JP2006010983A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera which is superior in versatility, has a simple structure and can prevent dew condensation on a cover glass disposed over the front of a photographic lens. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera is provided with a fan 37, which is disposed at one end of the shaft of a zoom motor 35 used for driving a zoom photographic lens 3, and is adapted to circulate air in the inside of the body 1 of the digital camera. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera in which a camera body is configured to have a waterproof function.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses the following technique for the purpose of obtaining a camera protection housing having a glass surface contamination prevention function and a monitoring camera protection method.
A rain detector provided in the camera detects the presence or absence of rain, rotates the fan in response to the rain detection signal, takes in air from the wind inlet, and generates wind. A duct guides this wind to the outer surface of the front glass for the camera to take an image, forms a front glass wind, and removes water droplets attached to the front glass due to rainfall. Further, the water droplet sensor detects water droplets and detects the presence or absence of water droplets adhering to the front glass. If necessary, the temperature of the wind is increased by a heater, and the accuracy of detection and removal of water droplets, icing, snow, etc. is increased. This configuration automatically detects the occurrence of rainfall, automatically removes water droplets on the front glass, enables good imaging, improves monitoring quality and accuracy, and further reduces maintenance.
Patent Document 2 discloses the following technique for the purpose of preventing a large amount of electric power and preventing the occurrence of lens fogging at all times.
An anti-fogging window is provided in the camera housing that houses the TV camera. In this anti-fogging window, the outer window glass and the inner window glass are connected via a spacing member, and the double window glass is sealed in a vacuum state with a sealing material. According to this, a space between the outer window glass and the inner window glass functions as a heat insulating layer, thereby eliminating fogging of the inner window glass. The heat insulating layer may be filled with nitrogen gas or may be filled with dry air.
JP 2000-171878 A JP-A-9-43723

In the case of the technique described in Patent Document 1, the wind generated by the fan is guided in front of the front protective glass to remove water droplets and the like attached to the outside of the front glass, but there is no effect in preventing fogging inside the front glass. .
In the case of the technique described in Patent Document 2, the front glass is doubled, but there is a disadvantage that the cost is increased and the size of the front glass portion is increased. The window covering the front of the photographic lens is desirably made of glass that is not easily scratched and that is easy to obtain accuracy such as flatness. However, since there are CCDs and circuit elements that generate heat during operation inside the digital camera, the temperature inside the camera becomes high.
When the temperature inside the camera rises and the temperature around the camera becomes low, the glass window (cover glass) provided in front of the taking lens has high thermal conductivity. When the temperature drops due to the influence, dew condensation may occur inside the cover glass and it may become cloudy. When condensation occurs on the inner side, it cannot be easily wiped off, resulting in a problem that photography cannot be performed.
In order to solve the above-described drawbacks, an object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera that is excellent in versatility and has a simple structure and can prevent condensation on a cover glass in front of a photographing lens.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a digital camera is provided with a fan that circulates air inside a digital camera body at one end of a zoom motor shaft that drives a zoom photographing lens. And
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the digital camera is provided with a fan that circulates air inside the digital camera body at one end of a shaft of a focus motor that performs focus adjustment by moving a part of the photographing lens. To do.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the digital camera is characterized in that a fan for circulating the air inside the digital camera body is provided in the middle of the power transmission mechanism of the zoom motor that drives the zoom photographing lens. To do.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a digital camera in which a fan that circulates air inside the digital camera body is provided in the middle of a power transmission mechanism of a focus motor that moves a part of a photographing lens to adjust a focus is the most main. Features.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the digital camera provided with an air guiding member for guiding the airflow generated by the fan to the vicinity of the rear surface of the cover glass. Main features.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the digital camera according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, an air guiding member is provided for guiding the airflow generated by the fan to the vicinity of at least one heat source inside the digital camera body. The main feature is a digital camera.
The invention described in claim 7 is characterized in that, in the digital camera described in claim 6, a digital camera in which the heat generation source is a DCDC circuit element.
The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that, in the digital camera according to claim 6, a digital camera in which the heat generation source is a CCD.

  According to the present invention, a fan that circulates the air inside the digital camera body is provided at one end of the shaft of the zoom motor that drives the zoom photographing lens, and the focus adjustment is performed by moving a part of the photographing lens. By installing a fan that circulates the air inside the digital camera body at one end of the focus motor shaft that is used, and in the middle of the power transmission mechanism of the zoom motor that drives the zoom photographing lens, By providing a fan that circulates, and by providing a fan that circulates the air inside the digital camera body in the middle of the power transmission mechanism of the focus motor that adjusts the focus by moving a part of the photographic lens, The intended purpose can be achieved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a waterproof digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the same. The digital camera body 1 is a right hand grip portion 2 made of an elastic member on the left side when viewed from the front, and a card slot portion (with a memory card (not shown) and a battery (not shown) attached to the rear thereof. A battery lid 12 is provided to cover a battery chamber (not shown) and a battery chamber (not shown).
A zoom photographing lens 3 is attached at the center, and an optical viewfinder 5 for allowing the user to visually confirm the photographing range and the like, and a strobe 6 for emitting auxiliary light when photographing at low illuminance. Is provided. On the top surface is a rotary mode dial 7 for selecting various modes of the camera, and in the center of the rotary mode dial 7 is a power switch 8 for turning on / off the camera, a shutter button 9, and an accessory shoe 10 for attaching an external strobe. Is provided.
Further, the left hand grip portion 11 made of an elastic member on the right side when viewed from the front is provided with a terminal cover 13 covering an external output terminal (not shown) behind the left hand grip portion 11. On the rear side, an LCD monitor (image display device) 21 for displaying a photographed image and displaying a photographing mode, a finder eyepiece 22, a finder LED window 23, a zoom button 24, and a plurality of mode switches 25 are provided. ing. Further, the digital camera body has a waterproof function by using a waterproof O-ring or the like at key points.
FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view along the optical axis of the zoom photographing lens 3 (No. 1). An optical viewfinder 5 is provided at the upper portion, and an LCD monitor (image display device) 21 is provided at the rear surface. The light from the subject that has passed through the zoom photographing lens 3 reaches the CCD 30 and is imaged to be an electrical signal, which is transmitted to a circuit board 31 on which a CCD driving IC or the like is mounted, and is subjected to circuit processing for image signals. It becomes.
The CCD 30 consumes a large amount of power and generates a large amount of heat. A cover glass 32 is provided on the front surface of the zoom photographing lens 3 for protection and a waterproof function. The circuit board 33 is mounted with a DCDC circuit element 34 which is a power source of the digital camera. However, the circuit board 33 has a large amount of heat generation and requires heat dissipation.
A gear 36 for transmitting power is attached to one end of a shaft of a zoom motor 35 that generates power for zooming the zoom photographing lens 3, and a fan 37 for circulating air in the camera is attached to the opposite side of the shaft. Yes. When the zoom motor 35 is operated, the air flow in the camera caused by the fan 37 is guided to the rear surface 39 of the cover glass 32 by the air guiding member 38.

FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical sectional view along the optical axis of the zoom photographing lens 3 (No. 2). As in FIG. 3, a gear 36 for transmitting power is attached to one end of the shaft of the zoom motor 35, and a fan 37 for circulating air in the camera is attached to the opposite side.
When the zoom motor 35 is operated, the air flow in the camera caused by the fan 37 is guided by the air guiding member 41 to the vicinity of the DCDC circuit element 34 that is a heat generation source inside the camera. Thereby, the heat of the DCDC circuit element 34 is dissipated. Specifically, as the DCDC circuit element 34, since the amount of heat generated by the transformer is large, it is desirable that the air guiding member 41 is disposed in the vicinity of the transformer.
FIG. 5 is a schematic vertical sectional view along the optical axis of the zoom photographing lens 3 (No. 3). As in FIG. 3, a gear 36 for transmitting power is attached to one end of the shaft of the zoom motor 35, and a fan 37 for circulating air in the camera is attached to the opposite side.
When the zoom motor 35 is operated, the air flow in the camera caused by the fan 37 is guided to the vicinity of the CCD 30 which is a heat source inside the camera by the air guiding member 51. Thereby, the heat of the CCD 30 is dissipated.
FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical sectional view taken along the optical axis of a photographic lens 60 of another embodiment. The photographing lens 60 has a single focal point, and a gear 62 for transmitting power is attached to one end of the shaft of the focus motor 61, and a fan 37 for circulating air in the camera is attached to the opposite side.
When the focus motor 61 is operated, the air flow in the camera caused by the fan 37 is guided to the rear surface 39 of the cover glass 32 by the air guiding member 38. In the case of the focus motor 61, the same operation as in the case of the zoom motor 35 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be performed.
In the above example, the fan 37 is directly attached to one end of the axes of the zoom motor 35 and the focus motor 61, but the fan 37 may be attached in the middle of the rotational force transmission mechanism. In the above example, the air guiding member 41 for guiding the air flow in the camera caused by the fan 37 to the vicinity of the DCDC circuit element 34 and the air flow in the camera to the vicinity of the CCD 30 are similarly induced. Although the air guide member 51 is provided separately, it is also possible to provide an air guide member that couples the two and sends air to the vicinity of both heat generating members at the same time.

1 is a front perspective view of a waterproof digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a rear perspective view of a waterproof digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view along the optical axis of the zoom photographing lens 3 (No. 1). FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical sectional view along the optical axis of the zoom photographing lens 3 (No. 2). FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view along the optical axis of the zoom photographing lens 3 (No. 3). It is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram in alignment with the optical axis of the imaging lens 60 of another Example.

Explanation of symbols

1 Digital Camera Body 3 Zoom Lens 5 Zoom Motor 37 Fan

Claims (8)

  A digital camera comprising a fan that circulates air inside a digital camera body at one end of a shaft of a zoom motor that drives a zoom photographing lens.   A digital camera comprising a fan that circulates air inside a digital camera body at one end of a shaft of a focus motor that adjusts a focus by moving a part of a zoom photographing lens.   A digital camera comprising a fan that circulates air inside a digital camera body in the middle of a power transmission mechanism of a zoom motor that drives a zoom photographing lens.   A digital camera comprising a fan that circulates air inside a digital camera body in the middle of a power transmission mechanism of a focus motor that adjusts a focus by moving a part of a photographing lens.   5. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising an air guiding member for guiding an air flow generated by the fan to the vicinity of the rear surface of the cover glass.   5. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising an air guide member for guiding an air flow generated by the fan to the vicinity of at least one heat source inside the digital camera body.   7. The digital camera according to claim 6, wherein the heat generation source is a DCDC circuit element.   7. The digital camera according to claim 6, wherein the heat generation source is a CCD.

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