JP2008129033A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus having imaging posture changeable in many steps and also maintaining the posture through simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus is equipped with a housing 2 constituting the main body of a video camera 1, and an attaching nut 3 attached to a support leg for supporting the main body of the video camera 1. The housing 2 is equipped with a first groove 12 obtained by continuously notching the predetermined range of a base 201 of the main body of the video camera 1 and a side surface 202 adjacent to the base 201, and a second groove 22 notched along the first groove 12. The housing 2 is equipped with a plurality of key grooves 4 on the edge 222 on the inner circumference side of the second groove 22. Then, the attaching nut 3 is inserted and supported in the second groove 22. The attaching nut 3 is equipped with a key 35 formed to be U-shaped and acting as a leaf spring. When the attaching nut 3 is engaged with any of the key grooves 4 and receives force along the second groove 22, it moves on the second groove 22 at many steps and is locked repeatedly. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus having a mechanism for fixing a main body to a support leg such as a tripod.

Conventionally, various proposals have been made for tripod seats of imaging devices such as video cameras (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). According to this, the posture of the imaging device can be maintained in various directions.
JP 2003-344492 A JP 09-166279 A

  However, since the configurations of Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not have a configuration for changing the orientation on the imaging device side, it is necessary to change the orientation of the base, which is large and inconvenient for portability.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can change the imaging posture in multiple stages with a simple configuration and can maintain this posture.

  In the present invention, means for solving the above-described problems are configured as follows.

(1) a housing constituting the imaging apparatus body;
In an imaging device comprising: a support leg attachment member attached to a support leg that supports the imaging device main body,
The housing is
A long-axis-shaped first groove in which a predetermined range of two adjacent surfaces of the photographing apparatus main body is continuously cut;
A guide for supporting the support leg mounting member movably along the first groove, and a guide provided with a plurality of key grooves along a path of the guide,
The support leg mounting member is a multi-stage alignment mechanism that engages at any point of the keyway and locks the support leg mounting member, and has a predetermined level or more along the guide direction from the locked state. A multi-stage alignment mechanism is provided that is unlocked from the keyway when engaged and engages with the adjacent keyway.

  In this configuration, since the support leg mounting member is supported by the guide so as to be movable along the first groove, the support leg mounting member can be moved to one of the two adjacent surfaces of the photographing apparatus main body. . For example, when the first groove is cut out across the bottom surface and the side surface of the imaging device, the imaging posture can be obtained by fixing the support leg mounting member to the fixed support leg and moving it along the first groove. Can be rotated 90 degrees. Further, according to the multi-stage alignment mechanism of this configuration, the support leg mounting member can be engaged and locked on any of the guides, and when the force exceeds a predetermined level, the lock is released from the keyway. Since it is engaged with the adjacent keyway, the position to be locked can be adjusted. According to the above configuration, the imaging posture can be changed in multiple stages and this posture can be maintained.

  Note that the first groove does not necessarily have to be cut out by cutting, and may be in the shape thereof. For example, the cut shape may be formed by a mold or the like.

(2) The guide is a second groove established in the casing or established in a plate-like member fixed to the casing.
The plurality of key grooves are provided at an edge of the second groove,
The multistage alignment mechanism includes:
A key that engages with any of the key grooves to lock the movement of the support leg mounting member;
An elastic portion formed by a U-shaped member provided between the support leg mounting member main body and the key, and an elastic portion that urges the key to the key groove as a leaf spring.

  In this configuration, since the guide is configured by the second groove formed in the casing or a plate-like member fixed to the casing, the configuration can be simplified. In addition, since the key groove is provided at each edge of the second groove, the guide and the key groove can be formed integrally, so that the configuration can be simplified. Then, after being supported so as to be movable along the first groove, the key and the elastic portion can be used to engage the key with the key groove to lock the support leg mounting member.

  As described above, while having a simple configuration, the imaging posture can be changed in multiple stages and this posture can be maintained.

(3) The second groove is formed in an arc shape at a boundary between two adjacent surfaces of the photographing apparatus body,
A plurality of the key grooves are provided on the arc.

  In this configuration, since a plurality of key grooves are provided on the circular arc, not only are they fixed to the bottom and side surfaces of the imaging apparatus, but also the angle between them can be set to a plurality. For example, when the first groove is cut out across the bottom surface and the side surface of the imaging device, the imaging posture can be obtained by fixing the support leg mounting member to the fixed support leg and moving it along the first groove. Can be rotated 90 degrees, and can be held at an angle between them (for example, 30 degrees, 60 degrees, etc.).

(4) The second groove is formed in an arc shape at a boundary between two adjacent surfaces of the photographing apparatus body,
A plurality of the key grooves are provided on the arc,
The edge of the second groove is provided on the inner peripheral side or the outer peripheral side of the arc, and the key groove is provided on the inner peripheral side or the outer peripheral side edge,
The key and the elastic part of the support leg mounting member are stored in the second groove,
The support leg attachment member includes a pair of support members that are fixed to the base sandwiched from both sides of the base of the elastic portion, and includes holding members that hold both sides of the edge of the second groove. To do.

In this configuration, when the (A) key moves between the key grooves, the support member holds both surfaces of the edge of the second groove, so that the key can be stably moved in a state in which the key is not easily detached from the arc. .
(B) Further, since the key groove is provided at the inner peripheral side or outer peripheral side edge of the arc, the surface held by the holding member can be a flat surface regardless of the arc. Therefore, when the key moves between the key grooves, there is no need to provide a large margin for separating both sides of the housing.
(C) Since the keyway is provided at the inner peripheral side or outer peripheral side edge of the arc, the key always faces the center of the arc. Therefore, the key groove is simply punched in the thickness direction of the housing, and the key thickness direction (the thickness direction of the housing) and the longitudinal direction of the key groove are parallel, making it impossible to move in an arc. Is unlikely to occur.
By the actions (A) to (C) described above, when the key moves between the key grooves, the key can be stably moved in a state where it is difficult to deviate from the arc, and the imaging posture can be maintained more reliably.

  Note that “holding both sides of the periphery of the groove around the groove” may or may not be in full contact with both sides of the housing.

  According to the present invention, the imaging posture can be changed and the posture can be maintained with a simple configuration.

  A video camera 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1A is an external view of the video camera 1 and shows a state in which a tripod 101 is attached. FIG. 1B shows a view from the bottom surface 201 of the video camera 1 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 1A, the video camera 1 includes a lens 11, a housing 2, a first groove 12, a finder 102, and a sensor 103, and is attached to a tripod 101 with a bottom surface 201. Yes. The lens 11 collects external light on a light receiving element provided inside the housing 2. The housing 2 is a case of the video camera 1 main body, and incorporates the light receiving element and the like described above. The viewfinder 102 is for confirming the range in which the image is taken by peeping. The sensor 103 measures the brightness around the video camera 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the video camera 1 is provided with a resin mounting nut 3 (corresponding to the support leg mounting member of the present invention) for mounting the tripod 101 on the bottom surface 201. The video camera 1 can be fixed to the tripod 101 by screwing the male screw of the tripod 101 into the mounting nut 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 1A, the first groove 12 is provided continuously from the bottom surface 201 to the side surface 202 of the video camera 1. Along the first groove 12, a second groove 22 is provided on the lens 11 mounting surface of the housing 2.

  Next, the inside of the housing | casing 2 is demonstrated in detail using FIG. The housing 2 can be separated into two, and FIG. 2A shows the housing 2 </ b> A including the lens hole 21 side of the video camera 1 and the mounting nut 3. FIG. 2B shows a detailed view of FIG. FIG. 2C shows a detailed view of the mounting nut 4.

  The housing 2A has a dish shape with an edge around the periphery. The housing 2 </ b> A has a lens hole 21 in a concave portion serving as a bottom portion thereof, and a cutout portion 23 for the first groove 12 in a part of the edge portion. The depth of the notch 23 is formed to be half the diameter of the mounting nut 4, and the notch 23 abuts on the stepped portion 33 (see FIG. 2B) of the mounting nut 3. The mounting nut 3 is in contact with the stepped portion 33 as described above, and the position of the mounting nut 3 is regulated by the second groove 22, and the end portion 231 on the bottom surface 201 side of the notch portion 23 to the end portion 232 on the side surface 202 side. It is possible to move along the notch 23.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the second groove 22 is formed with an outer peripheral edge 221 and an inner peripheral edge 222, and the inner peripheral edge 222 has a plurality of key grooves 4. Are arranged at predetermined intervals. The key groove 4 is formed longitudinally along the thickness direction of the housing 2A, and each of the key grooves 4 is formed substantially in parallel. This effect will be described later.

  The mounting nut 3 includes a mounting nut body 31, a key support portion 34, a key 35, and a flange 36. The key 35 and the flange 36 are fixed to the mounting nut main body 31 via the key support portion 34. The mounting nut 3 is inserted into the second groove 22 at the portion of the key 35, and the key 35 is engaged with one of the key grooves 4.

  The key 35 is a plate-like member formed in an L-shaped projection, and the tip of the key 35 (corresponding to the key of the present invention) engages with the key groove 4. The key 35 includes an elastic portion 351 (see FIG. 3 described later) that functions as a leaf spring, and urges the tip of the key 35 toward the key groove 4 inside the second groove 22.

  The flange 36 supports the mounting nut 3 from falling out from the back side of the housing 2A (shown by the front side 36 in FIG. 1A) as viewed from FIG. 2A.

  As shown in FIG. 2C, the mounting nut 3 further includes a female screw portion 32 and a stepped portion 33. The female screw portion 32 is a screw portion that is screwed into the male screw of the tripod 101 and attached. The step portion 33 is a portion where the outer periphery is formed smaller in the opening portion of the female screw portion 32 than in the entire mounting nut 4. Due to the stepped portion 33, the mounting nut 3 is supported by the stepped portion 33 engaging with the notched portion 23, and can be prevented from jumping out of the housing 2.

  The structure of the mounting nut 3 will be described in more detail with reference to the component diagram of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the key 35 is a protruding piece formed in a U-shape. The key 35 has an arc-shaped protrusion at the tip thereof so that the key 35 can be engaged with the shape of the key groove 4. This protrusion is separated from the flange 36 and is fixed or integrally formed with the flange 36 at the base 353 of the key 35.

  The surface 341 of the key support portion 34 and the surface 361 of the flange 36 are fixed from both sides of the base 353 of the elastic portion 352. These surfaces 341 and 361 sandwich the edge of the second groove 22 from both surfaces of the housing 2. The space 352 between the surfaces 341 and 361 is formed with a margin from the thickness of the housing 2. Further, since the flange 36 supports the mounting nut 3, the flange 36 is formed to a size that does not cause backlash.

  The operation of the mounting nut 3, the second groove 22, and the key groove 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 again. With the above configuration, when the mounting nut 3 is pressed along the longitudinal direction of the second groove 22, the key 35 moves backward from the key groove 4 against the elastic force of the elastic portion 351, and the second groove It moves along 22 and re-engages with the adjacent keyway 4 to lock the mounting nut 3. As described above, the mounting nut 3, the second groove 22, and the key groove 4 function as a mechanism for aligning the mounting nut 3 in multiple stages.

  Further, according to the arrangement of the second groove 22 and the key groove 4 shown below, when the key 35 moves between the key grooves 4, it can be stably moved in a state in which it is difficult to deviate from the arc 223. This will be described in more detail below. First, the second groove 22 is formed in an arc 223 near the boundary between the bottom surface 201 and the side surface 202 which are two adjacent surfaces of the video camera 1. The edge of the second groove 22 is provided on the inner peripheral side or the outer peripheral side of the arc 223, and the key groove 4 is provided on the inner peripheral side or the outer peripheral side. The key groove 4 is formed along the thickness direction of the housing 2.

  With such an arrangement, even when moving in the arc 223, the tip of the key 35 can always contact the inner peripheral edge 222 while facing the center of the arc 223. In addition, the key groove 4 is simply punched in the thickness direction of the housing 2A, and the thickness direction of the key 35 (the direction along the arrow 351 in FIG. 3) and the key groove at any position of the arc 223. 4 is parallel to the longitudinal direction, and it is difficult to cause difficulty when moving within the arc 223. Therefore, according to the multistage alignment mechanism of this embodiment, stable alignment can be performed at any position of the arc 233.

  Further, since the surface 36 of the flange 36 and the surface 342 of the key support portion 34 are perpendicular to the arc 223, the influence of the arc 223 can be avoided, and the surfaces 341 and 361 sandwiching the housing 2A are flat regardless of the arc. It can be a surface. Therefore, when the key 35 moves between the key grooves 4 in the arc 223, it is not necessary to provide a large margin for the difference in thickness between the surfaces 341 and 361 and the housing 2, and at any position on the arc 223. A certain distance from the thickness direction of the housing 2 can be maintained. Therefore, the surfaces 341 and 361 can stably hold the housing 2 </ b> A, and can securely hold the mounting nut 3 in the arc 223. With the above operation, when the key 35 moves between the key grooves 4, the key 35 can be stably moved in a state in which it is difficult to deviate from the arc 223.

The periphery of the surface 341 of the key support portion 34 and the periphery of the surface 361 of the flange 36 correspond to the holding member of the present invention.
Further, the method of inserting the mounting nut 3 into the second groove 22 has a structure in which the mounting nut 3 can be separated by any one of the key support portion 34 → the key 35 → the flange 36, and the mounting nut 3 May be combined after being inserted into the second groove 22.
In FIG. 2, the key groove 4 is provided on the inner peripheral edge 222, but of course, the key groove 4 may be provided on the inner peripheral edge 222. Even if it does in this way, there exists the effect demonstrated above.

  An example different from the example shown in FIG. 2 for the second groove 22 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to configure the guide as a groove opened along the L-shaped member 25 instead of the second groove 22, and to configure the second groove 22 as 251. It is. However, in this case, it is desirable to align the direction 410 of the key groove 41 with the center 253 of the arc 252 so that the thickness direction of the key 35 (direction of 351) and the longitudinal direction of the key groove 41 are always aligned. Further, in the circular arc 108, it is necessary to increase the radius of the circular arc 252 in order to maintain a constant interval between the surface 361 and the surface 342 and the thickness direction of the housing 2 as shown in FIG.

  Next, a usage pattern of the video camera 1 shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A shows a view illustrated from the same direction as FIG. 2B, and shows a state in which the mounting nut 3 is at the end 231 of the notch 23.

  FIG. 5B shows a case where the mounting nut 3 is shifted from the state of FIG. 5A for each keyway 4 to the arc 223. At this time, the video camera 1 rotates with respect to the mounting nut 3 along the arc 223. Therefore, when the mounting nut 3 is shifted and moved while being fixed to the upright tripod 101, the imaging posture of the video camera 1 can be changed. For example, the imaging posture of the video camera 1 can be adjusted to 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60, etc. with respect to the bottom surface 201. If the step width in which the key groove 4 is arranged is reduced and the radius of the arc 223 is increased, it can be set for each finer angle.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, when the mounting nut 3 is further shifted and moved by the key groove 41, it can be rotated 90 degrees so that the imaging posture is such that the side surface 202 is on the lower side.

Note that the bottom surface 201 and the side surface 202 are not necessarily at a right angle, and the configuration described above can of course be applied. Further, even if these two surfaces are continuous with a curved surface, it is possible to apply the arc 223 shown above along the curved surface.
In the above description, the second groove 22 is provided in the housing 2A. However, a plate-like member may be provided inside the housing 2A, and the second groove 22 may be provided there. Furthermore, not only the second groove 22 but also a member that supports the mounting nut 3 so as to be movable along the first groove 12 (for example, a guide rail, a linear motion guide, etc.) and can be locked in multiple stages, with a predetermined force. The video camera 1 can be held in a predetermined imaging posture as long as it has an alignment mechanism that locks in the adjacent keyway when receiving a force along the guide rail. Further, the above configuration can be applied not only to the video camera 1 but also to all imaging devices.

External view of video camera of this embodiment (with tripod attached) Exploded perspective view of outline view of video camera of this embodiment Component diagram of mounting nut of video camera of this embodiment Example different from FIG. 3 about the 2nd groove | channel which attaches the attachment nut of the video camera of this embodiment Usage form of mounting nut of video camera of this embodiment

Explanation of symbols

1-video camera, 11-lens, 12-first groove,
2,2A-housing, 20-recess, 21-lens hole,
201-bottom surface, 202-side surface, 22-second groove, 221-bend,
23-notch, 231, 232-end,
221-edge on the outer peripheral side, 222-edge on the inner peripheral side,
3-mounting nut, 31-mounting nut body, 32-female thread part, 33-stepped part,
34-key support, 341-plane,
35-key, 351-elastic portion, 352-width, 353-root 36-flange, 361-plane, 4-key groove,
101-Tripod, 102-Viewfinder, 103-Sensor, 104-Direction of rotation

Claims (5)

A housing constituting the imaging apparatus main body,
In an imaging device comprising: a support leg attachment member attached to a support leg that supports the imaging device main body,
The housing is
A long-axis-shaped first groove in which a predetermined range of two adjacent surfaces of the photographing apparatus main body is continuously cut;
A guide for supporting the support leg mounting member movably along the first groove, and a guide provided with a plurality of key grooves along a path of the guide,
The support leg mounting member is a multi-stage alignment mechanism that engages at any point of the keyway and locks the support leg mounting member, and has a predetermined level or more along the guide direction from the locked state. A multi-stage alignment mechanism that unlocks from the keyway when engaged and engages with the adjacent keyway,
The guide is a second groove established in the casing or established in a plate-like member fixed to the casing,
The plurality of key grooves are provided at an edge of the second groove,
The multistage alignment mechanism includes:
A key that engages with any of the key grooves to lock the movement of the support leg mounting member;
An elastic portion formed by a U-shaped member provided between the support leg mounting member main body and the key, and an elastic portion that urges the key to the key groove as a leaf spring;
The second groove is formed in an arc shape at the boundary between two adjacent surfaces of the imaging apparatus main body,
A plurality of the key grooves are provided on the arc,
The edge of the second groove is provided on the inner peripheral side or outer peripheral side of the arc, and the key groove is provided on the inner peripheral side or outer peripheral side edge,
The key and the elastic portion of the support leg mounting member are stored in the second groove,
The imaging apparatus includes a support member that is a pair of support members that are fixed to the base between both sides of the base of the elastic portion and that holds both sides of the casing around the groove. A housing constituting the imaging apparatus main body,
In an imaging device comprising: a support leg attachment member attached to a support leg that supports the imaging device main body,
The housing is
A long-axis-shaped first groove in which a predetermined range of two adjacent surfaces of the photographing apparatus main body is continuously cut;
A guide for supporting the support leg mounting member movably along the first groove, and a guide provided with a plurality of key grooves along a path of the guide,
The support leg mounting member is a multi-stage alignment mechanism that engages at any point of the keyway and locks the support leg mounting member, and has a predetermined level or more along the guide direction from the locked state. An imaging apparatus comprising a multi-stage alignment mechanism that is unlocked from the key groove when engaged and engages with an adjacent key groove. The guide is a second groove established in the casing or established in a plate-like member fixed to the casing,
The plurality of key grooves are provided at an edge of the second groove,
The multistage alignment mechanism includes:
A key that engages with any of the key grooves to lock the movement of the support leg mounting member;
An elastic portion formed by a U-shaped member provided between the support leg mounting member main body and the key, and an elastic portion that urges the key to the key groove as a leaf spring. 2. The imaging device according to 2. The second groove is formed in an arc shape at the boundary between two adjacent surfaces of the imaging apparatus main body,
The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the key grooves are provided on the arc. The second groove is formed in an arc shape at the boundary between two adjacent surfaces of the imaging apparatus main body,
A plurality of the key grooves are provided on the arc,
The edge of the second groove is provided on the inner peripheral side or the outer peripheral side of the arc, and the key groove is provided on the inner peripheral side or the outer peripheral side edge,
The key and the elastic part of the support leg mounting member are stored in the second groove,
The said support leg attachment member is a pair of support member fixed on this base on both sides of the base of the said elastic part, Comprising: The holding member holding both surfaces of the edge of the said 2nd groove | channel is provided. The imaging device described.

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