JP2006196212A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus with a zoom switch efficiently arranged therein. <P>SOLUTION: This electronic apparatus includes: an armor; a rotary operation member attached to the armor; and a first detection switch, arranged on a board, for detecting the rotation of the rotary operation member. The first detection switch is arranged by having a predetermined amount of angle with respect to the mounting direction of the board to the armor. The electronic apparatus also includes: an operation member mounted coaxially with the rotary operation member; and a second detection switch, arranged on the board, for detecting depression of the operation member. The second detection switch is arranged at a position lower than that of the first detection switch. The first detection switch is disposed in a space among a plurality of circular components including the rotary operation member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, and relates to an efficient arrangement method of detection switches.

There is an example in which a slide type zoom switch having a rotary operation member and a knob member is adopted as a zoom detection mechanism of an imaging apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this case, a flexible substrate is arranged above the grip portion of the camera, a release switch and a zoom switch are mounted thereon, and a grip cover, a zoom lever, a button spring, and a release button are further stacked. .
JP 2004-273324 A

  However, the above detection mechanism requires additional external parts such as a grip cover or a top cover, leading to an increase in cost. Another problem is that the release switch and the zoom switch are mounted on the same plane, so if you try to assemble the zoom lever and release button from the horizontal direction of the board, the release button foot and the release switch will interfere. . When the stroke of the release button is increased to avoid interference, the release button extends in the vertical direction and the thickness increases accordingly. Therefore, the assembling direction is limited from above. In addition, since it is necessary to secure a space for the zoom switch, it has been an obstacle to making the camera thinner.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic apparatus in which a zoom switch is efficiently arranged.

  An electronic apparatus of the present invention includes an exterior, a rotation operation member attached to the exterior, and a first detection switch that is disposed on the substrate and detects rotation of the rotation operation member. Are arranged with a predetermined amount of angle with respect to the assembly direction of the exterior and the substrate.

  In addition, an operation member that is coaxially connected to the rotation operation member, and a second detection switch that is disposed on the substrate and detects pressing of the operation member, the second detection switch is a first detection switch. It is arranged at a position lower than the switch.

  And the 1st detection switch is arrange | positioned in the clearance gap between several circular components containing a rotation operation member.

  According to the present invention, there is no need to separately provide a top cover and a grip cover, the number of parts is reduced, and the cost is reduced. Also, if the top base unit is assembled to the front cover after attaching the zoom lever and release button to the front cover, the release switch and the release button will interfere with each other because the release switch is positioned lower than the zoom switch. do not do.

  Further, even if the zoom switch and the zoom lever plate arm interfere with each other, the projection of the zoom switch receives the force and returns to the intermediate position so that there is no possibility of destruction. Since the zoom switch is arranged in a dead space formed between the three circular parts of the zoom lever, the speaker, and the mode dial, it is not necessary to secure an extra space for the zoom switch.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera (electronic device) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera body, in which various members capable of photographing are arranged. Reference numeral 2 denotes a grip portion for the photographer to hold the camera body 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes a lens barrel, which changes the focal length of the photographing optical system by being extended or retracted in the optical axis direction.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a zoom lever that is operated to change the imaging angle of view of the lens barrel 3 (focal length of the imaging optical system), which is formed in a cylindrical shape and is incorporated in the camera body 1. The zoom lever 4 is rotatable by a predetermined amount in the forward and reverse directions around the axis.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a release button that can be pressed in two stages. A shooting preparation operation (photometry operation, focus adjustment operation, etc.) is started by half-pressing, and a shooting operation (exposure to an image sensor such as a CCD) is performed by full-pressing operation. ) Is started.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a mode dial for selecting various shooting modes such as a shutter speed priority mode, an aperture priority mode, a portrait shooting mode, a night view shooting mode, and the like, which can be rotated around a rotation axis.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a speaker hole. When a recorded moving image is reproduced, sound is output from a speaker arranged at the bottom.

  Next, the structure around the zoom lever 4 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure around the zoom lever 4.

  In the figure, the zoom lever 4 can rotate around the rotation axis by passing the rotation shaft through a cover hole 15 a provided in the front cover 13. A plate 12 having an arm that engages with the projection of the zoom switch and a circular wire spring for urging the zoom lever 4 in the direction opposite to the operation direction are assembled from below the front cover 13 and fixed with screws. The

  The mounting boss of the zoom lever 4 passes through two arc hole portions 15b and 15c formed in the front cover 13, and is fixed with two screws. Thereby, the zoom lever 4 can rotate around the rotation axis within a range in which the mounting boss can move in the circular arc holes 15b and 15c.

  A button hole is formed in the rotary shaft, and a release button 5 is attached to the button hole together with a button spring.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the top base unit 14. The top base unit 14 includes a sheet metal substrate 27, a flexible substrate 26, a release switch 22, a zoom switch 23, a power switch 24, a power LED 25, a mode dial 6, a speaker 21, and the like.

  The release switch 22 and the power switch 24 are push-type switches, and the zoom switch 23 is a two-direction detection type switch. 22 and 24 are mounted at appropriate positions on the surface of the flexible substrate 26, respectively. One end of the flexible substrate 26 is connected to a control unit (not shown) provided in the camera body 1.

  A release switch 22 is arranged directly below the rotation center of the zoom lever 4, and the button foot comes into contact with the release switch 22 by pressing the release button 5.

  The configuration of the release switch 22 is the same as that of a release switch used in a conventional camera, and is a first switch (SW1) that comes into contact with the button foot when the release button 5 is pressed halfway and is turned on. , And a second switch (SW2) which is in an ON state by contacting the button foot when the release button 5 is fully pressed.

  In the zoom switch 23, the protrusion 23a rotates a predetermined amount symmetrically about the rotation axis. The protrusion 23a is biased so as to return to the intermediate position.

  The release switch 22 is disposed at a position one step lower than the zoom switch 23 by bending the flexible substrate 26. By arranging in this way, even when the top base unit 14 is assembled to the front cover 13 in the horizontal direction, the release button 5 and the plate 12 do not interfere with the release switch 22 and can be assembled in the horizontal direction. It becomes.

  When the front cover 13 and the top base unit 14 are assembled, the zoom switch 23 is disposed in a dead space between the three circular parts of the zoom lever 4, the speaker 21, and the mode dial 6. It is not necessary to provide a separate space.

  FIG. 4 shows the positional relationship of the zoom switch 23 and the plate 12 attached to the lower part of the zoom lever 4 before assembly. The zoom switch 23 is arranged with a predetermined amount of angle with respect to the assembly direction. With this arrangement, even when the arms 32a and 32b of the plate 12 interfere with the projection 23a of the zoom switch 23 during assembly, the projection 23a receives the force and self-returns to the intermediate position. Destruction can be avoided.

  FIG. 5 shows the positional relationship between the zoom switch 23 and the plate 12 when the top base unit 14 is assembled to the front cover 13. As shown, the projection 23a of the zoom switch is accommodated between the arms 32a and 32b. The arms 32a and 32b of the plate 12 fixed to the zoom lever 4 and the projection 23a of the zoom switch are interlocked.

  Next, the operation according to the operation of the zoom lever 4 in the camera of the present embodiment will be described.

  In FIG. 1, the photographer holds the grip 2 with his right hand, points the lens barrel 3 toward the subject, and operates the zoom lever 4 to set the shooting angle of view. At this time, when the zoom lever 4 is rotated in one direction, the control unit in the camera body 1 that has received the operation signal of the zoom lever 4 drives the lens barrel 3 to stop so that the shooting angle of view becomes a wide angle. Let When the zoom lever 4 is rotated in the other direction, the control unit drives and stops the lens barrel 3 so that the shooting angle of view becomes telephoto. As described above, since the shooting angle of view can be switched between the wide angle side and the telephoto side according to the rotation direction of the zoom lever 4, it is easy to select the shooting angle of view.

  After the shooting angle of view is determined, shooting is performed by pressing the release button 5 at the center of the zoom lever 4 (full pressing operation). That is, when the button foot of the release button 5 pushes the second switch of the release switch 22, the SW 2 is turned on, and this signal is input to the control unit in the camera body 1 through the flexible substrate 26. Upon receiving this input signal, the control unit performs imaging by driving an image sensor provided in the camera body 1.

  In the camera of the present embodiment, since the release button 5 is arranged in the vicinity of the zoom lever 4 for switching the shooting angle of view, the switching of the shooting angle of view and the shooting operation can be easily performed with one finger. In particular, in a device such as a digital camera that shoots while frequently switching the shooting angle of view of the lens, the operability of the zoom lever 4 is required. Therefore, the arrangement configuration described above is suitable for the device. It will be a thing.

  Next, the operation of the zoom lever 4 will be described in detail.

  First, when the zoom lever 4 is in the initial position, both ends of the wire spring 31 attached to the plate 12 are engaged with the protruding portion of the front cover without play, so that the zoom lever 4 is in a stable state. It has become. Accordingly, the zoom lever 4 can be held at the initial position without rattling. When the zoom lever is in the initial position, the projection 23a of the zoom switch is in the intermediate position as shown in FIG. 5, and the control unit detects that the zoom lever 4 is in the initial position, and stops the lens barrel 3. To maintain the state.

  Here, when the operator rotates the zoom lever 4 from the initial position to the wide-angle position (counterclockwise in FIG. 5), the plate 12 rotates together with the zoom lever 4, so that the arm 32b projects the projection 23a of the zoom switch. Rotate from the intermediate position to the wide-angle position against the biasing force of the part.

  When the projection 23a rotates to the wide-angle position, the zoom switch makes the internal terminal conductive, and a signal is input to the control unit in the camera body 1. The control unit detects that the zoom lever 4 is in the wide-angle position, and drives the lens barrel 3 to switch the shooting field angle to the wide-angle side.

  Next, when the operator can set the lens barrel 3 to a desired shooting angle of view, the operator releases the zoom lever 4. Since the wire spring 31 attached to the plate 12 is compressed in the rotational direction, the zoom lever 4 receives the biasing force and rotates toward the initial position. At this time, the projection 23a of the zoom switch also returns to the intermediate position.

  Although the case where the zoom lever 4 is rotated to the wide-angle position has been described above, the case where the zoom lever 4 is moved to the telephoto position opposite to the wide-angle position is the same as the above-described operation.

  In this embodiment, the digital camera has been described. However, any electronic device having a configuration in which levers that are operated in different directions are provided and different signals are output according to the operation positions of the levers. Can also be applied.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented with various changes and improvements.

External perspective view of the camera according to the present embodiment An exploded perspective view of the structure around the zoom lever Perspective view of top base unit Zoom switch configuration (before assembly) Zoom switch configuration (after assembly)

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera body 2 Grip part 3 Lens barrel 4 Zoom lever 5 Release button 5a Release cap 5b Release button foot part 6 Mode dial 7 Speaker hole 11 Button spring 12 Plate 13 Front cover 14 Top base unit 15a Cover hole parts 15b and 15c Arc Hole 21 Speaker 22 Release switch 23 Zoom switch 23a Zoom switch protrusion 24 Power switch 25 Power LED
26 Flexible substrate 27 Sheet metal substrate 31 Wire spring 32a, 32b Arm

Claims (3)

The exterior,
A rotation operation member attached to the exterior;
A first detection switch disposed on the substrate for detecting the rotation of the rotation operation member;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first detection switch is disposed with a predetermined amount of angle with respect to an assembly direction of the exterior and the substrate. An operation member attached coaxially to the rotation operation member;
A second detection switch disposed on the substrate for detecting depression of the operation member;
The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the second detection switch is disposed at a position lower than the first detection switch.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first detection switch is disposed in a gap between a plurality of circular parts including the rotation operation member.

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