JP2002090822A - Stroboscopic device and camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stroboscopic device, capable of adjusting light distribution angle of strobe light over a wide range with a compact configuration, and also capable of attaining the uniform light distribution and extending a strobe light eaching distance at a telephoto side, and to provide a camera equipped with the stroboscopic device. SOLUTION: The stroboscopic device is provided with a flash tube 41 for emitting flash light, a reflector 42 for reflecting the flash light emitted from the flash tube 41, a lens member 43 arranged ahead of the flash tube 41 inside the reflector 42, and having a positive diopter and which is relatively shifted in the optical axis direction, with reference to the light emitting group 40, constituted of the light emitting tube 41 and the reflector 42, and a protector 44 arranged in the opening part of the reflector 42.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a strobe device in which light distribution of strobe light is devised, and a camera provided with the strobe device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various techniques have been proposed to improve the light distribution of strobe light emitted from a strobe device. For example, in a strobe device having a flash tube that emits flash light and a reflection shade that reflects the flash emitted from the emission tube, the light distribution angle of the strobe light is narrowed by moving the emission tube relatively close to the reflection shade. Or by moving the arc tube away from the reflector to widen the light distribution angle of the strobe light so that the light distribution of the strobe light is optimally applied to the subject according to the shooting conditions. There has been proposed a strobe device that adjusts the speed.

[0003] Further, a light-emitting portion in which a protector having a light-collecting effect is arranged outside a light-emitting and reflecting portion composed of a light-emitting tube and a reflector, is provided with the light-emitting and reflecting portion relatively close to the protector. There is also proposed a strobe device of a type in which the light distribution of the strobe light is adjusted so as to be optimally applied to a subject by widening the light distribution or narrowing the light distribution angle by relatively increasing the distance. This type of strobe device is most often used in a camera having a built-in zoom lens. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the configuration and light distribution of the light emitting unit provided in the strobe device will be described.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a light emitting section provided in a conventional flash device.

[0005] A light emitting section 100 shown in FIG.
The light emitting / reflecting unit 110 includes a light emitting / reflecting shade 112 and a protector 120 disposed outside the light emitting / reflecting unit 110. As shown in FIG. 7, the light emitting / reflecting unit 110 is relatively close to the protector 120, and when flash light is emitted from the light emitting tube 111 in such a state, the light from the light emitting tube 111 and the reflection shade Both the flash reflected at 112 is collected by the protector 120 and irradiated over a wide range. In this way, flash photography on the wide side (wide angle side) is performed.

[0008] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the light-emitting reflector in the light-emitting section shown in FIG. 7 is relatively moved away from the protector to narrow the light distribution angle.

[0008] As shown in FIG. 8, the light emitting / reflecting section 110 is kept away from the protector 120, and when flash light is emitted from the light emitting tube 111 in such a state, the light emitting tube 1
A part of the flash light emitted from 11 (direct light 130) and the flash light (indirect light 131) reflected by the reflector 111 are collected by the protector 120 and irradiated within a narrow range. In this manner, flash photography on the tele side (telephoto side) is performed.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-73119 discloses that
A strobe device having a protector having a light-condensing effect inside a reflection shade has been proposed.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a light emitting section of a strobe device proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-73119.

[0010] A light emitting tube set 200 shown in FIG.
10, a reflection shade 220, and a protector 230. The reflection shade 220 has a dome portion 221, a flat portion 222, and an opening 223. The arc tube 210
It is arranged so as to be in contact with the inner wall of the dome portion 221.
The protector 230 includes an arc tube 210 on the inner wall of the flat portion 222 of the reflection shade 220 on the opening 223 side.
And a predetermined distance from each other. This light emitting section 20
In the case of 0, when a flash is emitted from the arc tube 210, the flash is evenly distributed by the protector 230, and the intersection of the flashes is prevented. For this reason, it is possible to obtain strobe light with a good light distribution balance.

[0011]

However, in the above-described strobe apparatus of the type in which the light distribution of the strobe light is adjusted by moving the arc tube relatively close to or away from the reflection shade, the light distribution angle is changed. There is a problem that the adjustment width cannot be made too large. Further, it is very difficult to move the arc tube while holding it in a stable state.

Further, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8,
In the case of a strobe device that adjusts the light distribution of the strobe light by moving the light emitting / reflecting part relatively closer to or farther from the protector, in particular, the reflector is positioned relatively to the protector in order to shoot on the tele side. When the distance is increased, the amount of light (light 132 shown in FIG. 8) that does not enter the protector and is scattered outside the angle of view increases, resulting in a decrease in light effectively reaching the angle of view. In addition, in order to eliminate the dissipated light, it is necessary to increase the size of the reflector and the size of the protector, which causes a problem that the size of the device incorporating the strobe device is hindered.

Further, while the light quantity distribution obtained by the direct light radiated from the arc tube and directly incident on the protector is relatively efficiently condensed at the center within the field of view, the light is once reflected by the reflector. After that, the light amount distribution obtained by the indirect light incident on the protector has a tendency to largely deviate from the central part in the shooting angle of view, and sometimes the light escapes out of the shooting angle of view and becomes wasteful light. It has been almost impossible to appropriately control the light quantity distribution by the light and the indirect light within the angle of view.

As described above, the configuration of the conventional strobe light emitting section has a performance problem that good light distribution performance cannot be obtained.

In the strobe device proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-73119 and provided with a protector having a condensing effect inside the reflector, the distance between the arc tube and the protector is constant, so that the photographing condition is not improved. There is a problem that it is difficult to adjust so as to obtain an optimal light distribution angle in accordance with the above.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention can adjust the light distribution angle of the strobe light over a wide range with a compact structure, and makes the light amount distribution within the photographing view angle uniform.
Furthermore, the effective light quantity within the shooting angle of view is increased by eliminating light that is scattered outside the shooting angle of view, especially on the telephoto side (telephoto side), and good light distribution performance is obtained while ensuring the miniaturization of the strobe light emitting unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a strobe device that extends a strobe light reach distance and a camera equipped with the strobe device.

[0017]

According to the present invention, there is provided a strobe device according to the present invention, comprising: a light emitting unit comprising a light emitting tube for emitting flash light; and a reflection shade for reflecting the flash light emitted from the light emitting tube. A lens member having a positive diopter disposed in the reflector and in front of the arc tube, the lens member being displaced in the optical axis direction relative to the light emitting unit set. And

In the strobe device of the present invention, a lens member having a positive diopter (refractive power), which is arranged inside a reflection shade, is moved in the optical axis direction with respect to a light-emitting unit set including an arc tube and a reflection shade. By relatively displacing the strobe light, the light distribution angle of the strobe light can be greatly changed, so that the light distribution angle of the strobe light can be adjusted over a wide range with a compact configuration, and the lens configured as described above. When the member is at a position relatively close to the light emitting unit set on the wide side and at a position far from the tele side, the light radiated from the light emitting tube is not dissipated unnecessarily, and Light can be distributed effectively within the corner. In the former, two kinds of light, direct light directly incident on the lens member and indirect light reflected once by the reflection shade, and reflected by the reflection shade are incident and subjected to a refraction effect by the lens member, and then directed toward the subject. In the latter case, in addition to the above two types of light, reflected light that is another light that passes through the space between the lens member and the reflection shade without passing through the lens member and is reflected by the reflection shade is reflected on the subject. The light is distributed toward. Since the light emitted from the arc tube is distributed toward the subject along a plurality of paths in this way, it is possible to reduce the difference in light amount in the boundary region between the light distributions composed of the plurality of lights. Unlike conventional strobe light-emitting units that do not have such a displaceable lens member, they can illuminate the field of view with a smooth distribution of light quantity and without causing unnecessary light to dissipate. Can bring effects.

Here, it is preferable that the light emitting unit set further includes a cover (protector) that covers the front surface and transmits light emitted from the light emitting tube.

When such a protector is provided in the light emitting unit set, the light emitting tube and the lens member constituting the light emitting unit set can be protected.

In a preferred embodiment, the protector has a positive lens effect.

For example, when a strobe device is provided in a telephoto camera with a multifocal lens, it is necessary to further narrow the light distribution. The thickness of the member increases, which causes a problem in that the lens member is obstructed in placing the lens member in a relatively narrow space of the reflection shade. In addition, when such a thick lens member is made into Fresnel, adjacent divided steps become large, and light distribution unevenness occurs at that portion. In such a case, the thickness of the lens member can be reduced by providing a positive lens effect to the protector serving to protect the arc tube and the lens member and sharing the positive diopter of the lens member.
Therefore, the above-mentioned obstacles and light distribution unevenness can be solved.

Further, it is a preferable embodiment that the protector has a negative lens effect.

When a wide-range camera with a multifocal lens is provided with a strobe device, it is necessary to further widen the light distribution in the camera. In this case, the protector has a negative lens effect, and the lens member has By sharing the negative diopter, it is possible to solve the above-mentioned obstacles and uneven light distribution.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera including a photographing lens having a variable focal length and a strobe device, wherein the strobe device emits a light emitting tube for emitting a flash light and a flash light emitted from the light emitting tube. A light-emitting unit set consisting of a reflecting shade that reflects light, and a light-emitting unit set disposed in the reflector and at a position in front of the arc tube in the optical axis direction with respect to the light-emitting unit set corresponding to the focal length of the photographing lens. And a lens member having a positive diopter that is relatively displaced.

Since the camera of the present invention includes the above-described strobe device, the light distribution angle of the strobe light can be adjusted over a wide range with a compact configuration.
Therefore, the subject can be appropriately irradiated with the strobe light over a range from a short distance to a long distance, and the size can be reduced.

Here, it is preferable that the relative displacement of the lens member in the optical axis direction with respect to the light emitting unit set is performed by moving the focal length of the photographing lens to be variable.

When the lens member is moved in conjunction with the change of the focal length of the taking lens, the subject can be more appropriately irradiated with strobe light.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a camera provided with a strobe device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the upper front side.

The camera 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a camera that incorporates an autofocus (AF) device generally called an active type and shoots a photo on a roll-shaped photo film. The autofocus device includes a camera 10
Having an AF light projecting window 12 arranged in the upper front part of the
A light projecting unit that emits light for distance measurement from the light projecting window 12 toward the front of the camera 10, and an AF light receiving window 1 disposed on the front surface of the camera 10 at a predetermined distance from the AF light projecting window 12.
The light emitted from the AF light projecting window 12 to the front of the camera 10 and reflected by the subject and returned by the AF light receiving window 1
3 is provided with a light receiving unit that receives the light from the light receiving unit 3 and receives the light to obtain the distance to the subject.

In the center of the front of the camera 10,
Zoom lens barrel 11 having optical zoom lens 11a inside
Is provided.

Further, the camera 10 is provided with a strobe device 30 having a light emitting unit set 40 which emits a flash in synchronization with photographing, which is provided on the upper surface of the camera 10. The light emitting unit set 40 of the strobe device 30 will be described later.

The camera 10 is also provided with a zoom finder window 14 constituting a zoom finder unit (not shown) and an AE light receiving window 15 for guiding light to a built-in AE sensor for exposure adjustment. further,
A shutter button 18 is provided on the upper surface of the camera 10.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the camera shown in FIG.

On the back of the camera 10, a finder eyepiece window 22 and a zoom operation lever 23 for operating the optical zoom lens 11a to a wide side (close distance side) or a tele side (long distance side) are provided.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a light-emitting unit set constituting the strobe device shown in FIG.

The light emitting unit set 40 shown in FIG. 3 includes a light emitting tube 41 for emitting a flash, a reflector 42 for reflecting the flash emitted from the light emitting tube 41, and a light emitting tube 4 inside the reflector 42.
1, a light emitting unit set 40 having a positive diopter (refractive power) and including a light emitting tube 41 and a reflective shade 42
Lens member 43 displaced relatively in the optical axis direction with respect to
It has. Further, the light emitting unit set 40 is provided with a protector 44 (corresponding to a cover according to the present invention) that covers the front surface on the right side in FIG. 3 and transmits light emitted from the light emitting tube 41.

When the optical zoom lens 11a is operated to the wide side or the tele side by the zoom operation lever 23 (see FIG. 2) inside the reflection shade 42, the focal length of the optical zoom lens 11a is changed. In conjunction with the change, the position is changed relative to the light emitting unit set 40 in the optical axis direction inside the reflection shade 42. FIG. 3 shows the positional relationship of the lens member 43 with respect to the arc tube 41 when the zoom operation lever 23 is operated to the wide side, and the distance A between the arc tube 41 and the lens member 43 is relatively small.

Here, the shutter button 18 (see FIG. 1 or FIG. 2) is operated, and a flash is emitted from the arc tube 41. Then, the lens member 43 having a positive deopter
The direct light 70 from the arc tube 42 and the indirect light 71 that is once reflected and reflected by the reflector 42 are incident and undergo a refraction effect. The former is in the direction of condensing, and the latter is in the direction away from the optical axis. Then, the light passes through the protector 44 and is emitted toward the subject. Here, the diopter and the reflection shade 42 of the appropriate lens member 43 corresponding to the shooting angle of view of the shooting lens.
By setting the curved surface shape of the region, it is possible to perform stroboscopic photography by irradiating a substantially uniform light amount distribution within the photographing surface angle on the wide side (wide angle side).

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the lens member moves to the protector side in the reflection shade as a result of being operated to the tele side in the camera shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, since the lens 42 is moved toward the protector 44 in the reflector 42, the distance B between the arc tube 41 and the lens member 43 is longer than the distance A shown in FIG. large.

In this case, the arc tube 4 is attached to the lens member 43.
After the direct light 70 directly incident from the light source 1 and the indirect light 71 which is reflected once by the reflection shade 42 and then indirectly enters, and undergoes the refraction effect, the former is in the condensing direction and the latter is in the optical axis. The light 72 that has passed through the space between the lens member 43 and the reflector 42 without passing through the lens member 43 and is further reflected by the reflector 42 advances. A total of three types of light are combined, transmitted through the protector 44, and emitted toward the subject. Here, by forming the curved surface shape of the area of the reflection shade 42 so as to be appropriate for the photographing angle of view corresponding to the focal length of the photographing lens, almost the inside of the photographing angle of view also on the tele side (telephoto side). Flash photography can be performed by irradiating with a uniform light amount distribution. .

In the strobe device 40 according to the first embodiment, the lens member 43 having a positive deopter is positioned in the optical axis direction with respect to the light emitting unit set 40 including the light emitting tube 41 and the reflective light shade 42 in the reflection light 42. By changing the relative positional relationship, the light distribution angle of the strobe light can be greatly changed. Since the camera 10 of the present embodiment is provided with such a strobe device 40, the light distribution angle of the strobe light can be adjusted over a wide range with a compact configuration, and the light amount distribution within the photographic field angle is provided. Can be made uniform, and the reach of the strobe light can be extended on the telephoto side (telephoto side). Therefore, the subject can be appropriately irradiated with the strobe light over the range from the wide angle to the telephoto, and the size can be reduced.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a light emitting unit set constituting a strobe device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The same components as those of the light emitting unit set 40 shown in FIG.

The light emitting unit set 50 shown in FIG. 5 is provided with a protector 54 having a positive lens effect. For this reason, the flash light from the lens member 43 and the flash light reflected by the reflection shade 42 are radiated within a narrower range by the positive lens effect of the protector 54. Here, when the positive diopter of the lens member 43 is shared by the protector 54, the thickness of the lens member 43 can be reduced.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a light emitting unit set constituting a flash device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The same components as those of the light emitting unit set 40 shown in FIG.

The light emitting section set 60 shown in FIG. 6 is provided with a protector 64 having a negative lens effect. Therefore, the flash light from the lens member 43 is irradiated over a wider range by the negative lens effect of the protector 64.

In this embodiment, an example of the strobe device built in the camera has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the strobe device of the present invention may be attached to the outside of the camera. .

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention,
With a compact configuration, the light distribution angle of the strobe light can be adjusted over a wide range, the light amount distribution within the field of view is made uniform, and the reach of the strobe light on the telephoto side (telephoto side) can be extended. A possible strobe device and a camera equipped with the strobe device can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a camera provided with a strobe device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the upper front side.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the camera of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a light emitting unit set constituting the strobe device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the lens member moves to the protector side in the reflection shade as a result of being operated to the tele side in the camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a light emitting unit set constituting a strobe device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a light emitting unit set constituting a strobe device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a light emitting unit provided in a conventional flash device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which a light-emitting reflector is relatively moved away from a protector in the light-emitting unit shown in FIG. 7 so that a light distribution angle is narrowed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a light emitting unit of a strobe device proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-73119.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 camera 11 zoom lens barrel 11a optical zoom lens 12 AF light emitting window 13 AF light receiving window 14 zoom finder window 15 AE light receiving window 18 shutter button 22 finder eyepiece window 23 zoom operation lever 30 strobe device 40, 50, 60 light emitting unit set 41 Arc tube 42 Reflector shade 43 Lens member 44, 54, 64 Protector 70 Direct light 71 Indirect light 72 Light not passing through lens member 100 Conventional light emitting unit 111 Arc tube 112 Reflector shade 120 Protector 130 Direct light 131 Indirect light 132 Dispersed light 200 Light-emitting part 210 Light-emitting tube 220 Reflector shade 230 Protector with central convex lens

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A light emitting unit set comprising: a light emitting tube for emitting a flash; and a reflection shade for reflecting the flash emitted from the light emitting tube.
A lens member having a positive diopter disposed in the reflector and at a position in front of the arc tube, wherein the lens member is relatively displaced in the optical axis direction with respect to the light emitting unit set. Characteristic strobe device. 2. The flash device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting unit set further includes a cover that covers a front surface and transmits light emitted from the arc tube. 3. The strobe device according to claim 2, wherein the cover has a positive lens effect. 4. The flash device according to claim 2, wherein the cover has a negative lens effect. 5. An electronic apparatus comprising: a photographing lens having a variable focal length; and a strobe device, wherein the strobe device includes a light emitting tube that emits a flash light and a reflector that reflects the flash light emitted from the light emitting tube. A positive diopter disposed in the reflector and at a position in front of the arc tube and relatively displaced in the optical axis direction with respect to the light emitting unit set in accordance with a focal length of the photographing lens. A camera comprising: a lens member. 6. A relative displacement of the lens member in the optical axis direction with respect to the light emitting unit set is performed by moving the focal length of the photographing lens to be variable.
The described camera.