting surface 31b of the rotating mirror 31, and forms an image on the light receiving surface 34a of the CCD image sensor 34 in an inverted state. When the LCD panel 20 is stored in the storage unit 19 toward the dark box 30, the image light L <b> 2 emitted from the LCD panel 20 is reflected by the reflecting surface 31 a of the rotating mirror 31 and is emitted toward the focusing screen 33. The

  The viewfinder device 14 includes the above-described focusing plate 33, a pentaprism 36 that is disposed above the focusing plate 33 and into which the subject light L1 and the image light L2 that have passed through the focusing plate 33 are incident, and the optical axis of the pentaprism 36. A finder lens 37 disposed rearward in the direction. The pentaprism 36 reflects the subject light L1 or the image light L2 that has passed through the focusing screen 33, emits the light to the rear in the optical axis direction, and enters the finder lens 37. The subject light transmitted through the finder lens 37 is observed by the photographer as an erect image through the finder window 18.

  The viewfinder lens 37 is held by a lens frame 38. The movement of the lens frame 38 in the optical axis direction is guided by a guide shaft 39 at the upper part thereof. Further, below the lens frame 38, a feed screw 40 is disposed so as to be parallel to the guide shaft 39, and a nut member 41 that is screwed with the feed screw 40 is provided. The nut member 41 is screwed with the feed screw 40 and further engaged with an engaging portion 38 a provided at the lower portion of the lens frame 38. The feed screw 40 is integrally provided with a gear 42, and the gear 42 meshes with the gear 43 a of the drive motor 43.

  When the drive motor 43 is driven, the driving force is transmitted to the gear 42 through the gear 43a, and the feed screw 40 rotates. As the feed screw 40 rotates, the nut member 41 moves back and forth in the optical axis direction. Since the nut member 41 is engaged with the engaging portion 38a, the engaging portion 38a is pressed by the forward / backward movement of the nut member 41, and the lens frame 38 moves forward / backward in the optical axis direction. The drive motor 43 is driven to move from the position shown in FIG. 6A to the position shown in FIG. 6B simultaneously with the rotational movement of the rotary mirror 31 when the shutter button 15 is operated.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 10 configured as described above will be described. A photographer uses a method of directly observing a subject image displayed on the LCD panel 20 during framing before photographing, a method of observing a subject image displayed on the LCD panel 20 via the finder device 14, and a viewfinder device 14. One of the three methods used to observe the real image is selected.

  When framing is performed by directly observing the subject image displayed on the LCD panel 20, as shown in FIG. 4A, the LCD panel 20 is stored in the storage unit 19 so as to face the outside of the camera body. At this time, the system controller provided on the circuit board 15 detects that the LCD panel 20 is used as an electronic viewfinder, and the rotating mirror 31 is shown in FIG. 6B from the position shown in FIG. Rotate to position. At this time, the finder lens 37 is prevented from moving even if the rotary mirror 31 rotates. The subject light L1 that has passed through the photographing lens 12 is reflected by the reflecting surface 31a of the rotating mirror 31 and forms an image on the light receiving surface 34a of the CCD image sensor 34. The CCD image sensor 34 transmits the acquired image data to a circuit board 35 (not shown). The system controller displays an image on the LCD panel 20 based on the image data.

  Thereafter, the photographer performs framing by looking at the subject image displayed on the LCD panel 20 without looking through the viewfinder window 18. Shooting is performed by operating the shutter button 15.

  When framing by observing the subject image displayed on the LCD panel 20 via the finder device 14, the photographer moves the panel holding frame 21 from the position shown in FIG. 4A to the position shown in FIG. 4B. The panel holding frame 21 is rotated 180 degrees around the rotation shaft 21a, and the panel holding frame 21 is stored in the storage portion 19 so that the LCD panel 20 covers the opening 19c as shown in FIG. 4C. To do. Further, the rotary mirror 31 and the finder lens 37 are moved to the positions shown in FIG.

  At this time, the subject light L1 is reflected by the reflecting surface 31b of the rotary mirror 31 and forms an image on the light receiving surface 34a of the CCD image sensor 34. The CCD image sensor 34 acquires subject image data and transmits this image data to the signal processing circuit of the circuit board 35. Thereafter, the system controller processes the image data so that the image is horizontally reversed and displays the image on the LCD panel 20.

  The image displayed on the LCD panel 20 is irradiated by the backlight 24 and enters the dark box 30 as image light L2. The image light L 2 is reflected by the reflecting surface 31 a of the rotating mirror 31 and enters the pentaprism 36 via the focusing screen 33. The image light L <b> 2 is reflected in the pentaprism 36, emitted toward the finder lens 37, and enlarged by the finder lens 37. The image light L2 magnified by the finder lens 37 is observed by the photographer through the finder window 18. At this time, since the image is displayed on the LCD panel 20 so as to be reversed left and right, the photographer can observe the image light L2 as an erect image through the finder window 18.

  Thereafter, the photographer looks into the finder window 18 and performs framing by looking at the subject image displayed on the LCD panel 20 via the finder device 14. Shooting is performed by operating the shutter button 15.

  When performing framing by observing the real image of the subject using the finder device 14, the photographer pulls the panel holding frame 21 from the position shown in FIG. 4A to the position shown in FIG. The holding frame 21 is rotated 180 degrees about the rotation shaft 21a, and the panel holding frame 21 is stored in the storage unit 19 so that the LCD panel 20 covers the opening 19c as shown in FIG. 4C. At this time, the rotating mirror 31 and the finder lens 38 are at the positions shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, the photographer performs framing while observing the subject image through the finder window 18. At this time, the subject light L1 transmitted through the photographic lens 12 is reflected by the reflecting surface 31a of the rotating mirror 31 and forms an image on the focusing screen 33 in an inverted state, but this subject image is reflected by the pentaprism 17 and is positive. It becomes a standing image, is magnified by the finder lens 37, and passes through the finder window 18. For this reason, the subject image becomes an erect image and is observed by the photographer.

  When the photographer operates the shutter button 15, the rotary mirror 31 rotates from the position shown in FIG. 6A to the position shown in FIG. At this time, the subject light L1 is reflected by the reflecting surface 31b of the rotary mirror 31 and forms an image on the light receiving surface 34a of the CCD image sensor 34. The CCD image sensor 34 acquires subject image data and transmits this image data to the signal processing circuit of the circuit board 35. Thereafter, the system controller records the image data on a recording medium such as a memory card, and processes the image data so that the image is horizontally reversed, and displays the image on the LCD panel 20.

  The image displayed on the LCD panel 20 is irradiated by the backlight 24 and enters the dark box 30 as image light L2. The image light L 2 is reflected by the reflecting surface 31 a of the rotating mirror 31 and enters the pentaprism 36 via the focusing screen 33. The image light L <b> 2 is reflected in the pentaprism 36, emitted toward the finder lens 37, and enlarged by the finder lens 37. The image light L2 magnified by the finder lens 37 is observed by the photographer through the finder window 18. At this time, since the image is displayed on the LCD panel 20 so as to be reversed left and right, the image light L2 incident on the pentaprism 36 is combined with the subject light L1 incident on the pentaprism 36 before the shutter button 15 is operated. The image direction is the same. For this reason, the photographer can observe the image light L <b> 2 as an erect image through the finder window 18.

  6B, the optical axes of the subject light L1 and the image light L2 are shifted in the vertical direction by the thickness of the rotating mirror 31. In FIG. However, the positions of the finder device 14, the CCD image sensor 34, and the LCD panel 20 may be arranged in consideration of the deviation of the optical axis. Other solutions include a method of placing the rotating shaft 32 on the reflecting surface 31a, a method of bonding two mirror members together and arranging them in the center of the rotating mirror 31, A method of arranging on the reflecting surface 31a and placing the rotation axis on the reflecting surface 31a can be considered.

  The optical path length from the finder lens 37 to the LCD panel 37 is longer than the optical path length from the finder lens 37 to the focusing screen 33. However, when the shutter button 15 is operated, the system controller drives the motor 43. Since the finder lens 37 is moved forward in the optical axis direction, the finder lens 37 has a diopter for the image displayed on the LCD panel 20, and the photographer can observe a clear image. Thereby, the photographer can easily confirm the photographed image via the finder window 18 without losing the photographing posture. Further, after confirming the photographed image, framing may be performed in this state for photographing.

  The image displayed on the LCD panel 20 is displayed for a few seconds (for example, about 3 seconds) after the shutter button 15 is operated. Note that the captured image may not be displayed at all. In this case, it is possible to shoot without missing the next photo opportunity. Thereafter, the LCD panel 20 is turned off, and at the same time, the rotating mirror 31 and the finder lens 37 are returned from the position shown in FIG. 6B to the position shown in FIG.

  Further, the image display on the LCD panel 20 may be always displayed while the photographer presses the shutter button 15.

  If the photographer wants to take a picture again after confirming the photographed image, the photographer can take the picture without changing the photographing posture, so that the framing work can be omitted. For this reason, since the time until the next photographing can be shortened, it is possible to prevent missing a photo opportunity. In addition, since framing can be easily performed, it is possible to photograph with an optimal composition. Further, since the finder device 14 performs framing, it is possible to reduce battery consumption as compared with the case where the LCD panel 20 is used as an electronic viewfinder.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, if the panel holding frame 21 is rotated 180 degrees from the storage position and directed forward in the optical axis direction of the photographing lens 12, and the LCD panel 20 is used as an electronic viewfinder, a digital camera 10 makes it easy to take a selfie. At this time, since the opening 19c is not shielded by the panel holding frame 21, a shielding lid 40 is separately provided. When the panel holding frame 21 is rotated 180 degrees, the shielding lid 40 covers the opening 19c by a slide mechanism (not shown). What is necessary is just to prevent external light from entering the camera body 11.

  In the present embodiment, the system controller controls the motor to move the viewfinder lens when the shutter button is operated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a drive mechanism that rotates a rotating mirror, a viewfinder lens, A driving force for rotating the rotating mirror may be provided to the finder device via the gear train so that the finder lens moves in the optical axis direction. Moreover, you may make it transmit a driving force with a wire instead of a gear train.

1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera of the present invention. It is a rear view of the digital camera of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the rotation mechanism of a panel holding frame. It is sectional drawing which shows rotation operation | movement of a panel holding frame. It is the schematic which shows the optical structure of the digital camera of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a rotating mirror and a finder lens. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which rotated the panel holding frame 180 degrees. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the state which rotated the panel holding frame frame 180 degrees.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 11 Camera main body 12 Shooting lens 14 Finder apparatus 15 Shutter button 18 Finder window 19 Storage part 19a, 19b Fitting hole 19c Opening 20 LCD panel 21 Panel holding frame 21a Rotating shaft 23 Rotating holding part 23a, 23b Rotating shaft 31 Rotating mirror 31a, 31b Reflecting surface 32 Rotating shaft 33 Focus plate 34 CCD image sensor 37 Finder lens 38 Lens frame 39 Guide shaft 40 Feed screw 41 Nut member 42, 43a Gear 43 Motor

Claims (2)

In a digital camera that has a fan-in imaging plane on which subject light incident from a photographic lens forms an image and a light-receiving surface of an imaging means, and switches the optical path of the subject light between these two imaging surfaces.
A reflecting plate having a substantially flat shape, and having a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface formed on the upper surface and the lower surface, respectively;
It is held movably between a first holding position for emitting image light emitted from the display screen to the outside of the camera body and a second holding position for emitting the image light toward the reflector inside the camera body. Display means,
Provided near the optical axis of the subject light incident on the reflector, parallel to all of the viewfinder imaging surface, the light receiving surface, and the first and second reflective surfaces, and perpendicular to the optical axis of the subject light. A rotating shaft extending in a certain direction,
A first reflection position that reflects the subject light toward the viewfinder imaging surface at the first reflection surface, and the subject light toward the light receiving surface at one of the first or second reflection surfaces. A digital camera in which the reflecting plate rotates around the rotation axis between a second reflecting position for reflecting and reflecting the image light toward the viewfinder imaging surface by the other reflecting surface.   2. A lens moving mechanism for moving a finder lens to a position where the diopter matches the display surface when the reflecting plate rotates from the first reflecting position to the second reflecting position. Digital camera.

Images