JP2018116071A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure that when a light-emitting unit is made to pop up from a store position by a spring force, operation to select between a plurality of bounce light emission positions is not affected by the spring force.SOLUTION: Provided is an imaging device comprising; an imaging device body 1; a light-emitting unit 4 having a light-emitting part 40 and capable of moving, relative to the imaging device body, to a store position, a first light emission position and a plurality of second light emission positions where the direction of the light-emitting part is different; and a drive mechanism, including a spring member 43, for moving the light-emitting unit from the store position to the first light emission position using an urging force generated by the spring member and further moving it toward the plurality of second light emission positions. The drive mechanism has a structure that ensures that the urging force does not act upon the light-emitting unit when the light-emitting unit moves between the plurality of second light emission positions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus including a light emitting unit.

  If an image with an unnatural brightness is acquired when shooting with direct exposure to the flash light, the flash light is directed toward the wall or ceiling, and the reflected indirect light is applied to the subject. Bounce imaging for imaging is performed. Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging device having a built-in light emitting unit capable of such bounce imaging. In this imaging apparatus, by applying a spring force (biasing force) to the four-bar linkage mechanism, the light emitting unit is popped up (rotated) from the storage position to the front light emitting position where the light emitting unit faces the subject. Furthermore, the user can turn the light emitting unit to the bounce light emitting position where the light emitting unit faces upward by applying an operating force to the light emitting unit at the front light emitting position with a finger or the like.

JP 2014-006303 A

  However, if the imaging device capable of selecting a plurality of bounce light emission positions by a user's operation is configured to pop up the light emitting unit from the storage position to the front light emission position by a spring force, this spring force affects the bounce light emission position selection operation. There is a risk of giving. In other words, the required operating force increases when the spring force acts in the direction opposite to the user's operating direction, and the required operating force decreases when the spring force acts in the same direction as the operating direction. Becomes unstable.

  The present invention provides an imaging apparatus in which when a light emitting unit is popped up from a retracted position by a spring force, the spring force does not affect a selection operation between a plurality of bounce light emitting positions.

  An imaging apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an imaging apparatus main body and a light emitting unit, and a plurality of second light emitting positions in which the storage position, the first light emitting position, and the direction of the light emitting unit are different from the imaging apparatus main body. A light emitting unit that can be moved to a position and a spring member, and using the biasing force generated by the spring member, the light emitting unit is moved from the storage position to the first light emitting position, and further to a plurality of second light emitting positions. And a drive mechanism that moves toward the head. The drive mechanism has a configuration in which the urging force is not applied to the light emitting unit when the light emitting unit moves between the plurality of second light emitting positions.

  According to the present invention, in the imaging apparatus in which the light emitting unit is moved to the first light emitting position by the biasing force (spring force) of the spring member, and further moved toward the plurality of second light emitting positions, the plurality of second light sources are moved. The urging force can be prevented from affecting the selection operation between the light emitting positions. Thereby, a stable operation feeling can be given to the user.

1 is a front perspective view and a rear perspective view showing an appearance of a digital single-lens reflex camera that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a camera that is Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the camera according to the first embodiment at a front light emission position and a bounce light emission position. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the flash unit in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is another exploded view of the flash unit in the first embodiment. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the click board in Example 1, and a 2nd link member. The exploded view of the 2nd link member in Example 1. FIG. The front view of the flash unit in a storing position in Example 1, AA sectional drawing. The front view in the front light emission position of the flash unit in Example 1, BB sectional drawing, and CC sectional drawing. The front view in the bounce light emission position of the flash unit in Example 1, DD sectional drawing, and EE sectional drawing. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view including first and second link members in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a top view of the flash unit in the storage position according to the first embodiment, and a cross-sectional view taken along the line II at the storage position, the front light emission position, and the bounce light emission position. The side view when the flash unit in the camera of Example 1 exists in a storing position, a front light emission position, and a bounce light emission position. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of flash imaging in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a top view of the flash unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines HH and GG from the storage position of the flash unit to the bounce light emission position in the first embodiment. The figure which shows the click board in Example 2 of this invention. HH sectional drawing from the storing position of the flash unit in Example 2 to a front light emission position.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of a digital single-lens reflex camera as an imaging apparatus that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1A shows a camera body 1 as an imaging apparatus body viewed from an oblique front. An imaging lens unit 3 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is detachably mounted on the camera body 1. FIG. 1B shows the camera body 1 viewed from an oblique back surface.

  1A and 1B, the camera body 1 has a grip portion 1 a for a user who is a photographer to hold the camera body 1. A shutter button 14 which is a switch for the user to instruct the start of imaging is provided on the upper part of the grip portion 1a.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a lens mount portion to which the above-described imaging lens unit 3 is detachably mounted. The mount contact 21 electrically connects the camera body 1 and the imaging lens unit 3, supplies power from the camera body 1 to the imaging lens unit 3, and controls signals between the camera body 1 and the imaging lens unit 3. Enables data communication. When the imaging lens unit 3 is removed from the camera body 1, the user can release the mounting of the imaging lens unit 3 on the camera body 1 by pressing the lens lock release button 12.

  The light from the imaging area (subject included) that has passed through the imaging optical system in the imaging lens unit 3 is guided to the mirror box 5. A mirror unit 51 is provided inside the mirror box 5.

  A flash unit 4 as a built-in light-emitting unit that can be rotated (moved) between a storage position shown in the drawing and a light-emitting position described later with respect to the camera main body 1 is provided above the mount portion 2 in the camera main body 1. Is provided. The configuration and movement of the flash unit 4 will be described later.

  Further, an accessory shoe 6 is provided on the upper part of the camera body 1. Accessories such as an external flash unit and a microphone can be attached to the accessory shoe 6. The accessory shoe 6 is provided with an accessory contact 61 for electrical connection with the attached accessory.

  A power switch 11 for starting and shutting down the camera is provided on the back surface portion 1 b of the camera body 1. In addition, a finder 8 is provided below the accessory shoe 6 on the back surface portion 1 b, and an object in the imaging area can be observed through the finder eyepiece window 81.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the camera of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the components shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Reference numeral 100 denotes an MPU as an arithmetic processing unit built in the camera body 1. The MPU 100 performs various processes and controls related to the operation of the camera body 1. The MPU 100 has an EEPROM 100a, and can store time information and various setting information by the time measuring circuit 108.

  Also, connected to the MPU 100 are a mirror drive circuit 101, a focus drive circuit 102, a shutter drive circuit 103, a switch sense circuit 104, a power supply circuit 105, a battery check circuit 106, and the above-described time measurement circuit 108. The MPU 100 is also connected with a video signal processing circuit 109 and a locking hook driving circuit 110. Further, the MPU 100 communicates with the lens control circuit 300 provided in the imaging lens unit 3 via the mount contact 21. Thereby, the MPU 100 can control the operations of the focus lens 31 and the electromagnetic diaphragm 32 via the AF driving circuit 301 and the diaphragm driving circuit 302. In FIG. 2, the focus lens 31 is schematically shown as a single lens, but in actuality, it is composed of a plurality of lenses. The imaging optical system is also composed of a plurality of lenses including the focus lens 31.

  The AF drive circuit 301 drives an actuator such as a stepping motor (not shown) to move the focus lens 31 in the direction in which the lens optical axis 3a extends (the lens optical axis direction), and the subject image focused on the image sensor 91 is obtained. Let it form. The diaphragm drive circuit 302 adjusts the light quantity by driving the electromagnetic diaphragm 32 and changing its aperture diameter (aperture value).

  Inside the mirror box 5, a main mirror 51 and a sub mirror 52 are arranged. The main mirror 51 reflects a part of the light from the imaging lens unit 3 to guide it to the pentaprism 82 and transmits the other part. The sub mirror 52 reflects the light transmitted through the main mirror 51 and guides it to the focus detection sensor unit 53. The focus detection unit 53 performs focus detection by a phase difference detection method. The main mirror 51 and the sub mirror 52 are arranged in the imaging optical path before imaging by a motor (not shown) controlled by the mirror driving circuit 101, and imaging is performed during imaging. Driven away from the optical path.

  The focus detection unit 53 forms a pair of subject images in a pair of lights that have passed through different pupil regions among the light from the sub mirror 52, and converts the pair of subject images into electrical signals by a photoelectric conversion sensor (line sensor). Thus, a pair of phase difference image signals is generated. The focus detection circuit 102 performs a correlation operation on the pair of phase difference image signals to calculate these phase differences, and outputs information on the phase differences to the MPU 100.

  The MPU 100 calculates the defocus amount (focus state) of the imaging optical system with respect to the subject using the phase difference information from the focus detection circuit 102, and drives the focus lens 31 to obtain the in-focus state from the defocus amount. The amount (including the driving direction) is calculated. The MPU 100 transmits a focus control signal including information on the calculated driving amount of the focus lens 31 to the lens control circuit 300. Based on the received focus control signal, the lens control circuit 300 moves the focus lens 31 through the AF drive circuit 301 to a focus position where a focus state with respect to the subject can be obtained.

  A pentaprism 82 converts light reflected by the main mirror 51 into an erect image. The user can observe the subject image as an erect image through the finder 8 described above.

  A part of the light reflected by the main mirror 51 is also guided to the photometric sensor 83. The photometric circuit 84 generates luminance information in the imaging area based on the output value from the photometric sensor 83 and outputs it to the MPU 100. The MPU 100 calculates an exposure value based on the luminance information, and sets the aperture value by driving the electromagnetic diaphragm 32 according to the exposure position.

  A focal plane shutter 10 is driven by a shutter drive circuit 103. The shutter driving circuit 103 closes the shutter 92 when the user observes the subject through the finder 8. On the other hand, the shutter drive circuit 103 opens a shutter opening by running a front curtain (not shown) of the focal plane shutter 10 in response to the user pressing the shutter button 14, and the shutter drive circuit 103 is not shown as a predetermined exposure time elapses. Run the rear curtain and close the shutter opening. In this way, the exposure time of the imaging element 91 is controlled.

  The imaging element 91 is a light source conversion element that is configured by a CMOS sensor, a CCD sensor, or the like and converts a subject image into an electrical signal. Reference numeral 92 denotes an infrared cut filter that removes unnecessary infrared light components from the light traveling toward the image sensor 91. Reference numeral 109 denotes a video signal processing circuit, which performs video signal processing such as filter processing and data compression processing on the electrical signal (imaging signal) output from the image sensor 91.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes a switch sense circuit, which acquires operation statuses of various operation interfaces that can be operated by the user and outputs the information to the MPU 100. A power supply circuit 105 supplies power from the power source 107 to each component in the camera body 1 and the imaging lens unit 3. A battery check circuit 106 is connected to the power source 107 and has a function of transmitting remaining amount information and the like of the power source 107 to the MPU 100.

  The flash unit 4 can be turned (popped up) to a light emitting position to emit a flash when it is desired to add an amount of light to the imaging environment and perform imaging. Reference numeral 401 denotes a light source, and a light emitting element such as a xenon tube or an LED is used. The charging circuit 112 stores electric charge in a light emitting capacitor (main capacitor) 113, and the light emitting circuit 111 applies voltage to the light source 401, whereby the electric charge of the capacitor 113 is released and the light source 401 emits light. In order to perform accurate light control, preliminary light emission called pre-light emission can be performed before imaging to control the light emission amount of main light emission at the time of photographing. When the user presses the FE lock button 16 during the pop-up, the flash unit 4 performs pre-flash. At this time, the photometry circuit 84 performs photometry through the photometry sensor 83, and the light emission amount in the main light emission is set according to the photometry result.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes a locking hook, which can be rotated by a motor (not shown). The locking hook 15 is urged by a spring (not shown) to lock the flash unit 4 in the retracted position. When the flash is emitted, the MPU 100 drives the motor via the locking hook drive circuit 110 in response to the user pressing the flash button 13 and rotates the locking hook 15 against the spring biasing force to flash the flash. Release the locking of the unit 4 in the retracted position. The flash unit 4 that has been unlocked pops up to a light emitting position by a biasing force of a pop-up spring described later. Even if the user does not press the flash button 13, the MPU 100 that has detected an insufficient amount of light in the imaging environment may automatically drive the motor to pop up the flash unit 4 to emit light.

  The light emission position of the flash unit 4 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3A shows a state in which the flash unit 4 pops up from the storage position shown in FIG. 1A to a position where the light exit surface 403 faces the front (the lens optical axis direction) that is the direction of the subject. In the following description, this position is referred to as a front light emission position (first light emission position). FIG. 3B shows that the flash unit 4 faces the light emission surface 403 from the front light emission position upward (a direction different from the subject) with respect to the lens optical axis 3a. Shows the state of rotating to a different position. In the following description, this position is referred to as a bounce light emission position (second light emission position).

  FIG. 3B shows one of the bounce light emission positions. Actually, the flash unit 4 faces the light emitting surface 403 in different directions (bounce angles) on the upper side, that is, the directions of the light emitting units 40 are different from each other. It can be rotated and held at a plurality of bounce light emission positions.

  Next, a pop-up mechanism for popping up the flash unit 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A to 9C. FIG. 9A shows the flash unit 4, the first link member 410, and the second link member 420 at the front light emission position as seen from the front. 9B shows a BB cross section of FIG. 9A, and FIG. 9C shows a CC cross section of FIG. 9A.

  The flash unit 4 is connected to the camera body 1 via the first link member 410 and the second link member 420. The first link member 410 is rotatably connected to the flash unit 4 by the first rotating shaft 410a, and the second link member 420 is rotatably connected to the flash unit 4 by the second rotating shaft 420a. The first link member 410 is pivotally connected to the camera body 1 by the first fixed shaft 410b, and the second link member 420 is pivotally connected by the second fixed shaft 420b.

  In this embodiment, the camera body 1 is a fixed node, the first link member 410 is a driving node, the flash unit 4 is a first driven node, and the second link member 420 is a second driven node. The node link mechanism 7 is used as a moving mechanism of the flash unit 4. The flash unit 4 is rotated by the movement of the four-bar linkage mechanism 7 (hereinafter simply referred to as a four-bar link). Note that another member provided integrally with the camera body 1 or the flash unit 4 may be a fixed node or a first driven node, and such a configuration has “the camera body 1 as a fixed node” and “flash unit”. 4 is the first follower. The four-joint link 7 is biased in a direction in which the flash unit 4 rotates from the retracted position to the front light emitting position by a pop-up spring 43 described later via the first link member 410.

  The configuration of the flash unit 4 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the flash unit 4. The flash unit 4 includes a light emitting unit 40, a flash case 41, a flash cover 42, a pop-up spring (spring member) 43, and a click mechanism 44.

  The flash case 41 includes a hook hanging portion 41a, a stopper receiving portion 41b, a first bearing 41c for holding the first rotating shaft 410a, and a first bearing 41c shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). And a second bearing 41d for holding the second rotation shaft 420a.

  The light emitting unit 40 includes a light source 401, a reflecting member 402, and a light emitting surface 403. At the time of flash emission, the light emitted from the light source 401 is condensed toward the light emitting surface 403 while being reflected by the reflecting member 402.

  The pop-up spring 43 is disposed on (around) the first rotation shaft 410a. The fixed end of the pop-up spring 43 is hung on the flash case 41, and the movable end is hung on the first link member 410. In the drive mechanism configured using the four-joint link 7 and the pop-up spring 43 in this way, the pop-up spring 43 generates a biasing force that biases the first link member 410 in the direction from the storage position toward the front light emission position. To do.

  The click mechanism 44 includes a click board (fixed member) 441, a click pin (movable member) 442, a click biasing spring (biasing member) 443, and a click pin holder 444. The click board 441 is disposed around the first rotation shaft 410 a and is fixed to the first link member 410. The click pin 442 and the click biasing spring 443 are held by the click pin holder 444 and attached to the flash case 41. The click pin 442 is movable with respect to the flash case 41 and is urged toward the center of the click board 441 by a click urging spring 443.

  FIG. 5 shows the shape of the click board 441. The click board 441 has an idle running portion 441a, a plurality of convex portions 441b, and a plurality of concave portions 441c in the circumferential direction thereof. The idle running portion 441a does not have irregularities in the radial direction, and has a radius that does not come into contact with the click pin 442 that is biased toward this. On the other hand, the plurality of convex portions 441 b generate a click feeling associated with the rotation of the flash unit 4 by the urging click pin 442 coming into contact therewith and overcoming the compression member 443 while compressing the click urging spring 443. When the click pin 442 enters (fits) into the plurality of recesses 441c formed between the plurality of projections 441b, the flash unit 4 can be stopped at a plurality of bounce light emission positions having different bounce angles.

  In this embodiment, the angle intervals θ1 to θ4 between the recesses 441b corresponding to the change pitch of the bounce angle are set so that the change pitch obtained by the movement of the four-bar link 7 is constant (not necessarily θ1 to θ4). Are not the same). For example, θ1 to θ4 are calculated by adjusting the radius R2 of the inscribed circle of the concave portion 441c while keeping the radius R1 of the circumscribed circle of the convex portion 441b and the angle φ of the slope of the convex portion 441b constant.

  Note that the click mechanism 44 of the present embodiment is an example of a configuration that improves operability when changing the bounce angle, and does not limit the stop position of the flash unit 4.

  Next, a detailed configuration of the second link member 420 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows the appearance of the second link member 420. The second link member 420 has a function of stopping the popped-up flash unit 4 at the front light emission position in addition to a function as a link element of the four-bar link 7, and has a bounce button 421 that is a member therefor. FIG. 6A shows a state before the bounce button 421 is pressed, and FIG. 6B shows a state where the bounce button 421 is pressed. FIG. 7 shows the second link member 420 in an exploded manner.

  The second link member 420 is provided with a second rotating shaft 420a and a second fixed shaft 420b. The second link member 420 includes a bounce button 421, a link cover 422, a link case 423, a shaft 424, and a bounce button urging spring 425. The bounce button 421 includes a stopper portion 421a and a pushing portion 421b as an operation portion. The bounce button urging spring 425 causes the pushing portion 421b to be exposed to the outside of the link cover 422 as shown in FIG. Be energized by. When the user pushes the pushing portion 421b, the stopper portion 421a can be slid from the state shown in FIG. 6A to the state shown in FIG. 6B.

  The link case 423 also has a link hollow portion 423a for passing a cable that electrically connects the light emitting portion 40 of the flash unit 4 and the camera body 1 in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

  In the present embodiment, a release mechanism that releases the stop at the front light emission position of the flash unit 4 by pressing the bounce button 421 provided on the second link member 420 is employed. However, this is only an example, and other configurations such as providing a stopper mechanism inside the camera body 1 or the flash unit 4 may be adopted.

  Next, the locking of the flash unit 4 in the storage position will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8A shows the flash unit 4 located at the storage position as viewed from the front. FIG. 8B shows an AA cross section of the flash unit 4 shown in FIG. FIG. 8C shows a cross section taken along the line AA when the locking hook 15 releases the locking of the flash unit 4 at the retracted position.

  When flash imaging is not performed, the user can store the flash unit 4 in the camera body 1 as shown in FIG. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the locking hook 15 provided on the camera body 1 engages with the hook hooking portion 41 a provided on the flash unit 4, so that the pop-up spring shown in FIG. The flash unit 4 biased by 43 is locked (held) at the retracted position.

  The state of the pop-up spring 43 and the click mechanism 44 in the storage position will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16A to 16J. FIG. 15 shows the strobe unit 4 as viewed from above. 16A to 16E are cross sections including the periphery of the first rotation shaft 410a, and show an enlarged view of the GG cross section shown in FIG. 16A shows the storage position, FIG. 16B shows the front light emission position, and FIG. 16C shows the GG section at the first bounce light emission position among the plurality of bounce light emission positions. 16D shows a second bounce light emission position among a plurality of bounce light emission positions, and FIG. 16E shows a GG cross section at the fifth (last) bounce light emission position. On the other hand, FIGS. 16F to 16J are cross sections including the periphery of the first rotation shaft 410a, and show an enlarged view of the HH cross section shown in FIG. 16 (f), (g), (h), (i), and (j) are respectively the same positions as those in FIGS. 16 (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e). An HH cross section is shown. As shown in FIG. 16A, the flash case 41 is provided with a spring stopper portion (movable end holding portion) 41e and a bounce stopper portion 41f.

  As shown in FIG. 16A, in the retracted position, the fixed end 43a of the pop-up spring 43 is a spring hook (not shown) provided in the flash case 41 (that is, the flash unit 4) as the first member. It is hung and held. On the other hand, the movable end 43b of the pop-up spring 43 is hooked and held by a spring hooking portion 410c provided on a first link member 410 as a second member. As a result, the first link member 410 is urged in the direction of the arrow in the figure by the urging force generated in the pop-up spring 43. As shown in FIG. 16 (f), the click pin 442 is biased toward the click board 441 by the click biasing spring 443, but the click pin 442 faces the idle running portion 441 a of the click board 441. There is no contact with the click board 441.

  FIG. 14 shows a flow of user operations, flash unit 4 operations, and camera body 1 operations when performing flash imaging. S means a step. 11 (a) and 11 (b) show an enlarged view of the four-bar link 7 including the first link member 410 and the second link member 420 shown in FIG. 9 (b). 11A shows a state in the middle of pop-up from the storage position to the front light emission position, FIG. 11B shows a state at the front light emission position, and FIG. 11C shows a state where the bounce button 421 is pushed. FIG. 11D shows the state at the bounce light emission position.

  The user turns on the power switch 11 of the camera body 1 in S11, and the user who has determined to perform flash imaging in S12 presses the flash button 13 shown in FIG. 1A in S13. When the MPU 100 receives a signal indicating that the flash button 13 has been pressed from the switch sense circuit 104, the MPU 100 drives a motor (not shown) in S14 and engages the locking hook 15 as shown in FIG. Turn in the stop release direction. As a result, the flash unit 4 unlocked is popped up to the front light emission position by applying the urging force of the pop-up spring 43 as shown in FIG. That is, while the movable end 43b of the pop-up spring 43 is held by the spring hooking portion 410c of the first link member 410, the first link member 410 is continuously urged in the direction of the arrow in the figure. At this time, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 11A, the stopper portion 421a provided on the bounce button 421 and the stopper receiving portion 41b provided on the flash case 41 approach each other around the second rotation shaft 420a. Rotate in the direction.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11B, the stopper unit 421a abuts against the stopper receiving portion 41b (the abutting portion is indicated by a bold line in the figure), whereby the flash unit 4 stops pop-up. As a result, the flash unit 4 stops at the front light emission position shown in FIG.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the flash unit 4 is stopped at the front light emission position by the contact with the stopper portion 421a, and the stop mechanism that allows the flash unit 4 to rotate to the bounce light emission position by the user operation of the bounce button 421. And adopt the release mechanism. With this configuration, the front light emission position can be stopped with high positional accuracy.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, since the pushing portion 421b of the bounce button 421 is covered with the flash cover 42 and is not exposed at the retracted position, the user cannot push the pushing portion 421b. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9A, since the pushing portion 421b of the bounce button 421 is exposed at the front light emission position, the user can push the pushing portion 421b. The bounce button 421 has a role after the flash unit 4 pops up and is not necessary at the storage position. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the user from being confused by adopting a configuration in which the bounce button 421 is exposed so that the user operation can be performed by the pop-up of the flash unit 4.

  Further, in the click mechanism 44, as shown in FIGS. 9C, 16F, and 16G, the click board 441 and the click pin 442 are prevented from coming into contact with each other at the front light emission position. An idle running portion 441a is provided. No click feeling is required during the pop-up from the storage position to the front light emission position. For this reason, by providing the idle running portion 441a, it is possible to prevent the pop-up drive caused by the urging force of the pop-up spring 43 from causing resistance due to the contact between the click pin 442 and the convex portion 441b. Thereby, the spring force of the pop-up spring 43 can be set to an optimum value for driving the flash unit 4 in a pop-up manner without considering the influence of the click mechanism 44.

  Next, an operation performed by the user when performing bounce imaging and an operation of the flash unit 4 will be described. FIG. 10A shows the flash unit 4, the first link member 410, and the second link member 420 at the bounce light emission position as viewed from the front. 10B shows a DD cross section of FIG. 10A, and FIG. 10C shows an EE cross section of FIG. 10A.

  After the flash unit 4 pops up to the front light emission position, the user who has determined to perform bounce imaging in S15 presses the pushing portion 421b of the bounce button 421 in S21. As a result, in S22, as shown in FIG. 11C, the stopper portion 421a slides in the direction of the arrow in the drawing to contact the stopper portion 421a and the stopper receiving portion 41b (at the front light emission position of the flash unit 4). Is stopped). Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 10C and 11D, the flash unit 4 can be rotated in the direction of the bounce light emission position. The flash unit 4 is rotated in the direction of the bounce light emission position (that is, toward a plurality of bounce light emission positions) by the urging force of the pop-up spring 43.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 16 (h), when the click pin 442 contacts the side surface of the convex portion 441b closest to the idle running portion 441a among the plurality of convex portions 441b of the click board 441 at the first bounce light emission position. Then, the rotation of the flash unit 4 stops.

  When the flash unit 4 is rotated between a plurality of bounce light emission positions including the position shown in FIG. 16 (h), the movable end 43b of the pop-up spring 43 is connected to the flash case 41 as shown in FIG. 16 (d). The spring stopper portion 41e provided around the first rotation shaft 410a. That is, the movable end 43 b of the pop-up spring 43 is held by the spring stopper portion 41 e instead of the spring hooking portion 410 c of the first link member 410. As a result, both the fixed end 43 a and the movable end 43 b of the pop-up spring 43 are both held by the flash case 41. For this reason, when the flash unit 4 is rotated between a plurality of bounce light emission positions (the bounce angle is changed), the urging force of the pop-up spring 43 does not act on the first link member 410 and the flash unit 4.

  Next, the operation for changing the bounce angle in S23 and the operation of the flash unit 4 will be described. When the bounce angle is adjusted from the state where the flash unit 4 is stopped at any of the bounce light emission positions among the plurality of bounce light emission positions, the user indicates by arrows in FIGS. 10 (c) and 16 (i). Thus, the flash unit 4 is rotated manually. As a result, the click pin 442 compresses the click urging spring 443, gets over the convex portion 441b adjacent to the concave portion 441c that has entered so far and enters the next concave portion 441c, and the flash unit 4 is moved to the next bounce light emission position. Retained. A click feeling is generated each time the click pin 442 gets over the convex portion 441b. As described above, when the user changes the bounce angle, the flash unit 4 can be manually operated so as to rotate to an arbitrary bounce light emission position while receiving a click feeling, and stopped at the bounce light emission position. it can.

  Further, as described above, the urging force of the pop-up spring 43 does not act on the flash unit 4 while changing the bounce light emission position. However, the repulsion of the click biasing spring 44 that is compressed when the click pin 442 gets over the convex portion 441b becomes a resistance against the rotation of the flash unit 4, and the user's operation force exceeding this resistance is required. In other words, the user who rotates the flash unit 4 to change the bounce light emission position is not affected by the urging force of the pop-up spring 43, and is an operation that opposes the resistance generated by the click mechanism 44 as the resistance applying mechanism. Only power is required. Thereby, a stable operation feeling can be provided to the user.

  As shown in FIG. 16 (e), when the flash unit 4 is rotated to the final bounce light emission position, the spring hooking portion 410 c of the first link member 410 comes into contact with the bounce stopper portion 41 f provided in the flash case 41. This prevents further rotation to the back side. Even at this position, as shown in FIG. 16J, the click pin 442 enters the last recess 441c of the click board 441, so that the flash unit 4 is held at the last bounce light emission position.

  When the flash unit 4 is stopped at the front light emission position or an arbitrary bounce light emission position in this way, the user who has determined that the flash unit 4 performs pre-light emission at S16 is the FE shown in FIG. Press the lock button 16. In response to this, the MPU 100 causes the flash unit 4 to perform pre-flash in S25, and causes the photometric sensor 83 and the photometric circuit 84 to perform photometry. Then, the MPU 100 calculates the light emission amount of the main light emission based on the photometric result for the pre-light emission.

  A user who has determined that flash imaging is not performed in S12, a user who has determined that pre-flash is not performed in S16, or a user who has determined that pre-flash is to be performed in S16 and has waited for pre-flash to be performed in S25 will be referred to Then press the shutter button 14. When the MPU 100 receives a signal indicating that the shutter button 14 has been pressed from the switch sense circuit 104, the MPU 100 performs imaging in S31. At this time, the MPU 100 causes the flash unit 4 to perform main light emission at the same time as imaging except when the user determines not to perform flash imaging in S12.

  With reference to FIGS. 12A to 12D and FIGS. 13A to 13C, the positional relationship between the flash unit 4 and the first rotation shaft 410a at the storage position, the front light emission position, and the bounce light emission position. Will be described. 12 (a) to 12 (d) and FIGS. 13 (a) to 13 (c), the front side (hereinafter referred to as the front side) where the lens mount unit 2 is provided in the camera body 1 is indicated by F, and the back unit 1b is provided. The rear side (back side) provided is indicated by R.

  FIG. 12A shows the flash unit 4 located at the storage position as viewed from above. FIG.12 (b) represents the II cross section in Fig.12 (a). FIGS. 12C and 12D show the II cross section of the flash unit 4 located at the front emission position and the bounce emission position, respectively. Further, P1, P2, and P3 in the figure indicate changes in the position of the first rotation shaft 410a in the lens optical axis direction (front-rear direction). S1 in the drawing indicates the position of the first fixed shaft 410b which is the rotation center of the first link member 410. FIG. 13A shows the camera body 1 as viewed from the side when the flash unit 4 is located at the storage position as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. FIG. 13B shows the camera body 1 as viewed from the side when the flash unit 4 is located at the front light emission position as shown in FIG. FIG. 13C shows the camera body 1 as viewed from the side when the flash unit 4 is located at the bounce light emission position as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 (a), 12 (b) and 13 (a), when the flash unit 4 is in the retracted position, the light emitting surface 403 faces obliquely downward on the front side, and from the first rotation shaft 410a. Is also located on the front side F. The position of the first rotation shaft 410a at this time is P1.

  As shown in FIGS. 12C and 13B, when the flash unit 4 pops up to the front light emission position, the light exit surface 403 faces the lens optical axis direction. At this time, the first link member 410 rotates about the first fixed shaft 410b, whereby the first rotation shaft 410a moves to the front side F from P1 to P2 with respect to the camera body 1. As a result, the light emission surface 403 moves to the front side F more than when the flash unit 4 is popped up without moving the first rotation shaft 410a with respect to the camera body 1. For this reason, the light irradiated toward the subject is not easily blocked by the imaging lens unit 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 12D and 13C, when the flash unit 4 rotates to the bounce light emission position, the first link member 410 further rotates from the position at the front light emission position. As a result, the first rotation shaft 410a moves from P2 to P3 on the front side F. By this movement, the first rotation shaft 410a is positioned on the front side F from the light emitting surface 403 at the bounce light emission position. The front end portion of the flash unit 4 including the light emitting surface 403 rotates to the rear side R and the first rotation shaft 410a moves to the front side F. The amount of movement to R can be reduced.

  For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C, the flash unit 4 is positioned at the rearmost end of the rear portion 1b of the camera body 1 not only in the retracted storage position and the front light emission position but also in the bounce light emission position. It can be positioned on the front side F from the viewfinder (eyepiece window) 8. Therefore, when the user closes the camera body 1 to the face and looks through the viewfinder 8, the flash unit 4 is prevented from interfering with (contacting) the user's face by positioning the flash unit 4 at the bounce light emission position. Can do.

  In this embodiment, the pop-up spring 43 and the click mechanism 44 are provided around the first rotation shaft 410a of the four-bar link 7 that rotates the flash unit 4 from the storage position to the bounce light emission position. However, it may be provided around other axes such as the second rotating shaft 420a, the first fixed shaft 410b, and the second fixed shaft 420b. Further, the pop-up spring 43 and the click mechanism 44 are not necessarily arranged around the same axis.

  In the first embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the pop pin 442 is not brought into contact with the click board 441 during the pop-up from the storage position of the flash unit 4 to the front light emission position, thereby preventing the pop-up resistance. On the other hand, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the click pin 442 is brought into contact with the click board 441 before the front light emission position during the pop-up of the flash unit 4, thereby generating a braking action for the pop-up. In this embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

  FIG. 17 shows the shape of the click board 441B in this embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, the click board 441B is provided with an idle running portion 441a and an uneven portion including a plurality of convex portions 441b and a concave portion 441c. Is provided. The deceleration portion 441f has a shape in which the outer diameter continuously increases (approaches the click pin 442) from the tip on the idle running portion 441a side to the end on the concave portion 441c side. Note that the shape of the speed reducing portion 441f shown in FIG. 17 is an example, and other shapes, for example, a shape in which a speed reducing convex portion is provided and temporarily brought into contact with the click pin 442 may be used.

  FIGS. 18A to 18C are cross sections around the first rotation shaft 410a, and show an HH cross section in FIG. 15 in an enlarged manner. 18A shows the storage position, FIG. 18B shows the position in the middle of the pop-up, and FIG. 18C shows the HH cross section at the position immediately before the front light emission position.

  In the first pop-up section from the storage position shown in FIG. 18A to the pop-up halfway position in FIG. do not do. For this reason, the click mechanism 44 does not serve as a pop-up resistance of the flash unit 4 in the first pop-up section.

  On the other hand, in the second pop-up section from the middle of the pop-up position shown in FIG. 18 (b) to the front light emission position shown in FIG. 18 (c), the click pin 442 contacts the speed reduction portion 441f of the click board 441. As a result, the click pin 442 compresses the click biasing spring 443 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. growing. This friction becomes resistance (brake) against pop-up.

  The click biasing spring 443 is further compressed immediately before the front light emission position in FIG. 18C, and a stronger brake against the pop-up acts. Thereby, the flash unit 4 can be sufficiently decelerated immediately before the front light emission position. Therefore, the impact when the flash unit 4 reaches the front light emission position can be reduced, and the bounce at the front light emission position of the flash unit 4 can be reduced to stabilize the flash unit 4 at the front light emission position. Time can be shortened.

  The operation after the flash unit 4 is rotated to the first bounce light emission position is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  Each embodiment described above is only a representative example, and various modifications and changes can be made to each embodiment in carrying out the present invention.

1 Camera body 4 Flash unit 40 Light emitting part 43 Pop-up spring

Claims (7)

An imaging device body;
A light-emitting unit having a light-emitting unit and movable to a plurality of second light-emitting positions in which the storage position, the first light-emitting position, and the direction of the light-emitting unit are different with respect to the imaging apparatus body;
A drive that includes a spring member, and moves the light emitting unit from the retracted position to the first light emitting position by using a biasing force generated by the spring member, and further moves toward the plurality of second light emitting positions. A mechanism,
The image pickup apparatus, wherein the driving mechanism has a configuration in which the urging force is not applied to the light emitting unit when the light emitting unit moves between the plurality of second light emitting positions. The drive mechanism is
A first member holding a fixed end of the spring member;
Holding a movable end of the spring member, and receiving a biasing force to move the light emitting unit from the retracted position to the first light emitting position;
The movable end is held not by the second member but by the first member when the light emitting unit moves between the plurality of second light emitting positions. Item 2. The imaging device according to Item 1. The first member is a member constituting the light emitting unit,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second member is a link member connected to the imaging apparatus main body and the light emitting unit. The spring member is arranged around an axis that connects the link member to the imaging apparatus main body so as to be rotatable.
The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first member includes a movable end holding portion that is provided around the shaft and holds the movable end.   5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a resistance applying mechanism that generates resistance against movement of the light emitting unit when the light emitting unit moves between the plurality of second light emitting positions. The imaging device according to one item. The resistance applying mechanism is:
A movable member provided to be movable with respect to the light emitting unit;
A fixed member having a plurality of protrusions against which the movable member abuts;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an urging member that generates an urging force that causes the movable member to abut against the plurality of convex portions.   The said fixing member has a deceleration part which contacts the said movable member and decelerates the said light emission unit when the said light emission unit moves to the said 1st light emission position from the said storage position. Or the imaging device of 6.