JP2001042400A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To arrange the dialing part of a dial switch and the key top of a release switch, etc., in a narrow space in a localized state in a camera outer case which is formed by applying drawing on a metallic plate, and also, to attain the reduction of the number of parts and the reduction of a cost. SOLUTION: Supporting parts 62 and 64 for supporting the dialing part 55 of a mode dial and the key top 57 of the release switch arranged at the center of the dial switch are integrally molded with an inner mold 60 arranged at the inside of the outer case which is formed by applying the drawing on the metallic plate. Thus, the dialing part 55, etc., can be arranged in the narrower space in the localized state, and also, the reduction of the number of parts, the miniaturization of the camera and the reduction of the cost are attained as compared with such the case that the supporting part for the dialing part 55, etc., is specially installed.

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 in which various switches are intensively installed on a camera having an outer case formed by drawing a metal plate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a camera in which a release switch is provided at the center of a dial for setting information for changing the photographing information of the camera (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-10511).
No. 9, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-31374, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
-197930).

Also, a metal plate such as an aluminum plate is drawn to form an outer case of the camera, so that the camera has a touch unique to metal, a high-grade feel, and a strength against impacts and scratches. There is.

In this type of outer case, a rib or a boss for fixing the inner member cannot be formed, and therefore, an inner mold for fixing the inner member is adhered inside the outer case.

[0005]

However, in any of the conventional cameras in which a release switch is provided at the center of a dial for setting information, the outer case is not a metal case in which a metal plate is drawn.

On the other hand, in the case of a metal case, the dial or the like cannot be mounted on the outer case. In this case, the whole assembly such as a dial is mounted on the inner mold by screws or the like. However, there is a problem that the cost increases and the size increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and a dial portion of a dial switch, a key top of a release switch, and the like are provided in a narrow space in an outer case of a camera formed by drawing a metal plate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera which can be intensively arranged, and which can reduce the number of parts, reduce the size of the camera, and reduce the cost.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application provides an outer case formed by drawing a metal plate and being provided inside the outer case, In a camera having an inner mold for fixing an internal member, a support portion for supporting a dial portion of a donut-shaped dial switch and a key top of a release switch arranged at the center of the dial switch is formed on the inner mold. It is characterized by being integrally molded.

That is, the key top of the release switch is arranged at the center of the dial portion of the dial switch so that the release switch can be arranged in a narrow space, and the support portion supporting the dial portion and the key top is integrally formed with the inner mold. This makes it possible to reduce the number of components, the size of the camera, and the cost as compared with the case where a support portion is separately provided.

Further, as set forth in claim 2 of the present application, the power switch operating member is provided near the same surface as the surface on which the dial portion of the dial switch and the key top of the release switch are provided. . Further, as set forth in claim 3 of the present application, a support portion for supporting the operating member of the power switch is formed integrally with the inner mold.

[0011] As set forth in claim 4 of the present application, the outer case includes a front case and a rear case, and a part of the inner mold is exposed at the joint of the upper surfaces of the front case and the rear case. Features. As a result, even if there is a step in the joint between the front case and the rear case due to a processing error or the like, or if there is a slight difference in color, gloss, or the like, it can be made inconspicuous.

As set forth in claim 5 of the present application, a power switch operating member is disposed on the exposed inner mold.

The upper surface of the camera has an inclined surface on the right side and a horizontal surface on the left side as viewed from the back side of the camera, as shown in claim 6 of the present application, and the dial portion of the dial switch, the key top of the release switch and the power An operation member of the switch is arranged on the inclined surface. That is, the dial portion of the dial switch, the key top of the release switch, and the operating members of the power switch are arranged intensively on the inclined surface on the right side as viewed from the rear side of the camera, and can be operated with the index finger of the right hand. .

As set forth in claim 7 of the present application, the dial portion of the dial switch, the key top of the release switch, and the operating member of the power switch are located at positions operable with the right forefinger of the right hand while holding the camera with the right hand. It is characterized by being arranged. The camera is an electronic camera having at least a plurality of modes including a photographing mode and a playback mode, and the dial switch is a mode dial for switching between the plurality of modes.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the camera according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 3 are a front view, a rear view, and a top view, respectively, showing the appearance of the camera according to the present invention.

As shown in these drawings, this camera is an electronic camera, and an outer case (front case 10, rear case 30) is formed by drawing a metal plate such as aluminum to form an oxide film or the like. Surface treatment.

As shown in FIG. 1, a photographing lens 12, a finder window 14, and a strobe light control sensor 1
6. Self-timer lamp 18, and strobe light emission window 2
0 is provided. Reference numeral 22 denotes a concave portion for holding a finger when the camera is gripped, and a convex portion (not shown) made of rubber or the like is provided in a part of the concave portion.

On the other hand, on the back of the camera, as shown in FIG. 2, a finder eyepiece 32, a finder lamp 34, a liquid crystal display panel 36, a strobe key 38, a macro key 40, a cancel / return key 42, a shift key 44, and a display key 4
6, a menu / execute key 48, a cross key 50, and a liquid crystal monitor 52 are provided.

A mode dial 54, a release switch 56, and a power switch 58 are provided on the upper surface of the camera as shown in FIG. The mode dial 54 selectively switches among various modes such as a self-timer shooting mode, a setup mode, a manual shooting mode, a normal (auto) shooting mode, a playback mode, and a personal computer (PC) mode in accordance with the rotation position. Dial switch.

Next, the mounting structure of the mode dial 54, the release switch 56 and the power switch 58 provided on the upper surface of the camera will be described.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting structure of the mode dial 54, the release switch 56, and the power switch 58.

As shown in the figure, an inner mold 60 for fixing an internal member (not shown) of a camera is adhered to the inside of an outer case made of drawn metal by an adhesive or a double-sided tape. Have been. The inner mold 60 is made of, for example, ABS resin (Acrylonitrile-buta).
diene-strene resin) is formed into a predetermined shape by injection molding.

The inner mold 60 includes a dial portion 55 of a donut-shaped mode dial 54, a key top 57 of a release switch 56, and a power switch 5.
Support members 62, 64, and 66, which respectively support the operation member (slide knob) 59 of FIG.

A cylindrical shaft 62A is integrally formed with the support portion 62 of the inner mold 60.
A leaf spring 70 having click hemispheres 70A, 70A is inserted into 2A and is non-rotatably supported by stoppers 62B, 62B. The dial portion 55 is placed so as to be supported by the cylindrical shaft 62A with the leaf spring 70 interposed therebetween.

On the lower surface of the dial portion 55, a support portion 6 is provided.
2, two pins 55A, 55A inserted into the two arc-shaped grooves 62C, 62C are formed to protrude. A brush 72A is attached to these two pins 55A, 55A.
The ring member 72 for retaining which is provided with the screw 74,
74 fixed. The two pins 55A, 55
A slides in the two grooves 62C, 62C and regulates the rotation range of the dial portion 55.

A plurality of grooves (not shown) are formed at a predetermined pitch on the lower surface of the dial portion 55 so as to be engaged with a hemisphere 70A for clicking. The click operation is performed by the hemisphere 70A falling into the groove according to the moving angle.

On the other hand, the support portion 64 of the inner mold 60
, The key top 57 is attached with the coil spring 76 interposed therebetween. That is, the key top 57 includes three claw portions 57A, 5
7A, 57A and a key stem (not shown) are integrally formed of resin, and are mounted by press-fitting the claw portion 57A into a hole 64A formed in the support portion 64.
After the key top 57 is mounted on the support portion 64, the key top 57 is urged upward by the coil spring 76, but is not detached by the claw 57A. The key stem is provided with a hole 6 formed in the support portion 64.
4B.

Further, the support portion 66 of the inner mold 60
The slide knob 59 of the power switch 58 is shown in FIG.
It is mounted movably on the left and right.

In the mode dial 54, the brush 72A slides on a code plate (not shown) in accordance with the rotation of the dial portion 55, thereby outputting a mode selection signal corresponding to the rotation position of the mode dial 54. I do. A release switch 56 outputs a release signal by operating a switch contact (not shown) by a key stem in response to a pressing operation of a key top 57. Similarly, a power switch 58 is a switch (not shown) in response to movement of a slide knob 59. Operate the contacts to turn on / off the camera power.

As shown in FIG. 3, a part 60A of the inner mold 60 (see FIG. 4) is exposed at the joint between the front case 10 and the rear case 30 and the upper surface. The switch 58 is disposed at the exposed portion. As a result, due to a processing error between the front case 10 and the rear case 30, there is a step in the joint between the two,
Even if there is a slight difference in color, gloss, etc., it can be made inconspicuous.

Next, the relationship between the mode dial 54, the release switch 56, the power switch 58 and the mounting position (mounting surface) of the camera will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the power switch 58 includes a mode dial 54 and a release switch 5.
6 is provided in the vicinity of the same surface as the surface on which 6 is provided.
That is, the upper surface of the camera has a right inclined surface 31A and a left horizontal surface 31B when viewed from the back side of the camera, and the mode dial 54, the release switch 56, and the power switch 58 are respectively provided with the right inclined surface. Surface 31A
Is placed on top.

The reason why the mode dial 54, the release switch 56, and the power switch 58 are concentrated on the right inclined surface 31A is that all switches on the upper surface of the camera are operated with the right index finger while holding the camera with the right hand. This is to make it possible. The operability of the switch with the index finger is improved by tilting the upper surface on the right side from the back side of the camera.

Also, as shown in FIG.
The mode dial 54 is arranged so as to be inclined such that the upper surface of the mode dial 54 has a predetermined angle α (about 10 ° in this embodiment) with respect to the inclined surface 31A to which the surface 4 is attached. Thereby, the mode dial 5
A part of the entire circumference of 4 is projected from the inclined surface 31A so that the mode dial 54 can be operated.

Next, the dial section 5 of the mode dial 54
The shape and the like of No. 5 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
The edge formed between the upper surface and the side surface of the dial 5 is chamfered (the edge is cut off), and as shown in FIG. A large chamfer is formed at the ridge of the angle range B excluding the angle range A of the entire circumference.

The large chamfered portion of the dial portion 55 has a knurling 55B for finger holding as shown in FIG.
And a projection 55C are formed, and a decorative knurl 55D is formed in the small chamfered portion.

The rotation range of the dial section 55 is within the angle range A, and the mode dial 54 is
5, the self-timer shooting mode, the setup mode, the manual shooting mode, the normal (auto) shooting mode, the playback mode, and the PC
Switch to one of the modes.

Further, on the upper surface of the dial portion 55 along the chamfered portion (decorative knurling 55D) having a small angle range A, symbols or characters indicating the mode are printed for each rotation position for selecting each mode. (See FIGS. 3 and 6).

That is, by reducing the chamfered portion of the dial portion 55 in the angle range A, a large area of the upper surface of the dial portion 55 in the angle range A is ensured, and symbols, characters, and the like indicating each mode are provided in this portion. Large prints are available.

On the other hand, by increasing the chamfered portion of the dial portion 55 in the angle range B, the contact area of the finger at the time of operating the dial portion 55 is increased, and the protrusion amount of the projection 55C is increased to improve operability. Is being planned.

In this embodiment, the electronic camera has been described, but the present invention can be applied to a silver halide camera. Further, the present invention is not limited to a mode dial for selecting various modes, and can be applied to a dial switch for setting photographing information such as a shutter speed, an aperture value, and an exposure correction value of a camera.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, the inner mold attached to the outer case of the camera formed by drawing a metal plate is provided with a dial portion of a donut-shaped dial switch, and Since the support part that supports the key top of the release switch arranged at the center of the dial switch is integrally molded, the dial part of the dial switch and the key top of the release switch can be intensively arranged in a narrow space,
Reduction in the number of parts compared to the case where the support portion is separately provided,
The size and cost of the camera can be reduced.

An operation member of the power switch is provided near the same surface as the surface on which the dial portion of the dial switch and the key top of the release switch are provided. Each of the switch operating members can be operated, and a series of switch operations is excellent in quick shooting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a mounting structure of a mode dial, a release switch, and a power switch of the camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the camera according to the present invention as viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the upper surface of the camera according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 front case, 30 rear case, 31A inclined surface, 3
1B: horizontal surface, 54: mode dial, 55: dial part, 55B: knurl for finger hooking, 55C: projection
55D: decorative knurl, 56: release switch, 57: key top, 58: power switch, 59 ...
Operating member (slide knob), 60: inner mold, 62, 64, 66: support, 70: leaf spring, 72:
Ring member, 74 ... screw

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A camera having an outer case formed by drawing a metal plate and being formed, and an inner mold disposed inside the outer case for fixing an inner member, wherein a donut-shaped dial switch is provided. A camera, wherein a support portion for supporting a dial portion and a key top of a release switch disposed at the center of the dial switch is integrally formed with the inner mold. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein an operation member of a power switch is provided near a surface on which a dial portion of the dial switch and a key top of the release switch are provided. 3. The camera according to claim 2, wherein a supporting portion for supporting an operation member of the power switch is integrally formed with the inner mold. 4. The outer case includes a front case and a rear case, and a part of the inner mold is exposed at a joint between upper surfaces of the front case and the rear case. 2 or 3 cameras. 5. The camera according to claim 4, wherein an operation member of a power switch is disposed on the exposed inner mold. 6. An upper surface of the camera has an inclined surface on the right side and a horizontal surface on the left side as viewed from the rear side of the camera, and a dial portion of the dial switch, a key top of a release switch, and an operation member of a power switch are arranged on the inclined surface. 6. The camera according to claim 2, wherein the camera is arranged on a surface. 7. The operation of a dial portion of the dial switch, a key top of a release switch, and an operation member of a power switch, respectively, is arranged at a position operable by an index finger of a right hand in a state where the camera is gripped by a right hand. 7. The camera according to claim 2, 3, 5, or 6. 8. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera is an electronic camera having at least a plurality of modes including a shooting mode and a playback mode, and the dial switch is a mode dial for switching between the plurality of modes. The described camera.