JP2002182283A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inexpensively keep a camera beautiful by using an infrared-light filter which is provided in front of a projection part and a photodetection part for infrared light for range finding even for a light emitting element for a self-timer. SOLUTION: On a colorless transparent protection cover 19 which covers the front of the camera, a light shield layer 20 which has light cutting property and filter parts 23 to 25 which transmit infrared light and suppresses the transmission of visible light other than infrared light are printed. The filter parts 23 and 24 are arranged in front of the photodetection part and projection part for range finding and the filter part 25 is arranged in front of a light emitting diode 17 which blinks when the self-timer is used. In see-through windows 21 and 22, the ground color of the protection cover 19 is exposed as it is.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera in which a projection / reception unit for autofocus and a red light-emitting element for a self-timer are not exposed to the outside together with wiring for connecting them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The self-timer function of a camera is such that a photographer can enter a subject by delaying the operation of a shutter after performing a release operation by about 10 seconds. Some are configured electrically, and others are configured electrically using an electronic circuit such as an IC. In such a camera with a self-timer function, it is usual to notify the subject of the shutter operation timing so that the photographing does not fail. In an electrically configured self-timer, the shutter operates. As the time approaches, the interval at which the warning sound is emitted and the interval at which the light-emitting elements blink are changed.

[0003] A red light emitting diode is generally used as a light emitting element for notifying the shutter operation timing.
This light-emitting diode is arranged as a light-emitting display unit by being exposed through an opening provided on the front side of the camera so that the light can be clearly recognized even by a person who is a subject. However, simply exposing the light emitting diode from the opening portion also exposes complicated wiring for connecting the light emitting diode and the like, thereby deteriorating the design of the appearance of the camera. For this reason, conventionally, a red color filter is separately provided in the light-emitting display section on the front of the camera, or a plastic member having a surface with irregularities to diffuse light is arranged. The light emitting diode can be confirmed to be blinking, and the state of the wiring cannot be seen from the exterior.

There is also known an active type autofocus function camera provided with a light projecting section for emitting infrared light toward a subject and a light receiving section for detecting infrared light reflected from the subject. . The light emitting unit is provided with a light source that emits infrared light and a lens that collects the infrared light and projects the light toward the subject. The light receiving unit includes an infrared light reflected from the subject. And a light sensor for detecting the collected infrared light. The light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit are arranged at a fixed interval in front of the camera facing the subject, and detect that the detection position of infrared light on the optical sensor changes according to the distance between the subject and the camera. The subject distance is measured using the camera, and the taking lens in the lens barrel is moved back and forth to automatically focus.

[0005] A protective cover is provided on the front surface of such a light projecting section and a light receiving section to protect them from dirt and dust. On this protective cover, for example, as described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-42824 and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 5-47931, a filter for suppressing transmission of visible light and transmitting infrared light is disclosed. The complicated wiring structure exposed from the condensing lenses of the light projecting part and the light receiving part and the gap between them is kept invisible from the external appearance, thereby maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the camera.

[0006]

However, in a camera having both a self-timer function and an auto-focus function, the above-described separate methods are employed to hide wiring and the like exposed from these gaps. Therefore, the number of parts increases, which leads to an increase in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and at low cost, a light emitting element for a self-timer, a light emitting part and a light receiving part for distance measurement, and wiring exposed from a gap therebetween are provided at low cost. It is intended to provide a camera that is difficult to see from the camera.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, a finder objective window, a projection / reception unit for distance measurement, and a light-emitting display unit which emits red light when a self-timer is activated are integrally protected. In a camera covered with a cover, this protective cover is made of transparent plastic,
The portion covering the finder window is a transparent window, and the portion covering the light emitting / receiving section and the light emitting display section of the self-timer transmits infrared light and red light and suppresses transmission of visible light other than red light. A filter is formed.

The protective cover is also configured to integrally cover a light meter for measuring the luminance of the subject and a light emitting unit for preventing red-eye which is lit prior to flash emission, and covers these light meter and light emitting unit. The location is a transparent transparent window similar to the location that covers the finder objective window, and the locations except for the transparent window and the filter are covered with a light shielding layer that blocks infrared light and visible light. It is a feature.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A camera 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a black camera body 2 composed of two front and rear covers.
It has a structure in which a camera body with a photographing mechanism is incorporated. A lens barrel 4 holding a photographing lens 3 protrudes from a front surface of the camera body 2, and an operation button 5 and a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an operation state by the operation button 5 to a photographer are provided on an upper surface of the camera body 2. 6, a release button 7 is provided. On the back of the camera body 2, there are provided a battery chamber cover 8 which is opened and closed when a battery serving as a power source of the camera 1 is loaded, a back cover which is opened and closed for loading a photographic film, and the like. Also, a zoom switching button 10 is provided.

Above the lens barrel 4, a strobe light emitting tube 11,
A light projecting lens 12 and a light receiving lens 13 provided in a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit for distance measuring infrared light, a finder window 14, a condenser lens 15 provided in an exposure light measuring unit, and a light emitting unit 1 for preventing red-eye.
6. Light-emitting diode 1 blinks when using self-timer
7 are exposed.

A light collector 18 for condensing and irradiating strobe light is arranged on the front surface of the strobe light emitting tube 11. The strobe light emitting tube 11 automatically emits light by operating the release button 7 when the exposure metering unit detects that the subject brightness is low. Behind the finder window 14, an objective side lens, two moving lenses, an image erecting prism, and the like are provided, and a real image type finder is configured.

The exposure photometer comprises a condenser lens 15 and a CdS disposed behind the condenser lens 15 for receiving light reflected from a subject. When the brightness of the subject is measured by the exposure metering unit, the aperture blade provided behind the photographing lens 3 is operated, and appropriate exposure adjustment is automatically performed. When the red-eye prevention mode is selected by the operation button 5 and the release button 7 is operated when the surroundings of the subject are dark, such as at night, the light-emitting section 16 for red-eye is turned on prior to the operation of the shutter. Emit red light to prevent.

The operation button 5 is provided with a self-timer switch in addition to the red-eye prevention mode switch. After turning on the self-timer switch, release button 7
Pressing sets the shutter to operate after 10 seconds. In this self-timer mode, when the release button 7 is operated, the light emitting diode 17 that emits red light starts blinking. The light emitting diode 17
The blinking cycle is shortened as the moment of the shutter operation approaches, the timing of the shutter operation is notified to the subject, and the light is turned off at the same time as the shutter is released.

A light projecting lens 12 is provided in the light projecting section for distance measurement, and a light emitting diode for emitting infrared light is disposed behind the light projecting lens 12. When the infrared light emitted from the light emitting diode is collected by the light projecting lens 12, it is projected toward the subject. The light receiving lens 13 condenses the reflected light of the infrared light projected toward the subject to a PSD (position detecting element) disposed behind the infrared light. When the subject distance is calculated based on the detection position of the infrared light converged on the PSD, the lens in the lens barrel automatically moves back and forth to adjust the focal length and perform focusing.

As described above, the light projecting lens 12, the light receiving lens 13, the finder window 14, and the condensing lens 1 for exposure metering are used.
5. The red-eye preventing light-emitting part 16 is exposed above the front of the camera 1, and a protective cover 19 for integrally covering these parts and protecting it from dust and dirt is attached to the front. Is done. The protective cover 19 is made of a colorless and transparent plastic molded product.
Printing is performed as shown in FIG. 2 at a position facing the light receiving lens 13.

On the back surface of the protective cover 19 shown in FIG. 2, a light-shielding layer 20 on which light-shielding printing is applied, a transparent window 21 on which the ground color of the protective cover 19 is exposed without any printing, 22, and transmit only infrared light and red light,
Filter portions 23, 24, and 25 are formed on which printing for suppressing transmission of visible light other than red light is performed. The protective cover 19 has firstly the transparent windows 21 and 22 and the filter unit 2.
Printing of the light-shielding layer 20 is performed on portions excluding 3 to 25, and thereafter, printing of the filter units 23 to 25 is performed simultaneously.

The light-shielding layer 20 occupies most of the rear side of the protective cover 19 and has a property of substantially blocking light.
The transparent window 21 is arranged just in front of the finder window 14 and has the same shape as the finder window 14 so that the finder optical path is not blocked.
The transparent window 22 includes a condenser lens 15 for exposure photometry, and
They are arranged so as to be located just in front of the red-eye preventing light-emitting unit 16 so that the photometry of the subject luminance and the light emission for preventing the red-eye phenomenon are not hindered.

The filter section 23 is disposed just in front of the light receiving lens 13 and transmits the infrared light reflected from the subject with little loss, so as not to hinder detection of the infrared light. The filter unit 24 is arranged on the front surface of the light projecting lens 12, transmits the emitted infrared light with little loss, and can project the light toward the subject. Also, the filter unit 2
Reference numeral 5 is disposed on the front surface of the light emitting diode 17 that emits light when the self-timer is used, and transmits red visible light emitted from the light emitting diode 17 with little loss.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the spectral characteristics of the filter sections 23 to 25. The filter parts 23 and 24 that transmit infrared light with a wavelength of 900 nm or more have a transmittance of 95% or more, and the filter part 25 that transmits red visible light with a wavelength of about 600 nm to 800 nm is almost the same. It can be completely transmitted. On the other hand, the wavelength 600
With respect to visible light such as green and blue having a wavelength of nm or less, the transmittance is suppressed to 5% or less. That is, the filter units 23-2
Reference numeral 5 denotes a filter that transmits only red visible light and infrared light.

By using such a protective cover 19, the transmission of infrared light is not hindered in the filter sections 23 and 24, and the red flashing of the light emitting diode 17 is clearly confirmed in the filter section 25. be able to. On the other hand, the transmission of visible light other than red light can be extremely suppressed, so that the appearance hides the light projecting lens 12, the light receiving lens 13, the light emitting diode 17, and a complicated wiring structure that can be seen through these gaps.

In the present invention, the mode can be appropriately changed depending on the positions of the light emitting unit, the light receiving unit, and the light emitting element for the self-timer arranged on the front of the camera. For example, in the case where nothing is arranged other than the light emitting part, the light receiving part, and the light emitting element for the self-timer at the position covered by the protective cover, the entire protective cover allows infrared light and red visible light to pass therethrough. May have a role as a filter for suppressing visible light transmission.

[0023]

As described above, according to the camera of the present invention, when the projection / reception unit for distance measurement and the light emitting element for the self-timer are integrally covered with the protective cover,
Since a filter that transmits only infrared light and red visible light is formed on this protective cover, the light emitting unit, light receiving unit, and light emitting element for the cell timer can perform their respective functions. Since the state of the complicated internal structure with the gap can be made invisible, it is possible to reduce the cost and to keep the appearance clear and to maintain the aesthetic appearance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram when a protective cover attached to a front surface of the camera according to the present invention is viewed from the rear side.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a spectral characteristic of a filter section formed on a protective cover.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 camera 12 light-emitting lens 13 light-receiving lens 14 finder window 15 exposure-light-condensing lens 16 red-eye prevention light-emitting part 17 light-emitting diode 19 protective cover 20 light-shielding layer 21, 22 transparent window 23, 24, 25 filter part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03B 17/18 G03B 3/00 A 2H102

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A camera in which a viewfinder objective window, a light emitting / receiving unit for distance measurement, and a light emitting display unit that emits red light when a self-timer is activated are covered with an integral protective cover, wherein the protective cover is made of transparent plastic. With the configuration, the part covering the finder objective window is a transparent transparent window, and the part covering the light emitting / receiving part and the light emitting display part of the self-timer transmits infrared light and red light, and other than red light. A camera comprising a common filter for suppressing transmission of visible light. 2. The light-emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the protective cover integrally covers a photometric unit for measuring subject luminance and a red-eye preventing light-emitting unit that is turned on prior to flash emission, and covers the photometric unit and the light-emitting unit. The location is a transparent transparent window similar to the location that covers the finder objective window, and the locations other than the transparent window and the filter are covered with a light shielding layer that blocks infrared light and visible light. The camera according to claim 1.