JP2816736B2 - Waterproof camera - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a waterproof camera having a camera body configured in a watertight manner.

"Prior art and its problems" In recent years, a waterproof camera that can be photographed even in the water such as the sea, a pool, and the like, even when it is wet with rain, spray, or a lot of water, etc. I have.

By the way, the waterproof cameras are each set to have a waterproof pressure so as to withstand a predetermined water pressure, for example, 10 m waterproof. However, in practice, it is not known whether or not the camera has reached the water depth corresponding to the water pressure resistance, so the user sinks the camera beyond the water pressure limit and water enters the camera body. Could be damaged.

"Object of the invention" The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a waterproof camera that can easily detect the approach of the set waterproof pressure and inform the user of the fact.

[Summary of the Invention] The present invention relates to a waterproof camera having a camera body configured in a water-tight manner, wherein a bottomed detection hole formed in the outer surface of the camera body with a diameter such that water droplets do not enter due to its surface tension; It is characterized in that the hole includes two conductors facing each other while keeping a distance that does not make contact with each other; and an alarm unit that issues an alarm when these two conductors are energized.

Therefore, when the water pressure acting on the camera body approaches the set water resistance, surrounding water enters the bottomed detection hole against the air pressure in the bottomed detection hole. Then, the two conductors are conducted by the intruding water, and the alarm means issues an alarm. Therefore, the user can easily recognize that the camera should not be lowered further.

"Examples of the Invention" The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated examples. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the waterproof camera 10 to which the present invention is applied.

The camera body 12 of the waterproof camera 10 is formed in a water-tight manner, and its photographing lens barrel 14 is provided so as to be kept water-tight. On the upper surface of the camera body 12, a pair of zoom switches 30, 32 and a release button 28 are provided,
A rear lid 34 is provided on the rear surface so as to be freely opened and closed. On a wall surface 12a in front of the camera body 12, a light-emitting window 20 for projecting infrared light for distance measurement, a light-receiving window 22 for receiving infrared light reflected by a subject, an objective window 24 for a finder, and a strobe Luminous window 26
Is provided.

Further, below the light emitting window 26, a bottomed detection hole 41 is formed. The bottomed detection hole 41 is formed with a small diameter such that a water droplet does not enter due to surface tension under normal atmospheric pressure. As shown in FIG. 1A, two conductors 42 and 43 are insert-molded on the front wall 12a.
Reference numerals 2 and 43 have their ends exposed at a distance of about 1/2 from the entrance in the bottomed detection hole 41, and are kept at such a distance that they do not contact each other. Conductor in bottomed detection hole 41
Exposing one end of 42, 43 to the area about 1/2 from the entrance, the air in the bottomed detection hole 41 is compressed to half of the total volume by the water entering beyond the surface tension limit. When done
That is, when the air reaches 2 atm (water depth of about 10 m), the conductors 42 and 43 are conducted. Therefore, by changing the exposure positions of the conductors 42 and 43, the setting of the water resistance to be detected can be changed.

The other ends of the conductors 42 and 43 are exposed to the inside of the camera body on the front wall 12a. An energization detection circuit 45 is provided inside the camera body 12. The other ends of the conductors 42 and 43 are connected to the conduction detection circuit 45 via a lead wire 46, and further a buzzer 47 (alarm means) is connected. The energization detection circuit 45 detects when the conductors 42 and 43 are energized, and causes the buzzer 47 to issue an alarm. It is water that conducts the conductors 42 and 43, but if the camera 10 is used in water, it is usually a sea, a lake, a pool, etc., so the water contains various ions, Conduction can be easily performed.

Therefore, in the waterproof camera 10 having the above structure, even if water is applied under normal atmospheric pressure (1 atm), the water droplet w does not enter the bottomed detection hole 41 due to the surface tension (see FIG. 1A). ). When the camera 10 is submerged in water, the air in the bottomed detection hole 41 is compressed by the water W that exceeds the surface tension limit and enters the bottomed detection hole 41 as the water pressure increases. When this air is compressed to about 1/2 of the total volume, that is, when the air pressure is doubled, the conductors 42 and 43
Is conducted by the intruding water. At this time, the water depth is about 10
m. Actually, conductors at a water depth within 10m
Since it is configured so that 42 and 43 are conducted, an alarm can be sent from the buzzer 47 before the set water pressure is reached, so that the user can be notified that the camera should not be lowered any further.

In this embodiment, the buzzer 47 is used as the alarm means, but a light emitting means such as an LED may be used instead of the buzzer 47.

Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a camera capable of zooming (waterproof camera 10). However, it goes without saying that the present invention may be applied to a camera having no zoom lens.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the waterproof camera of the present invention, when the camera is used underwater, an alarm is issued when the camera reaches a depth corresponding to the set water pressure resistance, and the camera is provided to the user. You can signal that you should not sink further. Therefore, it is not possible to notice that the camera has reached the water depth corresponding to the water resistant pressure, and it is possible to reliably prevent the camera from sinking beyond its limit and being damaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a main part of a waterproof camera according to the present invention, FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a state in which the conductors of FIG. 1A are conductive and an alarm is issued, and FIG. It is a perspective view showing the appearance of a waterproof camera. 10 ... waterproof camera, 12 ... camera body, 41 ... bottomed detection hole, 42, 43 ... conductor, 47 ... buzzer (alarm means).

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A waterproof camera having a watertight camera body, comprising: a bottomed detection hole formed on the outer surface of the camera body with a diameter such that water droplets do not enter due to surface tension; A waterproof camera comprising: two conductors facing each other while maintaining a distance that does not make contact with each other; and alarm means for issuing an alarm when these two conductors are energized. 2. A waterproof camera according to claim 1, wherein said alarm means is a buzzer. 3. The waterproof camera according to claim 1, wherein the alarm means is a luminous body.