JP2007279485A - Lens barrel and digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a photographing operation from an operation to focus on an object to an operation to depress a photographing button by one hand. <P>SOLUTION: The lens barrel 4 comprises a lens barrel main body 4a, first to fourth lens groups G1 to G4, respective lens holders 42 to 44 for holding the second to fourth lens groups G2 to G4, respectively, an iris unit 46, and an image sensor 20, etc. On the outer periphery of the lens barrel 4, the photographing button 22 and a zooming button 24 are provided on the back part thereof. The photographing button 22 shifts along a vertical line including the principal point P of the first to fourth lens groups G1 to G4, and also, vertical to the optical axis L. The user can hold the lens barrel 4 by hand while putting user's thumb on the belly of the lens barrel 4, and putting user's index, middle and third fingers on the back of the lens barrel 4. Consequently, the user can depress the photographing button 22 while firmly holding the lens barrel 4, and then, the tilt of the optical axis L of the photographing optical system is reduced while depressing the photographing button 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens barrel having an image sensor on the image plane side of a lens and a digital camera for mounting the lens barrel.

  Since a digital camera does not require a space for storing a film, a film supply mechanism, or the like unlike a silver halide camera, the camera body can be downsized. In recent years, some lens barrels are interchangeable and an image sensor is incorporated in the barrel (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). In this type of digital camera, the camera body is further downsized. Yes.

However, since most conventional digital cameras have a configuration in which a camera body is held and photographed, the camera body cannot be extremely miniaturized due to the balance with the lens barrel. In particular, in the case of an interchangeable lens camera, the size of the lens barrel is often large, and as the camera body becomes smaller, it becomes difficult to ensure operability and holding performance. In order to solve this problem, a camera (see Patent Documents 3 and 4) has been invented in which a lens barrel can be gripped and a photographing operation and a zoom operation can be performed with the gripped lens barrel.
JP-A-9-102897 JP-A-8-172561 JP 2003-215589 A JP 2000-121923 A

  However, the camera of Patent Document 3 is excellent in portability because an operation unit is provided on the lens barrel of a large video camera so as to project outward, and a shooting button operated by a thumb is provided on the operation unit. It cannot be applied to a small digital still camera. The digital camera described in Patent Document 4 is not provided with a shooting button.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lens barrel capable of performing a photographing operation with one hand until a subject is determined and a photographing button is pressed.

  In order to achieve the above object, the lens barrel of the present invention includes a photographic lens and an image sensor that converts subject light from the photographic lens into an image signal, and the outer periphery of the barrel body is grasped with one hand. In the lens barrel to be gripped, a shooting button that is pressed when recording image data formed from an image signal on a recording medium is provided above the optical axis of the shooting lens and on the outer periphery of the barrel main body. It is characterized by that.

  The photographing button is provided in the vicinity of a perpendicular line that passes through the principal point of the photographing lens and is perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographing lens.

  In addition, a zoom button is provided on the subject side or the image plane side of the shooting button.

  In the digital camera of the present invention, the above-described lens barrel and a lens barrel that is detachably attached to the front surface and an image that displays a subject image formed based on an image signal from the image sensor on the back surface. And a camera body having a display unit. The image display unit is preferably a liquid crystal panel or a liquid crystal finder that the user looks into with his / her face close.

  According to the lens barrel of the present invention, a lens barrel that includes a photographic lens and an image sensor that converts subject light from the photographic lens into an image signal, and the outer periphery of the barrel body is grasped and held with one hand. In this case, a shooting button to be pressed when recording image data formed from an image signal on a recording medium is provided on the outer periphery of the lens barrel body above the optical axis of the shooting lens, so that the right hand or the left hand Since the photographing button can be operated with any finger while holding the lens barrel body, the photographing operation until the subject is determined and the photographing button is pressed can be executed with one hand.

  In addition, since the photographing button is provided in the vicinity of the perpendicular passing through the principal point of the photographing lens and perpendicular to the optical axis of the photographing lens, the photographing button is perpendicular to the optical axis in response to a pressing operation by the user's finger Since the pressing operation is performed in the vicinity of the perpendicular line passing through the principal point of the photographing lens, it is possible to reduce the tilt of the optical axis of the photographing lens when the photographing button is operated.

  Further, the convenience of the lens barrel can be improved by providing the zoom button on the subject side or the image plane side of the photographing button.

  In the digital camera of the present invention, a lens barrel and an image display unit that detachably attaches the lens barrel to the front surface and displays a subject image formed based on the image signal from the image sensor on the rear surface It is possible to hold the lens barrel with one hand, check the subject on the image display unit and press the shooting button, and provide a highly convenient digital camera. .

  A digital camera equipped with the lens barrel of the present invention is shown in FIG. The digital camera 2 includes a camera body 3 and a lens barrel 4. At the top of the camera body 4 is a mode dial 13 that is rotated to change the mode of the digital camera 2 such as a still image shooting mode and a playback mode, and a light emitting unit 7 that emits strobe light or AF auxiliary light forward. Etc. are provided. A camera body side mount portion 9 for fitting a lens barrel side mount portion 15 formed in the lens barrel 4 is formed on the front surface of the camera body 3. Near the camera body side mount portion 9, there is provided a mount release button 14 that is pressed when the lens barrel 4 is removed from the camera body 3. By pressing the mount release button 14, the lens barrel 4 is attached to the camera. It can be separated from the body-side mount portion 9. Although not shown, a side of the digital camera 2 is provided with a USB port, an IEEE 1394 port, a video terminal, and the like.

  The lens barrel 4 includes a barrel body 4a, a plurality of lens groups, a CCD image sensor 20, and the like. The lens barrel body 4a is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, the first lens group G1 is exposed from one end thereof, the CCD image sensor 20 and the like are incorporated therein, and the body side mount is mounted on the other end of the lens barrel 4. A lens barrel side mount portion 15 combined with the portion 9 is formed. On the outer periphery of the lens barrel body 4a, there are provided a photographing button 22 that is pressed when recording of image data is started, and a zoom button 24 that is operated when shifting to a telephoto state or a wide-angle state. It is located on the subject side of the shooting button 22. The lens barrel 4 can be gripped with, for example, the right hand, and the thumb is hung along one circumferential direction of the outer circumference, and the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger are hung along the other circumferential direction of the outer circumference. Thus, the lens barrel 4 is gripped. The lens barrel 4 is held by the right hand of the user, and the shooting button 22 and the zoom button 24 are pressed with an index finger or a middle finger. The lens barrel 4 is not limited to the right hand, and can be held with the left hand.

  For example, three bayonet claws are formed on the lens barrel side mount portion 15, and bayonet engagement claws corresponding to the bayonet claws on the lens side are formed on the camera body side mount portion 9. The lens barrel side mount portion 15 is provided with a plurality of contacts (not shown), and the camera body side mount portion 9 is provided with a terminal (not shown) that contacts the connection terminal. These contacts and terminals enable wired communication together with a serial I / F which will be described later, and when the lens barrel 4 is mounted on the camera body 3, the lens barrel 4 and the camera body 3 are electrically connected to each other. It will be connected to. In a state where the lens barrel 4 is mounted on the camera body 3, the shooting button 22 is located at the upper end of the lens barrel 4.

  As shown in FIG. 2, on the back of the camera body 3, a liquid crystal panel (image display unit) 26 that displays a through image or a menu image of a subject, which will be described later, and a display button 31 for switching ON / OFF of the liquid crystal panel 26. In addition, an execution button 32 or the like that is pressed when displaying or confirming the menu screen is provided. When the mode dial 13 is set to the still image shooting mode, a through image in which the subject image is updated at regular intervals is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 26.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lens barrel 4 includes a barrel body 4a, a shooting button 22, a zoom button 24, first to fourth lens groups G1 to G4, and second to fourth lens groups G2 to G4, respectively. The lens holders 42 to 44 to be held, the iris unit 46, and the like are provided. The first lens group G1 is fixed to the barrel main body 4a. A second lens group G2 is disposed on the image plane side of the first lens group G1, and the second lens group G2 is held by a lens holder 42 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction. A third lens group G3 is disposed on the image plane side of the second lens group G2, and the third lens group G3 is fixed by a lens holder 43. A fourth lens group G4 is disposed on the image plane side of the third lens group G3, and the fourth lens group G4 is held by a lens holder 44 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction. The CCD image sensor 20 is provided on the image plane side of the fourth lens group G4, and the CCD image sensor 20 is provided on the first substrate 47. The lens holders 42 and 44 holding the second and fourth lens groups G2 and G4 move in the optical axis direction when the guide rods 33 and 34 rotate, and the guide rods 33 and 34 are rotated by a stepping motor.

  The second lens group G2 is a so-called zoom lens, and the fourth lens group G4 is a so-called focusing lens. On the second board 48, the first switch 37 corresponding to the pressing of the tele operation unit of the zoom button 24, the second switch 39 corresponding to the pressing of the wide operation unit of the zoom button 24, and the pressing of the photographing button 22 are responded. The third switch 41 is provided, and the second substrate 48 and the first to third switches 37, 39, 41 are covered with a substrate cover 35. Although not shown, the board cover 35 has an opening for the shooting button 22 and an opening for the zoom button 24, and the shooting button 22 and the zoom button 24 are exposed from these openings. The photographing button 22 and the zoom button 24 are arranged above the optical axis L. The photographing button 22 is provided movably between a protruding position protruding from the barrel main body 4a and a sinking position sinking into the barrel main body 4a, and is a principal point of the first to fourth lens groups G1 to G4. It moves along a perpendicular line V passing through P and perpendicular to the optical axis L. For this reason, when the shooting button 22 is pressed, the optical axis L is prevented from being tilted, and a desired subject can be shot.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lens barrel 4 includes a CCD image sensor 20, an analog signal processing circuit 85, a timing generator (abbreviated as TG) 87, an SDRAM 89, a digital processing circuit 91, a serial interface (hereinafter referred to as a serial I / O). F) 93, ROM 95, wireless communication interface (hereinafter referred to as wireless communication I / F) 97, AE / AF arithmetic circuit 99, input interface 102, and the like.

  The CCD image sensor 20 that converts subject light from the first to fourth lens groups G1 to G4 into an electrical pixel signal by photoelectric conversion is controlled by a drive pulse supplied from the TG87. The analog signal processing circuit 85 includes a correlated double sampling circuit, an amplification 8 circuit, an A / D conversion circuit, and the like. The pixel signal is converted into an RGB analog signal for each cell of the CCD image sensor 20 by the correlated double sampling circuit, and the RGB analog signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit. The RGB analog signal is digitized by an A / D conversion circuit to form 12-bit RAW data per pixel. The formed RAW data is temporarily stored in the SDRAM 89.

  In the digital processing circuit 91, the RAW data for one screen read from the SDRAM 89 is compressed to form 8-bit luminance color difference data (hereinafter referred to as YC data) per pixel. The formed YC data is temporarily stored in the SDARM 89.

  The serial I / F 93 controls data communication performed via a contact when the lens barrel 4 is mounted on the camera body 3. Further, the wireless communication I / F 97 receives a connection request signal from the camera body 3, performs connection negotiation with the camera body 3, and establishes a wireless communication line with the camera body 3. The YC data stored in the SDRAM 24 is transmitted to the camera body 3 side via the serial I / F 93 or the wireless communication I / F 97.

  The AE / AF arithmetic circuit 99 determines the luminance of the subject and determines an aperture value and the like based on the determination. A pixel signal from the CCD image sensor 20 is used to determine the luminance of the subject. When the lens hood 17 is attached, the luminance signal from the light control sensor 92 is preferentially used.

  The ROM 95 is composed of, for example, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM) which is a nonvolatile memory, and includes format data indicating the model of the lens barrel 4, serial number data indicating the serial number of the lens barrel 4, various programs, and the like. It is remembered.

  The input interface 102 is connected to the first to third switches 37, 39, 41, and transmits an ON signal to the camera body 3 when each switch 37, 39, 41 is pressed. When the first, second, and third switches 37, 39, and 41 are pressed, the first, second, and third ON signals are responded to the camera body 3 via the serial interface 93 or the wireless communication interface 97. Is transmitted to the side.

  The camera body 3 includes a strobe control circuit 53, a display control circuit 54, a CPU 58, a ROM 61, an SDRAM 62, a media controller 64, a digital processing circuit 67, a compression processing circuit 68, a communication control circuit 73, a wireless communication I / F 74, a serial I / F. F76, a mount detection circuit 77, a battery control circuit 80, a battery 82, and the like are provided.

  The ROM 61 is composed of, for example, a non-volatile flash memory, and stores various programs for controlling the camera body 3, and the CPU 58 reads and executes appropriate programs from the ROM 61 as appropriate. In addition, the CPU 58 also performs control of a media controller 64 that writes image data to the recording medium 65, control of a display control circuit 54 that controls driving of the liquid crystal panel 26, and the like.

  The strobe control circuit 53 controls the driving of the light emitting unit 7. When it is detected by the mount detection circuit 77 that the lens barrel 4 is separated from the camera body 3, or when the flash device 94 of the lens barrel 4 is set in the priority state, the strobe control circuit 53 emits light. The drive of the unit 7 is prohibited. When the driving of the light emitting unit 7 is prohibited, a mark indicating that the light emission is prohibited is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 55 to notify the user.

  The display control circuit 54 displays an image on the liquid crystal panel 26. For example, when the mode dial 13 is set to the photographing mode, a through image in which the subject image is intermittently updated at a predetermined frame rate is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 26.

  The CPU 58 accesses the ROM 95 of the lens barrel 4 to read data, and temporarily stores the read data in the SDRAM 62. For example, when the lens barrel 4 is attached to the camera body 3, the CPU 58 reads the model and serial number data of the lens barrel 4 from the ROM 95. The data read from the ROM 95 is written in the SDRAM 62 of the camera body 3, and the type, serial number, etc. of the lens barrel 4 are registered, which makes it possible to use a plurality of lens barrels 4 properly.

  The mount detection circuit 77 detects the voltage of the sub-battery of the lens barrel 4, determines that the lens barrel 4 is attached to the camera body 3 when the voltage is detected, and determines that the lens barrel is not detected when the voltage is not detected. Is separated from the camera body 3.

  The wireless communication I / F 74 establishes a wireless communication line by performing connection negotiation with the wireless communication I / F 97 on the lens barrel 4 side. As a result, YC data signals can be received from the lens barrel 4 and various command signals can be wirelessly transmitted to the lens barrel 4.

  The communication control circuit 73 turns on the serial I / F 76 and turns off the wireless communication I / F 74 in response to the mount detection signal from the mount detection circuit 77. Further, when the mount of the lens barrel 4 is not detected by the mount detection circuit 77, the serial I / F 76 is turned off and the wireless communication I / F 74 is turned on. When the wireless communication I / F 74 is turned on by the communication control circuit 73, a connection request signal is transmitted from the wireless communication I / F 74 to the lens barrel 4, and a wireless communication line is established. After establishing the wireless communication line, data is transmitted from the lens barrel 4 to the camera body 3 via wireless communication.

  The CPU 58 receives the first to third on signals transmitted from the lens barrel 4 side, and transmits various command signals to each unit. For example, the CPU 58 receives a first on signal from the lens barrel 4 and transmits a telephoto command signal for moving the second lens group G2 to the telephoto side to the lens barrel 4. In addition, a wide-angle command signal for receiving the second ON signal and shifting the second lens group G2 to the wide-angle side is transmitted to the lens barrel 4. Further, when the third ON signal is received from the lens barrel 4 side, a write command signal for instructing recording of image data on the recording medium 65 is transmitted to the media controller 64.

  The media controller 64 accesses a recording medium 65 inserted in a card slot (not shown) and controls writing and reading of image data. The media controller 64 receives the write command signal from the CPU 58 and writes the image data to the recording medium 65. When the mode dial 13 is set to the reproduction mode, the image data is read from the recording medium 65 in response to a read command signal from the CPU 58.

  The operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. When photographing a subject, for example, the lens barrel 4 of the digital camera 2 is held by the user's right hand, and the camera body 3 is held by the user's left hand. The thumb of the right hand is applied to the abdomen of the lens barrel 4, and the remaining fingers are applied to the back of the lens barrel 4. The shooting button 22 and the zoom button 24 are pressed with, for example, an index finger or a middle finger.

  When the power of the digital camera 2 is turned on and the mode dial 13 is set to the photographing mode, the CCD image sensor 20 starts to drive, and a through image in which the subject image is updated intermittently is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 26. The photographing button 22 is arranged on the main surface of the first to fourth lens groups G1 to G4, so that when the photographing button 22 is pressed, the optical axes of the first to fourth lens groups G1 to G4 are changed. Inclination can be prevented. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the deviation from the desired subject when the button is pressed.

  When the photographing button 22 is pressed, a third on signal is transmitted from the lens barrel 4 to the camera body 3 via the input interface 102. In response to receiving the third ON signal, the CPU 58 transmits a write command signal to the media controller 64. The media controller 64 receives the write command signal and writes the image data to the recording medium 65. In the above description, the lens barrel is grasped with the right hand, but the photographing button can be operated by grasping with the left hand.

  In the above embodiment, the digital camera 2 that mainly acquires a still image of a subject has been exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be applied to, for example, a video camera that acquires a moving image of a subject. .

  In the above embodiment, when the lens barrel 4 is attached to the camera body 3, the shooting button 22 is positioned at the upper end of the lens barrel 4, but when the lens barrel 4 is attached to the camera body 3. The position of the shooting button is not limited to this. For example, when the lens barrel is attached to the camera body, the shooting button may be positioned on the right or left side of the upper end of the lens barrel.

  In the above embodiment, the lens barrel 4 is mounted on the camera body 3 and used. However, the lens barrel may be used by being detached from the camera body. For example, when the lens barrel is held with one hand, image data is transmitted from the lens barrel to the camera body via a wireless communication line. When the shooting button is pressed with an index finger or a middle finger, an operation signal is transmitted to the camera body, and the camera body that has received the operation signal records image data on a recording medium. In this way, by taking a picture by holding the lens barrel with one hand, simpler photography can be performed.

  In the above embodiment, the shooting button is arranged on the vertical line V that is perpendicular to the optical axis of the shooting lens and passes through the principal point of the shooting lens. However, the position of the shooting button is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the photographing buttons 112 may be provided within a range of 30 degrees from the perpendicular V passing through the principal point P in the peripheral direction of the lens barrel 110. Further, the photographing button 112 is not limited to the vertical line V, and may be disposed on the image plane side or the subject side of the vertical line V.

1 is an external perspective view of a digital camera that mounts a lens barrel of the present invention. It is the external appearance perspective view which observed the digital camera from the back. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the lens-barrel longitudinally along the optical axis. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of a lens barrel and a camera body. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which hold | gripped the camera body with the left hand and the lens barrel with the right hand. It is the front view which observed the lens barrel which arranged the photography button near the perpendicular which passes along the principal point of a photography lens perpendicular to an optical axis from the front.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Digital camera 3 Camera body 4 Lens barrel 4a Lens barrel body 12 Camera body side mount part 15 Lens barrel side mount part 20 CCD image sensor 22 Shooting button 24 Zoom button 26 Liquid crystal panel (image display part)
35 Substrate cover 47 First substrate 48 Second substrate

Claims (4)

In a lens barrel that includes a photographic lens and an image sensor that converts subject light from the photographic lens into an image signal, and the outer periphery of the barrel body is grasped and held with one hand,
An imaging button that is pressed when recording image data formed from the image signal on a recording medium is provided on the outer periphery of the barrel main body located above the optical axis of the imaging lens. Lens barrel.   2. The lens barrel according to claim 1, wherein the photographing button is provided in the vicinity of a perpendicular line that is perpendicular to the optical axis and passes through the principal point of the photographing lens.   The lens barrel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a zoom button is provided on a subject side or an image plane side of the photographing button.   The lens barrel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and the lens barrel detachably mounted on the front surface, and a subject image formed based on an image signal from the image sensor is displayed on the rear surface. A digital camera comprising a camera body having an image display unit.

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