JP2001234998A - Changeover operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a changeover operation device having a relatively large shift stroke in a manual operation part and highly accurately moving a driven part. SOLUTION: When a CHP changeover knob 25 provided outside a camera is rotationally moved clockwise, an interlock boss 47a formed in the circumferential face of a coupling 47 integrally and rotationally moving with the changeover knob 25 is moved to the right and abuts on a lock pawl 46d of a lever 46 to rotationally move the lever 46. The rotational movement stroke of the lever 46 is larger than the rotational movement stroke of a lever 48 and the moving stroke of the interlock boss 47a is larger than the rotational movement stroke of the lever 46. The excessive displacement of the lever 46 is absorbed by the deformation of an interlock spring 45 and the excessive displacement of the interlock boss 47a is absorbed by an engagement pawl 46d separating from the interlock boss side face 47d and abutting on the interlock boss front face 47c.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switching operation device used for a camera or the like, and more particularly to a switching operation device for accurately moving driven members to respective switching positions in accordance with a setting operation of an operation member. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Photo cameras and digital cameras are becoming more compact, and various switching operation sections are becoming smaller. When the switching operation is performed by moving the operating member such as turning a lever or moving a knob, not only the operating member but also the amount of the switching operation tends to be small, and a reliable switching operation is not possible. It is becoming difficult to do.

[0003] For example, in many photographic cameras, a field-of-view range switching device that allows the field of view of a finder to be switched to a convention (C) size or a panorama (P) size in addition to a standard high-vision (H) size. Is incorporated. The field of view switching device
For example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-80591, a pair of movable field frames are provided in the finder optical path, and the switching operation member is moved to each of the H, C, and P set positions. The movable field frames are moved to corresponding positions.

The moving amount of the movable visual field frame in the finder optical path is as small as at most about 1 to 2 mm. However, in consideration of operability, the moving amount of the operating member needs to be increased to some extent. For this reason, an interlocking mechanism for transmitting the operation member to the movable field frame while reducing the moving amount of the operation member is required. Further, in order to make the camera compact, the interlocking mechanism itself must be downsized.

[0005]

However, the conventional interlocking mechanism includes a member having a large moving stroke such as a component immediately after the operating member, which hinders an attempt to make the camera body more compact. ing. In addition, the movable visual field frame needs to be accurately positioned at each switching position although the moving amount itself is small. Therefore, it is difficult to perform positioning simply by transmitting the operation member to the movable field frame while reducing the amount of movement in conjunction with the movement of the operation member.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a driven member which requires a small amount of movement itself and which needs to be accurately moved to three switching positions, such as the movable field frame described above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a switching operation device capable of reliably and accurately moving the operation member under a large moving amount of the operation member.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has three positions: a neutral position, and first and second set positions displaced from the neutral position by a substantially constant amount in opposite directions. The operating piece is integrated with the operating member that is displaced
A pair of protrusions formed in a fork shape is provided on the relay member so as to sandwich the operating piece from both sides. Then, when the operating member is displaced from the neutral position to the first or second set position, the operating piece presses one of the projections and rotates from the pair of projections while rotating the relay member. Is stopped at the position where the is pressed, and the relay member is rotated and held to a predetermined switching position. After the operating piece comes out of the space between the pair of projections, the relay member does not rotate even if the operating piece moves, so that the operating member has an excess of the operating member as long as the operating piece can press the tip of one of the projections. The stroke can be released. The rotation of the relay member is configured to be transmitted to the driven member via a spring member, and the driven member is moved to and held at the first and second switching positions by the urging force of the spring member.

The operating member is switched to the neutral position and the first and second set positions by a rotating operation, and the rotating shaft of the operating member is substantially orthogonal to the rotating shaft of the relay member. . Further, in conjunction with the movement of the operation member, the driven member moves a pair of movable viewing frames provided movably in the viewfinder optical path in opposite directions to each other in a plane orthogonal to the viewfinder optical axis, thereby increasing the viewfinder viewing range. Switching.

[0009]

2 and 3 are external perspective views of a camera embodying the present invention. The camera 10 is composed of a camera body 11, an outer case 12 placed on the side of the camera body 11, and a slide cover 13 movably placed on the opposite side. A lens barrel 2 in which a telephoto optical system including a photographing lens 20 and a light receiving element are installed behind a photometric light receiving window 22 are provided on the front of the camera 10.
1, strobe light emitting section 14, objective side finder window 18,
A projection window 17 for distance measurement and a light receiving window 19 for distance measurement are provided. An unlocking knob 1 is provided on the upper surface of the camera 10.
6, a shutter button 15 and the like are provided.
The lens barrel 21 is extended from the camera body 11 when the slide cover 13 is at the shooting position and the power of the camera 10 is turned on, and collapses into the camera body 11 when it is turned off. The strobe light emitting unit 14 is popped up by the pop-up mechanism (not shown) when the slide cover 13 is at the photographing position, and is in a usable state.
When 3 is in the storage position, it is pressed by the upper surface of the slide cover 13 and stored in the retracted position.

On the back of the camera 10, a liquid crystal panel 23 for displaying various photographing information such as the number of photographed images, a panel switch 26 for changing a photographing mode and the like, an eyepiece side viewfinder window 18a, and a change of print aspect ratio (PAR). , A CHP switching knob 25, a zoom button 24, and the like. The CHP switching knob 25 sets a standard high-definition (H) print size when it is at the illustrated neutral position, and panorama (when it is at the first set position rotated clockwise from this neutral position). An operation member for setting the print size of the convention (C) size when it is at the second set position rotated P) size and counterclockwise. The field of view of the finder is switched in association with the operation of the CHP switching knob 25 as described later, and the set position of the CHP switching knob 25 is electrically detected by a micro switch or the like, and the film feeding after photographing is performed. Sometimes set position information is written to the magnetic recording layer of the film.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are an external perspective view and an exploded perspective view of a finder unit 40 incorporated above the lens barrel 21 inside the camera body 11. FIG. On the front surface of the finder unit 40, a distance measuring light receiving unit 28 corresponding to the distance measuring light receiving window 19, a distance measuring light emitting unit 27 corresponding to the distance measuring light emitting window 17, and an object side finder window 18 are provided. An objective lens 29 is provided. The light receiving unit for distance measurement 28 and the light projecting unit for distance measurement 27 constitute a distance measuring unit for measuring the distance to the subject.
F) Used for control.

A zoom button 2 is located behind the objective lens 29.
Moving lenses 33 and 34 for changing the magnification of the finder optical system in accordance with the change of the photographing magnification by the operation 4 are stored in a storage chamber 44, and further, a prism 35, a field frame unit 50, and an image erecting prism 36 Are stored at predetermined positions in the storage chamber 41a. An eyepiece 31 fitted to the eyepiece holder 30 is arranged in an opening 45 provided on the back of the finder unit 40 corresponding to the exit surface 36b of the image erecting prism 36. The subject light incident on the objective lens 29 is
3, 34, and the prism 36, the field of view is limited by a field frame unit 50, which will be described later, according to the PAR selected by the photographer with the CHP switching knob 25.

As shown in FIG. 1, a view frame unit 50 for limiting a view range of a finder includes a fixed view frame 55 for forming an aspect ratio of a high definition (H) and an aspect of a convention (C) or a panorama (P). A pair of substantially L-shaped movable visual field frames 53 and 54 formed by switching the ratio, and a rotating ring 52 for moving the opposing upper and lower or left and right sides of the movable visual field frames 53 and 54, respectively.
And a field frame base 51 that supports them.

A storage section 51 formed on the field frame base 51
c, and the movable visual field frames 53, 54 are inserted into the press-fit bosses 51a, 52b provided on the visual field frame base 51 and the bosses 52b, 52c provided on the rotary ring 52.
Grooves 53a, 53b, 53c, 54a, 54 formed in
b and 54c are inserted so as to be inserted at predetermined positions, and then the engagement holes 55a and 55
b, the press-fit bosses 51a and 51b of the field frame base 51 are press-fitted, and the boss 52
b and 52c are guide grooves 55c and 55d of the fixed visual field frame 55
Into a field frame unit. The switching of the visual field range is performed by moving the operation knob 52a of the rotating ring 52 exposed outside the visual field frame unit 50.

On the back of the finder unit 40 and on the storage frame lid 42, a CH provided outside the camera 11 is provided.
An interlocking unit is provided for transmitting the power of the P switching knob 25 to the operation knob 52a of the visual field frame unit 50 disposed in the storage chamber 41a. The interlocking portion constitutes an operating piece in which the coupling 47 connected to the CHP switching knob 25 by the switching contact piece 49 is displaced together with the operating member, and the lever 4 which engages with the interlocking boss 47a provided on the coupling 47.
6 (first lever) together with the connecting spring 45 and the lever 48 (second lever) arranged below the lever 46,
A relay member that transmits the power of the operation member and moves the operation knob 52a of the field frame unit 50 that is the driven member is configured. Although not shown, the CHP switching knob 25 is C,
At each of the positions H and P, the switching contact piece 49 engages with the click groove and holds the CHP switching knob 25 at that position.

CHP switching knob 25 and coupling 47
Means that the engagement projection 25b of the CHP switching knob 25 and the engagement hole 49b of the switching piece 49 are engaged, and the switching piece 49
The engagement hole 49a and the engagement pin 47b of the coupling 47 are engaged and connected to rotate integrally. The interlocking boss 47a provided on the coupling 47 is
The cup is located between engagement claws 46a and 46d formed at the tip of a lever 46 (first lever) rotatably supported by an engagement pin 42b erected on the storage frame lid 42, When the ring 47 rotates, the lever 46 rotates by abutting on the engaging claw 46a or 46d and moving. Also,
An operation knob 52a of the field frame unit 50 protruding from the opening 42a of the storage frame lid 42 is provided in an engagement hole 48a formed in a lever 48 (second lever) rotatably supported by the engagement pin 42c. Are engaged and the operation knob 52a is moved by the rotation of the lever 48 to rotate the rotary ring 52.

The lever 46 and the lever 48 are
Interlocking spring 45 arranged below and rotating integrally with lever 46
Are linked by The rotating ring 52 for moving the movable visual field frames 53 and 54 is connected to the guide groove 5 of the fixed visual field frame 55.
Since the bosses 52b and 52c rotate only to the positions where they contact the ends of 5c and 55d, respectively, the lever 48 which engages with the operation knob 52a formed integrally with the rotating ring 52 through the engaging hole 48a is also rotatable. Is limited. Therefore, when the lever 46 having a rotatable area larger than the rotatable area of the lever 48 rotates beyond the rotatable area of the lever 48, the interlocking spring 45 is deformed to absorb the difference.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. When the CHP switching knob 25 is at the high vision (H) position, the interlocking boss 47a provided on the coupling 47 is in a neutral state as shown in FIG. And is located between. At this time, in the visual field frame unit 50, as shown in FIG. 7, the movable visual field frames 53 and 54 are located at the farthest positions in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the opening range is larger than the opening 55e of the fixed visual field frame 55. Therefore, the visual field range is defined only by the opening 55e of the fixed visual field frame 55, and has an aspect ratio of high vision (H).

When the CHP switching knob 25 is rotated toward the position of the convention (C), an interlocking boss 47 provided on the coupling 47 as shown in FIG.
a moves rightward in the figure, and the right side surface 47 of the interlocking boss 47a.
d comes into contact with the engaging claw 46d of the lever 46 to rotate the lever 46 clockwise. An interlocking spring 45 provided below the lever 46 rotates integrally with the lever 46, and its tip 45
"a" comes into contact with the distal end portion 48c of the lever 48 to rotate the lever 48 counterclockwise. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the operation knob 52 that engages with the engagement hole 48a of the lever 48.
a, and the rotating ring 52 is rotated clockwise in the figure until the bosses 52b and 52c of the rotating ring 52 abut on the ends of the guide grooves 55c and 55d of the fixed field frame 55 and are locked. .

By this rotation, the movable visual field frames 53 and 54 move in the direction in which the left and right sides facing each other approach, and the fixed visual field frames 5 and 54 move.
The photographing visual field range is formed so as to narrow the left and right of the fifth opening 55e, and the aspect ratio of the convention (C) is obtained.
When the rotation ring 52 is locked, the rotation of the lever 48 is also locked. However, as shown in FIG. 8B, the engaging claw 46d of the lever 46 is separated from the right side surface 47d of the interlocking boss 47a, and
The lever 46 rotates until the interlocking boss 47a moves to a position where the lever 46 is brought into contact with the lever 7c. Coupling boss 47a is coupling 4
7 is further moved until the switching contact piece 49 is engaged with the click groove and is locked.
Since 6d is in a state of contact with the front face 47c of the interlocking boss 47a, it does not rotate further than the position shown in FIG. 8B. When the CHP switching knob 25 is turned toward the panorama (P) position, the convention (C)
Since the direction of rotation and the direction of movement are merely opposite to those in the case of turning toward the position, the description is omitted.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiment, the rotary operation type CHP switching knob 25 can be changed to a slide operation type. In this case, the operating member is attached to the CHP switching knob. And the engaging claws 46a, 46 of the lever 46 are provided in the movement path of the operating piece.
It is sufficient if d faces. Further, the application of the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described viewfinder range switching device, and for example, when the driven member is moved to the first and second switching positions, such as a zoom operation device. Also, the present invention can be used for a switch switching device that turns on the switches on the tele side and the wide side, respectively.

[0022]

As described above, according to the switching operation device of the present invention, while the operation amount of the switching operation member is increased to some extent, the movement amount of the driven member interlocked with the operation amount can be determined small and accurately. As a result, the operability of devices that require compactness can be favorably maintained. Further, when the operation member is of a rotary operation type, the rotation axis thereof can be perpendicular to the rotation axis of the relay member, so that the direction of the switching movement of the driven member and the operation direction of the operation member are different. However, the interlocking mechanism between them does not need to be complicated. For example, it is very effective when used for a mechanism for switching a finder field frame.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a viewfinder switching mechanism of a finder.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the front of a camera embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a rear surface of a camera embodying the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a finder unit.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the finder unit.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an interlocking unit when forming a field of view of high vision (H).

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a field frame when forming a field of view of high vision (H).

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an interlocking unit when forming a visual field range of the convention (C).

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a field frame when forming a field of view of a convention (C).

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 camera 25 CHP switching knob 40 finder unit 45 interlock spring 46 lever 47 coupling 48 lever 49 switching piece 50 field frame unit 51 field frame base 52 rotating ring 53 movable field frame 54 movable field frame 55 fixed field frame

Claims (3)

[Claims] The driven member is operated in conjunction with setting the operating member to one of a neutral position and a first or second set position displaced from the neutral position by a substantially constant amount in a direction opposite to each other. In a switching operation device which is moved and held at a switching position corresponding to each set position of a member, when the operation member is set at a neutral position, an operation piece displaced together with the operation member is sandwiched from both sides in the direction of displacement. A rotatable relay member provided with a pair of projections facing each other, and a spring member for pressing the driven member toward the first or second switching position by rotation of the relay member, When the operating member is set at the first or second set position, the operating piece presses one of the protrusions to rotate the relay member so as to come out from between the pair of protrusions, and The relay member is rotated to a predetermined position by stopping at a position where the tip of the relay member is pressed, and the driven member moves to the first or second switching position by the urging force of the spring member due to the rotation of the relay member. A switching operation device characterized by being held. 2. The operation member is switched to a neutral position and first and second set positions by a rotation operation, and it is determined that the rotation axis of the operation member is substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the relay member. The switching operation device according to claim 1, wherein 3. A pair of movable field frames provided movably in the finder optical path by the driven member in conjunction with moving the operation member from the neutral position to the first or second set position. 3. The switching operation device according to claim 1, wherein the switching operation device is moved in directions opposite to each other in a plane perpendicular to the direction to switch the view range of the finder.