JP2001169156A - Photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing device which simplifies storage of a photographing lens. SOLUTION: A photographing part 30, provided with a photographing lens 40, is arranged in a head part 24 of a camera part 20 so that it can be rotated in a desired angular range θ1. A storage part 26, where the photographic lens 40 is stored, is arranged in the head part 24. The photographic lens 40 is stored in the storage part 26, when being in a start point position. A lens cap, a cover, or the like which is conventionally required can be dispensed with, because of the constitution where the photographing part 30 is rotated to store the photographic lens 40 in the storage part 26. That is, protection members for protecting the photographic lens 40 are not required, so that the number of parts can be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographing apparatus such as a PDA (Portable Information Display) and a digital camera having a photographing function, and more particularly to a photographing apparatus in which a photographing section having a photographing lens is movable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 7, in a portable information display device 80 having a photographing function, a photographing section 86 having a photographing lens 84 is rotatably disposed substantially at the upper center of a main body 82 of the device. That is, the apparatus main body 82 is
A substantially rectangular notch portion 82A is formed at a portion corresponding to.

The photographing section 86 is mounted on the notch 82A with supporting shafts (not shown) projecting from both ends thereof being supported by supporting bearings (not shown) of the apparatus main body 82. Further, in the portable information display device 80, the photographing unit 86 (the photographing lens 84) rotates the desired rotation range θ2 (for example,
0 degree).

Further, since the taking lens 84 is always exposed to the outside, a lens cap 88 as an accessory is fitted into the taking lens 84 in order to prevent dust and dirt from adhering to the taking lens 84. It has become.

On the other hand, a digital camera 9 as shown in FIG.
At 0, a cover 94 for exposing or storing the taking lens 92 is slidably disposed. Then, in order to store the taking lens 92, the cover 94 is slid in the direction of arrow P. Accordingly, since the photographing lens 92 is housed by the cover 94, dust and dirt are prevented from adhering to the photographing lens 92.

[0006]

By the way, in the portable information display device 80 shown in FIG. 7, a separate lens cap 88 must be used to house the taking lens 84, so that the number of parts increases and the lens Cap 88
There is an inconvenience that it takes time to attach / detach. Further, when exposing the photographing lens 84, it is necessary to remove the lens cap 88 from the apparatus main body 82 and store it. for that reason,
The lens cap 88 may be lost.

[0008] Further, in the digital camera 90 shown in FIG.
Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the number of parts increases. Further, in the portable information display device 80 or the digital camera 90 described above, the photographing lens 84 or 9
When dust or the like has adhered to 2, the user has removed the dust or the like with a separate brush or the like. That is, conventionally, it is necessary to always pay attention to the attachment of dust and the like to the photographing lens 84 or 92.

In the example of FIG. 7, the photographing angle (photographing condition) of the photographing lens 84 is changed by rotating the photographing section 86 in which the photographing lens 84 is disposed. But,
When the photographing unit 86 is rotated, a finger touches the photographing lens 84, and the photographing lens 84 may be stained.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a photographing apparatus that facilitates storage of a photographing lens in consideration of the above circumstances. Another object of the present invention is to provide a photographing apparatus that always keeps a photographing lens clean.

[0010]

According to claim 1 of the present invention,
A photographing unit having a photographing lens is movably arranged with respect to the apparatus main body, and the photographing lens is housed in the apparatus main body by moving the photographing unit.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the photographing lens is housed in the apparatus main body by moving the photographing unit. That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the photographing lens is exposed or stored by moving the photographing unit, the conventional lens cap and cover are not required. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since a protection member for protecting the photographing lens is not required, the number of parts is reduced.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the above-described configuration is adopted, the exposure operation or the storage operation of the photographing lens is easier than in the conventional case where the lens cap is attached and detached, and the lens cap is lost. Is prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the moving mechanism of the photographing section is a rotating mechanism, and the rotating mechanism is disposed in the photographing section and enables the photographing lens to rotate over a desired rotation range. And a stopper disposed on the apparatus main body corresponding to the engaging portion and engaging with the engaging portion to regulate rotation of the photographing portion.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the photographing unit is rotated with respect to the apparatus main body, the photographing angle (photographing range) of the photographing lens can be arbitrarily changed over the rotation range of the photographing unit. Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, even if an attempt is made to rotate the photographing unit beyond the rotation range of the photographing unit, the engagement portion and the stopper are engaged, and the rotation of the photographing unit is restricted. That is, according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the rotation of the imaging unit beyond the rotation range is reliably restricted, an excessive rotation operation is suppressed in advance.

[0015] According to a third aspect of the present invention, an operation means connected to the photographing section is provided, and the photographing section is moved by operating the operation means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the operating means is operated, the photographing unit also moves (rotates). That is, according to the third aspect of the present invention, since the operating means is provided as means for operating the photographing unit (photographing lens), the photographing unit can be rotated without directly touching the vicinity of the photographing lens of the photographing unit, The taking lens is not dirty.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detecting means for detecting a rotational position of the photographing unit, and an exposure state in which the photographing lens is exposed from the apparatus main body or the photographing state based on a detection result from the detecting means. A determination unit for determining any of a storage state in which the lens is stored in the apparatus main body, and when the determination unit determines that the lens is in the exposure state, a shooting mode in which shooting is possible is performed; When the state is determined, the photographing mode is forcibly terminated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the determining means determines that the image is in the exposure state, the mode is set to a photographing mode in which the determining means can perform photographing. On the other hand, when the determining means determines that the camera is in the housed state, the determining means forcibly ends the shooting mode. That is, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the configuration is such that the start or the end of the photographing mode is automatically switched in conjunction with the exposure operation or the storing operation of the photographing lens, so that the usability is improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing apparatus in which a photographing lens is exposed or stored, wherein a cleaning means for cleaning the photographing lens when exposing or storing the photographing lens corresponds to the photographing lens. Is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the cleaning means removes dust and the like adhering to the photographing lens when the photographing lens is exposed to or stored in the apparatus main body. That is, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the cleaning means automatically removes dust and the like adhering to the photographing lens when the photographing lens is exposed to or stored in the apparatus main body, so that the photographing lens is always kept in a clean state. Can be kept.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS.
A portable information display (PDA) as a photographing device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The portable information display device according to the present embodiment has a photographing function and has a so-called palm size.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the information display device of the portable information display device is mounted on the camera unit and the photographing lens is exposed from the device main body. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the camera unit shown in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the portable information display device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the photographing lens shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the portable information display device 10 includes an information display device 12 and a camera unit 20 as a device main body. The information display device 12 is detachable from the camera unit 20. ing. The information display device 12 includes an operation unit 14 having a scroll button, an enter button, and the like, and a display unit 16 on which display contents based on operations of the operation unit 14 and the like are displayed.

(Specific Configuration of Camera Unit) A specific configuration of the camera unit 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. A mounting section 22 for mounting the information display device 12 is formed on the camera section 20, and a mounting surface 22 </ b> A of the mounting section 22 corresponds to the outer shape of the information display device 12. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the side surface of the mounting surface 22A is L-shaped, and the side surface of the portable information display device 10 when the information display device 12 is mounted on the mounting surface 22A. The shape is substantially rectangular.

The camera section 20 has a head 24 continuous with the mounting section 22. The side of the head 24 has a substantially arc shape. On the head 24, a mounting screw 27, which constitutes a part of connection means for connecting the information display device 12 to the camera unit 20, is rotatably arranged on the mounting part 22 side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting screw 27 includes a screw head 27A having a notch formed on the outer peripheral surface, and a screw head 27A.
And a screw shaft portion 27B protruding from the shaft center. A long hole 24A is formed in a portion of the head 24 corresponding to the screw head 27A, and a part of the screw head 27A is arranged so as to protrude from the long hole 24A.

The screw shaft portion 27B protrudes from the head portion 24 toward the mounting portion 22. On the head 24, a connector 28 for transferring information such as imaging data based on incident light from a photographic lens 40, which will be described later, has a mounting surface 22.
A is arranged to be exposed from A.

On the other hand, the information display device 12 has a screw shaft 2
A screw hole (not shown) is formed in a portion corresponding to 7B, and a connector (not shown) is arranged in a portion corresponding to the connector 28. Then, the screw shaft 27B is screwed into the screw hole with the screw hole and the connector (not shown) corresponding to the screw shaft 27B and the connector 28.
As a result, the connector 28 is connected to the connector (not shown), so that the information display device 12 and the camera unit 20 are connected.

(Specific configuration of the photographing unit) As shown in FIG. 3, a substantially cylindrical photographing unit 30 is rotated on the left side of the head 24 over a desired angular range (270 degrees in the present embodiment). The head 24 corresponding to the photographing unit 30 is formed with a cutout 24B. Then, the photographing unit 30 is attached to the head 24 in a state of being exposed from the notch 24B.

As shown in FIG. 2, on both sides of the photographing section 30, supporting portions 32 slightly smaller in diameter than the photographing section 30 are formed. A support frame 24C slightly larger in diameter than the support portion 32 is formed on the head portion 24 corresponding to the support portion 32. The photographing unit 30 is rotatably supported by fitting the support unit 32 into the support frame 24C.

A photographing lens 40 is disposed in the photographing section 30, and the photographing lens 40 is mounted in a state where the photographing lens 40 is exposed from the photographing section 30. The photographing lens 40 is shown in FIG.
The flexible flat cable (hereinafter, simply referred to as “cable”) 42 is led out of the lens mount 41 shown in FIG.

The cable 42 is for transferring image data and the like based on the incident light from the photographing lens 40 and is wound around the winding section 34 formed in the photographing section 30 so as to be wound up or pulled out. That is, the cable 4
Reference numeral 2 denotes a length which is wound around the winding unit 34 for about two and a half turns so that the photographing unit 30 can rotate with a margin over an angular range of 270 degrees. Also, as shown in FIG.
The cable 42 is wound clockwise with respect to the winding unit 34, and the cable 42 itself does not extend even when the photographing unit 30 is rotated.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
Is connected to a connector 46 disposed on the back side of the printed circuit board 44. The printed circuit board 44 is disposed in the mounting section 22 of the camera section 20,
The size of the planar shape of the printed circuit board 44 is slightly smaller than the size of the planar shape of the mounting portion 22, as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, a recording button 48, which is a voice means, is disposed substantially at the center of the rear side of the mounting section 22, and when the recording button 48 is pressed, a microphone (shown in FIG. (Omitted) is recorded in a memory unit (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, in the photographing section 30, a connecting section 36 is formed continuously with the winding section 34. An engaging portion 37, which constitutes a part of a moving mechanism (rotating mechanism), is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 36 so as to protrude along the circumferential direction. Range (270
Degree) θ1 (see FIG. 5A). That is, the engaging portion 37 is formed over an angular range of 90 degrees so that the photographing lens 40 can be rotated over a desired rotation range θ1. Therefore, the imaging unit 30 can rotate over an angular range (rotation range) θ1 of 270 degrees,
The rotation of the photographing unit 30 is restricted in the angular range of degrees.

An engagement surface 37A is formed at both ends in the circumferential direction of the engagement portion 37, and the head 24 corresponding to the engagement surface 37A is formed.
Is provided with a stopper 25 which constitutes a part of the moving mechanism. At both ends of the stopper 25, a stopper surface 25A facing the engagement surface 37A is formed.
A comes in contact with the stopper surface 25A, so that the photographing unit 3
Zero rotation is regulated.

A storage section 26 for storing the photographing lens 40 is disposed on the head 24.
B is formed so as to surround the mounting portion 22 side of the photographing unit 30 on the mounting portion 22 side. Then, as shown in FIG. 5A, at the start point position of the taking lens 40, the taking lens 40 is in a state of being stored in the storage section 26.

The photographing unit 30 includes the photographing lens 40 and the storage unit 2.
6 is the starting point position (the position shown in FIG. 5A).
270 degrees over the angular range θ1. In addition,
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, both side walls of the storage section 26 serve as the support sections 24C described above. That is, the support part 24C forms a part of the storage part 26.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a brush 5 serving as a cleaning means is provided in the storage section 26 at an exit 26A side (the display section 16 side of the information display device 12 mounted on the mounting section 22).
0 is arranged. As shown in FIG.
Is for cleaning the taking lens 40 when the taking lens 40 is stored or exposed in the storage section 26.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, the brush 50 is located closer to the outlet 26A than the photographing lens 40 when the photographing lens 40 stops at the start point position, so that the photographing lens 40 can be reliably cleaned. Is set to
In this embodiment, the cleaning means is an example in which the brush 50 is used, but the cleaning means of the present invention may be changed to, for example, a sponge in addition to the brush.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an operating projection 36A is formed on the connecting portion 36, and a switch 52 serving as a detecting means is provided on the head 24 facing the operating projection 36A. Are located. The switch 52 detects whether the photographing lens 40 is stored in the storage section 26 or not.

That is, when the photographing lens 40 is stored in the storage section 26, the operation projection 36A is operated by the switch 52.
Is set so that an ON signal (detection signal) of the switch 52 is supplied to a microcomputer (not shown) serving as a determination unit. Then, when the detection signal is supplied to the microcomputer, the microcomputer determines that the photographing lens 40 is housed in the housing section 26 and terminates the shooting mode in which shooting can be automatically performed. On the other hand, when the taking lens 40 is exposed from the
2 is turned off, and the microcomputer automatically switches to the photographing mode.

In the present embodiment, the taking lens 40 is
Since it is configured to rotate by 70 degrees, an inversion prevention switch (not shown) for preventing inversion of the image appearing on the display unit 16 shown in FIG. 1 is provided. That is, this switch determines whether the photographing lens 40 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5C is located on the exit 26 side or the case where the photographing lens 40 shown by the imaginary line in FIG. One of the images is prevented from being in the opposite direction, and when the photographing unit 30 (photographing lens 40) is at a predetermined angle, the reverse prevention switch is turned on to reverse the image.

Further, a disc-shaped knob 38 as an operating means is connected to the leading end of the connecting portion 36 of the photographing portion 30. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the knob 38 protrudes from the side surface of the head 24, and when the knob 38 is rotated while being held, the photographing unit 30 rotates. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a battery housing 54 for storing a battery (not shown) serving as power supply means is provided on the right side of the photographing unit 30 in the head 24.
Are formed. The battery applies a voltage to a power supply unit (not shown) of the camera unit 20. In addition, the camera unit 2
At 0, a shutter button (not shown) is arranged.

The operation of the present embodiment will be described. First, a case in which shooting is performed will be described. When the knob 38 shown in FIG. 6 is gripped and rotated in the direction of the arrow K in FIG. 6, the photographing unit 30 also rotates in the direction of the arrow K in conjunction with it. Therefore, the photographing lens 40 shifts from the state of FIG. 5A to the state of FIG. 5C via the state of FIG. 5B and is exposed from the storage unit 26.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the taking lens 40 is exposed from the housing 26,
The brush 50 comes into contact with the surface of the photographing lens 40 to remove dust and the like adhering to the photographing lens 40 and clean the lens.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5C, when the photographing lens 40 is exposed from the storage section 26, the operation projection 36A shown in FIGS. Since it is separated from 52A, switch 5
2 is turned off, and the microcomputer (not shown) automatically switches to the photographing mode.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5C, the photographing lens 40 is stopped at a desired rotational position in a state where the photographing lens 40 is exposed from the storage section 26, and a shutter button (not shown) is operated to photograph.

In this embodiment, the photographing unit 30 is configured to rotate with respect to the head 24 of the camera unit 20.
The shooting angle (shooting range) of the shooting lens 40 can be arbitrarily changed over the rotation range θ1 of the shooting unit 30.

In this embodiment, when the taking lens 40 is rotated to the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 5A, the engaging surface 37A of the engaging portion 37 shown in FIG. The rotation of the photographing unit 30 in the direction of arrow K shown in FIG. 6 is restricted. Even when the photographing lens 40 is rotated to the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 5A, the length of the cable 42 is longer than the rotation amount of the photographing unit 30 in the rotation range θ1, so that the cable 42 itself is extended. do not do.

After the photographing is completed, the knob 38 shown in FIG.
Is gripped and rotated in the direction of arrow T in FIG.
Also rotates in the direction of the arrow T in conjunction. Therefore, the photographing lens 40 shifts from the state of FIG. 5C to the state of FIG. 5A via the state of FIG. 5B and is stored in the storage unit 26.

In the present embodiment, the photographing lens 40 is housed in the housing part 26 by rotating the photographing part 30, so that a lens cap and a cover as in the prior art are not required. That is, according to the present embodiment, since a protective member for protecting the photographing lens 40 is not required, the number of components is reduced.

According to the present embodiment, since the above-described configuration is adopted, the operation of exposing or storing the photographing lens 40 becomes easier and the loss of the lens cap is prevented as compared with the conventional case where the lens cap is attached and detached. You.

According to the present embodiment, the photographing unit 30
As the knob 38 protruding from the side of the head 24 of the camera unit 20 is provided as means for rotating the (photographing lens 40), the photographing unit 30 can be rotated without directly touching the vicinity of the photographing lens 40 of the photographing unit 30. And the photographing lens 40 is not stained.

Further, in this embodiment, even when the photographing lens 40 is stored in the storage section 26, as shown in FIG. 5B, the brush 50 removes dust and the like adhering to the photographing lens 40. That is, according to the present embodiment, the brush 50 automatically removes dust and the like adhering to the photographing lens 40 when the photographing lens 40 is put into and taken out of the storage section 26, so that the photographing lens 40 is always kept in a clean state. Can be kept.

In this embodiment, when the photographing unit 30 is rotated to the position shown in FIGS. 5A and 6 where the photographing lens 40 is stored in the storage unit 26, the engaging unit 3 shown in FIG.
7 comes into contact with the stopper surface 25A of the stopper 25, and the rotation of the photographing unit 30 in the direction of arrow T shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 6, when the photographing lens 40 is stored in the storage section 26, the operation projection 36A shown in FIGS. Since the child 52A is pressed, the switch 52 is turned on, and the microcomputer (not shown) forcibly ends the shooting mode. That is, according to the present embodiment, the start or the end of the photographing mode is automatically switched in conjunction with the exposure operation or the storing operation of the photographing lens 40, so that the usability is improved.

Although the above embodiment is an example in which the moving mechanism of the photographing unit 30 is a rotating mechanism, the present invention may be a mechanism that slides the photographing unit. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the switch 52 is used as the detection unit that detects the rotational position of the imaging unit 30, but the detection unit of the present invention may be changed to, for example, an optical sensor. Further, in the above embodiment, the photographing device is an example of the portable information display device (PDA having a photographing function) 10, but the present invention may be a photographing device such as a digital camera.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the photographing lens is housed in the apparatus main body in conjunction with the movement of the photographing unit, the conventional lens cap and cover are not required. That is, according to the present invention, since a protective member for protecting the photographing lens is not required, the number of components is reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, the cleaning means for cleaning the photographing lens when exposing or storing the photographing lens is provided so as to correspond to the photographing lens. Removes dust and the like adhering to the taking lens. That is, according to the present invention, the cleaning means automatically removes dust and the like adhering to the photographic lens when the photographic lens is exposed to or stored in the apparatus body, so that the photographic lens can be always kept in a clean state. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a camera unit of the portable information display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the camera unit shown in FIG. 2 during assembly.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of the portable information display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a rotating state of the taking lens shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the photographing lens shown in FIG. 1 is housed in the apparatus main body.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portable information display device having a photographing function according to a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a digital camera according to another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Portable information display apparatus 20 Camera part (apparatus main body) 24 Stopper (moving mechanism) 26 Storage part 30 Imaging part 34 Winding part 37 Engaging part (moving mechanism) 38 Knob (operating means) 40 Photographing lens 42 Cable 50 Brush ( Cleaning means) 52 Switch (detection means) θ1 Rotation range of imaging unit (photography lens)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An imaging apparatus, wherein an imaging unit having an imaging lens is movably disposed with respect to an apparatus main body, and the imaging lens is housed in the apparatus main body by moving the imaging unit. 2. An engaging section, wherein the moving mechanism of the photographing section is a rotating mechanism, wherein the rotating mechanism is arranged in the photographing section and enables the photographing lens to rotate over a desired rotation range, and the engaging section. 2. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a stopper arranged on the apparatus main body so as to correspond to the condition described above, and configured to engage with the engaging section to restrict rotation of the photographing section. 3. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit connected to the photographing unit, and moving the photographing unit by operating the operation unit. 4. A detecting means for detecting a rotational position of the photographing unit, and an exposure state in which the photographing lens is exposed from the apparatus main body based on a detection result from the detecting means, or the photographing lens is mounted on the apparatus main body. A determining means for determining any of the stored states to be stored; providing a photographing mode in which photographing is possible when the determining means determines the exposure state; and determining when the determining means determines the storage state. The photographing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing mode is forcibly terminated. 5. A photographing apparatus in which a photographing lens is exposed or housed, wherein a cleaning means for cleaning the photographing lens when exposing or housing the photographing lens is provided so as to correspond to the photographing lens. Photographing device.