JP2008022473A - Waterproof case for imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a waterproof case in which an imaging apparatus with a touch panel type display monitor can be housed, and in which an operating part on the monitor can be accurately operated without causing a malfunction of the imaging apparatus due to water pressure and an image displayed on the monitor is easily viewed. <P>SOLUTION: The waterproof case 1 includes: case bodies 2 and 3 which can house therein the imaging apparatus 50 having the display monitor 51 and have transparent windows 13 facing the display monitor; and an operating mechanism composed of a member different from the case bodies and including an external operating section 14 operable from the outside of the case bodies and internal operating sections 28, 29 for operating the operating part provided on the display monitor within the case bodies. The internal operating section is transparent. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a waterproof case used for underwater photography or the like in which an imaging device such as a digital still camera or a video camera is housed.

  Some imaging apparatuses include a touch panel monitor provided with an operation unit (hereinafter referred to as a monitor operation unit) for performing various operations in a screen that displays a captured image or the like.

As a waterproof case for using such an imaging device underwater, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this waterproof case, an elastic transparent member facing the touch panel monitor is attached to a rigid case body. An operation portion (hereinafter referred to as an external operation portion) is formed on the outer surface of the elastic transparent member, and a pressing portion for pressing the monitor operation portion is formed on the inner surface of the elastic transparent member facing the external operation portion. Yes. When the operator operates the external operation unit, the elastic transparent member is deformed, and the pressing unit presses the monitor operation unit. Since the elastic transparent member includes the external operation unit and the pressing unit and is transparent, the monitor operation unit can be accurately operated.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-287851 (paragraph 0021, FIG. 3, etc.)

  However, in the waterproof case disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the elastic transparent member is provided with a pressing portion that presses the monitor operation unit, when the elastic transparent member is deformed inward by the water pressure, the monitoring is performed by the pressing portion. The operation unit is pushed. For this reason, there exists a malfunction that an imaging device malfunctions.

  Further, when the elastic transparent member is deformed by water pressure, the image on the monitor viewed through the elastic transparent member may be distorted and difficult to see, or the focus may not be confirmed.

  The present invention is a waterproof case that can accommodate an image pickup apparatus having a touch panel display monitor, and can accurately operate an operation unit on the monitor without causing malfunction of the image pickup apparatus due to water pressure, and is displayed on the monitor. One of the purposes is to provide a waterproof case with easy-to-see images.

  A waterproof case according to one aspect of the present invention can accommodate an imaging device having a display monitor, and includes a case body having a transparent portion facing the display monitor and a separate member from the case body. And an operation mechanism having an internal operation part for operating the operation part provided on the display monitor inside the case body, and the internal operation part includes a transparent part. .

  According to the present invention, since the operation mechanism is configured by a member different from the case body, the transparent region can be formed integrally with the case body or by a rigid body similar to the case body. Therefore, even if the transparent area is subjected to water pressure, it is possible to prevent the image on the display monitor from becoming difficult to see due to the deformation of the transparent area, or the operation unit (monitor operation unit) on the display monitor from being pressed. . In addition, by making the internal operation unit that operates the monitor operation unit inside the case body of the operation mechanism transparent, the monitor operation unit can be visually recognized from the outside of the case through the transparent region and the internal operation unit. Therefore, the monitor operation unit can be accurately operated.

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

  In FIG. 1, the external appearance of the waterproof case which is Example 1 of this invention is shown. The left view in FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the waterproof case, and the right view is a rear perspective view of the waterproof case.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is a waterproof case. The waterproof case 1 includes a front case 2 and a rear case 3, each of which is made of a transparent polycarbonate (PC) material, a hinge portion 4 for opening and closing them, and a groove (not shown) formed in the rear case 3. And a packing (not shown) fitted therein. The front case 2 and the rear case 3 constitute a case body that can accommodate an imaging device such as a digital still camera or a video camera. In this embodiment, a waterproof case that can accommodate a digital still camera (hereinafter simply referred to as a camera) will be described.

  The waterproof case 1 has a lock mechanism (not shown) for locking the front case 2 and the rear case 3 in a closed state, and the lock mechanism is provided in a grip portion 5 formed in the front case 2. ing. Reference numeral 30 denotes a release lever for releasing the closing lock by the lock mechanism.

  The front case 2 and the rear case 3 are each made of a PC material having an average thickness of about 5.0 mm. For example, the strength does not cause deformation that damages the camera housed inside even at a water depth of 40 m. It is formed as a rigid body having

  The front case 2 is provided with a lens window 6, a release operation button 7, a diffusion plate attachment portion 8, and a diffusion plate storage portion 9. The lens window 6 is a part for allowing light to enter the photographing lens of the digital camera.

  Reference numeral 11 denotes a diffusion plate. One end of the string 12 is connected to the hole portion 11 a provided in the diffusion plate 11, and the other end is connected to the hook portion 31 of the front case 2. Thereby, the diffusing plate 11 is not separated from the waterproof case 1 beyond the length of the string 12. In other words, the portability of the diffusion plate 11 is improved and loss is prevented.

  The camera is equipped with a flash that illuminates the subject, and a diffusion plate 11 that faces the light emitting panel surface of the flash and covers the light distribution angle of the flash is detachable from the diffusion plate mounting portion 8. It is attached. In the diffusing plate attaching portion 8, the diffusing plate 11 is attached to the waterproof case 1 so as to be substantially parallel to the front surface of the photographing lens. Thereby, at the time of flash photography, flash light can be directed toward the subject with an appropriate light distribution to the photographing lens.

  On the other hand, the rear case 3 is provided with an operation button group 10 and a display window portion (transparent region) 13. The display window 13 is a flat plate portion provided to face an image display area of an LCD monitor (display monitor) provided on the back of the camera. Through the display window unit 13, an image displayed on the LCD monitor can be observed, and an operation unit in the monitor screen by the operation button group 10 can be confirmed. The display window portion 13 is integrally formed with the rear case 3 made of PC constituting the main body of the waterproof case, and has the above-described strength, so that the visibility of the image displayed on the monitor is deteriorated during normal diving. Such deformation does not occur and good visibility is ensured.

  Here, the operation button group 10 shows a plurality of touch panel input operation buttons 14 to 17 for operating an operation unit (monitor operation unit) in the monitor screen, and these are displayed on the display window in consideration of operability and visibility. It is arranged around the lower side of the portion 13. The camera housed in the waterproof case 1 of this embodiment has a shooting mode selection function, a flash on / off function, a still image shooting / video shooting switching function, and various shooting condition settings on the touch panel monitor. It has a plurality of monitor operation units for operating functions. The touch panel input operation buttons 14 to 17 are provided in accordance with the number of the monitor operation units. In this embodiment, the case of having four touch panel input operation buttons will be described. However, the number of operation buttons may be increased or decreased according to the number of monitor operation units of the camera.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the rear case 3 in the vicinity of the touch panel input operation button 14 taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 5 shows the back of the camera housed in the waterproof case 1 of the present embodiment.

  2 and 5, 50 is a camera and 51 is an LCD monitor. A colorless and transparent touch panel 52 is provided along the surface of the LCD monitor 51. The above functions can be used by pressing a portion of the touch panel 52 on the image 51a indicating the operation area displayed on the LCD monitor 51, that is, the monitor operation unit 52a. The touch panel 52 may be a pressure-sensitive type or a capacitance type.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 55 denotes a release button that is depressed by the operation of the operation button 7 shown in FIG. 1, and reference numeral 56 denotes a viewing window of the optical viewfinder.

  The operation button 14 constituting the external operation unit is coupled to the metal shaft 21 and is disposed in a recess of the button holding unit 3 a formed so as to protrude from the outer surface of the rear case 3. Further, a hole 3b penetrating the rear case 3 is formed in a portion of the rear case 3 on the inner surface side of the concave portion of the button holding portion 3a, and a shaft 21 is inserted into the hole 3b. Yes. Thereby, the operation button 14 is supported so as to be movable in the arrow B direction (operation direction) and the arrow C direction (return direction) in the drawing.

  24 is an O-ring for ensuring a watertight state between the shaft 21 and the inner peripheral surface of the button holding portion 3a, and 23 is arranged on the outer surface side of the O-ring 24 in the recess of the button holding portion 3a. A washer that abuts the O-ring 24. A compression spring 22 is disposed between the washer 23 and the operation button 14 as a biasing member that biases the operation button 14 in the direction of arrow C.

  On the other hand, an E-ring 25 is fixed to an intermediate portion of the shaft 21 inside the rear case 3. The E-ring 25 is in contact with the inner surface of the rear case 3 to limit further protrusion of the shaft 21 and the operation button 14 urged in the direction of arrow C by the compression spring 22. Further, a lever 28 which is a member constituting an internal operation portion together with a cap 29 described later is attached to the outer periphery of the end portion of the shaft 21 so that the E-ring 27 is prevented from coming off in the arrow B direction.

  A buffer spring 26, which is an elastic member, is disposed between the lever 28 and the E ring 25. The buffer spring 26 is provided as a buffer means for avoiding the action of an excessive pressing force on the touch panel 52 as will be described later.

  Here, since the lever 28 is colorless and transparent and requires rigidity, in this embodiment, the lever 28 is formed of the same PC material as the front and rear cases 2 and 3. A cap 29 as a contact member that contacts the touch panel 52 is attached to the tip of the lever 28. The cap 29 is formed of an elastic material that is colorless and transparent and has conductivity. In this embodiment, the cap 29 is made of conductive silicon rubber. The cap 29 is fixed to the lever 28 by engaging with the tip of the lever 28 at the engaging portion 29a on the inner side thereof.

  The operation button 14, the shaft 21, the O ring 24, the washer 23, the E rings 25 and 27, the lever 28, the cap 29, and the springs 22 and 26 described above constitute an operation mechanism. The configuration of the operation mechanism is the same for the operation buttons 15-17.

  In the figure, an area indicated by an arrow D is an area facing the display area of the LCD monitor 51. In this area, not only the transparent window 12 but also the lever 28 and the cap 29 are colorless and transparent. Therefore, the operator can clearly see the captured image displayed on the LCD monitor 51 and the image 51a indicating the monitor operation unit through the flat display window 13, the lever 28, the cap 29, and the touch panel 52. That is, the lever 28 and the cap 29 do not disturb the visual recognition of the monitor operation unit, and the target monitor operation unit can be accurately operated via the operation buttons 14 to 17.

  Further, the compression spring 22 generates a biasing force so that the operation button 14 hardly moves in the same direction even when the operation button 14 (˜17) receives water pressure at a water depth of 40 m in the arrow B direction. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the camera from malfunctioning due to the cap 29 coming into contact with the touch panel 52 (monitor operation unit) when the waterproof case housing the camera is submerged in water having a water depth of 40 m or less.

Here, the relationship between the movable amount P of the operation button 14 in the directions of arrows B and C, the movable amount Q of the lever 28, and the moving amount (clearance) R until the cap 29 touches the touch panel 52 is
P <Q + R
It has become. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the operation button 14 is pushed by P in the arrow B direction from the state of FIG. In this state, the outer end surface (tip surface in the direction of arrow C) of the operation button 14 is located at the same position as the outer end surface 3c of the button holding portion 3a of the rear case 3.

  As a result, the cap 29 moves by the clearance R with the touch panel 52 shown in FIG. However, when the buffer spring 26 contracts, the lever 28 moves in the direction of arrow C with respect to the shaft 21 so that the pushing force of the operation button 14 is not directly applied to the touch panel 52. The spring force of the buffer spring 26 is set so as to be equal to or lower than the pressure resistance of the touch panel 52 and the LCD monitor 51 so that the touch panel 52 and the LCD monitor 51 are not damaged.

  At this time, the lever 28 is still movable on the shaft 21 in the direction of arrow C by the amount S in the drawing. Therefore, the touch panel 52 and the LCD monitor 51 can be protected from the pressing force of the operation buttons 14 by satisfying the relationship of P <Q + R.

  In the waterproof case disclosed in Patent Document 1, such a buffer means is not provided. For this reason, if the operation part of a transparent elastic member is operated with an excessive force, a touch panel and a monitor will be damaged, and it will cause a failure and malfunction.

  In this embodiment, the cap 29 that directly contacts the touch panel 52 is formed of a conductive material. For this reason, in the case where the touch panel 52 is a capacitive touch panel, when the cap 29 comes into contact with the touch panel 52, the capacitance changes, and the camera 50 can detect the contact.

  On the other hand, in the waterproof case disclosed in Patent Document 1, the transparent elastic member that comes into contact with the touch panel is not formed of a conductive material, and therefore cannot be applied to a camera equipped with a capacitive touch panel.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, regardless of the method of the touch panel mounted on the camera, it is possible to confirm the image displayed on the monitor satisfactorily and to be able to accurately operate the monitor operation unit. A case can be realized.

  Note that other elastic members such as rubber may be used instead of the buffer spring 26 of the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 4, the same cross section as FIG. 2 in the waterproof case which is Example 2 of this invention is shown. In the present embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and are not described.

  In FIG. 4, a rubber lever 41, which is a member constituting an internal operation portion of the operation mechanism, is formed of a colorless and transparent conductive elastic material. In this embodiment, it is made of conductive silicon rubber having a hardness of about 70 degrees. The rubber lever 41 engages with a lever holder 42 that is mounted on the shaft 21 together with the E ring 27 and moves integrally with the shaft 21 in the directions of arrows B and C.

  In this embodiment, the buffer spring 26 used in the first embodiment is not used. This is because the rubber lever 41 serves as a buffer means, as will be described later.

  Since the lever holder 42 is disposed outside the area D facing the display area of the LCD monitor 51, even if it is opaque, the visibility of the monitor 51 is not affected. However, since the entire waterproof case is made of a transparent material, it may be formed of a colorless and transparent PC material in terms of design.

  In the operation mechanism configured as described above, when the operation button 14 is pushed in the arrow B direction by a predetermined amount, the tip of the rubber lever 41 contacts the touch panel 52. When the operation button 14 is further pushed, the rubber lever 41 is bowed and bent in the direction of arrow E due to its flexibility. Thereby, application of an excessive pressing force to the touch panel 52 and the LCD monitor 51 can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, only the rubber lever 41 is visible in the region D facing the display region of the LCD monitor 51, and the visibility of the LCD monitor 51 is improved as compared with the first embodiment. Furthermore, since fewer components are required than in the first embodiment, the cost can be reduced.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the front and rear cases 2 and 3, the levers 28 and 41, and the cap 29 are formed of a colorless and transparent material has been described. However, if there is no problem in observing the image displayed on the monitor 51, it may be formed of a transparent material having a slight color (achromatic or chromatic).

The perspective view of the waterproof case which is Example 1 of this invention. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a waterproof case of Example 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an operation state of an operation button of the waterproof case of the first embodiment. The fragmentary sectional view of the waterproof case which is Example 2 of the present invention. The rear view of the camera accommodated in the waterproof case of an Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Waterproof case 2 Front case 3 Rear case 6 Lens window part 7,14-17 Operation button 13 Display window part 21 Axis 22 Compression spring 26 Buffer spring 28, 41 Lever 29 Cap 50 Camera 51 LCD monitor 51a Image 52 which shows operation area Touch panel 52a Monitor operation unit

Claims (6)

A case body that can accommodate an imaging device having a display monitor and has a transparent portion facing the display monitor;
An operation having an external operation unit configured by a member different from the case body and operable from the outside of the case body, and an internal operation unit for operating the operation unit provided on the display monitor inside the case body A mechanism,
The waterproof case, wherein the internal operation part includes a transparent part.   The waterproof case according to claim 1, wherein the external operation unit is disposed outside the transparent region of the case body.   3. The waterproof case according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the internal operation unit that contacts the display monitor is formed of a conductive material.   The waterproof case according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an elastic member is interposed between a member constituting the external operation unit and a member constituting the internal operation unit.   The waterproof case according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a member constituting the internal operation unit is formed of an elastic material. The waterproof case according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transparent region is integrally formed with the case body.