JP2020038297A - Operating device for operating optical filter, optical instrument, and adapter for connecting to optical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an operating device for operating a thin optical filter.SOLUTION: An operating device for operating an optical filter comprises: a rotary operating member that has a first gear part and can be rotationally operated from the outside; an optical filter member that is rotated around an optical axis in association with the rotation of the first gear part and holds an optical element; a coupled gear member that has a second gear part fitted to the first gear part, and a fourth gear part fitted to a third gear part provided on an outer peripheral part of the optical filter member; and a regulation member that regulates the amount of rotation of the first gear part. The regulation member is arranged closer to the fourth gear part than the third gear part and close to a side face of the first gear part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation device for operating an optical filter, an optical device having an operation device for an optical filter, and an adapter for connecting to an optical device, and particularly to a mechanism of an optical filter device for operating a variable ND filter.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an optical device such as a camera, there is a plug-in filter that is used by being inserted into a notch provided in the device. For example, a notch is provided in a part of the interchangeable lens itself or an adapter connected between the interchangeable lens and the camera body, and a filter is inserted therein.

  For example, there is a configuration in which a filter frame holding a polarizing filter is mounted so as to cover the cutout portion of the exterior. There is also a configuration in which an operation dial that is exposed to the outside at the time of mounting is provided, and the amount of transmitted light is adjusted by rotating the operation dial to rotate the filter frame.

  Patent Literature 1 discloses a configuration in which a connecting gear is interposed between an operation dial and a filter frame, and the amount of rotation of the operation dial and the rotation of the filter frame can be adjusted by adjusting the gear ratio.

  Patent Literature 2 discloses a configuration in which a partition wall that blocks the outside and the inside of an optical device is provided, an operation dial is disposed on an outer peripheral portion of the partition wall, and a filter is disposed inside the partition wall. The operation dial and the filter frame are coupled so as to be able to transmit rotation by a gear train provided with at least one gear having a shaft passing through the partition. Thereby, water does not enter from the operation dial portion.

JP 2000-249888 A JP 2000-89298 A

  However, when a variable neutral density filter (ND filter) that adjusts the amount of transmitted light is used as the optical filter, it is necessary to regulate the rotation of the filter frame within a predetermined angle range, that is, regulate the rotation amount of the optical filter. The variable neutral density filter adjusts the amount of transmitted light by adjusting the relative angle of the two polarizing filters around the optical axis. By changing the angle in the range of 0 ° to 90 °, the variable neutral density filter transmits light. The amount of light can be varied from maximum to minimum. However, if the rotation amount is not regulated and the rotation is further performed from 90 ° to 180 °, the rotation is changed in the opposite direction (from the minimum to the maximum), and the sensory operation becomes difficult. is there.

  However, in the configuration as in Patent Document 1, there is a concern that if the operation dial unit is provided with a rotation restricting mechanism for the operation dial, the device itself becomes large.

  Further, when the filter is used as a plug-in type filter, when the thickness in the optical axis direction increases, there is a concern that the filter may interfere with members before and after the filter.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for operating an optical filter which can be made thin, in particular, a plug-in type variable ND filter unit.

  In order to achieve the above object, an optical filter operation device according to the present invention has a first gear portion, a rotation operation member capable of performing a rotation operation from outside, and a rotation operation member for rotating the first gear portion. An optical filter member holding an optical element, a second gear portion fitted with the first gear portion, and a third gear provided on an outer peripheral portion of the optical filter member. A connection gear member having a fourth gear portion fitted with the portion, and a regulating member for regulating a rotation amount of the first gear portion, the device for operating an optical filter, wherein the regulating member Are disposed on the fourth gear portion side with respect to the third gear portion and on the side surface side of the first gear portion.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the operating device of a thin optical filter can be provided.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a filter device according to an embodiment. Side view of optical filter member Sectional view of the operation dial centered on the rotation axis Sectional view of the connection gear member at the center of the rotation axis A perspective view of a characteristic part of the present invention. Front view of operation dial and connecting gear member Sectional view passing through the axis center of the rotation regulating member (shaft screw) Sectional view showing axial overlap between the rotation regulating member (shaft screw) and the large gear.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a filter device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The filter device 1001 that can be attached to and detached from the lens barrel includes the following components. 1002 is a filter holder. The polarizing optical element 1003 is incorporated in the filter holder 1002 and fixed by adhesion. Reference numeral 1004 denotes a double-sided tape, and the decorative plate 1005 is attached to the filter holder 1002. Reference numeral 1006 denotes a filter frame which is an optical filter member. The polarizing optical element 1007 is fixed to the optical filter member 1006.

  On the outer peripheral portion of the optical filter member 1006, there are a gear portion 1008 provided on the entire periphery shown in FIG. The optical filter member 1006 has a bayonet connection with the filter holder 1002. Therefore, a part of the circumferential groove 1009 of the optical filter member 1006 has an opening 1036 through which a plurality of bayonet claws 1010 provided on the filter holder 1002 side pass at the time of assembly. Further, the cylindrical assurance portion 1035 of the optical filter member 1006 fits with the filter holder 1002.

  When the optical filter member 1006 is bayonet-coupled to the filter holder 1002, the urging member 1011 is used so as to eliminate backlash in the optical axis direction between the circumferential groove 1009 and the bayonet claw 1010. The biasing member 1011 exerts a biasing force in a direction to separate the optical filter member 1006 from the filter holder 1002.

  An operation dial 1012 is a rotary operation member. On the outer periphery of the operation dial 1012, there is a knurl 1013 for giving an operation force to the operation dial 1012 by an operator. The filter holder 1002 has a concave portion 1020 into which the operation dial 1012 can be inserted from the outer peripheral side. Reference numeral 1014 denotes a shaft screw.

  FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the center of rotation of the operation dial 1012.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cylindrical portion 1015 of the shaft screw 1014 is fitted into the rotary shaft hole 1016 of the operation dial 1012 and the bearing through hole 1017 of the filter holder 1002. The operation dial 1012 is rotatably held with respect to the filter holder 1002 by fastening the screw portion 1018 of the shaft screw 1014 with the screw portion 1019 on the filter holder 1002 side.

  A cylindrical portion 1046 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the operation dial 1012. The cylindrical portion 1046 is larger in diameter than the outermost diameter of the knurl 1013, and protects the knurl 1013 from external impact.

  Reference numeral 1021 denotes a connection gear member. 1022 is a spacer.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the center of rotation of the connecting gear member 1021.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the spacer 1022 is fitted to the bearing portion 1023 of the filter holder 1002, and the cylindrical outer peripheral surface 1024 of the spacer 1022 is fitted to the inner cylindrical surface 1025 of the connection gear member 1021. On the other hand, the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 1026 of the spacer 1022 and the cylindrical portion 1028 of the shaft screw 1027 are fitted. The screw portion 1029 of the shaft screw 1027 is fastened to the screw portion 1030 on the filter holder 1002 side. The shaft screw 1027 abuts against the spacer 1022 by being tightened, and there is a slight clearance in the axial direction between the connecting gear member 1021 and the shaft screw 1027. Accordingly, no friction load is generated between the connection gear member 1021 and the shaft screw 1027.

  The connection gear member 1021 includes a large gear 1031, a small gear 1032, and a cylindrical portion 1033. The large gear 1031 is engaged with a gear portion 1008 on the outer peripheral portion of the optical filter member 1006. The small gear 1032 engages with a knurl 1013 on the outer periphery of the operation dial 1012. As shown here, the knurl 1013 of the operation dial 1012 is a place for inputting the rotational operation force of the operator. It is also a gear for transmitting the rotational force of the operation dial 1012 to the small gear 1032 of the connecting gear member 1021. The cylindrical portion 1033 is located between the large gear 1031 and the small gear 1032, is smaller in diameter than the large gear 1031, and larger in diameter than the small gear 1032, and is fitted in the fitting hole 1034 of the filter holder 1002. I have. The fitting hole 1034 is connected to the concave portion 1020 of the filter holder 1002. When the connecting gear member 1021 is assembled, water from the outside enters the optical filter member 1006 via the concave portion 1020. Is preventing.

  Up to here, the mechanism for rotating the operation dial 1012 to rotate the optical filter member 1006 around the optical axis via the coupling gear member 1021 has been described. With this mechanism, by rotating the polarizing optical element 1007 held by the optical filter member 1006 relative to the polarizing optical element 1003 fixed to the filter holder 1002, a dimming effect corresponding to the amount of rotation can be obtained.

  In addition, in order to regulate the amount of light to a desired amount, it is necessary to regulate the rotation of the optical filter member 1006.

  The operation dial 1012 and the connection gear member 1021, and the connection gear member 1021 and the optical filter member 1006 are gear-connected. If the operator attempts to rotate the operation dial 1012 beyond a predetermined operation amount, excessive stress is applied to the teeth of each gear, and there is a concern that the gears may be damaged. When the rotation restriction is provided on the optical filter member 1006, stress is still applied to the knurl 1013 of the operation dial 1012, the small gear 1032 of the connecting gear member 1021, the large gear 1031 of the connecting gear member 1021, and the gear portion 1008 of the optical filter member 1006. It will take. Therefore, in order not to apply stress to the teeth of each gear portion, it is desirable to provide the operation dial 1012 with a rotation restricting portion. Thus, no stress is applied to each gear portion, and damage to gear teeth can be prevented.

  Next, the rotation regulation of the operation dial 1012 will be described in detail.

  Reference numerals 1037 and 1038 in FIG. 5 denote rotation restricting members (shaft screws), which determine the rotation end of the operation dial 1012.

  Reference numeral 1039 in FIG. 6 denotes a rotation restricting groove provided on the operation dial 1012.

  The rotation restricting groove 1039 is provided at a predetermined angle range around the rotation axis of the operation dial 1012. The broken-line circles schematically show the situation where the tips of the cylindrical extension portions 1040 and 1041 of the rotation regulating shaft screws 1037 and 1038 extending in the rotation axis direction of the operation dial 1012 are arranged near the bottom surface of the groove. Show. 1043 indicates one rotation end of the operation dial 1012, and 1044 indicates the other rotation end. The cylindrical portion 1040 of the rotation restricting shaft screw 1037 overlaps with the rotation restricting groove 1039 of the operation dial 1012 in the rotation axis direction, and restricts the rotation of the operation dial 1012 by abutting on the rotation end 1043. Similarly, the cylindrical portion 1041 of the rotation restricting shaft screw 1038 overlaps with the rotation restricting groove 1039 of the operation dial 1012 in the rotation axis direction, and restricts the rotation of the operation dial 1012 by abutting on the rotation end 1044.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the rotation restricting shaft screws 1037 and 1038 are fastened to the filter holder 1002 by screw portions 1042, and the bearing holes 1045 of the filter holder 1002 and the cylindrical portions 1040 and 1041 are fitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, there is little overlap between the operation dial 1012 and the large gear 1031 of the connecting gear member 1021 as viewed from the rotation axis direction. If it is considered that the transmission of rotation between the operation dial 1012 and the connecting gear member 1021 is performed by a gear portion (hereinafter, small dial gear is not shown) provided on the inner diameter side of the knurl 1013 of the operation dial 1012, the following problem occurs. Occurs. When a layout in which the small gear 1032 of the connecting gear member 1021 and the small dial gear mesh with each other is adopted, the overlapping of the large gear 1031 of the connecting gear member 1021 and the operation dial 1012 in the rotation axis direction is inevitably increased. Accordingly, it is difficult to arrange the rotation regulating shaft screws 1037 and 1038 so that the rotation regulating shaft screws 1037 and 1038 can be assembled from the large gear 1031 side of the connecting gear member 1021 toward the small gear 1032 side. Therefore, in this case, the knurl 1013 of the operation dial 1012 doubles as a rotation operation unit for inputting a rotation operation by the operator and a gear unit that meshes with the small gear 1032 of the coupling gear member 1021 and transmits the rotational force. Thereby, the overlap between the operation dial 1012 and the large gear 1031 of the connecting gear member 1021 as viewed from the rotation axis direction is reduced, and the rotation regulating shaft screws 1037 and 1038 are moved from the large gear 1031 side of the connecting gear member 1021 to the small gear 1032. Secure a space that can be installed toward the side.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the rotation restricting shaft screws 1037 and 1038 are located so as to overlap with the large gear 1031 of the connecting gear member 1021 in the rotation shaft direction. That is, the rotation restricting member is disposed on the fourth gear portion side with respect to the third gear portion, on the side surface side of the first gear portion, and on the side surface thereof.

  When the rotation restricting shaft screws 1037 and 1038 are arranged on the opposite side of the operation dial 1012, it is necessary to provide screw fastening portions on the rotation restricting shaft screws 1037 and 1038 and the filter holder 1002, and the thickness in the optical axis direction increases. Would. As a result, a thin plug-in filter cannot be realized.

  Next, the relative angular positions in the rotation direction of the polarizing optical element 1003 fixed to the filter holder 1002 and the polarizing optical element 1007 fixed to the optical filter member 1006 will be described.

  The amount of light is adjusted by rotating the polarizing optical element 1007 fixed to the optical filter member 1006 relative to the polarizing optical element 1003 fixed to the filter holder 1002. By rotating the operation dial 1012 from one rotation end to the other rotation end, the two polarizing optical elements 1003 and 1007 are relatively rotated by 90 ° so that the dimming effect becomes minimum to maximum. In order to match the operation amount of the operation dial 1012 with the dimming effect, the following is required.

  When the polarizing optical element 1003 is assembled and fixed in the filter holder 1002, the polarizing direction of the polarizing optical element 1003 is adjusted to a predetermined angle with respect to a specific angular position of the filter holder 1002. Further, when the polarizing optical element 1007 is incorporated and fixed to the optical filter member 1006, the polarizing direction of the polarizing optical element 1007 is adjusted to a predetermined angle with respect to a specific angular position of the optical filter member 1006. Here, the state in which the cylindrical portion 1040 of the rotation regulating shaft screw 1037 is in contact with the rotating end 1043 of the operation dial 1012 is defined as the state where the dimming effect is maximized, and the other rotating end is defined as the state where the dimming effect is minimal. I do. The operation dial 1012 and the rotation restricting shaft screws 1037 and 1038 are incorporated in the filter holder 1002. The operation dial 1012 is rotated to a rotation end at which the dimming effect is maximized. Next, the optical filter member 1006 is incorporated in a filter holder 1002 in which the polarization direction of the polarization optical element 1003 is incorporated at a predetermined angular position. The optical filter member 1006 is rotated and adjusted to an angular position at which the dimming effect is maximized. In this state, the connecting gear member 1021 is assembled. As a result, the operation dial 1012, the connecting gear member 1021, and the optical filter member 1006 are gear-connected in a state where the dimming effect is maximized. Naturally, even if the operation dial 1012 is rotated to minimize the dimming effect, the bayonet coupling between the optical filter member 1006 and the filter holder 1002 is maintained, and the optical filter member 1006 does not come off from the filter holder 1002. Absent. As described above, the connection gear member 1021 is attached after the operation dial 1012 and the optical filter member 1006 are assembled in the filter holder 1002. Therefore, in order for the small gear 1032 of the connecting gear member 1021 to mesh with the knurl 1013 of the operation dial 1012, the cylindrical portion 1044 on the outer periphery of the operation dial 1012 is provided on one end surface of the knurl 1013. In addition, the one side end face needs to be a side facing the side where the connecting gear member 1021 is incorporated.

  As described above, the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described with an example in which the optical element is a polarizing optical element and a device that operates a variable neutral density filter that adjusts the amount of transmitted light, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the invention.

  For example, the present invention is applied to an optical device (digital camera) in which an operation device for the above-described optical filter, a lens barrel, and a camera body equipped with imaging means such as CMOS are integrated, or an adapter for connecting the camera body and the lens barrel. A mode in which the operating device of the present invention is incorporated is exemplified.

1002 Filter holder 1003 ・ 1007 Polarizing optical element 1006 Optical filter member 1008 Gear part 1012 Operation dial 1013 Knurl 1021 Connecting gear member 1031 Large gear 1032 Small gear 1037 ・ 1038 Rotation regulating member (shaft screw)
1046 cylindrical part

Claims (9)

A rotation operation member having a first gear portion and capable of performing rotation operation from the outside,
An optical filter member that holds an optical filter and rotates around the optical axis with rotation of the first gear portion,
A second gear portion that fits with the first gear portion, and a fourth gear portion that fits with a third gear portion provided on the outer peripheral portion of the optical filter member; ,
A rotation regulating member that regulates a rotation amount of the first gear portion,
An operating device for operating an optical filter member having:
Operating the optical filter member, wherein the rotation restricting member is disposed closer to the fourth gear portion than the third gear portion and to a side surface of the first gear portion. Operating device. The rotation operation member has a groove provided at the center of a rotation shaft on a surface of the first gear portion close to the fourth gear portion,
The rotation restricting member has an extending portion extending in a rotation axis direction of the connection gear member,
The operating device according to claim 1, wherein a tip of an extension of the rotation restricting member is inserted into the groove.   3. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation operation member has a cylindrical surface on an outer peripheral surface that is larger than an outermost diameter of the first gear unit. 4.   A cylindrical surface provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary operation member is provided on one end surface of the first gear portion, and the one end surface is provided with a fourth gear portion of the connection gear member in a rotation axis direction of the rotary operation member. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operating device is a side facing a certain side.   5. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein a part of the rotation restricting member overlaps a fourth gear portion of the connection gear member in a rotation axis direction of the connection gear member. 6. .   The operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the optical element is a polarizing optical element, and is a device that operates a variable neutral density filter that adjusts a transmitted light amount.   An optical device comprising: the operation device according to claim 1; and an imaging unit.   An adapter detachable from an optical device, comprising the operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   The adapter according to claim 8, wherein the adapter is an adapter for connecting a camera body and a lens barrel.

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