JP2000347270A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate operation for turning on/off a power source and releasing a shutter. SOLUTION: On the right side of the upper surface of the camera, a slide guide groove 11 and a slide guide hole 12 are formed on the housing 10a of the camera, and an on/off and shutter release button 1 is provided. When the button 1 is pushed leftward, the button 1 slides leftward with the groove 11 and the hole 12 as a guide. A transmission member 25 is provided on the left side of the button 1 in the housing 10a, and it is pushed down by a pressing member 1c integrally provided on the button 1. By pushing down a power source switch 9 provided just under the member 25, the power source of the camera is turned on or off. When the button 1 is pressed downward at an initial position, a shutter release switch 8 provided just under the button 1 is pushed down, and image data is recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly, to a camera capable of easily performing a power on / off operation and a shutter release operation.

[0002]

[Background] Digital still cameras and other cameras
A power switch and a shutter release switch are provided. Operating the power switch turns the camera on or off. When the shutter release switch is turned on, an image representing a subject image is optically recorded on a film, or image data is recorded on a memory card or the like.

In such a conventional camera, the components of the power switch and the components of the shutter release switch are independent from each other. Generally, since the power switch and the shutter release switch are provided at different positions, the operator switches the camera or uses different fingers (for example, thumb and forefinger) to operate the power switch and to release the shutter.・ It is necessary to operate the release switch.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a camera which can relatively easily perform a power-on operation, a shutter release operation, and a power-off operation.

[0005] A camera according to the present invention comprises an elongated hole formed on the upper surface of a housing, a shutter release button, and a vertically movable shutter release button with its upper surface protruding from the elongated hole. A first holding member for holding the shutter release button, a second holding member for holding the shutter release button movably along the long hole, and a shutter release which is turned on in response to a depression of the shutter release button. A switch and a power switch that is turned on in response to movement of the shutter release button along the elongated hole.

According to the present invention, a long hole (for example, extending in the lateral direction) is formed in the upper surface of the housing. A shutter release button protrudes from this long hole. The shutter release button is movable up and down within the elongated hole, and is movable along (the longitudinal direction of) the elongated hole.

When the shutter release button is moved laterally along the long hole, the power switch is turned on.
Pressing down the shutter release button turns on the shutter release switch. When the shutter release button is moved again along the long hole, the power switch is turned off. Therefore, the shutter release
By changing the direction of the force applied to the button (the movement of the operator's finger), three commands can be given to the camera: power on the camera, release the shutter, and power off the camera. The operator can perform the operations of turning on the camera, releasing the shutter, and turning off the power with one finger.

[0008]

An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a digital still camera will be described below. FIG. 1 shows the back of a digital still camera. In this embodiment, the vertical and horizontal directions will be described with reference to a digital still camera viewed from the rear side.

The digital still camera 10 has a housing 10a having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape.

The digital still camera 10 is turned on / off.
Off shutter release button 1, optical view finder 31, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
2 is included. The on / off shutter release button 1 is located on the right side of the upper surface of the housing 10a, the optical view finder 31 is located on the upper left of the back of the housing 10a, and the LCD 2 is located on the lower left of the back of the housing 10a. . The on / off shutter release button 1 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the housing 10a.

The on / off shutter release button 1 is used to give three commands to the digital still camera 10: power on, shutter release, and power off.

As will be described later, an on / off shutter
When the release button 1 is slid leftward, the power of the digital still camera 10 is turned on or off. On the LCD 2 of the digital still camera 10 whose power is turned on, a subject image picked up by an image pickup unit (not shown) including a CCD provided in front of the digital still camera 10 is displayed. The same image (subject) as the image displayed on the LCD 2 is also visible from the optical view finder 31.

When the on / off shutter release button 1 is depressed, image data representing the subject image displayed on the LCD 2 is recorded on a memory card (not shown).

FIGS. 2A and 2B are enlarged views of the upper right portion of the digital still camera 10 shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2A is a plan view thereof, and FIG. A) is a partial cross-sectional view along the line IIB-IIB. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the length in the left-right direction is emphasized more than the actual one for convenience of drawing and easy understanding. This means that
The same applies to other figures showing the digital still camera 10 (FIGS. 3, 4, and 5A and 5B).

The on / off shutter release button 1 includes a head 1a, a columnar column member 1b extending downward from the center of the lower surface of the head 1a, and a pushing member extending leftward from the middle of the column member 1b. 1c.

The head 1a of the on / off shutter release button 1 is circular when viewed from above (see FIG. 2A). The left part of the upper surface of the head 1a of the on / off shutter release button 1 is formed higher than the right part, and forms a curve that smoothly curves upward from right to left. (See FIG. 2B). on/
On the head 1a of the off shutter release button 1,
A downward force and a lateral force (from right to left) are applied by the right index finger of the operator of the digital still camera 10. Due to the shape of the head 1a, the on / off shutter release button 1 is easy to press downward and to the left.

Push member 1 provided laterally on the middle of pillar member 1b of on / off shutter release button 1
On the upper side of c, the on / off shutter release
A stopper member 22 for preventing the button 1 from coming off the housing 10a is fixed to the column member 1b.

A compression coil spring 3 is passed through the column member 1b below the pressing member 1c. Below the pressing member 1c and above the compression coil spring 3, the column member 1b
, A spring fixing member 21 is further fixed. The upper end of the compression coil spring 3 is fixed to the lower surface of the spring fixing member 21. The compression force of the compression coil spring 3 is a spring fixing member.
On / Off shutter release button 1 through 21
Is transmitted to

Further, a spring fixing member 23 is fixed to the column member 1b of the on / off shutter release button 1 on the side opposite to the portion where the pressing member 1c is formed. A spring fixing member 24 is fixed to the inner surface of the housing 10a facing the spring fixing member 23. Spring fixing member 2
Both ends of the tension coil spring 4 are fixed to 3 and 24, respectively.

The housing 10a of the digital still camera 10
A substrate 30 is provided therein. A spring guide 7 is provided on the substrate 30 to guide the lower surface of the on / off shutter release button 1 and the lower end of the compression coil spring 3 when the on / off shutter release button 1 is slid. ing. The lower end of the compression coil spring 3 wound around the column member 1b rides on the upper surface of the spring guide 7.

The upper end of the compression coil spring 3 presses the spring fixing member 21 upward. Thereby, the head 1a of the on / off shutter release button 1 is
It is positioned at the initial position while projecting upward from 10a.

A hole 7a is formed in a portion of the spring guide 7 provided on the substrate 30 immediately below the on / off shutter release button 1. The diameter of the hole 7a is slightly larger than the diameter d2 of the column member 1b of the on / off shutter release button 1. A shutter release switch 8 for shutter release is provided on the upper surface of the substrate 30 where the hole 7a is formed so as to face the lower surface of the on / off shutter release button 1. .

The housing 10a of the digital still camera 10
A slide guide groove 11 is formed to extend in the left-right direction on the upper surface on the right side. Further, a slide guide hole 12 penetrating into the housing 10a is provided at a central portion of the slide guide groove 11.
Is extended in the left-right direction.

The upper portion of the column member 1b of the on / off shutter release button 1 is fitted along the right end surface of the slide guide hole 12 formed on the upper surface of the housing 10a.

The width d1 of the slide guide hole 12 in the slide guide groove 11 is determined by the on / off shutter release release
It is slightly larger than the diameter d2 of the column member 1b of the button 1. Therefore, the on / off shutter release button 1 can be slid to the left using the upper surface of the slide guide groove 11 and the slide guide hole 12 as guides.

A transmission member 25 is provided on the left side of the on / off shutter release button 1.

On the upper part of the transmission member 25, two symmetrical substantially rectangular slopes 25a are formed. Transmission member
The lower part of 25 is roughly columnar (square columnar).

A compression coil spring 5 is passed through the lower columnar portion 25b of the transmission member 25. Further, a spring fixing member 26 is fixed to the columnar portion 25b of the transmission member 25. The upper end of the compression coil spring 5 is fixed to the lower surface of the spring fixing member 26.

The columnar portion of the transmission member 25 on the substrate 30
A frame 27 is provided so as to surround the periphery of 25b. A spring support member 28 is provided on the inner surface of the frame 27 over the entire circumference thereof.
Are provided so as to face inward. Spring support member 28
The space (hole) surrounded by is the columnar part of the transmission member 25
Slightly larger than 25b. Through this hole, the columnar portion 25b of the transmission member 25 can be lowered. The lower end of the compression coil spring 5 is fixed to the upper surface of the spring support member 28.

Since the compression coil spring 5 pushes the spring fixing member 26 provided on the transmission member 25 upward, the lower surface of the transmission member 25 to which no force is applied downward is spaced apart from the upper surface of the substrate 30. It is positioned at the initial position. At this time, the slope 25a of the transmission member 25 is located at a height corresponding to the height position where the pressing member 1c of the on / off shutter release button 1 is provided.

The digital camera is mounted on the upper surface of the substrate 30 located directly below the transmitting member 25 so as to face the lower surface of the transmitting member 25.
A power switch 9 for turning on / off the power of the still camera 10 is provided.

Hereinafter, each operation of turning on the power of the digital still camera 10, shutter release, and power off will be described.

FIG. 3 shows an on / off shutter release.
FIG. 4B shows a state in which the button 1 is slid leftward, and is a partial sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2B. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the on / off shutter release button is pressed down. A partial cross-sectional view corresponding to 2 (B) is shown.

(1) Power ON The ON / OFF shutter release button 1 is pressed to the left by the index finger of the operator's right hand to turn on / off the shutter release button.
The lower surface of the head 1a of the shutter release button 1 is a housing
The column member 1b of the on / off shutter release button 1 slides leftward along the side surface of the slide guide hole 12 along the upper surface of the slide guide groove 11 of 10a. In the housing 10a, the lower surface of the on / off shutter release button 1 and the lower end of the compression coil spring 3 are connected to each other.
The upper surface of the spring guide 7 is slid leftward.

When the on / off shutter release button 1 slides to the left, the tension coil spring 4 between the column member 1b and the inner surface of the housing 10a gradually expands, and the on / off shutter release button 1 is released. A pulling force acts to pull right.

When the on / off shutter release button 1 is further slid to the left against the tensile force of the tension coil spring 4, the tip of the pushing member 1c is moved to the position of the on / off shutter release button 1. It contacts the slope 25a of the transmission member 25 arranged on the left side.

Further, on / off shutter release
When the button 1 is pressed to the left by the index finger of the operator's right hand, the pressing member 1c in contact with the slope 25a of the transmission member 25 pushes the slope 25a of the transmission member 25 leftward. When the slope 25a of the transmission member 25 is pushed leftward, the entire transmission member 25 is lowered, and the tip of the pushing member 1c gradually slides obliquely upward on the slope 25a of the transmission member 25. The spring fixing member 26 fixed to the transmission member 25 also moves down together with the transmission member 25. The compression coil spring 5 is contracted.

When the transmission member 25 moves downward, the transmission member
The power switch 9 provided below the transmission member 25 is pressed down by the lower surface of the transmission member 25. A signal indicating that the power switch 9 has been pressed is given to a CPU (not shown). Digital still camera with power off
Power is supplied to each circuit of the digital still camera 10 from a power supply circuit (not shown) of the digital still camera 10.
The power of the camera 10 is turned on.

When pressing the on / off shutter release button 1 to the left is stopped (when the hand is released from the on / off shutter release button 1), the on / off shutter release button 1 is released.
The shutter release button 1 slides rightward by the tensile force of the tension coil spring 4, and moves to the initial position (FIG. 2).
(The positions shown in (A) and (B)). Further, since the force for pushing the transmission member 25 downward is released, the transmission member 25 is pushed upward by the compression coil spring 5. The transmission member 25 returns to the original position (initial position: the position shown in FIG. 2B).

(2) Shutter release When the on / off shutter release button 1 is in the initial position on the right side of the digital still camera 10 (the state shown in FIG. 2B), the on / off release is performed. A lower surface of the shutter release button 1 and a hole 7a formed in the spring guide 7 face each other. When the on / off shutter release button 1 is pressed down, the whole of the on / off shutter release button 1 moves downward along the side surface of the slide guide hole 12. On / off shutter
The spring fixing member 21 is lowered together with the release button 1, and the compression coil spring 3 is contracted.

When the on / off shutter release button 1 is lowered, the lower end of the on / off shutter release button 1 enters a hole 7a formed in the spring guide 7, and the shutter release is made by the lower surface. -The switch 8 is depressed. The shutter release switch 8 is turned on, and a signal indicating that the shutter release switch 8 is depressed is given to a CPU (not shown). Imaging data representing a subject image is recorded on a memory card (not shown).

When the depression of the on / off shutter release button 1 is stopped (when the hand is released from the on / off shutter release button 1), the spring fixing member 21 is pushed up by the compression coil spring 3, and the on / off shutter release button 1 is turned on. The / off shutter release button 1 is moved upward. on/
The off shutter release button 1 is in the initial position (Fig. 2
(Positions shown in (A) and (B)).

(3) Power-off The operation of turning off the power of the digital still camera 10 is the same as the operation of turning on the power of the digital still camera 10 described above. When the on / off shutter release button 1 is pressed to the left while the power of the digital still camera 10 is on, the power switch 9 is pushed down by the lower surface of the transmission member 25 (see FIG. 3). Power supply from a power supply circuit (not shown) is stopped. The power of the digital still camera 10 is turned off.

In the above embodiment, the on / off shutter
Although the power is turned on or off by sliding the release button 1 to the left, the digital still camera 10 is slid to the right.
The digital still camera may have a structure for turning on or off the power of the digital still camera.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a modification of the digital still camera 10 shown in FIGS.
1 shows a digital still camera whose power is turned on or off by sliding an on / off shutter release button 1 to the right. 5A is an enlarged plan view corresponding to FIG. 2A, and FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2B. The point where the initial state of the on / off shutter release button 1 is on the left side of the digital still camera 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the on / off shutter release for turning on / off the power. -Except that the sliding direction of the button 1 is rightward, the pushing member 1c protrudes rightward, and the shape of a member (indicated by reference numeral 24A) for fixing one end of the compression coil spring 4 is different. The members constituting the digital still camera shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B are the same as those shown in FIGS. The same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

When the on / off shutter release button 1 is pushed rightward (pulled right with the index finger of the operator's right hand), the on / off shutter release button 1 slides rightward. The slope 25a of the transmission member 25 is pushed rightward by the pushing member 1c projecting rightward, and the transmission member 25 is lowered. When the power switch 9 is pressed down by the lower surface of the transmission member 25, the power of the digital still camera is turned on or off.

In the embodiment described above, the on / off shutter release button 1 is provided on the upper surface of the digital still camera 10, but it is not limited to the upper surface, and the front and rear surfaces of the digital still camera can be used. Or, it goes without saying that it may be provided on the side surface. In the same manner as when provided on the upper surface, the operations of power on, shutter release, and power off are performed by the movement of the on / off shutter release button 1 in two different directions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a digital still camera.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the upper right portion of the digital still camera, where (A) is a plan view and (B) is a IIB− of (A).
FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view along the line IIB.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2B of the digital still camera showing a state where an on / off shutter release button is slid.

FIG. 4 is a digital still camera showing a state where an on / off shutter release button is pressed down.
It is sectional drawing corresponding to (B).

5A and 5B show a modified example of the digital still camera, wherein FIG. 5A is a plan view of the upper right portion of the digital still camera, and FIG. 5B is a partial cross-section along the line VB-VB of FIG. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ON / OFF shutter release button 8 Shutter release switch 9 Power switch 3,5 Compression coil spring 4 Tension coil spring 11 Slide guide groove 12 Slide guide hole 25 Transmission member

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A long hole and a shutter release button formed on an upper surface of a housing, and a shutter release button which is vertically movable and holds the shutter release button with the upper surface protruding from the long hole. A holding member, a second holding member for holding the shutter release button movably along the elongated hole, a shutter release switch turned on in response to depression of the shutter release button, and The shutter release along the slot
A camera equipped with a power switch that is turned on when a button is moved.