JP2012043707A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital single-lens reflex camera which, even when the number of subjects to choose with a selection operation member increases, keeps an operation part from increasing in diameter while also securing good operability, and also makes it possible to reduce the number of assembly man-hours to cut cost.SOLUTION: The digital single-lens reflex camera includes a rotary operation dial 54; a selection operation member 52, disposed in the center of the rotary operation dial 54, which permits tilted operation at plural locations in the circumferential direction; and a support member 64 which is disposed on the reverse side of the selective operation member 52 and supports the selection operation member 52 in a tiltable manner. An arm portion 52i is formed on the reverse side of the selection operation member 52, and at the time of tilted operation, is guided in the axial direction by the support member 64. The arm portion 52i has an engaging part 52j formed therein, which engages in the axial direction relative to the support member 64.

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of an operation unit provided in an electronic device such as a digital camera.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an operation unit provided in an electronic device such as a digital camera, there is one in which a selection operation member having a plurality of pressing operation keys is arranged at the center of an annular rotation operation dial (Patent Document 1). The rotation operation dial is an operation member for performing an exposure correction and shooting information setting operation, and the set amount is changed according to the rotation direction and the rotation amount. The selection operation member is an operation member for performing a selection operation on an arbitrary focus detection region among a plurality of focus detection regions displayed in the finder. The operation unit including these operation members is arranged at a position where the user can easily operate with the thumb while pressing the release button with the index finger or looking through the viewfinder while holding the camera body. Be placed.

JP 2002-49463 A

  By the way, as the functions of digital cameras in recent years have increased, the number of focus detection areas has increased, the number of focus detection areas displayed in the viewfinder has also increased, and the number of objects to be selected by the selection operation member has increased. ing. In recent years, the liquid crystal display device disposed on the back side of the digital camera has been increased in size, and the space for disposing the operation unit on the back surface of the camera body has been reduced along with the demand for downsizing the camera body. Yes. For this reason, it is desired to ensure good operability while reducing the diameter of the operation portion.

  However, in Patent Document 1, a plurality of pressing operation keys are arranged on the substantially circular selection operation member independently in the circumferential direction, and the entire selection operation member exposes the plurality of pressing operation keys to the outside. It is fixed to the support base by being covered with a cover in a state where

  For this reason, when the size of the pressing operation key is increased to ensure good operability and the number of pressing operation keys is increased in accordance with the increase in the number of focus detection areas to be selected, the selection operating member becomes larger in diameter. Since the thickness of the cover in the radial direction is also added, it is difficult to reduce the diameter of the operation unit. On the other hand, if priority is given to reducing the diameter of the operation unit and the size of the operation press key is reduced and the number of press operation keys is increased in accordance with the increase in the number of focus detection areas to be selected, the operability is reduced. May cause incorrect operation. Moreover, in the said patent document 1, since the cover fixed to a support stand in the state which covered the selection operation member becomes essential, there also exists a problem that a number of parts increases and an assembly man-hour increases.

  Therefore, the present invention can ensure good operability while reducing the diameter of the operation portion even when the number of selection objects by the selection operation member increases, and also reduces the number of assembly steps and lowers the cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device that can achieve the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes a rotary operation dial, a selection operation member provided at a central portion of the rotary operation dial and capable of tilting operation at a plurality of locations in a circumferential direction, and the selection A support member that is disposed on the back side of the operation member and supports the selection operation member in a tiltable manner, and is guided to the back side of the selection operation member in the tilt direction by the support member during the tilt operation. An arm portion is formed, and an engaging portion that engages with the support member in the axial direction is formed on the arm portion.

  According to the present invention, even when the number of selection objects by the selection operation member increases, it is possible to ensure good operability while reducing the diameter of the operation portion, and to reduce the assembly man-hour and reduce the cost. Can be achieved.

It is the figure which looked at the digital single-lens reflex camera which is an example of embodiment of the electronic device of this invention from the upper surface side. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows partially the part of the release button and setting button of a digital single-lens reflex camera. It is the figure which looked at the camera body of a digital single-lens reflex camera from the back side. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in a finder when a user observes a to-be-photographed object from a finder. It is the disassembled perspective view seen from the diagonal upper part of the operation part. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the operation part from diagonally downward. It is sectional drawing in the assembly state of an operation part. (A) is the A section enlarged view of FIG. 7, (b) is the B section enlarged view of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a view of a digital single-lens reflex camera as an example of an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention when viewed from the upper surface side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the digital single-lens reflex camera of the present embodiment, the right exterior as viewed from the back side of the camera body 1 is a grip portion 10 that is gripped by a user during shooting. A release button 2 is provided on the upper surface of the camera body 1 at a position close to the user's index finger holding the grip 10.

  In addition, a plurality of setting buttons that are operated when changing settings such as AF (autofocus), exposure, continuous shooting, and the like are provided on the upper surface of the camera body 1 at substantially equal intervals in the width direction of the camera body 1. Yes. Furthermore, a display unit 4 for displaying setting items that can be changed by operating the setting button 3 is provided on the upper surface of the camera body 1.

  The pressing direction 5 of the release button 2 is inclined by an angle α in a direction away from the lens barrel toward the grip portion 10 with respect to the photographing optical axis direction when viewed from the upper surface side of the camera body 1. For this reason, when the user grips the grip portion 10 at the time of shooting and puts his / her index finger on the operation surface of the release button 2, the release button 2 can be pushed down substantially in a direction perpendicular to the abdomen.

  A line 6 connecting the centers of the plurality of setting buttons 3 is orthogonal to the pressing direction 5 of the release button 2. Thereby, the user can move the index finger in a natural state between the plurality of setting buttons 3 while holding the grip portion 10, and particularly the operability when operating the setting button 3 while looking through the viewfinder 11. Can be improved.

  FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view partially showing a part of the release button 2 and the setting button 3 of the digital single-lens reflex camera.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation surface 21 of the release button 2 is inclined downward on the front side (subject side) by an angle β with respect to the horizontal direction when the camera body 1 is installed on a horizontal plane. Similarly, the setting button 3 has a shape in which the front side is inclined downward with respect to the horizontal direction. The front side inclination direction 23 and the cross-section projection tangent line 22 at the apex surface of the operation surface 21 of the release button 2 , Almost parallel. As a result, the push-down directions of the setting button 3 and the release button 2 are substantially the same, so that the operability when operating both the setting button 3 and the release button 2 while looking through the viewfinder 11 can be improved.

  FIG. 3 is a view of the camera body 1 of the digital single-lens reflex camera as viewed from the back side. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 3, each member provided in the back part of the camera main body 1 is demonstrated.

  In FIG. 3, a diopter adjustment dial 42 is for moving a lens (not shown) arranged in the viewfinder 11 so as to match the diopter of the photographer. The AF start button 43 is a button for starting a focus detection operation (AF) of a lens (not shown) at an arbitrary timing. The AE lock button 44 is a button used for exposure value locking or the like. The focus detection area selection button 45 is a button operated when selecting a focus detection area described later.

  The menu selection setting button 46 is a button for setting each menu item displayed on a display device 47 such as an LCD, reproducing, deleting, and displaying information. The power switch 48 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the camera. The media cover 49 is provided so as to be openable and closable, and a memory card for storing captured images in the open state can be attached to and detached from the card slot. The access lamp window 50 is lit during an access such as storing an image in the memory card to inform the user that the access is in progress.

  The operation unit 51 includes an annular rotation operation dial 54, an annular direction selection operation member 52 provided at the center of the rotation operation dial 54, and a press operation button 53 provided at the center of the direction selection operation member 52. With. Here, the pressing operation button 53 corresponds to an example of a pressing operation member of the present invention.

  The rotation operation dial 54 is a member for performing exposure correction, and the set amount is changed according to the rotation direction and the rotation amount. The direction selection operation member 52 and the pressing operation button 53 are used to select and operate an arbitrary focus detection area among a plurality of focus detection areas to be selected displayed in the finder 11. The direction selection operation member 52 is provided with a plurality of (eight in the present embodiment) projections 52a to 52h in the circumferential direction at substantially equal intervals, and can be tilted in eight directions.

  The AF start button 43, the AE lock button 44, the focus detection area selection button 45, and the operation unit 51 are operated with the thumb 55a when the user grips the grip unit 10 with the right hand 55 on the rear surface of the camera body 1. It is preferable to arrange in a possible position. With this arrangement, when the user operates the release button 2 with the index finger 55b while holding the grip unit 10 with the right hand 55, the AF start button 43, the AE lock button 44, the focus detection area selection button 45, and the operation unit The operability with the thumb 55a of the 51 is improved.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example in the finder 11 when the user observes the subject from the finder 11.

  In FIG. 4, a subject image is displayed on the photographing screen 200 and a plurality of focus detection areas 201 a to 201 i are displayed, and a subject in any one focus detection area of these focus detection areas 201 a to 201 i is displayed. Focus is adjusted. A condition display unit 202 is displayed below the shooting screen 200. The condition display unit 202 includes a shutter time display unit 202a indicating a shutter time, an aperture display unit 202b indicating an aperture value, a shift amount display unit 202c indicating a shift amount with respect to appropriate exposure, an index unit 202d serving as an index of the shift amount, And the focus display unit 202e. The focus display unit 202e is lit to notify the user that the subject is in focus.

  Next, an operation method of the direction selection operation member 52, the press operation button 53, and the rotation operation dial 54 will be described.

  First, when the user presses the focus detection area selection button 45, the focus detection area currently selected among the focus detection areas 201a to 201i displayed in the viewfinder 11, for example, the center focus detection area 201e is turned on. Inform the user. In this state, since the exposure correction is not performed, the index unit 202d of the condition display unit 202 indicates the shift amount “0”.

  When the user wants to change the subject to be focused, the user selects the focus detection area corresponding to the subject to be focused by operating the direction selection operation member 52 or the pressing operation button 53. Specifically, for example, when the focus detection area 201a is selected, the protrusion 52a of the direction selection operation member 52 is pushed and tilted. Similarly, when selecting the focus detection areas 201b to 201h, the protrusions 52b to 52h of the direction selection operation member 52 are pushed and tilted. When the focus detection area 201i is selected, the pressing operation button 53 is pressed.

  Next, when it is desired to change (exposure correction) the shutter speed and the aperture value set by the photometric value, the rotation operation dial 54 is rotated, for example, by 3 steps clockwise to obtain + 1/3 steps, + 2 / The exposure shift amount can be changed to 3 steps or +1 step. On the contrary, the exposure shift amount can be changed to -1/3 step, -2/3 step, and -1 step by rotating the rotation operation dial 54 counterclockwise by 3 steps.

  Here, when the photographing mode is set to the shutter speed priority mode, the aperture value is shifted. When the shooting mode is set to the aperture priority mode, the shutter time is shifted. As a result, the shutter speed display unit 202a, the aperture display unit 202b, and the shift amount display unit 202d are displayed with the exposure value shifted.

  Next, the operation unit 51 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the operation unit 51 as viewed from obliquely above, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the operation unit 51 as viewed from obliquely below.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, between the direction selection operation member 52 and the rotation operation dial 54, the support base 61, the flexible substrate 62, and the cradle 64 are located on the rotation operation dial 54 side from the direction selection operation member 52. It is arranged substantially concentrically in the axial direction toward the. Projections 52a-1, 52c-1, 52e-1, and 52g-1 are provided on the back surface of the direction selection operation member 52 at positions corresponding to the projections 52a, 52c, 52e, and 52g on the front surface side.

  The flexible substrate 62 is supported by a support plate 63 disposed on the back side, and the support plate 63 is supported by a cradle 64. On the surface side of the flexible substrate 62, metal dome switches 62a, 62c, 62e, and 62g are provided at positions corresponding to the protrusions 52a-1, 52c-1, 52e-1, and 52g-1 of the direction selection operation member 52, respectively. ing. In addition, the flexible substrate 62 is provided with a lead wire 62j for connecting a signal output from the metal dome switch to the control unit (not shown) when the direction selection operation member 52 is tilted.

  For example, when the user tilts the protrusion 52 a of the direction selection operation member 52, the protrusion 52 a-1 elastically presses the metal dome switch 62 a of the flexible substrate 62 and a signal is generated. Based on this signal, a control unit (not shown) determines that the direction of the protrusion 52a of the direction selection operation member 52 has been selected. Further, when the user tilts the protrusion 52b of the direction selection operation member 52, the protrusions 52a-1 and 52c-1 elastically press the metal dome switches 62a and 62c of the flexible substrate 62 to generate a signal. Based on this signal, a control unit (not shown) determines that the direction of the protrusion 52b of the direction selection operation member 52 has been selected.

  A pressing operation button 53 is fitted into the central opening of the direction selection operation member 52. The pressing operation button 53 is fitted so that a fitting shaft 53a protruding substantially concentrically on the back surface side is slidable in the axial direction with respect to the support base 61. Further, on the back surface side of the support base 61, two engaging arm portions 61a projecting downward are provided spaced apart from each other by 180 ° in the circumferential direction. The two engagement arm portions 61 a are fitted and fixed in two hole portions 63 a provided penetrating the flexible substrate 62 and the support plate 63.

  Further, at the radially outer positions of the protrusions 52a-1, 52c-1, 52e-1, and 52g-1 of the direction selection operation member 52, the engaging arm portions 52i that protrude downward are substantially equally spaced in the circumferential direction. There are 4 locations. The four engagement arm portions 52 i are supported so as to be slidable in the tilting direction of the direction selection operation member 52 with respect to the four groove portions 64 a provided on the cradle 64. A fitting shaft 64b is provided substantially concentrically at the center of the back surface side of the cradle 64, and an opening 64c for inserting the lead wire 62j in the axial direction is provided on the fitting shaft 64b. . Here, the cradle 64 corresponds to an example of the support member of the present invention.

  A central portion on the surface side of the rotation operation dial 54 is provided with a recess in which the receiving base 64, the flexible substrate 62, the support plate 63, the support base 61, the direction selection operation member 52, and the pressing operation button 53 are accommodated. Further, a shaft portion 54b is provided substantially concentrically on the back surface side of the rotary operation dial 54, and a fitting hole 54a penetrating from the bottom surface of the recess to the tip surface of the shaft portion 54b is formed in the shaft portion 54b. ing. The fitting shaft 54b of the cradle 64 is fitted into the fitting hole 54a, and thereby the rotation operation dial 54 is supported rotatably with respect to the fitting shaft 64b of the cradle 64.

  Further, the shaft portion 54 b is fitted into a shaft hole 55 a provided in the back cover 55 of the camera body 1, whereby the rotation operation dial 54 and a contact pressing plate 66, a contact piece 67 and a click plate 68 which will be described later. The back cover 55 is sandwiched. At this time, the rail operation surface 54c provided on the rotation operation dial 54 is slidably brought into contact with the rail surface 55a provided on the back cover 55, so that the rotation operation dial 54 can be smoothly rotated.

  Between the rotation operation dial 54 and the base member 72 provided in the camera body 1, the phase flexible substrate 65, the contact piece pressing plate 66, the contact piece 67, and the click plate 68 are located on the base member 72 side from the rotation operation dial 54. It is arranged in order toward.

  The contact holding plate 66, the contact piece 67, and the click plate 68 are fixed substantially concentrically by screws or the like to the distal end surface of the shaft portion 54b of the rotary operation dial 54 in a state where they are stacked in the axial direction. Here, the hole formed in the central part of the contact pressing plate 66, the contact 67, and the click plate 68 is formed to have a larger diameter than the fitting hole 54a of the rotary operation dial 54. The 64 fitting shafts 64b are fitted only in the fitting holes 54a.

  The phase flexible substrate 65 is for detecting the rotational phase of the rotary operation dial 54, has a conductive pattern 65 a on the back surface, and is fixed to a flat portion 55 b provided on the back surface of the back cover 55. The contact piece pressing plate 66 sandwiches and fixes the contact piece 67 together with the click plate 68. The contact piece 67 contacts the conduction pattern 65a of the phase flexible substrate 65, converts the rotation of the rotation operation dial 54 into an electrical signal, and outputs the electrical signal to a control unit (not shown).

  The click plate 68 is used to give a click feeling to the user when the rotary operation dial 54 is rotated, and a corrugated portion 68a is formed along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion. A guide member 71 having a groove for disposing the click ball 69 and the click spring 70 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the click plate 68, and the guide member 71 is fixed to the back cover 55 with screws or the like. The click ball 69 is engaged with the corrugated portion 68 a of the click plate 68 under the urging force of the click spring 70, and advances and retreats according to the irregularities of the corrugated portion 68 a as the rotary operation dial 54 rotates. Thus, a click feeling can be given to the user.

  The base member 72 is a member for fixing the fitting shaft 64b of the cradle 64, and is fixed to the back cover 55 with screws or the like. The base member 72 is provided with an opening 72a through which the lead wire 62j is inserted.

  7 is a cross-sectional view of the direction selection operation member 52 cut in the direction of the protrusion 52h and the direction of the protrusion 52c from the center of the pressing operation button 53 of FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 7, and FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of part B in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 (a), the tip of the engagement arm portion 52i of the direction selection operation member 52 fitted in the groove portion 64a of the cradle 64 corresponds to an example of the engagement portion of the present invention. An engaging claw 52j is provided. The engaging claw 52j is engaged with the groove 64a in a state where the protrusions 52a-1, 52c-1, 52e-1, 52g-1 of the direction selecting operation member 52 are in contact with the metal dome switches 62a, 62c, 62e, 62g, respectively. Removal is prevented by engaging the mating wall 64d in the axial direction.

  Further, the groove portion 64a of the cradle 64 has a space below the engagement claw 52j engaged with the engagement wall 64d, thereby enabling the direction selection operation member 52 to be tilted, and the tilt operation. Sometimes, the engaging arm portion 52i is guided in the tilting direction while sliding on the inner wall surface of the groove portion 64d.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8B, at the tip of the engagement arm portion 61a of the support base 61 fitted into the hole portion 63a provided through the flexible substrate 62 and the support plate 63, The engaging claw 62k is provided. A fitting shaft 53a of the pressing operation button 53 is fitted to the support base 61 so as to be slidable in the axial direction in contact with the metal dome switch 62i. Is prevented from coming off by engaging in the axial direction.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, arbitrary focus detection is performed from a plurality of focus detection areas displayed on the finder 11 by the tilting operation of the direction selection operation member 52 that can tilt in a plurality of directions at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction. Select an area. Further, the direction selecting operation member 52 is prevented from coming off when the engaging claw 52j of the direction selecting operation member 52 is engaged with the engaging wall 64d of the groove 64a of the receiving base 64 in the axial direction.

  This eliminates the need for a cover that covers the direction selection operation member 52 that has been necessary in the past, and without increasing the diameter of the direction selection operation member 52 even if a plurality of focus detection areas to be selected increase. Good operability can be ensured. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the operation unit 51 including the direction selection operation member 52, the rotation operation dial 54, and the pressing operation button 53 while ensuring good operability of the direction selection operation member 52. Further, since a cover for covering the direction selection operation member 52 is not necessary, the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the pressing operation button 53 for selecting one focus detection area 201i by pressing operation is provided at the center portion of the direction selecting operation member 52, thereby enabling more complicated information input. Can do.

  The configuration of the present invention is not limited to that exemplified in the above embodiment, and the material, shape, dimensions, form, number, arrangement location, and the like can be changed as appropriate without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

  For example, in the above embodiment, a digital single-lens reflex camera is exemplified as the electronic device, but the present invention can also be applied to an imaging device such as a digital compact camera or a digital video camera, or an electronic device other than the imaging device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera body 2 Release button 51 Operation part 52 Direction selection operation member 52i Engagement arm part 52j Engagement claw 53 Press operation button 54 Rotation operation dial 64 Receptacle

Claims (2)

Rotation operation dial,
A selection operation member that is disposed at the center of the rotary operation dial and can be tilted at a plurality of locations;
A support member that is disposed on the back side of the selection operation member and supports the selection operation member in a tiltable manner;
An arm portion that is guided in the tilt direction by the support member during the tilt operation is formed on the back surface side of the selection operation member, and the arm portion is engaged with the support member in the axial direction. An electronic device in which a portion is formed.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a pressing operation member is disposed in a central portion of the selection operation member.

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