JP2000310809A - Stroboscopic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact stroboscopic device whose load by the deformation of an electric conductive member is small when a strobe light emitting part is moved by plural rotary shafts. SOLUTION: This device is equipped with the strobe light emitting part constituted by housing a xenon discharge tube 12 or the like in a stroboscopic housing 1, a supporting member 3 supporting the strobe light emitting part by the rotary shafts 4 and 5 on either end side and supported by the rotary shafts 2a and 6 on the other end side turnably with respect to a stroboscopic partitioning member 2, a lift lever 8 moving the strobe light emitting part to a light emission feasible position and a housing position, a lead wire 7 which supplies electricity to the discharge tube 12 or the like and which is arranged to pass near the rotary shafts 4 and 5 and 2a and 6, whereby its operation at the time of rotation is nearly the same as the member 3, and a rubber tube 9 protecting the wire 1 in a watertight state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a strobe device, and more particularly, to a strobe device capable of moving a strobe light emitting portion between a light emitting position and a storage position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, among cameras that take photographs using a roll-shaped photosensitive film or the like, small cameras with improved portability have become popular. Such a small camera generally has a built-in strobe device for emitting a flash as auxiliary illumination light at the time of shooting.

There are two types of strobe devices built into the camera: one that is fixed to the camera body and one that changes the position of the strobe light-emitting unit between use and storage.

When taking a photograph using a camera having a built-in strobe device in which the position of a strobe light emitting portion is variable,
For example, when the main power switch is turned on, the strobe light emitting unit moves to a light-emitted position protruding from the camera body, and when light emission is required, light is emitted in response to operation of a release button, and the main power switch is turned off. Thus, the strobe light emitting unit is moved to a storage position where it is stored in the camera body.

[0005] In such a strobe device, the strobe light emitting portion is movable to connect an electric circuit such as a xenon tube built in the strobe light emitting portion to an electric circuit board in the camera body. In consideration of this, it is common to use a lead wire or a flexible printed board.

As an example to which such a strobe device is applied, for example, a camera with a built-in strobe described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-166620 has an opening provided below a strobe light-emitting portion and a camera body facing the opening. An opening is provided at the position of the upper lid, and a lead wire or a flexible printed circuit board is wired from the strobe light emitting unit into the camera body so as to penetrate these openings.

Another example is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-2304.
No. 63 discloses a structure in which a hinge axis, which is a rotation axis of a strobe light emitting unit also serving as a lens cover, is attached to a camera body via a hinge axis fixing member, and the hinge axis is formed in a tubular shape. A hole is formed in a part of the side peripheral surface, and a lead wire connected from an electric circuit in the camera body is guided into the hinge shaft through the hole, and further, a lead wire is opened from the open end of the hinge shaft. A camera is described in which the light is guided to an electric circuit in a strobe light emitting section.

[0008]

However, in the apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-166620, the mechanism for moving the strobe light emitting unit involves rotation of two or more axes such as a link mechanism. In such a case, expansion and contraction such as slack or tension of the lead wire occurs, and it is necessary to secure a space for accommodating the slack, or resistance and load to the drive mechanism are increased due to the expansion and contraction of the lead wire. There was a problem that it would increase. Further, with the configuration described in this publication, it is also difficult to ensure waterproofness of the strobe light emitting section.

Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-230463 does not describe any mechanism involving rotation of two or more axes, and does not consider such a case. Further, in the configuration described in this publication, it is difficult to reduce the size of the device when the number of lead wires is large or when a flexible printed board is used, It was difficult to suppress the deformation and displacement of the substrate.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a small-sized strobe device having a small load due to deformation of an electric conduction member in a strobe device having a strobe light-emitting portion moved by a plurality of rotating shafts. It is intended to be.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a strobe device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a strobe light emitting unit, a strobe light emitting unit supported by a rotating shaft at one end, and a strobe light at the other end. An arm member that is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft to move the strobe light emitting unit between a light emitting position and a storage position, and supplies electricity to the strobe light emitting unit; And an electric conduction member disposed so as to pass through or near the rotation shafts on the side and the other end.

Further, a strobe device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes:
In the strobe device according to the first aspect, an opening is provided in the strobe light emitting portion near the center of the rotation shaft on the one end side, and an opening is formed in a housing near the center of the rotation shaft on the other end side. A cylindrical elastic member that connects these openings to each other in a hollow manner is provided, and the electric conductive member is disposed inside the elastic member.

Further, in the strobe device according to the third invention, in the strobe device according to the first or second invention, the electric conduction member comprises a plurality of leads, and these leads are substantially parallel to each other. It is wired to.

A strobe device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the strobe device according to the first to third aspects, wherein the electric conductive member is a flexible printed circuit board.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a strobe unit applied to a camera, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the strobe unit when the strobe light-emitting unit is at a light-emitted position.

First, the structure of the flash unit will be described with reference to FIG.

In this strobe unit, a strobe housing member 1 serving as a housing of a strobe light emitting portion is supported by a support member 3 as an arm member so as to be movable, and a strobe partition member 2 fixed to a camera body. It is configured to be stored in.

The above-mentioned strobe light emitting section is provided with a xenon (Xe) discharge tube 12 which emits light by supplying a predetermined voltage.
A reflector 11 for reflecting light emitted by the xenon discharge tube 12 toward a subject, and a discharge tube fixing member (not shown) for fixing the xenon discharge tube 12 in the reflector 11; A light-emitting window member 13 that allows the emitted light to pass outside while making the illumination light uniform.
And a strobe housing 1 for accommodating each of these members.

The strobe housing 1 has a plurality of bearing holes 1a projecting downward from one end of the lower surface thereof.
The shafts 5 and 4 are coaxially inserted into these bearing holes 1a in common with the holes 3f and 3g formed at one end of the support member 3, whereby the strobe housing 1 is rotated. It is supported so that it can move freely.

One end of the shaft 5 is engaged with, for example, a cam hole 2e formed in the wall of the strobe partition member 2, and the strobe housing 1 is moved by the cam hole 2e. You will be guided.

The shaft 4 is adapted to pass through a coil spring 10 as an urging means at the time of attachment. One end of the coil spring 10 is hung on the strobe housing 1 and the other end is hung on the support member 3. I have. Thus, the strobe housing 1 is
It is biased in the direction of being stored in the camera body.

The support member 3 is formed by integrally connecting a pair of long plates 3a, 3b arranged in parallel with each other by a connecting portion 3c. One end of one long plate 3a is provided with the hole 3f. The other long plate 3b is provided with a hole 3g, and the other end is provided with a hole 3e.

The hole 3d of the support member 3 is adapted to be engaged with a shaft 2a implanted on the inner wall surface of the strobe partition member 2, and the other hole 3e is connected to the strobe partition member 2. The shaft 6 penetrates through a pair of bearing holes 2b projecting from the inner bottom surface of the shaft, and the shafts 2a and 6 are coaxially arranged. This allows
The support member 3 is rotatable with respect to the flash partition member 2.

The shaft 6 further passes through a hole 8a formed substantially at the center of the lift lever 8 at a position between the pair of bearing holes 2b. The lift lever 8 is also rotatable coaxially with the support member 3.

The lift lever 8 moves the flash housing 1 to a position where light can be emitted by contacting the outer wall 1c on the bottom side of the flash housing 1 with the one arm portion 8b serving as a point of action. It has become. The other arm portion 8c of the lift lever 8 projects below the strobe partition member 2 through a hole 2c formed between the pair of bearing hole portions 2b. The driving force from a driving motor (not shown) on the camera body side is transmitted to the other arm 8c. The hole 2c is covered with a rubber member or the like (not shown) in a watertight manner.

On the bottom side of the strobe housing 1, a hole 1b is formed at a position almost directly above the axis center of the shafts 5 and 4, while the bottom side of the strobe partition member 2 is formed. Is provided with a hole 2d at a position substantially directly below the axis center of the shaft 2a and the shaft 6.

One end 9a of a flexible tube-shaped rubber tube 9 is water-tightly bonded to the hole 1b, and the other end 9b of the rubber tube 9 is water-tightly bonded to the hole 2d. Accordingly, the holes 1b and 2d are connected to each other so as to be hollow.

Xenon discharge tube 1 in strobe housing 1
The two lead wires 7 are connected to the reflector 2 and the reflector 11, and these lead wires 7 are led to the outside of the strobe housing 1 through the hole 1b, and further, the rubber tube 9 is connected thereto. After passing through the inside of the camera, the light is guided into the camera body through the hole 2d of the strobe partition member 2.

Thus, the lead wire 7 electrically connects each electric member in the strobe housing 1 to a strobe circuit board (not shown) on the camera body side.

The three lead wires 7 are connected to each other while preventing the twist or the like from occurring in the rubber tube 9 and minimizing the total diameter of the three wires. It is wired so as to be parallel.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the operation of the camera having the above-configured strobe unit when the strobe light-emitting portion enters and exits the camera body will be described.

First, the general operation is as follows. That is, when the main power switch (not shown) of the camera is operated to turn on the power to the main circuit board of the camera, the strobe light emitting portion protrudes from the camera body in response to the power supply, and the light emission is enabled as shown in FIG. It moves to the position, and becomes a state where light emission can be performed.

On the other hand, when the power of the main circuit board of the camera is cut off by turning off the main power switch, the strobe light emitting unit is received in response to this, as shown in FIG.
It moves to a storage position where it is stored in the camera body as shown in FIG.

First, a description will be given of a case where the strobe light emitting unit moves from the storage position shown in FIG. 2 to the light emitting position shown in FIG.

When the main power switch of the camera is off, the strobe housing 1 is in the storage position as shown in FIG.

In the state shown in FIG. 2, when the operation of turning on the main power switch of the camera is performed, the power is turned on to the main circuit board of the camera, and the driving motor is driven in response thereto.

The driving force of the driving motor is transmitted to the other arm 8c of the lift lever 8 via a driving force switching transmission mechanism (not shown).

As a result, the lift lever 8 rotates clockwise in FIG. 2 around the shaft 6 as a rotation center.

Then, one arm 8b of the lift lever 8
Abuts against the outer wall 1c on the bottom side of the flash housing 1 and pushes up against the urging force of the coil spring 10.

As a result, the strobe housing 1 moves to a light emitting position protruding from the camera body as shown in FIG.

During the movement to the light emission enabling position, the lead wire 7 and the rubber tube 9 covering the lead wire 7 are deformed so that the operation in the rotation direction becomes similar to that of the support member 3.
This is because, as described above, the hole 1b and the hole 2d where bending is possible are configured to be substantially directly above and substantially below the center of rotation of both ends of the support member 3 as described above. .

Next, a description will be given of a case where the strobe light-emitting unit moves from the light-emitting position shown in FIG. 3 to the storage position shown in FIG.

In the state shown in FIG. 3, when the main power switch of the camera is turned off, the drive motor is driven in response thereto, and the lift lever 8 is driven via the drive force switching transmission mechanism. The driving force is transmitted to the other arm 8c side.

The lift lever 8 maintains the contact state between the one arm portion 8b and the outer wall portion 1c on the bottom surface side of the strobe housing 1, and the shaft 6 is rotated about the rotation center by the urging force of the coil spring 10. 3 in the counterclockwise direction of FIG.

As a result, the flash housing 1 is moved to a storage position where it is stored in the camera body as shown in FIG.

During the movement to the storage position, the lead wire 7 and the rubber tube 9 covering the lead wire 7
It is deformed so that the operation in the rotation direction is similar to that of the support member 3.

In the above description, an example is described in which the lead wire 7 is used as an electric conduction member for conducting the camera body and the strobe light emitting portion. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be used as a member.

According to the first embodiment, since the lead wire and the rubber tube are configured to perform the same rotation operation as the support member, the operation when the strobe light emitting unit enters and exits the camera body is performed. As a result, it is possible to minimize the deformation of the lead wire and the rubber tube due to the slackness and the tightness, and to reduce the resistance and the load on the drive motor.

Further, since it is not necessary to secure a space for accommodating slack when the lead wire 7 or the rubber tube 9 is moved, it is possible to reduce the size of the strobe device and the camera. Further, since a plurality of lead wires are wired in parallel with each other, further space saving can be achieved.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially enlarged perspective view including a partial cross section showing a connecting portion between a shaft support portion and a shaft of a strobe housing. In the second embodiment, a description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different points will be mainly described.

In the second embodiment, the rotary shaft is hollow and the lead wire 7 is inserted therein.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a box-shaped shaft support 21 is protruded from the bottom of the strobe housing, and a cylindrical shaft 22 having a hollow inside is provided on the shaft support 21. Are connected so that each inside can communicate with each other. Also,
A hole 22a is formed in a part of the side peripheral surface of the shaft 22.

Then, the lead wire 7 is wired so as to be drawn out of the strobe housing, through the inside of the shaft support 21 and the inside of the shaft 22, and through the hole 22 a of the shaft 22.

Although not shown, one end of the same rubber tube as described above is water-tightly bonded to the hole 22a, and the lead wire 7 is inserted through the rubber tube.

Although not shown, a similar configuration may be adopted on the side of the strobe partition member, and the lead wire 7 may be wired.

According to the second embodiment, substantially the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, and is a partially enlarged perspective view including a partial cross section showing a connecting portion between a shaft support portion and a shaft of a strobe housing. In the third embodiment, description of the same parts as those in the first and second embodiments will be omitted, and only different points will be mainly described.

In the third embodiment, the support member is hollow, and the lead wire 7 is inserted through the hollow.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a box-shaped shaft support 25 is projected from the bottom surface of the strobe housing, and a cylindrical shaft 25a having a hollow inside is provided on the shaft support 25. Are connected so that each inside can communicate with each other.

On the other hand, the support member 26, which is an arm member for rotatably supporting the strobe housing, is similarly formed so that the inside is hollow, and a hole 26a is formed in one side surface.
The shaft 25a is connected to the shaft 25a so that the insides communicate with each other.

As a result, the inside of the shaft support 25 and the inside of the support member 26 communicate with each other via the inside of the shaft 25a.

Then, the lead wire 7 is wired so as to be drawn out of the strobe housing to the inside of the support member 26 via the inside of the shaft support 25 and the inside of the shaft 25a.

Although not shown, the other end of the support member 26 may be similarly constructed and wired so that the lead wire 7 is drawn out of the support member 26 toward the camera body. good.

According to the third embodiment, almost the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained, and a rubber tube or the like is not required. Can be reduced.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Appendix] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration can be obtained.

(1) The strobe light-emitting portion is supported by a rotating shaft on one end side, and the strobe-light emitting portion is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft on the other end side. An arm member that is movable to a light emitting position and a storage position, and supplies electricity to the strobe light emitting unit, and is disposed so as to pass through or near the rotation shafts at the one end and the other end. An electronically conductive member.

(2) The rotating shaft on one end side is formed to be hollow, communicates with the inside of the strobe light emitting section, and the electric conduction member is inserted through the inside of the rotating shaft. The strobe device according to supplementary note (1).

(3) The rotation shaft on the other end is formed in a hollow shape, communicates with the inside of the camera body, and the electric conduction member is inserted through the inside of the rotation shaft. The strobe device according to (1).

(4) The arm member is formed to be hollow and communicates with at least one of the one end rotation shaft and the other end rotation shaft so that the electric conduction member is inserted through the inside of the arm member. The strobe device according to appendix (2) or (3), wherein:

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, in a strobe device having a strobe light emitting portion which is moved by a plurality of rotation shafts, a small strobe device with a small load due to deformation of an electric conduction member is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a strobe unit applied to a camera in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the strobe unit when the strobe light emitting unit is at a storage position in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the strobe unit when the strobe light-emitting unit is at a position where light can be emitted in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view including a partial cross section showing a connecting portion between a shaft support portion and a shaft of a strobe housing according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view including a partial cross section showing a connecting portion between a shaft support portion and a shaft of a strobe housing according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Strobe housing 1a, 2b ... Bearing hole part 1b, 2c, 2d ... Hole 2 ... Strobe partition member 2a, 4, 5, 6, 22, 25a ... Shaft (rotating shaft) 3, 26 ... Support member (arm member) 7) Lead wire 8 ... Lift lever 9 ... Rubber tube 21, 25 ... Shaft support

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A strobe light emitting portion, and the strobe light emitting portion is supported by a rotating shaft on one end side and is rotatably supported by the rotating shaft on the other end side, so that the strobe light emitting portion emits light. An arm member that is movable between a possible position and a storage position, and supplies electricity to the strobe light emitting unit, and is disposed so as to pass through or near the rotation shaft on the one end side and the other end side. An electronic device, comprising: a strobe device; 2. An opening is provided in the strobe light emitting portion near the center of the rotation shaft on the one end side, and an opening is provided in a housing near the center of the rotation shaft on the other end side. The strobe device according to claim 1, wherein a cylindrical elastic member that connects the portions to each other is disposed, and the electric conductive member is disposed inside the elastic member. 3. The strobe device according to claim 1, wherein the electric conductive member includes a plurality of lead wires, and the lead wires are wired so as to be substantially parallel to each other. 4. The electric conduction member according to claim 1, wherein the electric conduction member is a flexible printed circuit board.
The strobe device according to item 1.