JP2014232125A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging apparatus capable of taking stereoscopic images capable of enhancing the user's reliability.SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus includes: a first imaging unit; a second imaging unit; a power source block storing a battery; and an outer case storing the first imaging unit, the second imaging unit and the power source block. The first imaging unit, the second imaging unit and the power source block are disposed so that the distance between the first imaging unit and the power source block is larger than the distance between the second imaging unit and the power source block. The first imaging unit is constantly driven during performing imaging, and the second imaging unit is driven when performing stereoscopic imaging.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus capable of photographing from a plurality of viewpoints with a plurality of imaging means.

  2. Description of the Related Art A digital camera equipped with two optical systems and two imaging elements is known as an imaging apparatus that can shoot with a plurality of imaging means from a plurality of viewpoints (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The digital camera described in Patent Document 1 has an image sensor such as an image sensor using two optical systems and two CCD (Charge Coupled Device) elements, and can shoot the same subject from two left and right viewpoints. ing.

JP 2008-167066 A

  An object of the present invention is to improve reliability from a user in an imaging apparatus capable of capturing such a stereoscopic image.

  In order to achieve such an object, an imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a first imaging unit, a second imaging unit, a power supply block that houses a battery, the first imaging unit, and the second imaging. A unit and an outer case that houses the power supply block, and the first imaging unit and the power supply block are spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than the second imaging unit and the power supply block. One imaging unit, the second imaging unit, and the power supply block are arranged.

  According to the present invention, when the user removes the battery from the camera body, the possibility of feeling uncomfortable from the temperature difference from the ambient temperature can be reduced, and the reliability from the user can be increased. .

1 is a front perspective view showing an external configuration of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The front perspective view which shows the structure of the camera main body 3 which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. The rear perspective view which shows the structure of the camera main body 3 which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of a circuit block of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described using a digital camera as an example with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the digital camera in this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the camera body 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the camera body 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention. Here, FIG. 2 is a diagram in which the front case 1 is removed from the digital camera 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram in which the front case 1, the back case, and the main circuit board are removed from the digital camera 100.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the digital camera 100 is configured by housing a camera body 3 in an exterior case made up of a front case 1 and a back case 2.

  The camera body 3 includes a first imaging unit 4 and a second imaging unit 5, and the first imaging unit 4 and the second imaging unit 5 are made of metal inside the outer case with a predetermined interval. It is comprised by attaching to the flame | frame 6 of this.

  The camera body 3 records a power supply block 7 that houses a battery (not shown) serving as a power source for the digital camera, a circuit block 8 for controlling the operation of the camera body 3, and a captured still image or moving image. A card slot 20 that stores a memory card (not shown) and a strobe capacitor 30 that stores electricity to emit a strobe flash are provided, and each is disposed in a space in the exterior case. Here, the power block 7 supplies power for use in the camera body 3 to each unit, and in addition to housing the battery, a power terminal to which a power adapter for converting AC power to DC power is connected is arranged. Has been.

  The first imaging unit 4 is disposed at an end portion (right end in FIG. 1) of the exterior case. The second imaging unit 5 is disposed in the substantially central portion of the exterior case. The first image pickup unit 4 is always driven when the digital camera is shooting. The second imaging unit 5 is mainly driven when a stereoscopic image is taken together with the first imaging unit 4.

  An operation unit 9 including a main power switch 9a and a release button 9b is provided on the upper surface of the exterior case. The front case 1 is provided with a slide cover 10 that can slide up and down to open and close the shooting windows 1 a of the first imaging unit 4 and the second imaging unit 5.

  On the bottom surface of the exterior case, a metal support attachment portion 11 such as a stainless alloy used when the digital camera is installed on a support such as a tripod or a monopod is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside. Yes. The support fixture mounting portion 11 is fixed to the frame 6 and only a portion fixed to the support fixture such as a tripod or a monopod is exposed on the bottom surface portion of the exterior case.

  An opening / closing lid 12 for opening and closing the opening to the outside of the space when the battery is accommodated in the space of the power supply block 7 or when the memory card is accommodated in the space of the card slot 20 is provided on the bottom surface of the back case 2. Is provided. A user of the digital camera can attach / detach the battery to / from the power supply block 7 and attach / detach the memory card to / from the card slot 20 by opening / closing the opening / closing lid 12.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the digital camera 100. FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the digital camera 100. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the first imaging unit 4 and the second imaging unit 5 are cut in the vertical direction. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of a circuit block that controls the operation of the camera body 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the first imaging unit 4 and the second imaging unit 5 are arranged on the upper part of the front case 1 facing the shooting window 1 a. The first imaging unit 4 is a lens unit composed of a lens 41a and a bending optical system 41b, and a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Image Sensor) that is disposed at a lower position and converts an optical image received by the lens unit into image data. ), A circuit board 43 on which the image sensor 42 is mounted, a lens group 44 and a diaphragm unit 45 disposed between the lens unit and the image sensor 42, and a unit housing that accommodates these components. The body 46 is configured.

  The lens unit also includes a lens 41a that receives the optical image A1 of the subject and a bending optical system 41b in order to guide the optical image incident on the first imaging unit 4 through the photographing window 1a to the image sensor 42. . Further, a circuit board 43 on which the image sensor 42 is mounted is mounted with a circuit that controls the image sensor 42 and processes image data obtained from the image sensor 42.

  Similarly, the second imaging unit 5 includes a lens unit including a lens 51a and a bending optical system 51b, and a CMOS image sensor 52 that is disposed at a lower position and converts an optical image received by the lens unit into image data. A circuit board 53 on which the image sensor 52 is mounted, a lens group 54 and a diaphragm unit 55 disposed between the lens unit and the image sensor 52, and a unit housing 56 that accommodates these components. ing.

  The lens unit includes a lens 51a that receives the optical image A1 of the subject and a bending optical system 51b in order to guide the optical image incident on the second imaging unit 5 through the photographing window 1a to the image sensor 52. Further, a circuit board 53 on which the image sensor 52 is mounted is mounted with a circuit that controls the image sensor 52 and processes image data obtained from the image sensor 52.

  In FIG. 4, the camera monitor 13 constituted by a liquid crystal display or the like is disposed on the rear surface of the back case 2.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the circuit block 8 of the camera body 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image sensors 42 and 52 convert an optical image of a subject incident through the lens unit into image data such as still image data and moving image data. Here, the image sensors 42 and 52 operate based on the timing signal from the timing signal generator 14 mounted on the circuit boards 43 and 53, and convert the optical image into image data.

  The image data converted by the image sensors 42 and 52 is converted into a digital signal by the AD converter 15 mounted on each of the circuit boards 43 and 53 and sent to the camera controller 16 for image processing. The image processing referred to here is, for example, gamma correction processing, white balance correction processing, scratch correction processing, YC conversion processing, electronic zoom processing, JPEG compression processing, and the like.

  The camera controller 16 receives instructions from the operation unit 9 and controls each unit of the camera body 3. Specifically, the camera controller 16 transmits signals for controlling the first imaging unit 4 and the second imaging unit 5 to the lens controller 17 and receives various signals from the lens controller 17. The drive unit 18 drives the lens group of the optical system of the first imaging unit 4 and the second imaging unit 5 and controls the aperture units 45 and 55 based on the control signal of the lens controller 17. The aperture units 45 and 55 are light amount adjusting members that adjust the amount of light transmitted through the optical system. The lens group of the optical system includes a zoom lens group, an OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer) lens group, and a focus lens group.

  A memory 19 connected to the camera controller 16 temporarily stores data when the lens groups of the optical systems of the first imaging unit 4 and the second imaging unit 5 and the aperture units 45 and 55 are driven and controlled. It is used to store programs and parameters for controlling the camera controller 16.

  A memory card is detachably attached to the card slot 20. The card slot 20 controls the memory card based on a control signal transmitted from the camera controller 16 and writes and reads still image data and moving image data obtained from the image sensors 42 and 52. In the image data such as still image data and moving image data generated by the image sensors 42 and 52, the moving image data is also used for displaying a through image. Here, the through image is an image in which data is not recorded in the memory card among the moving image data, and is processed by the camera controller 16 and displayed on the camera monitor 13 in order to determine the composition of the moving image or the still image.

  Next, structural features of the digital camera 100 will be described in more detail.

  In recent years, in digital cameras, the power consumption of image sensors and camera controllers has increased and the amount of heat generated has also increased due to higher image quality and support for moving image shooting. Since the digital camera 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes two image pickup units, the heat generation amount in the image pickup unit is doubled, and the heat generation amount in the camera controller 16 that processes the captured image is also conventional. It will be bigger than that.

  As the amount of heat generated increases, the temperature of the battery disposed inside the outer case increases. Therefore, when the user attaches / detaches the battery, the user may feel uncomfortable from the temperature difference between the battery temperature and the ambient temperature, and may feel distrust to the product. In addition, since the battery is a heat-sensitive component, when the temperature rises, problems such as deterioration in performance such as a decrease in life and safety problems such as smoke generation and explosion occur.

  In order to solve such a problem, the present inventors have studied and experimented on a configuration for reducing the temperature rise of the battery. In the digital camera 100, only the first imaging unit 4 is driven during normal shooting, and the first imaging unit 4 and the second imaging unit 5 are driven during stereoscopic image shooting. Accordingly, it has been found that the temperature in the vicinity of the second imaging unit 5 is not relatively increased as compared with the temperature in the vicinity of the first imaging unit 4 that is always driven.

  Therefore, in the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment, the power supply block 7 that houses the battery is disposed so as to be farther from the first imaging unit 4 than the second imaging unit 5. Specifically, the power supply block 7 is arranged so that the interval between the first imaging unit 4 and the power supply block 7 is larger than the interval between the second imaging unit 5 and the power supply block 7.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the digital camera 100 as viewed from the bottom side.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the interval between the first imaging unit 4 and the power supply block 7 is L1, and the interval between the second imaging unit 5 and the power supply block 7 is L2, L1> L2. The power supply block 7 is disposed in the outer case.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, when the interval between the first imaging unit 4 and the second imaging unit 5 is L3, the power supply block 7 is arranged so that L1> L3.

  By disposing the power supply block 7 as described above, it is difficult for heat generated in the first imaging unit 4 that is always driven to be transmitted to the power supply block 7. Therefore, the temperature rise of the battery accommodated in the power supply block 7 can be suppressed. Therefore, when the user touches the battery, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable due to the temperature difference from the ambient temperature. In addition, it is possible to prevent performance degradation associated with battery temperature rise. In addition, it is possible to avoid smoke, explosion, and the like accompanying the rise in battery temperature, and to prevent a reduction in safety.

  That is, when the user attaches / detaches the battery, it is less likely that the user feels uncomfortable that the temperature of the battery is higher than that of other parts of the exterior case, and the reliability of the product can be ensured.

  Similarly to the battery, the memory card, which is a detachable component, also feels uncomfortable due to the temperature difference from the ambient temperature when the user detaches it from the camera, and may cause distrust to the product. Memory cards are sensitive to heat, and data transfer errors and transfer speeds decrease due to temperature rise.

  Therefore, in the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment, the card slot 20 that accommodates the memory card is disposed so as to be farther from the first imaging unit 4 than the second imaging unit 5. Specifically, the card slot 20 is arranged so that the interval between the first imaging unit 4 and the card slot 20 is larger than the interval between the second imaging unit 5 and the card slot 20.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the distance between the first imaging unit 4 and the card slot 20 is L4, and the distance between the second imaging unit 5 and the card slot 20 is L5, the card satisfies L4> L5. The slot 20 is disposed in the outer case. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the card slot 20 is arranged so that L4> L3.

  By arranging the card slot 20 as described above, it is difficult for heat generated in the first imaging unit 4 that is always driven to be transmitted to the card slot 20, so that the temperature of the memory card accommodated in the card slot 20 is increased. Can be suppressed. Therefore, when the user touches the memory card, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable due to the temperature difference from the ambient temperature. In addition, it is possible to prevent the performance deterioration due to the temperature rise of the memory card.

  That is, when the user removes the memory card, the memory card is less likely to feel uncomfortable that the temperature of the memory card is higher than that of other parts of the outer case, and the reliability of the product can be ensured.

  The inventors also examined the arrangement of strobe capacitors.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the interval between the first imaging unit 4 and the strobe capacitor 30 is L6 and the interval between the second imaging unit 5 and the strobe capacitor 30 is L7, the strobe is set so that L6> L7. The capacitor 30 is disposed in the outer case. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the strobe capacitor 30 is arranged so that L6> L3.

  By disposing the strobe capacitor 30 as shown in FIG. 6, it is difficult for the heat generated in the first imaging unit 4 that is always driven to be transmitted to the strobe capacitor, and thus the temperature rise of the strobe capacitor 30 can be suppressed. As a result, the life of the strobe capacitor can be prevented from being reduced, and the reliability of the user's product can be ensured.

  Here, the effects of the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment will be summarized.

  First, the power supply block 7 is placed in the exterior case so that the distance (L1) between the first imaging unit 4 and the power supply block 7 is larger than the distance (L2) between the second imaging unit 5 and the power supply block 7. Deploy. Thereby, the heat generated in the first imaging unit 4 that is always driven is not easily transmitted to the power supply block 7. As a result, the temperature rise of the battery accommodated in the power supply block 7 can be suppressed. Therefore, when the user touches the battery, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable due to the temperature difference from the ambient temperature. In addition, it is possible to prevent performance degradation associated with battery temperature rise. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent a decrease in safety associated with a rise in battery temperature.

  Next, the card slot 20 is arranged so that the interval (L4) between the first imaging unit 4 and the card slot 20 is larger than the interval (L5) between the second imaging unit 5 and the card slot 20. Thereby, since heat generated in the first imaging unit 4 that is always driven is difficult to be transmitted to the card slot 20, it is possible to suppress an increase in the temperature of the memory card accommodated in the card slot 20. Therefore, when the user touches the memory card, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable due to the temperature difference from the ambient temperature. In addition, it is possible to prevent the performance deterioration due to the temperature rise of the memory card.

  Furthermore, the strobe capacitor 30 is arranged so that the interval (L6) between the first image pickup unit 4 and the strobe capacitor 30 is larger than the interval (L7) between the second image pickup unit 5 and the strobe capacitor 30. Thereby, since the heat generated in the first imaging unit 4 that is always driven is difficult to be transmitted to the strobe capacitor 30, the temperature rise of the strobe capacitor 30 can be suppressed. As a result, the life of the strobe capacitor can be prevented from being reduced, and the reliability of the user's product can be ensured.

  The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and corrections are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the invention is useful for enhancing the reliability of an imaging apparatus capable of capturing a stereoscopic image.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Front case 2 Back case 3 Camera main body 4 1st imaging unit 5 2nd imaging unit 6 Frame 7 Power supply block 8 Circuit block 9 Operation part 10 Slide cover 11 Supporting tool attachment part 12 Opening / closing cover 13 Camera monitor 20 Card slot 30 Strobe condenser 41a, 51a Lens 41b, 51b Bending optical system 42, 52 Image sensor 43, 53 Circuit board 44, 54 Lens group 45, 55 Aperture unit 46, 56 Unit housing 100 Digital camera (an example of imaging device)

Claims (5)

A first imaging unit;
A second imaging unit;
A power block that houses the battery;
An exterior case that houses the first imaging unit, the second imaging unit, and the power supply block;
The first imaging unit, the second imaging unit, and the first imaging unit so that an interval between the first imaging unit and the power supply block is larger than an interval between the second imaging unit and the power supply block; An imaging apparatus comprising a power supply block. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first imaging unit is always driven at the time of shooting, and the second imaging unit is driven at the time of shooting a stereoscopic image. Furthermore, it arrange | positions so that the space | interval of the said 1st imaging unit and the said power supply block may become larger than the space | interval of the said 1st imaging unit and the said 2nd imaging unit. Imaging device. It has a card slot to store the memory card,
4. The imaging according to claim 1, wherein the card slot is arranged such that an interval between the first imaging unit and the card slot is larger than an interval between the second imaging unit and the card slot. apparatus. Equipped with a strobe capacitor for flash
5. The strobe capacitor is arranged according to claim 1, wherein the strobe capacitor is arranged so that a distance between the first imaging unit and the strobe capacitor is larger than a distance between the second imaging unit and the strobe capacitor. Imaging device.

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