JP2002277713A - Optical unit for portable information terminal machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable the optical unit of a portable information terminal machine to take a photograph of variable magnification and to prevent the optical unit from being broken due to an impact force, etc., when allowed to fall. SOLUTION: An optical unit 30 to be mounted on the portable information terminal machine is composed of variable-power optical systems 32 and 34 and placed in power varying operation and focusing operation by being moved along the optical axis by inserting and guiding pins 33d and 36d of holding members 33 and 36 holding the optical system along cam grooves 41 and 42 of a cam plate 40; and long through holes 45 and 47 formed around the cam grooves 41 and 42 allow the cam grooves 41 and 42 to move while being deformed to reduce an external impulse force, and the pins 33d and 36d are prevented from falling from the cam grooves 41 and 42.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical unit for a portable information terminal used for a portable telephone or a portable personal computer (hereinafter, a portable telephone, a portable personal computer and the like are collectively referred to as a portable information terminal). In particular, the present invention relates to an optical unit for a portable information terminal capable of photographing a variable magnification of an operator or a surrounding scenery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, wireless communication systems such as wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) have been developed. As the data transfer speed has been improved due to this communication environment, a portable telephone capable of transmitting and receiving image signals has been developed. Personal digital assistants (PDAs) such as telephones or portable personal computers have been developed. As a camera used for transmitting an image signal, a camera (so-called mobile camera) having a retrofit or fixed single focus optical unit is known. On the other hand, in a silver halide type or digital camera equipped with a zoom lens type optical unit, as a measure to prevent damage when an external impact is applied while the lens barrel supporting the lens is protruding, the lens barrel and the driving mechanism are used. A method of increasing the overall strength by using a thicker material and using a highly rigid material has been adopted.

[0003]

By the way, in the conventional optical unit used for the portable information terminal,
In the case of the fixed type, it is always mounted and fixed at a predetermined position, which is an obstacle to miniaturization. On the other hand, in the case of the retrofit type, it is not possible to immediately set a photographable state when photographing is desired. In addition, in the case of a single-focus optical unit, it is necessary to change the photographing distance one by one in order to adjust the photographing range of the subject, which is inconvenient in handling. Furthermore, as a measure to prevent damage due to an external impact, the method of increasing the wall thickness of a member and using a material having high rigidity as in a conventional optical unit increases the weight and size and increases the size of the device. There is a disadvantage that the weight and the size are increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to reduce the size, weight, and simplification of the apparatus while maintaining a wide angle and a wide angle without changing the photographing distance. An object of the present invention is to provide an optical unit for a portable information terminal capable of performing telephoto shooting and preventing breakage or the like even from an external impact or the like.

[0005]

An optical unit for a portable information terminal according to the present invention is used in a portable information terminal having at least a display unit capable of displaying information, and photographs an object to an image sensor. An optical unit for a portable information terminal, wherein the optical unit includes: a plurality of lenses for performing a focusing operation and a zooming operation on an image sensor; a holding member that holds the plurality of lenses; A driving mechanism for moving the plurality of lenses relative to each other by moving in a direction, and a buffering means formed on a part of the driving mechanism for reducing an external impact force.
According to this configuration, when the holding member (for example, the lens barrel) protrudes from the main body of the portable information terminal or the housing provided in the optical unit and an impact force is applied from the outside due to dropping or the like, the driving mechanism is provided. Since the shock absorbing means formed in a part of the optical unit absorbs and relieves the impact force, it is possible to prevent the optical unit from being damaged or the like, and to secure a desired function.

In the above structure, the driving mechanism has a connecting portion formed on the holding member, and a cam plate having a guide path for guiding the connecting portion by a cam action. , A configuration including a lightening portion formed on a part of the periphery can be adopted. According to this configuration, the buffering means is a lightened portion formed on the cam plate, so that the structure can be simplified and the weight can be reduced. Here, the lightening portion is a concept including, in addition to a through hole that completely penetrates, a configuration such as a bottomed groove that reduces the thickness of the cam plate only in that portion. In addition, the guide path is a configuration in which the connecting portion is formed in a concave shape such as a groove or a through hole when the connecting portion is formed in a convex shape, or a convex shape in a case where the connecting portion is formed in a concave shape. This is a concept that also includes the formed configuration.

In the above construction, the connecting portion is a cylindrical pin, the guide path is a bottomed cam groove for slidably receiving the pin, and the lightening portion is formed penetrating around the cam groove. The opposing surfaces that define the through-holes are formed as inclined surfaces that perform a wedge action to press the cam grooves against the pins when they come into contact with each other. . According to this configuration, when an externally applied impact force is applied to the holding member, the through-hole region is deformed to absorb and reduce the impact force.
In this deformation process, the cam grooves are pressed toward the pins by the opposing inclined surfaces contacting each other and forming a wedge action. Thereby, it is possible to more reliably prevent the pin from falling out of the cam groove.

In the above configuration, the holding member includes a first holding member located on the subject side and a second holding member located on the imaging element side.
A holding member, and the guide path has a first guide path for guiding a connecting part of the first holding member, and a second guiding path for guiding a connecting part of the second holding member. A configuration in which the first holding member is formed at least around the first guide path except for a part of the vicinity where the connecting portion of the first holding member is located when the first holding member is in the most protruding state. Can be. According to this configuration, that is, at least a lightening portion is formed in the first guide path that supports the first holding member that directly receives an external impact force, and a place where the lightening portion is formed is at this time. Connection part of first holding member (for example, pin)
The area near the connecting part to which the impact force is directly applied is increased to some extent to prevent excessive deformation, and the appropriate deformation of other areas By absorbing and relaxing the impact force, it is possible to prevent the connecting portion from falling off.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 7
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a portable information terminal (here, a mobile phone) equipped with an optical unit according to the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the optical unit as viewed from the rear, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a cam plate, and FIGS. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the cam plate and the pins when the optical unit is at the wide-angle shooting position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the portable telephone has a main body 10 defining an outer contour, a display section (liquid crystal monitor) 11 provided on the surface of the main body 10 and capable of displaying various information related to transmission and reception, and an antenna. 12 and various operation buttons 13
And a zoomable camera unit 20 for photographing a subject
And a signal transmission / reception unit (not shown) arranged inside the main body 10 for performing various signal processing, etc., as its basic configuration.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the camera unit 20 includes an optical unit 30, a crystal filter 22, a face plate 23, a CCD 24 as an image pickup device, a circuit board 25, and the like supported by a housing 21. ing. The optical unit 30 includes three guide shafts 31a, 31b, and 31c fixed in the housing 21 and extending in the optical axis X direction, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, and a guide shaft as shown in FIG. 31a-31c and concave lens 32
And a second holding member 36 for holding the convex lens 34 and the aperture plate 35, and a driving mechanism for driving the first holding member 33 and the second holding member 36 in the optical axis X direction. It is composed of a cam plate 40 and the like that form a part.

The first holding member 33 is, as shown in FIG.
A lens barrel 33a for holding the concave lens 32;
As shown in FIG. 2, a first connecting portion 33b and a second connecting portion 33c are integrally formed in the first connecting portion 33a.
b is slidably connected to the guide shaft 31a, and the second connecting portion 33c is slidably connected to the guide shaft 31c.
Further, a columnar pin 33d as a connecting portion slidably connected to the cam plate 40 is formed integrally with the first connecting portion 33b. As shown in FIG. 4, the second holding member 36 has a lens barrel portion 36a for holding the convex lens 34, and the lens barrel portion 36a has a first connecting portion 36 as shown in FIG.
b and the second connecting portion 36c are integrally formed, the first connecting portion 36b is slidably connected to the guide shaft 31b, and the second connecting portion 36c is slidably connected to the guide shaft 31c. I have. Further, a cylindrical pin 36d as a connecting portion slidably connected to the cam plate 40 is formed integrally with the first connecting portion 36b. The first connecting portions 33b and 36b are fitted on the guide shafts 31a and 31b so as to be slidable and close to each other.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first holding member 33 and the second holding member 36 are supported along the guide shafts 31a to 31c.
The guide is smoothly guided in the optical axis X direction without rattling.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cam plate 40 is formed of a rectangular flat plate, and is vertically reciprocable (V direction) by upper and lower rectangular holes 21a and 21b formed in the housing 21. Has been guided to. The cam plate 40 has, on its side surface, a first cam groove 41 having a bottom and serving as a first guide path which is formed in an inclined linear shape and slidably receives the pin 33d, and has a substantially U-shape. It has a bottomed second cam groove 42 as a second guide path for slidably receiving the pin 36d and an operation portion 43 for manual operation. When the operator grasps the operation unit 43 and moves it in the vertical direction (the direction of the arrow V), the cam plate 40 also moves up and down as a unit, and the first cam groove 41 and the second cam groove 42 hold the first holding member. By exerting a cam action on the member 33 and the second holding member 36, the first holding member 33 (concave lens 32) and the second holding member 36 (convex lens 34) move relatively in the optical axis X direction. The magnification of the subject is made variable with respect to the CCD 24 and a focusing operation is performed.

As shown in FIG. 3, around the first cam groove 41, a penetrating length as a lightening portion (buffering means) extending in a substantially annular shape, leaving a coupling portion 44 located near the lower left end. A hole 45 is formed. Further, a through-hole 47 as a lightening portion (buffer) extending substantially annularly around the second cam groove 42, leaving a coupling portion 46 located near the lower end.
Are formed.

The through-hole 45 and the through-hole 47 are formed by the impact force transmitted via the pins 33d and 36d when the first holding member 33 and the second holding member 36 receive an impact force or the like from the outside. This is for allowing the first cam groove 41 and the second cam groove 42 to move. This first cam groove 4
The movement of the first and second cam grooves 42 absorbs and reduces the impact force. That is, due to this buffering action, the pin 33d of the first holding member 33 and the pin 3d of the second holding member 36
6d can be prevented from falling off from the first cam groove 41 and the second cam groove 42.

Here, as shown in FIG.
When the pin 33d is at the position A and the pin 36d is at the position A 'with respect to the first and second cam grooves 42, the first holding member 33 and the second holding member 36 are connected to the main body 1 as shown in FIG.
0 is in the retracted position from the surface of
When the pin 36d is at the position B 'and the pin 36d is at the position B', the first
When the holding member 33 and the second holding member 36 are in the telephoto shooting position slightly protruding from the surface of the main body 10 as shown in FIG. 5, when the pin 33d is in the C position and the pin 36d is in the C 'position. , The first holding member 33 and the second holding member 36
Is located at the wide-angle shooting position most protruding from the surface of the main body 10 as shown in FIG.

Therefore, when the first holding member 33 is at the most protruding wide-angle shooting position, it is most susceptible to external impact. Therefore, around the first cam groove 41, when the first holding member 33 protrudes most from the main body 10, the coupling portion 44
Are provided, and a through-hole 45 is formed in another region. Thus, the vicinity of the pin 33d to which an external impact force is directly applied increases rigidity to some extent to prevent excessive deformation, and absorbs and reduces the impact force by appropriate deformation in other regions, so that the pin 33d is reduced. The first cam groove 41 is prevented from falling off.

In the above configuration, the first of the cam plate 40 is
The holding member is moved in the optical axis X direction by the cam groove 41 and the second cam groove 42, the pin 33 d of the first holding member 33, the pin 36 d of the second holding member 36, and the plurality of lenses 32, 3.
4 is formed with a drive mechanism for causing relative movement. In addition, the through-hole 45 formed around the first cam groove 41 and the through-hole 4 formed around the second cam groove 42
7 forms a buffer means for reducing an external impact force.

By the way, the lightening portion as a buffer means
Not limited to the through-hole completely hollowed out as described above,
If the rigidity around the first cam groove 41 and the second cam groove 42 is reduced to facilitate elastic deformation, the groove may be formed as a bottomed groove, or may be formed continuously in an annular shape. A configuration in which a plurality of through holes are provided discontinuously without being provided may be employed. In particular, when the first guide path and the second guide path are formed not as bottomed grooves but as elongated through holes,
It is preferably formed as a bottomed groove or a plurality of discontinuous through-holes as described above.

Next, the operation of the optical unit according to this embodiment will be described. First, in the non-operation state,
As shown in FIG. 1, the operation unit 43 is located at the lower end, and the optical unit 30 (first holding member 33) is retracted from the surface of the main body 10 (initial position) as shown in FIG. 4.
It is in. At this time, the cam plate 40 is located at the downward moving end in the V direction, and the pins 33d and 36d are located at positions A and A 'shown in FIG. 7, respectively. In this state, if the portable information terminal device is dropped and an impact force is applied from the outside, the optical unit 30 (the first holding member 33) can be prevented from directly colliding as much as possible, but the first holding force due to the inertia force at the time of falling. The member 33, the second holding member 36, and the cam plate 4
It is conceivable that a relative movement occurs between zero and zero. At this time, the first cam groove 4 is formed by the action of the through-holes 45 and 47.
The movement of the first and second cam grooves 42 absorbs and reduces the impact force. This prevents the pins 33d and 36d from falling off.

Next, when the operator moves the operation unit 43 to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 (operation unit 43 '), the cam plate 40 rises by a predetermined distance from the lowermost end, and the optical unit 30 ( As shown in FIG. 5, the first holding member 33) is positioned at the photographing position at the telephoto end slightly protruding from the surface of the main body 10. At this time, the pins 33d and 36d are located at positions B and B 'shown in FIG. In this state, when the portable information terminal is dropped and the first holding member 33 collides and an impact force is applied to push the first holding member 33 from the outside, the action of the through slot 45 particularly causes the first cam groove 41. Moves rightward in FIG. 7 and the second cam groove 42 moves by the action of the through-hole 47, so that the impact force due to the collision and the impact force due to the inertia force or the second holding member 36 is moved to the first holding member 36. 33 absorbs and relaxes the impact force caused by being pushed by each. This prevents the pins 33d and 36d from falling off.

Further, when the operator moves the operation unit 43 to a position (operation unit 43 '') shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the cam plate 40 is located at the uppermost end, and the optical unit 30 (first holding member 33) captures the wide-angle side end most protruding from the surface of the main body 10 as shown in FIG. Be positioned. At this time, the pins 33d, 36d
Are located at positions C and C ′ shown in FIG. In this state, when the portable information terminal is dropped, it is most likely to receive an external impact force such as pushing in the first holding member 33, and the impact force tends to increase. At this time, the first cam groove 41 is appropriately moved rightward in FIG. 7 by the action of the through-hole 45 formed in the other region while the coupling portion 44 suppresses excessive deformation due to the impact force. , The second cam groove 4 by the action of the through slot 47.
The movement of 2 absorbs and reduces the relatively large impact force due to the collision and the impact force due to the inertial force. This prevents the pins 33d and 36d from falling off.

In the optical unit 30,
By simply adjusting the amount of movement of the operation unit 43, it is possible to change the photographing range without changing the photographing distance.
The wide-angle shooting can be continuously switched, and the above-described buffering action can be obtained regardless of the shooting position of the optical unit 30.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a through-hole as a buffer means. In this embodiment,
Two opposing surfaces 45a ', 45b' and 45a 'defining a through slot 45' formed around the first cam groove 41.
, 45b '' are formed as inclined surfaces having a predetermined inclination angle. In other words, by the external impact force,
The pin 33d and the first cam groove 41 move rightward as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
5b ', the first cam groove 41 is pressed toward the pin 33d by the wedge action of both. On the other hand, when the pin 33d and the first cam groove 41 move leftward in FIG. 8 due to an impact force such as an inertia force, and the opposing surface 45a '' contacts the opposing surface 45b '',
The first cam groove 41 is similarly pressed toward the pin 33d by the wedge action of both. Thus, the facing surfaces 45a ', 45b' and 45a ", 45b
Due to the wedge action of '',
The falling off of the pin 33d is more reliably prevented. Although only the relationship between the first cam groove 41 and the pin 33d is shown here, it goes without saying that the second cam groove 42 and the pin 36d
It can be applied to the relationship.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a portable personal computer. As shown, the portable personal computer includes a main body 100 defining an outer contour, a display unit (liquid crystal monitor) 110 provided on the surface of the main body 100 and capable of displaying various information,
Various operation buttons 120, a camera unit 20 for photographing a subject, an information signal processing unit (not shown) arranged inside the main body 100 and processing various information signals, and the like are provided as basic components. I have. The camera unit 20 is provided with the above-described optical unit 30, the cam plate 40, the elongated through holes 45 and 47 as buffer means, and performs the same zooming operation and buffer function as described above.

In the embodiment described above, the cam plate 4 is used as a drive mechanism for changing the magnification of the optical unit 30.
Although a cam action of 0 is employed, the present invention is not limited to this, and other mechanisms can be employed, and other buffer means corresponding to the other mechanisms can be employed. Also, the optical unit 30 (camera unit 20) has been described as an example in which the optical unit 30 (camera unit) is integrally incorporated into the portable information terminal from the beginning. The present invention can be similarly applied to a detachable one.

[0027]

As described above, according to the optical unit for a portable information terminal of the present invention, a variable-magnification optical system is adopted as the optical unit, and a part of a drive mechanism for driving this optical system. By forming a buffer means for reducing the external impact force, it is possible to perform telephoto to wide-angle shooting without changing the shooting distance, especially when the optical system protrudes, Even when an external impact force is applied, the buffering means can absorb and mitigate the impact force, thereby preventing damage to the optical unit, etc.
Expected functions can be secured. Further, in particular, by adopting a cam plate having a cam groove as a drive mechanism and forming a lightening portion (for example, a through-hole) around the cam groove as a buffering means, the structure is simplified, reduced in size and reduced in weight. Etc. can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B show the appearance of a mobile phone provided with an optical unit according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a partial side view.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the internal structure of the optical unit as viewed from the rear.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a cam plate forming a part of a driving mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the optical unit and showing a state where the optical unit is collapsed.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the optical unit and showing a state where the optical unit protrudes and is located at a photographing position at a telephoto end.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the optical unit and showing a state in which the optical unit is most protruded and is at a photographing position at a wide-angle end.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a positional relationship among a cam plate, a holding member, and a pin.

8A and 8B show another embodiment of a lightening portion as a buffering means, wherein FIG. 8A is a partial side sectional view, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing in a part.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view in which the present invention is applied to a portable personal computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 100 Main body 11, 110 Display unit 20 Camera unit 21 Housing 24 CCD (image pickup device) 30 Optical unit 31a, 31b, 31c Guide shaft 32 Concave lens 33 First holding member 33d Pin (connecting unit, drive mechanism) 34 Convex lens 36 Second holding member 36d Pin (connecting portion, drive mechanism) 40 Cam plate (drive mechanism) 41 First cam groove (first guide path) 42 Second cam groove (second guide path) 43 Operating section 44, 46 Coupling section 45, 45 ', 47 Elongated through hole (lightening portion, buffer means) 45a', 45a '', 45b ', 45b' 'Opposing surface

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An optical unit for a portable information terminal for use in a portable information terminal having at least a display unit capable of displaying information, for photographing a subject with respect to an image sensor, wherein the optical unit comprises: A plurality of lenses for performing a focusing operation and a zooming operation on the imaging element; a holding member for holding the plurality of lenses; and a moving member that moves in the optical axis direction to move the holding member relative to the plurality of lenses. An optical unit for a portable information terminal, comprising: a driving mechanism for performing a movement; and a buffer formed on a part of the driving mechanism to reduce an external impact force. 2. The driving mechanism has a connecting portion formed on the holding member, and a cam plate having a guide path for guiding the connecting portion by a cam action. 2. The optical unit for a portable information terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a lightening portion formed at a part around the guide path. 3. The connecting portion is a cylindrical pin, the guide path is a bottomed cam groove for slidably receiving the pin, and the lightening portion is provided around the cam groove. The opposed surfaces defining the through-hole are formed on an inclined surface having a wedge action so as to press the cam groove against the pin when they come into contact with each other. 3. The optical unit for a portable information terminal according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The holding member has a first holding member located on the subject side and a second holding member located on the imaging element side, and the guide path is connected to the first holding member. A first guide path for guiding the connecting portion, and a second guide path for guiding the connecting portion of the second holding member.
A guide path, wherein the lightening portion removes a part of the first holding member except for a part of the vicinity where a connecting portion of the first holding member is located when the first holding member is most protruded. 4. The optical unit for a portable information terminal according to claim 2, wherein the optical unit is formed at least around a guideway.