JP2001109045A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera which is constituted so that a lens barrier can be precisely moved without arranging a dedicated operation member such as an opening and closing lever and the setting space of an operation member is eliminated and whose operability is excellent. SOLUTION: This camera is provided with a photographing lens 2 arranged at a camera main body 1, the lens barrier 40 arranged so that it can be moved between a position where the lens 2 is protected and a position where the lens 2 is exposed and an operation ring 5 executing operation for instructing the operating conditions of the camera and the moving operation of the barrier 40.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera provided with a lens barrier for protecting a taking lens.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Many cameras have a lens barrier for protecting a front surface of a photographing lens. Of these, a camera in which a lens barrier is provided inside the camera body requires an operation member for operating the lens barrier from outside the camera body. For example, there is an operation member in which an opening / closing lever is provided on a front surface of a camera body.

[0003]

Generally, a camera is required to have many functions. Therefore, if an attempt is made to reduce the size of the camera body while maintaining these multi-functions, the size of the operation member of the lens barrier and the arrangement position thereof are limited. Therefore, if the operation member of the lens barrier is made smaller in accordance with the miniaturization of the camera body, or if it is also used as a button for setting other operation functions, the usability deteriorates.

It is an object of the present invention to accurately move a lens barrier without providing a dedicated operating member such as an opening / closing lever.
An object of the present invention is to provide a camera which can reduce a setting space of an operation member and additionally has excellent operability.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, a camera according to the present invention is configured as follows.

(1) A camera according to the present invention comprises: a photographing lens provided in a camera body; a lens barrier movably provided between a position for protecting the photographing lens and a position for exposing the photographing lens; An operation member for performing an operation for instructing a condition and a movement operation of the lens barrier is provided.

(2) The camera of the present invention according to (1), wherein the operation member is formed in a ring shape including the photographing lens, and is formed on a front surface of the camera body. The camera is mounted so as to be rotatable and instructs operating conditions of the camera according to the rotating position, and is provided so as to move the lens barrier between a position for protecting the photographing lens and a position for exposing the lens. Features.

(3) The camera according to the present invention is the camera according to the above (1), wherein the lens barrier is urged by a biasing member in one of a direction in which the photographing lens is protected and a direction in which the photographic lens is exposed. And a moving force in a direction opposite to the biasing direction is provided through a cam portion provided on the operation member.

(4) The camera according to the present invention is the camera according to (1), wherein the lens barrier simultaneously protects or exposes the photographing lens and an incident portion of an optical finder. And

(5) The camera according to the above (1), wherein the operating condition of the camera indicated by the position of the operation member is an initial condition when the lens barrier is opened. The position is characterized in that the exposure condition at the time of shooting is set to automatic exposure.

(6) The camera according to the present invention is the camera according to (1), wherein the operation condition of the camera is an exposure mode.

[0012]

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The electronic camera includes a photographing lens 2 provided on a front surface of a camera body 1, a bending optical system 3 for guiding light incident from the photographing lens 2 to an inner bottom of the camera body 1, and an electronic camera disposed on the inner bottom of the camera body 1. For example, a CCD (solid-state image sensor) or the like.

An operation ring 5 is provided in front of the taking lens 2. The operation ring 5 is rotated so that operating conditions at the time of photographing, for example, automatic exposure,
This is for selecting and instructing shutter speed priority, aperture priority, manual, and the like, and is provided rotatably in the direction of arrow A about the optical axis of the photographing lens 2.

An optical viewfinder 6 for observing a subject in photographing is provided at a position immediately adjacent to the photographing lens 2. The optical finder 6 has a finder optical system 7 different from the taking lens 2 and the bending optical system 3 for photographing.

At an obliquely upper end of the camera main body 1, that is, at a right end in the upper part of the camera main body 1 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the strobe light emitting unit 8 is of a pop-up type which is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 9 in the direction of arrow B with respect to the camera body 1. That is, when the strobe is used, the light-emitting portion stands up and faces forward, and when the strobe is not used, it falls down to take an integrated shape with the camera body 1.
Thus, when the strobe is not used, the strobe light emitting section 8 is housed in a state of being integrated with the camera body 1, and does not increase the height of the camera body 1.

Referring back to FIG. The above strobe light emitting section 8
Is provided at the diagonally upper end of the camera body 1 because the strobe light emitting unit 8 is kept away from the photographing lens 2 as much as possible so that a so-called red-eye phenomenon in which a photographed person's eyes become red is not generated. This is because the strobe light emitting section 8 is provided at a position higher than the photographing lens 2 and the subject is illuminated from above so that the photographed subject image can be taken naturally.

On the upper surface of the camera body 1, a release 10 and a mode display LCD (liquid crystal display) 11 are provided. The mode display LCD 11 displays operating conditions for photographing,
That is, the automatic exposure, shutter speed priority, aperture priority, manual, and the like selected by the operation ring 5 are displayed.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the internal structure of the electronic camera as viewed from the front of the camera, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line QQ in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a photographing lens entrance opening 12 as a lighting part of the photographing lens 2 is formed substantially at the upper center of the front of the camera body 1, and an optical viewfinder 6 is provided adjacent to the photographing lens entrance opening 12. A finder entrance opening 13 is formed as a lighting part.

The bending optical system 3 optically connected to the taking lens 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, a front lens frame 20 which is a photographing lens frame is provided in an upper area of the camera body 1, and the photographing lens 2 is provided in the frame.
Is supported. An operation ring 5 is rotatably provided on the outer periphery of the frame of the front lens frame 20.

On the optical axis (hereinafter, referred to as the first optical axis) 21 of the photographing lens 2, a bending mirror 24, which is a reflecting member by a mirror frame 22 and a supporting member 23, is provided on the first optical axis 2.
1 is supported at an angle of 45 °. The bending mirror 24 refracts light incident along the first optical axis 21 at a right angle and guides the light to the image pickup device 4 provided at the bottom of the camera body 1.

A lens 26, a mechanical shutter 27, a diaphragm 28, a lens 29, an LPF (low-pass filter) 30, an IR cut, and the like are provided on an optical axis (hereinafter, referred to as a second optical axis) 25 bent by the bending mirror 24. The filter 31 and the image pickup device 4 are sequentially arranged, and are supported in the rear lens frame 32, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3, a lens barrier 40 is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 41 between the taking lens 2 and the optical finder 6. This lens barrier 4
0, as shown in the partial configuration diagram of the lens barrier 40 in FIG. 5, the photographic lens 2 is rotated at two different angular positions by rotating about the rotation axis 41 in the direction of arrow C.
And the optical finder 6 can be simultaneously covered or exposed.

That is, the lens barrier 40 is formed of a plate-like member, and has a large-diameter disk portion 42 covering the front surface of the photographing lens 2, ie, the photographing lens entrance opening 12, and a small-diameter circle covering the finder entrance opening 13 of the optical finder 6. A plate portion 43;
A connecting portion 44 connecting the two disk portions 42 and 43
The connecting portion 44 is supported by the rotating shaft 41. The large-diameter disk portion 42 has an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the photographing lens 2, and the small-diameter disk portion 43 has an outer diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the optical finder 6. .
The lens barrier 40 responds to a rotation operation of the operation ring 5 provided on the front surface of the camera body 1.

FIG. 6 shows the connection between the operation ring 5 and the lens barrier 40. The operation ring 5 is used to select and instruct the operating conditions at the time of photographing, such as automatic exposure, shutter speed priority, aperture priority, and manual, as described above. It has a function to open and close the device.

A ring-shaped ridge 51 is formed on one side surface of the operation ring 5 along the outer periphery. The inner rim of the ridge 51 has automatic exposure, shutter speed priority, Grooves 45a to 45e for positioning the aperture priority, manual, and closed states are formed. These grooves 4
When the click ball 47 invades the groove of any one of 5a to 45e via the spring 46, automatic exposure, shutter speed priority, aperture priority, manual or closed state can be selectively set. I have.

The operation ring 5 has been described as selecting and setting, for example, an automatic exposure, a shutter speed priority, an aperture priority, a manual or a closed state as operating conditions at the time of photographing, but has the following functions. It may be a thing. In other words, when the camera mode setting is assigned, a selection instruction function such as a shooting mode, a playback mode “1” for normally playing back one frame, and a playback mode “2” for special playback such as zooming or multi-playing is exhibited. However, when the setting of the focus mode is assigned, a function of instructing selection such as auto focus, manual focus, and macro may be exhibited.

A cam portion 48 is formed on the operation ring 5. The cam portion 48 has an engaging element formed of an inclined portion 52, a concave portion 53, and a locking portion 54 formed on a part of the inner peripheral surface of the ridge portion 51.

The lens barrier 40 is provided with a cam pin 49. The cam pin 49 is always pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the ridge portion 51 by the urging force of the urging spring 50 composed of, for example, a helical spring. It is something to do. The biasing spring 50 is formed, for example, by connecting the other end of a helical spring having one end wound around the rotating shaft 41 to the cam pin 49.
, The lens barrier 40 is urged in a direction to rotate in the direction of arrow D.

Next, the turning operation of the lens barrier 40 in response to the turning operation of the operation ring 5 will be described. FIG.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an interlocking state between the operation ring 5 and the lens barrier 40.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the first state (open state). The photographing condition is set to automatic exposure by operating the operation ring 5, and the lens barrier 40 controls both the photographing lens 2 and the optical viewfinder 6. "Open state" to be exposed
Is set to

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the second state. That is, the operation ring 5 is rotated in the direction of arrow E from the first state, and the click ball 47 is moved from the automatic exposure setting groove 45a.
Is released, an operation for retracting the imaging lens 2 into the camera body 1 is started. At this time, the lens barrier 4
The zero cam pin 49 is in contact with a flat portion on the inner peripheral surface of the ridge 51 of the operation ring 5. Therefore, the lens barrier 40 does not rotate yet. A mechanism for moving the imaging lens 2 into the camera body 1 will be described later.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the third state. That is, when the operation ring 5 is further rotated as shown in FIG. 9 and the cam pin 49 of the lens barrier 40 reaches a position short of the inclined portion 52 of the cam portion 48 of the operation ring 5, the lens barrier 40 waits for the start of the closing operation. State.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a fourth state (closed state). That is, the operation ring 5 is further rotated as shown in FIG. 10, the click ball 47 is recessed in the closing setting groove 45e, and the cam pin 4 of the lens barrier 40 is moved.
When the lens 9 is recessed into the concave portion 53 of the cam portion 48 of the operation ring 5, the lens barrier 40 is rotated clockwise by about 90 ° in FIG. 10 by the urging force of the urging spring 50. As a result, both the photographing lens 2 and the optical finder 6 are simultaneously covered by the lens barrier 40. That is, the large-diameter disk portion 42 covers the taking lens entrance opening 12, and the small-diameter disk portion 43 covers the finder entrance opening 13.

FIG. 11 is a structural view showing a mechanism for moving in and out of the imaging lens 2, and FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the mechanism for moving in and out. The mirror frame 60 has a shape in which a mirror frame support 61 formed of a U-shaped protrusion and support edges 62a and 62b formed on both sides of the mirror frame support 61 are integrated. The mirror frame support 61 is provided with a cylindrical frame 63, and the front mirror frame 20 described above is slidably fitted in the cylindrical frame 63 in the direction of the first optical axis 21. The cylindrical frame 63 and the front mirror frame 20 are connected to the first optical axis 2.
1 is provided.

An autofocus drive motor (hereinafter abbreviated as AF drive motor) 64 is provided on the support edge 62a. A lead screw 65 connected to a drive shaft of the AF drive motor 64 is connected to the first optical axis 21 by a lead screw 65. Are provided in parallel to Further, guide shafts 66 and 67 are provided on the supporting edge portions 62a and 62b, respectively, in parallel with the first optical axis 21.

A bearing 68 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the front lens frame 20.
Is provided. The bearing 68 has a concave portion 69 for absorbing contact with the lens barrier 40 and a guide support 70. Of these, two opposing walls of the recess 69 have through holes 71 and 72 into which the lead screw 65 is inserted.
Are formed, and a through hole 73 into which the guide shaft 66 is inserted is formed in the guide support portion 70.

When the lead screw 65 is inserted into the through holes 71 and 72, the nut 7 serving as a moving force transmitting portion is inserted into the lead screw 65 in the contact absorbing recess 69.
4. The spring 75 and the holding pin 76 are connected.

On the surface of the wall of the bearing 68 located on the front side of the camera body 1, a cam 77 for contacting the lens barrier 40 and receiving a pressing force is provided. The cam portion 77 is formed in a tapered shape so as to gradually increase in thickness along a direction in which the lens barrier 40 rotates so as to cover both the photographing lens 2 and the optical finder 6 at the same time.

If necessary, an interference reducing means such as rubber may be interposed between the tapered cam portion 77 and the lens barrier 40 in contact with the cam portion 77, for example.

A bearing sleeve 78 is inserted into the through hole 73 of the guide support 70, and the guide shaft 66 is inserted into the sleeve 78.

A support 80 having a cutout 79 is provided at a position on the outer peripheral surface of the front lens frame 20 opposite to the bearing 68. The other guide shaft 67 is engaged with the cutout portion 79 of the support portion 80.

The mechanism for retracting / extending the imaging lens 2 configured as described above has first and second moving means. The first moving means (64, 65, 74) controls the AF drive motor 6 in an autofocus operation at the time of photographing when a photographing condition such as automatic exposure or a close is selected.
By driving the lead screw 4, the lead screw 65 is rotated, the nut 74 screwed to the lead screw 65 is moved in the optical axis direction, and the front lens frame 20 supporting the photographing lens 2 via the bearing 68 is moved in the direction of arrow E. This is a means for feeding out or moving in. Also, the second moving means (68, 6
9, 74, 75, 76, 77) are lead screws 65 inserted in the contact absorbing recesses 69 of the bearing 68.
When the lens barrier 40 is moved to the closed position by the nut 74, the spring 75, and the pressing pin 76, and the pressing force is applied to the cam portion 77, the urging force of the spring 75 is applied to the front lens frame 20. This is a means for applying a pressing force in the evacuation direction against the lens to prevent interference between the lens barrier 40 and the front lens frame 20 (see FIGS. 11 and 12).

The lens barrier 4 by the second moving means
The interference prevention function of No. 0 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 13A shows, for example, the position of the photographic lens 2 when the subject is located at an infinitely distant position, that is, the position of the bearing unit 68 under the photographic conditions of automatic exposure. At this time, the bearing portion 68 is located at a position retracted (leftward in the drawing) from the position H at which the lens barrier 40 rotates.

FIG. 13B shows the position of the photographic lens 2 when the subject is at the closest position, that is, the position of the bearing unit 68, for example, under the photographic conditions of automatic exposure. At this time, the bearing portion 68 is at a position extended forward (to the right in the drawing) from a position H at which the lens barrier 40 rotates.

Here, for example, the photographing lens 2 is
When the closing operation is selected and the operation ring 5 is rotated in a predetermined direction at the position as shown in FIG. 2B, the system computer 156 described later usually makes the operation angle of the operation ring 5 flexible. Prior to the detection by the substrate 100 and before the lens barrier 40 passes through the front surface of the front lens frame 20, the rotation of the AF drive motor 64 is moved so that the front lens frame 20 is retracted to the front frame infinity position (FIG. 13A). Control.
Therefore, the lens barrier 40 does not contact.

Next, a description will be given of an extreme operation in which the operation ring 5 is rapidly turned, instead of an operation by a normal operation of the operation ring 5.

There is a case where the rotation of the lens barrier 40 to the predetermined position is faster than the rotation of the lead screw 65 by the driving of the AF drive motor 64 and the retraction operation of the front lens frame 20. In such a case, FIG.
The lens barrier 40 comes into contact with the cam portion 77 as shown in FIG.

As described above, the lens barrier 40 is connected to the cam 77
When a pressing force is applied to the cam portion 77 by contact with the
The spring 7 is attached to the front lens frame 20 by the action of the nut 74, the spring 75 and the holding pin 76 fitted in the lead screw 65 inserted in the contact absorbing recess 69 of FIG.
A pressing force in the retracting direction is applied against the urging force of No. 5 to prevent interference between the lens barrier 40 and the front lens frame 20.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13D, the front lens frame 20 is retracted behind the lens barrier 40 with the rotation of the AF drive motor 64.

FIG. 14 shows that the front lens frame 20 supporting the photographing lens 2 is retracted into the camera body 1 and the lens barrier 4
0 indicates a state in which both the photographing lens 2 and the optical finder 6 are protected at the same time, that is, a power-off state. Reference numeral 81 denotes a photographing lens unit that houses the bending optical system 3.

FIG. 15 shows a specific assembly configuration of the lens barrier mechanism. An operation ring 5 is provided on the front frame 90 of the housing on the front side of the camera body 1 so as to protrude forward from the front frame 90 of the housing. On the outer circumference of the operation ring 5, positioning grooves 45a to 45e into which the click balls 47 are fitted are formed, and the cam portions 4 are formed.
8 are formed. Also, on the outer periphery of the operation ring 5,
A brush 91 for generating selection detection signals of automatic exposure, shutter speed priority, aperture priority, manual or closed state by the rotation operation of the operation ring 5 is formed.

The operation ring 5 is combined with a fixed frame 92. The fixed frame 92 is provided with a holding recess 93 for holding the spring 46 and the click ball 47, and also provided with support plates 94 and 95 for mounting the fixed frame 92 inside the front frame 90 of the housing. ing.
These support plates 94 and 95 are tightened into screw mounting holes of bosses 98 and 99 formed on the front frame 90 of the housing by mounting screws 96 and 97.

The operation ring 5 in the fixed frame 92
The flexible substrate 100 is attached to a portion corresponding to the formation portion of the brush 91. The flexible substrate 100 is in electrical contact with the brush 91 of the operation ring 5, and outputs selection detection signals of automatic exposure, shutter speed priority, aperture priority, manual or closed state selected by rotating the operation ring 5. It can be taken out.

The fixed frame 92 is provided with a rotating shaft 41 that is inserted into the hole 101 of the lens barrier 40 and supports the lens barrier 40 in a rotating manner. The lens barrier 40 is rotatably provided in front of the photographing lens 2 and the optical viewfinder 6, and has an “open position” that exposes both the photographing lens 2 and the optical viewfinder 6 at the same time, and a “closed” that protects both at the same time. Position ".

FIG. 16 is an assembly configuration diagram of the finder optical system 7. The mirror frame 60 includes a finder base 110.
Are fastened by the fastening screws 111 and 112.
The finder base 110 is formed by integrally forming a plate-like portion 110a for fastening to the mirror frame 60 and a mounting base 110b for attaching the finder optical system 7.

On the finder base 110, the finder optical system 7 is rotatably supported by rotating pins 113 and 114 and an eccentric pin 115 formed flat. The rotation pins 113 and 114 are respectively fitted in the rotation grooves 116 and 117 of the finder optical system 7, and the eccentric pin 115 passes through an elliptical hole 118 provided in the finder optical system 7.
0 support hole 119.

Accordingly, the finder optical system 7 is provided integrally with the mirror frame 60 via the finder base 110, and is fitted into the respective rotation grooves 116 and 117 by rotating the eccentric pin 115. Centering on the rotating pins 113 and 114,
Is rotated in a rotational direction θ (hereinafter, referred to as a θ direction) about an axis parallel to a first optical axis (Z-axis) passing through.

The reason why the finder optical system 7 is rotatably supported in the θ direction is as follows. In the manufacturing process of the electronic camera, it is necessary to adjust the positional shift between the subject image observed through the finder optical system 7 and the subject image formed on the image sensor 4 through the bending optical system 3 from the photographing lens 2. There is. Adjustment operations in the XY and θ directions are performed to adjust the positional deviation.

The shift in the X and Y directions can be absorbed in the viewfinder field as long as there is no shift exceeding a predetermined shift amount since the viewfinder optical system 7 has a viewfinder field ratio (about 80 to 90%). It is.

On the other hand, a shift in the θ direction causes a rotation difference between the subject image observed through the finder optical system 7 and the subject image formed on the image sensor 4 even if the shift amount is small, Even if the subject is captured by the finder optical system 7 at a desired viewing angle, the actually captured subject image is inclined. Therefore, the finder optical system 7
The adjustment of the positional deviation in the θ direction is always necessary. In the present embodiment, the configuration can be easily adjusted only by rotating the eccentric pin 115.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are perspective views showing the configuration of the finder optical system 7. FIG. This viewfinder optical system 7
As shown in FIG. 17, the upper case 120 and the lower case 121 are combined and hermetically sealed. Inside the upper case 120 and the lower case 121, an incident lens 122, a triangular prism 123, a prism 124, and the like as shown in FIG. The lens 125 and the diopter adjusting lens 126 are housed with their optical axes adjusted. Lens 126 for diopter adjustment
Is movable in the direction indicated by the arrow G on the finder optical axis 127.

Accordingly, the observation image is formed by the finder optical axis 12.
7, that is, proceeding in the Z-axis direction, passing through the lens 122,
The prism 12 is reflected by the triangular prism 123 in the X-axis direction.
4, is reflected in the Y direction in the prism 124, is reflected again in the X-axis direction,
The light is reflected in the axial direction and sent to the diopter adjusting lens 126.

Next, the internal layout of the camera body 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 19, and 20.
The front lens frame 20 supporting the taking lens 2 has an upper end shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the camera body 1 is provided close to and almost at the same height as the upper surface of the camera body 1. That is, the front mirror frame 2
0 is provided so as to be close to the upper surface of the camera body 1. In other words, the height of the camera body 1 is designed so as to be determined by the optical path length of the bending optical system 3 housed in the photographing lens unit 81 shown in FIG. A front mirror frame 20 is provided at a position corresponding to the shaft 21.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a layout inside the camera when the camera body 1 is viewed from above. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a layout inside the camera when the camera body 1 is viewed from the front. As shown in FIG. 19, a photographing lens unit 81 is provided substantially at the center of the camera body 1. The front lens frame 20 and the lens barrier 40 are provided in front of the photographing lens unit 81 (lower in the figure). FIG. 19 shows a state at the time of photographing,
The lens barrier 40 includes the taking lens 2 and the optical viewfinder 6.
Are moved to the open position where both are exposed, and the front lens frame 20 is extended from the camera body 1.

A first electric board 131 and a second electric board 132 are provided so as to sandwich the photographing lens unit 81 in front and behind. The first electric board 131 and the second electric board 132 are connected to the second optical axis 25 of the bending optical system 3.
(See FIG. 4). At the bottom of the camera body 1, a third electric board 133 for mounting the image pickup device 4 is provided as shown in FIG. The third electric board 133 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the second optical axis 25 of the bending optical system 3 (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 4, the first electric board 131 has a recess formed in the front lens frame 20 supporting the taking lens 2, and the second electric board 132 has a recess as shown in FIG. A notch 134 is formed at a portion corresponding to the front lens frame 20 and the optical finder 6.

Further, the first electric board 131 is provided with an image output terminal 135 and an external input / output terminal 136 at the edge corresponding to one side surface of the camera body 1 as shown in FIGS. The second electric board 132 is provided with an external power supply terminal 137 at an edge corresponding to one side surface of the camera body 1.

On the back side of the second electric board 132, a liquid crystal display device (image display LCD) 138 for displaying images is provided.
Are arranged in parallel to face each other. The image display LCD 138 displays a subject image obtained by processing an image signal output from the image sensor 4.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, for example, four batteries 139 are housed in the other end of the camera body 1 opposite to the end where the video output terminal 135 and the like are provided. In addition, a card slot 140 is provided in the first electric board 131. This card slot 1
Reference numeral 40 denotes a memory card 1 for storing image data of a subject obtained by processing an image signal output from the image sensor 4
It is a place where 41 is removably loaded.

Next, the configuration of the electric circuit of the camera will be described with reference to the electric circuit diagram shown in FIG. The electric circuit of this camera includes first to third electric boards 131 to 133.
Is formed.

In FIG. 21, the photographing lens system 150 includes
An AF drive motor 64 having a taking lens 2 and a bending optical system 3 for moving the taking lens 2 in and out, and a mechanical shutter 2 in the bending optical system 3
Drive source (S drive source) 15 for driving drive 7
1. Aperture drive source (A drive source) for driving aperture 28
152 and the like.

The image pickup device 4 generates and outputs an image signal of a subject image formed through the photographing lens 2 and the bending optical system 3. This image signal is subjected to signal processing by the image pickup circuit 153, and then converted to a digital signal by the A / D conversion circuit 154. An output terminal of the A / D conversion circuit 154 is connected to a system computer 156 via a bus 155.

An interface (I / F) 157, a built-in memory 158, a video conversion circuit 159, an external interface (external I / F) 160, and the like are connected to the system computer 156 via a bus 155. or,
The output terminals of the system computer 156 are connected to respective drive circuits 161 for controlling the driving of the AF drive motor 64, the S drive source 151, and the A drive source 152 in the photographing lens system 150. Similarly, a strobe light emitting unit 8 and a liquid crystal display device 162 for mode display are connected to the output terminal.

The system computer 156 includes a release 10, a setting changeover switch 163 and an operation ring 5
The operation unit 163 including the above is connected. The system computer 156 is supplied with power from a power supply unit 165 provided with a battery 164.

Thus, the system computer 156
The digital image signal output from the image pickup device 4 is processed by the image pickup circuit 153, A / D converted by the A / D conversion circuit 154, and stored in the built-in memory 58 as one image data. You. After a plurality of image data stored and stored in the built-in memory 58 are image-compressed one by one, the image data is stored in the memory card 141 via the interface 157, or is stored in the memory card 141.
After the image data stored in 41 is read and decompressed, the image is displayed on LCD 138 via video conversion circuit 159.

The system computer 156 receives operation signals from the release 10, the setting changeover switch 163, and the operation ring 5, and according to these operation signals, among a series of operation control of photographing, for example, the photographing lens system 150
AF drive motor 64, S drive source 151, A drive source 15
The driving circuit 161 for driving and controlling the LCD 2, the strobe light emitting unit 8, the liquid crystal display device 162 for mode display, and the like are driven and controlled.

(Features of Embodiment) [1] The electronic camera shown in the first embodiment protects the photographing lens (2) provided on the camera body (1) and the photographing lens (2). A lens barrier (40) movably provided between a position to be exposed and a position to be exposed, and an operation ring (5) for performing an operation for instructing an operation condition of the camera and a movement operation of the lens barrier (40). It is characterized by having.

In the electronic camera, one operation ring (5) can be used for both the selection of the operation condition of the camera and the operation of the lens barrier (40). There is no need to provide an operation member, and the space in the camera body can be reduced accordingly.

[2] In the electronic camera shown in the above embodiment, when the operation ring (5) is selected to be closed, the fact that no photograph is taken is transmitted to the system computer (156) in the camera body (1). In response to the operation of the operation ring (5) at this time, the lens barrier (40)
Is moved to a position for protecting the taking lens (2) and the optical finder (6).

In the electronic camera described above, it is not necessary to operate a dedicated operation member such as an opening / closing lever as in the related art.
The operability of selecting an operation condition of the camera and operating the lens barrier (40) can be improved.

[3] In the electronic camera described in the above embodiment, in order to achieve improvement in operability with respect to the lens barrier (40), the lens barrier (40) is moved by the biasing spring (50). 2) A direction or protection in which the photographic lens (2) is urged in one of a protecting direction and an exposing direction and is engaged with a cam portion (48) provided on the operation ring (5) to expose the photographic lens (2). In a moving direction. in this case,
The lens barrier (40) is rotated by engaging with a cam portion (48) provided on the operation ring (5).

In the electronic camera, the number of parts can be reduced with a simple structure, and the camera body (1) can be reduced in size.

[4] In the electronic camera described in the above embodiment, the lens barrier (40) protects the photographing lens (2) and the lighting part of the optical finder (6) at the same time, or the lens barrier (40) and the photographing lens (2) and It is characterized in that the daylighting portions of the optical finder (6) are simultaneously exposed.

The electronic camera described above is easy to use. That is, when the taking lens (2) is closed by the lens barrier (40), the optical finder (6) is also closed and the object cannot be recognized by the optical finder (6). 2) and the state of protection or exposure to the optical finder (6) can be surely confirmed while looking through the optical finder (6).

[4] In the electronic camera described in the above embodiment, the operating condition of the camera indicated by the position of the operation ring (5) is such that when the lens barrier (40) is opened, the photographing is performed at the first position. Is characterized by automatic exposure as the exposure condition.

In the above-mentioned electronic camera, normal photographing can be immediately performed without operating the operation ring (5).

(Modifications) The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but may be modified as follows.

In the above-described embodiment, the electronic camera having the lens barrier 40 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any camera having a lens barrier for protecting or exposing the taking lens and the optical finder can be applied. .

[0090]

According to the camera of the present invention, a photographic lens provided on the camera body, a lens barrier movably provided between a position for protecting the photographic lens and a position for exposing the photographic lens, and an operation of the camera The main feature is that it includes an operation member for performing an operation for instructing conditions and a movement operation for moving the lens barrier.

Therefore, the lens barrier can be accurately moved without providing a dedicated operation member such as an opening / closing lever, and the setting space for the operation member can be reduced, and a camera having excellent operability can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance of an electronic camera according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a pop-up strobe light emitting unit of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the internal structure of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front of the camera.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the internal structure of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line QQ of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial configuration diagram of a lens barrier of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a connection relationship between an operation ring and a lens barrier of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an interlocked state (first state) of the operation ring and the lens barrier of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an interlocked state (second state) of the operation ring and the lens barrier of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an interlocked state (third state) of the operation ring and the lens barrier of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an interlocked state (fourth state) of the operation ring and the lens barrier of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a mechanism for retracting and extending a photographing lens of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a mechanism for retracting / extending an imaging lens of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining the function of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention for preventing interference of the lens barrier by the second moving means.

FIG. 14 is a schematic top view showing a case where the lens barrier of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the invention is in a closed state.

FIG. 15 is a specific assembly configuration diagram of a lens barrier mechanism of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing a mounting structure of a finder optical system of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a finder optical system of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a combination of optical elements in a finder optical system of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an exemplary top view showing the layout of components inside the electronic camera body according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is an exemplary front view showing the layout of components inside the electronic camera body according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric system of the electronic camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1: Camera body, 2: Photographing lens, 3: Bending optical system, 4: Image sensor, 5: Operation ring, 6: Optical finder, 7: Finder optical system, 8: Strobe light emitting unit, 10: Release: 11: mode display LCD (liquid crystal display), 12: shooting lens entrance aperture, 13: finder entrance aperture, 20: front mirror frame, 22: mirror mirror frame, 23: support member, 24: folding mirror, 40: Lens barrier, 41: rotating shaft, 42: first protection portion, 43: second protection portion, 44: connecting portion, 45a to 45e: groove, 46: spring, 47: click ball, 48: cam portion, 49: cam pin, 50: urging spring, 52: inclined portion, 53: flat portion, 54: engagement support portion, 60: mirror frame, 64: autofocus drive motor (AF drive motor), 6 : Lead screw, 66, 67: guide shaft, 68: bearing, 74: nut, 75: spring, 76: holding pin, 77: cam, 81: photographing lens unit, 90: front frame of frame, 91: brush Reference numeral 92: fixed frame, 100: flexible substrate, 110: finder base, 113, 114: rotating pin, 115: eccentric pin, 116, 117: rotating groove, 118: elliptical hole, 120: upper case, 121: lower Case: 122: Incident lens, 123: Triangular prism, 124: Prism, 125: Lens, 126: Diopter adjusting lens, 130: First electric board, 131: Second electric board, 132: Third Electric board, 138: liquid crystal display device, 141: memory card, 150: photographing lens system, 151: shutter drive source (S drive source), 152: Ri drive source (A drive source), 153: imaging circuits, 154: A / D conversion circuit, 156: system computer, 158: internal memory, 162: liquid crystal display device, 163: operating unit.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshitaka Naito 2-43-2 Hatagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H083 CC02 CC05 CC28 CC31 CC37 CC49 CC52 CC55 2H100 AA11 AA31 AA61 BB05 BB06 BB09 CC07 DD09 EE06 5C022 AB02 AC02 AC31 AC54 AC61 AC74 AC78

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A photographing lens provided on a camera body, a lens barrier movably provided between a position for protecting the photographing lens and a position for exposing the photographing lens, and an operation for instructing an operation condition of the camera. And a control member for performing a moving operation of the lens barrier. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the operation member is formed in a ring shape including the photographing lens, and is rotatably attached to a front surface of the camera body. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera is provided so as to move the lens barrier between a position where the lens is protected and a position where the lens barrier is exposed. 3. The lens barrier is urged by a biasing member in one of a direction in which the photographing lens is protected and a direction in which the photographic lens is exposed, and is biased via a cam provided on the operation member. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the moving force is provided in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow.
The camera according to. 4. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the lens barrier simultaneously protects or exposes the photographic lens and an incident portion of an optical finder. 5. An operating condition of the camera instructed by a position of the operation member is such that an initial position when the lens barrier is opened is an exposure condition at the time of photographing, which is an automatic exposure. The camera according to claim 1. 6. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the operation condition of the camera is an exposure mode.