JP2006196972A - Camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera system wherein optical communication ends of mount parts of both of a camera head and a camera main body can simply be aligned. <P>SOLUTION: A light emitting element 11a is arranged on a center axis at the side of the camera head and a light receiving element 11b is arranged on the center axis of the side of the camera main body by utilizing the high positional accuracy of the turning center axis when the camera head is mounted on the camera main body attended with the turning of the camera head. The light emitting element 11a being the first optical communication end and the light receiving element 11b being the second optical communication end coupled to the light emitting element 11a being the first optical communication end are aligned by utilizing the high accuracy of the turning center axis. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera system including a camera head including a photographing optical system and an image sensor, and a camera body that receives the image signal from the camera head to which the camera head is detachably mounted and performs signal processing. About.

  When a camera head equipped with an image sensor and a photographing optical system is attached to the camera body, information on the camera head is transmitted to the camera body side so that photographing can be performed with the photographing optical system provided in the camera head. Many camera systems have been proposed.

  In such a camera system, since the camera head and the camera body are detachably mounted to constitute the camera system, a connection contact for information communication is absolutely necessary between the camera head and the camera body. Come. However, when a normal contact-type electrical contact is used as such a contact for information communication, there is a problem that the contact is rubbed and worn every time it is exchanged.

  In order to cope with such a problem, in a conventional interchangeable lens type photographing apparatus having a configuration similar to that of the camera system, a coil is disposed as a contact on the mount peripheral portion on the rear end side of the interchangeable lens. There are some (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, if a coil is to be disposed on both the camera head and the camera body constituting the camera system using the technique of Patent Document 1, the mount becomes large and the entire camera system becomes large.

  For this reason, it is desired that a small light emitting element and a small light receiving element, which are often used in conventional interchangeable lens type ones, be disposed on the mount portions of both the camera head and the camera body. Recently, in response to the needs for downsizing and weight reduction of portable devices including camera systems, light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements have begun to be considerably small.

If light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements that have become even smaller than before are placed on the mounts of both the camera head and the camera body, the optical communication ends on the camera head side and the camera body side, which had been easy so far, are now available. Positioning becomes very difficult.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-90462 JP 2001-142107 A JP 2000-171848 A JP 10-42173 A

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera system capable of easily aligning optical communication ends of mount portions of both a camera head and a camera body.

The camera system of the present invention that achieves the above object performs a signal processing by receiving an image signal from a camera head having a photographing optical system and an image sensor, and the camera head to which the camera head is detachably mounted. In a camera system equipped with a camera body,
A first optical communication terminal for performing optical communication between the camera head and the camera body on the rear end surface or in the vicinity of the rear end surface, the camera head facing the camera body side when mounted on the camera body. Have
The camera body has a second optical communication end at a position optically coupled to the first optical communication end when the camera head is mounted;
The camera head and the camera body perform optical communication via an optical communication path having the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end.

  Since the camera system of the present invention includes the image sensor, it is not necessary to provide an opening in the rear end surface portion. Utilizing this fact, the first optical communication end is arranged in the vicinity of the rear end surface or the rear end surface thereof facing the camera main body when the camera head is mounted on the camera main body, If the second optical communication end is arranged at a position where the camera head is connected to the first optical communication end when the camera head is mounted, both optical communication ends face each other at the time of mounting. It becomes easy to align the optical communication end.

  For example, when a bayonet mount such as that provided in a conventional interchangeable lens type photographing device is used, when the camera head is attached to the camera body by a turning operation, the position becomes a very high position on the central axis of the turning. Accuracy is obtained. Utilizing this fact, the first optical communication end is disposed on the rear end surface of the camera head, that is, the central axis of the mount portion on the camera head side, and is connected to the first optical communication device, that is, If the second optical communication end is arranged on the central axis of the mount portion on the camera body side, it is easy to align both optical communication ends.

In that case, the camera head is attached to and detached from the camera body by an operation involving rotation,
The first optical communication end and the second optical communication end are arranged on a central axis of rotation at the time of mounting.

  Further, the first optical communication end may be a light emitting element and the second optical communication end may be a light receiving element, and the first optical communication end may be a light receiving element and the second optical communication end. The end may be a light emitting element, and the first optical communication end of the light guiding member that guides light from the light emitting element instead of the light emitting element or the light receiving element, or the light guiding member that guides light to the light receiving element. The second optical communication end may be an end surface of a light guide member that guides light from the light emitting element instead of a light emitting element or a light receiving element, or an end surface of a light guide member that guides light to the light receiving element. good.

  In addition, although it is easy to align, depending on the manufacturing accuracy and assembly accuracy, the positional deviation between the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end may become larger than expected. is there.

  As a precaution, assuming such a case, the light emitted from one optical communication end disposed between the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end is transmitted to the other optical communication end. It is even better if it has a condensing lens that condenses towards

  Then, even if the arrangement positions of the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end are slightly shifted, the light emitted from any one of the optical communication ends is condensed by the condensing lens and the other It is guided to the optical communication end.

  Even if the condenser lens is not provided, the effect is sufficiently exhibited. However, the reliability increases more in this way.

  Further, instead of the condensing lens, the light emitted from one optical communication end disposed between the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end is directed toward the other optical communication end. The same effect can be obtained even with a diffusing lens that diffuses.

 As described above, a camera system that can easily align the optical communication ends of the mount portions of both the camera head and the camera body is realized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the camera system 1 of this embodiment includes a camera head 1a and a camera body 1b. FIG. 1 shows separately a camera head 1a having a photographing optical system and an image sensor, and a camera body 1b that is detachably mounted and receives an image signal from the camera head 1a and performs signal processing. Has been. Both the camera body 1b and the camera head have bayonet mount portions 10a and 10b, and a first optical communication end 11a (the camera shown in FIG. 1) is provided on the rear end surface of the bayonet mount portion 10a of the camera head 1a. The second optical communication end 11b is provided at a position where the bayonet mount portion 10b of the camera body 1b is coupled to the first optical communication end 11a.

  In the camera system 1 of the present embodiment, the bayonet mount portion is purposely provided on both the camera head 1a and the camera body 1b, although the optical axis adjustment between the camera head and the camera body is unnecessary. In this embodiment, the first optical communication end 11a and the second optical communication end 11b are placed on the central axis of rotation of both bayonet mount parts by utilizing the fact that the bayonet mount is attached and detached by a rotation operation. By arranging both, it is easy to align both optical communication ends.

  Therefore, when the camera head 1a is mounted on the camera body 1b along the one-dot chain line in the figure, the positions of the first optical communication end 11a and the second optical communication end 11b are positioned with high accuracy and face each other. It comes to be mounted like that.

  In this example, both the camera head 1a and the camera body 1b have a battery, no contact for power supply, and an optical communication device that enables high-speed transfer for control information and image transfer is provided. I will continue to talk about it.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the camera system 1 when the camera head 1a is mounted on the camera body 1b, cut so that the width of the camera body 1b is divided into two, and the cut surface viewed from the side. FIG.

  FIG. 2 shows an example in which the first optical communication end is configured by the light emitting element 11a and the second optical communication end is configured by the light receiving element 11b.

  The camera head 1a is provided with a photographic lens 12a and an imaging element 13a, and a light emitting element 11a that realizes the first optical communication end is mounted on the back surface of the substrate 14a on which the photographic element 13a is mounted. A hole 100a is provided at a position of the mount portion 10a of the camera head 1a shown in FIG. 2 facing the camera body as viewed from the light emitting portion of the light emitting element 11a which is the first optical communication end. Light passes through 100a and is emitted to the camera body 1b side.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the camera body 1b realizes the second optical communication end at a position where it is optically coupled to the light emitting element 11a which is the first optical communication end when the camera head 1a is mounted. It has a light receiving element 11b.

  With such a configuration, the camera head 1a is attached to the camera body 1b so that the position of the light emitting element 11a that is the first optical communication end and the position of the light receiving element 11b that is the second optical communication end are accurate. It will be well positioned.

  That is, the camera head 1a is attached to and detached from the camera body 1b by an operation that involves rotation, and the position of the light emitting element 11a that is the first optical communication end and the light receiving element that is the second optical communication end. Since the position of 11b is accurately positioned when the camera head 1a is mounted on the camera body 1b, the optical axes of the light emitting element 11a and the light receiving element 11b are easily aligned.

  In this manner, a camera system that can easily align the optical communication ends of the mount portions of both the camera head and the camera body is realized.

  In the first embodiment, both the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end are on the central axis of rotation when the camera head 1a is attached to the camera body 1b by an operation involving rotation. However, there may be a case where both or one of the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end cannot be provided in the vicinity of the central axis due to problems such as an arrangement space.

  Therefore, FIGS. 3 to 7 show examples in which the light guide member 112a is used so as to cope with such a situation.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the light emitting element 111a cannot be disposed at a position where it is combined with the light receiving element 111b which is the second optical communication end, a flexible light guide member such as the optical fiber 112a is used. The end face 1121a of the optical fiber 112a may be used as a first optical communication end, and the first optical communication end may be provided at a position where it is coupled to the light receiving element 111b on the camera body side.

  If it does so, the restriction | limiting of the arrangement | positioning position of a light emitting element and a light receiving element will lose | eliminate, and the freedom degree of design in mounting design will increase.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a further modification of the modification shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the second optical communication end is configured by the end surface 1121 b of the optical fiber 112 b that is a light guide member, and is optically coupled to the light emitting element 1111 a that is the first optical communication end. Even if it does in this way, the completely same effect as FIG. 3 will be acquired.

  5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are diagrams showing further modifications of the modifications shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.

  FIGS. 3 and 4 show examples in which the light emitting elements 111a and 1111a or the light receiving elements 111b and 1111b are arranged at positions away from the central axis, but either one is arranged on the central axis. It is also possible that both are disposed away from the central axis and on the same side.

  FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example in which either the light emitting element or the light receiving element is disposed near the central axis in order to have higher positional accuracy although it has the same configuration as FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG.

  This makes it possible to use the high positional accuracy of the center axes of the bayonet mounts 10a and 10b of the camera head 1a and the camera body 1b, and thus the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end. This makes it easier to align.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, when both the light emitting element 111a and the light receiving element 111b are separated from the center axis of rotation and arranged on the same side, the light from the light emitting element 111a is guided. The member 113a guides the first optical communication end on the central axis to the first optical communication end, and guides the light emitted from the light emitting element 111a to the light receiving element 1111b by the light guide member 113b. Even if the communication end is configured by the end face of the light guide member, the same effects as in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be obtained.

  As described above, a camera system that can easily align the optical communication ends of the mount portions of both the camera head and the camera body is realized.

  Even if the contents described in the above embodiment are sufficiently effective, the positional deviation between the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end becomes larger than expected depending on the assembling accuracy and the manufacturing accuracy. There is also a case.

  Therefore, in order to absorb the misalignment, the light emitted from one optical communication end disposed between the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end is directed to the other optical communication end. If a condensing lens for condensing light is inserted, it becomes easier to align the optical communication end.

  FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating an example in which the condenser lens 120 and the condenser lens 121 are inserted.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, when the condenser lens 120 or the condenser lens 121 is inserted between the light emitting element 11a and the light receiving element 11b, the light emitting element 11a, Since the light emitted from 110b is successfully condensed on the light receiving surfaces of the light receiving elements 11b and 110a, the light emitting elements 11a and 110b can be arranged even if the light emitting elements 11a and 110b and the light receiving elements are slightly displaced. The emitted light is successfully guided to the light receiving elements 11b and 110a by the condenser lenses 120 and 121.

  FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams illustrating an example in which diffusion lenses 122 and 123 are inserted instead of the condensing lenses illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

  Even if it does in this way, the irradiation angle of the light irradiated toward light receiving element 11b, 110a from light emitting element 11a, 110b will be expanded, and light receiving element 11b, 110a should just be arranged in the irradiation angle range, Even if the arrangement positions of the light emitting elements 11a and 110b and the light receiving elements 11b and 110a are slightly deviated, the positional deviation is allowed.

It is a figure which shows the camera system which is embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the camera system 1 when the camera head 1a is in the state with which the camera main body 1b was mounted | worn so that the width | variety of the camera main body 1b may be divided into two, and saw the cut surface from either the right or left direction It is. It is a figure which shows the modification of the said embodiment. It is a figure which shows the further modification of the modification of FIG. It is a figure which shows the further modification of the modification shown in FIG. 3, FIG. It is a figure which shows the further modification of the modification shown in FIG. 3, FIG. It is a figure which shows the further modification of the modification shown in FIG. 3, FIG. It is a figure which shows the example at the time of inserting a condensing lens between the 1st optical communication end and the 2nd optical communication end. It is a figure which shows another example at the time of inserting a condensing lens between the 1st optical communication end and the 2nd optical communication end. It is a figure which shows the example at the time of inserting a diffuser lens between the 1st optical communication end and the 2nd optical communication end. It is a figure which shows another example at the time of inserting a diffuser lens between the 1st optical communication end and the 2nd optical communication end.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera system 1a Camera head 10a Mount part 100a Hole 11a 1st optical communication end (light emitting element)
110a Light receiving element 111a Light emitting element 112a 113a Light guide member 1121a 1131a End face of light guide member (first optical communication end)
12a Lens 13a Image sensor 14a Substrate 1b Camera body 10b Mount part 11b Second optical communication end (light receiving element)
110b Light emitting element 111b Light receiving element (second optical communication end)
112b 113b Light guide member 1121b 1131b End face of light guide member (second optical communication end)
120 121 condenser lens 122 123 diffuser lens

Claims (8)

In a camera system comprising: a camera head including a photographing optical system and an image sensor; and a camera body that receives the image signal from the camera head to which the camera head is detachably mounted and performs signal processing.
First optical communication for performing optical communication between the camera head and the camera body on the rear end surface or in the vicinity of the rear end surface, the camera head facing the camera body side when mounted on the camera body Has an edge,
The camera body has a second optical communication end at a position optically coupled to the first optical communication end when the camera head is mounted;
A camera system, wherein the camera head and the camera body perform optical communication via an optical communication path having the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end. The camera head is attached to and detached from the camera body by an operation involving rotation,
The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end are arranged on a central axis of rotation during mounting.   2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein one of the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end is an end face of a light guide member, and the other is a light receiving element.   The camera system according to claim 1, wherein one of the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end is an end face of a light guide member, and the other is a light emitting element.   2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein one and the other of the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end are a light emitting element and a light receiving element, respectively.   The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end are end faces of the respective light guide members.   A condensing lens that is disposed between the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end and condenses light emitted from one optical communication end toward the other optical communication end. The camera system according to claim 1.   A diffusing lens that is disposed between the first optical communication end and the second optical communication end and diffuses the light emitted from one optical communication end toward the other optical communication end; The camera system according to claim 1, wherein:

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