JP2006184579A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus whose size becomes large to a certain degree to perform stable photographing of an image when it is used, while it is sufficiently compact when it is not used, and in which a lens section can be turned with respect to the main body of the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus comprises: a camera main body 11; and a lens section 12 designed such that a portion including at least a photographic lens 15 is accommodated in the camera main body 11 and, in a state the accommodated part is pulled out, the facing direction of the photographic lens 15 can be freely turned within a predetermined angle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a camera device using a solid-state image sensor such as a video (movie) camera or a digital still camera, a lens unit including a photographing lens or a solid-state image sensor is rotatably provided to the apparatus body. Many are planned and commercialized. (For example, Patent Document 1)
With this type of camera, when a user who takes a picture takes a picture of himself, so-called "selfie", when taking a picture while holding the camera high in a crowd and checking the contents of the picture, or For example, when performing low-angle shooting, the user's burden can be reduced and shooting opportunities can be expanded.
JP 2004-221868 A

  However, the camera device in which the lens unit rotates as described above has two housings, which are a camera body having a monitor display unit and a lens unit that is pivotally connected to the camera body, and thus is integrated with a similar functional configuration. The size is inevitably larger than that of the mobile phone, which is disadvantageous particularly when not in use, such as when being carried.

  On the other hand, with the recent development of technology, it has become possible to reduce the size and weight and mount high density, and while this type of camera device can be sufficiently reduced in size, the monitor display unit is expected to have a larger size. It is rare.

  For example, when considering a camera having a casing whose front area is the same size and shape as a credit card, except for its thickness, a monitor display section with a diagonal of about 2.5 inches is provided on the back side. Then, there is almost no room for the user to securely grip the camera without touching the monitor display unit.

  Thus, it is not easy to satisfy the contradictory conditions of compactness that is convenient to carry and a size that can be firmly grasped during use, and each company is seeking its shape and structure.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to make the lens unit rotate with respect to the main body of the apparatus while achieving both compactness when not in use and the size necessary for use. The object is to provide a possible imaging device.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, an apparatus main body and a part including at least a photographing lens are accommodated in the apparatus main body, and the opposing direction of the photographing lens is freely rotatable within a predetermined angle range in a state where the accommodated part is pulled out. And a lens portion.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an opening is provided at a position of the apparatus main body corresponding to the photographing lens in a state where the lens portion is accommodated.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a member constituting a main body housing is provided at the apparatus main body position corresponding to the photographing lens in a state where the lens portion is accommodated. To do.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the apparatus main body forms a display unit for displaying an image on the outer surface, and a back side constituting the display unit protrudes into the apparatus main body. The portion of the lens unit that is housed in the apparatus main body has a concave portion that avoids interference with the protruding portion on the back side of the display unit.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the portion of the lens unit that is housed in the device main body has a cylindrical shape whose axial direction is the direction of drawing out from the device main body. To do.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the lens unit or the apparatus main body further includes a slide member that switches whether the photographing lens is exposed to the outside in a state where the lens unit is housed. It is characterized by that.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the opposing direction of the photographing lens can be rotated while the lens unit is pulled out from the apparatus main body at the time of use. In addition, various photographing can be performed by freely rotating the lens unit with respect to the apparatus main body.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to shoot even in a state where the lens portion is housed, so that the chance of shooting is not missed.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the housing of the apparatus main body also functions as a lens barrier when not in use, and the photographing lens can be reliably protected.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, since the lens unit can be accommodated in the apparatus main body with the display unit and the lens unit overlapping, the size when not in use Can be made more compact.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the lens portion itself can be used as the rotation shaft, and the configuration can be further simplified.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, it is possible to reliably protect the photographing lens while enabling photographing even when the lens portion is housed.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment when the present invention is applied to a digital camera will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIGS. 1 and 2 mainly show an external configuration of the digital camera 10. FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B) are oblique views, FIG. 2 (A) and FIG. 2 (B). ) Is a view from obliquely behind.

The digital camera 10 includes a camera body 11 having a substantially cubic housing and a lens unit 12 that forms a left side surface from the back side of the camera body 11.
1A and 2A show a state in which the lens unit 12 is housed in the camera body 11, and FIGS. 1B and 2B show a state in which the lens unit 12 is pulled out from the camera body 11. FIG. Show.

  A shutter key 13 is disposed on the upper surface of the camera body 11, and a lens opening 14 is formed on the front surface of the camera body 11 and in the vicinity of the lens portion 12. Exposed.

  Therefore, it is possible to take an image even when the lens unit 12 is housed in the camera body 11 and reliably take a photo without missing a photo opportunity.

  Further, a monitor display unit 16 composed of a color liquid crystal panel with a backlight is disposed on the back side of the camera body 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 2 (A), the lens unit 12 is pulled out from the camera body 11 in the direction of arrow A, so that the front side of the portion of the lens unit 12 that has been housed in the camera body 11 until then. The photographing lens 15 and the strobe light emitting unit 17 disposed in the screen appear outside, and photographing using a strobe is possible.

  1B and FIG. 2B, the lens unit 12 pulled out from the camera body 11 as indicated by an arrow B has a camera body within a predetermined angular range, for example, 180 degrees forward and backward, for a total of 360 degrees. It is assumed that the image can be taken in a state where it is pivotably connected to 11 and has an arbitrary rotation angle within the range.

  1 and 2, a shaft 12a indicated mainly by a broken line (partly a solid line in FIG. 2B) serves as a center for pulling and rotating the lens portion 12, and although not shown here, its end is shown. By locking the portion with the camera body 11 side, the lens portion 12 is prevented from being pulled out from the camera body 11 more than the state shown in FIGS. 1 (B) and 2 (B). .

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 2B, a large concave portion 12b is formed in the center on the back side of the portion of the lens portion 12 housed in the camera body 11.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B mainly illustrate a cross-sectional configuration of the lens portion 12 when the digital camera 10 is cut in the horizontal direction at the height of the center position of the photographing lens 15. As in FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3A shows a state in which a part of the lens unit 12 is stored in the camera body 11, and FIG. 3B shows that the lens unit 12 can be pulled out of the camera body 11 and rotated. State.

  As shown in the drawing, the monitor display unit 16 includes a backlight mechanism or the like on the back surface thereof so as to protrude from the inner surface of the camera body 11, and the portion of the lens unit 12 housed in the camera body 11 interferes. The content of this is the shape of the recess 12b.

  Thus, by forming the concave portion 12b in the lens portion 12 so as to avoid the monitor display portion 16 protruding into the camera main body 11, the portion protruding from the inner surface of the camera main body 11 of the monitor display portion 16 and the lens portion 12 are formed. Even if they overlap, the lens unit 12 can be accommodated in the camera body 11 without interfering with the monitor display unit 16.

  Accordingly, the monitor display unit 16 can be arranged close to the left side where the lens unit 12 of the camera main body 11 is located, and the camera main body 11 itself has a small size, but the user can use the camera main body 11 with the right hand. The grip position can be secured so that the shutter key 13 can be operated without touching the monitor display unit 16.

  In FIG. 3, the CCD 18 as a solid-state image sensor is on the back side (upper side in the figure) of the photographic lens 15.

  Next, some modifications of the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 4 shows an external configuration mainly from the front side of a cylindrical digital camera 30 which is a first modification. The digital camera 30 includes a bottomed cylindrical camera body 31 and the camera body 31. It consists of a cylindrical lens portion 32 that is also housed in one opening.
4A shows a state in which the lens unit 32 is housed in the camera body 31, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which the lens unit 32 is pulled out from the camera body 31. FIG.

  A lens opening 34 is formed on the front surface of the cylindrical camera body 31 and in the vicinity of the lens portion 32, and the photographing lens 35 of the lens portion 32 is exposed even in the housed state.

  Therefore, it is possible to take an image even when the lens unit 32 is housed in the camera body 31, and to reliably take a photo without missing a photo opportunity.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the lens portion 32 is pulled out from the camera body 31 in the direction of arrow A, so that the portion of the lens portion 32 that has been housed in the camera body 31 until then as shown in FIG. The photographic lens 35 and the strobe light emitting unit 37 arranged toward the front surface of the lens appear outside, and the lens unit 32 is moved to a predetermined angle range, for example, 180 ° each in the forward and reverse directions, as indicated by an arrow B in the figure. It is possible to rotate with respect to the camera body 31 within a total of 360 °, and any rotation angle within that range can be photographed using a strobe.

  In this way, the lens portion 32 is formed into a cylindrical shape that matches the housing inner surface of the camera body 31, thereby omitting the configuration of the shaft 12 a of the lens portion 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and rotating the lens portion 32 itself. It can be used as a dynamic axis, and the configuration can be further simplified.

  In addition, by adopting a cylindrical shape, it is conceivable that a mobile phone with a camera function is incorporated by incorporating a similar function into a hinge portion of a foldable mobile phone, for example, instead of a single digital camera.

  FIG. 5 shows a digital camera 10 ′ as a second modified example, and the basic configuration is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The description thereof is omitted.

  In the case of this digital camera 10 ′, a portion corresponding to the photographing lens 15 of the camera body 11 in a state where the lens portion 12 is accommodated is greatly cut out, and the presence / absence of exposure of the photographing lens 15 to the outside is switched to this portion. It is assumed that a slider 41 that slides by manual operation is provided on the lens unit 12 side.

  By providing the slider 41 in this manner, even when the lens unit 12 is housed in the camera body 11, if the slider 41 is lowered as shown to expose the photographing lens 15, it is possible to perform photographing. If the slider 41 is used to cover the taking lens 15, the taking lens 15 cannot be taken, but the taking lens 15 is not inadvertently damaged when carried, and the taking lens 15 is reliably protected. it can.

  The slider 41 may be provided on the camera body 11 side instead of on the lens unit 12 side. By sending it out, it is possible to reliably perform shooting regardless of the state of the slider 41 when the lens unit 12 is pulled out from the camera body 11.

  FIG. 6 shows a digital camera 10 ″ which is a third modification, and the basic configuration is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The description is omitted.

  In the case of this digital camera 10 ″, the camera body 11 is not provided with the lens opening 14 and the lens portion 12 is housed in the lens portion 12, and the photographing lens 15 is completely inside the housing of the camera body 11 and is completely external. Will not be exposed.

  Therefore, when not in use, the housing of the camera body 11 also functions as a lens barrier, and the photographing lens 15 can be reliably protected.

  Although the above embodiment has been described with respect to a case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera, the present invention is not limited to this, and a video (movie) camera, a mobile phone with a camera function, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant): The present invention can be similarly applied to various electronic devices having an imaging function such as an information portable terminal), a personal computer, or an image input controller of game software.

  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 mainly on a front side of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the back side mainly of the digital camera which concerns on the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-sectional structure at the time of cut | disconnecting the digital camera which concerns on the embodiment with the height of the center position of a photographic lens. The perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the 1st modification of the digital camera which concerns on the embodiment. The perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the 2nd modification of the digital camera which concerns on the embodiment. The perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of the other 3rd modification of the digital camera which concerns on the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,10 ', 10 "... Digital camera, 11 ... Camera body, 12 ... Lens part, 13 ... Shutter key, 14 ... Lens opening, 15 ... Shooting lens, 16 ... Monitor display part, 17 ... Strobe light emission part, 18 ... CCD, 30 ... digital camera, 31 ... camera body, 32 ... lens unit, 34 ... lens aperture, 35 ... photographing lens, 37 ... strobe light emitting unit, 41 ... slider.

Claims (6)

The device body,
The apparatus main body includes at least a portion including a photographic lens, and includes a lens portion in which a facing direction of the photographic lens is rotatable within a predetermined angle range in a state where the stored portion is pulled out. Imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an opening is provided at the position of the apparatus main body corresponding to the photographing lens in a state where the lens unit is housed.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a member constituting a main body housing is provided at the apparatus main body position corresponding to the photographing lens in a state where the lens unit is housed. The apparatus main body forms a display unit for displaying an image on the outer surface,
The back side constituting the display unit protrudes into the apparatus main body,
2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the lens unit that is housed in the apparatus main body has a concave portion that avoids interference with a protruding portion on the rear surface side of the display unit.   2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the lens unit that is housed in the apparatus main body has a cylindrical shape whose axial direction is a direction pulled out from the apparatus main body.   2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a slide member for switching whether or not the photographing lens is exposed to the outside in a state where the lens part is housed in the lens part or the apparatus main body.

Images