Patent Application
20070242150
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus and methods of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.
As shown in
Provided at the top side portion of the imaging device body 10 are a power switch 12 which sets the imaging device in an operational state or a non-operational state, and a shutter release button 13 which, when operated, inputs an imaging instruction. Provided at the back surface portion of the imaging device body 10 are a view finder 14 to view the subject image formed by the photographing lens 11, and a display section 20 including a liquid crystal display constituting a display apparatus. Provided at the back surface portion of the imaging device body 10 is a display button 15 for displaying the subject image, captured by the photographing lens 11, on the display section 20 when the imaging device is in the operational state. Operational buttons for making various settings of the imaging device are provided at the back surface portion of the imaging device body 10.
A user operates the power switch 12 of the imaging device to sets the display apparatus operational, and sees a subject image, formed by the photographing lens 11, through the view finder 14 or on the display section 20. Then, the user presses the shutter release button 13 to capture the subject image formed by the photographing lens 11 by means of the image pickup device (not shown), and stores the image in the memory medium (not shown). When the user performs an operation to reproduce an image in the operational state, the imaging device displays the image stored in the memory medium on the display section 20.
The display apparatus has the display section 20, provided at the back surface portion of the imaging device body (base portion) 10, for displaying a subject image captured by the photographing lens 11 or an image stored in the memory medium as mentioned above. The display section 20 has an approximately parallelepiped outer shape, and is retained in a retaining recess 101. The retaining recess 101 has an opening approximately rectangular shape formed in the back surface portion of the imaging device body 10, as shown in
The fixing member 21 is fixed to the bottom of the retaining recess 101 of the imaging device body 10 by screws at the plate surface of a flat-shaped plate 211. The fixing member 21 also has a pair of support pieces 212 provided by folding the upper and lower end portions of the plate 211 upright in the outward direction of the retaining recess 101 (the back-surface direction of the imaging device body 10). A pivot hole 213 and an elongated hole 214 are provided in each support piece 212. The pivot hole 213 is provided on one side of the support piece 212 at a portion closer to the left side of the imaging device body 10. The elongated hole 214 is provided in the center of the support piece 212 in a direction extending from one side toward the other side (the left and right direction of the imaging device body 10).
The first tilting member 22 has a pair of support pieces 222 provided by folding the upper and lower end portions of a flat-shaped plate 221 upright in the back-surface direction of the imaging device body 10. A pivot (first pivot) 223, a joint arm 224 and a pivot hole 225 are provided in each support piece 222. The pivot 223 is provided, extending vertically, on one side of the support piece 222 at a portion closer to the left side of the imaging device body 10. The joint arm 224 has a lengthwise middle portion pivoted in the center of the support piece 222 in a rotatable manner. The pivot hole 225 is provided on the other side of the support piece 222 at a portion closer to the right side of the imaging device body 10.
The first tilting member 22 is fixed to the fixing member 21 with the plate surface of its own plate 221 placed against the plate surface of the plate 211 of the fixing member 21 at the base position where the first tilting member 22 is retained between the support pieces 212. The pivot 223 is pivoted in the pivot hole 213 of the fixing member 21. The joint arm 224 has a pin 2241 provided at one end thereof to be inserted into the elongated hole 214 of the fixing member 21. Therefore, the first tilting member 22 can tilt in the left and right direction (first direction) from the base position about the pivot hole 213 and the pivot 223 provided at portions closer to the left side of the imaging device body 10. Further, at the time of tilting the first tilting member 22, the tilt angle of the first tilting member 22 is defined by the engagement of the pin 2241 of the joint arm 224 with the elongated hole 214 of the fixing member 21. As mentioned above, the first tilting member 22 is tiltable with respect to the fixing member 21 (and the imaging device body (base portion) 10 to which the fixing member 21 is fixed).
The second tilting member 23 has a pair of support pieces 232 provided by folding the upper and lower end portions of a flat-shaped plate 231 upright in the front-surface direction of the imaging device body 10. A pivot (second pivot) 233 is provided in each support piece 232. The second tilting member 23 also has a pair of support pieces 234 provided by folding the left and right end portions of the plate 231 upright in the back-surface direction of the imaging device body 10. A pivot hole 235 and an elongated hole 236 are provided in each support piece 234. The pivot hole 235 is provided on one side of the support piece 234 at a portion closer to the bottom side of the imaging device body 10. The elongated hole 236 is provided in the center of the support piece 234 in a direction extending from one side toward the other side (the up and down direction of the imaging device body 10).
The second tilting member 23 is fixed to the first tilting member 22 with the plate surface of its own plate 231 placed against the plate surface of the plate 221 of the first tilting member 22 at the base position where the second tilting member 23 is retained between the support pieces 222 of the first tilting member 22. The pivot 233 extending vertically is pivoted in the pivot hole 225 of the first tilting member 22, and is disposed in parallel to the pivot 223 of the first tilting member 22. The second tilting member 23 can tilt in the left and right direction (the same direction as the first direction) from the base position about the pivot hole 225 and the pivot 233 provided at portions closer to the right side of the imaging device body 10. As mentioned above, the second tilting member 23 is tiltable about the pivot 233, provided between the first tilting member 22 and the second tilting member 23, with respect to the first tilting member 22.
The third tilting member 24 has a pair of support pieces 242 provided by folding the left and right end portions of a flat-shaped plate 241 upright in the back-surface direction of the imaging device body 10. A pivot (third pivot) 243, a joint arm 244 and a pivot hole 245 are provided in each support piece 242. The pivot 243 is provided on one side of the support piece 242 at a portion closer to the bottom side of the imaging device body 10. The joint arm 244 has a lengthwise middle portion pivoted in the center of the support piece 242 in a rotatable manner. The pivot hole 245 is provided on the other side of the support piece 242 at a portion closer to the top side of the imaging device body 10.
The third tilting member 24 is fixed to the second tilting member 23 with the plate surface of its own plate 241 placed against the plate surface of the plate 231 of the second tilting member 23 at the base position where the third tilting member 24 is retained between the support pieces 234 of the second tilting member 23. The pivot 243 is pivoted in the pivot hole 235 of the second tilting member 23. Accordingly, the pivot 243 is disposed extending in the left and right direction in a twisting relationship (not in parallel) with the directions of the pivot 223 of the first tilting member 22 and the pivot 233 of the second tilting member 23. The joint arm 244 has a pin 2441 provided at one end thereof extending in the left and right direction to be inserted into the elongated hole 236 of the second tilting member 23. The third tilting member 24 can tilt in the up and down direction (second direction) from the base position about the pivot hole 235 and the pivot 243 provided at portions closer to the bottom side of the imaging device body 10. Further, at the time of tilting the third tilting member 24, the tilt angle of the third tilting member 24 is defined by the engagement of the pin 2241 of the joint arm 244 with the elongated hole 236 of the second tilting member 23. As mentioned above, the third tilting member 24 is tiltable with respect to the second tilting member 23 about the pivot 243 provided between the second tilting member 23 and the third tilting member 24.
The fourth tilting member 25 has a pair of support pieces 252 provided by folding the left and right end portions of a flat-shaped plate 251 upright in the back-surface direction of the imaging device body 10. A pivot (fourth pivot) 253 is provided in each support piece 252, and is extending in the left and right direction. The pivot 253 is provided on one side of the support piece 252 at a portion closer to the top side of the imaging device body 10.
The fourth tilting member 25 is fixed to the third tilting member 24 with the plate surface of its own plate 251 placed against the plate surface of the plate 241 of the third tilting member 24 at the base position where the fourth tilting member 25 is retained between the support pieces 242 of the third tilting member 24. The pivot 253 is pivoted in the pivot hole 245 of the third tilting member 24, and is disposed in parallel to the pivot 243 of the third tilting member 24. The fourth tilting member 25 can tilt in the up and down direction (fourth direction) from the base position about the pivot hole 245 and the pivot 253 provided at portions closer to the top side of the imaging device body 10. As mentioned above, the fourth tilting member 25 is tiltable about the pivot 253, provided between the third tilting member 24 and the fourth tilting member 25, with respect to the third tilting member 24. Further, the display section 20 is fixed to the plate surface of the plate 251 of the fourth tilting member 25 by screws.
In the display apparatus, a flexible printed board 26 led from the imaging device body 10 is connected to the display section 20. The flexible printed board 26 is led to the display section 20 from the imaging device body 10 along the first tilting member 22, the second tilting member 23 and the third tilting member 24.
Specifically, as shown in
That is, the flexible printed board 26 is adapted to flexibly cope with bending and twisting, and is folded back at the pivots 223, 233, 243, 253, passing between the fixing member 21 and the first tilting member 22, between the first tilting member 22 and the second tilting member 23, and between the second tilting member 23 and the third tilting member 24. As a result, the flexible printed board 26 extends from the imaging device body 10 to the display section 20 to be connected thereto without interfering with tilting of each tilting member 22, 23, 24, 25.
The display apparatus has a restriction mechanism that, when the first tilting member 22 and the second tilting member 23 tilt, restricts the tilting of the third tilting member 24 and the fourth tilting member 25. When the third tilting member 24 and the fourth tilting member 25 tilt, the restriction mechanism restricts the tilting of the first tilting member 22 and the second tilting member 23. The first tilting member 22 and the second tilting member 23 tilt in the same direction, and consist a first tiling mechanism. The third tilting member 24 and the fourth tilting member 25 tilts in the same direction that is different from the tiling direction of the first tilting mechanism, and consist a second tilting mechanism.
As shown in
The first restriction section 31 has a hook member 311 and a spring 312. The hook member 311 has an approximately “U” shape, and has, at one end, a hook portion 3111 extending outward, and, at the other end, a pressed portion 3112 contiguous to the hook portion 3111 and extending straight. The hook member 311 is pivoted in the retaining recess 101 of the imaging device body 10 in a rotatable manner (tiltable manner) by a pivot (not shown) extending in the up and down direction. The hook member 311 is biased by the spring 312 in such a way that the hook portion 3111 is moved frontward. The hook portion 3111 of the hook member 311 can be inserted into an engagement hole 226 provided in the plate 221 of the first tilting member 22.
The hook portion 3111 of the hook member 311 engages with the engagement hole 226 of the first tilting member 22 positioned at the base position by the biasing force of the spring 312, thereby restricting the tilting of the first tilting member 22 (restricted state). When the pressed portion 3112 is pressed against the biasing force of the spring 312, the hook portion 3111 of the hook member 311 is disengaged from the engagement hole 226 of the first tilting member 22, thereby permitting the tilting of the first tilting member 22 (released state). The pressed portion 3112 of the hook member 311 is pressed frontward by the display section 20 at the base position or the plate 241 of the third tilting member 24. That is, the first restriction section 31 permits the tilting of the first tilting member 22 when the display section 20 is at the base position, and the restricts the tilting of the first tilting member 22 when the display section 20 is moved from the base position by the tilting of the third tilting member 24.
The second restriction section 32 has a hook member 321 and a spring 322. The hook member 321 has an approximately “U” shape, and has, at one end, a hook portion 3211 extending inward of the “U” shape, and, at the other end, a pressed portion 3212 extending outside. The hook member 321 is pivoted in the center portion of the support piece 222 of the first tilting member 22 in a rotatable manner (tiltable manner) by a pivot (not shown) extending in the up and down direction. The hook member 321 is biased by the spring 322 in such a way that the hook portion 3211 is moved rearward. The hook portion 3211 of the hook member 321 can be inserted into an engagement hole 238 provided in the plate 231 of the second tilting member 23.
The hook portion 3211 of the hook member 321 engages with the engagement hole 238 of the second tilting member 23 positioned at the base position by the biasing force of the spring 322, thereby restricting the tilting of the second tilting member 23 (restricted state). When the pressed portion 3212 is pressed against the biasing force of the spring 322, the hook portion 3211 of the hook member 321 is disengaged from the engagement hole 238 of the second tilting member 23, thereby permitting the tilting of the second tilting member 23 (released state). The pressed portion 3212 of the hook member 321 is pressed rearward by one end 2242 of the joint arm 224 which is operated when the first tilting member 22 is tilted. That is, the second restriction section 32 permits the tilting of the second tilting member 23 when the first tilting member 22 is tilted with respect to the fixing member 21 (the imaging device body (base portion) 10), and the restricts the tilting of the second tilting member 23 when the first tilting member 22 is not tilted with respect to the fixing member 21 (the imaging device body (base portion) 10).
The third restriction section 33 has a hook member 331 and a spring 332. The hook member 331 has an approximately “Z” shape, and has, at one end, a hook portion 3311 extending outward, and, at the other end, a pressed portion 3312 contiguous to the hook portion 3311 and extending straight. The hook member 331 is pivoted in the support piece 234 of the second tilting member 23 in a rotatable manner (tiltable manner) by a pivot (not shown) extending in the left and right direction. The hook member 331 is biased by the spring 332 in such a way that the hook portion 3311 is moved rearward. The hook portion 3311 of the hook member 331 can engage with an engagement piece 246 provided in the support piece 242 of the third tilting member 24.
The hook portion 3311 of the hook member 331 engages with the engagement piece 246 of the third tilting member 24 by the biasing force of the spring 332 in the tilt state where the second tilting member 23 is not at the base position, i.e., in the tilt state where the first tilting member 22 is not at the base position, thereby restricting the tilting of the third tilting member 24 (restricted state). When the pressed portion 3312 is pressed against the biasing force of the spring 332, i.e., when the second tilting member 23 and the third tilting member 24 are at the base position, the hook portion 3311 of the hook member 331 is disengaged from the engagement piece 246 of the third tilting member 24, thereby permitting the tilting of the third tilting member 24 (released state). The pressed portion 3312 of the hook member 331 is pressed rearward by the imaging device body 10 when the display section 20 is at the base position. That is, the third restriction section 33 permits the tilting of the third tilting member 24 when the display section 20 is at the base position, and the restricts the tilting of the third tilting member 24 when the display section 20 is moved from the base position by the tilting of the first tilting member 22.
The fourth restriction section 34 has a hook member 341 and a spring 342. The hook member 341 has an approximately “U” shape, and has, at one end, a hook portion 3411 extending inward of the “U” shape, and, at the other end, a pressed portion 3412 extending outside. The hook member 341 is pivoted in the center portion of the support piece 242 of the third tilting member 24 in a rotatable manner (tiltable manner) by a pivot (not shown) extending in the left and right direction. The hook member 341 is biased by the spring 342 in such a way that the hook portion 3411 is moved rearward. The hook portion 3411 of the hook member 341 can be inserted into a cutaway portion 254 provided in the plate 251 of the fourth tilting member 25.
When the third tilting member 24 is not tilted with respect to the second tilting member 23, the hook portion 3411 of the hook member 341 engages with the cutaway portion 254 of the fourth tilting member 25 by the biasing force of the spring 342, thereby restricting the tilting of the fourth tilting member 25 (restricted state). When the pressed portion 3412 is pressed against the biasing force of the spring 342, the hook portion 3411 of the hook member 341 is disengaged from the cutaway portion 254 of the fourth tilting member 25, thereby permitting the tilting of the fourth tilting member 25 (released state). The pressed portion 3412 of the hook member 341 is pressed rearward by one end 2442 of the joint arm 244 which is operated when the third tilting member 24 is tilted. That is, the fourth restriction section 34 permits the tilting of the fourth tilting member 25 when the third tilting member 24 is tilted with respect to the second tilting member 23, and the restricts the tilting of the fourth tilting member 25 when the third tilting member 24 is not tilted with respect to the second tilting member 23.
First, because the first restriction section 31 is in the released state at the base position shown in
When the user tilts the first tilting member 22, the joint arm 224 of the first tilting member 22 presses the pressed portion 3212 of the second restriction section 32 according to the tilting of the first tilting member 22, setting the second restriction section 32 in the released state where the second tilting member 23 is tiltable. As the pressed portion 3312 of the third restriction section 33 is moved away from the imaging device body 10 according to the tilting of the first tilting member 22, the third restriction section 33 comes to the restricted state, thus restricting the tilting of the third tilting member 24. The fourth restriction section 34 stays restricted. That is, the second tilting member 23 which is a part of the first restriction mechanism is in a tiltable state according to the tilting of the first tilting member 22 which is a part of the first restriction mechanism. Meanwhile, the third tilting member 24 and the fourth tilting member 25 which are the second restriction mechanism come to the restricted state.
Next, the user tilts the second tilting member 23 as shown in
When the user tilts the second tilting member 23, the pressed portion 3312 of the third restriction section 33 is moved away from the imaging device body 10 according to the tilting of the first tilting member 22, the third restriction section 33 comes to the restricted state of restricting the tilting of the third tilting member 24. The fourth restriction section 34 stays restricted. That is, the tilting of the third tilting member 24 and the fourth tilting member 25 which are the second restriction mechanism is kept restricted unless the first tilting member 22 and the second tilting member 23 which are the first restriction mechanism are returned to the base position to set the display section 20 at the base position.
Next, a description will be given of a case where the user moves the display section 20 by tilting the third tilting member 24 from the base position in
When the user tilts the third tilting member 24, the joint arm 244 of the third tilting member 24 presses the pressed portion 3412 of the fourth restriction section 34 according to the tilting of the third tilting member 24, setting the fourth tilting member 25 in the released state where the fourth tilting member 25 is tiltable. As the display section 20 and the third tilting member 24 are moved away from the pressed portion 3112 according to the tilting of the third tilting member 24, the first restriction section 31 comes to the restricted state of restricting the tilting of the first tilting member 22. The second restriction section 32 stays restricted. That is, according to the tilting of the third tilting member 24 which is a part of the second restriction mechanism, the fourth tilting member 25 which is a part of the second restriction mechanism comes to a tiltable state and the tilting of the first tilting member 22 and the second tilting member 23 which are the first restriction mechanism comes to the restricted state.
Accordingly, the user tilts the fourth tilting member 25 as shown in
When the user tilts the fourth tilting member 25, the display section 20 and the third tilting member 24 are moved away from the pressed portion 3112 of the first restriction section 31 according to the tilting of the third tilting member 24, the first restriction section 31 stays in the restricted state of restricting the tilting of the first tilting member 22. The second restriction section 32 stays restricted. That is, the tilting of the first tilting member 22 and the second tilting member 23 which are the first restriction mechanism is kept restricted unless the third tilting member 24 and the fourth tilting member 25 which are the second restriction mechanism are returned to the base position to set the display section 20 at the base position.
Each tilting member 22, 23, 24, 25 is configured in such a way that a predetermined frictional resistance is given to the tilting of each tilting member 22, 23, 24, 25 about the pivot (first pivot) 223, the pivot (second pivot) 233, the pivot (third pivot) 243, the pivot (fourth pivot) 253, so that the tilting member 22, 23, 24, 25 can hold the tilt position steplessly.
As described above, the display apparatus has the first tilting member 22 so provided as to be tiltable in the left and right direction (first direction) with respect to the imaging device body (base portion) 10, the second tilting member 23 so provided as to be tiltable in the left and right direction (the same direction as the first direction) with respect to the first tilting member 22, the third tilting member 24 so provided as to be tiltable in the up and down direction (second direction different from the first direction) with respect to the second tilting member 23, the fourth tilting member 25 so provided as to be tiltable in the up and down direction (same direction as the second direction) with respect to the third tilting member 24, and the display section 20 provided at the fourth tilting member 25.
In other words, the display apparatus has the first tilting member 22 so provided as to be tiltable about the pivot (first pivot) 223 disposed between the imaging device body 10 and the first tilting member 22 with respect to the imaging device body (base portion) 10, the second tilting member 23 so provided as to be tiltable about the pivot (second pivot) 233 disposed in parallel to the pivot (first pivot) 223 between the first tilting member 22 and the second tilting member 23, the third tilting member 24 so provided as to be tiltable about the pivot (third pivot) 243 disposed in a twisted relationship with the pivot (first pivot) 223 and the pivot (second pivot) 233 between the second tilting member 23 and the third tilting member 24, the fourth tilting member 25 so provided as to be tiltable about the pivot (fourth pivot) 253 disposed in parallel to the pivot (third pivot) 243 between the third tilting member 24 and the fourth tilting member 25, and the display section 20 provided at the fourth tilting member 25.
That is, the first tilting member 22 tilts in the left and right direction with respect to the imaging device body 10, the second tilting member 23 tilts in the left and right direction with respect to the first tilting member 22, the third tilting member 24 tilts in the up and down direction with respect to the second tilting member 23, and the fourth tilting member 25 tilts in the up and down direction with respect to the third tilting member 24. As a result, the display section 20 can be quickly and easily moved only in the desired direction while maintaining the ability of moving the display section 20 in other directions than the desired direction.
The display apparatus has the display section 20 having the display surface 201 arranged outward with respect to the imaging device body (base portion) 10, the first tilting mechanism (first tilting member 22 and second tilting member 23) which tilts the display section 20 in the left and right direction (predetermined direction) in a mode of changing the direction of the display surface 201, the second tilting mechanism (third tilting member 24 and fourth tilting member 25) which tilts the display section 20 in the up and down direction which is in the twisted relationship with the left and right direction in a mode of changing the direction of the display surface 201 to another direction, and the restriction mechanism (first restriction section 31, second restriction section 32, third restriction section 33 and fourth restriction section 34) which restricts the action of the second tilting mechanism when the first tilting mechanism is operated and restricts the action of the first tilting mechanism when the second tilting mechanism is operated.
In other words, the display apparatus having the display section 20 arranged at the imaging device body (base portion) 10 in such a way that the display section 20 is movable from the predetermined base position includes the first tilting member 22 so provided as to be tiltable in the left and right direction (first direction) with respect to the imaging device body 10, the second tilting member 23 so provided as to be tiltable in the left and right direction (same direction as the first direction) with respect to the first tilting member 22, the third tilting member 24 so provided as to be tiltable in the up and down direction (second direction) different from the left and right direction (first direction) with respect to the second tilting member 23, the fourth tilting member 25 so provided as to be tiltable in the up and down direction (same direction as the second direction) with respect to the third tilting member 24, the first restriction section 31 which permits the tilting of the first tilting member 22 when the display section 20 is at the base position and restricts the tilting of the first tilting member 22 when the display section 20 is moved from the base position according to the tilting of the third tilting member 24, the second restriction section 32 which permits the tilting of the second tilting member 23 when the first tilting member 22 is tilted with respect to the imaging device body 10 and restricts the tilting of the second tilting member 23 when the first tilting member 22 is not tilted with respect to the imaging device body 10, the third restriction section 33 which permits the tilting of the third tilting member 24 when the display section 20 is at the base position and restricts the tilting of the third tilting member 24 when the display section 20 is moved from the base position according to the tilting of the first tilting member 22, the fourth restriction section 34 which permits the tilting of the fourth tilting member 25 when the third tilting member 24 is tilted with respect to the second tilting member 23 and restricts the tilting of the fourth tilting member 25 when the third tilting member 24 is not tilted with respect to the second tilting member 23.
That is, when the first tilting mechanism (first tilting member 22 and second tilting member 23) which tilts in the left and right direction is operated, the action of the second tilting mechanism (third tilting member 24 and fourth tilting member 25) which tilts in the up and down direction is restricted. When the second tilting mechanism (third tilting member 24 and fourth tilting member 25) which tilts in the up and down direction is operated, the action of the first tilting mechanism (first tilting member 22 and second tilting member 23) which tilts in the left and right direction is restricted. As a result, there are no tilting actions different from the desired direction, so that the display section 20 can be stably moved only in the desired direction and at various angles.
The provision of the flexible printed board 26 led from the imaging device body (base portion) 10 to the display section 20 along the first tilting member 22, the second tilting member 23 and the third tilting member 24 can allow the imaging device body 10 to be connected to the display section 20 without interfering with the tilting of each tilting member 22, 23, 24, 25.
The display section 20 of the display apparatus displays a subject image captured by the imaging device. With the display apparatus adapted to the imaging device in the above-described manner, it is possible to prevent the display surface 201 from facing in an unintended direction while maintaining the ability of quickly and easily moving the display section 20 according to various angles of the imaging device.
The imaging device which captures a subject image formed by the photographing lens 11 has the display section 20 disposed at the back surface of the imaging device body 10 and having the display surface 201 facing outward which displays a subject image in such a way as to intersect the optical axis O of the photographing lens 11, the first tilting mechanism (first tilting member 22 and second tilting member 23) which tilts the display section 20 in the left and right direction (predetermined direction) within the range where the display surface 201 intersects the optical axis O of the photographing lens 11, and the second tilting mechanism (third tilting member 24 and fourth tilting member 25) which tilts the display section 20 in the up and down direction (another direction) which is in the twisted relationship with the left and right direction within the range where the display surface 201 intersects the optical axis O of the photographing lens 11. That is, the moved display section 20 does not shift from the optical axis O of the photographing lens 11. As a result, in a case of imaging a subject while viewing the subject image displayed on the display section 20 moved from the base position in the macro photography, particularly, it is also possible to align the position of the image to be captured by the photographing lens 11.
Although the individual restriction sections from the first restriction section 31 to the fourth restriction section 34 are provided according to the embodiment of the present invention, the restriction sections may be omitted. In this case, the display surface 201 of the display section 20 can be directed in every direction in the back-surface directions of the imaging device body 10. In other words, the display section 20 can be moved in every one of the back-surface directions of the imaging device body 10, i.e., in the pitching direction (up and down direction), the yawing direction (left and right direction), and the combination of both directions. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the display section 20 moved does not extend out of the outer shape sideward or in the up and down direction. In whichever the direction of the display surface 201 is set or in whatever state the imaging device body 10 is placed, the display section 20 does not interfere with another device or an object located close to the imaging device body 10, thus making it possible to freely set the state of the display section 20.
Although the fixing member 21 is used to indirectly attach the first tilting member 22 to the imaging device body 10, the fixing member 21 may be integrated with the imaging device body 10 with the first tilting member 22 directly attached to the imaging device body 10.
Although the fourth tilting member 25 is used to indirectly attach the third tilting member 24 to the display section 20, the fourth tilting member 25 may be integrated with the display section 20 with the display section 20 directly attached to the third tilting member 24.
While there has been shown and described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention not be limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-110978 | Apr 2006 | JP | national |
| 2006-110979 | Apr 2006 | JP | national |
