JPH08195896A - Viewfinder mechanism for video camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily and excellently capture an object and to improve operability at the time of photographing by providing a view-finder part freely slidable between a housing position where it is pushed in when a video camera is not in use and a pull-out position where it is pulled out at the time of use along an image pickup lens barrel part. CONSTITUTION: A viewfinder case body 21 to be a part of an outer package is surrounded by an upper surface, mutually opposing side faces and a part of a bottom surface and the viewfinder part 20 is provided freely slidably in the directions of arrows X, and X2 along the outer side of the image pickup lens barrel 2a of a camera case body 2 by a manual operation. Then, when the video camera 1 is not in use, the viewfinder part 20 is manually pushed in the direction of the arrow X1 to the position approximately equal to the outer shape of the camera case body 2 and reaches the housing position. On the other hand, at the time of using the video camera 1, the viewfinder part 20 is manually pulled out in the direction of the arrow X2 so as to be projected from the outer shape of the camera case body 2 and reaches the pull-out position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a viewfinder applied to a video camera or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a video camera is shortened to accommodate an eyepiece, the viewfinder is prevented from protruding from the main body of the video camera to improve portability of the video camera. -330870 gazette.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of a video camera adopting the viewfinder mechanism of the conventional video camera, and FIG. 6 is a cross section for explaining the viewfinder mechanism of the conventional video camera shown in FIG. It is a figure.

The viewfinder mechanism of the conventional video camera shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-330870 and will be briefly described here.

In FIG. 5, an image pickup lens 101 is provided on the front side of a video camera body 100, and a viewfinder section 110 is used on a side portion. In the viewfinder section 110, as shown in FIG. 6, the cylindrical body 111 a of the display section 111 is the video camera body 1.
00 is rotatably provided, and a CRT 112 for displaying a subject image and a concave lens 113 for CRT protection are provided at the rear end of the cylindrical body 111a. Further, a cylinder 114a of the eyepiece 114 is provided slidably in the arrow direction along the outside of the cylinder 111a of the display unit 111. Further, a diopter adjustment ring 115 is rotatably provided outside the cylindrical body 114a of the eyepiece 114. Furthermore, in the cylindrical body 114a of the eyepiece 114, the eyepieces 116a, 1a
The moving frame 117 holding 16b is the diopter adjustment ring 115.
Is provided so as to be movable in the optical axis direction of the eyepiece lenses 116a and 116b.

[0006]

In the viewfinder mechanism of the conventional video camera described above, the cylinder 114a of the eyepiece 114 of the viewfinder 110 slides along the outside of the cylinder 111a of the display 111. The eyepiece 114 is movably provided when the video camera 100 is not in use.
Although the cylindrical body 114a can be pushed to the storage position, the image pickup lens 101 and the viewfinder section 110 are separated from each other as shown in the figure. It's a little different from what you see when you look at the subject, so it's difficult to capture the subject well. Furthermore, when the viewfinder unit 110 is pushed to the storage position, the eyepiece 1
In order to accommodate the cylindrical body 114a of the eyepiece 114 while maintaining the diopter adjustment spaces 16a and 116b, the cylindrical body 11
There is also a problem that the storage position of 4a varies.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first aspect of the present invention is an imaging lens barrel for photographing a subject, and a viewfinder unit for looking through the photographed subject image. In a video camera provided with, a storage position which is slidably provided along the imaging lens barrel and which is pushed in when the video camera is not used and a withdrawn position which is pulled out when the video camera is used. A viewfinder mechanism for a video camera, which is provided with a viewfinder unit that slides between them.

A second aspect of the present invention displays an image pickup lens for photographing a subject, an image pickup device for photoelectrically converting a subject image picked up through the image pickup lens, and a subject image picked up through the image pickup device. And an image pickup lens barrel having a contact portion formed on the image pickup lens barrel on the display element side, and freely slidable along the image pickup lens barrel. And a viewfinder housing that slides between a storage position that is pushed in when the video camera is not used and a pull-out position that is pulled out when the video camera is used, and a subject image displayed on the display element. An eyepiece holder that holds the eyepiece to be seen and is movable in the viewfinder housing in the optical axis direction of the eyepiece, and integrally with the eyepiece holder in the viewfinder housing. A spring member for urging the eye lens from the eyepiece side to the display element side, and provided on the display element side with respect to the eyepiece lens holder, displaced to adjust the diopter of the eyepiece lens, and, And a viewfinder section having a diopter adjusting means having a stopper that comes into contact with and separates from the eyepiece lens holder, and the imaging lens barrel when the viewfinder housing reaches a storage position. Abutting part of the eyepiece lens holder is pressed against the eyepiece lens holder to press the eyepiece lens toward the eyepiece side against the spring member integrally with the eyepiece lens holder, while the viewfinder housing is in the pull-out position. When it reaches, the contact portion of the imaging lens barrel separates from the eyepiece holder, and the eyepiece is integrated with the eyepiece holder by the urging force of the spring member of the diopter adjusting means. Stop A viewfinder mechanism of the video camera, characterized by being configured to abut the.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A viewfinder mechanism of a video camera according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire structure of a video camera adopting a viewfinder mechanism of the video camera according to the present invention. (A) shows the video camera when it is not used and (B) shows the video. FIG. 2 is a view showing the use of the camera, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the viewfinder mechanism of the video camera, (A) shows the entire viewfinder mechanism, and (B) shows the bottom side of the viewfinder housing. 3A and 3B are views for explaining the operation of the viewfinder mechanism of the same video camera when the viewfinder unit reaches the withdrawal position, and FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views,
FIGS. 4C and 4D are bottom views, and FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation of the viewfinder mechanism of the video camera when the viewfinder unit reaches the storage position.
(A) and (B) are side views and (C) is a bottom view.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a schematic structure of a video camera 1 adopting a viewfinder mechanism of a video camera according to the present invention includes an imaging lens barrel portion 10 for photographing a subject H. The viewfinder unit 20 is slidable along the imaging lens barrel 10 in the directions of the arrows X ₁ and X ₂ and allows the user to see the subject image at the time of shooting, and the VTR unit 30 that records the shot subject image is a camera housing. It is assembled in two. In the above structure, the description of the VTR unit 30 is omitted, and the viewfinder mechanism of the video camera according to the present invention can be applied to a video camera that does not have the VTR unit 30 integrally.

The imaging lens barrel 10 has a round hole 2b formed in front of the imaging lens barrel 2a of the camera housing 2.
A lens cover 11 is provided along the round hole 2b in the imaging lens barrel 2a so as to be openable and closable in association with sliding of the viewfinder unit 20. Further, inside the imaging lens barrel 2a, an imaging lens 12 for imaging the subject H is provided behind the lens cover 11, and behind the imaging lens 12, a subject image captured via the imaging lens 12 is photoelectrically converted. The solid-state image sensor 13 is provided. Further, behind the solid-state image sensor 13 and behind the imaging lens barrel 2a,
A backlight 14 for illuminating the liquid crystal panel and a display element (hereinafter referred to as a liquid crystal panel) 15 for displaying a subject image photographed via the solid-state image sensor 13 are attached. At this time, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal panel 15 attached to the rear of the imaging lens barrel 2a is placed inside the frame of the contact portion 2c formed in a convex shape behind the imaging lens barrel 2a. The object image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15 can be seen from the viewfinder section 20 side, and the contact section 2c can be brought into and out of contact with the eyepiece holding body 24 described later. There is. The contact portion 2c of the imaging lens barrel 2a is provided on the front surface 2 of a stopper 27 described later.
7a into the square hole 27b formed to penetrate the square hole 2b.
It is formed to have a length that can project to the eyepiece side from 7b.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B),
In the viewfinder unit 20, the viewfinder housing 21 which is a part of the exterior is surrounded by the upper surface, the side surfaces facing each other, and a part of the bottom surface, and the imaging lens barrel of the camera housing 2 is manually operated. Along the outside of 2a, arrows X ₁ , X
_It is slidable in _two directions. Here, FIG.
As shown in an enlarged view in (A), the boss 21a provided on the inner side surface of the viewfinder housing 21 is fitted into the guide groove 2d formed on the side surface of the imaging lens barrel 2a, and the viewfinder housing 21 is The boss 2e provided on the side surface of the imaging lens barrel 2a is fitted in the guide groove 21b formed on the inner side surface of the. In addition, the leaf spring 1 provided on the upper surface of the imaging lens barrel 2a
6 is adapted to be selectively fitted into locking grooves 21c ₁ and 21c ₂ formed on the inner upper surface of the viewfinder housing 21 at a distance, and the leaf spring 16 is fitted into the locking groove 21c ₁ . The viewfinder section 2 as shown in FIG.
0 is locked in the retracted storage position, while leaf spring 1
As shown in FIG. 1B, the viewfinder portion 20 is locked at the pulled-out position when 6 is fitted in the locking groove 21c ₂ .

That is, when the video camera 1 as shown in FIG. 1 (A) is not used, the viewfinder section 20 is manually pushed in the direction of the arrow X ₁ to a position substantially equal to the outer shape of the camera housing 2. The round hole 2b of the imaging lens barrel 2a is closed so that the lens cover 11 covers the imaging lens 12 in association with the sliding of the viewfinder unit 20 to the storage position. As a result, when the video camera 1 is not used, the image pickup lens 12 can be protected from dust, human hands, and the like, and the viewfinder unit 20 does not protrude from the camera housing 2. It can be miniaturized.

On the other hand, when the video camera 1 as shown in FIG. 1B is used, the viewfinder section 20 is manually pulled out in the direction of the arrow X ₂ so as to protrude from the outer shape of the camera housing 2, and the pulling position is shown. In addition, the round hole 2b of the imaging lens barrel 2a is opened so that the lens cover 11 exposes the imaging lens 12 in conjunction with the sliding of the viewfinder unit 20 to the pull-out position. Therefore, the video camera 1
When using, the viewfinder unit 20 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow X ₂ along the imaging lens barrel 2a, so that the eye height position when looking into the viewfinder unit 20 is substantially coincident with the optical axis of the imaging lens 12. Therefore, the sensation of looking into the subject image through the viewfinder unit 20 is substantially the same as the sensation of looking at the subject with the human eye, so that the subject H can be easily captured and the operating performance during shooting is improved. Can be improved.

Further, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, a rear side of the viewfinder housing 21 of the viewfinder section 20 is opened as an eyepiece side, and an eyecup 22 using a rubber member is fixedly attached thereto. ing.

Inside the viewfinder housing 21, a substantially rectangular eyepiece lens holder 24 integrally holding an eyepiece lens 23 for looking at a subject image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15 is provided with an optical axis of the eyepiece lens 23. It is provided so that it can move in any direction. At this time, in the eyepiece lens holder 24 integrated with the eyepiece lens 23, the front surface 24a facing the contact portion 2c of the imaging lens barrel 2a is formed to project in a convex shape toward the contact portion 2c side, and the rear surface 24b is constantly urged by a spring member (hereinafter referred to as a compression spring) 25 from the eyepiece side toward the contact portion 2c side of the imaging lens barrel 2a. The eyepiece lens 23 is held at the center of the eyepiece lens holder 24.

Further, a diopter adjusting means for adjusting the diopter of the eyepiece lens 23 from the outside to the inside of the viewfinder housing 21 is provided on the liquid crystal panel 15 side of the eyepiece lens holder 24 integrated with the eyepiece lens 23. There is. The diopter adjusting means is for adjusting the position of the eyepiece lens 23 to a position that matches the visual acuity of the user when looking at the subject image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15, and is provided on the outer surface of the viewfinder housing 21. A diopter adjustment knob 26 rotatably provided, and in conjunction with the rotation of the diopter adjustment knob 26, the viewfinder housing 21 is displaced in the optical axis direction of the eyepiece lens 23, and an eyepiece lens holder. It is configured with a stopper 27 that comes into contact with and separates from 24. Here, the stopper 27 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and on the front surface 27a side facing the contact portion 2c of the imaging lens barrel 2a, a square hole 27b that is slightly larger than the contact portion 2c of the imaging lens barrel 2a. , And the rear surface 27c is formed in a concave shape so that the convex front surface 24a can contact the eyepiece holder 24 biased by the compression spring 25. Further, the square hole 2 of the stopper 27
The contact portion 2c of the imaging lens barrel 2a can enter the 7b, and the stopper 27 is provided at a position where the stopper 27 is not moved by the imaging lens barrel 2a when entering. In other words, the stopper 27 is provided behind the guide groove 21b that regulates the movement range of the viewfinder housing 21. In addition, rotatable diopter adjustment knob 2
6 and the stopper 27 that can be moved linearly are adopted in such a manner that a pin 26a provided on the diopter adjustment knob 26 is fitted into a vertically long guide groove 27d of the stopper 27.

2 (A) and 3 (A),
As shown in (B), when the viewfinder housing 21 reaches the pull-out position, the contact portion 2c of the imaging lens barrel 2a is separated from the front surface 24a of the eyepiece lens holder 24, Moreover, the compression spring 25 is provided on the rear surface 27c of the stopper 27.
Front surface 24a of the eyepiece lens holder 24 biased by
When the eyecup 22 is in contact with the eyepiece, the object image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 15 can be seen through the square hole 27b of the stopper 27 when looking through the eyepiece 22 from the eyepiece 22. At this time, the state in which the stopper 27 is moved to the liquid crystal panel 15 side by the rotation of the diopter adjustment knob 26 as shown in FIG. 3A and the diopter adjustment knob 26 as shown in FIG. 3B. There is an intermediate state between the state of FIG. 3A and the state of FIG. 3B although the illustration is omitted, although the stopper 27 is moved to the eye cup 22 side by the rotation of.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the viewfinder housing 21 reaches the storage position, the contact portion 2c of the image pickup lens barrel 2a becomes the stopper 27. The contact portion 2c enters the square hole 27b, contacts the front surface 24a of the eyepiece lens holder 24, and presses the eyepiece lens 23 integrally with the eyepiece lens holder 24 against the compression spring 25 toward the eyepiece side. ing. At this time, the state in which the stopper 27 is moved to the liquid crystal panel 15 side by the rotation of the diopter adjustment knob 26 as shown in FIG. 4A and the diopter adjustment knob 26 as shown in FIG. 4B. Even if there is an intermediate state between the state shown in FIG. 4A and the state shown in FIG. 4B although the illustration is omitted, the stopper 27 is moved to the eyecup 22 side by the rotation of The stopper 27 is the imaging lens barrel 2a.
Since the eyepiece lens 23 is kept at a position where the diopter of the eyepiece 23 is adjusted without being pushed by the eyepiece lens 23, and the eyepiece lens 23 is pushed to the eyepiece side without a space necessary for the diopter adjustment, the video camera 1 It can be miniaturized with good portability when not in use. Of course, as described above, when the viewfinder housing 21 is pulled out from the storage position to the pull-out position, it is not necessary to adjust the diopter of the eyepiece lens 23 again, and the eyepiece lens 23 is placed at the position of the stopper 27 that is adjusted in advance. The eyepiece holder 24 is integrally formed with the compression spring 2
5 can be contacted.

Next, as shown enlarged in FIG.
The back of the viewfinder housing 21 is the rear eyecup 2.
The second side is closed by a bottom plate portion 21d, and an opening 21e is formed in front of and connected to the bottom plate portion 21d.
Is formed by the drawing operation. The slide cover 28 is provided in the opening 21e with the torsion spring 2
9 always urges in the closing direction to close the lid.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 3C, when the viewfinder housing 21 reaches the pulled-out position, the slide cover 28 is opened by the biasing force of the torsion spring 29. Liquid crystal panel 1
5 is prevented from adhering dust and the like. At this time, if dust or the like adheres to the liquid crystal panel 15, it is possible to change the state of FIG.
As shown in (D), the slide cover 28 is pushed toward the bottom plate portion 21d side against the urging force of the torsion spring 29 by a manual operation to open the opening portion 21e.
The liquid crystal panel 15 can be cleaned by inserting a cotton swab or the like from e.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4C, when the viewfinder housing 21 reaches the storage position, no opening is formed on the back surface of the viewfinder housing 21, and therefore the slide cover is formed. Since the front of 28 contacts the rear of the imaging lens barrel 2a, the slide cover 28 is pushed toward the bottom plate 21d side against the biasing force of the torsion spring 29.

In the viewfinder mechanism of the video camera having the above structure, in the embodiment, as the diopter adjusting means for adjusting the diopter of the eyepiece lens 23, the diopter adjustment is rotatably provided on the outer surface of the viewfinder housing 21. Knob 26,
The viewfinder housing 21 is configured with the stopper 27 that is displaced in the optical axis direction of the eyepiece lens 23 in conjunction with the rotation of the diopter adjustment knob 26, but the stopper 27 is not limited to this. Diopter adjustment knob 2 that can be rotated without using
It is also possible to provide an eccentric pin 6 and use the eccentric pin as a stopper so as to partially project into the viewfinder housing 21 so as to abut against the eyepiece lens holder 24. Furthermore, the stopper 27 and the rotatable diopter adjustment knob 2
6 is not used, a stopper is provided on the diopter adjustment knob that slides along the outside of the viewfinder housing 21, and the stopper is partially projected into the viewfinder housing 21 so as to contact the eyepiece holder 24. It is also possible to configure so as to be in contact with each other.

[0025]

In the viewfinder mechanism of the video camera according to the present invention described in detail above, according to claim 1, the viewfinder section is slidably provided along the imaging lens barrel section, and Since it is configured to slide between the retracted position when the video camera is not used and the pulled out position when the video camera is used, as a result, when the video camera is used, the viewfinder is not visible. Since the eye level is approximately the same as the optical axis of the imaging lens, the sense of seeing the subject image in the viewfinder section is almost the same as the sense of seeing the subject with human eyes. It is easy to capture the image satisfactorily, and the operation performance during shooting can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the viewfinder housing reaches the storage position, the contact portion of the image pickup lens barrel contacts the eyepiece lens holder to be integrated with the eyepiece lens holder. The eyepiece lens is pressed against the eyepiece side against the spring member, while the contact part of the imaging lens barrel is separated from the eyepiece lens holder and the eyepiece lens holder is held when the viewfinder housing reaches the pulled-out position. Since the eyepiece is configured to abut the stopper of the diopter adjusting means integrally with the body by the urging force of the spring member, the stopper of the diopter adjusting means does not press the diopter of the image pickup lens barrel and adjusts the diopter of the eyepiece. In addition to being kept in the adjusted position, the eyepiece lens is pushed into the eyepiece side without the space required for diopter adjustment, so the video camera should be portable and compact when not in use. It can be. Of course, when the viewfinder housing is pulled out from the retracted position to the retracted position, it is not necessary to readjust the diopter, and the eyepiece holder is integrated with the diopter at the position of the diopter adjusted stopper. Can be contacted by.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a video camera adopting a viewfinder mechanism of a video camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a viewfinder mechanism of the video camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the viewfinder mechanism of the video camera according to the present invention when the viewfinder unit reaches the pull-out position.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation of the viewfinder mechanism of the video camera according to the present invention when the viewfinder unit reaches the storage position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a video camera adopting a viewfinder mechanism of a conventional video camera.

6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a viewfinder mechanism of the conventional video camera shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Video camera, 2 ... Camera housing, 2a ... Imaging lens barrel, 2c ... Abutting part, 10 ... Imaging lens barrel part, 12 ...
Image pickup lens, 13 ... Solid-state image pickup device, 15 ... Display device (liquid crystal panel), 20 ... Viewfinder section, 21 ... Viewfinder housing, 23 ... Eyepiece, 24 ... Eyepiece holder, 25 ... Spring member (compression spring) ), 26 ... Diopter adjustment knob, 27 ... Stopper.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A video camera comprising an imaging lens barrel for photographing a subject and a viewfinder for looking through the photographed subject image. The video camera is slidably provided along the imaging lens barrel. A viewfinder mechanism for a video camera, comprising: a viewfinder unit that slides between a storage position pushed in when the video camera is not used and a drawn-out position pulled out when the video camera is used. 2. An image pickup lens for picking up an image of a subject, an image pickup device for photoelectrically converting an image of the subject picked up through the image pickup lens, and a display device for displaying an image of the subject picked up through the image pickup device. An image pickup lens barrel provided on a lens barrel and having an abutting portion formed on the image pickup lens barrel on the side of the display element, and slidably provided along the image pickup lens barrel. It holds a viewfinder housing that slides between the retracted position when the camera is not used and the pulled out position when the video camera is used, and an eyepiece that looks into the subject image displayed on the display element. And an eyepiece holding body that is movable in the viewfinder housing in the optical axis direction of the eyepiece lens, and the eyepiece holding body integrated with the eyepiece holding body in the viewfinder housing. And a spring member for biasing the display element side to the display element side, the spring member being provided closer to the display element side than the eyepiece lens holder, displaced so as to adjust the diopter of the eyepiece lens, and the eyepiece lens holder. And a viewfinder section having a diopter adjusting means having a stopper that comes into contact with and separates from the image pickup lens barrel when the viewfinder housing reaches the storage position. In contact with the eyepiece lens holder, while pressing the eyepiece lens integrally with the eyepiece lens holder against the spring member toward the eyepiece side, when the viewfinder housing reaches the pull-out position, The contact portion of the imaging lens barrel is separated from the eyepiece lens holder, and the eyepiece lens is brought into contact with the stopper of the diopter adjusting means integrally with the eyepiece lens holder by the urging force of the spring member. Constitution Viewfinder mechanism for video cameras.