JP2005077787A - Lens device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently reduce the thickness of a total device using a simple structure. <P>SOLUTION: When photographing is conducted, a second lens unit 7 is moved, a first lens unit 6 is moved and projected to the external of a camera body 1 and in a state with the first and the second lens units 6 and 7 being overlapped with each other along an optical path, to constitute a photographing lens section. Since it is required to move only the second lens unit 7 and no driving means is required to drive the first lens unit 6, the structure is simplified, manufacturing and assembling work are facilitated, and low price is realized. When photographing is not performed, the second lens unit 7 is moved outside the optical path, the first lens unit 6 is moved into the camera body 1, the first and the second lens units 6 and 7 are arranged in parallel in a same flat surface within the camera body 1 and the thickness of the camera body 1 is fully reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens device used in a photographing apparatus such as an electronic camera.

  Conventionally, in an electronic camera, an imaging lens unit and an imaging unit are arranged on an optical axis, an image of a subject is projected on the imaging unit by the imaging lens unit, and the projected image is converted into an electrical signal by the imaging unit. Are configured to capture. In such an electronic camera, in order to reduce the thickness of the entire camera, when shooting is not performed, the imaging unit is moved out of the optical path of the shooting lens unit, and the shooting lens unit is moved back into the camera body for shooting. In some cases, the photographing lens unit is moved forward to protrude outside the camera body, and in this state, the imaging unit is moved onto the optical path of the photographing lens unit.

  However, in such an electronic camera, a first driving device including a motor for moving the photographing lens unit along the optical axis, a transmission mechanism thereof, and the like, and an image capturing unit for moving the optical unit on and off the optical path. Since two drive devices including a second drive device including a motor and its transmission mechanism are necessary, there is a problem that the structure becomes extremely complicated, the manufacturing and assembling work is troublesome, and the manufacturing cost is increased.

Further, in this electronic camera, the photographing lens unit has a structure in which a plurality of lenses are combined, and the photographing lens unit is thicker in the optical axis direction than the imaging unit equipped with an imaging element such as a CCD, so that photographing is not performed. Sometimes, even if the imaging unit is moved out of the optical path and the photographic lens unit is retracted into the camera body, the photographic lens unit must be housed inside the camera body. There is also a problem that the camera cannot be made thinner than the thickness, and the entire camera cannot be made sufficiently thin.
JP 2003-114473 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that the thickness of the entire apparatus cannot be sufficiently reduced with a simple structure.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes the following components.
In addition, the reference numerals of the drawings attached to the respective elements described in the section of each embodiment described later are attached to the respective constituent elements together with parentheses.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the invention described in claim 1 is provided with an apparatus main body (camera main body 1), and the apparatus main body is movably provided along the optical axis (5). A first lens unit (6) that protrudes and protrudes, a second lens unit (7) provided in the apparatus main body so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis, and the second lens unit are the optical axis. Moving means (first and second inclined surfaces 13, 19) for moving the first lens unit toward the outside of the apparatus main body when the second lens unit moves toward the optical path that coincides with Prepared,
When photographing, when the second lens unit moves toward the optical path, the moving means moves the first lens unit toward the outside of the apparatus main body, thereby the first lens unit. The lens device (3, 30) is characterized in that the second lens unit overlaps the optical path to constitute the photographing lens unit (24).

  As for invention of Claim 2, as shown in FIGS. 1-8, the said moving means was provided in the 1st projection part (12) provided in the outer peripheral surface of the said 1st lens unit (6). The second lens includes a first inclined surface (13) and a second inclined surface (19) provided on a second protrusion (18) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second lens unit (7). 2. The lens device according to claim 1, wherein the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are slidably overlapped with each other when the unit is located outside the optical path.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the first lens unit (6) is urged toward the inside of the apparatus main body (camera main body 1) to form the second lens unit. 3. An urging member (coil spring 15) for restricting a position to a predetermined position corresponding to a side of the second lens unit when (7) moves out of the optical path. It is a lens apparatus as described in above.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the second lens unit (7) is interlocked with an opening / closing operation of a lens cover (31) provided in the apparatus main body (camera main body 1). It is a lens apparatus (30) in any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the second lens unit is moved toward the optical path coinciding with the optical axis during photographing, the moving means moves the first lens unit along the optical axis. The first lens unit protrudes outside the apparatus main body, and in this state, the first and second lens units overlap on the optical path to form the photographing lens unit. The first lens unit can be moved only by moving the second lens unit, so that no driving means for driving the first lens unit is required, so that the structure is simplified, and its production and assembly work It is also possible to reduce the manufacturing cost. When not taking a picture, if the second lens unit is moved out of the optical path, the first lens unit moves to the inside of the apparatus main body, whereby the first and second lens units are arranged in parallel on the same plane in the apparatus main body. Therefore, the thickness of the apparatus main body can be made thinner than the thickness in the optical axis direction of the photographic lens portion configured when the first and second lens units overlap on the optical path. Thus, the entire apparatus can be made sufficiently thin.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the moving means is provided on the first inclined surface provided on the first protrusion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first lens unit and on the outer peripheral surface of the second lens unit. When the second lens unit is located outside the optical path, the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are slidably overlapped with each other. Thus, when the second lens unit starts moving from the outside of the optical path toward the inside of the optical path, the second inclined surface slides along the first inclined surface, so that the first lens unit is moved to the outside of the apparatus main body. The first and second lens units can be arranged in parallel on the same plane in the apparatus main body by overlapping the first and second inclined surfaces. Simple structure and easy to manufacture Bets can be, further, it is possible to obtain what is low cost.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, since the first lens unit is urged toward the inside of the apparatus main body by the urging member, the first lens unit is moved when the second lens unit moves out of the optical path. The first lens unit can be moved to the inside of the apparatus main body, whereby the first lens unit is located at a predetermined position corresponding to the side of the second lens unit, for example, the first inclined surface of the first lens unit and the second inclined of the second lens unit. The position of the first lens unit can be reliably returned to the initial position and controlled with a simple structure that simply provides the urging member. This also makes it possible to reduce the price.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the second lens unit moves in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the lens cover provided in the apparatus main body, a driving source such as a motor for driving the second lens unit is provided. In addition to being unnecessary, the moving mechanism for moving the second lens unit is also simplified, so that the structure can be further simplified and the cost can be reduced. The weight of the entire apparatus can also be reduced.

(Embodiment 1)
A first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electronic camera will be described below with reference to FIGS.
1 is a perspective view of the internal structure of the electronic camera according to the present invention in a non-shooting state, FIG. 2 is a front view thereof, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shooting in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing the lens device in the state of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing the lens device in the state of FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the electronic camera includes a camera body 1. The camera body 1 is provided with a photographing unit 2 on the front side in the interior thereof, and although not shown, an optical finder and a strobe light emitting unit are provided on the front side, and a display unit and various menu keys are provided on the back side. The shutter button is provided on the upper end surface.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the imaging unit 2 includes a lens device 3 and an imaging unit 4, and these are arranged along the optical axis 5. In this case, the image pickup unit 4 includes an image pickup device such as a CCD and is fixed in the camera body 1. In this state, the image of the subject is converted into an electrical signal by the image pickup device and output as image information. Yes. In addition, the lens device 3 is provided in the camera body 1 so as to be movable along the optical axis 5, and protrudes from the front surface (upper surface in FIG. 5) of the camera body 1. A second lens unit 7 is provided so as to be slidable in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis 5, and a driving device 8 for sliding the second lens unit 7 is provided.

  The first lens unit 6 has a structure in which a first lens 11 is provided in a substantially ring-shaped first lens frame 10, and the optical center of the first lens 11 is located on the optical axis 5. In this state, the optical axis 5 It is comprised so that it may move along. In this case, a part of the outer peripheral surface of the first lens frame 10 (the left end portion in FIG. 5) is provided with a first projecting portion 12 projecting sideways, and on the lower surface of the first projecting portion 12. As shown in FIG. 5, a first inclined surface 13 is provided. The first inclined surface 13 is formed so as to rise upward (to the left in FIG. 5) that gradually increases toward the distal end side of the first protrusion 12.

  In addition, mounting is performed at a plurality of locations on the outer peripheral surface of the first lens frame 10, for example, at three locations of the upper and lower end portions and the right end portion except for the left end portion where the first protrusion 12 is provided in FIG. Each of the portions 14 is provided so as to protrude laterally, and a coil spring 15 is attached to each of the attachment portions 14. These coil springs 15 are configured to urge the first lens frame 10 toward the inside of the camera body 1 and restrict the position thereof to a predetermined position (initial position) described later inside the camera body 1.

  Similar to the first lens unit 6, the second lens unit 7 has a structure in which a second lens 17 is provided in a substantially ring-shaped second lens frame 16, and the second lens frame 16 is located below the first lens frame 10. The optical center of the second lens 17 is positioned on the optical axis 5 when they overlap with each other. From this state, the second lens frame 16 slides in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis 5 and moves out of the optical path. ing. In this case, a part of the outer peripheral surface of the second lens frame 16 (the right end in FIG. 5) is provided with a second protrusion 18 that faces the first protrusion 12 and protrudes laterally. As shown in FIG. 5, a second inclined surface 19 is provided on the upper surface of the second protrusion 18.

  The second inclined surface 19 is formed at a tip downward (lower right in FIG. 5) that gradually decreases toward the tip of the second protrusion 18. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the second inclined surface 19 is formed so that the second protrusion 18 is the first protrusion when the second lens frame 16 is moved out of the optical path, that is, to the left side of the first lens frame 10. It overlaps with the part 12 and is configured to slidably contact the first inclined surface 13. In this case, the second inclined surface 19 abuts in a state where the first inclined surface 13 of the first lens unit 6 overlaps, thereby restricting the position of the first lens unit 6 to a predetermined position inside the camera body 1. The second protrusion 18 has a notch groove into which the coil spring 15 located on the right side of the first lens frame 10 is inserted when the second lens frame 16 overlaps the lower side of the first lens frame 10. 20 is provided.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the driving device 8 includes a motor 21 provided in the camera body 1, a pinion 22 rotated by the motor 21, and a rack 23 with which the pinion 22 meshes. The rack 23 is provided integrally with the second lens frame 16 of the second lens unit 7. When the pinion 22 is rotated by the motor 21 in this state, the rack 23 slides and moves in accordance with the rotation of the pinion 22. The two-lens unit 7 is configured to move either in the optical path or out of the optical path.

  That is, when the motor 21 rotates in the forward direction, that is, counterclockwise in FIG. 2 in the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drive device 8 rotates the pinion 22 in the same direction, thereby causing the rack 23 to move. In the figure, the second lens unit 7 is moved to the right side, thereby moving the second lens unit 7 toward the optical path overlapping with the first lens unit 6. 3 and 4, when the motor 21 rotates in the reverse direction, that is, in the clockwise direction in FIG. 4, with the first and second lens units 6 and 7 being overlapped, Accordingly, the pinion 22 is also rotated in the same direction to move the rack 23 to the left side in the drawing, thereby moving the second lens unit 7 out of the optical path away from the first lens unit 6.

  In such a lens device 3 of an electronic camera, when the motor 21 of the driving device 8 is rotated forward during photographing, the pinion 22 rotates in accordance with this, and the rack 23 is moved to the right in FIG. The second lens unit 7 moves toward the optical path overlapping the first lens unit 6. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the first inclined surface 13 provided on the first protrusion 12 of the first lens unit 6 and the second inclination provided on the second protrusion 18 of the second lens unit 7. Since the surface 19 overlaps, when the second lens unit 7 starts to move from the outside of the optical path toward the inside of the optical path, the second inclined portion 19 slides along the first inclined surface 13 and the first lens The unit 6 is smoothly moved toward the outside on the front side of the camera body 1 (outside on the top side in FIG. 5) against the spring force of the coil spring 15.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the first lens unit 6 protrudes outside the camera body 1, the first and second lens units 6, 7 overlap on the optical path, and the first lens 11 and the second lens 17. Are located on the optical axis 5. Thereby, the photographing lens unit 24 is configured. In this state, since the photographing lens unit 24 is positioned on the optical axis 5, the photographing lens unit 24 projects the subject image on the imaging unit 4, and the imaging unit 4 converts the subject image into an electrical signal. It can be captured as image data.

  Further, in this lens device 3, when the motor 21 of the driving device 8 is reversely rotated when shooting is not performed, the pinion 22 is rotated accordingly, and the rack 23 is moved to the left in FIG. The unit 7 moves out of the optical path away from the first lens unit 6. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, when the second lens unit 7 moves to the side of the first lens unit 6, the first lens frame 10 of the first lens unit 6 is directed toward the inside of the camera body 1 by the coil spring 15. Therefore, the position of the first lens unit 6 is regulated to a predetermined position (initial position) to be described later in the camera body 1.

  As a result, the first lens unit 6 is housed in the camera body 1. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the first inclined surface 13 provided on the first protrusion 12 of the first lens unit 6 is the second inclination provided on the second protrusion 18 of the second lens unit 7. Since the first lens unit 6 is disposed on the side of the second lens unit 7 so as to overlap the surface 19, the first and second lens units 6, 7 are arranged in parallel on the same plane in the camera body 1. Be placed. At this time, since the first inclined surface 13 of the first lens unit 6 is in contact with the second inclined surface 19 of the second lens unit 7 in an overlapping state, the first lens unit 6 is in a predetermined position in the camera body 1. The position is restricted.

  As described above, according to the lens device 3, when the second lens unit 7 is moved during shooting, the first lens unit 6 moves along the optical axis 5 and the first lens unit 6 moves to the camera body. 1, and the first and second lens units 6 and 7 are overlapped on the optical path in this state to constitute the photographing lens unit 24. Therefore, the second lens unit 7 can be simply moved by the driving device 8. Since the first lens unit 6 can be moved, and thus no driving means for driving the first lens unit 6 is required, the structure is simplified, and its manufacture and assembly work can be facilitated and manufactured. Cost can be reduced.

  Further, according to the lens device 3, when the second lens unit 7 is moved out of the optical path when shooting is not performed, the first lens unit 6 is moved into the camera body 1 and the first lens unit 6 is moved. Since it is arranged on the side of the second lens unit 7, the first and second lens units 6 and 7 can be arranged in parallel on the same plane in the camera body 1. For this reason, the thickness of the camera body 1 can be made thinner than the thickness in the direction of the optical axis 5 of the photographing lens unit 24 configured when the first and second lens units 6 and 7 are overlapped on the optical path. As a result, the entire camera body 1 can be made sufficiently thin.

  In this case, when the second lens unit 7 is located outside the optical path, the first inclined surface 13 provided on the first protrusion 12 of the first lens unit 6 and the second lens unit 7 When the second lens unit 7 starts moving from the outside of the optical path to the inside of the optical path by slidably overlapping with the second inclined surface 19 provided on the two protrusions 18, the second inclined surface 19 is Since sliding along the first inclined surface 13, the first lens unit 6 can be smoothly moved toward the outside of the camera body 1, and the first and second inclined surfaces 13 and 19 are overlapped. The first and second lens units 6 and 7 can be arranged in parallel on the same plane in the camera body 1, so that the structure of the moving means for moving the first lens unit 6 is simple and easy. Can be produced Yellow, it can be even more, get what low price.

  In the lens device 3, the first lens unit 6 is urged toward the inside of the camera body 1 by the plurality of coil springs 15. Therefore, when the second lens unit 7 moves out of the optical path, the first lens unit 6 is moved. The unit 6 can be automatically moved and housed inside the camera body 1, and the first inclined surface 13 of the first lens unit 6 overlaps and contacts the second inclined surface 19 of the second lens unit 7. Thus, the first lens unit 6 is located at a predetermined position corresponding to the side of the second lens unit 7, that is, the position where the first and second lens units 6 and 7 are arranged in parallel on the same plane in the camera body 1. The position can be reliably regulated. For this reason, the first lens unit 6 can be surely returned to the initial position and position-controlled with a simple structure in which only the coil spring 15 is provided as the urging member, which can also reduce the price. .

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an electronic camera will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated to the same part as Embodiment 1 shown by FIGS.
The lens device 30 of the electronic camera has a structure in which the second lens unit 7 is moved in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the lens cover 31, and the other structure is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment.

  That is, the lens cover 31 is provided on the outer surface on the front side of the camera body 1 so as to be slidable toward the opposite side of the second lens unit 7, and when the first lens unit 6 is housed in the camera body 1. The first lens frame 10 of the first lens unit 6 is configured so as to be openable and closable together with the first lens 11. The lens cover 31 and the second lens frame 18 of the second lens unit 7 are connected by a connecting coil spring 32. One end of the coupling coil spring 32 is attached to a first attachment arm 33 provided on the upper and lower portions of the lens cover 31, and the other end is provided on a second attachment arm provided on the upper and lower portions of the second lens frame 18. 34 is attached.

  According to such a lens device 30 of the electronic camera, when the lens cover 31 is slid and the first lens frame 10 of the first lens unit 6 is exposed together with the first lens 11 when photographing, the coupling coil spring 32 is obtained. As a result, the second lens unit 7 moves toward the optical path overlapping the first lens unit 6. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the first lens unit 6 is moved to the outside of the camera body 1 and the first and second lenses are moved. Units 6 and 7 can be superimposed on the optical path.

  At this time, when the lens cover 31 slides, the coupling coil spring 32 pulls the second lens unit 7 toward the first lens unit 6, but when a part of the lens cover 31 overlaps the first lens unit 6, Since the first lens unit 6 does not move toward the outside of the camera body 1, the coupling coil spring 32 extends. When the lens cover 31 is completely separated from the first lens unit 6, the second lens unit 7 is drawn on the optical path by the spring force of the extended connection coil spring 32, and the first and second lens units 6, 6 are moved. 7 overlap.

  As described above, according to the lens device 30, the second lens unit 7 moves in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the lens cover 31 slidably provided on the camera body 1, so that the motor 21 and pinion of the first embodiment can be used. 22 and the drive device 8 comprising the rack 23 are not necessary, and the opening / closing operation of the lens cover 31 only needs to be transmitted to the second lens unit 7 by the connecting coil spring 32, so that the structure becomes extremely simple. The structure can be further simplified as compared with the case of the first embodiment, the price can be reduced, and the overall weight of the camera can be reduced.

  In the first and second embodiments, the case where the lens device of the present invention is applied to an electronic camera has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is widely applied to photographing devices such as small cameras and video cameras mounted on mobile phones. can do.

It is the perspective view at the time of the non-photographing which showed the principal part of the internal structure in the electronic camera to which this invention is applied. (Embodiment 1) It is the figure which looked at FIG. 1 from the front side. It is a perspective view at the time of imaging | photography in FIG. It is the figure which looked at FIG. 3 from the front side. It is the block diagram which showed schematically the lens apparatus in the state of FIG. It is the block diagram which showed schematically the lens apparatus in the state of FIG. It is the front view at the time of the non-photographing which showed the principal part of the internal structure in the electronic camera to which this invention is applied. (Embodiment 2) It is a front view at the time of imaging | photography in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera main body 2 Imaging | photography part 3, 30 Lens apparatus 4 Imaging part 5 Optical axis 6 1st lens unit 7 2nd lens unit 8 Drive apparatus 10 1st lens frame 11 1st lens 12 1st projection part 13 1st inclined surface 15 Coil spring 16 Second lens frame 17 Second lens 18 Second protrusion 19 Second inclined surface 24 Shooting lens portion 31 Lens cover 32 Coupling coil spring

Claims (4)

An apparatus main body, a first lens unit that is provided on the apparatus main body so as to be movable along the optical axis, and that protrudes and protrudes from the apparatus main body, and is provided in the apparatus main body so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The second lens unit, and when the second lens unit moves toward the optical path that coincides with the optical axis, the second lens unit moves the first lens unit toward the outside of the apparatus main body. And moving means
When photographing, when the second lens unit moves toward the optical path, the moving means moves the first lens unit toward the outside of the apparatus main body, thereby the first lens unit. The lens device is characterized in that the second lens unit overlaps the optical path to constitute a photographing lens unit.   The moving means is provided on a first inclined surface provided on a first protrusion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first lens unit and on a second protrusion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the second lens unit. The first inclined surface and the second inclined surface slidably overlap each other when the second lens unit is located outside the optical path. The lens device according to claim 1.   The first lens unit is urged toward the inside of the apparatus main body, and when the second lens unit moves out of the optical path, the position of the first lens unit is restricted to a predetermined position corresponding to the side of the second lens unit. The lens apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member.   The lens apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second lens unit moves in conjunction with an opening / closing operation of a lens cover provided in the apparatus main body.

Images