JPH05308548A - Viewfinder for video camera - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Construction] A switch 3 for selecting a plurality of functions of the video camera 1 is provided, and the function display selected by the switch 3 is displayed in the viewfinder 2. [Effect] While looking through the viewfinder, the user
It is possible to reliably and easily switch various functions.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic or optical viewfinder used in a video camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, in so-called 8 mm video cameras, electronic still cameras and the like, a so-called viewfinder is provided in the body of the camera device. These viewfinders are for confirming a subject image. In an electronic viewfinder, the viewfinder has a function of displaying an image according to an image pickup signal from a solid-state image pickup device. ..

By the way, in the above 8 mm video camera and the like, the functions thereof have come to be of various types, and the arrangement of the operation buttons for various functions has been improved due to the improvement of the operability of the user, the portability, or the design requirement. Various creative ideas have been made, and generally, a button group to be used in the camera shooting mode and a button group to be used in the recording / playback mode are separately arranged and set in the camera device body. ing.

Further, the development of a function, a data code, and a time code for recording the date and time on the video signal in an overlapping manner and recording various kinds of date and time information on the tape is also remarkable. is there.

[0005]

However, since the operation buttons for the various functions described above are merely provided on the main body of the apparatus, the user who operates the camera while confirming the subject image with the viewfinder can take a picture with the camera. When switching the operation button used for the mode, there is an inconvenience that it is necessary to remove the eyes from the viewfinder, select a plurality of functions, and then look through the viewfinder again. Further, when the eyes are taken away from the viewfinder, there arises a problem that a subject image blurs or a non-target photographing occurs in camera photographing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a viewfinder for a video camera capable of accurately and easily operating a camera photographing mode and the like while confirming a subject image.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a switch for selecting a plurality of functions of a video camera and a plurality of functions arranged around a subject image confirmation area in a viewfinder and selected by the switch. A configuration including a plurality of function display units that perform corresponding function display, and a display control unit that controls the function display unit corresponding to the function selected by the switch to a display mode different from that of other function display units And

[0008]

In the present invention, since the function corresponding to the selection of the switch is displayed in the viewfinder, it is possible to select a plurality of functions of the video camera without keeping an eye on the viewfinder.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is applied to an 8 mm video camera, which is rapidly becoming widespread at present, and as described below, a switch for selecting a plurality of functions is provided outside the viewfinder while the viewfinder is used. At least a plurality of function display sections selected by the switch are arranged inside the display unit to display one function selected by the switch.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the viewfinder 2 is disposed on the side of the 8 mm video camera 1 on which the user's left hand is located, and although not shown, operation buttons used for recording / reproducing mode. The group is uniformly arranged on the upper surface side of the apparatus main body.

The viewfinder 2 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a ring-shaped rotary switch 3 is fitted on the outer periphery of the viewfinder 2. The rotary switch 3 is configured so that the outer peripheral portion of the viewfinder 2 can be rotated in the X-X direction in FIG. 1 and can also be moved in the Y-Y direction in the length direction in FIG.

Of the functions to be used when the video camera 1 is in the camera photographing mode, the ring-shaped rotary switch 3 has a FADER function for fade operation, a DATE function for recording the date, and a time recording. It is set so that various functions such as the TIME function for switching are switched. That is, each time the rotary switch 3 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the XX direction in FIG. 1 on the outer peripheral portion of the viewfinder 2, the fader FADER is operated.
Various functions such as functions are switched. The determination of the functions such as the FADER is performed by moving the viewfinder 2 in the Y-Y direction in FIG. 1 while maintaining the various rotation angles of the rotation switch 3. ..

That is, the structure will be described with reference to the block circuit shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the rotary switch 3 is used.
A position detecting device 11 for detecting the rotation angle information obtained by the rotation of the rotary switch 3, a fixed information switch 12 for detecting the information of the moving position due to the movement of the viewfinder 2 in the longitudinal direction, and these information items. The above FAD
A microcomputer 13 for controlling the selected function display unit in a display form different from other function display units by color display or the like, as well as switching of various functions such as ER, a viewfinder 2 for displaying a plurality of functions, It is composed of a mechanical control micro computer 14.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a function display section 6 is arranged around the display screen (subject image confirmation area) 5 of the viewfinder 2, and a date data function (date DC) is provided in the center. ), A display unit 8 for fader function and a display unit 9 for time data function (time DC) are arranged on both sides of the display unit 7 for date DC. The display of the function of is arranged. As described above, the display screen 5 in the viewfinder 2 displays all of the plurality of functions corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotation switch 3.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the position detecting device 11 detects the rotation angle information of a plurality of function selections obtained by the rotation of the rotary switch 3 and at the same time, the viewfinder 2 confirms each function selection. The information of the movement position by the movement in the length direction of the confirmation information switch 12
To detect. Then, these pieces of information are supplied to the microcomputer 13 and the microcomputer 13
The various functions such as the FADER are switched under the control of the above, the various functions are displayed on the display screen 5 in the viewfinder 2, and the function display section selected by the rotary switch 3 is colored. The display mode is controlled to be different from that of other function display sections.

That is, the microcomputer 13
Activates the viewfinder 2 and, as shown in FIG.
Each function selected by the rotary switch 3 is displayed on the display screen 5 in the viewfinder, and the selected 1
The two functions are displayed in white or colored.

Next, the process of function selection according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. As a premise, the process proceeds as follows with a changeover switch (not shown) for switching between the shooting mode and the recording / playback mode of the camera device body 1 set to the camera shooting mode.

When the rotary switch 3 is rotated, ring control is started (first step S1), all the function displays corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotary switch 3 are displayed, and one of the function displays is displayed. It is in a state in which whitening or coloring has been performed. Then, under the control of the microcomputer 13, various function displays can be selected, and the process proceeds to the second step (S2) of selecting the angle information corresponding to the rotation angle of the rotary switch 3, and the display is performed. The process proceeds to the third step (S3) of changing each function display on the screen 5 to a display with a color for each rotation angle. In this state, the colored displays gradually move around the various function display portions (7, 8, 9, etc.) 6 around the display screen 5.

When the function changed to the colored display is desired by the user, the movement of the rotary switch 3 in the longitudinal direction is switched, and the confirmation information from the confirmation information switch 12 is changed by this movement switching. When read by the microcomputer 13, the process proceeds to the fourth step (S4) for determining the function of the colored display. For example, when the DC date is confirmed, as shown in FIG. 3, the colored display of the function display portion 7 (date DC) of the display screen 5 is confirmed, and the “date” is displayed on the display screen 5, and the “date” is displayed. The shooting mode is turned on (fifth step S5). Then, the ring control ends (sixth step S
6).

On the other hand, when the selected function is not the desired one, the movement of the rotary switch 3 in the longitudinal direction is not switched, but in this case, the confirmation information from the confirmation information switch 12 is read by the microcomputer 13. Then, the process returns to the second step S2 in which the angle information from the rotary switch 3 is detected again and the function is selected.

Although the present embodiment has the above-mentioned configuration, it can be configured as follows. First, in this embodiment, the function mainly used in the shooting mode is set, but the present invention can set not only the shooting mode but also the recording / playback mode function depending on the necessity. Further, the function display of the display screen 5 can be appropriately changed according to the actual use, and it is preferable to display the function so that the rotation operation can be switched from the most frequently used one. preferable. Further, FIG. 3 is a diagram in which the display of the date data function is selected. However, when there are two or more selected functions, each display can be displayed in color or the like, and the confirmation of the function is not possible. However, the use condition can be further improved by using another different coloring.

In this embodiment, the electronic type 8 mm video camera 1 and the like have been described, but the present invention can also be applied to an optical video camera viewfinder. In this case, inside the optical viewfinder, for example, a transmissive function display unit made of liquid crystal or the like is arranged in a member corresponding to the display screen 5 in this embodiment. Further, the switch for selecting various functions has been described as the rotary switch 3, but the switch is not limited to the above, and other operation buttons such as a push operation button can be used as long as a plurality of functions can be selected from the display screen 5. However, it can be implemented.

[0023]

According to the present invention, since a plurality of function displays corresponding to the switches for selecting a plurality of functions are displayed in the viewfinder, it is possible to select a plurality of functions without keeping an eye on the viewfinder. You can That is, the function can be selected and confirmed while looking through the viewfinder and checking the subject image. As a result, it is possible to solve the problem that induces blurring of a subject and photographing outside the target in camera photographing, which has been conventionally caused by taking one's eyes away from the viewfinder.

Further, since the display of a plurality of functions necessary for the operation can be known on the display screen of the viewfinder, the user can easily know the operation manual and the like without studying the details, and the operation buttons The operability of the video camera can be improved by reducing the number and unifying the arrangement of the operation buttons.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a viewfinder for a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an 8 mm video camera having a viewfinder for a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an internal display of a viewfinder for a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of selecting a function of the viewfinder for a camera according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Video camera (8 mm video camera) 2 ... Viewfinder 3 ... Rotation switch 5 ... Display screen (subject image confirmation area) 6 ... Function display section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A switch for selecting a plurality of functions of a video camera, and a plurality of switches arranged around a subject image confirmation area in a viewfinder for displaying functions corresponding to a plurality of functions selected by the switch. A viewfinder for a video camera, comprising: a function display section; and a display control section that controls the function display section corresponding to the function selected by the switch to a display mode different from that of the other function display sections.