JP2013029629A - Electronic apparatus and imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electronic apparatus allowing the reduction in installation area of an operation lever, and an imaging apparatus.SOLUTION: The electronic apparatus includes: a front plate 10 having a front hole 11; a slide cover 60 which can be moved relative to the front plate 10 between a closing position for closing the front hole 11 and an opening position for opening the front hole 11; a neutral spring 65 which urges the slide cover 60 toward the closing position at least when the slide cover 60 is located nearer to the closing position than to a closing middle position between the closing position and the opening position, and urges the slide cover 60 toward the opening position at least when the slide cover 60 is located nearer to the opening position than to an opening middle position between the closing middle position and the opening position; and a knob 50 which can be brought into contact with the slide cover 60 and can move the slide cover 60 between the closing middle position and the opening middle position.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus and an imaging apparatus that include a slide cover.

  Conventionally, a front plate constituting a part of a housing, a lens fixed to the front plate, a slide cover slidably mounted inside an opening formed in the front plate, and an operation lever capable of operating the slide cover There is known a digital camera as an electronic device including the above (see Patent Document 1). In the digital camera of Patent Document 1, the slide cover slides when the user operates the operation lever, and as a result, the lens can be exposed.

JP 11-237658 A

  Even in the conventional digital camera having the manual lens cover opening / closing mechanism as described above, downsizing of the entire device is required. Therefore, it is desired to reduce the installation area of the operation lever.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described situation, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic apparatus and an imaging apparatus capable of reducing the installation area of an operation lever.

  An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes an exterior member having an opening, a closed position that closes the opening, and a slide cover that is movable relative to the exterior member between an open position where the opening is open, and at least A first elastic member that urges the slide cover in the direction toward the closed position when the slide cover is positioned closer to the closed position than the first position located between the closed position and the open position; and at least the slide cover A second elastic member that urges the slide cover in a direction toward the open position when positioned closer to the open position than the second position located between the first position and the open position; And a knob capable of moving the slide cover between the first position and the second position.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electronic device in which the installation area of an operation lever can be reduced can be provided.

1 is a perspective view of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment. Front view of the digital camera 100 according to the embodiment Sectional drawing of the digital camera 100 which concerns on embodiment. The figure which shows a mode when the slide cover 60 of the digital camera 100 which concerns on embodiment opens. The figure which shows a mode when the slide cover 60 of the digital camera 100 which concerns on embodiment is closed.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, the drawings are schematic, and the ratio of each dimension may be different from the actual one. Accordingly, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description. Moreover, it is a matter of course that portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios are included between the drawings.

  In the following embodiments, a digital camera will be described as an example of an electronic device including a slide cover. In the following description, with reference to a digital camera in a normal posture (hereinafter also referred to as a horizontal posture), the direction toward the subject is “front”, the direction opposite to the subject is “rear”, the vertical upper direction is “upward”, The vertically downward direction is expressed as “downward”, the right direction when facing the subject as “right”, and the left direction when facing the subject as “right”. In the following embodiments, the photographing standby state of the digital camera corresponds to the open state of the slide cover, and the playback state or the power-off state of the digital camera corresponds to the closed state of the slide cover.

(Overall configuration of digital camera 100)
The overall configuration of the digital camera 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the digital camera 100 according to the embodiment as viewed from the front. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the digital camera 100 according to the embodiment as viewed from the rear. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the digital camera 100 according to the embodiment as viewed from the rear. In FIG. 2, the monitor 70 and the lens 80 are omitted.

  FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating the slide cover closed state and the open state of the digital camera 100 according to the embodiment. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

  The digital camera 100 includes a front plate 10 (an example of an “exterior member”), a rear plate 20, a knob 50, and a slide cover 60. The front plate 10, the rear plate 20, and the slide cover 60 constitute a “housing” according to the present embodiment.

  The front plate 10 is disposed in front of the digital camera 100. The front plate 10 has a knob 50 and a slide cover 60. The rear plate 20 is disposed behind the digital camera 100. The knob 50 is attached to the front of the front plate 10 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. The knob 50 is interlocked with the slide cover 60. The structure of the knob 50 will be described later. The slide cover 60 is attached to the back side of the front plate 10 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. The slide cover 60 is closed by sliding the knob 50 upward, and is opened by sliding downward. The configuration of the slide cover 60 will be described later. The lens 40 is disposed between the cover holder 70 and the rear plate 20. The lens 40 is covered by the slide cover 60 when the slide cover 60 is closed, and is exposed from the front hole 11 (corresponding to the opening) when the slide cover 60 is open.

  An imaging unit (not shown) having a CMOS image sensor, a CCD image sensor, and the like is provided in the casing of the digital camera 100. When the slide cover 60 is in the open state and the digital camera 100 is in the shooting standby state, the imaging unit captures the subject image incident through the front hole 11 and the lens 40 of the front plate 10 and outputs image data. An image processing unit (not shown) performs various processes such as a filter process and an encoding process on the image data, and then records the image data on a recording medium such as a memory card (not shown).

(Configuration of front plate 10)
The configuration of the front plate 10 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the digital camera 100 according to the embodiment as viewed from the rear. In FIG. 2, the monitor 70 and the lens 40 are omitted. The front plate 10 includes a front hole 11, a fixed boss 16, a knob opening 17, and a knob holder rail 18.

  The front hole 11 is formed near the upper center of the front plate 10. When the slide cover 60 is open, external light enters the lens 40 through the front hole 11.

  The knob opening 17 is formed with a hole so that the boss 57 does not contact when the knob 50 is moved. The knob holder rail 18 is attached with pins 88 (described later) projecting forward and downward on the top and bottom of the front surface of the knob holder 80, and restricts the movement so that the knob holder 80 can move in parallel up and down.

  The cover holder 70 is disposed behind the front plate 10. The cover holder 70 includes a spring hooking boss 70b, a spring movable hole 72, a lens opening hole 73, a screw hole 76, and a cover rail 78. When the screw 96 is fastened to the fixing boss 16 through the screw hole 76 of the cover holder 70, the cover holder 70 is fixed to the back surface of the front plate 10.

  The neutral spring 65 is a spring that urges the slide cover 60 so as to maintain the open state and the closed state. At both ends of the neutral spring 65, a spring hooking portion 65a and a spring hooking portion 65b are provided. The spring hook boss 70b is hung on the spring hook portion 65b. Further, the neutral spring 65 rotates around the spring hooking boss 70b.

  The spring movable hole 72 is a hole formed so as not to limit the movable range of the neutral spring 65.

  The lens opening holes 73 are formed on the upper left and right of the cover holder 70. When the slide cover 60 is in the open state, external light enters the lens 40 through the lens opening hole 73.

  The cover rail 78 is attached to a slide pin 68 (described later) of the slide cover 60, and restricts movement so that the slide cover 60 can move in parallel up and down.

(Configuration of slide cover 60)
A configuration of the slide cover 60 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the digital camera 100 according to the embodiment as viewed from the rear. In FIG. 2, the monitor 70 and the lens 40 are omitted.

  The slide cover 60 includes a spring hook pin 60 a, a hook portion 61, and a slide pin 68. The slide cover 60 is disposed between the front plate 10 and the cover holder 70 so as to be slidable along the vertical direction.

  The slide cover 60 is movable while being parallel to the vertical direction when the slide pins 68 are attached to the cover rails 78. The state in which the upper slide pin 68 a is in contact with the upper end of the cover rail 78 corresponds to the closed state of the slide cover 60. The state in which the lower slide pin 68 b is in contact with the lower end of the cover rail 78 corresponds to the open state of the slide cover 60. That is, when the slide cover 60 is located at the upper end of the movable range, it is in the closed state. Further, when the slide cover 60 is located at the lower end of the movable range, it is in the open state. The upper and lower slide pins 68 a or 68 b abut against the upper end or lower end of the cover rail 78, thereby restricting the vertical movement of the slide cover 60.

  The neutral spring 65 is attached to the spring hooking boss 70b and the spring hooking pin 60a, and the urging force is reversed in the opposite direction when the intermediate point of the movable range is exceeded. By attaching the spring hook portion 65a to the spring hook pin 60a and attaching the spring hook portion 65b to the spring hook boss 70b, the urging force of the neutral spring 65 is transmitted to the slide cover.

  A screw 97 is fastened to the knob 50 through the screw hole 87 of the knob holder 80 and the knob opening 17 of the front plate 10. Thereby, the knob 50 is fixed to the knob holder 80 with the screw 97 with the front plate 10 being sandwiched. When the operator tries to move the knob 50 in the vertical direction, the pin 88 of the knob holder 80 is guided by the knob holder rail 18 and the knob 50 and the knob holder 80 move together.

  The hook 61 protrudes rearward from the lower right end of the back surface of the slide cover 60. The hook 61 is inserted into a long hole 81 provided in the knob holder 80 in the vertical direction. The hook portion 61 is disposed so as to move up and down in the elongated hole 81. The length of the elongated hole 81 in the vertical direction has a margin with respect to the length of the hook portion 61 in the vertical direction. Since the hook portion 61 and the long hole 81 have a vertical margin, when the user moves the knob 50 in the vertical direction, the hook portion 61 and the long hole 81 are linked only to the vicinity of the intermediate point of the movable range of the slide cover 60. The reversing force of the neutral spring 65 works from the vicinity of the intermediate point, and compensates for the movable amount of the remaining slide cover 60. Therefore, the movable range of the knob 50 in the vertical direction is smaller than the movable range of the slide cover.

(Slide cover operation)
The operation of the slide cover according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig.5 (a) is the figure seen from the front of the closed state. FIG.5 (b) is the figure seen from the back of the closed state. FIG.5 (c) is the figure seen from the front of the open intermediate state. FIG.5 (d) is the figure seen from the back direction of the open intermediate state. FIG.5 (e) is the figure seen from the front of the open state. FIG. 5 (f) is a view as seen from the back in the open state. FIG. 6A is a view seen from the front in the closed state. FIG.6 (b) is the figure seen from the back of the closed state. FIG. 6C is a view seen from the front in the closed intermediate state. FIG.6 (d) is the figure seen from the back of the closed intermediate state. FIG.6 (e) is the figure seen from the front of the open state. FIG.6 (f) is the figure seen from the back direction of the open state.

(Closed → Open)
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the slide cover 60 is in the closed state, the knob 50 is positioned at the upper end of the movable range. The position of the slide cover 60 at this time is defined as a closed position. When the user moves the knob 50 to the lower end of the movable range of the knob 50, the upper end of the hook 61 of the slide cover 60 and the upper end of the long hole 81 of the knob holder 80 are in contact with each other. Moves downward when pressed. Further, when the knob 50 moves to the lower end of the movable range, the slide cover 60 is disposed in the vicinity beyond the middle point of the movable range. The position of the slide cover 60 at this time is defined as an open intermediate position (corresponding to the second position). At this time, the hook 61 of the slide cover 60 is located at the upper end of the long hole 81, but the neutral spring 65 is reversed from the upward bias around the middle point and begins to apply a downward force. Therefore, a downward force is applied to the slide cover 60 from the neutral spring 65 at this position. At this time, there is a gap between the lower end of the hook 61 and the lower end of the long hole 81. This state is an open intermediate state shown in FIGS.

  Thereafter, the slide cover 60 moves downward by the action of the neutral spring 65, and the lower end of the hook portion 61 of the slide cover 60 is positioned at the lower end of the long hole 81 of the knob holder 80. That is, the open state shown in FIGS. The position of the slide cover 60 at this time is defined as an open position. In the open state, the slide cover 60 is biased downward by the neutral spring 65. As a result, the slide cover 60 is kept open.

(Open → closed)
As shown in FIGS. 6E and 6F, when the slide cover 60 is in the open state (open position), the knob 50 is positioned at the lower end of the movable range. When the user moves the knob 50 to the upper end of the movable range of the knob 50, the lower end of the hook 61 of the slide cover 60 and the lower end of the long hole 81 of the knob holder 80 are in contact with each other. It is pushed by and moves upward. Further, when the knob 50 moves to the upper end of the movable range, the slide cover 60 is disposed above the middle point of the movable range. The position of the slide cover 60 at this time is defined as a closed intermediate position (corresponding to the first position). At this time, the hook 61 of the slide cover 60 is located at the lower end of the elongated hole 81, but the neutral spring 65 reverses from the downward bias around the middle point and begins to apply an upward force. Therefore, an upward force is applied to the slide cover 60 from the neutral spring 65 at this position. At this time, there is a gap between the upper end of the hook 61 and the upper end of the long hole 81. This state is the closed intermediate state shown in FIGS.

  Thereafter, the slide cover 60 moves upward by the action of the neutral spring 65, and the upper end of the hook 61 of the slide cover 60 is positioned at the upper end of the long hole 81 of the knob holder 80. That is, the state transits to the closed state (closed position) shown in FIGS. In the closed state, the slide cover 60 is biased upward by the neutral spring 65. As a result, the slide cover 60 is kept closed.

  Thus, the digital camera 100 of this embodiment can make the stroke of the knob 50 smaller than the movable range required for the slide cover 60. For this reason, the digital camera 100 can be miniaturized. Furthermore, since the stroke of the knob 50 can be reduced, the degree of freedom in designing the appearance is improved.

(Function and effect)
The digital camera 100 according to the embodiment is movable with respect to the front plate 10 between a front plate 10 having a front hole 11, a closed position that closes the front hole 11, and an open position where the front hole 11 opens. When the slide cover 60 and at least the slide cover 60 are positioned closer to the closed position than the closed intermediate position located between the closed position and the open position, the slide cover 60 is biased in the direction toward the closed position, At least a neutral spring 65 that biases the slide cover 60 in the direction toward the open position when the slide cover 60 is positioned closer to the open position than the open intermediate position located between the closed intermediate position and the open position; And a knob 50 that can come into contact with the cover 60 and can move the slide cover 60 between a closed intermediate position and an open intermediate position.

  Therefore, when the user operates the knob 50 to move the slide cover 60 to the closed intermediate position, the slide cover 60 moves to the closed position by the action of the neutral spring 65. When the user operates the knob 50 to move the slide cover 60 to the open intermediate position, the slide cover 60 moves to the open position by the action of the neutral spring 65. Therefore, in order to move the slide cover 60 between the closed position and the open position, the knob 50 only needs to be movable between positions corresponding to the closed intermediate position and the open intermediate position. That is, the moving range (stroke) of the knob 50 can be made shorter than the moving range of the slide cover 60. For this reason, since the installation area including the movable range of the knob 50 in the front plate 10 which is an exterior member is small, the digital camera 100 can be reduced in size accordingly.

(Other embodiments)
Although the present invention has been described according to the above-described embodiments, it should not be understood that the descriptions and drawings constituting a part of this disclosure limit the present invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  (A) In the above-described embodiment, the front plate 10 has been described as an example of the “exterior member”, but is not limited thereto. Other examples of the “exterior member” include the rear plate 20. In addition to the front surface of the digital camera 100, the position where the knob 50 is provided may be the back surface, the top surface, the bottom surface, or the side surface.

  (B) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the slide cover 60 is urged in both the upper and lower directions with one neutral spring 65 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, you may make it provide independently the elastic member urged | biased in each direction of up and down.

  (C) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the moving direction of the slide cover 60 and the moving direction of the knob 50 coincide with each other in the vertical direction is described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the moving directions are different from each other. Also good. For example, with respect to a slide cover that moves in the vertical direction, a knob is arranged on the upper surface of the digital camera so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. In this case, the movement of the knob in the front-rear direction may be converted to the up-down direction using a gear, a link mechanism, an elastically curved bar-like or plate-like member, and transmitted to the slide cover.

  (D) In the above embodiment, the digital camera 100 that can open and close the slide cover 60 with respect to the lens 40 has been described. However, the portion that can be opened and closed by the slide cover 60 is not limited to the lens. For example, you may comprise as a mechanism which opens and closes the cover of the part in which the external terminal of the apparatus was provided, ie, a terminal cover. In addition, the battery storage unit that supplies power to the device may be configured as a sliding lid.

  (E) In the above embodiment, the digital camera 100 has been described as an example of the “electronic device”. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Examples of the “electronic device” include a video camera, a mobile phone, and an IC recorder.

  As described above, the present invention naturally includes various embodiments not described herein. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the invention specifying matters according to the scope of claims reasonable from the above description.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic apparatus and an imaging apparatus that can reduce the installation area of the operation lever, and thus can be used in the electronic apparatus field.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Front plate 11 Front hole 16 Fixed boss 17 Knob opening 18 Knob holder rail 20 Rear plate 40 Lens 50 Knob 57 Boss 60 Slide cover 60a Spring hook pin 61 Hook portion 65 Neutral spring 65a Spring hook portion 65b Spring hook portion 68 Slide pin 70 Cover holder 70b Spring hook boss 72 Spring movable hole 73 Lens opening hole 76 Screw hole 78 Cover rail 80 Knob holder 81 Long hole 87 Screw hole 88 Pin 96 Screw 97 Screw

Claims (4)

An exterior member having an opening;
A slide cover movable with respect to the exterior member between a closed position for closing the opening and an open position for opening the opening;
At least a first elastic member that biases the slide cover in a direction toward the closed position when the slide cover is located closer to the closed position than a first position located between the closed position and the open position. When,
At least a second elasticity for urging the slide cover in the direction toward the open position when the slide cover is positioned closer to the open position than the second position located between the first position and the open position; Members,
A knob capable of contacting the slide cover and capable of moving the slide cover between the first position and the second position;
With electronic equipment. When the slide cover is moved to the first position by the knob, the slide cover is moved from the first position to the closed position by the first elastic member. After that, the slide cover is moved to the second position by the knob. Moved from the second position to the open position by the second elastic member.
The electronic device according to claim 1. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the first elastic member and the second elastic member are configured by a single neutral spring. An exterior member having an opening;
A slide cover that is movable with respect to the exterior member between a closed position where the cover closes the opening and an open position where the opening opens;
At least a first elastic member that biases the slide cover in a direction toward the closed position when the slide cover is located closer to the closed position than a first position located between the closed position and the open position. When,
At least a second elasticity for urging the slide cover in the direction toward the open position when the slide cover is positioned closer to the open position than the second position located between the first position and the open position; Members,
A knob capable of contacting the slide cover and capable of moving the slide cover between the first position and the second position;
An imaging unit that captures a subject image incident from the opening and outputs image data;
An imaging apparatus comprising:

Images