JPH095835A - Head mounted finder device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A head-mounted viewfinder device with a compact and inexpensive structure that eliminates operating parts such as the release button by using the automatic operation by the line-of-sight switch. [Structure] A device 5 for detecting blinking of a human eye, which is incorporated in a goggle unit 2 mounted on a head by a headband 1, and a camera unit 6 for photographing a field, similarly to a blinking of an eye of a photographer. The shutter release is automatically controlled by the output signal from the device that detects the shutter speed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head-mounted viewfinder device, and more particularly, to a device incorporating a visual axis detection module and a device for displaying a subject area by dividing the viewfinder optical path, and such a device. The present invention relates to a camera structure suitable for forming an integral structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various applications have been filed for a head-mounted viewfinder device or a device in which a camera is integrally provided in the same. A typical example of these is Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-2.
Proposal No. 84529 is given.

In the video camera proposed here, a small camera body is attached to a headband to be worn on the head, and reflected light from a reflecting mirror arranged in the incident optical path of the camera is passed through a lens to an optical fiber tube. The image is guided to an optical viewfinder which is attached to the tip of the optical viewfinder and can be set at the position of the photographer's eyes, and the photographer can confirm the field image through the lens of the optical viewfinder. An operation such as a release is input from a remote control unit attached to the collar or the like, and this operation input is transmitted to the camera body or a separate VTR through a connection cord.

[0004]

However, in this case, due to the structure in which the optical viewfinder is arranged immediately in front of the photographer's eye via the optical fiber tube, the magnification of the object image and the monitor image from the optical viewfinder is increased. Since they are different, there is a problem that there is a visual discomfort.

Further, although this apparatus has a head-mounted type, the camera body is also integrally formed. However, operating parts such as a release button are housed in a remote control unit and mounted on the neck and connected to the camera body by a connecting cord. As a result, the cords project far from the head mounting device and stretch around the front of the upper half of the body, which is not a compact structure and is not portable and expensive. there were.

Further, since a small camera is prepared as a head-mounted type, although there is a feeling of lightness when it is mounted on the head as a finder device, the number of pixels is limited because it is a CCD of a size smaller than usual. However, there were problems such as poor image quality of captured images and low user satisfaction.

Therefore, an object of the present invention as set forth in claim 1 is a compact and inexpensive head-mounted viewfinder which enables automatic operation such as release of a camera section without an operation section such as a release button. To provide a device.

Further, the object of the present invention set forth in claim 2 is to:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a head-mounted viewfinder device that eliminates visual discomfort by adjusting the magnifications of the object scene image and the monitor image of the viewfinder.

Further, the object of the present invention set forth in claim 3 is to:
An object of the present invention is to provide a head-mounted viewfinder device that is compact and has excellent portability without using any operation unit or connection cord.

Further, the object of the present invention as set forth in claim 4 is as follows.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a head-mounted viewfinder device having a camera unit that can be automatically operated, such as a release, from the viewfinder device outside the field of view.

Further, the object of the present invention set forth in claim 5 is to:
An object of the present invention is to provide a head-mounted viewfinder device that adjusts the amount of light incident on both eyes of the wearable viewfinder device and that does not cause a visual discomfort.

Further, the object of the present invention set forth in claim 6 is to:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a head-mounted viewfinder device having a camera section that has a sufficiently large image pickup screen and is capable of sufficiently satisfying the image quality of a captured image.

Further, the present invention according to claim 7 is to provide a head mounted finder device having a camera section in which the degree of freedom of an optical system is increased by using a secondary imaging system.

Further, the present invention according to claim 8 is to provide a head-mounted viewfinder device having a camera part capable of displaying a display content such as an arbitrary figure by utilizing a secondary imaging system. .

A ninth aspect of the present invention is to provide a head-mounted finder device in which the finder field frame display is automatically switched when the vertical and horizontal photographing positions are switched.

Further, the present invention according to claim 10 provides a head-mounted finder device which does not require battery replacement.

Further, the present invention according to claim 11 provides a waterproof head-mounted viewfinder device having an automatic operation type camera unit which has no operation unit and does not require operation of both hands, and which enables underwater photography. The present invention further provides a head-mounted viewfinder device capable of safely and reliably detecting the vertical and horizontal photographing postures of a waterproof camera.

[0018]

The structure for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 1, a head-mounted device for detecting blinking of human eyes and a device for detecting the blinking of eyes. A head-mounted viewfinder device characterized in that it has a camera section for photographing the scene and is provided with a release means for performing shutter release in response to an output signal from the detecting device.

According to this structure, the apparatus having the line-of-sight switch for detecting the blinking of the human eye, which is configured as a compact head-mounted apparatus, automatically performs shutter release without manual operation. You can

A specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 2, in which the detection device uses a toric aspherical surface or a free-form curved infrared reflecting surface to view a field. The head-mounted viewfinder device according to claim 1, wherein the head-mounted viewfinder device is built in the device.

According to this structure, a viewfinder device can be obtained in which a line-of-sight switch for detecting blinking of the eyes is incorporated and a viewfinder in which a field image and a monitor image are not visually uncomfortable to be mounted on both eyes.

Another specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 3, a viewfinder device for seeing a field, which is formed by one of two eyes of a human being. A head-mounted device characterized by incorporating a detection device for detecting a human eyeball in the optical path for viewing the field, and incorporating information on the field of view of the camera in the optical path for viewing the field with the other eye. Type finder device.

According to this structure, the line-of-sight switch and the display of the subject area are incorporated into the spectacle type finder device so as to correspond to the left and right eyes, respectively, and the shutter release operation is automatically performed. It is possible to obtain a head-mounted finder device that is compact and has excellent portability without the need for connection cords or the like.

As another specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application, as described in claim 4, the finder device integrally includes a camera unit for photographing the object scene outside the object field of view. The head-mounted viewfinder device according to claim 3, further comprising: According to this configuration, the camera mounted integrally outside the field of view can be automatically released and photographed from the viewfinder side looking at the field.

Another specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 5, in which the finder device separates left and right for making the amount of field light entering both eyes substantially the same. 4. The head mounted finder apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a density filter is used.

According to this structure, the amount of light incident on both eyes can be adjusted to eliminate visual discomfort.

Another specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 6, in a camera section having a photographing screen whose lengthwise direction is longer than the lengthwise direction and a photographing optical system. Immediately before the shooting screen, the optical axis is bent in the longitudinal direction of the screen in the first direction, which is the loading axis direction of the cartridge for storing the film, and then the optical axis is moved to the shooting screen along the thickness direction of the camera. Second direction to bend in the second direction
The head-mounted viewfinder device is characterized in that it is provided with the reflection device.

According to this structure, by using the first and second reflecting devices, the image pickup screen of the camera can be made large and a sufficiently satisfactory image quality can be obtained.

Another specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 7, the photographing optical system, wherein the second surface is formed from an incident surface on which a scene image enters a camera. Has a first image plane in a space leading to the reflection device of
7. The head-mounted viewfinder device according to claim 6, further comprising an optical system for projecting the image formation of the image on the photographing screen.

According to this structure, by using the photographic optical system as the secondary image-forming system, even a photographic system which requires a long optical path length can photograph with a small magnification with a simple structure.

Another specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 8, wherein the first image plane has a liquid crystal device in a part of a screen, The head-mounted viewfinder device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein display contents can be imprinted on a photographing screen by a projection optical system.

According to this structure, it is possible to input an arbitrary figure and imprint the display content.

Another specific configuration for realizing the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 9, a position switching means for vertical / horizontal photographing of the camera section and a finder for detecting the position switching. 9. The head mounted finder device according to claim 1, further comprising a visual field frame switching means for switching the internal visual field frame display.

According to this structure, it is possible to take images at both vertical and horizontal positions of the camera, and the view frame display of the finder is automatically switched. Another specific structure for realizing the object of the present invention is as follows. 9. The head mounted finder device according to claim 1, further comprising a solar panel which is detachably attached above the device and which stores a small-capacity secondary battery as described in item 10. .

According to this structure, the apparatus is equipped with a small-sized and small-capacity secondary battery and is operated while being charged from the solar panel, so that it is not necessary to replace the battery.

A specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 11, claim 1 to claim 8.
The head-mounted finder device according to claim 1, further comprising: a housing having a finder and a line-of-sight switch, which waterproofly holds a goggle part to be fitted to the eye, and a camera part having a waterproof structure. On the device.

According to this structure, it is possible to configure an automatic release type waterproof camera which does not require an operation unit such as a shutter release button.

Another specific configuration for achieving the object of the invention according to the present application is, as described in claim 12, that the attitude detection sensor for switching the view frame length and width of the camera section is provided with a light emitting element and a light receiving element. 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the device is composed of elements.
It is in the head-mounted viewfinder device described.

According to this structure, it is possible to reliably detect the position change of the camera without concern about waterproof processing such as water leakage.

[0040]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 11 show a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a head mounted finder apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a headband for mounting the apparatus on the head, which allows photographing without holding the camera by hand. Reference numeral 2 is a goggle portion composed of a toric aspherical surface or a free-form surface lens, which serves as a viewfinder of a conventional camera and serves as a half-mirror to show the photographer the shooting field of the object field at the same magnification. .
Numeral 3 is a daylighting window for taking in a field of view showing the field of photography and light for displaying various kinds of photographic information. Numeral 4 is a display LCD for taking an image of the field using the light taken in through the daylighting window 3. The art world
The toric aspherical lens of the goggle unit 2 displays the image at the same size. Since the goggles 2 use filters of different densities for the right and left, the incident light amounts for both eyes are almost the same. As a result, the photographer can take a photograph without being visually uncomfortable.

Reference numeral 5 is a line-of-sight sensor for detecting the state (blinking) of the eyeball, which is a release means composed of a light projecting element for illuminating the eyeball or around the eyeball and a light receiving element for detecting the reflected light. As a result, mode switching such as shutter release and zoom operation can also be performed by line-of-sight input.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a camera unit in which the position of the camera and the direction of the optical axis of the camera are precisely adjusted so that the image field of the camera matches the image field of the same size as described above. Furthermore, the photographing optical system 6
Let a be a secondary image forming system, and an image is projected on a film by using two mirrors 6b. As a result, even with an image pickup system that requires a long optical path length, image pickup with a small magnification (focal length equivalent to a standard lens) can be performed with a simple configuration.

Here, the camera section 6 will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera section of the finder device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a rotation mechanism of the camera unit shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing switching of the finder field frame of the finder device shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the camera unit shown in FIG.

In the film cartridge 10 used in the camera shown in FIG. 11, the film is completely wound up to the front end portion, and the film 10c is pulled out by opening the light guide 10a and rotating the cartridge shaft 10b.
The cartridge 10 is loaded by opening the cartridge lid 61 in the B direction (by the shaft center 61a) and dropping it in the axial direction of the cartridge. When the cartridge 10 is loaded, the light guide 10a is opened, the fork 62 is rotated by a motor (not shown), and the film 10c is pulled out. The pulled-out film 10c is wound up on the spool 63 for several frames, and is in a photographing standby state, and thereafter, each time the release operation is performed, the film 10c is wound up one frame at a time.

First photographing optical system (hereinafter referred to as optical system)
64 is disposed under the spool chamber and is orthogonal to the axial direction of the spool 63. The primary image formed by the first optical system 64 is bent by 90 ° in the axial direction of the cartridge 10, which is the so-called first direction, by the first mirror (reflecting device) 65. Then, a secondary image is formed by the second optical system 66, and the second mirror 67 bends the image by 90 ° on the film surface to capture the image. As described above, since the secondary imaging system is used, the degree of freedom of the optical system is increased, and lenses having various focal lengths can be used.

Compared with the conventional camera, this camera has a large image pickup screen of 35 mm size, a little smaller size of new format size silver salt film, or a relatively large size CCD element, and the image quality is sufficient. I am satisfied.

Further, by using a secondary image forming system, an arbitrary figure or the like can be input, or a high brightness and a low brightness can coexist as a structure (not shown) in which an LCD or the like projects from the primary image forming surface. In such a scene, it is possible to perform processing such that the transmittance of the high-luminance portion is adjusted and both are clearly recorded.

Although the camera section 6 is in the vertical position photographing state in the state of FIG. 1, when performing the horizontal position photographing, the camera 6 is tilted 90 ° as shown in the horizontal position photographing diagram of FIG. Do it. This is shown in FIG. 3, in which the guide band 9 fitted so as to wrap around the lens barrel of the camera unit 6 is fixed to the head band 1 and has a convex portion 9a, and the periphery of this convex portion 9a is elastic. Therefore, the rotation of the camera 6 in the direction A meshes with the recesses 6c and 6d for positioning. At this time, the field frame of the LCD 4 is switched between the vertical and horizontal directions by a switch (not shown), as shown in the field frame display diagrams of FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b).

Returning to the configuration of FIG. 1 again, 7 is a detachable strobe device, and when stroboscopic photography is necessary, stroboscopic photography is possible by connecting to an accessory shoe provided on the side surface of the headband 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes a detachable solar panel, and by storing electricity in a secondary battery (not shown) (flat type or small cylindrical type) depending on the amount of light received when the solar panel is attached, the camera of the present invention does not require battery replacement.

Next, the trigger of the predetermined function of the camera by the line-of-sight sensor 5 is as shown in the block diagram of the system for detecting blinking, the side view of FIG. 5 (b), and the top view of FIG. 5 (a). The light beam projected by the light unit 2a follows the path as shown in the figure and enters the line-of-sight sensor 5 to detect the state of the eyeball (blinking). In this case, it must be distinguishable from the blink that a person always goes unconsciously.
Regarding this point, the reflected light detected by the reflected light detecting means or the image pickup means in the line-of-sight sensor 5 is determined to be a blink that the photographer is aware of when a predetermined change occurs, and the camera is configured to trigger the release of the camera. .

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the entire structure of the finder device shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, 11 is a system controller that performs sequence control and calculation, 12 is a ROM that stores programs and data, 13 is a RAM for storing data, 14 is a photometric circuit that measures the light intensity of the subject, and 15 is the subject. Distance measuring circuit for measuring the distance of 16
Is a drive circuit for a shutter that exposes the film, and 17 is a main switch that switches the operation of the camera and is connected to the MAIN port of the system controller 11. Reference numeral 18 denotes a release switch for instructing exposure on the film, which is connected to the RLS port. 19 is a film,
Reference numeral 20 is a shutter, and 21 is a taking lens.

Reference numeral 22 is an SP for detecting the reflected light from the eyeball.
D and 23 are light-shielding masks that define the detection area on the eyeball,
Reference numeral 24 is a light receiving lens, 25 is a detection area of the SPD 22 on the eye, 26 is an operational amplifier, 27 is a resistor, 28 is an A / D converter, and analog and digital converted data is input to the system controller 11. Reference numeral 29 is an iRED for eyeball illumination, and 30 is a constant current driver thereof. 3
Reference numeral 1 is a timer for generating an interrupt of a predetermined cycle.
An input (N) is made at the N terminal, and when the predetermined count ends, the carry causes an interrupt (INTT) of a predetermined cycle in the system controller 11.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the processing of the system controller shown in FIG. FIG. 8 shows the SPD shown in FIG.
3 is a timing chart of the amount of received light of FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state of a detection area on the eyeball when blinking is not performed. FIG. 10: is a figure which shows the state at the time of blinking and closing an eyelid.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. 7 and the drawings.

First, when the main switch 17 is turned on,
The iRED 29 for eyeball illumination is turned on (S101).

The count of the external timer (TEX) 31 is started (S102). Where external timer (TEX)
The external timer (TEX) 31 is a freelance counter that counts up at a predetermined time interval when the system controller 11 sets the operable state (enable state). The count-up signal is connected to the external interrupt terminal of the system controller 11 and operates so as to generate an external interrupt every predetermined time.

N array variables SIG are defined (S10).
3). The count value (C) of the average calculation number counter is reset to 1 (S104).

The HALT state is set (S105). When the external timer (TEX) 31 counts up in a predetermined cycle from this state, a timer interrupt is generated in the system controller 11 and the operation of S106 and thereafter is started.

The amount of light received by the light receiving SPD 22 is A / D converted (S106). In this case, the light receiving current (iSPD) received by the light receiving SPD 22 is the operational amplifier 26 and the resistor 27.
Is converted into a current / voltage by the A / D converter 28 and input. The voltage value quantized by the A / D converter 28 with a predetermined resolution is input to the system controller 11. The A / D converter 28 is the system controller 1
It goes without saying that the timing control is hardware-controlled by 1. The A / D conversion result is stored in the array variable SIG (C) (S107).

The rate of change of the stored SIG (C) with respect to the average value (SUMAV) in the past predetermined period is calculated and compared with the predetermined value (R). If the rate of change is greater than the predetermined rate (R), the process proceeds to S109, and if it is less, the process proceeds to S203 (S1).
08). The CHINH flag is checked to confirm whether it is the blink input prohibition period (S109). The operation state of the internal timer (TIX) of the system controller 11 is confirmed. If it is in operation, proceed to S111, and if it is not in operation, proceed to S118 (S110). Check the count value of the internal timer (TIX). If the count value is greater than or equal to the predetermined value (A), S
112, and if less than the predetermined value (A), proceed to S117 (S1
11).

The photometric circuit 14 measures the brightness of the subject (S112). The distance measuring circuit 15 measures the distance from the camera to the subject (S113). The shutter driver 16 opens the shutter 20 for the opening time of the shutter 20 calculated from the subject brightness measured by the photometric circuit 14 and the sensitivity of the film 19 loaded. After the exposure is completed, a film feeding unit (not shown) feeds the film for one frame (S114).

A blink detection prohibition flag (CHINH) is set (S115). The internal timer (TIX) is reset (S116).

The value of the average calculation sampling counter (C) is incremented by 1 (S117). The state of the main switch 17 is determined. If it is in the on state, the process proceeds to S122, and if it is in the off state, the process proceeds to S120 (S119).

If it is determined to be in the off state, the count of the external interrupt timer (TEX) is stopped (S12).
0). The iRED 29 for eyeball illumination is turned off, and the process ends (S121). If it is determined to be the ON state, the value of the average calculation sampling counter (C) is determined, and if it is less than the array number (N) defined in S103, the HALT in S105.
If it is larger than the array number (N), the sampling counter (C) is reset (S122).

On the other hand, when the change rate of the stored SIG (C) is calculated with respect to the average value (SUMAV) of the past predetermined period in S108, and it is determined that it is smaller than the predetermined value (R), the internal timer (TIX). Is reset (S123). The blink detection prohibition flag (CHINH) is reset (S1)
24). The average value (SUMAV) of the past predetermined period is calculated. This calculation is performed by dividing the total number of past sampling times (N pieces) by the sampling times (N) (S1).
25).

The processing of the system controller has been described above based on the flow chart. To summarize the blink detection processing, first, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the detection area on the eye of the light receiving SPD 22 is the light receiving lens 24,
It is defined by the field mask 23 as 25 in the drawing. With the eyelids open, the detection areas correspond to the pupil, iris, and white eyes (sclera) of the eyeball as shown in FIG. When the eyelids are closed, the upper eyelids are detected as shown in FIG.
32 in FIG. 10 is an upper eyelid.

Since the upper eyelid is closer to the detection system than the eyeball and this detection system is illuminated by infrared light, there is little variation due to the skin, and the reflectance is higher than that on the eyeball. The amount of reflected light increases. In addition, opening and closing of the eyelid during blinking is characterized by instantaneously moving up and down like a shutter. There is little difference in the speed of this vertical movement depending on the person, and the change in the amount of reflected light is a change that includes a predetermined frequency component.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as a method of capturing the light amount change characteristic at the time of blinking, as in the processing of S107,
The detected light amount value and a predetermined number of past samplings are stored, and the average (SUMA) is calculated as in the process of S125.
V) is always calculated. As in S108, the rate of change of the detected light intensity value with respect to the past average is calculated and compared with a predetermined rate (R). If the rate of change is equal to or higher than the predetermined rate, it is determined that conscious blinking has occurred, and the change state thereafter is It is configured to be triggered for the first time when it continues for a predetermined period (count value of the internal timer TIX).

Further, once the conscious blinking is detected, if the eyelids are opened and the amount of received light does not fall below the predetermined value, the blink detection prohibition flag (C
HINH) is set and controlled.

The light amount change characteristic associated with blinking is determined by the interrupt period by the external timer (TEX), the number of times of past average calculation of the light amount value (N), and the change rate (R) with respect to the past average value. Further, the blink maintenance time is determined by an internal timer (TIX), and the light amount change detection characteristic is determined by the size of the blink detection area 25 relative to the eyeball, the distance between the eyeball and the detection system, the moving speed of the eyelid during blinking, and the like. It is determined.

Further, since it is known that the unconscious blink of a person completes the opening and closing of the eyelids in about 100 to 150 msec, the detection maintaining time is longer than this in order to distinguish this from the conscious blink. For example, 200 to 300
It is considered preferable to set it to about msec.

As shown in the timing chart of FIG.
(A) and (B) in the figure show the received light amount change characteristics in the case of unconscious blinking, and (C) shows the received light amount change in the case where the photographer consciously blinks.

In this embodiment, the function triggered by blinking is the release operation, but it may be configured to select and execute one of more functions.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the line-of-sight switch and the viewfinder are constituted by the glasses (goggles) type half mirror, there is no visual discomfort due to the difference in magnification, compactness and excellent portability, and operation is automatic. The finder device of was obtained. (Second Embodiment) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a head mounted finder apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state of lateral photographing of the apparatus shown in FIG.

In FIG. 12, 101 is a head belt for mounting the finder device on the head, and 102 is a housing for holding the goggle part having the same function as the previous embodiment of the present device as a waterproof structure having a confidentiality. Head belt 1
Adjust 01 to fit the goggles to your eyes. This prevents water from penetrating around the eyes like normal underwater goggles. Reference numeral 103 denotes a camera unit having a waterproof structure.

Since conventional underwater cameras are mainly operated manually (there are few autos), the housing has operation levers in addition to the release button, and it is troublesome to waterproof each operation lever. In the case of the present embodiment, the number of operating members can be reduced by using a lot of line-of-sight switches, so that the waterproof structure is easy and it is also advantageous in terms of water resistance.

Since the camera section 103 has the same function as in the previous embodiment, the vertical / horizontal photographing can be switched by tilting the camera 103 by 90 ° as shown in FIGS. At this time, the attitude detection for switching between the vertical and horizontal directions of the field frame (as in FIG. 4) is performed by the light projecting element (LED) 104 as shown in FIG.
Then, the light receiving element (SPD) 105 detects the posture and switches. This method is suitable for a waterproof camera because it is not necessary to project a switch contact piece or the like out of the camera.

The camera unit 103 can also be a CCD video camera, and if the display is brought to the frame of the finder, it is not necessary to hold the video camera by hand, and the degree of freedom for underwater photography is increased. A more convenient device can be constructed.

As described above, since the second embodiment constitutes the waterproof camera type head-mounted viewfinder device, it is not necessary to hold the camera by hand, and the ski resort in snow, outdoors in the rain, sea bathing, It is ideal for shooting water sports, etc., and even as a full-fledged underwater camera for scuba diving and skin diving underwater with high water pressure, you can use both hands freely, so it is possible to shoot underwater with a high degree of safety. Since quick response is possible, it is also strong against shutter chances.
You don't need to operate the levers or buttons, so you can take a picture while holding something you picked up yourself, and you can get a convenient fully automatic waterproof camera that does not take much time to operate. Although not shown, it is of course possible to use a waterproof strobe device on the shoe for underwater photography. The same applies to underwater lights when shooting video.

[0081]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided release means having a device for detecting blinking and a camera which are head-mounted, and which performs shutter release by an output signal from the detecting device. Since it is provided, the operation part such as the release button is not required due to the automatic release operation by the line-of-sight switch, so that the head-mounted viewfinder device that is compact, portable and inexpensive can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the detection device has the toric aspherical infrared reflection surface incorporated in the viewfinder device for seeing the field, so that the head is compact and does not cause visual discomfort. A wearable finder device is obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the detection device for detecting the eyeball in the optical path of one eye is configured to incorporate the information of the photographing field of the camera in the optical path of the other eye. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a compact and portable head-mounted viewfinder device without any operation unit, connection cord, or the like.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the viewfinder device integrally includes a camera section for photographing the field outside the field of view, so that the release of the camera provided outside the field of view is performed. Can be operated automatically from the finder side.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the left and right density filters are used in the finder device, a head-mounted finder device can be obtained in which the amount of incident light on both eyes is adjusted and no visual discomfort is felt. .

According to the invention described in claim 6, the optical axis of the incident light is bent by the first reflecting device in the loading axis direction of the cartridge, and then by the second reflecting device, the photographing screen is displayed in the thickness direction of the camera. Since it is bent toward the head, it is possible to obtain a head-mounted viewfinder device having a camera section with a large photographic screen and a satisfactory image quality.

According to the invention described in claim 7, the photographing optical system has a first image-forming surface between the incident surface of the camera and the second reflecting device, and the first image-forming is formed on the photographing screen. Since it has an optical system for projecting onto a head, a head-mounted viewfinder device having a camera with an increased degree of freedom of the optical system can be obtained by using a secondary imaging system.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the display content of the first image plane is displayed on the photographing screen by the projection optical system, so that it is possible to input arbitrary figures and the like.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, since the vertical / horizontal position switching means of the camera and the visual field frame switching means for switching the visual field frame display are provided, the visual field frame of the viewfinder is linked with the switching of the vertical / horizontal photographing position. It switches automatically.

According to the tenth aspect of the invention, a solar panel is detachably mounted above the finder device,
Since the small-sized and small-capacity secondary battery equipped as a power source for the device is charged, an energy-saving head-mounted viewfinder device requiring no battery replacement can be obtained.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since the head-mounted viewfinder device has a waterproof structure, it is possible to obtain an underwater camera having an excellent underwater operability by omitting the operation section by using the line-of-sight switch.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, since the attitude detection sensor for switching the field of view of the waterproof camera section is composed of the light projecting element and the light receiving element, the vertical and horizontal positions of the waterproof camera section can be switched. Safe and reliable detection.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a head-mounted viewfinder device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing lateral position photography of the head-mounted viewfinder device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a rotation mechanism of the camera unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing switching of the finder field frame shown in FIG.

5 is a configuration diagram showing a system of an apparatus for detecting blinking shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

6 is a block diagram of the head-mounted finder device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

7 is a flowchart of the operation of the head-mounted viewfinder device shown in FIG.

8 is a timing chart of changes in the amount of received light when blinking is detected in the head-mounted viewfinder device shown in FIG.

9 is a diagram of a detection area in an open eyelid state of the head-mounted finder device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

10 is a diagram showing a detection area of a closed state of the eyelid shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a head-mounted viewfinder device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a perspective view showing lateral position photography of the head-mounted finder device shown in FIG. 11. FIG.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state of lateral position photography of the apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Headband 2 Goggle part 3 Lighting window 4 LCD 5 Line-of-sight sensor 6 Camera part 7 Strobe device 8 Solar panel 9 Guide band 11 System controller 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 Photometric circuit 15 Distance measuring circuit 16 Shutter driver 17 Main switch 18 Release switch 19 Film 20 Shutter 21 Photographic lens 22 Light receiving SPD 23 Detection area Light shielding mask 24 Light receiving lens 25 Detection area range 26 Operational amplifier 27 Resistor 28 A / D converter 29 Infrared light emitting diode 30 Constant current driver 31 External timer 32 Eyelid 101 Headbelt 102 Housing 103 waterproof camera unit 104 light emitting LED 105 light receiving SPD

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A head-mounted type device for detecting blinking of a human eye and a camera unit for photographing a field, and a release means for performing shutter release by an output signal from the detecting device. A head-mounted viewfinder device characterized in that 2. The detection device is formed by incorporating an infrared reflecting surface of a toric aspherical surface or a free-form surface into a viewfinder device for viewing a field.
The head mounted finder device described. 3. A finder device for viewing a field, comprising:
Incorporating a detection device that detects the human eye in the optical path through which one of the two eyes of a human sees the field, and the information about the field of view of the camera in the optical path through which the other eye sees the field. Head mounted finder device characterized by 4. The head-mounted viewfinder device according to claim 3, wherein the viewfinder device is integrally provided with a camera section for photographing the field outside the field of view. 5. The head mounted finder device according to claim 3, wherein the finder device uses filters of different densities for left and right for making the amount of field light entering both eyes substantially the same. 6. In a camera unit provided with a photographing screen having a longitudinal direction longer than the longitudinal direction and a photographing optical system, an optical axis immediately before the photographing screen is a longitudinal direction of the screen and is a loading axis direction of a cartridge for accommodating a film. A first reflecting device that bends in the direction 1;
A head-mounted viewfinder device further comprising a second reflecting device that bends in a second direction in which the optical axis is oriented along the thickness direction of the camera toward the shooting screen. 7. The imaging optical system has a first image forming surface in a space between an incident surface on which a field image is incident on a camera and the second reflecting device, and the first image forming surface. 7. The head-mounted viewfinder device according to claim 6, further comprising an optical system for projecting the image on a photographing screen. 8. The liquid crystal device is provided in a part of the screen of the first image forming surface, and the display content can be imprinted on a photographing screen by the projection optical system. The head mounted finder device described. 9. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a position switching unit for vertical / horizontal photographing of the camera unit, and a field frame switching unit for detecting the position switching and switching the display of the field frame in the viewfinder. Head mounted finder device. 10. The head-mounted viewfinder device according to claim 1, further comprising a solar panel which is detachably mounted above the device and which stores a small-capacity secondary battery. 11. The head-mounted finder device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing having a finder and a line-of-sight switch for waterproofly holding a goggle part to be fitted to the eye, and a camera part having a waterproof structure. A head-mounted finder device characterized in that 12. The head-mounted viewfinder device according to claim 11, wherein the attitude detection sensor for switching the vertical and horizontal directions of the field frame of the camera unit is composed of a light projecting element and a light receiving element.