JP2005181686A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recorder which effectively emits light from both of built-in illumination and external illumination to an object even when the object exists on a long-distance position and is prevented from being increased in the number of the parts thereof so as not to become inconvenient and expensive. <P>SOLUTION: A main body 1 is provided with a light guide part 7 for guiding light from a built-in illumination part 3 to a light receiving part 4. The light guide part 7 is arranged on the end part of a converging part 31 constituting a part of the built-in illumination part 3. The light guide part 7 is arranged on the end part of a front panel 32 constituting a part of the built-in illumination part 3. The light guide part 7 is formed on a mirror barrel, an armor or a lens barrier 12 provided in the main body 1. The light guide part 7 is a light transmission member arranged on the end part of the built-in illumination part 3. The light guide part 7 is a window part for transmitting light which is fitted to the outer casing on the upper part of the built-in illumination part 3. The light guide part 7 is a hole formed on the upper part of the built-in illumination part 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus including external illumination that emits light by receiving light from a built-in illumination by a light receiving unit.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some image recording apparatuses, for example, cameras, have a structure in which external illumination different from this built-in illumination is attached to a camera body having built-in illumination (see Patent Document 1). This type of camera illuminates the subject by adding external illumination when, for example, an amount of light emission greater than the built-in illumination is required.
In addition to the system that emits light in response to an electrical signal from the camera body, the camera's external illumination includes a system that emits light by detecting light emitted from the built-in illumination of the camera body.
FIG. 15 shows a camera in which the external illumination housing 2 is attached to the camera body 1 from the side, and shows a system in which the light emitted from the built-in illumination unit 3 is detected by the light receiving unit 4 and the external illumination unit 5 emits light. That is, in this method, the light emitted from the built-in illumination unit 3 is applied to the subject 6, and the light receiving unit 4 detects the reflected light from the subject 6 to cause the external illumination unit 5 to emit light.
JP 2001-209093 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-1437

However, the light emitted from the external illumination by the above method cannot be obtained when the subject 5 is at a long distance, or the reflected light from the subject 5 is not obtained, or the illuminance by the reflected light does not reach the detection level of the light receiving unit 4. Therefore, there is a problem that the external illumination cannot emit light.
As a prior art, in Patent Document 2, in an underwater camera using an optical fiber cable, the end of the optical fiber cable is arranged so as to cover the front surface of the internal illumination, so that the light of the internal illumination is received by the light receiving portion of the external illumination A structure leading to is disclosed. However, with this structure, the built-in illumination cannot be used effectively as illumination, and the built-in illumination light is not only weakened but also wastes power. Moreover, the optical fiber cable is a separate member from the camera, which is inconvenient and expensive.
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and even when the subject is at a long distance, both the built-in illumination and the external illumination are effectively emitted toward the subject, and the number of parts is increased for convenience. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that does not impair the cost and increase the cost.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is a main body having a built-in illumination unit, an outer surface attached to the main body, and receiving light by the light receiving unit and the light receiving unit. An image recording apparatus having an external illumination housing having an attached illumination unit, wherein the main body includes a light guide unit that guides light from the built-in illumination unit to the light receiving unit.
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the light guide part is provided at an end part of the light collecting part constituting a part of the built-in illumination part.
The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the condensing part is a reflective shade or a condensing lens.
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the light guide section is provided at an end portion of the front panel constituting a part of the built-in illumination section.
The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the light guide section is formed in a lens barrel provided in the main body.
The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the light guide section is provided in a lens barrier provided in the main body.
The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the light guide section is a light transmission member provided at an end of the built-in illumination section.
The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the light guide section is a light transmission member provided at an end of the built-in illumination section.
The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the light guide section is a window section that is above the built-in illumination section and transmits light provided in the exterior.
The invention according to claim 10 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the light guide section is a hole formed above the built-in illumination section.
The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the light guide section is a reflector.
The invention according to claim 12 is the invention according to claim 11, wherein the reflector is formed by any one of surface treatment, painting, and vapor deposition.
The invention according to claim 13 is the invention according to claim 11, wherein the reflector is detachable.
The invention according to claim 14 is the invention according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the light guide section is a refracting material.
The invention according to claim 15 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 6 or 7, the light guide section guides or appears light from the built-in illumination section only during photographing.
The invention according to claim 16 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the light guide section is positioned closer to the subject side than the light receiving section. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 16 is characterized in that the light guide section is arranged in a range of light distribution margin.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light from the built-in illumination unit can be directly guided to the light receiving unit of the external illumination housing by the light guide unit, and the subject is present at a long distance and the reflected light from the subject. Even if there is no, the external illumination unit can emit light.
In addition, according to the inventions according to claims 2 to 7, 9 to 12, and 14, an easy and inexpensive light guide section can be obtained.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to freely change the optical path even when it is difficult to transmit the light from the built-in illumination unit to the light receiving unit.
According to the invention of claim 13, the light guide section can be formed only when necessary. It is easy to form the light guide.
According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the light guide portion appears only when necessary and fulfills its function, thereby preventing deterioration of the appearance without impairing the appearance.
According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the light receiving part is directed to the subject side, but the light guide part is exposed to the subject with respect to the light receiving part, so light from the rear part is inevitably received. It is easy to receive light at the part.
According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to effectively use light without wasting the amount of light and thus without affecting the recorded image.

Exemplary embodiments of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a camera as an example of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the camera has a camera body 1 and an external illumination housing 2. When the camera body 1 is viewed from the front, a lens barrel containing an imaging lens (not shown) or an exterior 11 covering the lens barrel, A lens barrier 12 that moves left and right to cover the lens barrel or the exterior 11 to protect the lens, a built-in illumination unit 3 positioned above the lens barrel or the exterior 11 and the lens barrier 12, and next to the built-in illumination unit 3 It has a viewfinder 13, a release button 14 located at the upper end of the camera body 1, and an external illumination housing attachment 15. Here, the external illumination housing attachment portion 15 is an accessory attachment member such as a so-called accessory shoe (hot shoe) or a tripod seat. In addition, the lens barrel includes those that can be housed and delivered with respect to the exterior covering it, those that are integrated with the exterior, and those that are covered by the exterior. Further, FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which a lens barrier 12 that moves to the left and right is illustrated, but there is a structure that does not have the lens barrier 12 and a structure that the lens barrier 12 rotates up and down or rotates. On the other hand, the external illumination housing 2 has an attachment portion 21 at the lower end thereof, a light receiving portion 4 that is in front and detects light and causes the external illumination portion 5 to emit light, and an external illumination portion 5.
In this configuration, when the release button 14 is pressed, the lens shutter is opened and the built-in illumination unit 3 emits light, and the light receiving unit 4 receives the emitted light, and the external illumination unit 5 emits light. In this case, the light receiving unit 4 receives light from a light guide unit (see FIG. 2 and later), which will be described later, in addition to receiving light hitting the subject as described in the conventional description.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the camera according to the first embodiment. In the camera illustrated in FIG. 2, the light guide 7 is provided on the upper surface of the lens barrel or the exterior 11 that is located below the built-in illumination unit 3 provided in the camera body 1 and protrudes forward. In the example of FIG. 2, the light guide unit 7 is a reflector that reflects light from the built-in illumination unit 3. The light guide unit 7 has a function of reflecting light from the built-in illumination unit 3 toward the light receiving unit 4 provided in the external illumination housing 2. Therefore, the light from the built-in illumination unit 3 is reflected by the light guide unit 7 that is a reflector and is detected by the light receiving unit 4 provided in the external illumination housing 2.
Here, the structure of the built-in illumination unit 3 will be described. The built-in illumination unit 3 includes a light source 30 that is, for example, an Xe tube as shown in FIG. 3A, and a curve that collects light emitted from the light source 30. And a front panel 32 (see FIG. 2) such as a Fresnel lens that condenses and diverges light in front of the light source 30 and the light collecting unit 31. As shown in FIG. 2B, for example, a light source 30 composed of an LED including a light emitting semiconductor inside, a condensing unit 31 such as a lens for condensing light, and a front panel existing in front of the light source 30 and the condensing unit 31 (FIG. 2). Reference).

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which the light guide unit 7 is formed by using a part of the reflective shade that is the light collecting unit 31. That is, the light guide unit 7 of this embodiment has a structure in which the projection 311 is formed on the reflection shade to reflect the light from the light source 30 toward the light receiving unit 4 of the external illumination housing 2. In this case, the protrusion 311 may be exposed to the outside or may be separately subjected to surface treatment or painting / vapor deposition in order to increase the reflection efficiency. In this case, the surface treatment includes a mirror finish and a roughening treatment to make the surface uneven (hereinafter the same). In addition, the coating and vapor deposition are performed with a high reflectance using colors such as gold and silver materials and gold-silver-white (the same applies hereinafter). In this example, the protruding portion 311 as the light guide portion 7 protrudes from the lower portion of the reflective shade to the front surface and is provided at the lower left portion of the built-in illumination portion 3. With this structure, the light from the built-in illumination unit 3 is reflected toward the light receiving unit 4 provided in the external illumination housing 2 from the protrusion 311 which is the light guide unit 7.

  FIG. 5 shows an example in which the light guide 7 is formed on a part of the front panel 32. That is, the light guide portion 7 of the present embodiment has a reflection projection 321 as shown in (a) formed at the upper end portion of the front panel 32 made of plastic or glass, for example, as shown in (b). For the surface treatment, coating and vapor deposition, a structure for refracting as shown in (c), and a thing refracting using a Fresnel lens as shown in (d). In this case, the refractive member is made of glass or a mold material, and examples thereof include a condensing lens, a Fresnel lens, a prism lens, and a plate material (the same applies hereinafter). 5A to 5D reflects or refracts the light from the built-in illumination unit 3 toward the light receiving unit 4 provided in the external illumination housing 2.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which the light guide unit 7 is formed on a part of the condensing lens that is the condensing unit 31. That is, the light guide portion 7 of the present embodiment has a reflecting projection portion 312 as shown in (a) at the upper end portion of the condenser lens, and a surface treatment or coating for reflection as shown in (b).・ Vapor-deposited, and a structure to be refracted as shown in (c). 6A to 6C reflects or refracts the light from the built-in illumination unit 3 toward the light receiving unit 4 provided in the external illumination housing 2.

  FIG. 7 shows an example in which a light guide unit 7 that reflects light from the built-in illumination unit 3 using the lens barrel 11 is formed. That is, the light guide unit 7 of the present embodiment uses the protruding portion of the lens barrel 11 (the protruding state in the retractable lens barrel 11), and (a) shows the entire lens barrel 11 as a reflector. FIG. 2B shows a case in which a part of the upper surface of the lens barrel 11 is provided with a reflective projection 111, and FIG. It is the same as the above example). 7A to 7C can reflect the light from the built-in illumination unit 3 toward the light receiving unit 4 provided in the external illumination housing 2.

  7 shows an example in which the light guide unit 7 is formed on the lens barrel, while FIG. 8 shows an example in which the light guide unit 7 is formed on the exterior 11. That is, in the light guide section 7 of this embodiment, (a) is a reflection body made entirely of the exterior 11 that contacts the lens barrel, and (b) is a reflection projection 112 on the exterior 11 directly under the built-in illumination section 3. (C) is the one in which the upper surface of the outer casing 11 that hits the lens barrel is subjected to surface treatment for reflection, coating and vapor deposition (the same as the example in FIG. 2). 8A to 8C can reflect the light from the built-in illumination unit 3 toward the light receiving unit 4 provided in the external illumination housing 2.

  FIG. 9 shows an example in which the light guide unit 7 is formed using the lens barrier 12. In the light guide unit 7 of this embodiment, (a) shows a case where a reflection protrusion 121 is formed on the upper end of the lens barrier 12, or a surface treatment or coating / vapor deposition is applied for reflection. The light guide 7 is formed on the exterior 11 as in the sixth embodiment. The light guide 7 appears when necessary by the movement of the lens barrier 12, and the light guide 7 is hidden when unnecessary. Things. 9 (a) and 9 (b), the light received from the built-in illumination unit 3 is received by the external illumination housing 2 in a state where the lens barrier 12 is moved and the lens barrel 11 is exposed. It can be reflected toward the portion 4.

  FIG. 10 shows an example in which a light transmission member is used as the light guide unit 7. That is, in the light guide unit 7 of this embodiment, (a) is provided with a light transmission member such as an optical fiber that transmits light to the camera body 1 above the built-in illumination unit 3, and (b) The upper end of the built-in illumination unit 3 and the light receiving unit 4 are connected by a light transmission member such as an optical fiber. 10A and 10B, the light from the built-in illumination unit 3 is emitted above the camera body 1 and guided toward the light receiving unit 4 provided in the external illumination housing 2.

  FIG. 11 shows an example in which the light guide unit 7 is formed using the front panel 32 and the exterior 11. That is, the light guide unit 7 of the present embodiment is a part using a part (such as the exterior 11 or the front panel 32) or a part through which light is transmitted. The light from the built-in illumination unit 3 passes through the light transmitting material and can be received by the light receiving unit 4 of the external illumination housing 2. In this case, glass or a mold having a high transmittance is used as a light transmitting member, and the light upward of the front panel 32 is guided by the light transmitting member, and the light receiving portion of the external illumination housing 2 is like a window. Let the light pass in the direction.

  FIG. 12 shows an example in which a hole that transmits light is formed as the light guide unit 7. That is, in the light guide unit 7 of this embodiment, (a) has a structure in which a hole is formed in a part of the exterior 11 above the built-in illumination unit 3, and (b) shows a part of the exterior 11 and reflection. It has a structure with a hole in the cap. 12A and 12B, the light from the built-in illumination unit 3 is emitted above the camera body 1 through the hole and guided toward the light receiving unit 4 provided in the external illumination housing 2. Yes.

FIG. 13 shows an example in which a detachable reflector is provided as the light guide unit 7. That is, the light guide portion 7 of the present embodiment is such that (a) is a mold member, a rubber member, or the like that is detachably attached to the exterior 11 by press fitting or claw, and (b) is a seal or tape. Is attached to the outer casing 11 that contacts the lens barrel, and is removable, and (c) is a ring-shaped rubber member or mold member that is removable from the outer casing 11 that contacts the lens barrel. 13A to 13C can reflect the light from the built-in illumination unit 3 toward the light receiving unit 4 provided in the external illumination housing 2.
In the above embodiments, the light distribution margin shown in FIG. 14 is used. That is, the light is emitted from the light source 30 of the built-in illumination unit 3 to the front of the camera body 1. This irradiation is performed at a light distribution angle corresponding to the illumination irradiation range. Here, the angle of view which is the imaging range of the camera is narrower than the normal light distribution angle, and there is always a light distribution margin obtained by subtracting the angle of view from the light distribution angle. Therefore, the light within the light distribution margin that does not affect the imaging is guided to the light guide unit 7 and used as the light to the light receiving unit 4 provided in the external illumination housing 2. As a result, light necessary for imaging can be used without any influence. Moreover, the light guide part 7 is provided so that the light of a light distribution margin may be utilized.

  As described above, the image recording apparatus according to the present invention is useful for light emission of the external illumination unit, and is particularly suitable for simultaneous light emission of the built-in illumination unit and the external illumination unit.

It is a schematic block diagram of the whole camera which is embodiment of this invention. 1 is a configuration diagram of Example 1. FIG. It is a block diagram of a light source and a condensing part. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of Example 2. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of Example 3. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of Example 4. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of Example 5. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of Example 6. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of Example 7. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of Example 8. 10 is a configuration diagram of Example 9. FIG. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of Example 10. FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of Example 11. It is explanatory drawing of a light distribution margin. It is explanatory drawing of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

  1 camera body, 2 external illumination housing, 3 built-in illumination unit, 4 light receiving unit, 5 external illumination unit

Claims (17)

In an image recording apparatus comprising: a main body having a built-in illumination unit; and an external illumination housing attached to the main body and having a light receiving unit and an external illumination unit that emits light by light reception by the light receiving unit.
An image recording apparatus, comprising: a light guide unit that guides light from the built-in illumination unit to the light receiving unit.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guide unit is provided at an end of a light collecting unit that constitutes a part of the built-in illumination unit.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the condensing unit is a reflection shade or a condensing lens.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guide unit is provided at an end portion of a front panel that constitutes a part of the built-in illumination unit.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guide unit is formed on a lens barrel provided in the main body.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guide unit is provided in an exterior provided in the main body.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guide unit is provided in a lens barrier provided in the main body.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guide unit is a light transmission member provided at an end of the built-in illumination unit.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guide unit is a window unit that is above the built-in illumination unit and transmits light provided in the exterior.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guide unit is a hole formed above the built-in illumination unit.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light guide unit is a reflector.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the reflector is formed by any one of surface treatment, painting, and vapor deposition. The image recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the reflector is detachable.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the light guide unit is a refractive material.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the light guide unit guides or appears light from the built-in illumination unit only during photographing.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guide unit is located closer to the subject side than the light receiving unit.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light guide unit is disposed within a range of light distribution allowance.

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