JP2007065443A - Lens cover structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lens cover structure capable of obtaining a feeling of a click when a lens cover is opened and closed and simultaneously reducing thickness, while securing durability for repeated opening and closing operations. <P>SOLUTION: A camera cover mechanism is configured to provide a slider 1 which serves as a board on which a camera cover 21 is mounted and which slides and is engaged with a slide groove 22, to slide, a leaf spring unit 5 which is engaged with side surface depressions 12 and 14 formed on one side surface of the slider 1 in its width direction (direction orthogonal to a sliding direction) and a leaf spring unit 6 which is engaged with side surface depressions 13 and 15 formed on the other side surface of the slider 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens cover structure, and particularly relates to a lens cover structure that can obtain a sufficient click feeling.

  As a lens cover structure, a structure as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.

  That is, in FIGS. 5 and 6 of Patent Document 1, a coil spring is disposed so as to straddle the guide plate of the camera cover and the carrying case, and the camera cover is urged by the elastic force of the coil spring. A configuration for restricting sliding is shown.

JP 2003-289358 A

  In the camera-equipped mobile phone disclosed in Patent Document 1, the sliding of the camera cover is restricted by the elastic force of the coil spring, but the elastic force of the coil spring is weak and the click feeling at the time of opening and closing cannot be obtained. In addition, there is a problem of lack of durability against repeated opening and closing operations. To obtain a click feeling and increase the spring diameter to increase the durability, the thickness increases, and recent cameras tend to be thinner It was an inappropriate structure for a mobile phone with a phone.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can provide a click feeling when opening and closing the lens cover, and can reduce the thickness while ensuring durability against repeated opening and closing operations. The purpose is to provide.

    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lens cover structure in which a lens is exposed on a surface thereof, the lens housing structure is laminated in the optical axis direction of the lens with respect to the lens housing case, and The lens is slidably engaged, and the state of covering the lens and the state of exposing the lens are switched according to the slide, and a groove or protrusion is formed on the wall surface extending along the sliding direction and extending in the optical axis direction. A lens cover having a portion formed thereon, an elastic member having a protrusion or groove that fits into the groove or protrusion of the lens cover, and elastically deforming according to the slide, so that the groove or protrusion of the lens cover The protrusion or groove of the elastic member comes off.

  According to the lens cover structure of the first aspect of the present invention, the lens cover structure is provided with an elastic member that elastically deforms and slides out of the lens cover groove or protrusion according to the slide. The user feels a click when opening and closing, and can confirm that the lens cover has been reliably opened and closed. Further, since the groove or protrusion provided in the lens cover is provided on the wall surface extending along the sliding direction and extending in the optical axis direction, the groove or protrusion extends along the sliding direction and faces the lens. The thickness of the lens cover structure can be reduced as compared with the case where the portion is formed.

<Embodiment>
A camera-equipped personal digital assistant device which is an embodiment of a lens cover structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

<A. Device configuration>
<A-1. Overall configuration>
FIGS. 1A and 1B are external perspective views of the foldable portable information terminal device 100 (lens cover structure, portable device) in an opened state. 1A shows a side view of the portable information terminal device 100, and shows a rear view of the portable information terminal device 100. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a portable information terminal device 100 includes a monitor-side case 10 on which a sub monitor 101 and a main monitor (not shown) are arranged, an operation key (not shown), and a key on which a camera is arranged. It is roughly divided into a side case 20 (lens housing case), and both are connected by a hinge (not shown) so as to be opened and closed.

  The key case 20 includes a rear case 201 that is a case on the back side, and a front case 202 that is a case on the operation key side.

  On the main surface of the rear case 201, a camera lens CL and an openable / closable camera cover 21 serving as a cover for the camera lens CL are stacked on the rear case 201 in the optical axis direction of the camera lens CL.

  The camera cover 21 is fitted in a rectangular slide groove 22 provided on the main surface of the rear case 201 so as to include the upper part of the camera lens CL, and is slidable (slidable) along the longitudinal direction of the slide groove 22. It has become.

  Next, the configuration of the camera cover mechanism including the camera cover 21 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing the internal structure of the key-side case 20, in which the rear case 201 is removed, and a thin configuration related to the camera cover mechanism is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the camera cover mechanism (lens cover) is a substrate that slides on which the camera cover 21 is mounted. The slider 1 engages and slides on the slide groove 22, and the width of the slider 1. The leaf spring unit 5 (elastic member) that engages with the side depressions 12 and 14 formed on one side surface in the direction (direction perpendicular to the sliding direction) and the side depressions 13 and 15 formed on the other side surface And a plate spring unit 6 to be engaged. The configurations of the slider 1 and the leaf spring units 5 and 6 will be described in detail later.

  FIG. 2 shows a closed state in which the camera cover 21 covers the camera lens CL, and side depressions 14 and 15 provided on the side surface of the slider 1 (the wall surface extending in the sliding direction and extending in the optical axis direction of the lens). In addition, the bent spring hook portions 53 and 63 at the tips of the leaf spring units 5 and 6 are engaged with each other.

  FIG. 3 shows an open state in which the camera cover 21 does not cover the camera lens CL (a state in which the camera cover 21 exposes the camera lens CL). The side surface of the slider 1 (extends in the sliding direction and the light of the lens). The spring engagement portions 53 and 63 (protruding portions) of the leaf spring units 5 and 6 are engaged with the side recesses 12 and 13 (grooves) provided on the wall surface extending in the axial direction, respectively.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional shape of the camera cover mechanism taken along line AA in FIG. 3, but the rear case 201 and the camera cover 21 are also shown for convenience.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the slide groove 22 of the rear case 201 is defined by an opening OP formed in the main surface 221 of the rear case 201 and an inner bottom surface portion 222 of the rear case 201.

  Here, the width of the slider 1 is configured to be wider than the width of the opening OP provided in the main surface 221, but the back surface and the inner bottom surface of the main surface 221 outside both sides in the width direction of the opening OP. An expansion space is provided between the slider 222 and the slide groove 22 so that the slider 1 can be accommodated. Therefore, the slider 1 can be inserted into the slide groove 22, and the slide groove once. When the slider 1 is inserted into the slider 22, the slider 1 does not come off in the vertical direction. The camera cover 21 is fixed to the slider 1 with an adhesive or a double-sided adhesive tape.

  The width of the camera cover 21 is set slightly smaller than the width of the opening OP of the slide groove 22, and the camera cover 21 does not rub against the opening OP of the slide groove 22 as the slider 1 slides.

  The thickness of the camera cover 21 is set such that the uppermost surface of the camera cover 21 and the uppermost surface of the main surface 221 of the rear case 201 have the same height in a state where the slider 1 is inserted into the slide groove 22. Is done.

  Further, the material of the slider 1 is made of a resin that is softer than the material of the rear case 201 and has a smaller friction coefficient, and the slider 1 is less likely to damage the internal bottom surface 222 and the main surface 221. ing.

<A-2. Configuration of slider and leaf spring unit>
Next, the structure of the slider 1 and the leaf | plate spring units 5 and 6 is demonstrated using FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an engagement state between the slider 1 in the closed state in which the camera cover 21 described with reference to FIG. 2 covers the camera lens CL and the leaf spring units 5 and 6. 5 and 6, the sliding direction of the slider 1 is defined as the X direction, and the direction orthogonal thereto is defined as the Y direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the slider 1 is a flat plate having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and has a U-shaped notch 11 extending from one end corresponding to the sliding direction (X direction) to the inside. .

  The diameter of the circular portion of the notch 11 is set larger than the diameter of the camera lens CL, and the slider 1 does not contact the camera lens CL even when the camera cover 21 is closed.

  Further, a side recess 12 is formed on one side surface (the left side surface in the drawing) of the slider 1 in the width direction (Y direction) on the end side where the notch portion 11 is provided. A side depression 14 is provided on the opposite end side.

  The other side surface (the right side surface in the drawing) of the slider 1 in the width direction (Y direction) is provided with a side recess 13 on the end side where the notch portion 11 is provided, and the notch portion 11. Is provided with a side recess 15 on the opposite end side.

  Here, the side surface depressions 12 and 13 are set so as to be at the same position on the side surface of the slider 1 on which the side surface depressions 12 and 13 are provided, and this also applies to the side surface depressions 14 and 15.

  As described above, by arranging the side depressions 12 and 13 and the side depressions 14 and 15 symmetrically, the spring load is applied from the leaf spring units 5 and 6 in a well-balanced manner, so that the camera cover 21 can slide smoothly. Is possible.

  The side recesses 14 and 15 have a movable range of the spring hooks 53 and 63 of the leaf spring units 5 and 6 when the recess length is set to a predetermined length and the leaf spring units 5 and 6 are engaged with each other. Is configured to be regulated by the length of the recess. This is to keep the camera cover 21 closed.

  On the other hand, in the side depressions 12 and 13, the length of the depression is not defined, and only one end of the depression exists, and the other end does not exist. As shown in FIG. 6, when the spring hooking portions 53 and 63 of the leaf spring units 5 and 6 are engaged with the side depressions 12 and 13, the bent portions of the spring hooking portions 53 and 63 are the side depressions 12. This is because the slider 1 does not move in the direction of closing the camera cover 21 unless an external force is applied to overcome the steps 13 and 13.

  The leaf spring unit 5 is disposed outside the side surface of the slider 1 provided with the side surface depressions 12 and 14, and is roughly composed of a spring holding plate 51, a leaf spring portion 52, and a spring hooking portion 53. ing.

  The plate spring unit 5 is disposed so that the main surface of the spring holding plate 51 having a rectangular plate shape is in parallel with the main surface of the slider 1, and has a through hole 54 penetrating the main surface. The plate spring unit 5 can be fixed to the front case 202 by inserting a pin provided in the front case 202 (FIG. 1) into the through hole 54 and thermally welding the protruding portion of the pin.

  The plate spring unit 52 of the plate spring unit 5 is bent vertically from one side of the spring holding plate 51, and an elongated plate body 521 provided so as to extend along the one side is 1 on the side opposite to the spring holding plate 51. A spring having a shape that is folded back and bent so that the tip of the plate body 521 opposite to the spring holding plate 51 side protrudes toward the biasing direction (direction in which a spring load is applied) of the plate spring portion 52. A hook 53 is formed.

  The leaf spring unit 6 is disposed outside the side surface of the slider 1 provided with the side recesses 13 and 15, and is roughly divided into a spring holding plate 61, a leaf spring portion 62, and a spring hooking portion 63. It is configured.

  The leaf spring unit 6 is disposed so that the principal surface of the spring holding plate 61 having a rectangular plate shape is in parallel with the principal surface of the slider 1, and has a through hole 64 penetrating the principal surface. The leaf spring unit 6 can be fixed to the front case 202 by inserting a pin provided in the front case 202 (FIG. 1) into the through hole 64 and thermally welding the protruding portion of the pin.

  The leaf spring unit 62 of the leaf spring unit 6 is bent vertically from one side of the spring holding plate 61, and an elongated plate body 621 provided so as to extend along the one side is 1 on the side opposite to the spring holding plate 51. A spring having a shape that is folded back and bent so that the tip of the plate body 621 opposite to the spring holding plate 61 side protrudes toward the biasing direction (direction in which a spring load is applied) of the plate spring portion 62. A hook 63 is formed.

  Since the leaf spring units 5 and 6 described above have the spring holding plates 51 and 61, respectively, the leaf spring units 5 and 6 can be easily attached to the front case 202. The leaf spring units 5 and 6 are made of a metal material such as a spring alloy.

  Here, in FIG. 5, as a detailed view of the region “X” indicating the side depression 14, a state in which the spring engaging portion 53 of the leaf spring unit 5 is engaged with the side depression 14 is schematically illustrated.

  As shown in the detailed view of the region “X”, the spring hooking portion 53 is biased so as to be pressed against the side surface of the slider 1. The same applies to the spring hooking portion 63 of the leaf spring unit 6. When the camera cover 21 is changed from the open state to the closed state, the user pushes the camera cover 21 with a finger and slides it to the side recesses 14 and 15. When the spring hooks 53 and 63 are engaged, the user feels a click feeling due to the spring load of the leaf springs 52 and 62, and can confirm that the camera cover 21 is securely closed. . Further, since the bent portions of the spring hook portions 53 and 63 are locked by the steps of the side recesses 14 and 15, the sliding operation of the camera cover 21 is restricted, and the camera cover 21 is inadvertently opened. Can be prevented.

  When the camera cover 21 is changed from the closed state to the open state, the user pushes and slides the camera cover 21 with a finger, removes the spring-loaded portions 53 and 63 engaged with the side recesses 14 and 15, and By engaging the spring engaging portions 53 and 63 with the recesses 12 and 13, the user feels a click by the spring load of the leaf spring portions 52 and 62, and the camera cover 21 is reliably opened. Can be confirmed. Further, since the bent portions of the spring hook portions 53 and 63 are locked by the steps of the side recesses 12 and 13, the sliding operation of the camera cover 21 is restricted, and the camera cover 21 is inadvertently closed. Can be prevented.

  The spring load applied to the slider 1 is set as a total value of the spring loads of both the leaf spring units 5 and 6, and the total value is about 2N (Newton).

  Here, FIGS. 7A and 7B show a side view and a plan view of the leaf spring unit 5, respectively. As can be seen from the side view and the plan view, the plate body 521 is integrated with the spring holding plate 51, and the rigidity is determined by the width, thickness and material of the plate body 521, and the spring load can be adjusted by the folding state of the plate body 521.

<B. Characteristic effects>
As described above, in the portable information terminal device 100, the leaf spring units 5 and 6 are disposed outside the both side surfaces in the width direction of the slider 1 on which the camera cover 21 is mounted and slides. Since the camera cover mechanism for restricting the sliding movement of the camera cover 21 by applying a spring load in the width direction is provided, the spring hook portions 53 of the leaf spring units 5 and 6 and the side recesses 14 and 15 of the slider 1 are provided. By engaging 63, the user can feel a click feeling due to the spring load of the leaf springs 52 and 62, and it can be confirmed that the camera cover 21 is reliably opened and closed.

  In addition, since a leaf spring is used to obtain a spring load that regulates the sliding operation of the camera cover 21, it is structurally strong and not only provides durability against repeated opening and closing operations, but the camera cover 21 is not prepared. It is easy to obtain a spring load (for example, 2N) that does not become an open state or a closed state.

  Further, by providing a plurality of spring load supply sources like the leaf spring units 5 and 6, not only can the spring load be provided to the slider 1 in a well-balanced manner, but also the thickness of the leaf spring portions 52 and 62, respectively. In addition, the width and length can be reduced.

  Moreover, the thickness of the portable information terminal device 100 can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the sliding motion of the slider is regulated by applying a spring load in a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the slider.

  Here, for comparison, a configuration in which a spring load is applied in a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the slider will be described using a portable information terminal device 90 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view along the sliding direction of the camera cover 70 in the portable information terminal device 90 with the camera cover 70 closed, and shows a camera cover mechanism and a case 91 of the portable information terminal device 90. Are shown.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the portable information terminal device 90 has a configuration in which a slider 72 has a camera cover 70 mounted thereon, and a storage portion 93 that stores a leaf spring 80 is disposed on the back surface side of the slider 72. . The storage portion 93 is a part of the case 91, and the leaf spring 80 is fixed to the bottom surface 931 of the storage portion 93.

  The plate spring 80 has a shape in which the elongated plate 81 is folded once, and is a spring-loaded portion 82 that is bent so that one end portion of the plate 81 protrudes toward the slider 72 side. The other end of the plate 81 is fixed to the bottom surface 931 of the storage portion 93.

  In such a configuration, in order to open the camera cover 70, the user slides the camera cover 70 with his / her finger, and a spring is applied to the stepped portion formed by the tip 721 of the slider 72 and the camera cover 70. The part 82 is engaged, and the camera cover 21 is confirmed to be opened by the click feeling obtained at that time.

  As described above, in the portable information terminal device 90, by applying a spring load in a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the slider 72, a click feeling is obtained and the sliding operation of the camera cover 70 is restricted.

  When such a configuration is adopted, a storage portion 93 for storing the leaf spring 80 is required, and the spring hooking portion 82 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the main surface of the slider 72. Space is required, and as a result, the thickness of the portable information terminal device 90 is increased.

  Here, the thickness required for the camera cover mechanism in the portable information terminal device 90 is defined by the distance from the lower surface of the slider 72 to the lower surface of the storage portion 93, and the distance is T2.

  On the other hand, as shown in the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 4, the thickness required for the camera cover mechanism in the portable information terminal device 100 is determined from the lower surface of the slider 1 to the spring holding plates 51 and 6 of the leaf spring units 5 and 6. It is defined by the distance to the lower surface of 61, and the distance is T1.

  In FIGS. 4 and 8, the slider thickness and the leaf spring are shown as having almost no difference. From FIGS. 4 and 8, the distance T1 is clearly shorter between the distances T1 and T2. It can be seen that the thickness required for the camera cover mechanism in the portable information terminal device 100 may be thinner than that of the portable information terminal device 90.

Note that the difference between the distances T1 and T2 between the actually manufactured portable information terminal devices 100 and 90 is 0.85 mm.

  In recent mobile phones with cameras that are becoming thinner, the thickness of the camera cover mechanism can be reduced by 1 mm. The fact that the camera cover mechanism can be reduced by 0.85 mm greatly contributes to the reduction in thickness of the entire device. .

<C. Modification>
In the portable information terminal device 100 described above, the leaf spring units 5 and 6 have the spring holding plates 51 and 61, respectively. However, the spring holding plates 51 and 61 are fixed to the leaf spring units 5 and 6. As long as it can be fixed without providing the spring holding plates 51 and 61, the spring holding plates 51 and 61 may be omitted.

  For example, a method of bonding the end portions of the leaf spring portions 52 and 62 opposite to the respective spring hooking portions 53 and 63 to the front case 202 or heat welding, or inserting them into slits or the like provided in the front case 202 It is also possible to adopt a configuration of fixing with

  Further, as a further simplified structure, a structure in which a spring hooking portion is provided at one end portion of a linear plate body without folding the plate body and the plate body is bent to such a degree that a predetermined spring load is obtained. It can also be taken. In this case, the end opposite to the end provided with the spring hooking portion may be fixed by a method such as bonding to the front case 202, thermal welding, or insertion into a slit or the like provided in the front case 202. .

  Further, the portable information terminal device 100 is provided with side depressions 12, 13, 14, 15 (grooves) for giving a click feeling to the camera cover mechanism (lens cover), and the spring engagement corresponding to the leaf spring units 5, 6. Although the portions 53 and 63 (protruding portions) are provided, even if a protruding portion for providing a click feeling is provided in the camera cover mechanism (lens cover) and a corresponding groove is provided in the leaf spring unit (elastic member), Similar effects can be obtained.

It is a top view which shows the external appearance of the portable information terminal device of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a top view explaining the structure of the camera cover mechanism of the portable information terminal device of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a top view explaining the structure of the camera cover mechanism of the portable information terminal device of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing explaining the structure of the camera cover mechanism of the portable information terminal device of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a top view explaining the structure of the slider and leaf | plate spring unit of the portable information terminal device of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a top view explaining the structure of the slider and leaf | plate spring unit of the portable information terminal device of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a top view explaining the structure of the leaf | plate spring unit of the portable information terminal device of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing explaining the structure of the camera cover mechanism which applies a spring load to the direction perpendicular | vertical with respect to the main surface of a slider.

Explanation of symbols

5,6 Leaf spring unit, 12, 13, 14, 15 Side recess, 20 Key side case, 21 Camera cover, 22 Slide groove, 51, 61 Spring holding plate, 52, 62 Leaf spring part, 53, 63 Spring hook part , CL lens, 201 Rear case.

Claims (6)

A lens housing housing with the lens exposed on the surface,
The lens housing case is laminated in the optical axis direction of the lens, is slidably engaged with the lens housing case, and the lens is covered and the lens is exposed according to the slide. And a lens cover in which a groove or a protrusion is formed on a wall surface that extends along the slide direction and extends in the optical axis direction,
An elastic member having a protrusion or groove that fits into the groove or protrusion of the lens cover;
A lens cover structure characterized by elastically deforming in accordance with the slide, so that the protrusion or groove of the elastic member is detached from the groove or protrusion of the lens cover. The groove or protrusion of the lens cover is
Each provided on the opposite wall surfaces of the lens cover,
The lens cover structure according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is disposed on each wall surface. The groove or protrusion of the lens cover provided on each wall surface,
The lens cover structure according to claim 2, wherein the lens cover structures are arranged at the same position in the sliding direction. The elastic member is
2. The lens cover structure according to claim 1, wherein the lens cover structure is a leaf spring made of metal. The leaf spring is
5. The lens cover structure according to claim 4, further comprising a folded portion between an attachment position to the lens housing case and the projecting portion or the groove. The lens cover structure
The lens cover structure according to claim 1, wherein the lens cover structure is mounted on a portable device.

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