JP2002196399A - Stroboscopic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stroboscopic device which does not cause malfunction even when discharge by static electricity is applied to the metallic outside member of a strobe light emission part from the outside. SOLUTION: The strobe light emission part 8 made to pop up from the stroboscopic device 7 is covered with a lower case 16 and an upper case 18 formed of non-conductive material such as plastic. The plate-like metallic outside member 38 is fixed on the upper surface of the upper case 18. A hole 18A is formed on the upper case 18, a notch 16A is formed on the lower case 16, and a ground member 40 connecting the member 38 with a conductive base member 20 is arranged in the space formed by them. The base member 20 is connected to the ground of the camera main body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a strobe device, and more particularly to a strobe device applied to a camera having a metal exterior.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the number of small cameras using a high-quality metal exterior has been increasing for differentiation. In addition, it is almost common sense to incorporate a zoom lens or strobe for high functionality, and many zoom-out projection barrels have a pop-up strobe mechanism to prevent vignetting of strobe light. (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
166620, JP-A-10-228050, etc.).

[0003]

By the way, in a miniaturized pop-up type camera with a strobe, a strobe circuit is arranged near the strobe discharge tube due to an arrangement space. A voltage may be applied to the trigger electrode of the strobe discharge tube via a gap between the strobe circuit and an unexpected situation such as the strobe discharge tube emitting light may occur. For this reason, the case of the strobe light-emitting portion that holds the strobe discharge tube, the reflector, the strobe lens, and the like is generally formed entirely of a non-conductive material such as plastic.

When a metal exterior is used in a camera in which the case of the strobe light emitting unit is formed of a non-conductive material as described above, the strobe light emitting unit is externally stored in the storage position due to design. On the exposed case surface of the flash unit (the part visible from the outside)
A metal exterior member (metal exterior member) of the same quality as the exterior of the camera body is provided.

[0005] However, when the strobe light emitting portion is popped up and set at the exposure position, the metal exterior member of the strobe light emitting portion is separated from the camera body. When given, there is a problem that the probability of occurrence of an accident such as a strobe discharge tube emitting light or a spark running between the metal exterior member and the camera body and the camera running away is high. Such a phenomenon is particularly noticeable in a pop-up type strobe in which the strobe light-emitting portion swings up and moves upward.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when the strobe light emitting portion is set at the exposure position, discharge due to static electricity or the like is discharged to the metal exterior member of the strobe light emitting portion separated from the camera body. An object of the present invention is to provide a strobe device that does not malfunction even when given from outside.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the strobe light emitting portion is provided in a storage position where the strobe light emitting portion is stored in the camera body and an exposure position where the strobe light emitting portion is projected from the camera body. A movable pop-up strobe device in which a metal exterior member is provided in the strobe light emitting portion, wherein a connecting means for electrically connecting the exterior member to the ground of the camera body is provided. It is characterized by.

[0008] The invention described in claim 2 is the first invention.
Wherein the strobe device includes a base member installed on the camera body and movably supporting the strobe light emitting unit between the storage position and the exposure position. A part of the conductor is connected to the exterior member, and another part of the conductor is connected to the base member.

The invention described in claim 3 is the same as the invention in claim 2
In the invention described in the above, the connecting means provides a hole or a groove in a case of the strobe light emitting unit formed of a non-conductive material, and a part of the conductor is provided on the back side of the exterior member through the hole or the groove. In addition to the connection, another part of the conductor is connected to the base member.

[0010] Further, the invention according to claim 4 is based on claim 2.
Alternatively, in the invention according to the third aspect, the base member is formed of a conductive plastic material.

According to the present invention, the connecting means for electrically connecting the metal exterior member of the strobe light emitting section to the ground of the camera body is provided. Even if given by
The charges can be safely released to the ground of the camera body, and malfunctions of the strobe device and the camera can be reliably prevented.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing the external structure of an electronic still camera (digital camera) to which a strobe device according to the present invention is applied. As shown in these figures, a camera body 1 of an electronic still camera is formed in a rectangular box shape, and a lens barrel 2, a finder window 3, a strobe light control sensor 4, A self-timer lamp 5 and the like are provided, and a finder eyepiece, a liquid crystal display panel, operation keys, and the like are provided on a rear portion (not shown) of the camera body 1. A release switch 6, a power switch, and the like are provided on the upper surface of the camera body 1, and a pop-up strobe device 7 according to the present invention is provided at an upper right corner when viewed from the front. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the strobe light emitting portion 8 of the strobe device 7 is stored in the storage position (light emission prohibited state), and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the strobe light emitting portion 8 is popped up from the storage position to the exposure position (light emission). (Possible state). Note that switching between the storage position and the exposure position of the strobe light emitting unit 8 is performed, for example, by pressing a predetermined pop-up button provided on a side surface of the camera body 1 (a side surface opposite to the illustrated side surface). When the light-emitting unit 8 pops up from the storage position in FIG. 1 to the exposure position in FIG. 2 and pushes the upper surface of the strobe light-emitting unit 8 set in the exposure position in FIG. The front side of the strobe light emitting unit 8 is housed in the camera body 1 so that the strobe light emitting unit 8 is locked at the housed position shown in FIG.

By the way, the surface of the camera body 1 of the electronic still camera is covered with a metal exterior (covered with a metal exterior cover) except for a portion where operation parts and display parts are arranged. In order to obtain a uniform design as a whole, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface of the strobe light emitting unit 8 which can be seen from the outside when the strobe light emitting unit 8 is stored in the storage position is made of the same material as the outer cover of the camera body 1. Plate-shaped exterior member made of (metal) (metal exterior member)
Is glued.

On the other hand, the case for holding the strobe discharge tube, the reflector and the strobe lens of the strobe light emitting section 8 is made of a non-conductive material such as plastic, so that the strobe light emitting section 8 is popped up at the exposed position. In this state, the metal exterior member of the strobe light emitting unit 8 is not in contact with the metal exterior of the camera body 1.

In this type of conventional camera, the metal exterior member of the strobe light emitting portion 8 is electrically insulated from the camera body 1, so that the strobe light emitting portion 8 is set at the exposed position. When a discharge due to static electricity or the like is externally applied to the metal exterior member of the strobe light emitting unit 8, the strobe discharge tube of the strobe light emitting unit 8 emits light,
A spark is generated between the metal exterior member of the strobe light emitting unit 8 and the camera body 1, which may cause a malfunction of the camera. However, in the strobe device 7 according to the present invention, since the metal exterior member of the strobe light emitting section 8 is connected to the ground of the camera body 1 by a ground member (conductor) described later, the above-described problem does not occur. It is configured as follows.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing constituent members of the strobe device 7 unitized, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are side views showing the structure of the strobe device 7 assembled. . In FIG. 3, some of the components of the strobe device 7 are omitted, and in FIGS. 4 and 5, the shapes of the components are shown in a simplified manner.

The strobe light emitting section 8 of the strobe device 7 includes a well-known strobe discharge tube 10, a reflector 12 and a strobe lens 14 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, and these members are made of a non-conductive material such as plastic. It is covered with a lower case 16 and an upper case 18 formed of a conductive material, and is held at a predetermined position in these cases 16 and 18.

On the other hand, the base member 20 shown in FIGS.
Is formed in a box shape having an open upper surface, supports the strobe light emitting unit 8 so that pop-up by a pop-up mechanism described later can be performed, and when the strobe light emitting unit 8 is moved to the storage position, the strobe light emitting unit 8 is It has a space to house it inside. The base member 20 is formed of, for example, a conductive plastic material mixed with carbon or metal fiber as a filler, or a metal, and is electrically connected to the ground (the outer case or the like) of the camera body 1. Also, the strobe light emitting unit 8 is located at the storage position (the base member 2).
0, the upper surface of the flash unit 8 (the metal exterior member 38 on the upper surface of the flash unit 8 described below) is flush with the upper surface of the camera body 1 as shown in FIG. The base member 20 is installed at a predetermined position in the case of the camera body 1 so as to be arranged.

The strobe light emitting section 8 and the base member 20 are connected by a link member 22 formed in a U-shape as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, and a cam mechanism. The two support arms 24 on both sides of the link member 22 have holes 24A, 24A at the distal end, holes 24B at the proximal end, respectively.
24B are formed, and holes 24A, 24A at the distal end are formed.
Are rotatably engaged with pins 26, 26 protruding from both sides of the lower case 16 of the strobe light emitting portion 8, respectively.
On the other hand, a common shaft member 28 is inserted into the holes 24A, 24A at the base end, and the shaft member 28 is fixedly disposed inside the base member 20, so that the base end of the link member 20 is connected to the base member. 20 is rotatably supported.

On both inner side surfaces of the base member 20,
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
Are formed, and the lower case 16 of the strobe light emitting section 8 is formed.
The cam pins 32, 32 project from both sides of the base member 20, and the cam pins 32, 32
0, 30 are engaged.

Accordingly, the strobe light emitting section 8 is supported by the base member 20 and the cam mechanism formed by the engagement between the cam pin 32 and the cam groove 30, and the link member 22 extends through the hole 24 B at the base end of the base member 20. When pivoted about the shaft, the cam pins 32 of the lower case 16 move along the cam grooves 30 of the base member 20 accordingly. When the strobe light emitting unit 8 is stored in the storage position as shown in FIG. 4, the link member 22 rotates clockwise (in a direction in which the strobe light emitting unit 8 is exposed) around the base end hole 24B as an axis. Then, the cam pin 32 of the lower case 16 moves to the front end side of the cam groove 30 along the cam groove 30 of the base member 20, and FIG.
The strobe light emitting portion 8 is exposed to the exposed position such that the front surface of the strobe light emitting portion 8 is substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the base member 20 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, in a state where the strobe light emitting unit 8 is exposed to the exposure position as shown in FIG.
Is rotated in the counterclockwise direction about the hole 24 </ b> B at the base end (the direction in which the strobe light emitting unit 8 is stored), the cam pins 32 of the lower case 16 follow the cam grooves 30 along the cam grooves 30 of the base member 20. The electronic flash unit 8 is moved to the end side, and the flash unit 8 is stored in the storage position so that the upper surface of the flash unit 8 is parallel to the upper surface of the base member as shown in FIG.

Here, the pop-up mechanism will be described. A coil spring (not shown) is inserted through a shaft member 28 which supports a hole 24B at the base end of the link member 22, and the link member 22 is biased by this coil spring. In FIGS. 4 and 5, it is urged in a clockwise direction, that is, a direction in which the strobe light emitting unit 8 is exposed. Also,
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, on the inner side surface of the base member 20, a lock member 34 for locking the strobe light emitting portion 8 at the storage position is rotatable around a shaft 36 fixed to the inner side surface of the base member 20. It is arranged in. And the lock member 3
A coil spring (not shown) is inserted and disposed in the shaft 36 that supports the lock member 4, and the lock member 34 is urged clockwise in the drawing by the urging force of the coil spring. The lock member 34 is formed with an L-shaped locking portion 34A, while the support arm 24 of the link member 22 is provided with the strobe light emitting portion 8 in the storage position. V-shaped protruding piece 24 engaged with locking portion 34A
C is provided, and when the locking portion 34A of the lock member 34 is engaged with the protruding piece 24C of the link member 22, the strobe light emitting portion 8 is locked at the storage position as shown in FIG. Has become. On the other hand, the lower end side of the lock member 34
When a pop-up button that projects from the hole on the lower surface of the base member 20 and is arranged on the outer surface of the camera body 1 is pressed,
The lock member 34 is urged in a counterclockwise direction via a mechanism (not shown) against the urging force of the coil spring.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, the strobe light emitting section 8 is stored in the storage position, and the locking section 3 of the lock member 34 is locked.
When the pop-up button is pressed in the case where the strobe light emitting portion 8 is locked by the engagement of the projecting piece 24C of the link member 22 and the lock member 34 rotates counterclockwise, The piece 24C comes off the locking portion 34A of the lock member 34. by this,
The link member 22 is rotated clockwise by the urging force of the coil spring acting on the link member 22, and the strobe light emitting portion 8 is popped up to the exposed position as shown in FIG.
In this case, when the projecting piece 24C of the link member 22 comes into contact with a stopper (not shown) protruding from the inner side surface of the base member 20, the strobe light emitting section 8 stops at a predetermined exposure position. I have. Further, the protruding piece 2 of the link member 22 extends from the locking portion 34A of the lock member 34.
When 4C comes off, the rotation of the lock member 34 in the clockwise direction in the figure is also regulated at a predetermined position by a stopper (not shown).

On the other hand, if the user pushes the strobe light emitting unit 8 by hand in the stowed direction in a state where the strobe light emitting unit 8 is popped up to the exposure position, the link member 2
The second protrusion 24C pushes the upper end of the lock member 34 in the counterclockwise direction, and enters the locking portion 34A of the lock member 34. As a result, even if the pressing of the strobe light emitting unit 8 is released, the strobe light emitting unit 8 is kept locked at the storage position as shown in FIG.

The above-described pop-up mechanism is merely an example, and the present invention can be applied to any pop-up mechanism.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a plate-shaped metal exterior member 38 is fixed to the upper surface of the upper case 18 of the strobe light emitting section 8. A hole 18A penetrating the upper and lower surfaces is formed in the upper case 18 (a groove may be used instead of the hole 18A), and a side surface of the lower case 16 communicates with the hole 18A to form a vertically long hole. A cut 16A is formed. A conductive ground member 40 formed in a coil shape is disposed in the hole 18A of the upper case 18 and the cut 16A of the lower case 16, and the upper end of the ground member 40 is provided with a metal exterior through the hole 18A of the upper case 18. It is fixed to the back surface of the member 38. On the other hand, the base member 20 is in contact with the inner side surface at the laterally extending tip of the lower end of the ground member 40. FIG. 6 shows the lower case 16, the upper case 18, and the metal exterior member 3.
8 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the base member 20 and the ground member 40 in an enlarged manner from the front side. The ground member 40 contacts the inner side surface of the base member 20 as shown in FIG. 5 not only in a state where the strobe light emitting portion 8 is stored in the storage position but also in a state where the strobe light emitting portion 8 is popped up in the exposure position. When an electric charge is externally applied to the metal exterior member 38 by static electricity or the like, the electric charge is released to the base member 20 via the ground member 30 and further grounded to the camera body 1 via the base member 20. Is to be escaped. Thereby, the metal exterior member 38
Therefore, malfunction of the strobe device and the camera can be appropriately prevented even when a discharge due to static electricity or the like is given from the outside.

In the above-described embodiment, the metal exterior member 38 is connected to the ground of the camera body 1 by connecting the coil-shaped ground member 40 to the metal exterior member 38 and the base member 20. The member 40 may be of any shape and material as long as it is a conductor, and there is no particular limitation on which part of the metal exterior member 38 the earth member is connected to. Further, when the metal exterior member 38 is connected to the ground of the camera body 1 by the ground member, it is not always necessary to interpose the base member 20, and the ground member may be directly connected to the ground of the camera body 1. When a conductive part is used as a part of the support mechanism or the pop-up mechanism of the strobe light emitting unit 8, this part is used as a part of a grounding member, and a metal is connected through this part. The exterior member 38 may be connected to the ground of the camera body 1.

Further, in the above embodiment, the metal exterior member 38 is attached to the camera body 1 by the grounding member 40 in both the state where the strobe light emitting section 8 is stored at the storage position and the state where the strobe light emission section 8 is exposed at the exposure position. Although the strobe light emitting portion 8 is stored in the storage position, particularly when the metal exterior member 38 does not need to be connected to the ground of the camera body 1 by the ground member 40, it is connected to the ground. The metal exterior member 38 may be connected to the ground of the camera body 1 by the ground member 40 only when the strobe light emitting unit 8 is exposed at the exposure position.

In the above embodiment, the case where the strobe device according to the present invention is applied to an electronic still camera has been described. However, there is no particular limitation on the type of camera to which the present invention is applied. However, it is naturally applicable.

[0031]

As described above, according to the strobe device of the present invention, the connecting means for electrically connecting the metal exterior member of the strobe light emitting portion to the ground of the camera body is provided. Even if a discharge due to static electricity or the like is applied to the metal exterior member from the outside, the charge can be safely released to the ground of the camera body, and malfunction of the strobe device and the camera can be reliably prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an electronic still camera (digital camera) to which a strobe device according to the present invention is applied, showing a state in which a strobe light emitting unit is stored in a storage position. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an electronic still camera (digital camera) to which the strobe device according to the present invention is applied, showing a state in which a strobe light emitting unit is popped up to an exposed position. FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing constituent members of a unitized strobe device.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a configuration of the strobe device, showing a state in which a strobe light emitting unit is stored in a storage position.

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the configuration of the strobe device, and is a diagram illustrating a state where the strobe light emitting unit is popped up at an exposure position.

FIG. 6 is a front sectional view showing an arrangement of a ground member.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Camera body, 7 ... Strobe device, 8 ... Strobe light emission part, 10 ... Strobe discharge tube, 16 ... Lower case, 16A ...
Notch, 18 ... upper case, 18A ... hole, 20 ... base member, 22 ... link member, 30 ... cam groove, 32 ... cam pin, 34 ... lock member 34, 38 ... metal exterior member, 40
… Earth member

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pop-up type flash device movable between a storage position where a strobe light emitting unit is stored in a camera body and an exposure position protruding from the camera body, wherein the strobe light emitting unit is made of metal. A strobe device provided with a member, wherein a connecting means for electrically connecting the exterior member to the ground of the camera body is provided. 2. The strobe device according to claim 1, further comprising: a base member mounted on the camera body, the base member supporting the strobe light-emitting unit movably between the storage position and the exposure position. 2. The flash device according to claim 1, wherein a part of the conductor is connected to the member, and another part of the conductor is connected to the base member. 3. The connecting means has a hole or a groove in a case of the strobe light emitting portion formed of a non-conductive material, and connects a part of the conductor to the back side of the exterior member through the hole or the groove. The strobe device according to claim 2, wherein the other part of the conductor is connected to the base member. 4. The flash device according to claim 2, wherein the base member is formed of a conductive plastic material.