JP2011133620A - Slide mechanism and portable electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently secure biasing force of a torsion spring. <P>SOLUTION: First and second rail grooves 28a and 28b are formed on a base plate 21 of the slide mechanism 20. First and second slide fittings 23a and 23b engaged to freely slide and move in the respective grooves 28a and 28b are fixed to a slide plate 22 so as to put the base plate 21 in between. The slide plate 22 is held to freely slide and move relative to the base plate 21. One-side ends of first and second torsion springs 24a and 24b are attached to the first slide fitting 23a, and the other ends are attached to the base plate 21. The attaching position of the one end of the second torsion spring 24b is deviated to the other end side further than the attaching position of the one end of the first torsion spring 24a. The biasing force of the second torsion spring 24b is increased, thereby the biasing force for biasing the slide plate 22 or the like is sufficiently secured. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a slide mechanism that slides a movable member with respect to a base member by using a biasing force of a torsion spring, and a portable electronic device including the slide mechanism.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a digital camera is well known in which a slidable lens barrier is provided on the front surface of a camera body and the power is turned on / off in conjunction with the opening / closing of the lens barrier. The lens barrier is slidable between a closed position that covers the photographing lens on the front surface of the camera body and an open position that exposes the photographing lens by a slide mechanism provided on the camera body (see Patent Document 1). ). When the lens barrier is slid from the closed position to the open position, the camera is turned on. Conversely, when the lens barrier is slid from the open position to the closed position, the camera is turned off.

  The slide mechanism of the lens barrier is roughly divided into a base plate attached to the front surface of the camera body, a slide plate attached to the back surface of the lens barrier and slidably held with respect to the base plate, and a torsion spring. (See Patent Document 1). The torsion spring has one end attached to the base plate and the other end attached to the slide plate. The torsion spring locks the lens barrier in the closed position or the open position via the slide plate when the lens barrier is in the closed position or the open position.

  The torsion spring has a small twist angle until the lens barrier reaches a predetermined intermediate position between the closed position and the open position when the lens barrier is slid from one of the closed position and the open position to the other. Since it is elastically deformed, resistance is given to the slide operation. Next, when the lens barrier exceeds the intermediate position, the elastically deformed torsion spring biases the lens barrier toward the other by the elastic restoring force. Thus, after the lens barrier is slid to the intermediate position, no pressing force is required, and the lens barrier can be slid to the other side only by the biasing force of the torsion spring.

  As one of such slide mechanisms, a slide mechanism having two torsion springs is well known in recent years (see Patent Document 2). By using two torsion springs, it is possible to increase the force for locking the lens barrier in the closed position or the open position and the force for biasing the lens barrier during the slide operation. Further, when two torsion springs are provided in the lens barrier slide mechanism described in Patent Document 1, for example, two torsion springs are arranged in one place as shown in FIG. It is normal to do.

JP 2006-184390 A JP 2006-121221 A

  However, as shown in FIG. 12, when the action points of the torsion springs are aligned in the vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction, the lens barrier cannot be moved to the closed position or the open position only with the force of the torsion spring. There is a fear.

  Specifically, when the lens barrier is slid from the closed position toward the open position, after the lens barrier exceeds the intermediate position (see FIG. 12B), as the lens barrier approaches the open position. The torsion angle of both torsion springs gradually increases. For this reason, when the lens barrier reaches the vicinity of the open position, the torsion angle of the torsion springs increases and the shape approaches a natural state in which the shape is not elastically deformed. (See FIG. 12C). For this reason, even if two torsion springs are arranged, there is a possibility that the lens barrier cannot be moved to the open position or the closed position only by the urging force of both torsion springs. As a result, the detection switch cannot detect that the lens barrier has moved to the open position, and the camera may not be turned on.

  In order to compensate for the lack of the biasing force of the torsion spring, for example, a method of increasing the torque of the torsion spring by increasing the diameter of the torsion spring can be considered, but in this case, the durability of the torsion spring is weakened. There is a possibility that the torsion spring may be bent.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and a slide mechanism capable of sufficiently ensuring the biasing force of a torsion spring regardless of the slide position of a movable member such as a lens barrier and the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a portable electronic device provided with a slide mechanism.

  In order to achieve the above object, a slide mechanism of the present invention is held on a base member and one surface of the base member so as to be slidable between a predetermined first position and a second position with respect to the base member. The movable member and one end are attached to the movable member, and the other end is attached to the base member at a position shifted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the movable member from the one end, along the sliding direction. A plurality of torsion springs arranged side by side when the movable member is slid from one of the first and second positions toward the other position, the sliding position of the movable member is Until the predetermined third position between the first and second positions is reached, the sliding operation is elastically deformed so as to reduce the twist angle, thereby providing resistance to the sliding operation, and the sliding position exceeds the third position. A plurality of torsion springs that bias the movable member toward the other position by elastic restoring force, and at least one of the one end and the other end of each of the plurality of torsion springs is attached, It has shifted | deviated to the said substantially perpendicular direction, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The third position is preferably a sliding position of the movable member such that the one end and the other end of each of the plurality of torsion springs are arranged in a line in the vertical direction.

  It is preferable that a detection unit that detects that the movable member slides to the other position is provided.

  It is preferable that the detection means is a push-type switch that is pressed by the movable member that is slid to the other position.

  It is preferable to include a slide rail that is provided on one of the base member and the movable member and extends long in a direction parallel to the slide direction, and an engaging portion that is provided on the other side and engages with the slide rail.

  The plurality of torsion springs are preferably the same type of torsion spring.

  A portable electronic device according to the present invention includes a slide mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, a portable electronic device main body to which the base member is attached, and the movable member to which the portable electronic device main body is attached. And a cover that covers at least a part of the surface and is slidably held on the portable electronic device main body via the slide mechanism.

  The portable electronic device main body is a camera body having a photographing lens on a surface, and the cover has a closed position that covers the photographing lens and an open position that exposes the photographing lens with respect to the camera body. It is preferably held so as to be slidable between them.

  Based on the detection result of the cover detection means, the cover detection means for detecting that the cover is slid to the open position, and when the cover is in the open position, the portable electronic device is turned on, and the cover It is preferable to include power control means for turning off the power when the power is not in the open position.

  In the slide mechanism and the portable electronic device of the present invention, the mounting position of at least one of the one end and the other end of each of the plurality of torsion springs provided side by side in the direction parallel to the slide direction of the movable member is substantially in the slide direction. Since they are shifted in the vertical direction, it is possible to increase the biasing force with which each torsion spring biases the movable member. As a result, the urging force of the torsion spring can be sufficiently ensured regardless of the slide position of the movable member. Thereby, the movable member can be reliably slid to the first position or the second position.

  Further, by applying the present invention to the slide mechanism of the lens barrier of the camera, the lens barrier can be reliably slid to the closed position that covers the photographing lens or the open position that exposes the photographing lens. As a result, in a camera whose power is turned on in conjunction with the sliding movement of the lens barrier to the open position, the lens barrier surely slides to the open position, so the power of the camera is reliably turned on.

It is an external perspective view of a digital camera with a lens barrier in an open position. It is an external appearance perspective view of a digital camera in which a lens barrier is in a closed position. It is a disassembled perspective view of a slide mechanism. It is an external appearance perspective view of a slide mechanism. It is an external appearance perspective view of a slide mechanism when a slide plate etc. exists in an upper limit position. It is an external appearance perspective view of a slide mechanism when a slide plate etc. exists in a lower limit position. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state of a torsion spring when a slide plate etc. exists in an upper limit position. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state of a torsion spring when a slide plate etc. exists between an upper limit position and an intermediate position. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state of a torsion spring when a slide plate etc. exists in an intermediate position. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state of a torsion spring when a slide plate etc. exists between an intermediate position and a minimum position. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state of a torsion spring when a slide plate etc. exists in the lower limit position vicinity. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state of a torsion spring in the comparative example which aligned the position of the action point of a torsion spring. It is the graph which showed the measurement result of each spring load of the 1st and 2nd torsion spring. It is the graph which showed the measurement result of the total spring load of the 1st and 2nd torsion spring in an Example and a comparative example.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the camera body 11 of the digital camera 10 capable of photographing with multiple eyes includes a front cover 11a and a rear cover 11b, and various photographing mechanisms are incorporated therein. The first and second imaging units 12a and 12b, the strobe light emitting unit 13 and the like are exposed on the front surface of the front cover 11a.

  The first and second imaging units 12a and 12b each include a photographic lens 14 and an image sensor disposed behind the imaging lens 14. The first and second imaging units 12a and 12b are provided at a predetermined interval so that their optical axes are substantially parallel or have a letter C shape.

  On the upper surface of the front cover 11a, a shutter button 15, a power switch 16, and the like are provided. Further, although not shown in the drawing, a liquid crystal display for displaying a through image display and a recorded image display is exposed on the back surface of the rear cover 11b, and an operation unit for changing various settings of the digital camera 10 and the like. Is provided.

  A lens barrier 18 corresponding to the cover of the present invention is attached to the front surface of the front cover 11a so as to be slidable in the vertical direction (hereinafter, simply referred to as the vertical direction) in the figure, which is substantially perpendicular to the photographing optical axis. . The lens barrier 18 is in a closed position as shown in FIG. 2 when not in use, and covers the photographing lens 14 and the strobe light emitting unit 13. Further, the lens barrier 18 is in an open position as shown in FIG. 1 when used during photographing or image reproduction, and exposes the photographing lens 14 and the strobe light emitting unit 13.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 when the front cover 11a is viewed from the back side, a slide mechanism 20 is attached to the front cover 11a to hold the lens barrier 18 slidably in the vertical direction with respect to the camera body 11. It has been. The slide mechanism 20 includes a base plate 21, a slide plate 22, first and second slide fittings 23a and 23b, and first and second torsion springs 24a and 24b. In addition, in order to clarify the mutual positional relationship, the base plate 21 is indicated by a thick line and the others are indicated by a thin line.

  The base plate 21 is fixed to the base mounting opening 25 formed in the front cover 11a from the back side of the front cover 11a. The base mounting opening 25 has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the base plate 21. A part of the lateral width of the base mounting opening 25 is formed longer than the lateral width of the base plate 21 in order to fix the first and second slide fittings 23 a and 23 b to the slide plate 22.

  A substantially frame-shaped abutting portion 26 that abuts the front peripheral edge of the base plate 21 is provided at the front end of the base mounting opening 25. The contact portion 26 is formed with a protrusion 27 protruding to the back side.

  The base plate 21 is formed with first and second slide rail grooves (hereinafter simply referred to as first and second rail grooves) 28a and 28b at both left and right ends thereof. The first and second rail grooves 28 a and 28 b extend long in the vertical direction parallel to the sliding direction of the lens barrier 18. The length of each rail groove 28a, 28b is longer than the stroke amount of the lens barrier 18.

  Between the rail grooves 28a and 28b and on the sides of the rail grooves 28a and 28b, first and second slide fitting mounting openings (hereinafter simply referred to as first and second openings). ) 29a and 29b are formed. The openings 29a and 29b are formed to attach the slide fittings 23a and 23b to the slide plate 22 and extend long in the vertical direction.

  The lateral width of the first opening 29a is longer than the lateral width of the second opening 29b. A substantially plate-like extending portion 31 protruding toward the center of the first opening 29a is formed at the side end of the first opening 29a on the second rail groove 28b side. The extended portion 31 is formed so that the back surface thereof is one step lower than the back surface of the base plate 21. Further, first and second protrusions 32a and 32b for attaching one ends of the first and second torsion springs 24a and 24b are provided on the back surface of the extending portion 31 in the vertical direction.

  A fitting hole 34 into which the projection 27 is fitted is formed at the peripheral portion of the base plate 21 at a position facing the projection 27 of the front cover 11a. The base plate 21 is positioned and fixed in the base mounting opening 25 by the protrusion 27 fitted in the fitting hole 34.

  The slide plate 22 is fixed to the rear surface of the lens barrier 18 and is held by the base plate 21 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction on the front surface thereof. The left and right end portions of the slide plate 22 protrude leftward and rightward from the left and right end portions of the base plate 21, respectively.

  The slide plate 22 is formed with a plurality of fitting holes 37 into which a plurality of resin pins 36 projecting from the back surface of the lens barrier 18 are fitted. The resin plate 36 is fitted and fixed in the fitting hole 37, whereby the slide plate 22 is fixed to the back surface of the lens barrier 18.

  A pair of screw holes 39a and 39b and a pair of screw holes 40a and 40b are formed on the back surface of the slide plate 22 in the left-right direction. The screw hole 39a is formed at the left end portion of the slide plate 22, and the screw hole 39b is formed at a position facing the first opening 29a. The screw hole 40 a is formed at a position facing the second opening 29 b, and the screw hole 40 b is formed at the right end portion of the slide plate 22.

  Further, substantially cylindrical bosses 42 a, 42 b, 43 a, 43 b projecting toward the base plate 21 are formed at the peripheral portions of the screw holes 39 a, 39 b, 40 a, 40 b, respectively. Each boss 42 a, 42 b, 43 a, 43 b is in contact with the front surface of the base plate 21. The height of each boss 42a, 42b, 43a, 43b is designed such that the slide plate 22 is held in front of the front surface of the front cover 11a.

  The first and second slide fittings 23a and 23b constitute a movable member of the present invention together with the slide plate 22, and are fixed to the back surface of the slide plate 22 with the base plate 21 interposed therebetween. The first slide fitting 23a has a substantially cross shape. The main body 45 extends long in the vertical direction at a position facing the first rail groove 28a, and the left and right arm 46a protrudes from the main body 45 in the left-right direction. , 46b.

  Slide pins (engaging portions) 47 that are engaged with the first rail grooves 28a are provided at both ends of the main body 45, respectively. Thereby, the first slide fitting 23a is slidable along the first rail groove 28a.

  The left arm portion 46a includes a root portion that protrudes leftward from the left end portion of the base plate 21 from the main body portion 45, an intermediate portion that extends forward from the tip of the root portion, and a leftward direction from the tip of the intermediate portion. It is comprised from the front-end | tip part extended in. A through hole 49a is formed in the tip portion at a position facing the screw hole 39a.

  The right arm portion 46b includes a root portion extending from the main body portion 45 to a position facing the left end portion of the first opening 29a, an intermediate portion extending from the tip of the root portion into the first opening 29a, And a distal end portion that extends from the distal end of the portion until it substantially opposes the left end portion of the extending portion 31. A through hole 49b is formed in the tip portion at a position facing the screw hole 39b. In addition, first and second attachment holes 50a and 50b to which the other ends of the first and second torsion springs 24a and 24b are attached are formed at the tip portion.

  The first and second mounting holes 50 a and 50 b are formed so as to be shifted in the left-right direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the slide plate 22. Specifically, the formation position in the left-right direction of the second attachment hole 50b is shifted to the right on the side of each projection 32a, 32b with respect to the formation position of the first attachment hole 50a. Further, the formation position of the second attachment hole 50b in the vertical direction is shifted downward with respect to the formation position of the first attachment hole 50a.

  The second slide fitting 23b has a substantially T-shape, and a main body portion 52 that extends long in the vertical direction at a position facing the second rail groove 28b, and a left and right arm portion that protrudes in the left-right direction from the main body portion 52. 53a, 53b.

  The main body portion 52 is provided with a slide pin (engagement portion) 54 that engages with the second rail groove 28b. As a result, the second slide fitting 23b is slidable along the second rail groove 28b.

  The left arm portion 53a includes a root portion that extends from the main body portion 52 into the second opening 29b, and a tip portion that extends leftward from the tip of the root portion. A through hole 56a is formed in the tip portion at a position facing the screw hole 40a.

  The right arm portion 53b includes a base portion that protrudes rightward from the right end portion of the base plate 21 from the main body portion 52, an intermediate portion that extends forward from the tip of the base portion, and a right direction from the tip of the intermediate portion. It is comprised from the front-end | tip part extended in. A through hole 56b is formed in the tip portion at a position facing the screw hole 40b.

  The shafts of the screws 58a and 58b pass through the through holes 49a and 49b from the back side of the first slide fitting 23a, respectively, and are screwed into the screw holes 39a and 39b. The shafts of the screws 59a and 59b pass through the through holes 56a and 56b from the back side of the second slide fitting 23b, and are screwed into the screw holes 40a and 40b. Thereby, the 1st and 2nd slide metal fittings 23a and 23b and the slide plate 22 are integrated.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the slide plate 22 (indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure) and the slide fittings 23a and 23b (indicated by a thin line in the figure) are in relation to the base plate 21 (indicated by a thick line). It is held slidably and integrally in the vertical direction. The slide plate 22 and the slide fittings 23a and 23b (hereinafter abbreviated as the slide plate 22 and the like) have an upper limit position as shown in FIG. 5 as the lens barrier 18 slides between the closed position and the open position. It slides between the lower limit positions as shown in FIG.

  The upper limit position and the lower limit position of the slide plate 22 and the like are positions where the slide fittings 23a and 23b come into contact with the upper end and lower end of the first and second openings 29a and 29b, respectively. Accordingly, the upper end portion and the lower end portion function as a stopper for restricting the slide movement of the slide plate 22 and the like. The stroke amount of the slide plate 22 and the like is determined by the vertical width of the first and second openings 29a and 29b.

  The first and second torsion springs 24a and 24b are the same type of spring, and are composed of first arm portions 61a and 61b, second arm portions 62a and 62b, and coil portions 63a and 63b, respectively. The distal ends of the first arm portions 61a and 61b are bent toward the base plate 21, and are inserted into the first and second mounting holes 50a and 50b so as to be relatively rotatable. Moreover, the front-end | tip part of 2nd arm part 62a, 62b is formed in the substantially ring shape, and is fitted by each protrusion 32a, 32b so that relative rotation is possible, respectively. In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the retaining spring which prevents each torsion spring 24a, 24b from removing from each attachment hole 50a, 50b and protrusion 32a, 32b is provided.

  The first and second torsion springs 24a and 24b are attached to the attachment holes 50a and 50b and the protrusions 32a and 32b, respectively, in a state of being elastically deformed so that the twist angle is smaller than that of a natural state where the first and second torsion springs are not elastically deformed. ing. The torsion angles of the torsion springs 24a and 24b are the angle formed by the first arm portion 61a and the second arm portion 62a, and the angle formed by the first arm portion 61b and the second arm portion 62b, respectively.

  The elastic restoring force of each torsion spring 24a, 24b increases as the torsion angle of both decreases. The torsion angles of both become smaller as the vertical distance between the first mounting hole 50a and the first protrusion 32a and the vertical distance between the second mounting hole 50b and the second protrusion 32b become smaller. Therefore, when the first mounting hole 50a and the first protrusion 32a, and the second mounting hole 50b and the second protrusion 32b are arranged in a line in the left-right direction, the elastic restoring force of the torsion springs 24a and 24b is maximized. It becomes.

  The direction in which the elastic restoring force of the torsion springs 24a and 24b acts on the slide plate 22 and the like depends on the vertical distance between the mounting holes 50a and 50b and the protrusions 32a and 32b. Change. Specifically, as the vertical intervals are reduced, the direction in which each elastic restoring force acts becomes more perpendicular to the sliding direction. Therefore, when the first mounting holes 50a and the first protrusions 32a, and the second mounting holes 50b and the second protrusions 32b are arranged in a line in the left-right direction, the individual elastic restoring forces are applied to the slide plate 22 and the like. It acts in the direction of energizing substantially to the left. In this case, the urging force for urging the slide plate 22 and the like in the sliding direction is substantially zero (see FIGS. 9, 13, and 14).

  As described above, the magnitude of the urging force (hereinafter referred to as spring load) by which the first and second torsion springs 24a and 24b urge the slide plate 22 and the like in the sliding direction depends on the torsion angle α of each torsion spring 24a and 24b. , Β (see FIGS. 7 to 11) and the position of the action point of each torsion spring 24a, 24b. The action points of the torsion springs 24a and 24b on the slide plate 22 and the like are the mounting holes 50a and 50b, and the action points on the base plate 21 are the protrusions 32a and 32b.

  A push-type detection switch (detection means, cover detection means) 65 is provided near the lower portion of the first rail groove 28a. The detection switch 65 includes a button 65a protruding to a position facing the lower end portion of the first rail groove 28a.

  The button 65a is pushed into the detection switch 65 by pressing from the first slide fitting 23a when the first slide fitting 23a slides to or near the lower limit position. Further, the button 65a is restored to the original position when the pressing by the first slide fitting 23a is released.

  A power supply circuit (power supply control means) 66 of the digital camera 10 is connected to the detection switch 65. When the button 65 a is pushed into the detection switch 65, a detection signal is output from the detection switch 65 to the power supply circuit 66. The power supply circuit 66 turns on the power supply of the digital camera 10 while the detection signal is input, and turns off the power supply when the input of the detection signal is stopped.

  Next, in the digital camera 10 having the above configuration, the operation of the first and second torsion springs 24a and 24b when the lens barrier 18 is slid from the closed position toward the open position will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the lens barrier 18 is in the closed position, the slide plate 22 and the like are in the upper limit position. At this time, the torsion angles α and β of the first and second torsion springs 24a and 24b are smaller than the torsion angles of the torsion springs 24a and 24b in the natural state described above. For this reason, the slide plate 22 and the like are biased upward by the elastic restoring force of the torsion springs 24a and 24b, so that the slide plate 22 and the like are locked at the upper limit position.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the lens barrier 18 is slid toward the open position, the slide plate 22 and the like slide downward from the upper limit position. As the slide moves, the torsion springs 24a and 24b are elastically deformed so that the torsion angles α and β gradually decrease while rotating counterclockwise around the first and second protrusions 32a and 32b, respectively. To do. For this reason, a spring load that resists sliding movement is applied to the slide plate 22 and the like by the elastic restoring force of the torsion springs 24a and 24b. As described above, the magnitude of the spring load varies depending on the magnitudes of the twist angles α and β, the positions of the mounting holes 50a and 50b, and the like.

  When the slide plate 22 and the like are continuously slid downward, as shown in FIG. 9, the slide plate 22 and the like have the first mounting hole 50a and the first protrusion 32a, and the second mounting hole 50b and the second protrusion 32b. Each reaches an intermediate position in a line in the horizontal direction. At this time, the torsion angles α and β of the torsion springs 24a and 24b are substantially minimized, and the force stored in the torsion springs 24a and 24b is maximized. Further, since the elastic restoring force of each torsion spring 24a, 24b acts in a direction that biases the slide plate 22 and the like substantially in the left direction, the spring load in the slide direction becomes substantially zero.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the slide plate 22 and the like are further slid downward beyond the intermediate position, the positions of the mounting holes 50a and 50b are shifted downward from the protrusions 32a and 32b, respectively. Each torsion spring 24a, 24b urges the slide plate 22 or the like downward in an attempt to release the force accumulated so far. As a result, a spring load that biases downward is applied to the slide plate 22 or the like, and the slide plate 22 or the like is slid downward.

  As the slide plate 22 or the like slides, the torsion springs 24a and 24b are elastically restored so that the torsion angles α and β gradually increase while rotating counterclockwise around the protrusions 32a and 32b. . The magnitude of the spring load of each torsion spring 24a, 24b changes with such changes in torsion angles α, β and changes in the positions of the mounting holes 50a, 50b.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the slide plate 22 or the like reaches the vicinity of the lower limit position, the first torsion spring 24a has a larger torsion angle α, and therefore the spring load becomes smaller. On the other hand, since the position of the second mounting hole 50b is shifted in the right direction closer to the projections 32a and 32b than the position of the first mounting hole 50a, the twist angle β <the twist angle α. For this reason, the second torsion spring 24b is still elastically deformed to a greater extent than the first torsion spring 24a, and a spring load larger than that of the first torsion spring 24a can be applied to the slide plate 22 and the like.

  On the other hand, in the comparative example shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C, when the left-right direction position of the second mounting hole 50c is aligned with the same position as the first mounting hole 50a, the torsion springs 24a, 24b. The twist angles α and β are α≈β. The comparative example has the same configuration as the present invention except for the position where the second mounting hole 50c is formed.

  In the comparative example, when the slide plate 22 and the like are slid from the upper limit position shown in (A) to the vicinity of the lower limit position shown in (C) through the intermediate position shown in (B), the twist angles α and β are α≈. Changes in the β state. For this reason, when the slide plate 22 or the like reaches the vicinity of the lower limit position, the magnitude of the spring load of the second torsion spring 24b becomes small in the same way as the spring load of the first torsion spring 24a. As a result, the total spring load applied to the slide plate 22 and the like by both the torsion springs 24a and 24b becomes small, so that the slide plate 22 and the like cannot be moved to the lower limit position, and the lens barrier 18 stops near the open position. There is a fear.

  If the slide plate 22 or the like cannot be moved to the lower limit position, the push of the button 65a of the detection switch 65 becomes insufficient, and the digital camera 10 may not be turned on.

  In contrast to the slide mechanism of the comparative example, in the slide mechanism 20 of the present invention, the spring load of the second torsion spring 24b is increased by shifting the horizontal position of the second mounting hole 50b toward the projections 32a and 32b. Therefore, the total spring load of the torsion springs 24a and 24b can be increased as compared with the comparative example. Accordingly, the slide plate 22 and the lens barrier 18 can be reliably moved to the lower limit position and the open position, respectively, and the button 65a of the detection switch 65 can be reliably pushed.

  When the button 65a is pushed into the detection switch 65, a detection signal is output from the detection switch 65 to the power supply circuit 66, and the power supply of the digital camera 10 is turned on by the power supply circuit 66.

  When the slide plate 22 or the like is moved to the lower limit position, the torsion angles α and β of the torsion springs 24a and 24b are smaller than the torsion angles in the natural state, so that the slide plate is caused by the elastic restoring force of the torsion springs 24a and 24b. 22 etc. are urged downward. Thereby, the slide plate 22 and the like are locked at the lower limit position.

  Further, when the lens barrier 18 is slid from the open position to the closed position, the slide plate 22 and the like in FIG. 7 pass through the states described in FIGS. 11, 10, 9, and 8 in order. Slide to near the upper limit position shown. Also in this case, the torsion angle β <the torsion angle α, and the spring load of the second torsion spring 24b is increased as described above, so that the slide plate 22 and the lens barrier 18 and the lens barrier 18 are surely moved to the upper limit position and the closed position, respectively. Can be moved.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the lens barrier 18 is slidably held in the vertical direction with respect to the camera body 11 has been described as an example. However, the sliding direction of the lens barrier 18 may be, for example, the horizontal direction. There is no particular limitation.

  In the above embodiment, the left and right positions of the first and second protrusions 32a and 32b are aligned, but the left and right positions of both may be shifted. However, in this case, the distance in the left-right direction between the first protrusion 32a and the first mounting hole 50a is not made equal to the distance in the left-right direction between the second protrusion 32b and the second mounting hole 50b.

  In the above embodiment, the second mounting holes 50b are formed so as to be shifted toward the projections 32a and 32b with respect to the first mounting holes 50a, but conversely, the first mounting holes 50a may be formed so as to be shifted in the same direction. Good.

  In the above embodiment, the first arm portions 61a and 61b of the torsion springs 24a and 24b are respectively attached to the first slide fitting 23a, but may be directly attached to the slide plate 22. Further, the slide plate 22 may be slidably held with respect to the base plate 21 without using the first and second slide fittings 23a and 23b.

  In the above embodiment, the slide mechanism 20 includes two torsion springs, but the number of torsion springs may be three or more. Moreover, although the case where the same kind of spring was used as the first and second torsion springs 24a and 24b has been described in the above embodiment, the shape, size, diameter, and the like of both may be different.

  In the above embodiment, the slide plate 22 and the like slide and move along the first and second rail grooves 28a and 28b, but various types of slide rails and slide guides may be used instead of the rail grooves 28a and 28b.

  In the above embodiment, the pressing detection switch 65 detects that the slide plate 22 or the like has moved to the lower limit position. However, even if detection is performed using a detection switch other than the pressing type such as an optical type, for example. Good. Further, the movement of the slide plate 22 or the like to the upper limit position may be similarly detected by the detection switch.

  In the above embodiment, the digital camera including the slide mechanism 20 of the lens barrier 18 has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to various portable electronic devices including a slide mechanism such as a mobile phone.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by showing examples and comparative examples for demonstrating the effects of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples and comparative examples. In the embodiment, as the first and second torsion springs 24a and 24b, torsion springs manufactured by ADVANEX were used, respectively. The stroke amount of the slide plate 22 and the like was adjusted to 14 mm. Further, when the slide plate 22 or the like is moved from the upper limit position or the lower limit position to a position of about 7 mm, the projections 32a and 32b and the mounting holes 50a and 50b are arranged so as to be in the intermediate position shown in FIG. The position was adjusted.

In the embodiment, the vertical distance between the first protrusion 32a and the second protrusion 32b is adjusted to 5.0 mm, and the vertical distance between the first mounting hole 50a and the second mounting hole 50b is set to 5.0 mm. It was adjusted. Further, the distance in the left-right direction between the first protrusion 32a and the first mounting hole 50a is adjusted to 17.0 mm , and the second mounting hole 50b is shifted to the right by 5.0 mm from the first mounting hole 50a. Formed.

  In the comparative example, the same conditions as in the example were used except that the position of the second mounting hole 50c in the left-right direction was aligned with the position of the first mounting hole 50a.

  About the Example and comparative example of the above structures, the magnitude | size of the spring load of each torsion spring 24a, 24b was evaluated. In this spring load evaluation, the slide plate 22 and the like are moved from the upper limit position to the lower limit position by 0.0 mm, 3.5 mm, 7.0 mm, 10.5 mm, and 14.0 mm. The spring load of each of the first and second torsion springs 24a and 24b, (2) the total spring load of each torsion spring 24a and 24b in the embodiment, and (3) the total spring load of each torsion spring 24a and 24b in the comparative example. It was measured. For the measurement of the spring load, FORE ANALYZER EXPLORER III manufactured by AIKOH ENGINEERING was used.

  As shown in Table 1 and Table 2 below and FIG. 13 which is a graph of these, the spring load of the second torsion spring 24b is the spring load of the first torsion spring 24a at the upper limit position and the lower limit position or in the vicinity thereof. It was confirmed that it would be larger. The “positive” spring load indicates a spring load applied in the upward direction, and the “negative” spring load indicates a spring load applied in the downward direction.

  Further, as shown in Table 3 and Table 4 below, and FIG. 14 in which these are graphed, the total spring load of the example is higher than the total spring load of the comparative example at the upper limit position and the lower limit position or in the vicinity thereof. It was confirmed that it would grow. Thereby, in the Example, it was confirmed that the spring load is sufficiently ensured irrespective of the slide positions of the lens barrier 18 and the slide plate 22.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Digital camera 18 Lens barrier 20 Slide mechanism 21 Base plate 22 Slide plate 23a, 23b 1st, 2nd slide metal fitting 24a, 24b 1st, 2nd torsion spring 28a, 28b 1st, 2nd slide rail groove | channel 32a, 32b 1st , Second protrusions 50a, 50b first and second mounting holes

Claims (9)

A base member;
A movable member held on one surface of the base member so as to be slidable between a predetermined first position and a second position with respect to the base member;
One end is attached to the movable member, and the other end is attached to the base member at a position shifted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the movable member from the one end, and is provided side by side along the sliding direction. A plurality of torsion springs, wherein when the movable member is slid from one position of the first and second positions toward the other position, the slide position of the movable member is the first and first positions. Until the predetermined third position between the two positions is reached, the torsion angle is elastically deformed so as to reduce the resistance to the slide operation, and when the slide position exceeds the third position, an elastic restoring force is applied. A plurality of torsion springs for biasing the movable member toward the other position;
At least one of the one end and the other end of each of the plurality of torsion springs is displaced in the substantially vertical direction.   2. The third position is a slide position of the movable member such that the one end and the other end of each of the plurality of torsion springs are arranged in a line in the vertical direction. The described slide mechanism.   3. A slide mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising detection means for detecting that the movable member has slid and moved to the other position.   4. The slide mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the detection means is a push-type switch that is pressed by the movable member that is slid and moved to the other position.   A slide rail provided on one of the base member and the movable member and extending long in a direction parallel to the slide direction, and an engaging portion provided on the other and engaging with the slide rail. The slide mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The slide mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of torsion springs are the same kind of torsion springs. A slide mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A portable electronic device body to which the base member is attached;
A cover that is attached to the movable member, covers at least a part of the surface of the portable electronic device main body, and is slidably held on the portable electronic device main body via the slide mechanism;
A portable electronic device comprising: The portable electronic device body is a camera body provided with a photographing lens on the surface,
The said cover is hold | maintained with respect to the said camera body so that sliding movement is possible between the closed position which covers the said imaging lens, and the open position which exposes the said imaging lens. Portable electronic device. Cover detection means for detecting that the cover has slid to the open position;
Power control means for turning on the power of the portable electronic device when the cover is in the open position and turning off the power when the cover is not in the open position based on the detection result of the cover detection means. The portable electronic device according to claim 8.

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