JP2004214109A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely supply air in a fuel cell, without upsizing an electronic apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A lens barrel 6 moves between a first projected position and a second retracted position relative to a case 2 of a digital camera 1. When the lens barrel 6 moves to the first position when using a digital camera 1, the air is stored in a storage part 25 from an air hole 22 on a bottom surface 2A of the case 2 through a battery compartment 12 and the air hole 20. Even if the air hole 22 is temporarily closed with a finger of a user when using the digital camera 1, the fuel cell 23 is supplied with air of the storage part 25 through the air hole 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly, to an electronic device capable of reliably supplying air to a fuel cell.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art As portable electronic devices such as mobile phones have become smaller and more sophisticated, batteries that serve as power sources have been required to have even smaller sizes and larger capacities. Therefore, a small fuel cell having a higher energy density than a lithium-ion battery and the like which are often used at present has been developed and is being put to practical use.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Such fuel cells take in oxygen used for power generation from the atmosphere. Therefore, an electronic device using a fuel cell needs to maintain supply of outside air to the fuel cell in order to continue power generation.
[0004]
Then, in order to supply outside air to the fuel cell, it is conceivable to provide an opening serving as a vent in the external member (case).
[0005]
However, for example, when a camera is assumed as a portable electronic device, the camera is held by the user by hand, so the opening is closed by the hand held by the user, and power supply is particularly required. During use, there has been a problem that air cannot be sufficiently supplied to the fuel cell.
[0006]
Therefore, it is sufficient if the camera can be operated in a short time, so it is sufficient to use it at the same time as a secondary battery and prepare electric means that plays the role of a standby power source, or make the battery room sufficiently large compared to the battery. By increasing the capacity of the battery chamber, it is conceivable to extend the power generation time even when the inflow of outside air stops.
[0007]
However, such a method has a problem that the cost increases and the size of the camera increases.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and it is an object of the present invention to store air inside and supply it to a fuel cell without increasing the size of an electronic device.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the electronic device of the present invention, a moving member that moves between a first position and a second position different from the first position, and the moving member moves from the second position to the first position. And a first opening for taking in air from outside the housing of the electronic device, and a second opening for supplying air from the storage to a battery chamber containing the fuel cell. And an opening.
[0010]
The electronic device is a film camera or a digital camera, and the moving member is a lens barrel that projects to a first position and protrudes from a housing when the film camera or the digital camera is used, thereby moving to a first position and generating a storage unit. be able to.
[0011]
The first opening is provided in the battery compartment, the second opening is provided between the battery compartment and the storage unit, and air from outside the housing of the electronic device is taken in from the first opening. Then, the air passing through the battery compartment and stored in the storage through the second opening may be supplied to the battery chamber through the second opening.
[0012]
The electronic device is a film camera or a digital camera, and the moving member, when using the film camera or the digital camera, moves to the first position by protruding from the housing, and a flash light emitting unit that generates a storage unit. can do.
[0013]
The moving member may be a capsule-type sliding cover that moves to the first position by protruding from the housing when the electronic device is used, and generates a storage unit.
[0014]
The first opening is provided in the storage section, the second opening is provided between the storage section and the battery compartment, and air from outside the housing of the electronic device is taken in from the first opening. The air stored in the storage unit and the air stored in the storage unit may be supplied to the battery chamber through the second opening.
[0015]
In the present invention, air is stored in the storage unit generated by moving the moving member from the second position to the first position, and air from outside the housing is taken in from the first opening. The air in the storage section is supplied to the battery chamber accommodating the fuel cell from the second opening.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the front appearance of the digital camera 1.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, a lens barrel 6 is disposed slightly to the right of the center of the housing 2. The lens barrel 6 holds a photographing lens 7 used for photographing. A shutter button 3 is arranged at the upper end of the digital camera 1 and at the upper left of FIG. The viewfinder 5 is disposed above the lens barrel 6 in the drawing. The user looks into the finder 5, confirms the subject (not shown), presses the shutter button 3 at a predetermined timing, and photographs the subject.
[0018]
In the upper left portion of the lens barrel 6, a flash 4 that emits a flash when the amount of light is insufficient and illuminates the subject is arranged. A battery cover 8 that is opened and closed at the time of maintenance or replacement of the fuel cell 23 (FIG. 3) of the battery chamber 12 (FIG. 2) is provided at the lower left in the drawing of the housing 2.
[0019]
FIG. 2 shows a layout of main components as viewed from the front of the digital camera 1. The battery chamber 12 is located at the lower left of the lens barrel 6 in the drawing, and is disposed on the bottom surface of the digital camera 1. On the left side of the lens barrel 6, a flash condenser 13 for storing power to be supplied to the flash 4 is arranged. A flash circuit 14 for controlling the operation of the flash 4 is disposed on the left side of the flash capacitor 13. A memory card 15 for storing image data of a photographed subject is disposed below the flash circuit 14 and above the battery chamber 12 in the drawing.
[0020]
A lens barrel motor 11 is arranged at the lower right of the lens barrel 6. The rotation of the lens barrel motor 11 is transmitted to the gear 9 via the lens barrel drive gear system 10. The gear 9 meshes with the lens barrel 6 and moves the lens barrel 6 forward and backward when rotated.
[0021]
3 and 4 show a configuration of a vertical section near the lens barrel 6 of the digital camera 1, FIG. 3 shows a state when the lens barrel 6 is retracted (power is off), and FIG. The state when the cylinder 6 protrudes (the power is on). An air hole 22 communicating with the battery chamber 12 is formed on the bottom surface 2A of the housing 2, and an air hole 20 is formed below the fixed barrel 16 holding the lens barrel 6 so as to communicate with the battery chamber 12. Is formed.
[0022]
Inside the lens barrel 6, a shutter unit 19 that controls supply of light from a subject incident through the photographing lens 7 to the image sensor 18 is arranged. Behind the lens barrel 6, a mounting board 17 in which various circuits for controlling the digital camera 1 are incorporated is arranged. An image pickup device 18 that converts a light signal from a subject into an electric signal to generate a digital image is also disposed on the mounting board 17.
[0023]
A water-repellent sheet 24 having both air permeability and water repellency is affixed to the battery chamber 12 side of the air hole 22 so that air can pass therethrough, but water and dust do not enter the battery chamber 12. . Similarly, a water-repellent sheet 21 is attached to the battery chamber 12 side of the air hole 20.
[0024]
When the user turns on a main switch (power switch) (not shown), the lens barrel motor 11 is driven, and the rotation is transmitted to the lens barrel 6 via the lens barrel driving gear system 10 and the gear 9, and the lens barrel 6 is turned on. Projecting, the state shown in FIG. 4 is established, and a storage unit 25 for storing air is generated between the shutter unit 19 and the image sensor 18 on the rear side of the lens barrel 6. growing). Therefore, at this time, the air pressure in the storage unit 25 decreases, and outside air is taken in from the air hole 22, supplied to the storage unit 25 from the air hole 20 via the battery chamber 12, and stored.
[0025]
As a result, when the digital camera 1 is used, even if the air hole 22 is closed by the user's hand, the air in the storage unit 25 is supplied to the battery chamber 12 through the air hole 20 for a while. During this period (while the air hole 22 is closed by the user's hand), the fuel cell 23 can generate power.
[0026]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the digital camera 1 is used (when the power is on), the air accumulated in the storage unit 25 generated by the projection of the lens barrel 6 causes the outside of the digital camera 1 to be discharged. Even if the inflow of air from the fuel cell stops, the power generation of the fuel cell 23 can be continued.
[0027]
FIGS. 5 to 10 show a second embodiment of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the external appearance of the front of the digital camera 41 in a state where the flash 46 is stored in the housing 42. FIG. 6 shows the structure of the digital camera 41 in which the flash 46 projects above the housing 42. 2 shows the configuration of the front appearance.
[0028]
A lens barrel 49 is disposed substantially at the center of the front of the housing 42, and the lens barrel 49 holds a photographing lens 50 used for photographing inside. A shutter button 43 is disposed at the upper end of the digital camera 41 at the upper left of FIG. The viewfinder 44 is disposed above the lens barrel 49 in the figure. The user looks into the viewfinder 44, checks the subject (not shown), presses the shutter button 43 at a predetermined timing, and shoots the subject. In the figure of the lens barrel 49, a flash 46 that emits a flash when the light amount is insufficient and illuminates the subject is arranged at the upper right.
[0029]
When the user operates the pop-up lever 47 to the left in the drawing, the flash 46 is changed from the stored state in FIG. 5 to the protruding state in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, an air hole 45 is formed in the front of the flash 46 of the housing 42. Further, a battery chamber 48 is formed at a position shown by a two-dot chain line in the figure on the right side of the lens barrel 49 inside the housing 42.
[0030]
7 and 8 show the configuration of the hop-up mechanism of the flash 46.
FIG. 7 shows a state in which the flash 46 is stored, and FIG. 8 shows a state in which the flash 46 is projected. As shown in FIG. 7, the pop-up lever 47, which is held by the knob guide rib 54 and slides left and right, is urged rightward in the figure by an urging spring 55. The pop-up lever 47 abuts on the locking portion 56 of the interlocking plate 51 to lock the interlocking plate 51 urged upward in the drawing at the lower position by the urging spring 53.
[0031]
The flash 46 is attached to the upper end of the interlocking plate 51. As a result, the flash 46 slides up and down integrally with the interlocking plate 51. The interlocking plate guide 52 is fitted in the guide groove 51A of the interlocking plate 51. Therefore, the vertical movement of the interlocking plate 51 is guided by the engagement between the guide groove 51A and the interlocking plate guide 52.
[0032]
When the user operates the pop-up lever 47 to the left against the urging force of the urging spring 55, the locking of the locking portion 56 of the interlocking plate 51 by the pop-up lever 47 is released. As a result, when the urging spring 53 is contracted, the interlocking plate 51 and thus the flash 46 are urged upward in the figure, and the state shown in FIG.
The interlocking plate 51 stops at a position where the lower end of the guide groove 51A in the drawing abuts on the lower interlocking plate guide 52 in the drawing.
[0033]
FIG. 9 shows a configuration of a longitudinal section in which the vicinity of the urging spring 53 of the interlocking plate 51 is enlarged. The flash 46 is attached to the upper end of the interlocking plate 51, and the interlocking plate 51 is held by an interlocking plate pressing plate 57. On the rear side (right side in the figure) of the digital camera 41 inside the housing 42, a mounting board 58 in which various circuits for controlling the digital camera 41 are incorporated is arranged. A battery cover 59 that is opened and closed at the time of maintenance or replacement of the fuel cell 60 in the battery chamber 48 is formed on the lower end surface of the housing 42.
[0034]
FIG. 10 shows a configuration of a longitudinal section in which the vicinity of the pop-up lever 47 is enlarged. The user operates the pop-up lever 47 to the left in FIG. 7 (in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 10), and the flash 46 projects to the upper part of the housing 42 (the volume has increased) due to the flash. The outside air is taken into the air hole 63 from the air hole 45 and stored therein. An air hole 62 is formed between the storage section 63 of the housing 42 and the battery chamber 48, and the air of the storage section 63 is supplied to the battery chamber 48 through the air hole 62. Thus, even if the air hole 45 is closed by the user's hand, the fuel cell 60 can generate power for a while using the air in the storage unit 63.
[0035]
A water-repellent sheet 61 having both air permeability and water repellency is affixed to the storage portion 63 side of the air hole 45 to allow air to pass therethrough but prevent water and dust from entering the digital camera 41. . Similarly, a water-repellent sheet 64 is attached to the battery chamber 48 side of the air hole 62.
[0036]
According to the present embodiment, even if the inflow of air from outside the digital camera 41 stops due to the air accumulated in the storage unit 63 caused by the projection of the flash 46, the power generation of the fuel cell 60 can be continued. it can.
[0037]
FIG. 11 to FIG. 14 show a third embodiment of a digital camera to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the front appearance of the digital camera 71 with the capsule cover 74 closed, and FIG. 12 shows the configuration of the front appearance of the digital camera 71 with the capsule cover 74 opened.
[0038]
As shown in FIG. 11, when the digital camera 71 is not used, the capsule cover 74 covers approximately 3/4 of the left side of the entire housing 72 of the digital camera 71, and includes a lens barrel 78, a flash 76, and a finder. 77 is protected from exposure.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 12, when the digital camera 71 is used, the capsule cover 74 is slid leftward in FIG. 11 to expose the lens barrel 78, the flash 76, and the finder 77.
[0040]
The lens barrel 78 holds a photographing lens 79 used for photographing inside. At the upper end of the digital camera 71, at the upper left of FIG. 12, a shutter button 73 is arranged. In the figure of the lens barrel 78, a finder 77 is disposed at the upper right. The user looks into the viewfinder 77 to check the subject, presses the shutter button 73 at a predetermined timing, and shoots the subject.
[0041]
On the left side of the finder 77, a flash 76 that emits a flash when the light amount is insufficient and illuminates the subject is arranged. A battery chamber 80 is formed inside the housing 72 at a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure on the left side of the lens barrel 78 in FIG. An air hole 75 is formed in the center of the capsule cover 74 to communicate the outside with the inside of the capsule cover 74.
[0042]
FIG. 13 shows the configuration of a horizontal section of the digital camera 71 with the capsule cover 74 closed. FIG. 14 shows a horizontal cross-sectional configuration of the digital camera 71 with the capsule cover 74 opened.
[0043]
As shown in FIG. 13, behind the lens barrel 78 (upward in FIG. 13), a mounting board 82 in which various circuits for controlling the digital camera 71 are incorporated is arranged. An image pickup device 83 that converts a light signal from a subject into an electric signal and converts it into a digital image is arranged on the mounting substrate 82. A flash condenser 89 for storing electric power to be supplied to the flash 76 is disposed on the right side of the lens barrel 78 in the drawing.
On the upper side of the flash condenser 89 in the figure, a memory card 81 for storing image data of a photographed subject is arranged.
[0044]
A battery chamber 80 is formed on the left side of the lens barrel 78 in the drawing. A fuel cell 84 is disposed in the battery chamber 80, and an air hole 85 communicating with the battery chamber 80 is formed at the left end of the housing 72.
[0045]
As shown in FIG. 14, when the user slides the capsule cover 74 to the left in the figure when using the digital camera 71, the outside air is supplied from the air hole 75 to the storage unit 90 formed in the capsule cover 74. Incorporated and stored. The air in the storage unit 90 is supplied to the battery chamber 80 through the air holes 85. Thus, even if the air hole 75 is closed by the user's hand, the fuel cell 84 can generate power for a while using the air in the storage unit 90.
[0046]
A water-repellent sheet 87 having both air permeability and water repellency is affixed to the storage portion 90 side of the air hole 75 so that air can pass therethrough, but water and dust do not enter the storage portion 90. . Similarly, a water-repellent sheet 86 is attached to the battery chamber 80 side of the air hole 85.
[0047]
FIG. 15 shows the configuration of the fourth embodiment. The digital camera 101 has a configuration in which a side portion of a battery chamber 80 in a housing 72 of the digital camera 71 shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 is opened. This makes it easier for the fuel cell 84 to touch the air stored in the storage unit 90.
[0048]
According to the third and fourth embodiments, even if the inflow of air from the outside stops due to the air accumulated in the storage unit 90 due to the projection of the capsule cover 74, the power generation of the fuel cell 80 is continued. can do.
[0049]
The case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to a camera using a film (film camera) and other electronic devices.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the electronic device of the present invention, it is possible to store air inside and supply the air to the fuel cell without increasing the size of the electronic device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a layout of main components of the digital camera of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of the digital camera of FIG. 1 in a state where a lens barrel is retracted.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of the digital camera in FIG. 1 in a state where a lens barrel projects.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing a configuration of a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a state where a flash is stored.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing a configuration of the digital camera in FIG. 5 in a state where a flash is projected.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a flash hop-up mechanism of the digital camera in FIG. 5 in a state where a flash is stored.
8 is a diagram showing a configuration of a flash hop-up mechanism of the digital camera in FIG. 5 in a state where the flash is projected.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration near an urging spring of an interlocking plate of the digital camera in FIG. 5;
FIG. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration in the vicinity of a pop-up lever of the digital camera in FIG. 5;
FIG. 11
FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating a configuration of a digital camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention with a capsule cover closed.
FIG. 12 is a front view showing a configuration of the digital camera in FIG. 11 in a state where a capsule cover is opened.
13 is a horizontal sectional view showing a configuration of the digital camera in FIG. 11 in a state where a capsule cover is closed.
14 is a horizontal sectional view showing a configuration of the digital camera in FIG. 11 in a state where a capsule cover is opened.
FIG. 15 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a configuration of the digital camera to which the present invention is applied, in a state where a side portion of a battery compartment is opened.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 digital camera 6 lens barrel 12 battery compartment 20, 22 air hole 23 fuel cell 25 storage unit 41 digital camera 45 air hole 46 flash 48 battery room 60 fuel cell 62 air hole 63 storage unit 71 digital camera 74 capsule cover 75 air hole 80 Battery compartment 84 Fuel cell 85 Air hole 90 Storage unit 101 Digital camera

Claims (6)

An electronic device using a fuel cell,
A moving member that moves between a first position and a second position different from the first position;
A storage unit configured to store air generated by the moving member moving from the second position to the first position;
A first opening for taking in air from outside the housing of the electronic device;
An electronic device, comprising: a battery chamber that houses the fuel cell; and a second opening that supplies air from the storage unit. The electronic device is a film camera or a digital camera,
The moving member is a lens barrel that moves to the first position by protruding from the housing when the film camera or the digital camera is used, and generates the storage unit. 2. The electronic device according to 1. The first opening is provided in the battery chamber;
The second opening is provided between the battery chamber and the storage unit,
The air from outside the housing of the electronic device is taken in from the first opening, passes through the battery compartment, is stored in the storage through the second opening, and is stored in the storage. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the air stored in the battery chamber is supplied to the battery chamber through the second opening. The electronic device is a film camera or a digital camera,
The moving member is a flash light emitting unit that moves to the first position by projecting from the housing when the film camera or the digital camera is used, and generates the storage unit. Item 2. The electronic device according to Item 1. The moving member is a capsule-type sliding cover that moves to the first position by projecting from the housing when the electronic device is used, and moves to the first position to generate the storage unit. Item 2. The electronic device according to Item 1. The first opening is provided in the storage unit;
The second opening is provided between the storage unit and the battery compartment,
The air from outside the housing of the electronic device is taken in from the first opening, stored in the storage unit, and the air stored in the storage unit passes through the second opening. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the electronic device is supplied to the battery chamber via a battery.

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