JP2005316314A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup device which accurately switches the position of an optical lens between a normal photographing position and a close-up photographing position while having a structure as simple as possible. <P>SOLUTION: A photographing lens 3 which can select either a normal photographing range or a close-up photographing range by the position switching of a movable frame 45 composing an optical lens group 46 relative to fixing frames 41 and 42, and electromagnets 41a, 41b, 45a through 45d, 42a and 42b which are provided at each switching position of this photographing lens 3 are provided. When either a normal photographing range or a close-up photographing range is selected and indicated, the electromagnet corresponding to the position is selectively electrified by a magnet driver (21), and the photographing lens 3 is fixed on the switching position of a normal photographing range or a close-up photographing range. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that switches between normal photography and macro photography.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in addition to the normal shooting range, there are camera devices that can perform macro shooting by switching and setting the position of the optical lens system, mobile phones with camera functions, and the like. As a mechanism for switching the shooting range of this type, a relatively inexpensive device often has a user manually switching an operation lever or a slide switch, while in a relatively expensive product, it is switched by driving an electric motor as the switch is operated. There are many things.

In addition, although the target field is somewhat different, a structure using a coil and a magnet that can be driven with high sensitivity in two orthogonal directions is considered as an actuator for an optical element such as an optical pickup of an optical recording medium. Yes. (For example, Patent Document 1)
JP 2003-123291 A

  The structure in which the shooting range is switched by a manual lever or the like requires a mechanism that mechanically transmits the force of manual operation by the user to move the lens position, and the lens moving position can be adjusted regardless of fluctuations in the operating force. The mechanism for constant control becomes complicated.

  On the other hand, devices driven by electric motors tend to be complicated and large in size because they use stepping motors, DC motors, and the like.

  The technique shown in Patent Document 1 is also a mechanism for driving an optical element on the order of micrometers, and although it is small in size, its structure is complicated and the manufacturing cost is very high, and macro switching of a relatively inexpensive camera device is performed. It is not realistic to apply to the mechanism.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to accurately switch the position of the optical lens between a normal shooting position and a close-up shooting position while having a simple structure as much as possible. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device capable of performing the above.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical photographing mechanism capable of selecting a normal photographing range and a close-up photographing range by switching positions of at least some of the optical members, and each switching position of the optical member of the optical photographing mechanism. Position fixing means using an electromagnet provided, instruction means for selecting and instructing either one of a normal shooting range and a close-up shooting range, and the position fixing means correspondingly to the instruction means by selectively energizing the position Electromagnetic driving means for fixing the optical member to a switching position of a normal photographing range or a close-up photographing range is provided.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical photographing mechanism capable of selecting a normal photographing range and a close-up photographing range by switching the positions of at least some of the optical members, and permanently on one of the movable side and the fixed side of the optical photographing mechanism. A position fixing means for fixing the optical member to each switching position by providing a magnet and an electromagnet on the other side, and switching the energization direction to the electromagnet to attract or repel the electromagnet to the permanent magnet; and a normal photographing range; Instructing means for selecting and instructing either one of the close-up photographing range, and an electromagnetic for switching the energizing direction to the electromagnet corresponding to the instructing means and fixing the optical member at a switching position of the normal photographing range or the close-up photographing range. Drive means.

  The invention described in claim 3 is the invention described in claim 2, wherein the position fixing means is provided with a permanent magnet on the movable side and an electromagnet on the fixed side.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the normal photographing range and the close-up photographing range can be selected by switching the positions of at least some of the optical members, and the normal photographing range is urged toward the movable side of the optical photographing mechanism. A first position fixing means by an elastic member that fixes the position in one of the shooting range and the close-up shooting range, a permanent magnet on one of the movable side and the fixed side of the optical shooting mechanism, and an electromagnet on the other side, to the electromagnet A second position fixing means for generating a suction force or a repulsive force exceeding the elastic force of the elastic member when energizing the optical member, and fixing the optical member to the other of the normal photographing range and the close-up photographing range; Instructing means for selecting and instructing one of the range and the close-up shooting range, and switching the energization state of the electromagnet corresponding to the indicating means, the optical member is set to the switching position of the normal shooting range or the close-up shooting range. Fixed Characterized by comprising an electromagnetic driving means.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4, wherein the second position fixing means is provided with a permanent magnet on the movable side and an electromagnet on the fixed side.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, position switching can be easily performed by energizing one of the electromagnets corresponding to the two imaging positions, the structure and control can be greatly simplified, and the polarity of the electromagnet Accurate alignment can be easily realized by devising the arrangement.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the position can be easily switched by changing the energization direction to the electromagnet, the structure and control can be greatly simplified, and the polarity and arrangement of the permanent magnet and the electromagnet respectively. It is possible to easily achieve accurate alignment by devising.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 2, the wiring for energizing the movable side is not necessary, so that the structure can be further simplified.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily switch the position by switching whether or not the electromagnet is energized, and it is possible not only to simplify the structure and control, but also to waste in the state where the electromagnet is not energized. Since no power is consumed, limited battery power can be used effectively.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 4, the wiring for energizing the movable side is not necessary, so that the structure can be further simplified.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment when the present invention is applied to a digital camera will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration, in which FIG. 1 (A) is mainly a front view and FIG. 1 (B) is a mainly rear view.

  This digital camera 1 has a photographing lens 3, a self-timer lamp 4, an optical viewfinder window 5, a strobe light emitting unit 6, and a microphone unit 7 disposed on the front surface of a substantially rectangular thin plate-like body 2. ) A power key 8 and a shutter key 9 are arranged on the right end side.

  The photographic lens 3 has a single focus, fixed aperture, and has a pan-focus type lens structure that does not have an AF (autofocus) function, and can switch between normal photography and macro photography by moving the position of some internal lenses. .

  The power key 8 is a key operated every time the power is turned on / off, and the shutter key 9 instructs photographing in the photographing mode.

  Also, on the back of the digital camera 1, a shooting (R) mode key 10, a playback mode key 11, an optical viewfinder 12, a speaker unit 13, a macro key 14, a strobe key 15, a menu (MENU) key 16, a ring key 17, A set (SET) key 18 and a display unit 19 are arranged.

  The shooting mode key 10 is operated automatically from the power-off state to automatically turn on the power and shift to the still image shooting mode. On the other hand, by repeatedly operating from the power-on state, the still image, the moving image degree, the sound Each recording state is selected and set cyclically.

  When the playback mode key 11 is operated from the power-off state, the playback mode key 11 is automatically turned on to enter the playback mode.

  The macro key 14 is operated when switching between normal shooting and macro shooting in the still image shooting mode. The strobe key 15 is operated when switching the light emission mode of the strobe light emitting unit 6.

  The menu key 16 is operated when selecting various menu items.

  The ring key 17 is integrally formed with item selection keys in the up, down, left, and right directions, and the set key 18 located in the center of the ring key 17 sets the item selected at that time. To operate.

  The display unit 19 is composed of a color liquid crystal panel with a backlight, and displays a through image on the monitor as an electronic viewfinder in the shooting mode, while playing back and displaying the selected image and the like in the playback mode.

  Although not shown, the digital camera 1 has a memory card slot for attaching / detaching a memory card used as a recording medium, a serial interface connector for connecting to an external personal computer, etc., for example, USB (Universal). (Serial Bus) connector and the like are provided.

Next, the electronic circuit configuration of the digital camera 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the monitoring state in the photographing mode, the position of a part of the lenses constituting the photographing lens 3 is moved by driving the magnet driver 21. A CCD 22 that is an image pickup element is disposed behind the taking optical axis of the taking lens 3 via a mechanical shutter (not shown).

  The CCD 22 is scanned and driven by a timing generator (TG) 23 and a vertical driver 24, and outputs a photoelectric conversion output corresponding to a light image formed at fixed intervals for one screen.

  The photoelectric conversion output is appropriately gain-adjusted for each primary color component of RGB in the state of an analog value signal, then sampled and held by a sample hold circuit (S / H) 25, and digital data by an A / D converter 26 The color process circuit 27 performs color process processing including pixel interpolation processing and γ correction processing in the color process circuit 27 to generate a digital luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cb, Cr, and a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 28. Is output.

  The DMA controller 28 once uses the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals Cb and Cr output from the color process circuit 27 by using the composite synchronization signal, memory write enable signal, and clock signal from the color process circuit 27 once. And the DMA transfer to the DRAM 30 used as a buffer memory via the DRAM interface (I / F) 29.

  The control unit 31 includes a CPU, a ROM in which an operation program including switching between normal shooting and macro shooting, which will be described later, is fixedly stored, a RAM used as a work memory, and the like. After the DMA transfer of the luminance and color difference signals to the DRAM 30 is completed, the luminance and color difference signals are read from the DRAM 30 via the DRAM interface 29 and written to the VRAM 33 via the VRAM controller 32.

  The digital video encoder 34 periodically reads the luminance and color difference signals from the VRAM 33 via the VRAM controller 32, generates a video signal based on these data, and outputs the video signal to the display unit 19.

  As described above, the display unit 19 functions as a monitor display unit (electronic finder) in the image capturing mode. By performing display based on the video signal from the digital video encoder 34, the digital video encoder 34 at that time is displayed. The image based on the image information captured from the image is displayed in real time.

  In this way, when the shutter key 9 is operated at a timing at which still image shooting is desired in a so-called through image display state in which the image at that time is displayed in real time on the display unit 19 as a monitor image, a trigger signal is generated. Occur.

  In response to this trigger signal, the control unit 31 cancels the DMA transfer of the luminance and color difference signals for one screen captured from the CCD 22 at that time to the DRAM 30 and is not shown at a shutter speed according to appropriate exposure conditions. The mechanical shutter and the CCD 22 are driven to obtain the start-up and color difference signals for one screen and transfer them to the DRAM 30. Thereafter, this path is stopped and the recording and storage state is entered.

  In this recording and storage state, the control unit 31 outputs the luminance and color difference signals for one frame written in the DRAM 30 through the DRAM interface 29 for each of Y, Cb, and Cr components of 8 pixels × 8 pixels horizontally. Are read out in units called basic blocks, and written into a JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts Group) circuit 35. The JPEG circuit 35 uses an ADCT (Adaptive Discrete Cosine Transform), which is an entropy coding system. Data compression is performed by processing such as conversion.

  The obtained code data is read out from the JPEG circuit 35 as a data file of one image, and is written in a memory card 36 that is detachably mounted as a recording medium of the digital camera 1.

  Then, along with the compression processing of the luminance and color difference signals for one frame and the completion of writing all the compressed data to the memory card 36, the control unit 31 activates the path from the CCD 22 to the DRAM 30 again.

  The control unit 31 is connected to a key input unit 37, an audio processing unit 38, and a strobe driving unit 39.

  The key input unit 37 includes the power key 8, the shutter key 9, the shooting mode key 10, the playback mode key 11, the macro key 14, the strobe key 15, the menu key 16, the ring key 17, and the set key 18. Signals accompanying these key operations are sent directly to the control unit 31.

  The sound processing unit 38 includes a sound source circuit such as a PCM sound source, and digitizes the sound signal input from the microphone unit (MIC) 7 when recording sound, and a predetermined data file format such as MP3 (MPEG-1 audio layer). 3) While compressing data in accordance with the standard, an audio data file is created and sent to the memory card 36. On the other hand, at the time of reproducing the audio, the audio data file sent from the memory card 36 is uncompressed and converted into an analog signal. The speaker unit (SP) 13 provided on the back side of the camera 1 is driven to emit loud sounds.

  The strobe driving unit 39 charges a strobe capacitor (not shown) during still image shooting, and then drives the strobe light emitting unit 6 to flash based on control from the control unit 31.

  However, when shooting of a moving image instead of a still image is selected, the above-described still image data is acquired and compressed by the JPEG circuit 35 at the time when the first shutter key 9 is operated. A series of operations of recording on the card 36 is started as a continuous execution at an appropriate frame rate, for example, 30 [frames / second], and the shutter key 9 is operated for the second time or a predetermined time limit. For example, when 30 seconds have elapsed, the series of still image data files are collectively set as a motion JPEG data file (AVI file).

  In the playback mode, the control unit 31 selectively reads out the image data recorded on the memory card 36, and the image data compressed in the procedure completely opposite to the procedure in the JPEG circuit 35 in the shooting mode is compressed. The decompressed image data is held in the DRAM 30 via the DRAM interface 29, and then the content held in the DRAM 30 is stored in the VRAM 33 via the VRAM controller 32, and the image data is periodically read out from the VRAM 33. A video signal is generated and reproduced by the display unit 19.

  If the selected image data is not a still image but a moving image, playback of the individual still image data constituting the selected moving image file is executed continuously in time, and playback of the last still image data is finished. At that time, the image is reproduced and displayed using only the still image data located at the head until the next reproduction instruction is given.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the photographing lens 3 will be described.

  FIG. 3A illustrates the state of the photographing lens 3 during normal photographing. In FIG. 2A, the upper side of the photographic optical axis OA indicated by the alternate long and short dash line is the forward direction located on the subject side, and the lower side is the CCD 22. The photographic lens 3 includes a first fixed frame 41 positioned on the front side, a second fixed frame 42 positioned on the rear side, and two guide shafts 43 and 44 that maintain a distance between the frames 41 and 42. A movable frame 45 that moves between the frames 41 and 42 along the guide shafts 43 and 44 after being configured integrally is provided, and an optical device whose outer edge portion is indicated by a broken line in the drawing with respect to the movable frame 45. A lens group 46 is attached and fixed.

  Two sets of electromagnets 41a and 45a, 41b and 45b are embedded in the contact surface between the first fixed frame 41 and the movable frame 45 at a position away from the optical lens group 46, respectively. When these are energized, the movable frame 45 is translated along the guide shafts 43 and 44 toward the first fixed frame 41 by the suction force.

  On the other hand, two sets of electromagnets 45c and 42a, 45d and 42b are respectively embedded in the contact surface between the movable frame 45 and the second fixed frame 42 at a position away from the optical lens group 46, as shown in the figure. During normal photographing, these are energized, and the movable frame 45 is translated along the guide shafts 43 and 44 toward the second fixed frame 42 by the suction force.

  The rear end of the optical lens group 46 attached to the movable frame 45 is accommodated in the package of the CCD 22, and the contact portion keeps the inside of the package of the CCD 22 substantially airtight by a labyrinth packing structure (not shown). The rapid movement of the frame 45 is suppressed.

  Even when the movable frame 45 is positioned on the rear side of the optical axis, the rear end of the movable frame 45 is set so as not to contact the chip surface 22a on the CCD 22 where the image is formed.

  FIG. 3B shows a macro shooting in which the movable frame 45 is moved to the front side of the optical axis so that the optical lens group 46 of the shooting lens 3 is further away from the CCD 22 by switching the driving state by the magnet driver 21. The state is exemplified.

  At this time, when the two sets of electromagnets 41a and 45a, 41b and 45b formed on the contact surface between the first fixed frame 41 and the movable frame 45 are energized, the movable frame 45 is moved by the electromagnetic attraction force. The two sets of electromagnets 45c and 42a, 45d and 42b formed on the contact surface between the movable frame 45 and the second fixed frame 42 are not energized while moving parallel to the one fixed frame 41 side.

  In this way, the magnet driver 21 can selectively select a pair of electromagnets that are energized in normal shooting and macro shooting, so that the movable frame 45 can be used for the second fixed frame on the rear side during normal shooting. 42, and in contact with the first fixed frame 41 on the front side during macro shooting, and each is positioned.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
FIG. 4 shows the processing contents relating to the driving of the photographing lens 3 in the photographing mode, which is executed by the control unit 31 in response to the operation of the power key 8 or the photographing mode key 10. The normal shooting shown in FIG. 3A is automatically performed, and two sets of electromagnets 45c and 42a formed on the contact surface between the movable frame 45 and the second fixed frame 42 by the magnet driver 21. , 45d and 42b are energized to move the movable frame 45 parallel to the second fixed frame 42 side by the electromagnetic attraction force, while being formed on the contact surface between the first fixed frame 41 and the movable frame 45. The two sets of electromagnets 41a and 45a, 41b and 45b are not energized (step A01).

  While maintaining the energized state of the normal shooting, it waits for the operation of the macro key 14 (step A02). When it is determined that the macro key 14 is operated, the magnet driver is required to shift to the macro shooting. As shown in FIG. 3B, two sets of electromagnets 41a and 45a, 41b and 45b formed on the contact surface of the first fixed frame 41 and the movable frame 45 are energized. Then, while the movable frame 45 is translated to the first fixed frame 41 side by the electromagnetic attraction force, two sets of electromagnets 45c formed on the contact surface between the movable frame 45 and the second fixed frame 42, Power is not supplied to 42a, 45d and 42b (step A03).

  At this time, the display unit 19 may display the state image acquired by the macro photographing and may display that the macro photographing is set by a predetermined symbol mark.

  While the energized state of the macro photographing is maintained, the operation of the macro key 14 is similarly waited (step A04). When the macro key 14 is operated, this is determined in step A04, and the above-mentioned step A01 is reached again to switch to the normal photographing state.

  In this way, the position can be easily switched by energizing one of the electromagnets corresponding to the two photographing positions of normal photographing and macro photographing, and the structure and control can be greatly simplified.

  In addition, by devising the polarity and arrangement of the electromagnet, it is possible to easily align the movable frame 45 accurately.

  In the state where the reproduction mode is designated by the operation of the reproduction mode key 11 and the power is turned off by the operation of the power key 8, the magnet driver 21 operates the electromagnets 41a and 45a, 41b and 45b, and 45c and 42a. , 45d and 42b are not energized, and therefore the movable frame 45 is not attracted to either the first fixed frame 41 side or the second fixed frame 42 side and becomes unstable.

  However, as described above, the rear end of the optical lens group 46 attached and fixed to the movable frame 45 is accommodated in the package of the CCD 22 so as to be substantially airtight by, for example, a labyrinth packing structure, so as to suppress a sudden fluctuation in atmospheric pressure inside. Since it operates, it is possible to avoid a state in which the movable frame 45 is inadvertently rattling along the guide shafts 43 and 44 when the digital camera 1 is carried.

  In the above embodiment, the magnet driver 21 has been described as energizing and attracting one set of electromagnets during normal shooting and macro shooting, and simultaneously stopping energization of the other set of electromagnets. , Both of the electromagnet sets may be energized and the polarity based on the energization direction may be switched, and the electromagnetic force may be generated by both sides so that the other set always repels when attracted by one set. Although the power consumption increases, a more stable positioning operation can be realized.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the movable frame 45 demonstrated as what moves in parallel along the guide shafts 43 and 44, it replaced with the guide shafts 43 and 44, and the outer peripheral surface of the disk-shaped movable frame 45, and this Screw thread is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the fixed frame to be fitted, and the movable frame 45 moves spirally, or the outer peripheral surface of the movable frame 45 and the inner periphery of the fixed frame fitted to this It is good also as what moves along the groove | channel parallel to the optical axis formed in either one of the surfaces.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment when the present invention is applied to a mobile phone with a camera function of CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) system will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  5 (A) and 5 (B) show the external configuration of the mobile phone 50 according to this embodiment, and the two casings 52 and 53 are rotated within a certain angular range with a hinge 51 interposed therebetween. FIG. 5A shows the inner surface in a fully opened state, and FIG. 5B mainly shows the outer surface of the upper housing 52 in a folded state. .

As shown in FIG. 5A, the inner surface of the upper housing 52 is provided with a speaker 54 and a main display portion 55 that serve as a receiver.
On the other hand, various keys 56 including a dial key and a microphone 57 serving as a transmitter are provided on the inner surface of the lower housing 53.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, a camera unit 58, a photographing light 59, and a sub display unit 60 are provided on the outer surface of the upper housing 52. Further, an antenna 61 that extends also in the lower housing 53 is formed to protrude from the hinge portion 51 to the outside.

  The various keys 56 include a dial key, power key, line connection, line disconnection, and other keys, a camera key 56a for setting a camera mode, a set (SET) key 56b that also functions as a shutter key, and macro shooting settings. In addition to a macro key 56c for instructing release, a ring key 56d with the set key 56b arranged at the center for instructing digital zoom and exposure correction of the camera unit 58 is provided.

  The camera unit 58 is a pan-focus type lens configuration that has a fixed focal point and does not have an AF (automatic focusing) function, and can change the relative distance between the internal lens and the image sensor. It is possible to switch between normal shooting and macro shooting.

  FIG. 6 shows a functional configuration of an electronic circuit provided in the mobile phone 50. In the figure, the antenna 61 performs CDMA communication with the nearest base station, and an RF unit 71 is connected to the antenna 61.

  The RF unit 71 separates the signal input from the antenna 61 at the time of reception from the frequency axis by a duplexer, mixes it with a local oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency output from the PLL synthesizer, and converts the frequency into an IF signal. Only the reception frequency channel is extracted by the broadband BPF, and the signal level of the desired reception wave is made constant by the AGC amplifier, and then output to the modulation / demodulation unit 72 in the next stage.

  On the other hand, the RF unit 71 performs transmission power control on the OQPSK (Offset Quadri-Phase Shift Keying) modulation signal sent from the modulation / demodulation unit 72 by the AGC amplifier based on the control from the control unit 75 described later during transmission. The signal is mixed with a local oscillation signal of a predetermined frequency output from the PLL synthesizer, frequency-converted to an RF band, amplified to high power by a PA (Power Amplifier), and radiated from the antenna 61 via the duplexer.

  The modulation / demodulation unit 72 separates the IF signal from the RF unit 31 into a baseband IQ signal (In-phase / Quadrature-phase) signal by a quadrature detector at the time of reception, digitizes it, and outputs it to the CDMA unit 73.

  On the other hand, the modulation / demodulation unit 72 converts the digital I / Q signal sent from the CDMA unit 73 into an analog signal and transmits it to the RF unit 71 after performing OQPSK modulation with a quadrature modulator.

  The CDMA unit 73 inputs the digital signal from the modulation / demodulation unit 72 at the time of reception to a PN (Pseudo Noise) code timing extraction circuit and a plurality of demodulation circuits that perform despreading / demodulation in accordance with instructions from the timing circuit. A plurality of demodulated symbols output from the above are synchronized, synthesized by a synthesizer, and output to the audio processing unit 74.

  On the other hand, at the time of transmission, the CDMA unit 73 spreads the output symbol from the voice processing unit 74, limits the band with a digital filter, generates an I / Q signal, and sends it to the modem unit 72.

  The voice processing unit 74 deinterleaves the output symbols from the CDMA unit 73 at the time of reception, and after performing error correction processing by a Viterbi demodulator, the digital signal is compressed from a digital signal compressed by a voice processing DSP (Digital Signal Processor). This is expanded into a digital audio signal, converted into an analog signal, and the speaker (SP) 54 is driven to speak out.

  On the other hand, at the time of transmission, the audio processing unit 74 digitizes the analog audio signal input from the microphone (MIC) 57, compresses the data amount by the audio processing DSP, and then performs error correction encoding by the convolutional encoder. Are interleaved and the output symbols are sent to the CDMA unit 73.

  Then, a control unit 75 is connected to the RF unit 71, the modem unit 72, the CDMA unit 73, and the sound processing unit 74, and a GPS receiver 76, an image capturing unit 77, an image processing unit 78, The main display unit 55, the sub display unit 60, the memory card 79, the vibrator unit 80, the LED drive unit 81, and the magnet driver 82 are connected.

  Here, the control unit 75 is composed of a CPU, a ROM that stores an operation program including switching between normal shooting and macro shooting in a camera mode, which will be described later, and a RAM that is used as a work memory. The operation of the entire telephone 50 is controlled.

  The GPS receiver 76 calculates the latitude, longitude and altitude of the current position and the accurate current time from the positioning information from the plurality of GPS satellites received by the GPS antenna 83 and outputs the calculated current time to the control unit 75.

  Under the control of the control unit 75, the image photographing unit 77 controls the photographing operation with the CCD 85 that is disposed behind the photographing optical axis of the optical lens unit 84 that constitutes the camera unit 58, and an image obtained by photographing. Data is digitized and output.

  The image processing unit 78 compresses the image data obtained from the image capturing unit 77 based on, for example, the JPEG method, while decompressing the received image data by decompressing the original image data. obtain.

  The memory card 79 is detachably attached to the cellular phone 50, and stores image data photographed by itself, image data obtained by reception, and the like.

  The vibrator unit 80 vibrates with a vibration pattern and vibration intensity set in advance when an incoming call is received.

  The LED drive unit 81 is a drive circuit for a high-intensity white LED that constitutes the photographing light 59, and emits auxiliary light toward the subject to be photographed by the camera unit 58 as necessary.

  Each of the main display unit 55 and the sub display unit 60 is composed of a reflective / transmissive color liquid crystal panel with a backlight and its driving circuit, and can display as a transmissive liquid crystal by turning on the backlight. On the other hand, it is possible to display as a reflective liquid crystal using external light with the backlight turned off, although the visibility is somewhat reduced.

  The magnet driver 82 energizes the optical lens unit 84 to act as an electromagnet, and switches its polarity to thereby change the relative position between the CCD package, which will be described later, and the optical lens unit 84, which form the CCD 85 and the permanent magnet. Specifically, the distance between the optical lens unit 84 and the CCD 85 along the photographing optical axis is switched between normal photographing and macro photographing.

Next, a specific configuration of the CCD package in which the optical lens unit 84 and the CCD 85 are formed will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7A shows a configuration of the camera unit 58 in which the upper side along the optical axis OA is the front side on the subject side. The CCD package 91 in which the CCD 85 is formed is moved within a predetermined movement range with respect to the optical lens unit 84. It is slidably held inside. That is, in the optical lens unit 84, the optical lens group 84a is fixedly disposed and the rectangular bottomed cylindrical CCD package 91 is sandwiched from the side surface by the four legs 84b, 84b,.

  A coil 84c having a rectangular cross section is embedded in the surface of the optical lens unit 84 that is in contact with the upper end of the CCD package 91 so as to avoid the passage region of the photographic light image by the optical lens group 84a.

  As shown in the plan view of FIG. 7B, one CCD package 91 is provided with recesses 91a, 91a,... For holding the legs 84b, 84b,. A rectangular frame-shaped permanent magnet 92 is fitted inside the side wall with an appropriate gap so as not to affect the CCD 85 on the bottom surface.

  The permanent magnet 92 has magnetic poles at the upper and lower bottom surfaces. In FIG. 7A, the coil 84c is energized to the lower side in the drawing and the side opposite to the upper surface of the permanent magnet 92 has a different polarity. As a result, the entire CCD package 91 is attracted, and the normal shooting state in which the coil 84c and the permanent magnet 92 are in contact with each other is shown. The distance along the optical axis OA direction from the lowest end position of the coil 84c during the normal photographing to the imaging surface of the CCD 85 is defined as d1.

  On the other hand, at the time of macro photography, the polarity for energizing the coil 84c of the optical lens unit 84 is reversed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7C, the coil 84c acts as an electromagnet having the same polarity on the lower side in the drawing and on the side facing the upper surface of the permanent magnet 92. The entire package 91 is fixed in a state where the leg portions 84b, 84b,... Are positioned up to the stopper portion bent at the inside of the tip.

  When the distance along the optical axis OA direction from the lowest end position of the coil 84c to the image forming plane of the CCD 85 at the time of macro shooting is d2, “d1 <d2” as compared with the distance d1 at the time of normal shooting. Therefore, by setting the thickness of the CCD package 91 and the lengths of the legs 84b, 84b,... Of the optical lens unit 84 to appropriate values, these distances d1, d2 are matched with the optical characteristics of the optical lens group 84a. By setting as a thing, it becomes possible to easily switch between normal photography and macro photography.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
Note that switching between normal shooting and macro shooting in the camera unit 58 is executed under the control of the control unit 75, but the basic flow is the same as that shown in FIG. In order to avoid this, the illustration is omitted, and the same (step) code is used for explanation.

  That is, when the camera key 56a is operated and the camera mode is designated, the control unit 75 automatically performs the normal shooting shown in FIG. 7A, and the magnet driver 82 uses the coil of the optical lens unit 84 to perform the normal shooting. 84c is energized. The entire CCD package 91 in which the permanent magnet 92 is formed by energizing the coil 84c is attracted to the coil 84c side and fixed in a state of being in contact with the coil 84c.

  While maintaining the energized state of the normal shooting, it waits for the operation of the macro key 56c (step A02). When it is determined that the macro key 56c has been operated, the magnet driver is required to shift to the macro shooting. When the polarity of the energization by 82 is switched, as shown in FIG. 7C, the permanent magnet 92 repels the electromagnetic force generated by the coil 84c, and the CCD package 91 is attached to the legs 84b, 84b,. Is slid to the stopper portion and translated (step A03).

  While the energized state of the macro photographing is maintained, the operation of the macro key 56c is similarly waited for (step A04). When the macro key 56c is operated, this is determined in step A04, and the process returns to step A01 to switch back to the normal shooting state.

  In this way, by switching the energization direction to the electromagnet corresponding to the two shooting positions of normal shooting and macro shooting, position switching can be easily performed, and the structure and control can be greatly simplified.

  In addition, a coil 84c for forming an electromagnet is embedded in the optical lens unit 84 on the fixed side, and a permanent magnet 92 is provided on the CCD package 91 on the movable side, so that the movable side is energized. No wiring is required and the structure can be further simplified.

  Further, in the specific structure of the camera unit 58 shown in FIG. 7, the permanent magnet 92 and the coil 84c of the optical lens unit 84 are sufficiently large compared to the imaging area of the CCD 85. By arranging a plurality of permanent magnet and coil sets, the same operation can be performed.

  Hereinafter, a configuration example of another camera unit 58 ′ according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Since the basic configuration itself is the same as that shown in FIG. 7, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

  8B, the CCD package 91 is located between the CCD 85 and the recesses 91a, 91a,... Formed to sandwich the four legs 84b, 84b,. A total of four prismatic permanent magnets 92 ', 92',.

  .. In the optical lens unit 84 ′ that is in contact with the permanent magnets 92 ′, 92 ′,... A total of four cylindrical coils 84c ′, 84c ′,...

  These coils 84c ', 84c',... Have the same winding direction as the coil 84c shown in FIG. 7, and the permanent magnets 92 ', 92',. It is assumed that the magnet 92 has the same polarity direction.

  8A, when the coils 84c ′, 84c ′,... Are energized, the lower side in the figure, the side facing the upper surface of the permanent magnets 92 ′, 92 ′,. Are attracted to the entire CCD package 91 'with the permanent magnets 92', 92 ',... Disposed therein, and the coils 84c', 84c ', ... and the permanent magnets 92', 92 ',. It is fixed in a state where it is in contact with.

  On the other hand, at the time of macro photography, the polarity of energizing each coil 84c ', 84c', ... of the optical lens unit 84 'is reversed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8C, the coils 84c ', 84c',... Are electromagnets having the same polarity on the lower side in the figure and on the sides facing the upper surfaces of the permanent magnets 92 ', 92',. The permanent magnets 92 ', 92', ... are repelled by this, and the entire CCD package 91 'is positioned up to the stopper part bent at the inside of the legs 84b, 84b, ... It will be fixed at.

  The plurality of coils 84c ', 84c', ... and the permanent magnets 92 ', 92', ... are symmetrical about the optical axis OA on a plane parallel to the imaging surface of the CCD 85 of the CCD package 91 '. It is important that the CCD package 91 'be accurately parallelized by stabilizing the generated magnetic force while contributing to further miniaturization of the camera unit 58 as compared with the configuration shown in FIG. It can be moved.

  In the second embodiment, the polarity of the magnetic force generated by the electromagnet is reversed between normal shooting and macro shooting by switching the energization direction to the coil 84c (84c ') constituting the electromagnet. However, it is also conceivable that energization of the coil 84c (84c ′) is intentionally stopped at the time of photographing that seems to be more frequent, for example, at the time of normal photographing.

  That is, in addition to the configuration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an elastic member, for example, a coil spring, does not affect the captured light image of the CCD 85 and does not interfere with the operation of the coil 84c and the permanent magnet 92 (for example, FIG. In the rectangular corners including the permanent magnets 92 ′, 92 ′,...) And the coil 84c is not energized, and therefore the coil 84c is not acting as an electromagnet. The CCD package 91 is urged so as to contact the surface of the optical lens unit 84 where the coil 84c is embedded by its elastic force (according to compression or expansion).

  The elastic force of the elastic member such as a coil spring used in this case is sufficiently large to bring the CCD package 91 into contact with the position where the coil 84c is embedded, and when a magnetic force as an electromagnet is generated by energizing the coil 84c. It is necessary to make it small enough not to repel the magnetic force.

  With such a configuration, during macro photography in which the coil 84c is energized, the force that the permanent magnet 92 repels due to the magnetic force generated by the coil greatly exceeds the elastic force of the coil spring, so that the CCD package 91 in which the CCD 85 is formed is optical. It is fixedly arranged at a position further away from the lens group 84a.

  As described above, in addition to the electromagnet and the permanent magnet, if an elastic member having an appropriate elastic force to fix the movable side to one position in a state where the electromagnet is not acting is provided, By switching between energized and unenergized, the position can be easily switched, which not only greatly simplifies the structure and control, but also does not waste power when the electromagnet is not energized. For example, when using a battery power source with a certain amount of power, the power can be utilized more effectively.

  In addition, the first embodiment is exemplified for the case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera, and the second embodiment is applied to a mobile phone with a camera function. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Rather, it is a camera function that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and requires downsizing, and more specifically, with a fixed focus type camera unit that has a single focus and a sufficiently deep depth of field, Application software for PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) and video game devices using visual input, video conferencing devices and language training devices using personal computers, which have a camera function to switch between images. Can be similarly applied.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment, at least one of the problems described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and described in the column of the effect of the invention. In a case where at least one of the obtained effects can be obtained, a configuration in which this configuration requirement is deleted can be extracted as an invention.

1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the electronic circuit according to the embodiment. FIG. The figure which illustrates the specific structure of the imaging lens which concerns on the embodiment, and the operation state corresponding to the imaging range. The flowchart which shows the content of the switching process of the imaging | photography range which concerns on the embodiment. The figure which shows the external appearance structure of the mobile telephone with a camera function which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the electronic circuit according to the embodiment. FIG. The figure which illustrates the specific structure of the imaging lens which concerns on the embodiment, and the operation state corresponding to the imaging range. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another specific configuration of the photographing lens according to the embodiment and an operation state corresponding to the photographing range.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital camera, 2 ... Body, 3 ... Shooting lens, 4 ... Self-timer lamp, 5 ... Optical finder window, 6 ... Strobe light emission part, 7 ... Microphone part, 8 ... Power key, 9 ... Shutter key, 10 ... Photographing Mode key, 11 ... Playback mode key, 12 ... Optical viewfinder, 13 ... Speaker unit, 14 ... Macro key, 15 ... Strobe key, 16 ... Menu (MENU) key, 17 ... Ring key, 18 ... Set key, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 ... Display part, 21 ... Magnet driver, 22 ... CCD, 23 ... Timing generator (TG), 24 ... Vertical driver, 25 ... Sample hold (S / H) circuit, 26 ... A / D converter, 27 ... Color Process circuit 28 ... DMA controller 29 ... DRAM interface (I / F) 30 ... DRAM 31 ... Control unit 32 ... VRAM Controller 33 ... VRAM 34 ... Digital video encoder 35 ... JPEG circuit 36 ... Memory card 37 ... Key input unit 38 ... Audio processing unit 39 ... Strobe drive unit 41 ... First fixed frame 41a 41b ... Electromagnet, 42 ... Second fixed frame, 42a, 42b ... Electromagnet, 43, 44 ... Guide shaft, 45 ... Movable frame, 45a-45d ... Electromagnet, 46 ... Optical lens group, 50 ... Mobile phone, 51 ... Hinge , 52 ... Upper housing, 53 ... Lower housing, 54 ... Speaker (SP), 55 ... Main display, 56 ... Various keys, 56a ... Camera key, 56b ... Set key, 56c ... Macro key, 56d ... Ring Key, 57 ... Microphone (MIC), 58, 58 '... Camera unit, 59 ... Shooting light, 60 ... Sub display unit, 61 ... Antenna, 71 ... RF unit, 72 ... Demodulator 73 ... CDMA unit 74 ... Audio processing unit 75 ... Control unit 76 ... GPS receiver 77 ... Image capturing unit 78 ... Image processing unit 79 ... Memory card 80 ... Vibrator unit 81 ... LED drive , 82 ... magnet driver, 83 ... GPS antenna, 84, 84 '... optical lens unit, 84a ... optical lens group, 84b ... legs, 84c, 84c' ... coil, 85 ... CCD, 91 ... CCD package, 91a ... Recess, 92, 92 '... Permanent magnet.

Claims (5)

An optical photographing mechanism capable of selecting a normal photographing range and a close-up photographing range by switching positions of at least some optical members;
Position fixing means by an electromagnet provided at each switching position of the optical member of the optical photographing mechanism,
Instruction means for selecting and instructing one of a normal shooting range and a close-up shooting range;
Corresponding to the instruction means, there is provided electromagnetic driving means for selectively energizing the position fixing means to fix the optical member at a switching position of a normal photographing range or a close-up photographing range. Imaging device. An optical photographing mechanism capable of selecting a normal photographing range and a close-up photographing range by switching positions of at least some optical members;
A permanent magnet is provided on one of the movable side and the fixed side of the optical photographing mechanism, and an electromagnet is provided on the other side. The energizing direction of the electromagnet is switched so that the electromagnet is attracted or repelled with respect to the permanent magnet. Position fixing means for fixing to a position;
Instruction means for selecting and instructing one of a normal shooting range and a close-up shooting range;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: an electromagnetic drive means for switching an energization direction to an electromagnet corresponding to the instruction means and fixing the optical member at a switching position of a normal photographing range or a close-up photographing range.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the position fixing means includes a permanent magnet on the movable side and an electromagnet on the fixed side. An optical photographing mechanism capable of selecting a normal photographing range and a close-up photographing range by switching positions of at least some optical members;
A first position fixing means by an elastic member that urges the optical member on the movable side of the optical imaging mechanism to fix the position to one of a normal imaging range and a close-up imaging range;
The optical member on the movable side of the optical photographing mechanism and the permanent magnet on one side of the fixed side, and the electromagnet on the other side, generate an attractive force or repulsive force that exceeds the elastic force of the elastic member when the electromagnet is energized. Second position fixing means for fixing the position of the optical member to the other of the normal shooting range and the close-up shooting range;
Instruction means for selecting and instructing one of a normal shooting range and a close-up shooting range;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: an electromagnetic drive unit that switches an energization state to an electromagnet corresponding to the instruction unit and fixes the optical member at a switching position of a normal shooting range or a close-up shooting range.   5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second position fixing means includes a permanent magnet on the movable side and an electromagnet on the fixed side.

Images