JPH11153832A - Camera provided with clip and camera apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera provided with a clip improved in the structure of attaching a clip to the camera so that the image pickup direction of the camera may be freely changed in a wide range and the entire size may be made small. SOLUTION: A camera part 2 is connected to a clip part 4 with a turning part 3 for turning the direction of the camera part 2. The turning part 3 is constituted of a 1st support connected to the camera part 2, a 2nd support formed on the operation part 412 of the clip part 4 and a universal joint 33 turnably holding the 1st and the 2nd supports.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera with a clip and a camera device, and more particularly to a camera having a clip for attaching to a peripheral portion of a liquid crystal display device of a laptop personal computer, and the like. The present invention relates to a camera device including the camera with the clip and a pedestal for holding the camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a small camera which is connected to a personal computer and used as an image input device. Such a camera is used, for example, in a video conference system. When used in a video conferencing system, the camera is installed around the PC, but when using a desktop PC, there is no problem with the location of the camera because there is a large space above the CRT display. When a laptop personal computer is used, it cannot be mounted on the housing of the liquid crystal display unit.

Therefore, a clip is attached to the camera,
In some cases, a camera can be attached to a peripheral housing of a liquid crystal display unit of a personal computer using the clip.

[0004]

In a conventional camera with a clip, the camera is attached only to the side of the clip, so that the size of the entire camera is increased by the amount of attachment of the clip. Also, since the camera and the clip are arranged side by side, if the camera and the clip are not sufficiently separated from each other with a spacer or the like, the operation part of the clip protrudes within the rotation range of the camera, and the operation part of the clip concerned However, there is a drawback that the camera hinders changing the direction of the camera and narrows the rotation range of the camera.

The camera with a clip of the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has a clip so that the imaging direction of the camera can be freely changed in a wide range and the overall size can be reduced. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera with a clip in which a camera mounting structure is devised.
Another object of the camera with a clip of the present invention is that the size of the frame around the display is shortened due to the enlargement of the liquid crystal display of the notebook computer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera with a clip devised so that a portion does not protrude on a display screen and does not disturb the display.

In addition, the camera device of the present invention allows the camera 1 or 1 'with clip to be appropriately detached from the pedestal 6 in accordance with the situation of use so that the camera 1 or 1' can be used while being pinched at a desired place. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera device capable of securing a good imaging range when the camera device is installed above the camera.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera with a clip, which comprises a camera unit 2 for imaging and a clip unit 4 for attachment, which hold the camera unit 2 in a rotatable manner. A camera with a clip connected via a moving unit 3, wherein the rotating unit 3 is provided continuously at a position of an operation unit 412 of the clip unit 4 and formed so as to also serve as an operation unit 412 of the clip unit 4. It is characterized by the following.

A camera with a clip according to a second invention of the present invention is the camera with a clip according to the first invention, wherein the rotating portion 3 comprises a first support 31 vertically provided on the bottom surface of the camera portion 2 and a clip portion. And a universal joint 33 that is provided on the operating section 412 of the fourth section and forms the operating section 412 of the clip section 4 and a universal joint 33 that rotatably holds the first and second columns 31 and 32. Features.

A camera with a clip according to a third aspect of the present invention is the camera with a clip according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the clip portion 4 comprises a front holding component 41 and a rear holding component 42. Operation part 41 of front clamping part 41
2 and the rear holding part 42 is formed in a plate shape. A camera with a clip according to a fourth invention of the present invention is a camera with a clip in which a camera unit for imaging and a clip unit for attachment are connected via a rotating unit that rotatably holds the direction of the camera unit. And the clip part,
The front gripping part is composed of a front gripping part and a rear gripping part, and the rotating part is provided on the operation part of the front gripping part, the rear gripping part is formed in a plate shape, and the depth length of the front gripping part of the front gripping part is reduced. The rear holding part is shorter than the depth of the rear holding part.

[0010] A camera device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a camera with a clip in which a camera unit for imaging and a clip unit for attachment are connected via a rotating unit for rotatably holding the direction of the camera unit. And a pedestal for detachably holding the camera with a clip, wherein the clip portion of the camera with the clip has a front clamping part formed with the rotating part and a rear clamping formed in a plate shape. A fitting portion for fitting the rear holding component is formed on the front upper surface of the pedestal, and the fitting portion is inclined forward.

In the camera with a clip according to the first aspect of the present invention, the rotating portion 3 is provided so as to be connected to the position of the operation portion 412 of the clip portion 4 and is formed so as to also serve as the operation portion 412 of the clip portion 4. The operation unit 412 does not enter the rotation range of the camera unit 2 and hinders the rotation, so that the rotation range of the camera unit 2 can be widened, and the rotation unit 3 also functions as the operation unit 412. With such a configuration, the configuration of the camera with a clip can be reduced in size as compared with a configuration in which the rotating unit 3 and the operation unit 412 are separately formed.

A camera with a clip according to a second aspect of the present invention is the camera with a clip according to the first aspect of the present invention.
To a first support 31 vertically provided on the bottom surface of the camera unit 2.
A second column 32 provided on the operation section 412 of the clip section 4 and forming the operation section 412 of the clip section 4;
By comprising the universal joint 33 that rotatably holds the column 31 and the second column 32, the operation unit 412 does not enter the rotation range of the camera unit 2 and hinders the rotation. The rotating range of the portion 2 can be widened, and the rotating portion 3 is also configured to also serve as the operating portion 412, so that the rotating portion 3 and the operating portion 412 are provided with clips compared to those formed separately. The configuration of the camera can be reduced in size.

A camera with a clip according to a third aspect of the present invention is the camera with a clip according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the clip portion 4 comprises a front holding part 41 and a rear holding part 42, and the rotating part 3 is connected to the front part. When the camera 1 is mounted on a desk or a CRT display, the rear holding component 42 can be used as a base because the operating portion 412 of the holding component 41 is provided on the operation unit 412 and the rear holding component 42 is formed in a plate shape. it can.

In a camera with a clip according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a camera section 2 for imaging and a clip section 4 for attachment are mounted via a rotating section 3 for rotatably holding the direction of the camera section 2. In the camera with clip 1 'connected, the clip part 4 comprises a front holding part 41 and a rear holding part 42, and the rotating part 3 is connected to the operating part 41 of the front holding part 41.
2, the rear holding part 42 is formed in a plate shape, and the depth length d of the front holding part 413 ′ of the front holding part 41 is shorter than the depth length E of the rear holding part 423 of the rear holding part 42. Since the front holding portion 413 'does not cover the liquid crystal display portion 51, the clip portion 4 does not obstruct the display.

In a camera device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a camera section 2 for imaging and a clip section 4 for attachment are connected via a rotating section 3 for rotatably holding the direction of the camera section 2. A camera device 8 comprising a clipped camera 1, 1 'and a pedestal 6 for detachably holding the clipped camera, wherein the clip portion 4 of the clipped camera 1, 1' is provided.
Is formed of a front holding part 41 on which the rotating part 3 is formed and a rear holding part 42 formed in a plate shape, and a fitting part 61 for fitting the rear holding part 42 on the front upper surface of the pedestal 6. Is formed, and the fitting portion 61 is inclined forward to make the mounting of the cameras 1 and 1 ′ with clips at an angle, so that the imaging range below the camera unit 2 can be widened. When a camera device is installed on a CRT display monitor device or the like, a good imaging range can be secured.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. 1 is an overall perspective view of a camera with a clip of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the camera with a clip, FIG. 3 is a right side view of the camera with a clip, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X of FIG. 5 when the camera is cut back and forth at the position and the cut surface is viewed from the right side. FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera with a clip. The camera 1 with a clip has a camera section 2 in which an image pickup circuit and a communication circuit are incorporated, and a personal computer capable of holding a portion having a thickness of about 1 cm. It comprises a clip part 4 for attachment and a rotating part 3 for freely changing the direction of the camera part 2. In the camera unit 2, reference numeral 21 denotes an imaging window, and an image in front of the imaging window 21 can be taken. Reference numeral 22 denotes a communication cable. The other end of the cable 22 is connected to a PC card (PCMCIA-compliant card) 23, and the image data of the camera unit 2 is stored in the notebook PC via the PC card 23 connected to the card slot of the personal computer. Send to PC5.

The clip portion 4 has a curved front holding part 4.
1, a plate-shaped rear holding part 42, a pivot 43, and a torsion coil spring 44, and pivot contact pieces 411 and 421 formed on both sides of a substantially central part of each of the front holding part 41 and the rear holding part 42, It is inserted by the pivot 43, and push-up arms 441,
The push-up arms 441 and 442 are respectively extended back and forth, and the rear part 4121 of the operation part 412 of the front holding part 41 and the front part of the operation part 422 of the rear holding part 42 are respectively provided. 4
221 abuts on the holding part 413 of the front holding part 41
And the sandwiching portion 423 of the rear sandwiching part 42 is urged to perform the sandwiching operation.

As shown in FIG. 5, the torsion coil spring 44
The front holding part 41 and the rear holding part 42 are separated by the front holding part 413 and the rear holding part 423.
Of the liquid crystal display unit 51 of FIG. At the time of pinching, by pushing the operation unit 412 and the operation unit 422 from the outside, respectively, the space between the front holding unit 413 and the rear holding unit 423 is opened against the spring force of the torsion coil spring 44.
The peripheral housing 52 and the like may be interposed therebetween.

Between the front holding portion 413 and the pivotal contact pieces 411 and 411, a concave portion is formed in a U-shape, and a convex portion is formed on the peripheral housing portion 52 of the notebook computer 5 (to absorb the protrusion of the keyboard facing when stored). In some cases, the liquid crystal display portion may be slightly concave. The rear holding component 42 is formed in a plate shape, and the bottom surface serves as a base when the camera 1 with the clip is detached from the notebook computer and placed on a desk or a CRT display.

The rotating section 3 is composed of a first column 31 connected to the rear portion of the bottom of the camera section 2 and a second column 32 rotatably supported by the operating section 412 of the front clamping part 41. The clip unit 4 and the camera unit 2 are connected so that the imaging direction of the camera unit 2 can be freely changed. In FIG. 4, the first support 3
1 is provided with a screw thread at a screw portion 311 at the upper end, and is screwed with the camera portion 2. On the other hand, a spherical joint 312 is formed at the lower end of the first support 31.

The second support 32 has a ball receiving portion 321 at its upper end.
A pivot 322 is formed at the lower end. The ball receiving portion 321 has two front and rear slits 321 at the upper end opening.
2, 3212, two ball holding pieces 3211, 3211 whose inner surfaces, which can be opened and closed resiliently, are formed into a concave spherical shape, are provided.
12, the joint portion 312 and the ball receiving portion 321
To form a universal joint 33. The universal joint 33 allows the camera section 2 to freely swing up and down, swing left and right, and rotate around the first support.

A bobbin-shaped pivot 322 is formed at the lower end of the second support column 32, and the pivot 322 is rotatably supported by the operation section 412 of the front clamping component 41. FIG.
A and B show a state where the camera unit 2 is swung downward and the first support 31 is fitted into the slit 3212. In this state, when the camera unit 2 is turned in the direction of arrow A or B, the camera unit 2 can be freely rotated about the second support column 32 as an axis. The pivot 322 is the operation unit 41
The camera unit 2 can be held at the rotational position where the rotational operation has been performed since the internal joint surface 2 is in frictional engagement with the internal joint surface. 7A and 7B show a state where the camera unit 2 is turned in the direction of arrow A.

As described above, since the rotating portion 3 is connected to the operating portion 412 of the front holding part 41, that is, since the operating portion 412 does not protrude into the rotating range of the camera portion 2, the operating portion 4
1 does not hinder the rotation of the camera unit 2, and the rotation range can be widened. In addition, the pivot 322 of the second support 32 is buried in the portion of the operation portion 412 of the front holding component 41, and the ball receiving portion 321 is exposed from the operation portion 412 at a position facing the operation portion 422 of the rear holding component 42. , The second support column 32 (ball receiving portion 321) can be used as an operation portion. In this way, since the second support column 32 is also used as an operation portion, a conventional one is used. The camera with the clip can be made more compact as compared with.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the camera with a clip. The camera with clip 1 'is shown in FIG.
The length of the front holding portion 413 of the front holding component 41 is shorter than that of the camera 1 with a clip described in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 11, when a large-sized liquid crystal display section 51 of the notebook computer 5 is employed, the
May have a length (c) of about 7 mm. In the camera with clip 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, since the front end of the front holding portion 413 of the front holding component 41 hangs on the display screen, the camera 1 ′ with clip shown in FIG. By shortening the depth length (2) of 413 ', the front holding portion 413' is designed so as not to cover the liquid crystal display portion 51. FIG. 9 is a right side view of the camera with clip 1 ′, and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the camera with clip 1 ′ in FIG. 8 to 10, the holding portions 413 ′ and 4
23 shows a state in which 23 is opened against the torsion coil spring 44.

As described above, in the camera with clip 1 ',
The depth length (d) of the front holding portion 413 'is shortened.
Although the depth length (e) of the rear holding portion 423 is not different from that of the above-described camera 1 with a clip, the depth length (d) of the front holding portion 413 ′ is shortened, so that the peripheral housing portion of the liquid crystal display portion 51 is reduced. In order to compensate for the decrease in stability when the camera with clip 1 'is attached to the
By increasing the contact area by increasing the size of the rubber 15 and the rear holding rubber 425, the liquid crystal display 5 of the camera 1 '
1 is secured in the peripheral housing 52.
It should be noted that by increasing the strength of the torsion coil spring 44, the pinching force can be increased to increase the stability. However, the increased strength of the spring requires a greater force to operate the Krupp. Therefore, the configuration in which the sizes of the holding rubbers 415 and 425 are increased is adopted.

FIG. 12 is an overall perspective view of a camera device 8 composed of a combination of the cameras 1 and 1 'with clips and the pedestal 6. The camera shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the camera device 8 can be stably mounted on the upper surface of the CRT display monitor device 7 of the desktop type personal computer for use.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a state where the cameras with clips 1, 1 'and the pedestal 6 are separated. The camera with clip and the pedestal 6 are connected by a communication cable 22, and further connected to a communication terminal of a personal computer via a communication cable 62. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 to FIG. 15, a USB is used as a communication interface with a personal computer.
(Universal serial bus), and a circuit board for that purpose is incorporated in the base 6.

Reference numeral 63 denotes a still button for switching the output / stop of the image data from the camera with clip to the personal computer. Reference numeral 64 denotes an operation mode display LED lamp. Reference numeral 61 denotes a fitting portion into which a camera with a clip is inserted. The engagement holds the camera with clip 1, 1 ′ on the pedestal 6.

The claw 65 is provided substantially at the center on both left and right sides in the longitudinal direction of the fitting portion 61.
Reference numeral 4 is provided at substantially the center of the left and right sides of the rear holding part 42. Since the claw 65 and the concave portion 424 are respectively provided at substantially the center portions as described above, the stability is excellent and the attachment and detachment are easy. Further, the fitting portion 61 is inclined at the front side, and the angle of attachment of the cameras 1 and 1 ′ with clips makes it possible to widen the imaging range below the camera portion 2. Therefore, when the camera device 8 is installed on the top plate of the display monitor device 7, a good imaging range can be secured.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another use mode of the camera device 8, and shows a case where the camera device 8 is used for the notebook computer 5. In this case, the camera with clip 1, 1 '
Is detached from the pedestal 6 and attached to the peripheral large body portion 52 of the liquid crystal display portion 51 by the holding portions 413 and 423. In addition, even when used for the notebook computer 5,
The camera with the clip may be used by placing it on a table with the camera connected to the base 6.

In this way, the camera device 8 can be used by properly detaching the camera 1 or 1 'with clip from the pedestal 6 and holding it at a desired place in accordance with the use situation.

[0033]

As described above, according to the camera with the clip of the present invention, the rotating portion is provided so as to be connected to the position of the operating portion of the clip, and is formed so as to also serve as the operating portion of the clip. Since the operation unit does not enter the rotation range of the camera and does not hinder the rotation, the rotation range of the camera unit can be widened, and the rotation unit also serves as the operation unit. The configuration of the camera with a clip can be reduced in size as compared with the case where the rotating unit and the operation unit are separately formed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a camera with clip 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the camera 1 with a krupp of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the camera 1 with a krupp of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the camera 1 with a krupp of the present invention taken along line XX.

FIG. 5 is a use state diagram showing a state in which the camera 1 with a krupp of the present invention is attached to a notebook computer.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the camera unit 2 of the camera 1 with a Krupp of the present invention is directed downward, where A is a right side view showing the state and B is a perspective view showing the state.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a state where the camera unit 2 of the camera 1 with a Krupp of the present invention is turned downward and the camera unit 2 is turned in the direction of arrow A, and A is a right side view showing the state;
B is a perspective view showing the state.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a camera with clip 1 ′ showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a right side view of a camera with clip 1 'showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a YY cross-sectional view of a camera with clip 1 ′ showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a use state diagram showing a state in which a camera 1 'with a Krupp according to another embodiment of the present invention is attached to a notebook computer having a large-sized liquid crystal display unit.

FIG. 12 is an overall perspective view of a camera device 8 including a combination of the cameras 1 and 1 ′ with clips and the pedestal 6.

FIG. 13 is a use state diagram showing a case where the camera device 8 is used for the display monitor device 7;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state where the cameras with clips 1, 1 ′ and the pedestal 6 are separated.

FIG. 15 is a use state diagram showing an embodiment in which the camera device 8 is used for the notebook computer 5.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera monitor with clip 2 Camera section 21 Imaging window 22 Communication cable 23 PC card 3 Rotating section 31 First column 311 Screw section 312 Joint section 32 Second column 321 Ball receiving section 3211 Ball holding piece 3212 Slit 322 Pivot part 33 Universal joint 4 Clip part 41 Front holding part 411 Pivoting piece 412 Operating part 4121 Rear part of operating part 412 413 Front holding part 414 Gouge part 42 Rear holding part 421 Pivot piece 422 Operating part 4221 Operating part 422 Front surface 423 rear holding portion 424 concave portion 43 pivot 44 torsion coil spring 441 push-up arm 442 push-up arm 5 notebook computer 51 liquid crystal display 52 peripheral housing 53 hinge part 54 keyboard part 6 pedestal 61 fitting part 62 communication cable 63 still button 64 LED lamp 65 nail 7 display monitor device 8 camera device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A camera with a clip, wherein a camera unit for imaging and a clip unit for attachment are connected via a rotating unit for rotatably holding the direction of the camera unit, wherein the rotating unit is , Is installed at the position of the operation part of the clip part,
A camera with a clip, formed so as to also serve as an operation section of the clip section. A first support provided vertically on a bottom surface of the camera unit; a second support provided on an operation unit of the clip unit to form an operation unit of the clip unit; 2. The camera with a clip according to claim 1, further comprising a universal joint for rotatably holding the support and the second support. 3. The clip part comprises a front holding part and a rear holding part, wherein the rotating part is provided on an operation part of the front holding part, and the rear holding part is formed in a plate shape. The camera with a clip according to claim 1. 4. A camera with a clip, wherein a camera unit for imaging and a clip unit for attachment are connected via a rotation unit that rotatably holds the direction of the camera unit, wherein the clip unit includes: The front gripping part is composed of a front gripping part and a rear gripping part, and the rotating part is provided on the operation part of the front gripping part, the rear gripping part is formed in a plate shape, and the depth length of the front gripping part of the front gripping part is reduced. A camera with a clip, wherein the depth of the rear holding part is shorter than the depth of the rear holding part. 5. A camera with a clip in which a camera for imaging and a clip for attachment are connected via a rotating portion for rotatably holding the direction of the camera, and the camera with a clip is detachably attached. A camera device comprising a pedestal for holding, wherein a clip portion of the camera with a clip includes a front clamping component in which the rotating portion is formed and a rear clamping component formed in a plate shape, and a front upper surface of the pedestal. A camera device, wherein a fitting portion for fitting the rear holding component is formed, and the fitting portion is inclined forward.