Image capturing apparatus with convenient handling and operation

• US 7,113,220 B1
• Filed: 11/01/2000
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Misawa, Takeshi, Isozaki, Makoto, Tokiwa, Kentaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jerabek, Kelly L.
• Application Number:
  US09/702,817
• Time in Patent Office: 2,155 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373, 348/376, D16/202, D16/208, D16/211, D16/220, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 348/376
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/531 being rotatable or detachable

Abstract

According to the present invention, an image capturing apparatus for capturing a subject includes: a vertical body including a front face and a back opposed to the front face; a grip to be grasped by an operator'"'"'s hand, the grip including at least a region of the front face and a region of the back; a release switch provided on the front face of the body in a region other than the part included in the grip; a capturing lens provided on the back of the body in a region other than the part included in the grip; an image monitor operable to display the subject, the image monitor being provided above the release switch.

Claims

1. An image capturing apparatus for capturing a subject comprising:

a vertical body including a front face and a back opposed to the front face;

a grip to be grasped by an operator'"'"'s hand, said grip comprising at least a region of the front face and a region of the back;

a release switch provided on the front face of said body in a region other than the part of said grip;

a capturing lens provided on the back of said body in a region other than the part of said grip;

an image monitor operable to display the subject, said image monitor being provided above said release switch, and

a plurality of operation switches relating to the image capturing disposed in a vicinity of said release switch and on said front face of said vertical body and said plurality of operation switches not being diposed in said grip, and

said release switch is positioned substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction of said vertical body and said operation switches are disposed within an area entirely above said release switch.

2. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image monitor is provided on substantially the same plane as a plane on which said release switch is provided.

3. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of operation switches is disposed at an upper half-region of the vertical body.

4. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image monitor is disposed farther from said grip than said plurality of operation switches.

5. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, said plurality of operation switches is disposed within an area to which a user'"'"'s thumb is reachable when the user grasps said grip.

6. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lens is disposed at a center in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of said vertical body.

7. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said release switch performs an image capture.

8. An image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vertical body being formed integrally.

9. An image capturing apparatus for capturing a subject comprising:

a vertical body including a front face and a back opposed to the front face;

a grip to be grasped by an operator'"'"'s hand, said grip comprising at least a region of the front face and a region of the back;

a release switch provided on the front face of said body in a region other than the part of said grip;

a capturing lens provided on the back of said body in a region other than the part of said grip;

an image monitor operable to display the subject, said image monitor being provided above said release switch, and

a plurality of operation switches relating to the image capturing disposed in a vicinity of said release switch and on said front face of said vertical body, and

said release switch is positioned substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction of said vertical body and said operation switches are disposed within an area entirely above said release switch , said vertical body being formed integrally.