KR100388999B1 - Camcorder having a rotatable display - Google Patents

Abstract

The camcorder includes a display unit attached to one side of the camcorder body, a display hinged to the rotating member, rotated together with the rotating member when the rotating member is rotated, and rotated together with the rotating member. Has an operation unit for inputting an operation command relating to the playback operation. Since the display and the operation unit rotate together by rotating the rotating member, the relative position of the operation unit does not change even if the position in the rotational direction of the display changes. Therefore, even if the user holds the camcorder with his left or right hand, the user can operate the operation unit for shooting or reproducing while querying the display. The camera can be rotated within a predetermined range with respect to the camcorder body, so that even when the user changes the direction of the camcorder to change the hand holding the camcorder, the camera can be changed to perform the imaging operation of the subject normally. do.

Description

Camcorder with a rotatable display

The present invention relates to a camcorder, and more particularly, to a digital camcorder having a rotatable display.

The camcorder is a device that allows a user to take an image of a subject and play back a photographed image while carrying it in his hand. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a configuration of a general camcorder.

The camcorder 10 uses a camera lens 13 installed on the front of the camcorder body 11, a microphone 17 for recording ambient sounds, and an image and a microphone photographed through the camera lens 13. And a microcomputer 15 for processing the received sound. In addition, the camcorder 10 has a display (not shown) for reproducing the captured image and sound, and a grip portion (not shown) on the outer surface of the camcorder body 11 so that the user can easily carry the camcorder 10 while shooting. (Not shown) or a band (not shown) for fixing the user's hand to the camcorder body 11 is provided.

However, in the conventional camcorder 10, the grip part and the band are provided only on one side of the camcorder body 11, which causes inconvenience in use. That is, since the grip member or the band is mainly disposed on the right side of the camcorder body 11 so that the right-handed user can usually use, the user who is left-handed may feel uncomfortable when using the camcorder 10.

In addition, the display installed in the camcorder body 11 is typically rotatably installed in the camcorder body 11 so that the user can be spaced apart or in close contact with the camcorder body 11 as needed, and the camcorder body 11 In the spaced apart state, the user is rotatably installed to adjust the viewing angle of the screen. Such a display is also generally provided on the left side of the camcorder body 11, focusing on the use of the right handed. Therefore, it is impossible for the left-handed person to shoot with the camcorder 10 because of the position of the display, or because the display should be used only in a state where the display is in close contact with the camcorder body 11, so that the captured image cannot be displayed on the display during use. .

As described above, due to other limitations on the position of the grip member or the band and the position and structure of the display, the conventional camcorder has a problem in that it is very inconvenient for a user to take a picture of the camcorder 10 using his left hand.

In general, in the camcorder 10, the angle range that the camera lens 13 can capture is limited to about 90 °, and in the case of a normal camera lens, about 87 °, so that a wide range of images cannot be taken. There is this. Therefore, when a user wants to capture an image of a subject that is outside the photographable range of the camera lens 13, it is inconvenient to change the photographing angle by shifting the position of the camcorder 10. However, even in this case, a wide range of images cannot be contained on one screen.

In addition, the conventional camcorder 10 has a disadvantage that the microphone 17 cannot receive sound only in one direction, and thus it is not possible to provide a three-dimensional sound when the recorded sound is reproduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a camcorder in which photographing of a subject can be easily performed by using both the left and right hands according to the user's convenience. .

Another object of the present invention is to provide a camcorder capable of capturing a wide range of images.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a camcorder capable of reproducing a three-dimensional sound by recording a wide range of sounds in response to photographing of a wide-angle image.

1 is a schematic diagram of a typical camcorder;

2 is a perspective view of a camcorder according to the present invention;

3 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 2;

4 is a side view of FIG. 2;

5 is a front view of FIG. 2;

6 is a rear view of FIG. 2;

7 is a side view of FIG. 2 with the display open;

8 is a view showing a shooting range on the horizontal plane of each camera,

9 is a view showing a shooting range on the vertical plane of each camera,

10 is a block diagram showing an image processing circuit installed in a camcorder body;

11 and 12 are views showing a state of use of the camcorder according to the present invention; and

13 is a perspective view of a camcorder according to the present invention showing the embodiment of FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

20: camcorder body 30: camera assembly

33: camera 40: LCD display

41: rotating member 50: grip member

71, 72, 73: microphone 61: operation panel

61a, 61b, 61c: Operation button 130: Camera

Camcorder according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the camcorder body having a camera for taking an image of the subject; A rotating member attached to one side of the camcorder body and whose plate surface is rotatable with respect to the camcorder body; A display hinged to the rotating member and rotatable with respect to the rotating member and rotated together with the rotating member when the rotating member is rotated; And an operation unit provided on the rotation member and rotated together with the rotation member for inputting an operation command regarding a photographing operation of a subject and a reproduction operation of the photographed image.

Since the display and the operation unit rotate together by rotating the rotating member, the relative position of the operation unit does not change even if the position in the rotational direction of the display changes. Therefore, even if the user holds the camcorder with his left or right hand, the user can operate the operation unit for shooting or reproducing while querying the display.

The camera is preferably installed to be rotatable within a predetermined range with respect to the camcorder body. Accordingly, even when the user changes the direction of the camcorder to change the hand holding the camcorder, the imaging operation of the subject can be normally performed by changing the angle of the camera.

The camcorder body is provided with a grip member. Preferably, the grip member is disposed on the side opposite to the surface on which the display on the camcorder body is installed. The grip member is hinged to the camcorder body so as to be rotatable within a predetermined range with respect to the camcorder body.

The rotating member has a shape of a disc installed in the camcorder body so as to be rotatable about its central axis.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the camcorder body is provided with a plurality of cameras for capturing images of different angle ranges. Preferably, five cameras are disposed radially on the surface of the substantially hemispherical fixing member, whereby the imaging of the image over the substantially hemispherical range is possible.

Data of an image taken by each camera is synthesized into one wide-angle image by a processor, wherein the processor exists between the angle ranges of each camera and is not photographed by the cameras. For the zone, the dead zone is removed by giving correction image data based on the data of the image photographed by each of the cameras. The display may adjust a display range in images captured by the plurality of cameras according to a user's selection.

The plurality of cameras is disposed in the edge region of the camcorder body, so that even when the grip member is held by the left hand or the right hand, the camera assembly can be photographed using the camera assembly. The camera assembly is covered with a transparent cover member.

The camcorder body is provided with a plurality of microphones. Therefore, three-dimensional sound recording is possible, and the sound corresponding to the display angle of the screen displayed on the display can be changed.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 to 7 are diagrams illustrating a camcorder according to the present invention. The camcorder according to the present invention includes a camcorder body 20 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having a curved corner portion, a camera assembly 30 installed at a corner region of an upper front surface of the camcorder body 20, and a left surface of the camcorder body 20. And a grip member 50 provided on the right side of the camcorder body 20.

The camera assembly 30 is composed of a fixing member 31 formed in a substantially hemispherical shape, and five cameras 33 attached to the outer surface of the fixing member 31. Five cameras 33 are arranged radially, in particular, one camera 33 is arranged in the center of the upper surface of the fixing member 31 and the other four cameras 33 are 90 around the center of the camera 33 They are arranged symmetrically at intervals of °. The shooting range of each camera 33 is 87 degrees like the shooting range of a camera in a general camcorder. The range that can be photographed by the camera 33 having such an arrangement is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 shows the photographing range on the horizontal plane photographed by the camera assembly 30 (exactly, the photographing range on the horizontal plane assuming that the photographing direction of the center camera 33 is the vertical direction), and FIG. The photographing range on the vertical plane (similarly, the photographing range on the vertical plane assuming that the photographing direction of the center camera 33 is the vertical direction) is shown. Since each camera 33 has a shooting range of 87 °, an image in a 360 ° range is taken by four cameras arranged on a horizontal plane, where each camera 33 is shot at an angle smaller than 90 °. Since it has a range, there are four dead zones D, which are non-photographed sections corresponding to an angular range of about 3 °. Except for the four-section D, four cameras 33 photograph images of a subject that is substantially in the entire angular range in the horizontal direction. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 9, an image in the range of 270 ° is photographed on the vertical plane by the camera 33 in the center and two other cameras on the side, and at this time, the quadrilateral zone D is formed as described above. Occurs.

The camera assembly 30 is installed in an edge region of the camcorder body 20, in particular, an edge region existing in the middle of the front and top surfaces of the camcorder body 20. Therefore, the camera assembly 30 can be photographed over both the front and top surfaces of the camcorder body 20.

The cover member 37 is covered with the camera assembly 30. The cover member 37 is formed of a transparent material so that the camera assembly 30 can capture an image of an external subject, and functions to protect the camera assembly 30.

The LCD display 40 is installed on the left side of the camera body 20. The left side of the camera body 20 is provided with a rotating member 41 formed in a disk shape as shown in Figure 7, the LCD display 40 is hinged to the rotating member 41 as shown in FIG. It is coupled so as to be rotatable by (45). Therefore, the LCD display 40 is in a closed state so as to be in close contact with the camera body 20 as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 according to the rotated position, or the camera body 20 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It can be kept open so that it is spaced apart. This can be operated by the user opening and closing the LCD display 40 by manual operation.

The rotating member 41 is rotatably installed about its central axis. Therefore, the position of the LCD display 40 changes according to the rotational position of the rotating member 41. The user may rotate the rotating member 41 to a desired position by rotating the LCD display 40 by hand, thereby positioning the LCD display 40 at a desired angular position, or as described later, the left or right hand. When carrying a camcorder by using the LCD display 40 can be positioned to an appropriate position.

The outer surface of the camcorder body 20, more specifically, the operation panel 61 is provided at the center of the rotating member 41, the operation panel 61 is a plurality of operation buttons for inputting a command required for the operation of the camcorder 61a and 61b are provided. The operation buttons 61a and 61b are 2D / 3D selection buttons 61a for setting the type of the image reproduced in two or three dimensions, and the range of the screen output through the LCD display 40 as described below. And a home position button 61c for returning the screen moved through the screen selection button 61b to the original reference position screen.

The grip member 50 is installed on the right side of the camcorder body 20, that is, on the side opposite to the surface on which the LCD display 40 is installed. The lower end of the grip member 50 is hinged to the camcorder body 20, and as a result, the grip member 50 is rotatable to the outside of the camcorder body 20 within a predetermined range. The grip member 50 is formed in the shape of a square whose plate surface is curved outward. The user can take the camcorder by holding the camcorder by holding the grip member 50 in a state where the grip member 50 is rotated outward.

The camcorder body 20 is provided with three microphones. One microphone 71 is in front of the camcorder body 20, the other microphone 72 is on the left side of the camcorder body 20, and another microphone 73 is the camcorder body 20 It is installed on the right side. Therefore, each of the microphones 71, 72, and 73 can record sound transmitted from the front, left, and right sides of the camcorder body 20.

10 is a block diagram showing an image processing circuit provided in the camcorder body 20. As shown in FIG. The image processing circuit outputs the A / D converters 112 and 122 and the outputs of the A / D converters 112 and 122 to convert the signals generated by the microphones 71, 72 and 73 and the camera 33 into digital signals, respectively. Encoders 111 and 121 for encoding and generating digital data, microprocessors 160 for signal processing output data of the encoders 111 and 121, and decoders for decoding image and audio data processed by the microprocessor 160 ( 131 and 141, D / A converters 132 and 142 for converting the output signals of the decoders 131 and 141 into analog signals, and output signals of the D / A converters 132 and 142 as images and sounds. It has an LCD display 40 and a speaker 146. The camcorder also has a memory 150 for storing image data and sound data. The operation of the microprocessor 160 is controlled by the user using the operation panel 60.

Hereinafter, the shooting and display operation of the camcorder having the above structure will be described.

When a user selects a shooting operation by operating the operation panel 60, a signal of an image captured by the camera 33 is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 122 and converted into image data by the encoder 121. do. The microprocessor 160 processes the data received from the encoder 121 to make the data without the dead zone D. That is, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, for the portion corresponding to the dead zone D of the image photographed by the camera 33, correction data is inserted into the dead zone-free data. In this case, the method of generating the data for correction may include assigning the same image data as the image data of the pixel closest to the dead zone D to each pixel in the dead zone D, or giving an average value of several adjacent pixels. Various methods such as may be used. As described above, a method of providing correction data to the data of the dead zone D within a predetermined range is a method commonly used in the field of video signal processing, and thus its detailed description will be omitted. The image data having the dead zone D corrected is stored in the memory 150.

The sound signals recorded by the three microphones 71, 72, and 73 are likewise converted into sound data through the A / D converter 112 and the encoder 111, and are stored in the memory 150 by the microprocessor 160. Stored.

When the user wants to reproduce the image and sound stored in the memory 150, the microprocessor 160 retrieves the image and sound data from the memory 150, and the data are respectively decoded by the decoders 131, 141 and D /. Through the A converters 132 and 142, the signal is converted into an analog video signal and an audio signal. The analog video signal and the audio signal are provided to the LCD display 40 and the speaker 146, respectively, thereby reproducing the video and sound.

In this case, the user may select a portion of the image that he / she wants to view from a wide range of images captured by the five cameras 3 by using the screen selection button 61b on the operation panel. That is, a portion of the entire image is displayed on the LCD display 40 as shown in FIG. 3, and when the user wants to see an image existing above the image to be viewed, the screen selection button 61b is displayed. Press the upper part. Then, the microprocessor 160 adjusts the data transmitted to the decoders 131 and 141 among the data stored in the memory 150 so that the screen existing above the screen currently displayed on the LCD display 40 is displayed. For example, if a command to move the screen displayed by the screen selection button 61b upward in the state as shown in FIG. 3 is inputted, the mountain is lowered on the display screen as shown in FIG. Sky will be displayed. In a similar manner, when the user inputs a command to move the screen left, right or down by pressing the screen selection button 61b, the screen displayed on the LCD display 40 is left, right or down from the currently displayed screen. The screen moved to is displayed. Therefore, the user can select the range of the currently displayed screen according to his selection.

Further, in addition to the operation buttons 61a, 61b, and 61c as described above, a separate screen range control button (not shown) for adjusting an angle range in the horizontal and vertical directions of the currently displayed screen may be provided. For example, when the screen range in the horizontal direction is widened by using the screen range control button, the display range in the horizontal direction will be widened without changing the display range in the vertical direction on the currently displayed screen.

In addition, when the user presses the home position button 61c while the angle of the screen displayed as described above is moved or the angle is changed, the display screen returns to the screen of the original display range as shown in FIG. 3. . To this end, it is preferable to provide a storage means such as a separate additional memory (not shown), and to store the range of the reference screen in the storage means. When the home position return button 61c is pressed and the home position return command is input, the microprocessor 160 inquires the angular range of the standard screen stored in the storage means so that the image of the angular range is displayed on the LCD display 40. Control the operation of the camcorder.

In addition, the output sound data may also be changed in response to the change of the screen. That is, among the sounds recorded by the three microphones 71, 72, and 73, when the screen currently displayed on the LCD display 40 is the left screen, the sound mainly recorded by the microphone 72 on the left side, and When the displayed screen is the right screen, the output sound can be changed to correspond to the currently displayed screen by playing the sound mainly recorded by the microphone 73 on the right side.

When shooting using the camcorder according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 11, the user rotates the grip member 50 to the outside of the camcorder body 20 to space the grip member 50 by hand. You can shoot with).

On the other hand, if you want to shoot with the camcorder in the left hand, as shown in Figure 12, the user rotates the camcorder body 20 so that the upper surface of the camcorder body 20 is directed to the front, the grip member 50 You can shoot with your left hand. Since the camera assembly 30 is located at the edge portion between the upper surface and the front surface of the camcorder body 20, the user can still shoot with the camcorder even when the camcorder body 20 is rotated as shown in FIG. It can be performed easily. Therefore, the user can perform the shooting operation using both the left hand and the right hand.

At this time, since the LCD display 40 can be rotated by rotating the rotating member 41, the user can adjust the angle of the LCD display 40 according to the current use state. That is, when the user wants to hold the grip member 50 with his left hand as shown in FIG. 12, the user rotates the LCD display 40 in the state as shown in FIG. 11 so that the image is displayed downward. Do it. Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the user can search the screen displayed on the LCD display 40 while holding the camcorder with his left hand.

On the other hand, since the operation panel 61 is provided on the rotation member 41, the operation panel 61 also rotates together when the rotation member 41 is rotated. Therefore, even when the user rotates the LCD display 40 as shown in FIG. 12, the position of the operation panel 61 is placed at a convenient position for the user to operate.

13 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the configurations of the camcorder body 20, the rotating member 41, the operation panel 61, the LCD display 40, the microphones 71 and 72, the grip member 50 and the like are the same as those of the above-described embodiment. The same and detailed description is omitted. Therefore, since the LCD display 40 and the operation panel 61 are rotated together by rotating the rotating member 41, the LCD display even when the user grips the camcorder by using the left and right hands as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Inquiry on the captured image screen 40 and operation of the operation panel 61 are facilitated.

In this embodiment, the structure of the camera 130 is different from the above-described embodiment. The camera 130 is disposed in the edge region between the front surface and the upper surface of the camcorder body 20 as in the above-described embodiment, and the camera 130 is rotatably installed in this edge region. To this end, hinge portions 130a and 130b are provided in the edge region of the camcorder body 20 to fix the camera 130 to be rotatable. At this time, the rotation range of the camera 130 is in the range of approximately 90 ° from the position placed horizontally to the camcorder body 20 to the position placed vertically. In order to allow the camera 130 to rotate within a range of approximately 90 ° between the horizontal position and the vertical position, a separate stopper may be installed at a portion adjacent to the camera 130.

When the user grips the grip member 50 with his right hand as shown in FIG. 11, the camera 130 is rotated in a horizontal direction, and when the grip member is gripped with the left hand as shown in FIG. 12, the camera 130. Rotate vertically. Accordingly, the camera 130 can be positioned toward both the left hand and the right hand, so that the photographing operation using both hands can be performed.

According to the present invention, the user can conveniently shoot by using either the left hand or the right hand. In addition, when a plurality of cameras are installed, a wide range of images can be taken, and the user can select and display a desired portion of the captured images. In addition, since the sound is recorded using a plurality of microphones it is possible to reproduce a three-dimensional sound.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Anyone skilled in the art can make various modifications, as well as such modifications are within the scope of the claims.

Claims (17)

A camcorder main body having a camera for capturing an image of a subject; A rotating member attached to one side of the camcorder body and whose plate surface is rotatable with respect to the camcorder body; A display hinged to the rotating member and rotatable with respect to the rotating member and rotated together with the rotating member when the rotating member is rotated; And And an operation unit provided on the rotating member and rotated together with the rotating member, the user inputting an operation command relating to a photographing operation of a subject and a playing operation of a photographed image. The method of claim 1, And the camera is installed to be rotatable within a predetermined range with respect to the camcorder body. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Camcorder characterized in that it further comprises a grip member installed on the camcorder body. The method of claim 3, wherein And the grip member is disposed on a side opposite to a surface on which the display is mounted on the camcorder body. The method of claim 4, wherein And the grip member is hinged to the camcorder body to be rotatable within a predetermined range. The method of claim 1, And the rotating member has a shape of a disc installed in the camcorder body so as to be rotatable about a central axis thereof. The method of claim 1, Camcorder, characterized in that a plurality of the camera is installed for taking images of different angle ranges. The method of claim 7, wherein And the plurality of cameras is disposed on the surface of the substantially hemispherical fixing member. The method of claim 8, And the camera is disposed radially on the fixing member. The method of claim 9, Five cameras are installed; Thereby, the plurality of cameras are camcorders, characterized in that for taking pictures of the substantially hemispherical range of images. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, And a processor configured to form one wide-angle image using data of an image captured by each camera. The method of claim 11, The processor may be configured to assign predetermined image data based on data of an image photographed by each of the cameras to a dead zone existing between the angle ranges of each of the cameras and not photographed by the cameras. Camcorder characterized in that. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, And the display is capable of adjusting a display range within an image captured by the camera assembly according to a user's selection. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, Camcorders, characterized in that the plurality of cameras are arranged in the edge area of the camcorder body. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, Camcorder characterized in that it further comprises a cover member of a transparent material covering a plurality of the camera. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, Camcorder, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of microphones installed in the camcorder body. The method of claim 16, And a plurality of the microphones are provided on different sides of the camcorder body.