JP2006066962A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize arrangement of capacitors which can efficiently utilize a space and will not give unwanted heat to an imaging element. <P>SOLUTION: A digital camera 10 has a photographic optical system unit 11 and a display element unit 12. These two units are coupled with each other by a shaft 13. The unit 12 can rotate at the center of the shaft 13 relative to the unit 11. For a stroboscopic device, a flashing unit 30 of the stroboscope is disposed in the unit 11. A capacitor 40 for causing the stroboscope to flash is disposed at the unit 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera in which a photographing optical system and a display element are provided in different units.

  In recent years, there have been a variety of digital camera photography methods, for example, self-timer photography is often performed. Here, when self-timer shooting is performed using a general digital camera, since the lens faces the photographer, the display element provided on the side opposite to the lens cannot be visually recognized by the photographer. Therefore, when self-timer shooting is performed with a general camera, the composition cannot be confirmed with the display element, and it is difficult to obtain a satisfactory image.

  Therefore, in recent years, a digital camera in which a display element and a photographing optical system are provided in separate units and the display element unit rotates relative to the photographing optical system unit is known. In this digital camera, since the display element is directed in an arbitrary direction, for example, even in self-timer photographing, it is possible to photograph while viewing the display element.

On the other hand, it has been widely known that a digital camera is provided with a strobe device in order to solve a shortage of light quantity when photographing at night or indoors. The strobe device must supply electric charges at a high pressure in order to emit a large amount of light instantaneously, and is usually provided with a large-capacitance capacitor (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-122116 A

  The light emitting unit of the strobe device is preferably directed in the same direction as the direction in which the photographing optical system is directed in order to irradiate the subject with light efficiently and evenly. Therefore, in a digital camera in which the display element unit can rotate, it is conceivable to provide a strobe device in the photographing optical system unit in order to make the light emitting unit always face the same direction as the photographing optical system.

  However, a relatively large capacitor is used for the strobe device in order to supply electric charges to the light emitting portion of the strobe device at a high pressure. That is, if the strobe device is provided in the photographing optical system unit, the photographing optical system unit becomes large, and as a result, miniaturization of the digital camera is hindered.

  Further, when the strobe device is provided in the photographing optical system unit and the digital camera is to be miniaturized, the capacitor and the image sensor must be provided close to each other. However, the capacitor of the stroboscopic device accumulates electric charges at a high pressure and generates a relatively large amount of heat. Therefore, when the image sensor is provided close to the capacitor, the heat of the capacitor is propagated, and the image quality of the generated image is deteriorated.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is a digital camera in which a photographing optical system and a display element are provided in separate units, and by improving the arrangement of the strobe device, It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital camera that can be miniaturized and that does not adversely affect heat on an image sensor.

  In a digital camera according to the present invention, a photographing optical system unit having a photographing optical system and a display element unit having a display element for displaying a subject image captured by the photographing optical system are connected, and the display element unit photographs. In a digital camera that is rotatable with respect to the optical system unit, a strobe light emitting unit is provided in the photographing optical system unit, and a capacitor for causing the strobe light emitting unit to emit light is provided in the display element unit.

  It is preferable that the display element has a plate shape and the capacitor is provided at a position where it does not overlap the extended surface of the display element.

  It is preferable that an imaging element that converts a subject image captured by the imaging optical system into an image signal is provided in the imaging optical system unit. On the other hand, the display element unit may be provided with a substrate provided with a main circuit for performing image processing on the image signal and controlling the digital camera, and a battery for supplying power to the digital camera. preferable. It is preferable that the substrate and the battery each have a plate shape, and the capacitor is provided at a position overlapping each of the extended surfaces of the substrate and the battery.

  The digital camera can be miniaturized and the heat generated from the capacitor can be prevented from propagating to the image sensor.

  FIG. 1 is a rear view of a digital camera to which an embodiment according to the present invention is applied. The digital camera 10 according to this embodiment includes a photographing optical system unit 11 having a photographing optical unit 14 (see FIG. 2) and a display element unit 12 having a liquid crystal display unit 15. The photographing optical system unit 11 and the display element unit 12 each have a thin box shape and are connected by a shaft portion 13. The axis X of the shaft portion 13 extends in the horizontal direction in FIG. The display element unit 12 is rotatable relative to the photographing optical system unit 11 around the shaft portion 13 so that the front surface 12a and the back surface 12b rotate around the axis X.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the back surface 12 b of the display element unit 12 is defined on the same plane as the back surface 11 b of the photographing optical system unit 11. Here, when the display element unit 12 is rotated 180 ° with respect to the photographing optical system unit 11 around the shaft portion 13 from the state of FIG. 1, the back surface 12b of the display element unit 12 is as shown in FIG. It is determined on the same plane as the front surface 11a of the photographing optical system unit 11.

  The liquid crystal display unit 15 includes a display window 15a and a liquid crystal monitor (display element) 15b. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a liquid crystal window 15a is provided in the majority of the back surface 12b of the display element unit 12, and a liquid crystal monitor 15b is provided inside the back surface 12b so as to face the entire liquid crystal window 15a. It is done. On the back surface 12b, a playback switch 26 and a zoom switch 27 are provided on the right side of the liquid crystal window 15a. A plurality of operation members such as a cross stick 28 and a menu switch 29 are provided below the liquid crystal window 15a. A release button 20 and a power switch 22 are provided on the upper surface 12 c of the display element unit 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a photographing optical unit 14 is provided above the front surface 11 a of the photographing optical system unit 11. A light emitting unit 30 of a strobe device is provided in the lower left part of the front of the photographing optical system unit 11. The light emitting unit 30 has a substantially rectangular shape extending in the vertical direction in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the arrangement of components provided in the digital camera 10 in the state of FIG. The photographing optical unit 14 provided in the photographing optical system unit 11 includes a lens barrel 14a and a photographing optical system (not shown) fixed inside the lens barrel. The lens barrel 14a is housed in the photographic optical system unit 11 when the power is off, and protrudes in front of the photographic optical system unit 11 when the power is turned on.

  The lens barrel 14a is protruded or housed by a gear portion 34 provided around the lens barrel 14a, and the gear portion 34 is driven by a motor 35 provided below the lens barrel 14a in FIG. Be made. A focusing motor 36 serving as a driving source at the time of focusing adjustment is provided on the upper left side of the lens barrel 14a. Further, a substrate (not shown) is provided on the rear surface 11b side of the lens barrel 14a, and the imaging optical unit 14, the gear unit 34, the motors 35 and 36, etc. are mounted on the substrate, and further imaging is performed. Elements are also provided. In the image sensor, a subject image captured by the photographing optical system is formed, and the formed image is converted into an image signal. Further, a tripod base 37 for fixing a tripod and a microphone 38 for collecting sound are provided on the upper surface and side surfaces of the photographing optical system unit 11, respectively.

  The light emitting unit 30 of the strobe device includes an elongated arc tube 32 that emits light, and a reflector 33 that surrounds the arc tube 32 and reflects light from the arc tube 32. The light from the arc tube 32 or the light reflected by the reflector 33 is irradiated to the subject in the same direction as the direction in which the photographing optical system 14 is directed. A strobe circuit (not shown) is provided on the back surface 11b side of the light emitting unit 30, and the light emitting unit 30 is connected to the strobe circuit.

  In the display element unit 12, in addition to the liquid crystal monitor 15b, a capacitor 40, a main substrate 42, a battery 43, and a recording medium 44 are provided. The capacitor 40 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is disposed such that its axis is directed in the horizontal direction (the direction of the axis X). The liquid crystal monitor 15b, the main board 42, the battery 43, and the recording medium 44 each have a plate shape, and are provided so as to be stacked in parallel in the thickness direction of the digital camera 10. The main board 42 is provided with a main circuit (not shown), and the main circuit has a system controller including a microcomputer. The system controller controls the main operation of the digital camera 10. For example, the system controller performs image processing on the image signal sent from the image sensor, displays the image signal on the liquid crystal monitor 15b as a moving image or a still image, and the moving image or still image is displayed on the recording medium 44 as necessary. Let me record. The battery 43 supplies a power supply voltage to each circuit of the digital camera 10, the capacitor 40, and the like.

  The capacitor 40 can store charges at a high voltage, and the stored charges are sent to the strobe circuit via a lead wire (not shown) at a high voltage, and from the light emitting unit 30 by the sent charges, High-intensity light is emitted instantaneously. Although not shown, the lead wire is sent from the display element unit 12 side to the photographing optical system unit 11 side through the inside of the shaft portion 13.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. In the display element unit 12, a gap is provided on the front surface 12a side of the liquid crystal monitor 15b, and the main substrate 42 is provided across the gap. For example, a backlight (not shown) of the liquid crystal monitor 15b is provided in this gap. A holding member 45 is attached to the front surface 12 a side of the main board 42. A recording medium 44 can be inserted into the holding member 45, and the recording medium 44 inserted from the side surface of the display element unit 12 is disposed on the front surface 12 a side of the main substrate 42.

  The front surface 12a of the display element unit 12 is provided with a lid 46 that can be opened and closed over the entire surface. First and second depressions 48 and 49 are provided on the inner surface side of the lid portion 46 so that the bottom surface is located on the same plane. A recess 47 is provided in the display element unit 12 so as to face the bottom surface of the first recess 48 of the lid 46. A battery 43 is fitted into the concave portion 47 so as to slightly protrude from the concave portion 47, and the battery 43 is thereby disposed close to the recording medium 44. The portion of the battery 43 protruding from the recess 47 is covered with the first recess 48 so that a slight gap is formed between the bottom surface of the first recess 48. Since the gap is provided between the bottom surface of the first recess 48 and the battery 43, when the battery 43 is used and thermally expands, the expansion can escape and the lid 46 can be opened and closed smoothly. To be done. In addition, the second recess 49 is formed along the arc-shaped outer periphery of the capacitor 40 in order to cover a part of the capacitor 40 as will be described later.

  Since the capacitor 40 has a very large diameter, for example, if it is provided so as to be stacked on the front surface 12a side of the battery 43, the thickness of the display element unit 12 becomes large, and the size reduction of the camera cannot be achieved. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is preferable that the capacitor 40 be arranged so as to be aligned in the height direction (vertical direction in FIG. 4) with respect to each member in the display element unit 12 such as the battery 43. Moreover, since the larger one of the liquid crystal monitor 15b becomes easier to see, it is better to make it as large as possible in a limited space.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the height of the liquid crystal monitor 15b is set higher than the height of the main board 42, the recording medium 44, and the battery 43, and an operation member such as a cross stick 28 is provided below the liquid crystal monitor 15b. Is provided. As a result, a large gap (dead space) is generated in the lower portion of the main substrate 42, the recording medium 44, and the battery 43 on the front surface 12a side of the liquid crystal monitor 15b, and the capacitor 40 is disposed in the generated dead space. To do. The capacitor 40 slightly protrudes from the inside of the display element unit 12 and is provided so as to face the lid portion 46 like the battery 43. A slight protruding portion of the capacitor 40 is covered with the second recess 49.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the capacitor 40 is provided at a position that does not overlap the extended surface of the liquid crystal monitor 15 b and is provided at a position that overlaps each of the extended surfaces of the battery 43, the recording medium 44, and the main substrate 45. Thereby, in this embodiment, each member is efficiently stored in the display element unit 12 without wasting space.

  In the present embodiment, the imaging optical system unit 11 can be reduced in size by eliminating the condenser 40 from the imaging optical system unit 11. Accordingly, the capacitor 40 must be disposed in the display element unit 12, but the capacitor 40 can be accommodated in a dead space in the display element unit 12 generated by increasing the liquid crystal monitor 15b. That is, in the present embodiment, the photographing optical system unit 11 can be reduced in size, and the liquid crystal monitor 15b can be increased in size by effectively utilizing space.

  In addition, the capacitor 40 is provided in the imaging optical system unit 11, whereby all the members that generate relatively large heat, such as the main circuit (not shown), the battery 43, the liquid crystal monitor 15 b, the capacitor 40, etc., are displayed in the display element unit. 12 is provided. Therefore, the heat generated by the member of the digital camera 10 is hardly propagated to the image sensor, and the image sensor has no adverse effect of heat and a good image is generated.

It is a rear view of the digital camera to which one embodiment concerning the present invention is applied. 1 is a rear view of a digital camera to which an embodiment according to the present invention is applied, and shows a state when a display element unit is rotated by 180 ° with respect to a photographing optical system unit. FIG. It is a front view which shows arrangement | positioning of each component provided in the inside of the digital camera in the state of FIG. It is sectional drawing on the IV-IV line in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 11 Shooting optical system unit 12 Display element unit 12a Front 12b Back 15 Liquid crystal display part 15b Liquid crystal monitor (display element)
40 Capacitor 42 Main board 43 Battery 44 Recording media

Claims (5)

An imaging optical system unit having an imaging optical system and a display element unit having a display element for displaying a subject image captured by the imaging optical system are connected, and the display element unit is connected to the imaging optical system unit. In a digital camera that can be rotated,
A digital camera, wherein a strobe light emitting unit is provided in the photographing optical system unit, and a capacitor for causing the strobe light emitting unit to emit light is provided in the display element unit.   The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein the display element has a plate shape, and the capacitor is provided at a position that does not overlap an extended surface of the display element.   The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein an imaging element that converts a subject image captured by the imaging optical system into an image signal is provided in the imaging optical system unit.   A substrate on which a main circuit for controlling the digital camera is provided and a battery for supplying power to the digital camera are provided in the display element unit while performing image processing on the image signal. The digital camera according to claim 3. 5. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein the substrate and the battery each have a plate shape, and the capacitor is provided at a position overlapping each of the extension surfaces of the substrate and the battery.