JP2006039406A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce dimensions of an imaging apparatus having a slide cover part for protecting an imaging lens body when not photographing. <P>SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus 10 has an imaging apparatus main body 11 having a photographing lens body 21 and a slide cover part 12 which is disposed in the imaging apparatus main body slidably in a prescribed direction and protects the imaging lens body. A hollow part 31 extending from one side face of the imaging apparatus main body to a prescribed direction, which crosses in a prescribed direction is formed in the imaging apparatus main body, and the slide cover part has a lens cover part 12a for protecting the imaging lens body and a frame body 121 which is formed integrally with the lens cover part and is inserted to the hollow part, and the imaging lens body is covered with the lens cover part in such a state that the frame body is slid along the hollow part and is completely inserted into the hollow part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus such as an electronic camera (digital camera), and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus including a slide cover portion for protecting an image pickup lens body.

  In general, in an imaging apparatus such as a digital camera (hereinafter simply referred to as a camera), an imaging lens body is disposed on the front surface (subject) side, and covers the imaging lens body when not photographing to protect the imaging lens body. In this type of camera, various operation buttons and a liquid crystal screen (liquid crystal display) are arranged on the back side. On the front side, a flash device (strobe light emitting unit) that emits light during shooting to illuminate the subject is disposed, and at the time of shooting, the slide cover unit is slid to expose the imaging lens body.

  As described above, in a camera having a slide cover portion, the slide cover portion is slidably disposed with respect to the image pickup apparatus body having the image pickup lens body, and the image pickup lens body is covered with the slide cover portion during non-shooting. The lens body is protected, and at the time of shooting, the slide cover is slid to expose the imaging lens body (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-129965 (first page, FIGS. 1 to 4)

  By the way, in the conventional camera, the slide cover portion is movably disposed along the outer surface of the image pickup device main body on the outer surface side of the image pickup device main body. The dimensions of the main body will increase. That is, when the image pickup lens body is exposed by sliding the slide cover portion during photographing, an area in which the slide cover section slides (hereinafter referred to as a slide area) must be provided in the image pickup apparatus body.

  For this reason, when the camera is not photographed, the camera size is increased by the slide area of the slide cover portion, even though the imaging lens body is covered with the slide cover portion, and the camera itself is not photographed. It is the same as when shooting. That is, at the time of non-photographing, for example, although the camera is stored in the photographer's bag or pocket, the dimensions of the camera at the time of non-photographing and at the time of photographing are the same, and it is difficult to store the camera in a pocket or the like. In any case, in the conventional camera, the slide area of the slide cover portion must be defined on the outer surface of the imaging apparatus main body, and there is a problem that the camera size increases by the amount of the slide area.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of reducing the size at the time of non-shooting in an imaging apparatus having a slide cover portion that protects an imaging lens body.

  Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides an imaging apparatus body having a photographic lens body, and a slide cover portion that is slidably disposed in a predetermined direction on the imaging apparatus body and protects the imaging lens body. The imaging device main body has a hollow portion extending from one side surface in the predetermined direction, and the slide cover portion includes a lens cover portion that protects the imaging lens body, and the hollow that is integral with the lens cover portion. And an insert that can be inserted into the part.

  In this invention, it has a guide member which is arrange | positioned at the said hollow part and guides the said insertion body to the said predetermined direction, and the said insertion body is the 1st position where the said lens cover part covers the said imaging lens body, and the said imaging It can slide along the predetermined direction between the second position where the lens body is exposed.

  In this invention, the display part cover part which protects the image display part arrange | positioned integrally with the said slide cover part, the image display part arrange | positioned in the surface facing the arrangement | positioning surface of the said imaging lens body of the said imaging device main body When the imaging lens body is covered with the lens cover part, at least a part of the image display part is covered by the display part cover part, and when the imaging lens body is exposed, the image The display is exposed.

  In the present invention, it has a strobe light emitting portion disposed on the slide cover portion, and the strobe light emitting portion is formed over at least one side surface of the slide cover portion continuous from the lens cover portion to the lens cover portion. Is desirable.

  In the present invention, a strobe unit for supplying electric power to the strobe light emitting unit disposed in the insertion body is provided. The lens cover portion and the display portion cover portion are movable along the front surface and the back surface, respectively, according to the slide of the insert.

  As described above, the image pickup apparatus of the present invention has an effect that the size of the image pickup apparatus during non-photographing can be reduced as a result of the insert being inserted into the image pickup apparatus body during non-photographing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the component parts described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to the description unless otherwise specified. It is just an example.

  With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, here, an electronic camera will be described as an example of an imaging apparatus. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the electronic camera 10 from the front side (subject side), and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the electronic camera 10 from the back side. The illustrated electronic camera 10 has an imaging device body 11, and an imaging lens body (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is attached to the front surface (front surface: subject) side of the imaging device body 11. Yes. This imaging lens body constitutes a part of a lens unit. Although not shown, the lens unit further includes a shutter mechanism and a CCD (charge coupled device).

  Further, a slide cover portion 12 is attached to the imaging device main body 11, and the slide cover portion 12 is supported by the imaging device main body 11 so as to be slidable in a direction indicated by a solid line arrow in FIG. Thus, the imaging lens body is protected during non-shooting. That is, the slide cover unit 12 is slidable between a first position that covers the imaging lens body and a second position that exposes the imaging lens body.

  The slide cover part 12 includes a front part (lens cover part) 12a located on the front side, a right side part 12b located on the right side when viewed from the front side, and a back part (display part cover part) located on the back side. 12c, and is slidably disposed on the imaging device body 11 such that the imaging device body 11 is sandwiched between the front surface portion 12a and the back surface portion 12c. In the illustrated example, the strobe light emitting portion 13 is formed from the front surface portion 12a to the right side surface portion 12b, that is, over two surfaces (on the end side in the direction in which the slide cover portion 12 opens, and at least the front surface of the slide cover portion 12 and A strobe light emitting portion is formed on the side surface continuous with the front surface), and light is emitted from the strobe light emitting portion 13 during flash photography. In the above example, the imaging device 16 is configured by the imaging device body 11, the imaging lens body, and the slide cover unit 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display) 14 is disposed on the back surface of the imaging apparatus main body 11, and an operation unit 15 is disposed. The operation unit 15 includes, for example, a release button, A mode dial and various function keys are provided. When the slide cover portion 12 is positioned at the first position described above, a part of the liquid crystal display 14 is covered by the back surface portion 12c (the back surface portion 12c covers the entire liquid crystal display 14). However, it is sufficient to cover at least a part of the liquid crystal display 14).

  3 and 4, FIG. 3 is a diagram of the electronic camera 10 as viewed from the front side during photographing, and FIG. 4 is a diagram of the electronic camera 10 viewed from the back side. When photographing with the electronic camera 10, the slide cover portion 12 is slid from the first position to the second position. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the imaging lens body 21 is exposed, the main power supply is turned on, and the liquid crystal display 14 is brightened. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the back surface portion 12 c of the slide cover portion 12 slides, and the entire liquid crystal display 14 is exposed. Further, the strobe light emitting unit 13 is moved further outward than the mounting position of the imaging lens body 21 due to the slide of the slide cover unit 12, and at the time of strobe shooting, the imaging lens body 21, the strobe light emitting unit 13, and the like. The distance becomes larger.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the shutter button 22 is disposed on one end portion side of the upper surface of the imaging apparatus main body 11, and the slide cover portion 12 is in the end portion direction opposite to the one end portion side where the shutter button 22 is disposed. Slide to. As a result, when the electronic camera 10 is held with both hands for shooting, the slide cover unit 12 can be slid with a hand different from the hand that operates the shutter button.

  When performing strobe shooting, the operation unit 15 turns on the strobe shooting mode and sets various shooting modes, an image playback mode, a flash waiting time, and the like. Examples of the various shooting modes include “normal shooting”, “continuous shooting”, “fine shooting”, “still image”, and “moving image”, and the image reproduction mode includes “still image” and “moving image”. And so on. When the image reproduction mode is set, the photographed image is reproduced and displayed on the liquid crystal screen after photographing. These various shooting modes, image playback modes, and flash waiting times are called operation modes, and the microprocessor (control means and power-on means: not shown) housed in the imaging apparatus main body 11 depends on the operation mode. Light emission from the strobe light emitting unit 13 can be controlled by changing light intensity, color, or blinking.

  The shutter mechanism described above has, for example, an autofocus (AF) mechanism, a diaphragm mechanism, a filter mechanism, and the like, and controls exposure at the time of release. An optical image of a subject or the like incident from the imaging lens body 21 is formed on the CCD, and the optical image is converted into an electrical signal. The output signal (electrical signal) from the CCD is sampled at a predetermined sampling frequency by the microprocessor and converted into a digital value (digital image data). The digital image data is divided into a color difference component and a luminance component, for example, JPEG. (Joint Photographic Experts Group) compliant processing such as orthogonal transformation and Huffman encoding / decoding for image compression / decompression is performed. The image data compressed in this way is temporarily stored in the memory.

  That is, in the illustrated electronic camera, an image captured by the CCD is displayed in real time on the liquid crystal display before the release button or shutter button 22 is pressed, and the liquid crystal display is an electronic device for electronically checking the imaging field of view. A finder function is provided, and an image is taken by operating a release button or the like while observing the electronic viewfinder. At this time, the strobe light emitting section emits light as necessary. The image data obtained by the imaging is displayed on the liquid crystal display 14 as the imaging result at any time when a reproduction operation is performed using the function keys.

  In this way, digital image data before and during imaging is displayed in real time on the liquid crystal display 14 and functions as an electronic viewfinder. Further, the digital image data after imaging and the recorded image data decompressed and restored are stored. Is displayed. The liquid crystal display 14 displays a mode display such as the operating state of the electronic camera. Note that a battery is used as a power supply unit of the electronic camera, and a Ni-Cd (nickel cadmium) battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, a lithium battery, or the like is used as the battery.

  In the illustrated electronic camera, the strobe light emitting unit 13 is formed over at least one side continuous from the front surface (subject side surface) of the imaging device to the front surface. It is possible to irradiate light from the area, and the light emission state of the strobe light emitting section can be easily visually recognized not only from the subject side but also from the photographer side.

  Also, here, a strobe light emitting unit is disposed on a slide cover unit (lens cover) that protects the imaging lens body, and is continuous with the front surface of the slide cover unit and at least the front surface on the end side in the opening direction of the slide cover unit. Since the strobe light emitting part is formed on the side, the distance between the strobe light emitting part and the imaging lens body increases when the slide cover part is slid to expose the imaging lens body. The red-eye phenomenon that occurs can be reduced.

  Furthermore, the slide cover has a front surface portion and a back surface portion. When the imaging lens body is covered by the front surface portion, at least a part of the liquid crystal display is covered by the back surface portion. In, the imaging lens body is protected by the slide cover, and the liquid crystal display is also protected. When the image pickup lens body is exposed by sliding the slide cover section, the main power is turned on, and the slide cover section is slid in the opposite end side direction so that the image pickup lens body is covered by the slide cover section. In this case, since the main power supply is turned off, the use operation and the main power supply on / off match, and the main power supply is never forgotten.

  In addition, the shutter button is arranged on one end side of the upper surface of the image pickup apparatus body, and the slide cover portion slides in the direction of the end portion opposite to the one end portion side on which the shutter button is arranged. When taking a picture by gripping with, the slide cover portion can be slid with a hand different from the hand (finger) that operates the shutter button, and the operability can be improved.

  FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the imaging apparatus main body 11 and the slide cover portion 12. In the illustrated example, various control elements such as a microprocessor housed in the imaging apparatus main body 11 are omitted. . As illustrated, a hollow portion 31 extending to the other side surface (right side surface) is formed on one side surface of the imaging device body 11 (left side surface when viewed from the back side of the imaging device body 11). The hollow portion 31 is formed in a rectangular tube shape. Frame members (guide members) 31a to 31d are arranged on the four sides of the hollow portion 31 (four sides extending from one side surface to the other side surface), and the hollow portion 31 is defined by the frame members 31a to 31d. . The hollow portion 31 has a depth in which the frame cover portion 12 is accommodated as described later when the slide cover portion 12 is positioned at the first position and the imaging lens body 21 is covered. ing.

  On the other hand, as shown in the figure, the slide cover part 12 has a substantially prismatic frame body (insertion body) 121. As shown in the figure, the above-mentioned strobe light emitting part extends from the front surface (front surface) to the side surface of the frame body 121. 13 is attached. The front part 12a, the side part 12b, and the back part 12c (not shown in FIG. 5) described above are attached to the front face 121a, the side face 121b, and the back face 121c of the frame body 121, respectively. The upper surface 121d and the lower surface 121e of the frame body 121 are formed to have shorter longitudinal dimensions than the front surface 121a and the back surface 121c of the frame body 121.

  A strobe unit (not shown) that is connected to the strobe light emitting unit 13 and supplies a high voltage (strobe voltage) to the strobe light emitting unit 13 is disposed in the internal space of the frame body 121. The length of the upper surface 121d and the lower surface 121e of the frame body 121 is less than the length in the longitudinal direction. That is, the strobe unit is accommodated in an internal space defined by the front surface 121a, the side surface 121b, the back surface 121c, the upper surface 121d, and the lower surface 121e of the frame body 121.

  Referring also to FIG. 6, longitudinal sides (longitudinal edges) 122a to 122d (the edge 122b is not shown but is an edge facing the edge 122a) of the front surface 121a and the back surface 121c of the frame body 121 are respectively guides. It is guided by the frame members 31 a to 31 d that function as members, and is inserted into the hollow portion 31 described above. As a result, the frame body 121, that is, the slide cover portion 12 is inserted into the hollow portion 31, but the frame body 121 has either the upper surface 121 d or the lower surface 121 e at the depth side end that defines the hollow portion 31. When it comes into contact, the insertion is stopped. This position is the first position described above.

  As described above, since the longitudinal direction length of the front surface 121a and the back surface 121c of the frame body 121 is longer than that of the top surfaces 121d and 121e, the imaging device main body 11 exits from the hollow portion 31 while being guided by the frame members 31a to 31d. It moves to the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. As a result, at the first position, imaging is performed by the front surface 121a of the frame body 121 (that is, the front surface portion 12a of the slide cover portion 12) and the back surface 121c of the frame body 121 (that is, the back surface portion 12c of the slide cover portion 12). The lens body 21 and the liquid crystal display 14 are covered.

  On the other hand, when the slide cover portion 12, that is, the frame body 121 is slid in the direction indicated by the solid line arrow in FIG. 6 and the frame body 121 is positioned at the second position, the imaging lens body 21 and the liquid crystal display 14 are completely moved. Will be exposed. Although not shown, the frame body 121 is provided with a stopper member that restricts further sliding when the second position is reached.

  When the slide cover portion 12 is housed in the hollow portion 31 formed in the imaging apparatus main body 11 in this way, the imaging lens body 21 and the liquid crystal display 14 are covered by a part of the slide cover portion 12 by the slide cover portion 12. In addition, the strobe light emitting portion 13 is formed on the surface of the slide cover portion, and the strobe unit for applying a voltage to the strobe light emitting portion 13 is accommodated in the slide cover portion. That is, since the slide cover unit 12 is housed in the imaging apparatus main body 11 during non-imaging, the camera dimensions during non-imaging can be reduced.

  Further, since the slide cover portion 12 is housed in the image pickup apparatus main body 11 at the time of non-image pickup, the strength of the image pickup apparatus main body itself is improved, and the camera 10 can be safely stored in a bag or the like.

  Also, since at least a part of the image display unit is covered by the display unit cover unit according to the slide of the lens cover unit protecting the imaging lens unit, the image display unit can be protected according to the protection of the imaging lens unit, Furthermore, since the strobe light emitting part is formed over at least one side surface of the slide cover part that continues from the lens cover part to the lens cover part, it is possible to emit light from the strobe light emitting part in a wide range with a simple configuration. is there. When the imaging lens body is exposed by the slide of the slide cover portion, the distance between the imaging lens body and the strobe light emitting portion is increased, and the red-eye phenomenon can be reduced.

  A hollow portion extending in a predetermined direction from one side surface of the imaging device body is formed in the imaging device body, and a slide cover portion is formed integrally with the lens cover portion to protect the imaging lens body, and is inserted into the hollow portion. The frame body is slid along the hollow portion so that the imaging lens body is covered by the lens cover portion in a state where the frame body is completely inserted into the hollow portion. As a result of the frame body being inserted into the main body of the image pickup apparatus and the camera dimensions at the time of non-photographing being reduced, the present invention can be applied not only to electronic cameras but also to other cameras, videos, portable terminals, and the like.

It is a perspective view which shows the electronic camera by Example 1 of this invention from the front in the state which closed the slide cover part. It is a perspective view which shows an electronic camera from the back side in the state shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the electronic camera by Example 1 of this invention from the front in the state which opened the slide cover part. It is a perspective view which shows an electronic camera from the back side in the state shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the electronic device main body and slide cover part of the electronic camera by Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the frame body of the slide cover portion in FIG. 5 is inserted into a hollow portion formed in the imaging apparatus main body.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic camera 11 Imaging device main body 12 Slide cover part 13 Strobe light emission part 14 Display part (liquid crystal display)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Operation part 16 Imaging device 21 Imaging lens body 22 Shutter button 31 Hollow part 121 Frame body

Claims (6)

An imaging apparatus body having a photographic lens body, and a slide cover portion that is slidably disposed in a predetermined direction on the imaging apparatus body and protects the imaging lens body,
The imaging device main body has a hollow portion extending from one side surface in the predetermined direction,
2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slide cover portion includes a lens cover portion that protects the imaging lens body, and an insertion body that can be inserted into the hollow portion integrated with the lens cover portion.   A guide member disposed in the hollow portion for guiding the insert in the predetermined direction, wherein the insert exposes the first position where the lens cover portion covers the imaging lens body and the imaging lens body; The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is slidable along the predetermined direction between the second position to be moved. An image display unit disposed on a surface of the imaging device main body opposite to the surface on which the imaging lens body is disposed;
A display unit cover unit that protects the image display unit disposed integrally with the slide cover unit;
When the imaging lens body is covered with the lens cover part, at least a part of the image display part is covered by the display part cover part, and when the imaging lens body is exposed, the image display part is exposed. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, which is configured as described above.   A strobe light emitting portion disposed on the slide cover portion, wherein the strobe light emitting portion is formed over at least one side surface of the slide cover portion continuous from the lens cover portion to the lens cover portion. The imaging device according to claim 1.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a strobe unit for supplying power to the strobe light emitting unit disposed in the insertion body.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lens cover unit and the display unit cover unit are movable along the front surface and the back surface, respectively, according to the slide of the insertion body. .

Images