JPH03128580A - Video camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable a photographer to immediately detect that his camera is inclined right or left by giving a warning for right or left inclination based on the inclination detection signal of an inclination detecting means. CONSTITUTION:An inclination detecting sensor 13 has a frame body 16. The upper central part of the frame body 16 is freely turnably supported by a a horizontal shaft 18 fixed to a camera main body in the horizontal direction. If a still video camera 9 is inclined right or left at a prescribed angle or more, a light shielding plate 19 is drawn back from a photo interrupter 17 and outputs the inclination detection signal to a CPU 12. If the still video camera 9 is in clined forward or backward, the inclination detecting sensor 13 is turned around the shaft 18 by gravity and is kept suspended. At this time, the inclination detection signal is not generated because the relative position of the photo interrupter 17 and the light shielding plate 19 is not changed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a video camera that records a subject image signal converted into an electrical signal by an imaging means.

"Prior Art and its Problems" In recent years, various still video cameras have been developed that convert a subject image into an electrical signal and record it. As is well known, in conventional still video cameras, a subject image is formed on the photoelectric conversion surface of an image sensor in which a large number of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged, and this subject image is converted into an electrical signal by the photoelectric conversion elements. Electrical signals are recorded on magnetic disks.

By the way, when taking a picture with a normal still camera, the subject image is printed on the photographic paper, so even if the photograph is intentionally tilted, the viewer can tilt the photographic paper and create their own image. You can watch it while matching. However, in a still video camera, the subject image is displayed on the display based on electrical signals stored on a magnetic disk, so if the camera is tilted left or right, the subject image will be displayed tilted left or right. Therefore, since the viewer cannot tilt the display, the viewer cannot match the subject image to his/her own image, making the image extremely difficult to view.

``Object of the Invention'' The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a video camera that can notify a photographer of the horizontal inclination of the camera body when taking pictures.

"Summary of the Invention" The present invention, which achieves the above object, provides a video camera that records a subject image signal converted into an electric signal by an imaging means, and a tilt detection means for detecting the left and right tilt of the camera body. and a warning means for issuing a warning based on the tilt detection signal of the tilt detection means.

According to the above configuration, when the camera body is tilted to the left or right during photographing, the photographer can immediately know this fact.

Furthermore, the warning means may be a light emitting element installed in the viewfinder, or may be a buzzer.

Further, a warning mode changeover switch may be provided to select between a non-warning mode in which the warning means is disabled and a warning mode in which the warning means is enabled.

“Embodiments of the invention” The present invention will be explained below based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 2A is a front view showing the appearance of a still video camera 9 to which the present invention is applied. This still video camera 9
has a camera body 10 that records video and audio.

The camera body 10 is provided with a photographing lens 11 and a finder unit 14 (see FIG. 5) as an optical system. The camera body 10 is provided with a disk lid for loading a magnetic disk and a release button for starting recording, and a display panel etc. for displaying imaging information such as the number of recorded tracks is provided on the back side. .

An image sensor and a driver for driving a magnetic disk are provided as the isthmus image processing and recording system.

As shown in FIG. 1, a CPU 12 is built into the camera body 10, and a tilt detection sensor 13 is connected to the input boat of the CPU 12, and a tilt warning LED 15 is connected to the output boat.

The tilt detection sensor 13 detects a tilt of the camera body 10 in the left-right direction (left-right direction of the photographer when holding the camera) by a predetermined angle or more, and its structure is shown in FIGS. 2B and 3. Shown below. The tilt detection sensor 13 has a frame 16, and the upper center portion of the frame 16 is rotatably supported by a left-right shaft 18 fixed to the camera body 10 in the left-right direction. The frame body 16 has a longitudinal shaft 20 that is orthogonal to the left-right shaft 18, and a light shielding plate 19 is rotatably supported on this shaft 20. A light receiving element 17b of a photointerrupter 17 and a light receiving element 17b are fixed to the frame 16 at positions on both sides of the lower end of the light shielding plate 19.

Therefore, when the still video camera 9 is tilted by a predetermined angle or more in the left-right direction, the light-shielding plate 19 is retracted from the photo ink club 17 and outputs a tilt detection signal to the CPU 12 . On the other hand, when the still video camera 9 is tilted in the front-rear direction, the tilt detection sensor 13 rotates around the shaft 18 due to its own weight and is maintained in a hanging state. At this time,
Since the relative positions of the photointerrupter 17 and the light shielding plate 19 do not change, no tilt detection signal is generated.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the finder unit 14, a confirmation LED 21, a strobe LED 22, and a tilt warning LED 15 are arranged in a vertical line on the left side of the figure, and a finder field frame 25 is arranged on the right side of the figure. has been done.

The present embodiment has the above-described configuration, so that when the still video camera 9 takes a picture, if the camera body 10 is horizontal, the tilt detection sensor 13 will detect the tilt while the photo interrupter 17 remains shielded from light. Warning LED1
5 is never lit.

If the camera body 10 is tilted in the left-right direction due to the posture during shooting, the relative position between the frame 16 and the camera body 10 does not change, and only the light-shielding plate 19 swings in the left-right direction, causing the second
The state shown in FIG. A and FIG. 2B is reached. That is, since the light shielding plate 19 is retracted from between the light emitting element 17a and the light receiving element 17b, light from the light emitting element 17a reaches the light receiving element 17b. Therefore, the tilt detection sensor 13
0 is detected, and a signal is issued from the CPU 12 based on the tilt detection signal from the tilt detection sensor 13, so the tilt warning LED 15 lights up. As a result, the photographer looking into the viewfinder field frame 25 knows that the still video camera 9 is tilted in the horizontal direction, returns the camera body lO to the horizontal state where the tilt warning LED 15 disappears, and continues shooting. . Further, if the photographer wants to photograph the subject while intentionally tilting the subject, the camera body 10 is not tilted back and continues photographing in that state.

Furthermore, when the camera body 10 is tilted in the front-back direction to photograph an upper subject or a lower subject, the tilt detection sensor 13 rotates due to its own weight, as shown in FIG. It attempts to maintain a drooping state regardless of front and back inclination. Therefore, since the light shielding plate 19 does not swing, the photointerrupter 17 remains blocked from the optical path between the light receiving elements 17b and the tilt warning LED.
15 will not be turned on.

In this embodiment, the tilt warning LE is used as the tilt warning means.
D15 is used, but instead of this, for example, a buzzer may be used to emit a warning sound to notify the photographer when the still video camera 9 is tilted left or right.

Furthermore, a warning mode selector switch 30 is installed on the camera body lO.
(see Fig. 1), and by switching this switch 3o, a non-warning mode in which lighting of the tilt warning means, for example, the tilt warning LED 15 is disabled, and a warning mode in which lighting is enabled can be selected. It's okay.

Further, in this embodiment, the tilt detection sensor 13 according to the present invention.
Although the tilt warning LED 15 and the like have been applied to the still video camera 10, the invention is not limited thereto.

It may also be applied to a movie-type video camera.

FIG. 6 shows another example of the tilt detection sensor. This tilt detection switch 23 swings left and right around a fulcrum 27 at the center of electrodes 25 and 26 arranged along the left and right directions of the camera. We have set up contact point 29 for Chiaki to get. Therefore, when the camera body 10 is tilted in the left-right direction, the contact point 29 swings in the same direction and comes into contact with either one of the electrodes 25, 26, and based on this, the CPU 12 issues a tilt warning signal, and the tilt warning LED 15 lights up. Light up.

"Effects of the Invention" As is clear from the above description, the video camera of the present invention can issue a warning when the camera is tilted to the left or right based on the tilt detection signal of the tilt detection means. It is possible to immediately know that the vehicle has tilted to the left or right.
-I can. Therefore, when reproducing a photographed image, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience of photographing an image that is tilted and difficult to see on the display. In addition, since it is possible to continue shooting even if a warning based on tilt detection is issued, if the photographer intentionally tilts the subject while shooting, he or she can continue shooting even if a warning is issued. .

Furthermore, if the warning means is a light emitting element installed in the finder, the photographer who is taking pictures while looking through the finder can be reliably informed of the horizontal inclination of the camera body.

Further, if the warning means is a buzzer, the warning of left and right tilting can be appealed to the auditory sense of the photographer, and the photographer can be reliably notified.

If the warning mode switch is configured to allow the user to select between a non-warning mode that disables the warning means and a warning mode that enables it, the warning mode will be activated when the photographer intentionally tilts the subject to take a picture. You can set it so that it does not issue a warning, and issue a warning only when necessary.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the main circuit of an embodiment of the still video camera, Fig. 2A is a front view showing the external appearance of the embodiment of the still video camera, and Fig. 2B is a diagram showing the main circuit of the embodiment of the still video camera. A perspective view showing the state of the tilt detection sensor; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state of the tilt detection sensor when it is not tilted; FIG. 4 is a side view showing the state of the tilt detection sensor tilted in the front-rear direction of the camera body; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a confirmation LED, a strobe LED, a tilt warning LED, etc. arranged in the finder, and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a tilt detection sensor composed of two electrodes and a swinging contact. 9... still video camera, 10... camera body,
13... Tilt detection sensor (tilt detection means), 14...
・Finder unit, 15...Tilt warning LED (
Warning means), 17... Photointerlab 7a... Light emitting element, 7b... Light receiving element, 9... Light shielding plate, 30... Warning mode switching switch

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) In a video camera that records a subject image signal converted into an electrical signal by an imaging means, the camera body includes:
tilt detection means for detecting left and right tilt of the camera body;
A video camera characterized in that it is provided with warning means for issuing a warning based on the tilt detection signal of the tilt detection means. (2) The video camera according to claim 1, wherein the warning means is a light emitting element installed in the viewfinder. (3) The video camera according to claim 1, wherein the warning means is a buzzer. (4) The video camera according to claim 1, further comprising a warning mode changeover switch for selecting a non-warning mode in which the warning means is disabled and a warning mode in which the warning means is enabled.