JP2004341223A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera where a photographic lens or an external display part is protected and on which a camera auxiliary member can be mounted. <P>SOLUTION: The camera 1 has a protection member 3 for covering and protecting the photographic lens integrally provided in a camera 1 main body part or the external display part 2 for displaying specified information at the external part of the camera, guiding mechanisms 5a and 5b guiding the member 3 between a protecting position where the photographic lens or the display part 2 is covered and protected and a non-protecting position where the display part 2 is made to open so that the camera 1 is set to a usable state. The member 3 is formed of the auxiliary member 3 for photography. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly, to a protection member for protecting an external display unit and a photographing lens of a digital camera.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a camera having an external display unit, particularly a digital camera, an external display unit (for example, an LCD or the like) for displaying an image of a subject is provided on the back of the digital camera. The display surface of the external display unit is always exposed, and there is a possibility that the photographer may damage or damage the display surface while carrying the digital camera. For this reason, a digital camera having a slide cover for protecting an external display unit has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
The slide cover for protecting the external display unit disclosed in Patent Literature 1 protects the external display unit and has a liquid crystal touch switch and an operation switch, and is used as a functional unit of a digital camera.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-304229 [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a digital camera, since the power consumption of an external display unit and an image sensor is large, a battery mounted on the digital camera is quickly consumed. In addition, since the capacity of a memory card as a storage medium is limited, the number of shots is limited. For this reason, the photographer needs to separately carry a backup battery and a backup memory card.
[0006]
However, when the photographer carries the digital camera, the problem is that the spare battery and spare memory card are stored in a different place from the digital camera, so they are lost or forget to carry There is. The camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not solve these problems.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a camera that can protect a photographic lens or an external display unit and can be mounted with an auxiliary member of the camera.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a protective member for covering and protecting a taking lens integrally provided in a camera main body or an external display portion for displaying predetermined information outside the camera. A camera having a guide mechanism that guides a member between a protection position that covers and protects the photographing lens or the external display unit and a non-protection position that opens the photographing lens or the external display unit to use the camera. Wherein the protection member is formed of an auxiliary member for photographing.
[0009]
In the camera according to the present invention, it is preferable that the auxiliary member is a camera battery for supplying power to the camera.
[0010]
In the camera according to the present invention, it is preferable that the auxiliary member is a storage medium for storing predetermined information.
[0011]
Further, in the camera according to the present invention, it is preferable that the auxiliary member and the camera main body are respectively provided with connection portions for connecting the auxiliary member and a control circuit inside the camera.
[0012]
Further, in the camera according to the present invention, it is preferable that the auxiliary member is provided detachably from the camera body.
[0013]
Further, in the camera according to the present invention, it is preferable that the external display unit is a liquid crystal display unit for displaying a subject image, and the camera is a digital camera.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a rear view and a partial cross-sectional view of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a protection member covers an external display unit. FIG. 2 is a rear view and a partial cross-sectional view of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the protection member is retracted from the external display unit and the external display unit can be observed. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a cross section along the line. FIG. 5 is a front view and a partial cross-sectional view of a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a protective member covers a taking lens unit. FIG. 6 is a front view and a partial cross-sectional view of a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which a protective member is retracted from a photographing lens unit and photographing is possible. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views of a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 5, and FIG. It is a cross section along the line.
[0016]
(1st Embodiment)
1 to 4, a holding member 4 for holding a protection member 3 for protecting an external display unit 2 provided on the back side of the digital camera 1 includes a finder window 12 and a mode button 14 on the back side of the digital camera 1. And is provided between them.
[0017]
The holding member 4 is a substantially rectangular plate-like body, and the upper side and the lower side substantially parallel to the upper end and the lower end of the digital camera 1 are provided with the protection member 3 in a protected state and an unprotected state of the external display unit 2. The cross section for slidably supporting the gaps has substantially inverted U-shaped and substantially U-shaped opposed grooves 5a and 5b, respectively (see FIG. 3). An open space 6 for observing the external display unit 2 is provided in a substantially half area on the left side of the back of the digital camera 1, and an external display unit 2 is provided in a substantially half area on the right side of the holding member 4. Is provided with a pocket portion 8 for accommodating the protection member 3 in the non-protection state. On the holding member 4 of the pocket portion 8, function keys 19 for giving various instructions to the digital camera 1 are arranged.
[0018]
Openings 7a and 7b are provided on the left ends of the grooves 5a and 5b, respectively, so that the protective member 3 can be inserted and removed, and the right end of the pocket 8 is provided with the digital camera 1 and a spare battery pack (described later). Contacts 9a and 9b are provided for electrically connecting to a spare memory pack or the like.
[0019]
A leaf spring 10 having arc-shaped clip portions 10a and 10b provided at a predetermined interval at which the protection member 3 is clicked at the position of the external display portion 2 is provided in the lower side groove portion 5b of the open space 6 of the holding member 4. Are disposed inside the holding member 4 below the groove 5b. The arc-shaped clip portions 10a and 10b protrude from the openings 11a and 11b provided in the groove portion 5b, support the lower ends of the protection member 3 with the clip portions 10a and 10b, and press the protection member 3 in the direction of the groove portion 5a. The protection member 3 is clipped to a position 8 (protection state) covering the area of the external display unit 2).
[0020]
When the protection member 3 is inserted into the pocket portion 8 at the time of photographing or observation of the external display portion 2, the clip portion 10b supports the lower left end portion of the protection member 3, and the protection member 3 is moved in the direction of the groove 5a and the contact points 9a and 9b. By pressing and clipping, the protection member 3 is held in the pocket portion 8 and the contact with the contacts 9a and 9b is ensured.
[0021]
Further, the protection member 3 can be removed from the digital camera 1 and exchanged by pushing down the clip portion 10 a and pulling out the protection member 3 through the opening 7.
[0022]
The clip portions 10a and 10b hold the protection state at the position where the protection member 3 covers the external display unit 2 and hold the clip unit 10 in the non-protection state retracted from the position of the external display unit 2 and stored in the pocket unit 8. , So that the protection member 3 does not easily fall off the digital camera 1.
[0023]
In this manner, the digital camera 1 having a configuration in which the protection member 3 is movable between the protection state and the non-protection state of the external display unit 2 and is exchangeable is formed on the support member 4. Reference numeral 13 denotes a finder LED, and 15 denotes a release button.
[0024]
In the first embodiment, the protection member 3 is configured by a camera auxiliary member such as a spare battery pack, a spare memory pack, or a remote control card used for the digital camera 1. In the present embodiment, the spare battery pack and the like also serve as the protection member 3 of the external display unit 2 and are always mounted on the digital camera 1, so that the spare battery pack or the like is forgotten or lost. Can be prevented.
[0025]
For example, when a spare battery pack is used as the protection member 3, the spare battery pack 3 covers the external display unit 2 to protect the external display unit 2 from scratches and dirt when not photographing. In order to supply the power to the digital camera 1 by storing the spare battery pack 3 in the pocket portion 8 and connecting the electrodes (not shown) of the spare battery pack 3 to the contacts 9a and 9b at the time of photographing, Along with the internal battery, the camera can take a long time.
[0026]
When the spare memory pack is used as the protection member 3, the spare memory pack 3 covers the external display unit 2 and protects the external display unit 2 from scratches and dirt during non-shooting as described above. At the time of photographing, the spare memory pack 3 is stored in the pocket portion 8, and the electrodes (not shown) of the spare memory pack 3 are connected to the contacts 9a and 9b, so that information can be exchanged with the digital camera 1. As a result, when the built-in memory or memory card of the digital camera 1 main body (collectively referred to as an attached memory) becomes full of shooting information, shooting can be continued using the spare memory pack 3. Further, even when a memory is built in the digital camera 1 (when it cannot be replaced), the use of the spare memory pack 3 makes it possible to easily increase the memory capacity.
[0027]
In addition, it becomes possible to classify and store the shooting target with the auxiliary memory of the digital camera 1 and the auxiliary memory pack 3. For example, when the subject is a landscape, it can be stored in an attached memory of the digital camera 1, and when the subject is a person, it can be stored in the spare memory pack 3. It is also possible to copy or move the contents of the memory attached to the digital camera 1 to a spare memory pack, remove the contents from the digital camera 1 and take it into a personal computer (PC), or print with a color printer.
[0028]
The holding member 4 may be formed integrally with the body of the digital camera 1 or may be formed separately and assembled integrally with the body of the digital camera 1. If the spare battery pack or spare memory pack can be replaced with a battery or memory card attached to the digital camera 1, the spare battery pack or spare memory pack has electrodes connected to the contacts 9a and 9b. You don't have to. Further, the protection member 3 may be configured as a storage for storing a battery or a memory card used in the digital camera 1.
[0029]
Further, grooves 5a and 5b of the holding member 4 are provided near the upper end and the lower end of the digital camera 1, and the protection member 3 covers the external display unit 2, the finder window 12, the finder LED 13, and the mode button 14 in a protected state. Such a configuration may be used.
[0030]
(2nd Embodiment)
5 to 8, holding members 24a and 24b for holding a protection member 23 for protecting the taking lens 22 of the digital camera 21 are provided near the upper end and the lower end of the front of the digital camera 21.
[0031]
The holding member 24a has an inverted U-shaped groove 25a at the upper end of the digital camera 1 for slidably supporting the protection member 23, and the holding member 24b has a protection member 23 at the lower end of the digital camera 1. Has a U-shaped groove portion 25b for slidably supporting the two, and two groove portions 25a and 25b are formed facing each other (see FIG. 7). Openings 27a and 27b are provided at the left ends of the grooves 25a and 25b toward the front of the digital camera 21 so that the protection member 23 can be inserted and removed, and the right ends of the grooves 25a and 25b are formed at the protection members 23. Stopper portions 28a and 28b are provided for preventing the falling off. In addition, arc-shaped clip portions 30a, 30b projecting from the openings 31a, 31b provided at predetermined intervals in the groove 25b and stopping the protection member 23 from being clicked are provided in the groove 25b, which is substantially half of the left side of the holding member 24b. The leaf spring 30 is disposed inside the holding member 24b below the groove 25b.
[0032]
At the time of non-shooting, as shown in FIG. 5, the taking lens unit 22 is collapsed in the main body of the digital camera 21, and the clip unit 30b presses the lower left end of the protective member 23 in the direction of the groove 25a and the stoppers 28a, 28b to be clipped. By doing so, the protection member 23 is held at the protection state position covering the taking lens unit 22, the finder window 32, and the flash window 33.
[0033]
During photographing, the protection member 23 is moved to the non-protection state position as shown in FIG. At this time, the photographing lens unit 22 is extended, the finder window 32 and the flash window 33 are exposed, and the clip portions 30a and 30b support both lower ends of the protection member 23, and press the protection member 23 in the direction of the groove 25a. 23 is clipped to the retracted position.
[0034]
The extension and retraction of the photographing lens unit 22 caused by the movement of the protection member 23 is controlled such that the position of the protection member 23 is detected by a sensor (not shown) and the photographing lens unit 22 does not collide with the protection member 23.
[0035]
The protection member 23 can be removed from the digital camera 21 and exchanged by pushing down the clip portion 30a and pulling out the protection member 23 through the openings 27a and 27b.
[0036]
The clip portions 30a and 30b have a function of holding the protection member 23 so as not to easily fall off the digital camera 21.
[0037]
In this way, the digital camera 21 having a configuration in which the protection member 23 is exchangeably held by the support members 24a and 24b and which protects the photographing lens unit 22 is configured. Reference numeral 35 indicates a release button.
[0038]
In the second embodiment, the protection member 23 is configured by an auxiliary member such as a spare battery pack, a spare memory pack, or a remote control card used for the digital camera 21. In the present embodiment, the spare battery pack and the like also serve as the protection member 23 of the photographing lens unit 22 and are always mounted on the digital camera 21, so that the user may forget or lose the spare battery pack or the like. Can be prevented.
[0039]
For example, when a spare battery pack is used as the protection member 23, the spare battery pack 23 covers the photographing lens unit 22 and protects it from scratches and dirt when not photographing. At the time of photographing, the spare battery pack 23 is moved to the non-protected state position and held by the clip portion 30b. Then, when the attached battery of the digital camera 21 is exhausted, the photographing can be performed again by replacing the battery with the spare battery pack 23.
[0040]
When the spare memory pack is used as the protection member 23, the spare battery pack 23 covers the photographing lens unit 22 and protects the photographing lens unit 22 from scratches and dirt during non-shooting as described above. At the time of photographing, the spare memory pack 23 is moved to the non-protected state position and held by the clip unit 30b. When the memory card of the main body of the digital camera 21 is full of the photographing information, the photographing can be continued by replacing the memory card with the spare memory pack 23.
[0041]
Note that the holding members 24a and 24b may be formed integrally with the body of the digital camera 21, or may be formed separately and integrated with the body of the digital camera 21. Further, the protection member 23 may be configured as a storage for storing a spare battery or a spare memory used for the digital camera.
[0042]
In the first and second embodiments, when the protection member is a remote control card, the photographer removes the remote control card from the main body of the digital camera when necessary and uses the remote control card. And can be carried in a fixed position.
[0043]
Further, a digital camera having both the configurations of the first and second embodiments may be used.
[0044]
The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and is not limited to the above-described configuration and shape. Modifications and changes can be made as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention can provide a camera that protects a photographic lens or an external display unit and includes a camera auxiliary member such as a spare battery or a spare memory.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a rear view and a partial cross-sectional view of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a protection member covers an external display unit.
FIG. 2 is a rear view and a partial cross-sectional view of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a protection member is retracted from an external display unit and the external display unit can be observed.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the digital camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1 and FIG. It is a cross section along the line.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are a front view and a partial cross-sectional view of a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a protective member covers a taking lens unit.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are a front view and a partial cross-sectional view of a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which a protective member is retracted from a photographing lens unit and photographing is possible.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 5;
8A and 8B are cross-sectional views of a digital camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 5, and FIG. It is a cross section along the line.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 21 Digital camera 2 External display unit 3, 23 Protection member (spare battery pack, spare memory pack)
4, 24a, 24b Holding member 5, 25a, 25b Groove 6 Open space 7a, 7b, 27a, 27b Opening 8 Pocket 9a, 9b Contact 10 Leaf spring 10a, 10b Clip 11a, 11b Opening 12 Finder eyepiece 13 Finder LED
14 Mode button 15, 35 Release button 19 Function key 22 Shooting lens unit 28a, 28b Stopper unit 30 Leaf spring 30a, 30b Clip unit 31a, 31b Opening unit 32 Finder window 33 Strobe window

Claims (6)

A protection member for covering and protecting an external display portion that displays predetermined information outside the camera or a photographic lens that is provided integrally with the camera body portion,
A guide mechanism that guides the protection member between a protection position that covers and protects the photographing lens or the external display unit and a non-protection position that opens the photographing lens or the external display unit and sets the camera in a use state. A camera having
The camera, wherein the protection member is formed of an auxiliary member for photographing. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member is a camera battery for supplying power to the camera. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary member is a storage medium for storing predetermined information. The connecting member for connecting the auxiliary member and a control circuit inside the camera is provided on the auxiliary member and the camera body, respectively. 2. The camera according to claim 1. The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the auxiliary member is provided detachably from the camera body. The external display unit is a liquid crystal display unit for displaying a subject image,
The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the camera is a digital camera.

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